Lifting a cell phone from his
robe pocket, Jared then flipped it open and activated the
walkie-talkie
function. Three quick beeps signaled the channel was open. “Luther,” he said expectantly. "Yes?” Came the reply.
"Breakfast,” he instructed the man and let the channel close. Quickly pressing the talk button again, he smiled at me. “For two."
Once he snapped the phone shut, he slipped it back into his pocket, then folded his hands neatly on his lap. “You have been betrayed."
The words slapped me across the face, and the casualness with which he spoke them made the attack all the more jarring. I placed my arm on the couch as I felt like I was reeling. I wasn't ready for that. I didn't even have a cup of coffee in me yet. "You have been played for the fool,” Jared continued, “but I saw through his plans and sent in my soldiers to save you."
It made sense that Jared had his own commando unit. Perfectly reasonable, in fact ... in the Bizarro Universe I was apparently still in. I sat forward on the couch expectantly. “Who betrayed me?" "Ah,” Jared said, looking up. “Breakfast is served." Luther, a stubby man with a penciled-on mustache and goatee, wore a completely black suit with an ivory white tie. Reddish fang marks on his throat, just above his perfectly pressed collar, told me that even the help wasn't above being fed on. I assumed he was Jared's personal attendant, and snack when the occasion called for it. Luther was a Ghoul, a human in the service of a Vampire for the promise of being turned. Holding a tray with two cups and a coffee warmer, he quietly went about setting them on the table before us.
I pulled my gaze away from Luther and back to the Master Vampire across from me. “Who betrayed me, Jared?"
Jared wagged his finger disdainfully in front of his face. “We do not speak in front of the servants. They are not worthy of our conversation."
But Luther was worthy enough to feed from?I hated all this aristocratic Vampire bullshit. I simply had
no use for it. Sitting back in the couch in a huff, I waited for Luther to pour two mugs of thick, crimson blood, and be dismissed by Jared. Lifting the mug, Jared recrossed his legs and sipped the blood as if it were his morning coffee.
"I apologize for having to discipline you in front of Luther,” he said slowly, “but in time, you will learn your place."
"My place?” I angrily sat forward. “I don't belong to you, Jared. Never have, never will." Jared's eyes flashed black for a moment as anger gripped him. He didn't like hearing the word “no.” Still very intent on me joining his brood, he knew, someday, if he wore me down enough, I would give in. This was his plan: persistence.
function. Three quick beeps signaled the channel was open. “Luther,” he said expectantly. "Yes?” Came the reply.
"Breakfast,” he instructed the man and let the channel close. Quickly pressing the talk button again, he smiled at me. “For two."
Once he snapped the phone shut, he slipped it back into his pocket, then folded his hands neatly on his lap. “You have been betrayed."
The words slapped me across the face, and the casualness with which he spoke them made the attack all the more jarring. I placed my arm on the couch as I felt like I was reeling. I wasn't ready for that. I didn't even have a cup of coffee in me yet. "You have been played for the fool,” Jared continued, “but I saw through his plans and sent in my soldiers to save you."
It made sense that Jared had his own commando unit. Perfectly reasonable, in fact ... in the Bizarro Universe I was apparently still in. I sat forward on the couch expectantly. “Who betrayed me?" "Ah,” Jared said, looking up. “Breakfast is served." Luther, a stubby man with a penciled-on mustache and goatee, wore a completely black suit with an ivory white tie. Reddish fang marks on his throat, just above his perfectly pressed collar, told me that even the help wasn't above being fed on. I assumed he was Jared's personal attendant, and snack when the occasion called for it. Luther was a Ghoul, a human in the service of a Vampire for the promise of being turned. Holding a tray with two cups and a coffee warmer, he quietly went about setting them on the table before us.
I pulled my gaze away from Luther and back to the Master Vampire across from me. “Who betrayed me, Jared?"
Jared wagged his finger disdainfully in front of his face. “We do not speak in front of the servants. They are not worthy of our conversation."
But Luther was worthy enough to feed from?I hated all this aristocratic Vampire bullshit. I simply had
no use for it. Sitting back in the couch in a huff, I waited for Luther to pour two mugs of thick, crimson blood, and be dismissed by Jared. Lifting the mug, Jared recrossed his legs and sipped the blood as if it were his morning coffee.
"I apologize for having to discipline you in front of Luther,” he said slowly, “but in time, you will learn your place."
"My place?” I angrily sat forward. “I don't belong to you, Jared. Never have, never will." Jared's eyes flashed black for a moment as anger gripped him. He didn't like hearing the word “no.” Still very intent on me joining his brood, he knew, someday, if he wore me down enough, I would give in. This was his plan: persistence.