Initiation (9 page)

"So I’m not the only new member?" Addison’s face filled with a small frown, "The Master has chosen another girl?"

"Yes." Nicolette laughed as she dropped Addison’s hand and stood up. "You are very special to us, and there is no need for you to get jealous. There is enough room in the family for another as well. Now, you will have someone to share your experience with." She tapped Addison’s leg, a happy expression on her perfect features. "I know you will become good friends." Nicolette walked toward the door. "Now get some rest. I’ll come see you later."

* * * *

A few days passed, Addison spending most of the time in her room sleeping. Christian hadn’t allowed her to eat, and she was getting weaker by the hour. Now, perched on the railing of the balcony, Christian looked out over the gardens, hundreds of lights sparkling and lining the walk below.

"Master." Brandon walked out onto the terrace, hopping up like an agile cat and sitting next to Christian. "Do you wish for one of us to stay back with Addison during the initiation tonight?"

"No." Christian didn’t look at Brandon as he spoke, his eyes narrowing on something below. "I want her to come."

"Are you going to allow her to feed?" Brandon’s voice came out slightly lower than normal. "I think it may be hard on her to be around everyone else feeding, if she can’t."

"I would imagine." Christian laughed, pulling one of his knees up to his chest. He looked over at Brandon’s concerned face. "But I can’t let her do that yet."

"Yes, Master." Brandon looked away from him, his hands holding the railing loosely. "Then I will have Nicolette escort her."

"Is she…" Pausing, Christian let out an annoyed sigh, his nose squishing up slightly as he stopped himself from completing his sentence.

"She’s very weak, but her self-control is amazing." Brandon let out a small chuckle, the noise coming out more like a grunt than a laugh. "She’s going to pass this test, so you have nothing to fear. I have a mate myself, so I can relate to what you’re feeling…but why haven’t you come to see her? She’s been asking for you."

"I’ll see her tonight." Christian rubbed the side of his index finger under his nose a few times roughly.

"I don’t blame you for not wanting to watch her starve." Brandon’s fingers wrapped tighter around the railing. He studied Christian’s reaction to his comment, a small look of triumph on his face when he saw Christian’s scowl. "I couldn’t watch my
Lettie
suffer either…" He looked down at his feet, which were dangling a few stories from the ground. "But to be worthy of being your mate she must be strong, and—"

"It has nothing to do with that." Looking over at Brandon, Christian sent him an annoyed glare. His voice was not friendly, but it was soft. "It wasn’t my idea to starve her this long. This is a test being carried out by the House. They want to know how long she is able to go without food."

"The House?" Brandon narrowed his eyes on Christian. His words hissed off his tongue. "They know about her?"

"Yes." Christian nodded, putting his finger between his nose and lips and letting it pause there as he looked distantly ahead. "They told me about her a few years ago. An angel sent from Heaven, worthy of becoming my wife. I didn’t realize then how she would make me feel—"

Pulling his hand away from his face swiftly, Christian switched his position on the railing, letting both his feet dangle over the side. He gripped it tightly as he shook his head. "Even though I know starving her is what must be done…" His brow lowered as he glared at his knees, a sad tone creeping into his velvety voice. "I do not want to hurt her. I want to protect her, feed her—" He looked up at the darkening sky, the clouds blocking the stars. "But I cannot."

"They need her for something, don’t they?" Brandon’s voice was soft as he leaned a little closer to Christian. "What do they want her for?"

Christian didn’t look at Brandon as he spoke. "It’s getting late. I need to pick up our new sister. I will see you soon. Do not speak of the House’s intentions with the others. I do not want anyone to know about it."

"Yes, Master." Brandon nodded, watching Christian jump off the railing and disappear into the darkness.

Brandon informed the others, and they all waited for Christian’s return in the sitting room on the top floor of the manor. Sitting next to Nicolette, Addison was laying on her as Nicolette lovingly stroked her hair and spoke softly to her. Addison begged Nicolette to feed her, but Nicolette had to refuse.

