part0028

Damien’s return signalled Reina’s formal beginnings as a courtesan. She went to his bed and found herself more willing than she wanted to be. She loathed herself after the act, but she couldn’t deny for those moments she was able to forget Damien.

Sitting around the table in Master Vrykólakas’s quarters, Reina found herself embroiled in a game of liar’s dice, one she was losing heavily. The stakes were not high, and this was something that clearly irked the other courtesans, who were used to playing for high stakes.

‘Such a pity we do not play for gold,’ Zoe said, shaking her wooden cup and smiling at Reina.

‘Please do not let me stop you. I would hate to get in the way of your profiting,’ Reina said, setting down her own cup and moving to rise. She was tired of these pathetic digs. She didn’t care that she had no gold or possessions to play. She would have gambled her dresses, but the courtesans had plenty of those, and her own would not have fit them even with altering. Master Vrykólakas touched her wrist as if to keep her in place but seemed to reconsider and waved her away. Reina could tell he was tired of playing for nothing.

Against her better judgement, Reina left Master Vrykólakas’s quarters and wandered down to the library. At her waist hung a small pouch attached to an embroidered belt and she fished her rosary from it, muttering Hail Marys as she walked. Several vampires cast her dark looks as they passed; whether it was because of her praying or because they knew who she was, Reina didn't know, nor did she care. Walking into the library, she took a seat in the back, tucked away in a corner where she could read in peace. She could have read in her own rooms, but it wasn’t far away enough from the courtesans and their merriment. Even Elise was beginning to grate on her nerves.

Since Damien’s return, Elise had met with him and Grace frequently. Although not specifically forbidden, Reina knew she was to stay away from Damien at all costs. Not that she minded. She had seen him several times from a distance, always with grace. On the last occasion she had been close enough to see the fang marks on Grace’s neck. All hope that the relationship between Damien and Grace was a farce had died at that moment.

Reina fingered the marks on her own neck that Master Vrykólakas had inflicted. She hated that each time she lay with him, he bit her. He argued that it was a mark of passion during his release, but Reina knew it was a mark of possession. Damien had bitten her once the first time they had lain together; she had made him swear never to do it again. It reminded her too much of her Creation, of a time she longed to forget.

‘Hiding away will not make this easier.’ Master Vrykólakas pushed a chair over to in front of Reina and she looked up, shocked to see him. ‘You knew he would come back; did you never consider that he would meet someone during his travels?’

‘No,’ Reina answered honestly, and she looked down at her rosary, desperately trying to draw some form of comfort from it. ‘He was gone for months, it wasn’t even a year, and he replaced me so quickly?’ She thought back to when they had separated for a decade and for the first time she began to wonder how many women he had found to replace her during that time.

‘I am going to invite Damien and his companion to one of our games. He brought back a generous supply of slaves and should be rewarded. This will show him that he is truly being welcomed back into the fold. You will be there.’ His tone brooked no argument.

‘Why?’ Reina said. ‘What do you gain from me sitting across from Damien? Why are you so determined to see me miserable?’

‘On the contrary, Little Slave, I want you to be happy, to accept your role within Tenebrae. Believe it or not but this is for you. Watch him with his lady, watch their intimate glances and how they gaze at each other when they think no one is looking and remember how that was once you. Closure is a beautiful gift.’ Master Vrykólakas looked thoughtful as he said this final part and he settled back in his chair. As he studied Reina, waiting for her response, his eyes gradually fell onto the rosary clasped loosely in her hands and he let out a hiss. ‘What is that?’

‘You know I have this,’ Reina said, ignoring his anger. ‘It’s my rosary, nothing more. I am hardly going to drive it through your heart. It’s too small.’

‘You agreed you would not have it in my presence.’ Reina saw no point in reminding him that he had interrupted her. ‘Put it away.’

‘No,’ Reina said, looking up from the rosary and meeting his dark eyes. ‘It does you no harm, not from my hands anyway.’ Master Vrykólakas glared down at the rosary; standing up abruptly, he pulled Reina to her feet.

‘Do you enjoy disobeying me over trivial matters?’ Master Vrykólakas asked as he pulled her from the library and outside into the courtyard. Reina began to pull against him as she realised they were walking in the direction of the food huts. Dread flooded through her, giving Reina a sudden burst of strength to break free and she turned to run back inside. Strong hands grabbed her waist and picked her off the ground.

