Chapter 2
2
D espite the initial surge of determination, it took everything in my power to turn away from my father and face the mansion. The short walk back to the house was the longest of my life. Each step took me farther away from the life that I knew but closer to my goal. Or so I hoped.
When I passed Madam St. Clair on the way back, she stopped and said, “Congratulations. Remember, there is no greater honor than being selected. Serve him well.”
My jaw ached at how hard I was clenching my teeth, but I managed to keep my features relaxed as I gave a small nod and kept walking.
Henry’s expression was grim when I stepped back inside the mansion, and he closed the doors behind me with a loud thud, sealing me away from my freedom. My heart lurched in my chest as I suddenly felt trapped, the need to burst through the doors and run as far away as my legs would carry me, gnawing at me.
Pull yourself together, I told myself, swallowing the lump in my throat. You want to be here. You have a mission.
“Isabelle and I have some business to attend to, but the servants will show you to your rooms,” the Lord said, drawing my attention to him.
Without a second look in my direction, he strolled away, and Isabelle followed, leaving me and her vassal alone in the foyer.
The young man turned to me. “Wren Lockhart.”
“Sophie Devereaux,” I introduced myself, shaking his warm hand.
He couldn’t be more than a couple of years older than me, with shaggy blond hair and light stubble. His pale-blue eyes danced as he smiled at me.
“Nice to meet you, Sophie. Exciting night, isn’t it?”
“Uh, yes, it is.” My voice came out shaky and unsure as nervousness invaded my senses. I’d succeeded at becoming a vassal, but now I had to face the consequences of my actions, and I had no idea what my stay on the Duval Estate would bring.
Wren opened his mouth to say something else but stopped when two servants dressed in dark tunics walked into the foyer and approached us. Like all those who served the clans, they were human and appeared quite young, about fifteen or sixteen. With hair the same shade of mahogany brown and eyes the same shape with upswept corners, they looked like siblings.
“Fresh blood.” The male servant rubbed his hands together as if in anticipation, a flicker of amusement on his face.
“Ezra, stop it.” The female servant swatted him playfully on the arm before turning to me and Wren. “I’m Rory, this is Ezra. We will be at your service for the duration of your stay.”
However long that would be.
My plan was to find the amulet or another clue leading to it as soon as possible and escape. I hoped that I would also find my mother’s killer in the process, but if I didn’t, I wouldn’t risk my mission by lingering on the estate. In the end, even if I didn’t get to look into my mother’s killer’s eyes as I drove a stake through his heart, he would still meet his demise when I found a way to activate the Tear.
“Let us show you two to your rooms.” Rory smiled and turned, but before we could leave the foyer, Henry and Isabelle returned, and they were not alone.
I recognized the man and the woman who were with them—they were the vassals selected last year. Though I couldn’t recall the man’s name, I thought the woman’s name was Eleanor.
The vampires and the former vassals stopped in the foyer, and a strange, tense silence settled over the room.
Isabelle broke it first by saying, “Goodbye, Archie.”
“Goodbye, Isabelle.” The man—Archie—gave a tight-lipped smile and shook her hand. The entire exchange felt very formal, as if they were concluding a business transaction.
The conversation unfolded differently when it was Eleanor’s turn to say goodbye. Her red-rimmed eyes told me she’d been crying, and there was a look of resignation on her face. Our gazes locked for a second, and I frowned when I saw anger flash in her eyes. I looked around me in confusion, making sure she was, in fact, staring at me because I wasn’t sure what had warranted such a strong reaction from her toward me. I solved that mystery a moment later when Eleanor turned to Henry, gripping his arms so tightly her knuckles turned white.
“You don’t need her. I can still give you everything you want,” she begged.
“Goodbye, Eleanor,” the Lord said, his tone cold and final.
Eleanor bristled and clenched her jaw but didn’t say anything else as Henry pried her fingers from his arm and turned her toward the front doors. Ezra hurried over and opened one of them, and with one final look of icy resentment in my direction, Eleanor walked out. Once she was gone, everyone in the foyer was silent for a few minutes, and I wondered if that was because they were as shocked by her outburst as I was.
