The Vampire's Love
Read The Vampire's Love Online
Authors: Ramona Gray
THE
VAMPIRE’S LOVE
(Other World Series Book Two)
By Ramona Gray
Copyright 2015 Ramona Gray
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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to
persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely
coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination
and used fictitiously.
Adult Reading Material
Cover design by: Melody Simmons of eBookindiecovers
Table of
Contents
“Care for a
drink, sir? Only a gold coin.”
Val looked
up at the vampire standing before him. A woman wearing only a skirt and a
thin collar around her neck with a chain attached to it, swayed next to
him. The vampire tilted her chin up and showed him her throat.
Val
wrinkled his nose in disgust. The woman was thin and pale with missing
front teeth and stringy black hair. She had multiple bite marks on her
neck and upper chest and she was barely conscious.
“No.”
He grunted and flapped his hand irritably at the vampire. “Leave me.”
“Christ,
Val. Why do you come to these places if you’re not going to drink?”
Faren grumbled.
“I wouldn’t
drink from any of the women in this place. God knows what they carry in
their blood.” Val snapped.
Faren
shrugged. “It’s not my fault we can’t afford a better dining
experience. You’re the one who refused to rob the humans we stumbled upon
last night.”
Val rolled
his eyes. “You drank your fill of their blood, was that not enough for
you?”
“If you had
let me take those heavy coin purses around their waists, we wouldn’t be sitting
in a dump like this.” Faren remarked.
“Have we
not done enough to the humans already? Is it not bad enough that many of
our kind kill them for no reason? That we keep them as pets to drink from
when we feel like it?”
“Jesus,
Val. I know we’ve only known each for a few months but your love for the
humans is really starting to get on my nerves.”
“I have no
love for them.” He snarled. “I just believe we are better off
staying away from them.”
“Stay away
from them?” Faren shook his head. “Have you gone mad? They’re
our food source remember?”
“There are
other ways to live.”
Faren
snorted. “You mean wildlife? No thanks. Deer are fine when
there is nothing else but why bother when there are so many humans
available? Hell, half of them want us to bite them.”
Faren
drummed his fingers on the table. “I still believe the Great War between
the vampires and the humans could have been avoided if we had just practiced a
little moderation. If we had only drunk from the willing, they may not be
so anxious to kill us now.”
Val rolled
his eyes. “It would have happened regardless. Our kind and their
kind were never meant to live in harmony.”
Faren
stared at him shrewdly. “Tell me, Val, how long has it been since you
drank the blood of a human?”
“Thirteen
months.” He grunted.
Faren
whistled under his breath. “Christ, it’s a wonder you’re still standing.”
“Fuck you,
Faren.”
Faren held
up his hands. “You know as well as I do that we cannot exist on animal
blood forever. We need human blood to be at our full capacity. Can
you even lift that sword you carry around your waist?”
“Would you
care to find out?” Val asked silkily.
“Nope.”
Faren said cheerfully. He looked around the crowded room as the
auctioneer leaped on to the stage set up against the far wall.
“Ladies and
gentlemen! Thank you for your patience! I’m bringing out our next
human for auction and I think you’ll agree that this one has been worth the
wait. She is young and strong, and I have a feeling her blood tastes as
sweet as honey.”
The
curtains behind the stage opened and Faren watched with bright interest as a
woman was led out. She was naked from the waist up and he whistled
appreciatively at the sight of her full breasts. Her bottom half was
covered by a short piece of brown fabric and her feet were bare. A
leather collar circled her neck and the auctioneer yanked on the thick chain
that was attached to it. She stumbled forward and stared at the floor of
the stage, her face hidden by her long dark hair.
“Ooh,
that’s a good one.” Faren nudged Val and he gave a brief, disinterested
glance at the woman on the stage before looking away.
“She’s nice
and curvy. So many of them are skinny and fragile now. They last
maybe a couple of months before they’re too weak for you to feed from.