‘I won’t do it!’ she cried, kicking out, but all she succeeded in doing was tangling her legs in the folds of her skirts. She clicked her fangs free and lowered her head to bite down on Master Vrykólakas’s arm, but he was wise to her tricks and simply readjusted his hold on her. Kicking the door open to the food hut in the centre, Master Vrykólakas unceremoniously dumped Reina onto the floor.

‘Drink.’ Master Vrykólakas pushed a slave onto the floor beside Reina and pulled their head back to reveal their throat. The slave clawed at Master Vrykólakas’s hands, but he ignored them as if they were no more than a fly. ‘Enough with this nonsense! You are a vampire, now accept your nature and drink.’

A grey fog enveloped Reina, clouding her mind and pushing all train of rational thought away. The rosary fell from her hands as she reached out to grip the slave’s shoulders. As she stared at the slave, she felt as if she moved in a dream; everything seemed far-off and moved in slow motion. The slave was a girl, a few years younger than Reina had been at the time of her Creation. She smelt like blueberries and Reina closed her eyes, drinking in the overpowering fruity scent. The girl’s breath began to quicken as Reina leant in and pressed her lips to the girl’s throat. She could feel the beating of the pulse against her lips and she let the weight of her head rest against the slave.

Don’t, a voice in the back of Reina’s mind managed to break through the heavy fog. This is not your choice!

‘Little Slave, you will feed. Now.’ Reina’s fangs pressed against the tender skin of the slave’s throat. The smell of blueberries grew sweeter and she licked a trail of sweat which had broken out on the girl’s skin. At the sensation of Reina’s tongue on her skin, the slave let out a small cry, pulling Reina momentarily from the fog. It was enough to bring Reina back to her surroundings; blinking several times, she shot back when she met the girl’s terrified eyes.

‘Little Slave—’

‘No!’ Reina said. ‘Stop calling me that.’ Weakly she pushed herself upright but although her mind was clearing itself of the fog her body was still weighted down. She leant down to pick up her rosary, dizziness sweeping through her as she straightened. Looking towards the back of the room, she saw the rest of the slaves standing perfectly still, as if frightened that the slightest movement would draw attention to them.

‘Feed!’ Reina’s knees buckled as the thick fog tried to infiltrate her mind once more. Desperate to fight the command, Reina clutched the rosary tightly in her left hand; she could feel the corner of the crucifix scratching against her palm and the sharp pain helped her to focus.

‘No,’ she repeated firmly and almost fell backwards as she fought the invisible force trying to push her forwards.

‘Sit down.’ Reina sat on the floor without pause, too tired to fight off the fog. ‘Stand up.’ She stood up and glared at Master Vrykólakas. He held out his hand with a sly smirk crossing his face. ‘Kiss me.’ Reina fought this command but, sensing what would come next, relented. She stepped into Master Vrykólakas’s arms and reached up to touch his face. His cheeks and jaw were covered in stubble, his face was rough against hers as he kissed her, but his lips were soft. ‘Now, feed,’ he whispered, his lips still against hers. The fog was warm, and Reina longed to concede defeat, but she continued to fight, clutching the sleeves of Master Vrykólakas’s shirt to stop herself from moving towards the slave. ‘Interesting…’

Reina was visibly sweating from the exertion of fighting off Master Vrykólakas’s commands and she collapsed into his arms as he released her from his command. Her body shook, and she felt the grey fog turn into a black void, pulling her down. Master Vrykólakas swept an arm behind her legs and around her shoulders, carrying her back up to the mansion.

The courtesans were no longer in Master Vrykólakas’s quarters. Debris from the game still littered the table along with several wooden cups, dice and dirty glasses. Master Vrykólakas set Reina carefully into the armchair in his study and she closed her eyes. She desperately wanted to fall asleep but could tell that he was not done tormenting her yet. Opening one of his desk drawers, Master Vrykólakas pulled out a key and tapped it on the wooden desk thoughtfully.

‘Why do you enjoy disobeying me? My courtesans are given more liberties than some of the regular citizens of Tenebrae. But you, a slave, take this too far.’ Reina opened her eyes as she watched Master Vrykólakas speak. She longed to just retire to her rooms.

‘Do you think I enjoy this?’ Reina said, her voice rasping. ‘For a century I have had to live as the demon I spent the last few years of my human life not only fearing, but loathing. I can’t feed from humans, I cannot become like you. Do you think I want to keep arguing with you on this? With Elise? I spent nearly every day arguing about this with Damien. I’m tired…but I can’t give in.’ Master Vrykólakas stared at her thoughtfully as he considered her words.