Why was Eleanor so desperate to stay? Had she gotten so used to the life of luxury on the Duval Estate? Did she not want to go back to her old life where she had her freedom?
Rory cleared her throat, drawing my attention back to her.
“Please, follow us,” she said and turned to leave.
Sensing that no one was going to acknowledge what had just transpired, I didn’t voice any of the questions that had flashed through my mind. I glanced at Henry and found him staring at the door that had just closed behind Eleanor. He seemed to be lost in thought, his features taut. He appeared bothered by Eleanor’s behavior but didn’t say anything as he turned and left the foyer with a heavy sigh.
“After you.” Wren motioned in the direction of a long hallway illuminated by wall sconces.
Rory was already halfway down it, patiently waiting for us to join her. When I reached her side, she resumed walking, with Ezra and Wren following close behind.
“Good riddance,” Ezra murmured under his breath. “Eleanor was crazy.”
“Ezra,” Rory said quietly, shaking her head.
We passed by several closed doors before Rory stopped and smiled at me. “This is your room, Sophie.”
“Yours is farther down the hall,” Ezra said to Wren. “Follow me.”
Wren gave me a nod, his eyes bright, before strolling off after the servant. My gaze followed them until they rounded the corner, disappearing from view. Wren seemed genuinely excited to be here, which was unusual. Perhaps he was from one of the remote towns of the region and saw being selected as a chance to escape poor living conditions for a year.
“Ready?” Rory asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.
Dragging my gaze away from the now-empty hallway, I turned to her and nodded.
She opened the door to my room, and I walked in, taking a sweeping look around.
The bedroom was much bigger than I’d expected, illuminated by two lamps sitting on top of the nightstands on either side of the wide bed. A chest, a dresser, and a vanity took up the rest of the large space. The furniture was dark, and the walls were deep teal, but the drawn cream-colored curtains and the fur rug of the same color brightened up the dimly lit room. My brows pinched as I wondered if this was where Eleanor had stayed or if each new vassal got their own room.
All of the surfaces were bare, with the exception of the dresser. The small bag I’d brought with me from home sat on top of it. Candidates were not expected to bring much to the Selection, and to be honest, I didn’t have that many belongings. My father was a scholar, and my mother had been one as well before she’d died. I’d been taking on odd jobs here and there since I’d turned sixteen to help pay the bills. We were not poor but had to be frugal to live comfortably within our means.
“We’ll go shopping tomorrow for clothes and anything else you might need. Lord Duval is very generous with his vassals. You will be able to shop to your heart’s content,” Rory said, clasping her hands in front of her.
She seemed excited about going shopping, and I wondered if she had any friends her age or if she felt lonely living in the mansion with the vampires.
“How old are you?” I asked her, curious.
“I’m fifteen, and Ezra is seventeen. He is my brother,” Rory said, confirming what I’d suspected earlier. “I remember you, you know. From the Selection last year. You looked so frightened then,” she added, her brown eyes searching my face.
“I had just lost my mother,” I explained, surprising myself. It wasn’t a secret, but I didn’t like talking about it. I wasn’t sure why I’d admitted what I had, but Rory seemed genuine and sweet, and it would be nice to have a friend in this place for however long I’d have to stay. “Dark Witches took her,” I added hastily to curb further questions.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Rory’s gaze softened before deep sorrow filled her eyes. “Ezra and I lost our parents a year ago. That was when Master Henry took us in.”
“He took you in?” I asked, confused.
“Yes.” She smiled. “You see, Ezra and I are from Fairview, and the living conditions there are rough. When our parents died, the Lord hired us as his servants, so we didn’t end up on the streets.”
My eyes widened at her words.
“Don’t look so shocked.” Rory laughed softly.
“Well, I am shocked,” I admitted. “I just wouldn’t expect a cold creature like him to care enough to take you in.”
Her expression turned serious then as she said, “The Duvals aren’t that bad. You probably don’t know what to expect from your stay here, but it could be worse. Trust me.” Shadows crept across her delicate face. “At least the Duvals wait for their Candidates to turn eighteen before the Selection. One of the other clans takes children.” My stomach knotted as I cringed in disgust. I’d heard stories but had hoped they weren’t true. “There is also a clan that…doesn’t always return their vassals alive.”