You have to feed them loads of food just to keep them going. Not worth it
in my opinion – they’re hardly worth the gold you pay for them.”
He licked
his lips. “This one though, I’d pay a good amount for her.”
“Forget it,
Faren. We barely have enough money to find lodging for the day. I’m
not sleeping in some dirty cellar just because you want to spend the last of
our money on a pet.” Val said warningly.
“I suppose
you’re right.” Faren sighed. He took one last look at the woman
before glancing at Val.
“Ahh, the
bug appears.”
Violet, her
small face peering out from the strands of Val’s hair, glared at him and made a
rude gesture with her tiny hand.
Faren
laughed. “Why on earth you allow that pest to live in your hair, I will
never understand. Why not squash her and be done with it?”
Violet sat
down on Val’s shoulder, keeping his hair wrapped around her to hide her small
body, and stared around idly.
“It’s none
of your business, Faren. I’ve told you that before.” Val growled.
“You are as
soft-hearted towards the bug as you are to the humans. I could get rid of
her for you if you’d like.” Faren offered. “I can make it quick and
painless.”
“Go
anywhere near the little bug and you’ll feel the tip of my sword pierce your
heart. Do I make myself clear?” Val warned, his hand resting
lightly on the handle of his sword.
“Yes,
yes. God, Val, I was only joking.”
Val relaxed
against his chair and ignored the soft kiss that Violet placed on his
neck. In the thirteen months since the vampire had taken Abigail, he’d
had plenty of opportunity to lose the bug. In the first few weeks, as he
searched desperately for Abby, he had barely even noticed the tiny pixie.
When his head began to clear and the horrible truth had started to set in -
Abigail was lost to him forever – he had thought about driving the pixie away
like he had driven Eone and Neil and Maria away. In the end he couldn’t
do it. Abigail had loved Violet dearly and the little pixie was the last
part of her that he had to remember her by.
Besides, he
had believed the bug would eventually wander away on her own. As the
months passed and Violet stuck around he realized that for her, he was the last
part of Abigail that she had left. They had forged an unlikely
friendship.
Now, he
reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of dried meat. He
handed it to her without speaking and she took it and chewed on it as she
peered around the room.
“Who will
start the bidding?” The auctioneer cried merrily from the stage.
His fangs flashed in the dim light and he raised his hand. “We will start
at twenty-five gold pieces.”
Grumbling
erupted across the room and the auctioneer bellowed laughter. “Come, come
gentlemen. You can see for yourself how delectable she is!” He
reached out and cupped one full breast before sliding his hand down her flat
stomach. “She alone could feed a family of four for months! Who
will give me twenty-five?”
“Over
here!” A tall, thin vampire raised his hand and the auctioneer nodded.
“Fifty!”
“Sixty!”
As the
bidding increased steadily, Val felt Violet stiffen against his neck. She
leaned forward and stared intently at the woman on the stage. He could
feel her wings vibrating softly against his neck and he frowned.
“What is
it, bug?”
Her eyes
wide and her mouth trembling, she stared at him and then pointed to the woman
standing with her head bowed.
“What?”
She pointed
frantically and he nodded without really looking at the woman on the
stage. “Yes, I see her. What? You suddenly want a human pet
like Faren?”
He snorted
soft laughter and turned back to Faren. “We need to find lodging for
tomorrow. I do not want it to be like last week where we were forced to dig
holes in the ground before the sun burned us to a crisp.”
Faren
shrugged. “The old ones used to sleep in the ground all the time, Val.
We have become soft.”
“That may
be true but – OW!” He clapped his hand to his neck and stared at the
blood on his fingers in disbelief. Violet had bit him hard with her tiny
needle-like teeth and he turned his head and glared at the pixie.
“What the
hell, bug?”
She yanked
on his hair and pointed to the stage again.