The others were looking at them, but quickly turned to Christian as he entered with the new initiate. Addison looked as well but neither she nor Nicolette got up to greet her. The new woman was beautiful and hung on Christian as Addison had done, a look of complete admiration in her eyes. Christian left her with Victoria, who led her over to the group of women.

"This is Amanda, our new sister. Let us welcome her." Smiling, Victoria held her hands lovingly around Amanda’s shoulders, all of them saying hello.

Nicolette motioned for Addison to sit up on her own, Addison groaning because she didn’t want to move. Feeling faint, Addison leaned against a large pillow behind her. She forced a friendly expression for Amanda but didn’t say anything.

"Thank you all for welcoming me." Amanda had a shy smile on her face, feeling safe and secure around the kind women. However, a slight frown crept into her happy features as she saw the worn out expression on Addison’s face. "And what’s your name?"

"Addison." Addison extended her hand, shaking Amanda’s. "Welcome to the family."

"Are you—" Amanda was going to comment on Addison’s appearance, but Nicolette and Victoria pulled her away before she could finish.

They led Amanda away and redressed her as they had Addison. While they were gone, Addison laid her head back and curled up into a loose ball, falling asleep before they returned. Christian looked over at her, but his eyes didn’t linger long, instead turning to the women coming back into the room.

Christian motioned for Nicolette to wake Addison up and for Victoria to bring Amanda to him. Nicolette quickly moved over to Addison, making her sit down with the others so they could watch the initiation.

A young woman walked past Addison, her bare arm brushing against her and making her jump. Whimpering softly, she tried not to wail loudly as she fell into Nicolette’s arms and began to cry. She could smell the blood of Amanda’s first kill and desperately wanted a taste.

Nicolette held Addison close as they sat on the floor ahead of Christian and Amanda, Nicolette kissing Addison’s hair softly. "It’s all right, my dear.
Shh
…" Cooing to her, Nicolette tried to calm Addison down, her nervous gaze focusing on Christian, who was watching her interaction with Addison closely. "You have to resist it. The Master will feed you soon, just be patient."

Addison’s face streamed with tears as she pulled at Nicolette’s shirt. "I’m so hungry. I’m so hungry." Addison repeated the phrase a few more times, with each sentence her words getting softer and softer until finally fading. Resting her head on Nicolette’s chest, Addison’s attention turned back to Christian, who was now speaking to Amanda.

He was whispering softly in her ear, holding her shoulder and guiding her as he had done with Addison. He bit the woman’s wrist, putting it to Amanda’s mouth and making her drink. The loving look in Amanda’s eyes as she gazed up at Christian set something off within the starving mad Addison. A deep jealousy blazed inside her as she watched them interact, overpowering the urge she had to feed. She was going to stand up and bolt, but Nicolette and Victoria held her down and wouldn’t let her leave.

Looking up at the women, Christian’s expression was hard as he rubbed Amanda’s back gently, trying to block out Addison’s whimpers. Amanda had no idea what was going on because she was absorbed in feeding. He slowly leaned over and bit the woman’s neck, sucking out some of her blood. His attention wasn’t focused on feeding, his eyes were watching Addison as she flailed in Nicolette’s arms, Victoria cooing to her and trying to calm her down.

After a few seconds, Christian turned his attention back to Amanda. He gently redirected her to the woman’s neck. She bit where instructed, drinking a little before slowly turning her head to Christian. There was a dazed look on her face as she beamed at him lovingly.

He smiled back at her, one of his hands going to her hair and grabbing some of it gently before letting it slowly slip through his fingers. His touch was making her swoon, a great look of love on her perfect features as he whispered in her ear.

Christian’s attention was entirely focused on Amanda, and the scene was driving Addison mad. This emotion was incredible, and Addison couldn’t control it. Her connection to Christian was stronger than anyone else’s, his presence fueling the terrible flame inside her. Seeing Addison’s rage made Christian smirk, her jealousy pleased him. His gaze met Addison’s as he slowly bent down and pressed his lips against Amanda’s neck.