Rory’s already pale face became ashen. I felt all color drain from my face as well. That was not supposed to happen. Vassals served the clans for a year and then returned to their homes, alive and well. At least, that was what the clans wanted us to believe. I gritted my teeth so hard, my jaw hurt. I’d lost my belief in the system the clans had established the night of my mother’s death, but Rory’s words were another confirmation that the system was broken beyond repair. How long did the humans have before the vampires decided they wanted free rein? I needed to find Josephine’s Tear and use it to destroy vampires and Dark Witches alike.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you,” Rory said, her tone apologetic. “I was just trying to show you that the Duvals aren’t that bad.”
“They’re vampires, Rory. They’re all evil,” I said, my voice hollow. I had witnessed their monstrosity firsthand.
“Master Henry showed me and Ezra kindness,” Rory countered, her dark brows knitting. “Besides, vampires protect us from the Dark Witches.”
“In exchange for our servitude,” I pointed out.
“That’s how it has been since the Red War, and that’s how it will always be,” Rory stated, matter of fact.
What if it doesn’t have to be that way, I thought to myself, knowing better than to say the words aloud. I had already said too much.
Turning away from Rory, I opened the bag I’d brought from home and rummaged through it until I found my necklace. My lips curved upward when I opened the locket holding a miniature portrait of my mother. Our resemblance was uncanny. My hazel eyes had the same warm green hue, and I had the same smattering of freckles on the bridge of my nose. If only I could talk to her again. I would tell her how much I loved and missed her, and then I would ask about the Tear. Where had the amulet come from? How had my mother known about it? I hoped finding the Tear would shed some light on what had truly happened on the night of my mother’s death.
Closing the locket, I clasped the delicate chain behind my neck and took a deep breath. Wearing the necklace steadied me, reminding me of who I was and of my purpose.
“I can give you a tour of the house,” Rory offered softly from behind me.
“Actually, I’m pretty tired.” I faced her, mustering a small smile that she instantly returned. I needed to be alone as I explored the mansion, so I could search for the Tear.
“As a vassal, you are expected to maintain the same schedule as the Lord, which means sleeping during the day and being awake at night,” Rory explained. “I would try to stay up tonight if I were you. Makes the adjustment easier.”
No wonder she and Ezra were so pale. They must be adhering to the same schedule. Did they ever see the light of day? I was about to ask her but got interrupted by a knock on the door.
After a moment, Henry strolled in. His stormy blue eyes warmed when they settled on Rory.
“Please give Sophie and me a few minutes in private,” he told her, and I was thrown by his gentle tone.
“Of course, my Lord.” Rory bowed her head before sweeping from the room.
The moment the door clicked shut behind her, all my senses went on high alert. I was in a confined space with a vampire, alone. Knowing the Lord could move incredibly fast, I watched him like a hawk. My hand came to rest on my right thigh, where I felt the outline of my wooden dagger through my dress.
“I hope the room is to your liking,” Henry said, coming closer.
His gaze was fixed on my neck, and I instinctively backed away, running into the dresser. The Lord stopped his approach, his brows pinching.
“Was it Eleanor’s old room?” I asked, trying to distract him.
“No, each vassal gets a different room from the last,” Henry replied before his gaze dropped to the locket resting on my chest.
In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of me, towering over me. He was too close—the coldness emanating from his body chilling my skin. Sucking in a startled breath, I steeled myself, tracking his every movement. He lifted his right hand deliberately slowly, gently picking up the locket.
The moment his cool fingers brushed my skin, my instincts took over. Before I could think twice about what I was doing, the dagger was in my hand, poised at the Lord’s heart. I imagined the look of shock on his face mirrored my own. My heart dropped—I’d made a huge mistake. I was supposed to play the role of a compliant vassal. I’d thought I was prepared to do whatever it took to accomplish my goal, but perhaps I’d been mistaken. Perhaps there were some lines I just couldn’t cross.
“Don’t touch me,” I bit out, my chest rising and falling quickly.
The Lord smirked, oddly calm, considering there was a wooden dagger aimed at his heart. Unless, of course, he didn’t see me as a threat. Why would he, I realized. I’d lost the element of surprise. He was so much faster and stronger than me. He could snap my neck before I could even think about thrusting the dagger into his heart.