He glanced
up to see the auctioneer holding his hands up. “Now, gents, before we go
any further, I feel I should be truthful. Although the front of her is -
how do I say this - pleasing to the eye, she does have a bit of scarring on her
back. It was probably put there from her last master. Although I
dare say she did one of the markings herself. The foolish human tried to
protect herself from us with this!”
He swung
the woman around and all of the air was sucked from Val’s lungs. The
woman’s back was marred with scars and there was no mistaking the scar of the
cross on her lower back.
The woman
about to be sold was Abigail.
Violet, her
wings fluttering violently, flew off of Val’s shoulder towards the stage.
Quickly, Val reached out and snagged her tiny leg. She turned and glared
at him, struggling to free herself, as he pulled her back towards him.
“Not yet,
bug.” He whispered fiercely.
She ignored
him and continued to struggle as Faren watched with interest.
“Bug!”
Val hissed at her. “You cannot help her! Be still for a moment and
let me think!”
She stared
at his face for a moment and then relaxed. He dropped her back on to his
shoulder as he stared at Abigail.
The auctioneer
had turned her forward again and Val watched as he grabbed her hair and yanked
her head up. She stared vacantly into the crowd as Val’s pulse thudded in
his veins. Her hair was longer now, it trailed nearly to her waist and
she had lost weight. Her formerly round belly was now flat and her
breasts, while still full, were smaller. Her face had lost its fullness
and her arms and legs were thick with muscle.
She
continued to stare vacantly into the crowd as the auctioneer called for more
bids.
“Faren, how
much money do you have?” Val muttered.
Faren
shrugged. “About sixty in gold. Why?”
Val cursed
softly. The price for Abigail had already gone over a hundred pieces of
gold and he didn’t have a hope of winning the bidding war for her.
Faren
stared at Abigail for a moment and then back at Val. “What? Now you
want to buy a human pet?”
Val didn’t
reply and Faren shook his head. “What has gotten into you, Val?”
“Shut up
goddammit!” Val hissed.
He watched
as a tall and powerful looking vampire stood up from the back of the
room. “Three hundred!” He shouted loudly.
The
auctioneer blinked in surprise and waited a few moments. When no other
offered a higher bid, he grinned and shouted, “Sold for three hundred!”
The vampire
sat down, grinning widely, as Abigail was led off the stage. She
disappeared behind the curtain and Val stood up, pulling the hood of his cloak
over his head. “We’re leaving. Let’s go, Faren.”
He weaved
his way through the crowd towards the door and Faren, shaking his head in
confusion, followed him slowly.
* * *
“You’re
very lovely for a human.” The vampire stroked Abigail’s arm gently as the
carriage swayed.
“Thank
you.” Abigail whispered.
“My name is
Joven.” The vampire traced his hand along her collarbone and she crossed
her arms over her naked breasts and huddled more deeply against the velvet
cushion of the carriage.
“You’re
going to make a wonderful pet. I can tell.” Joven smiled at her and
she swallowed thickly.
“What’s
your name, human?”
“Abigail.”
He
frowned. “I do not like that name. From now on you will be known as
Jarah. Joven and Jarah – doesn’t that go together nicely?”
She nodded
and flinched back when he traced the flesh of her arm. “Tell me, Jarah,
have you been bitten before?”
Abigail
took a deep breath and stared at her tightly folded arms. “Yes.”
“Did you
find it pleasing?”
“No.”
“That’s a
shame. I think you will find my touch to be very enjoyable.”
“Please,
could I have a shirt?”
Joven
grinned at her. “And hide those magnificent breasts? I think
not. I like my pets to wear as little clothing as possible.”
Abigail bit
her lip and stared out the window of the carriage into the darkness. “Are
we going to your home?”
Joven shook
his head as he continued to stroke Abigail’s arm. “No. We are on
our way to the home of a very powerful vampire. I have business with
him.”
“What kind
of business?”
A look of
irritation crossed Joven’s face and he squeezed Abigail’s arm until she gasped
with pain. “Do not ask me my business. Do you understand, pet?”