Addison had stopped struggling and had sank to her knees, giant tears falling from her bright eyes. Nicolette pushed Addison’s face into her chest, hiding Christian from her view. Addison wrapped her arms around Nicolette’s waist as she sobbed. Nicolette rested her cheek against Addison’s head, speaking softly and trying to soothe her.

Closing his eyes, Christian bit Amanda’s neck and she let out a small gasp. She grabbed onto her dress, holding the fabric in her hands tightly. Soon Amanda fell limp, Christian pulling away and holding her in his arms. The only sound in the room was of Addison’s muffled sobs. A few of the vampires looked toward Addison but then quickly turned back to Amanda as she awoke.

Christian held her for a little while longer, speaking softly to her as she gazed up at him dreamily. Raising his hands, he motioned toward Victoria and then Nicolette to come retrieve Amanda.

Nicolette looked around nervously then slowly eased Addison out of her arms. Addison protested, crying and begging Nicolette not to leave her. The other women unraveled Addison from Nicolette, one of them taking over and trying to restrain Addison.

Nicolette quickly walked over to Victoria, both of them pulling Amanda to her feet with a little help from Christian. They drug her from the room, screaming and trying to get back to Christian. Addison turned toward Amanda, watching the drama she was causing. Then, a few donors were brought in, two of them kneeling near Christian.

"Addison." Christian was now lying down on the floor, his back leaning up against a few large pillows.

Hearing Christian’s voice, Addison quickly turned to him. The longing on her face made him smile, and he slowly raised his hand and motioned with his index finger for her to come to him. Bolting from the woman’s arms, Addison ran to him.

Falling to the floor, she took his hand in hers, holding it tightly to her chest as she looked at him in desperation. "I’m
so
hungry, Christian. Please…help me."

Hearing her call him by his name, something none of the other vampires dared to do, Christian’s smile grew slightly. "I know you are." Taking in her worn out expression, Christian’s perfect lips parted slightly.

"Please…" Addison jumped onto his lap and straddled his hips. Her hungry eyes slowly moved up his chest before settling on the blood dripping from his mouth. "Give me a taste. I’m starving." A few tears made their way down her trembling features, her lower lip quivering furiously. She spoke in a sexy, breathless voice, the heaviness in her eyes showing the intense urge she was holding back. "Christian."

Christian’s eyes were fixed on hers, a curious expression on his face as he studied her, a calm evil reflected in his gaze. He licked his lips as the longing for her grew in his chest.

Even in her worn out state, Addison was strikingly beautiful, her soft voice like an irresistible siren song. Moving closer to him, she put her hands on his shoulders. Bending down, she slowly rubbed her nose up and down the bridge of his. Her breath was released in quick huffs, their warmth fueling the fire inside Christian.

Closing her eyes, Addison took in the scent of blood on his lips, the smell sending shivers through her whole body. Biting down as hard as she could on her own teeth, Addison tried to curb the intense desire to lick it from them.

Her nose wrinkled upwards, her small fangs digging into her bottom lip. Addison sucked in a deep, shuddering breath through her tightly clenched teeth. She opened her eyes, and the animalistic longing in them drove Christian mad for the beautiful vixen he had created.

Her mouth hovered above his as she licked her lips. The heavy droplets of blood were so close, the longing for a taste making all of Addison’s muscles tense. Her hands shook on his shoulders as her body jerked back a little, desperately trying not to betray her self-control.

Christian placed his hands on her hips, the urge to kiss her so unbearable that he could no longer hold it back. Kissing her with a built up passion, his palm quickly moved up her back and his fingers tangled in her hair as he pulled her close. Her tongue searched his mouth as it followed the taste of blood that still lingered there.

Christian pulled away from her, his eyes looking into hers, which now shown with a light similar to his own. "Let us feed, my love."

Licking her lips, Addison smiled at him for a few seconds, an evil passion in their stare. Turning from him quickly, she pulled on the man’s shirt kneeling near them and bit angrily at his neck, the taste of blood making her body tingle as she felt her energy return.