Chapter 20
Chapter
Twenty
WE HAVE SEVEN MORE EMPTY rooms here in the Conrath Estate. Raheem tells us we should expect a dozen of the King’s court members to join him in his visit.
Rath orders new furniture for Ian’s old bedroom, the one right next to mine. Lavish furnishings fit for the King he is. The other six rooms are taken extra care of. The steel window coverings once used for my father are reinstalled throughout the entire house.
I see it in my House members eyes: they’re nervous for the King’s arrival. As they should be. But they’re brave. They’re going to stay by my side.
And I realize something important: Ever since I learned about my father, I’ve felt this hole inside of me. I’ve felt hollow, empty. I want to know Henry. I’ve felt robbed of something, of the family that everyone around me has had.
But I don’t feel so hollow anymore. My House members, they’ve become family. They’ve begun filling me back in, one individual at a time.
They may be dark. They may have flaws. They may not even be human, but they are mine.
Four days before Cyrus’ arrival, I’ve just walked downstairs when the front doors explode open. Samuel sails across the foyer before crashing into a wall. Markov appears in a blur, his hands around his throat, his eyes glowing with death.
“What is going on?!” I bellow as I dart across the marble floor and attempt to pull Markov off of Samuel. “Markov! Control yourself!”
“It is he that needs to control himself!” Markov says as he hisses in Samuel’s face. He yanks on the front of Samuel’s shirt and once again he goes sailing through the air.
When Samuel lands beside the front door, his eyes dart to mine, and I notice the rush of blood covering his lips, cascading down over his chin, running down his neck.
“What did you do, Samuel?” I ask in horror. My limbs go numb. Markov stops at my side, seething, his entire body trembling with anger.
Samuel looks in fear from me, to Markov, and back again. “I…it just happened before I could stop myself…”
“Don’t act like you don’t know yourself, man-whore,” Markov growls. He takes one step toward Samuel, my hand darts out to grasp his wrist and stop him. He doesn’t look my way, but he does halt.
“What,” I say, leveled and in control, “happened?”
Samuel slowly climbs to his feet, never once taking his eyes off of Markov. “It’d been a while since…since I’d been with…” his eyes dart to mine for a moment, shame heavy there. “A woman. Lexi is always down for a good time, so I called her, went to her place.”
“Idiot,” Markov growls. His anger shocks me. It’s so profound.
Samuel casts him another wary look. “I guess it’s just been a while since I had the fresh stuff, you know? Cause there I was, just kissing her, well, you know… And then the pulse under her skin just looked so…”
Samuel’s eyes flash red and I nearly take a step back from him.
Those same eyes flick back up to me, and they instantly fade away. “I swear, I didn’t mean it. I know your rule, not to feed on anyone in town. I just…”
Instantly Markov is there again, pressing hard fingers into Samuel’s throat, pinning his head against the wall. “Every mistake you make jeopardizes us all in this critical time.”
“I know,” Samuel coughs out. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Alivia.”
“Did you kill her?” I ask very quietly.
Samuel shakes his head vigorously. “She’ll be fine, I swear.” His voice is difficult to understand with Markov choking him.
“Let him go, Markov,” I say, keeping my tone even and level, despite the anger I myself feel building inside. Markov is right. We can’t afford stupid, rookie mistakes like this.
Instantly, Markov releases him, shoving him back as he does. Samuel doesn’t cough, but he does place his hands protectively around his throat.
I walk slowly toward him, even as I hear other House members gather around to see what the commotion is about.
“I promised you that I would take care of you, Samuel,” I say as I stop just a foot from him. “It seems I’ve failed to meet your most basic need.”
“No,” Samuel says, his eyes filled with fear and regret. “You haven’t. There’s always plenty to drink. Nial is very careful. I’m just…weak.”
I shake my head. “Apparently it’s not good enough. I made a promise, and I will keep it.” I pull my long sleeve up, holding my gaze on his face as I do. I bring my exposed, white forearm up, offering. “You can take as much as you like. I promised.”
Samuel looks from my arm, back to my eyes, in confusion. He shakes his head. “I’m good. I swear. It won’t happen again.”
My expression is calm, even though inside I’m dreading what I have to do. “I am sorry, too. I have been neglecting my promise. Now drink, Samuel. As much as you need.”
“Alivia,” Lillian says, wariness in her voice.
I don’t look back at her, but Markov hushes her.
“Drink, Samuel,” I say, my voice more demanding.
He hesitates, so I take his hand in mine, wrap his fingers around my wrist, and push my arm toward his mouth.
And truly, like he can’t help it, the moment my flesh touches his teeth, his fangs extend, and his jaw latches around my arm.
Instantly, my mind goes numb and my entire body goes still.
I’m nothing. I could float away into the abyss of darkness and it wouldn’t matter. I am air.
But as the seconds?...minutes?...pass by, I hear voices, muffled and far away.
“This has gone far enough.” I think it’s Lillian. “Look at Samuel. You think he’s ever going to make this mistake again?”
“This is Alivia’s House, and Alivia’s punishments to bestow.” Markov.
“She’s growing whiter by the second.” Not sure who that is.
Oh. What have I done? Someone. Anyone. Please stop Samuel!
Because I feel something inside of me growing darker. Feeling lighter. I feel dizzy.
“Enough!” a voice bellows and suddenly I’m released, and just before I collapse to the floor, strong arms catch me. I hear Samuel crash back into the wall. “Learn your lesson well and remember what this woman is willing to do for you. For all of you.”
My eyes flutter, attempting to clear the haze from them. I faintly make out Rath’s angry face. And feel him begin to climb the steps. “Someone call Nial. She’s lost a lot of blood.”
I feel heavier and heavier. Heavy as the moon. Surely I will sink straight through the middle of the Earth. That is if I don’t float away into nothingness.
I’m so tired.
So.
Tired.