Chapter 10
I blinked at Blackthorn’s words as I realized what he meant. My hand reached up to touch my neck, my pulse fluttering under my fingers. No way did this crazy bastard think that he was feeding off of me.
He arched a brow at my reaction as he swept into his seat with ease.
One of the twins came into the dining room and stood next to Blackthorn’s seat.
She held her wrist out to him without emotion, staring off into the distance as he brought a small knife to her wrist. I swallowed down my cry of horror as blood trickled from her wrist and into the chalice next to his seat.
“That’s...” I swallowed, my stomach rolling at the sight. “You’re a monster. I can’t believe you force them to feed you.”
Blackthorn’s dark eyes lifted from his glass to meet mine. “I do not force anyone to feed me. This is their duty.” He lifted his thumb to his mouth, piercing it with his fang before rubbing the blood that bubbled to the surface across the woman’s wrist. “Thank you, Elise.”
Elise curtsied. “My pleasure, master.”
I watched Elise leave, the urge to chase after her barely covered up by the need to put this monster in his place. I slapped my silverware down with a scowl.
“How dare you? She’s a human being. You can’t just treat her like some pitcher you can pour from whenever you like. Just because you are the master of this castle doesn’t give you the right to do whatever you want.”
Blackthorn simply sat quietly while I ranted at him, swirling Elise’s blood around in his chalice.
“Are you quite finished?” he asked quietly when I paused to take a breath.
I sucked in a breath and then thought about it. Was I done? What else was there to say? Did he even care what I thought? Obviously not, or he would take me back to the factory already.
“Yes, I’m done.”
“Good,” he clipped, setting his chalice down. “Now, let me set a few things straight. You’re correct, I am the master of this castle. These are my servants, and I can do with them as I like.”
I opened my mouth to argue. Thick vines shot out of the ground and wrapped around my body, pinning me to the chair, and covering my mouth.
He had magic? How did I not know vampires could do magic? What else about him was he hiding.
While I tried to push down my terror, Blackthorn stood from his seat and walked toward me without a care in the world. Stopping at my side of the table, he tipped my chin up with a finger, his nail long enough that the pointed edge of it bit into my skin.
“I have been generous up until now. You’re in a new place. Everything happened so suddenly. Allowances had to be made but no more. Understood?” His dark eyes bore into mine.
I gave an imperceptible nod which seemed to be enough for him.
“You will not speak while I am talking. If you cannot behave like a civilized guest, then you can eat dinner somewhere else. I will not have you ruining the one moment of peace I get every evening with your vile accusations.”
My eyes narrowed, the need to counter his words stopped by the vines.
“As for my feeding habits,” Blackthorn sat on the edge of the table, his eyes skimming over my form, “I assure you, no one is being forced to feed me. They are more than happy to offer up their blood for my nourishment.”
The tip of his nail traced down the line of my throat. No doubt feeling how my pulse raced in a mix of fear and anger.
“Now,” he sighed as he withdrew his hand, “if I release you, can we enjoy our meal without all this hostility?”
I stared at him for a long moment before jerking my head with a nod.
He flicked his hand as he stood. The vines released me, and a gasp escaped my lips.
My eyes followed after his form as my fingers rubbed my cheeks. I waited until he sat down before lifting my fork to pick at the food on my plate. Blackthorn picked up his chalice and drank, his eyes locking with mine.
If he was waiting for me to protest, then he was sadly mistaken. I had a strong enough sense of self-preservation to not push my luck, especially with a vampire.
After I’d taken a few bites of my food, Blackthorn broke the silence.
“Do you find your room to your liking?”
I arched a brow. Was he really doing this? Making small talk?
When he simply waited for me to answer, I realized he was actually serious. I contemplated how to answer. He’d kidnapped me and now wanted to know if I was comfortable with my prison. The irony was not lost on me.
“It’s lovely,” I clipped, focusing on my meal.
“And your clothing?” Blackthorn continued. “I hope you were able to find a few acceptable things in your size.” His dark gaze felt like it was stripping me naked where I sat. “You are much smaller than I anticipated, though I’m sure, with enough time, you will fill out more.”
My face heated as I avoided his gaze. “They’re fine,” I mumbled.
Blackthorn hummed, his finger tracing the lip of his cup.
The silence became thick, and unease ran down my spine. I wasn’t used to eating alone. Or without anyone to talk to. The factory rarely was ever quiet. Everyone was either banging around or talking all at once.
Unable to handle it any longer, I said the first thing that came to mind. “Why don’t you bite them?” I sank down in my chair, unable to believe I’d asked such a thing.
Blackthorn’s brow lifted. “Bite who?”
Seeing as he wasn’t going to reprimand me for asking, I kept going. “The servants. You cut her... Elise’s wrist. Aren’t you supposed to...?” I mimicked biting into someone, feeling quite ridiculous as I did it.
The edge of his lip twitched, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Would it make you feel better if I bit them? Would that help you keep seeing me as the villain?”
I shrank away from his prodding gaze as I shrugged. “No. It’s just... everyone talks about vampires drinking someone dry. Most assumed you’d bite them not cut their wrists.”
Blackthorn leaned back in his chair, one hand on the table as he tapped his fingers. “Biting someone is an intimate moment and usually reserved for those we hold dear. I would not find it appropriate to bite my servants, would you?”
His words sank into me, and his meaning became clear. I shook my head, hoping he couldn’t see how red my face had gotten from his side of the table.
I tried to think of something else to talk about that would fill the silence. Unfortunately, the only things I wanted to know had to do with leaving this place. I had a feeling if I brought it up, he would become angry, and I wanted to stay on his good side for the time being.
Fortunately, Blackthorn kept the conversation moving for me. “How long have you lived in Candiopolis? You are quite young to have already found your way bound to that poor excuse for a sorcerer.”
I snorted. “I’m hardly the youngest. Many of the workers were traded to Rumple at a young age as payment for a deal he made with their parents.”
“And you?” Blackthorn sipped from his chalice. “Were you traded?”
Shaking my head, I picked up my own glass to give me a chance to think about my answer. “I wish I could say I didn’t have a choice in the matter. That I could blame horrible parents for my lot in life. Except I can’t.” I shrugged. “I made the deal, and now I have to live with it.”
“Not anymore you don’t,” Blackthorn stated. I didn’t bother to argue with him. “I truly do believe you will be happier here. Trust me.”
Blackthorn seemed to honestly believe what he was saying. However, if he wouldn’t let me leave by my own wishes, what made me think he would listen to me about the magical bond pulling me to find a way out of the castle and back to the factory where I belonged.
If my life had been different, I would have loved to stay here in the castle. While it was a bit cold and empty, the comradery of the servants made me think I would be very happy here.
But, even if I didn’t have Rumple’s spell urging me back to the factory, I’d feel guilty about leaving all those behind under Rumple’s care.
Who would keep Rumple from punishing the younger ones when they messed up? Sure, there were a few who might help out, but many of them were only looking out for themselves, and the young ones would suffer the most.
No, even if Rumple’s magic didn’t make me go back, I’d go anyway. Even if it was simply to save everyone else from that horrible place.
Feeling Blackthorn’s gaze still on me, I stabbed a piece of meat on my plate and nodded.
“I’m sure you’re right,” I agreed out loud, while inside, I was counting down the hours to when I could make my way out of this place and back to where I belonged.