I woke up in bed. I moaned as I stretched. "Good morning, Mistress. Well night now." My head snapped to the sound. Jasper. He sat in a chair by the side of the bed.
"Where am I?" I questioned.
"Blood Manor. Home of Nefer's Masters and Mistresses. You are the only one who currently holds the title so it is yours." I sat up at his words. He watched me as I made my way out of bed and to the curtains. I pulled them and felt myself smile. A window. Alaric had moved my rooms after I gained my title. Maybe he knew about Ruby. Or maybe he feared me running away. I couldn't know for certain. All I knew is he had taken it from me.
I felt a hand on my back, "You may chose any room you wish. As I said the entire place is yours." I ran my fingers over the curtain. The material was heavy. The fireplace was lit which gave me enough light to see the color. I fought to keep the snarl off my face. "You can change the rooms as well."
I scoffed, "With what money?" I had never been allowed to work. I was nothing but a Beloved Pet. The title was still there.
"Titles never go away unless something drastic happens. Such as another child being born. As for money, you have funds. As Mistress of Blood there is a fund. Nefer's Temples started it centuries ago. You have more money than most Vampire Lords could hope to see in a lifetime." I felt him rest his chin on top of my head. I found myself leaning back into him. Rolling hills sat outside.
"Is there a room with a balcony?"
"Several. Shall I show you?"
I spun to face him. "Please." He smiled at me as he took my hand. Jasper was tall. Just as tall as the twin Princes. "So this is my new cage then?" I asked.
"No more cages," he told me. "You may go where you wish when you wish. You have your own guards of course. The Pures of the Capital are yours."
"I can't go everywhere," I laughed. "I don't have invitations."
"Where do you wish to go?" He asked. He looked at me with a slight smile as he lead me further down the hall.
"I want to dance," I found myself saying. "I want to go to parties. I grew my hair out to attend them. I want to go to a party where my feet don't get stepped on every dance."
"We could have one here," he offered.
"What?"
"The Manor has a ballroom. You could hire someone to plan it out or set everything up yourself."
I shook my head, "No, I need to redecorate first."
He pushed open a set of double doors at the end of the hall. He released me as he gestured inside. I moved forward. The room was beautiful. "This is one of the Royal Suites. It is normally reserved for the Royal Family members but I did not believe the Master Suite would be to your liking."
I moved around the room. My hand ran over the back of one of the back of the low backed couch. The color scheme was tan and gold. "Brighter than I would think for a Vampire. Although I suppose most aren't as messy as me."
"You have not had much practice yet." There was a large fireplace. The seating framed it. Four chairs and the long couch. I made my way over to the curtains. I checked them until I found a door. It lead outside. The balcony took me seven steps to reach the railing. I looked up. A laugh spilled from my lips as I spread out my arms and spun in circles. So much space. I could imagine a garden under my balcony that would fill the air with the smell of flowers.
I ran over the balcony to the other doors. They lead to a sleeping area. A large four poster bed dominated the room. There was a desk with a wing back chair in the corner. A fireplace against a wall. Two chairs sat in front of it. A dressing couch sat at the foot of the bed and the biggest wardrobe I had ever laid eyes on stood at the far wall like a sentinel. Silent and looming. I turned back to the balcony door to find Jasper there, watching me. Just as silent as the wardrobe but somehow less looming.
My eyes caught on a set of double doors that must lead back to the sitting room. Another door must be the way to the lavatory. "I can redecorate?" I asked.
He moved closer to me. Still keeping his distance as I wandered the room. "As many times as you want."
I felt myself smile, "My room. My own room." I would finally get to decorate my own room!
"The whole manor," he said. "It is yours. Decorate every room, every hall, every inch, however you wish. As many times as you wish. The gardens will be designed to please you."
I spun to face him, "Are there any stores open? Is that the right word? I've never been shopping." For anything.
He held a hand out to me, "Vampires always have places to shop. Lords and Ladies tend to keep odd hours. Come. Let me show you." I didn't think as I placed my hand in his. Years of training at work. Besides if he wanted to force me I had no chance of fighting back. My stats had grown after my little buffet. "You are the Mistress of my God. I am sworn to you as I am to him. I will teach you anything and everything you want to know."