She nodded,
a look of fear crossing her face, and he relaxed and smiled at her. “You
know, I wasn’t planning on stopping at that hovel of an establishment, but I
was tired and thirsty and it was the only place for miles where a vampire could
get a drink. I’m so glad I stopped. I would have missed out on the
opportunity to purchase you if I hadn’t. When I saw you on that stage I
thought you would make a fine gift for my new business partner. But now,
I fear I must keep you for my own. A vampire would have to be a fool to
give up such a magnificent creature such as yourself.”
Joven moved
closer to her on the seat and put his arm around her shoulders. “I am
still thirsty, my pet.”
“Please,
don’t do this.” She whispered.
He
laughed. “I promise I will make it painless. In fact, if you are a
good girl and please me well, I will make sure – “
He paused
as the carriage bumped to a stop. There was a muffled thud from outside
and Joven frowned. He stood and reached for the door. As he opened
it, he looked behind him at Abby. “Stay where you are, pet. Do not
– “
He jerked
and a look of surprise flickered across his face. He looked down at the
sword embedded deep in his chest before staring at the man in the hooded cloak
standing on the steps of the carriage.
“What – “
He whispered.
Abigail
cried out as Joven exploded into ash. Her eyes widened with shock when
the man pushed the hood back and revealed his face.
“Hello,
little dove.”
* * *
“What have
you done?” Abigail cried. She stood and shoved Val in the
chest. Not expecting it, Val stumbled and fell off the steps, landing on
the hard ground with a thud.
Abigail
shot down the steps toward Val. Hard hands came out of the darkness and
grabbed her. A vampire, tall and lean with blond hair and blue eyes,
pulled her into his embrace.
“Hello,
pretty one.” He grinned at her. “I’m not sure what it is about you
that has Val so hot and bothered but I for one, am anxious to find out.”
He dipped his head towards her throat and stopped when he felt the blade
against his chest.
“Any closer
and I’ll use your own blade to send you to hell. Do you understand,
leech?” Abigail hissed.
Faren
blinked in surprise and slowly let the woman go. She had taken his dagger
from his belt without him even realizing it and he held his hands up as the
woman backed away, his dagger clenched tightly in her hand.
“Easy, my
pet.” He smiled at her.
“I am not
your pet.” She snarled as she retreated until her back hit the
carriage. A flicker of purple caught her eye and she inhaled sharply when
the small pixie hovered anxiously in front of her.
A small
smile crossed her face. “Hello, little one.”
Violet
zoomed forward, her entire body glowing brightly, and began to plant kisses
across Abigail’s cheeks and forehead.
Abigail
laughed. “Okay, okay. I’m happy to see you too, Violet.”
As Violet
landed on her shoulder, Abigail looked down at Val. He had moved into a
sitting position and was staring silently at her.
“You
shouldn’t have done that, Val.” She frowned.
He scowled
and rose gracefully to his feet. “I shouldn’t have saved your life?”
He moved
towards her and she held the dagger up warningly. “Don’t come any
closer.”
“Don’t come
any closer? I have searched for you for months, Abigail, and now that I
have found you, I cannot touch you?”
She didn’t
reply and he held his hand out to her. “Put the dagger down, little
dove. Come to me.”
She shook
her head as there was a rustling in the trees behind them. Val whirled
around and raised his sword as three men stepped out of the trees. They
all carried swords and they stared unblinkingly at Val and Faren.
“Abigail?
Have you been hurt?” The biggest of them, a dark-skinned man with brown
eyes and a bald head, called softly.
“I’m fine,
Wesley. I – I know him.” Abigail replied. “Put your swords
away.”
When
neither the three men nor Val moved, she cursed under her breath. “Put
them away I said. Val, these men are my friends.”
After a
moment, Val sheathed his sword and the three men did the same. They
approached the carriage, staring warily at Faren and Val.
“Where is
Joven?” Wesley asked.
“He’s
dead.”