“If I am not to touch you, then how am I supposed to feed from you?” Henry asked, one side of his mouth turning up.
“I don’t want you to feed from me.” The words left my mouth before I could stop them.
The Lord’s half-smile disappeared. Foolish, I was so foolish. My chances of remaining on the estate were dwindling by the second. Henry was probably wondering if it was too late to send me away and choose another vassal. If he would even send me away. He might decide to kill me for threatening his life. My breath left me at the thought as the Lord grew incredibly still, staring down at me like a predator about to pounce.
Just when I thought he was going to rip out my throat, he said quietly, “Lower the dagger.”
The underlying menace in his voice told me if I didn’t do it, he’d do it for me. Slowly, I lowered the weapon, my hand trembling, but didn’t let go of the handle, keeping it by my side.
Henry’s eyes narrowed, and his lips thinned before he said, “If you don’t want me to feed from you, I won’t.” When I arched my brow in disbelief, he explained, “The choice was once taken away from me. I will not do the same to you.”
“A vampire with a conscience? Am I supposed to believe that?” I scoffed, surprised to find my voice steady.
“You can believe whatever you want,” Henry said calmly. He sounded almost bored with this conversation.
“Did Eleanor have a choice?” I asked.
I wasn’t sure why I was trying to provoke him. Except, I didn’t believe a word he was saying and wanted to call him out on his lies.
“Yes. She didn’t do anything against her wishes,” the Lord replied.
“She didn’t want to leave,” I pointed out.
A muscle flexed in his jaw before he said, “She had to. Her year was up. Rules are rules. This country rests on a delicate balance. We all have to do our part.”
“And what is my part exactly?”
I needed to know what was expected of me, if what he was saying was true, and he wasn’t going to feed from me. It sounded like he was playing a game, and I needed to know the rules.
“You tell me. You clearly wanted me to choose you as my vassal. Yet, you don’t want me to feed from you. Why are you really here?” Panic flared in my chest as Henry leaned in, bringing his face mere inches from mine. As I scrambled to come up with a response, his eyes searched mine as if looking for the truth there. After a moment, he frowned, looking confused, and shook his head before saying, “Are you running from something? Do you want to live in luxury for a year? I don’t care. I will not feed from you, but I also have a reputation to uphold. I cannot appear weak, so no one can know about our little…arrangement. You are my vassal, and when we are in public, you are going to act as such. Do we have an agreement?” He extended his hand, but I hesitated.
“Are you going to feed from someone else if you don’t feed from me?” I wouldn’t forgive myself if someone else suffered.
Henry’s eyes softened a fraction before he replied, “No. I will drink the blood we have stored in cold canisters in the cellar.”
Of course.
Each vampire clan had a cellar like that, and every healthy adult in the country had to regularly donate blood to help keep those cellars well-stocked. The Selection was not even necessary. It was nothing more than a demonstration of the power vampires held over humans. They didn’t need vassals to have access to blood, but they took them anyway as a token of good faith.
I narrowed my eyes at the Lord. A vampire who didn’t feed from his vassal? I couldn’t have asked for a better arrangement, but why would the Lord agree to that? Regardless of what drove his actions, I needed to stay on the estate so I could look for the amulet.
My mind made up, I quickly gathered up my skirt and sheathed the dagger at my thigh.
Henry’s eyebrows lifted in surprise, and I was willing to bet that from now on, Candidates would be searched when they arrived for the Selection.
Swallowing, I shook the Lord’s hand, trying not to flinch at the coolness of his touch.
“We have an agreement.”
Henry nodded, releasing my hand and turning to leave.
“Keep the dagger,” he threw over his shoulder. “Now that I know you have it, you will not be able to catch me off guard.”
As soon as he left the room, exhaustion washed over me, nearly knocking me off my feet. All the muscles I hadn’t even realized were tense, relaxed, and air whooshed out of my lungs as if I’d been holding my breath. I unstrapped the dagger from my thigh and pulled the weapon from the sheath before kicking off my shoes and stumbling over to the bed. A sigh escaped me as I sank into the soft mattress, barely managing to hide the dagger under the pillow before falling asleep.