‘Is it because of your family?’

‘What? No…’ Reina said, confused, ‘they’re dead.’ She closed her eyes and realised that she was twisting her rosary in her hands. Forcing herself to sit up straight, she looked at Master Vrykólakas, judging how best to say what she was thinking. ‘Damien picked up my rosary once by mistake. It burnt him; he’s always feared it. Yet I can pick it up without harm…’

‘And you think that if you give in to your nature and drink human blood, it will turn on you?’ Reina nodded and Master Vrykólakas laughed. ‘Little Slave, do you realise I have lived far longer than your religion? Yes, I disapprove of it, and I am sure if I was to pick it up it would burn me. I cannot explain this power; I will admit that there could be a holy presence. But it is not your God.’ Reina felt a bolt of anger but Master Vrykólakas held up his hand. ‘Religions change. In my day I worshipped several gods; other religions still have this practice. While yours, and several others also, worship one. I don’t claim to know which is the true religion. But I do not think your rosary will turn on you.’

‘I’m too tired for a philosophical debate,’ Reina pleaded. ‘I just…I can’t drink human blood. You have all said it, I’ve left it too long. Do you really want me to kill all the slaves?’ Master Vrykólakas let out a short laugh and Reina glared at him.

‘You do make a fair point. But if I or Elise were with you we would make sure that did not happen. I am not against the killing of humans; they are our food source. No different to the animal blood you drink. Why should their life be of less value than a human?’ Reina let out a groan and buried her face in her arms. ‘Do you think of your family?’ The sudden change of subject caught Reina off guard.

‘Sometimes…I try not to most of the time. Do you think of yours?’

‘Sometimes.’ Master Vrykólakas nodded. ‘I often find myself wondering what I would say to them if they were with me now. Come with me.’ Helping Reina to her feet, Master Vrykólakas supported her down to the sixth floor; he moved quickly as if he was afraid of them being seen. He paused outside a door and unlocked it. Reina rested her hand over his. She wasn’t sure why, but something told her that she did not want to meet whoever was on the other side.

The room was dimly lit with candles that were running low. As the door opened and closed, several flickered before finally guttering out. The stench of sickness and death was overpowering, and Reina covered her mouth as she began to retch. A second door opened, revealing a pale figure dressed in a chemise. Master Vrykólakas approached the figure, whispering something.

‘No…’ Reina whispered as Master Vrykólakas led the figure into the light.

‘In nineteen-ten a young woman, a girl really, was brought to my quarters. She had been captured during a raid, an easy catch I’m told. She was wandering around, dazed and confused. During the journey back to Tenebrae she went into a trance; I’m told she had a vision.’

‘Cassandra…’ Reina moaned, taking a step towards her sister. They were the same height; there the differences ended. Cassandra’s face held a childlike innocence, but her eyes flashed dangerously. No longer did she have the same violet eyes that she and Reina had inherited from their father; instead she bore the silver eyes of a vampire. Long fangs, stained yellow, rested on her lower lip. ‘Why?’

‘When she was brought to my quarters I was intrigued. A vampire with the power of foreseeing the future would be invaluable. We could protect ourselves from danger or even plan greater raids.’

‘What’s wrong with her?’ Reina took a careful step closer to Cassandra and held out her hand. The gesture sent Cassandra into a frenzy and she ran forward, knocking Reina back. Hands gripped Reina’s throat, squeezing tightly. Reina fought to stay calm; she knew strangling wouldn’t kill her, but it hurt! ‘C – Cassandra!’ she gasped.

‘You broke your promise! You broke your promise!’

Reina tried to push Cassandra off, but she could tell that her sister had not fought against her nature. From the smell coming from her she had fed recently. And she had killed.

‘What did you do to her?’ Reina cried as Master Vrykólakas finally wrestled Cassandra off Reina. He whispered something to her once more and his words seemed to soothe her. ‘She’s…that’s not my sister!’

‘LIAR!’ Cassandra shouted. ‘You’re a liar!’ Tears stung Reina’s eyes and she shakily stood up and moved towards the door. She could see that her sister wasn’t there. Cassandra was long dead.

‘If you were going to be a killer, or sadistic, you would have become this by now.’ Master Vrykólakas fought to keep Cassandra under control as she tried to break free from his grip once more. ‘Your sister was like this before she even tasted human blood.’