“Bloody
hell!” A red-headed man, his skin fair and covered in freckles, spit on
the ground. “What the fuck, Abby! You weren’t supposed to kill
him!”
“I didn’t,
Evan!” She protested. “Everything was going according to plan and
then these two showed up.”
“What do we
do now?” The third man, he was white-haired and missing his left eye,
asked quietly.
“We’re
screwed!” Evan snapped. “We needed Joven to get in and now he’s
dead. We’ll never find a way in now.”
“Shut up,
Evan!” Wesley retorted. “We’ll find another way.”
He
approached Abby, his eyes dropping to her naked breasts, and Val growled
warningly. Wesley ignored him and stripped off his shirt, handing it to
Abby. She pulled it over her head, smiling sweetly at him, and a surge of
jealousy shot through Val.
“We need to
get this carriage off the road before someone sees it.” Wesley said.
“Where is the driver?”
Faren,
leaning against the carriage, studied his fingernails. “I was
thirsty.”
He grinned
and pointed to the side of the road where the driver’s crumpled body could be
seen. “I’m afraid I may have drunk a little too much.”
Val cursed
loudly. “I told you not to kill the human, Faren.”
Faren
shrugged. “You’re not the boss of me, Val. I agreed to help you at
the risk of my own life. Why should I not take my reward?”
Moving with
a silent speed that Val had never suspected in her, Abigail stood in front of Faren
and held the dagger to his chest. “If you so much as look at me or any of
my friends, I will gut you like a fish and rip your heart out with your own
dagger. Do you understand me?”
“Oh I like
her.” Faren grinned at Val. “I can see why you wanted to go after
her.”
He gave a
squeal of shock and pain when Abby shoved the dagger into his breastbone.
“I am inches away from your heart, leech.” She whispered. “One
little push and you’ll be nothing more than a pile of ash. You do not
touch any of us. Do I make myself clear?”
“Perfectly.”
Faren whispered.
She yanked
the dagger from his chest, ignoring his wince of pain and the steady stream of
blood that began to flow from his wound, and stepped back. “They come
with us.”
“Are you
crazy?” Evan gasped. “They’ll kill us while we sleep.”
“No they
won’t.” Abigail replied. “Besides, we’re going to need them.”
She reached
up and stroked Violet’s thin leg and the pixie grinned happily before kissing
her neck. Val stared silently at the woman standing in front of
him.
“What the
hell happened to you, Abigail?” He whispered.
She stared
grimly at him. “I stopped being afraid.”
* * *
Val stared
at Abigail from across the campfire. The three humans had carefully
manoeuvered the carriage into the trees until they became too thick for the
bulky carriage to go any further. Evan and the older man, Bill, had
disappeared and returned with three horses. Abigail had used the carriage
to change and Val couldn’t stop staring at her. She was wearing a plain
short sleeved shirt with a leather vest over it and tight dark cotton
pants. Knee-high leather boots completed the outfit. The pants
clung to her ass and he could feel his cock stirring in his pants at the sight
of her lush curves. A short curved sword hung around her waist, a knife
was strapped around her right thigh and he could see the handle of a dagger
sticking out of the top of her boot. Wide silver cuffs were around her
wrists and a band of silver around her throat.
He couldn’t
believe the difference in her. It wasn’t just the weight loss; it was in
the way she moved and the way she spoke. The Abigail he had known before
had been a frightened little mouse. This Abigail had an aura of
confidence and strength that he hadn’t known existed inside of her.
He was
desperate to take her away from Faren and the others. He could barely
stop himself from touching her, but when he had tried to sit down beside her
she had given him a warning look and immediately moved to the opposite side of
the fire. She had sat down on the fallen log next to Wesley, smiling
fondly at him, and Val had to tamp down his urge to kill the man.
“So, this
is cozy.” Faren grinned at the group before checking the wound on his
chest. It was nearly healed and he gave a grunt of satisfaction before
peering interestedly at Val who was still staring at Abigail.