I looked at him. "You can hear thoughts... Can't you?"
"I can. It is likely you will also gain the skill. I can tell your power has risen greatly already."
He helped me into a carriage. "Where's Ruby?"
"Ruby?"
"My Griffen. My mount. I hatched her egg."
"I will send someone for her. Come. I think it is time you have some fun." I did as he said and climbed into the carriage. It had been a while since I had ridden in one. I moved to one of the windows and moved aside the curtain. People walked the streets in town. I gasped when I saw some of the dresses. I had dressed up only twice in my life since being born. Even the gown I wore now. It wasn't big or flashy. It was understated, plain. I rather liked my clothes that way. If was I forced to dress in gowns at least I could do without all the extra ribbons and lace. "Would you like more clothes?"
I turned to look at Jasper. He was watching me. "I think I would. Nothing over the top." I think I would like clothes I had chosen for myself. Jasper smiled. I went back to watching the window. People watching. It was a pastime I had never been able to partake in. My nose scrunched at some of the outfits I saw. Some women wore pants and carried swords. So different from what I had seen growing up.
The carriage stopped outside a two story building. Jasper disembarked first before offering me a hand down. I took it and tucked myself safely into his side as he lead us inside. People turned from the chime. My own head turning to see the bell that hung over the door. "Lord Jasper!" Someone cried.
My body tensed as ladies rushed towards us.
"What brings you here, My Lord?"
"Are you looking for someone, My Lord?
Someone clapped her hands, "Ladies! Can't you see you are scaring the girl!"
I poked my head from behind Jasper. I had darted behind him when I heard the rushing footsteps. Not rushing it would seem. Just many of them. There had to be at least a dozen ladies. All older than me.
Jasper held his arm for me to take. It pulled me to his side. The ladies stared at me with shock. "Allow me to introduce, My Lady, The Mistress of Blood, Aurora NightLeaf."
"Lady Aurora! How good to see you again!" A girl approached us. The women parted for the girl and her small entourage. I recognized her. She was one of the girls who Debuted with me. I immediately straightened and gave her a soft smile.
"Please forgive me," I offered. "This is my first time out in the Capital and I am terrible with names." I wasn't but no one here needed to know that. I could feel my skill at work. I turned my head making a show of looking over the dresses that hung from wooden models.
"I am Yasmine WinterNight. I was turned by Lord WinterNight and his Wife." She gestured over her friends who I would rather never see again. "This is Sivlia BloodKiss, Marie KnightWater, and Luria GreenMoon." I followed her gesture to each of the girls. All of them pale haired. Marie had a slight tan that set her apart from the others. Yasmine had blue eyes with Luria had a striking pale green set. Sivlia was the tallest of the group. Likely the oldest.
"A pleasure to meet you," I said. I didn't bother to curtsy as they had not seen fit to do so. I was a higher rank and aside from the royals I had never curtsied to anyone. I certainly wasn't about to start now. Not to this girl who was the same age as me.
"Lady Stella," a voice called and I stiffened.
"NightLeaf," I corrected her.
"You are Lord Stella's Beloved it is only a matter of time." She was smiling at me but her eyes glared with malice.
Jasper stepped in, "Lady NightLeaf is my Mistress of Blood. Lord Stella is under her. As such he would take her name not the other way around, Lady GreenMoon." Her fan snapped open to hide her face from view but I knew it must have soured.
The woman who had clapped her hands lifted her skirts as she descended the steps. "Move aside! Honestly what is wrong with all of you. Clearly they come here for a purpose and you lot are blocking them from coming inside!" Faces soured at her words but they went deeper into the room. I fought a sigh of relief.
"Madam SilverWood," Jasper said. "This is Lady NightLeaf. My Lady, allow me to introduce Madam SilverWood. She owns this dress shop."
SilverWood was a tall shapely woman. Her hair fell in a silver curtain of waves. Like all vampires I had seen she appeared young. I put her at her mid twenties when she was turned.