CHAPTER 14

Vita

THE WALLS WERE CLOSING IN.

That's how it seemed, anyway, as Vita ran down the hallway, like the maw of an animal was going to swallow her whole. Was it three doors, or four doors away? She tried the third one and was relieved to see the room they put her in before.

She slammed the door behind her and leaned against it. There was no lock, at least not on the inside, and she contemplated barricading it with her desk, though she couldn't imagine that would make much of a difference.

The room was dark save for a single flickering candle and the moonlight filtering in through the window. Someone had placed her wooden trunk of clothing and personal items at the foot of the bed, extracted from her former employer's villa. Vita edged away from the door, slumping down into the wooden chair.

She was in the home of… well, some sort of monster. The High Consul had sprouted fangs and drank the blood of two people. Not normal behavior, and this was coming from her, the strange one who had magical surges she couldn't control.

The red eyes, the cold skin, the blood… Vita knew the name of such a creature, though she always assumed they were just fairy stories.

The High Consul was a vampire.

An undead being who lived in darkness and fed on blood. They weren't just fairy stories, but real. It was the only thing that made sense, and yet it was utterly absurd. But Vita's eyes had not deceived her.

And the other two, the ones he'd drunk from… Were they his progeny? Living people who he'd killed, turning them undead? They had the same eerie red eyes and pale skin, had obeyed every one of the High Consul's commands with glee.

Vita pressed her fingers to her lips, unsure of what she was going to do. From one monster's home to another, and here she was, as helpless as ever.

The candle on her table was dwindling, and she could find no replacements.

Someone had set new underclothes on her trunk, but she slipped straight under the covers with her dress on. She wanted to be prepared if someone came for her in the night, but what she would do against a powerful vampire, she did not know.

Vita held the sheets up to her neck as she watched the candle melt away to a stump. An icy shiver ran through her as it finally extinguished, the dim room turning dark in an instant. She had the feeling she was being watched, all of her muscles tensing for an attack, her entire body trembling.

When she closed her eyes, she saw the High Consul's piercing stare, the sneer he delivered as she fled from his room.

Sleep eluded her, though she must have drifted off at some point, because the next thing she heard was her door clicking open .

Vita shot straight up, eyes wide as she awaited her intruder, but it was only Aurora.

Only Aurora , as if that woman wasn't just as dangerous as the High Consul, if not more so. She had another navy dress on, though this one was simple and flounced to the ground. Her arms were bare as she crossed them over her chest.

"Are you going to sleep all day?"

All day? What time was it? The sun streamed in through the small window, the stone floor streaked with dappled light. Vita rubbed the bleariness from her eyes, the fitful night of sleep doing little to quell her fatigue.

Aurora walked over, sitting on the bed next to her.

"What time is it?" Vita asked, still in a daze.

"After ten. I would have thought you were used to being up early as a servant." Aurora narrowed her eyes, the same expression of scrutinization she always seemed to deliver.

"What am I doing here?"

Might as well come out and ask. Nothing was clear, not the High Consul's interest in her or the reason she was here in his palace. A tangle of a mess that she couldn't even begin to unravel.

Aurora had not been unkind to her. Aloof and a bit intimidating, sure, but not unkind. Perhaps she would tell her the truth and explain what the Hells he wanted from her.

"That remains to be seen." Aurora paused, as if weighing an answer in her mind. "He enjoys your company. That should be enough of an explanation."

"Is he going to kill me?"

"Kill you? Why would he do that? No, girl, you're safe here."

"He won't… bite me?"

Aurora laughed, melodious and full of mirth. "No, he won't bite you. Not unless you want him to ."

Vita's eyes went wide, trying to determine whether or not the woman was telling the truth. But what reason was there to lie? Perhaps she was safe here, at least safer than with Amulius .

"Now, get dressed. Someone will show you around the palace, and Renatus requests you dine with him this evening." Aurora stood up, giving Vita some space.

By requests , she meant demands .

"When will I be informed of my duties?" Vita asked as she got out of bed, following the woman.

The air was stale, as if no one had taken residence here for many years, and her throat was parched. She'd open the window later, get a nice breeze going. At least the stone walls kept the room pleasantly cool.

"Duties? You won't have any duties." Aurora cocked her head in confusion, her plum braids cascading down her neck like a waterfall.

"Am I not to be one of the High Consul's servants? I am proficient at cleaning and serving. I can cook, though it is not my expertise."

Aurora just laughed again, as if it were the funniest thing in the world. "No, dear, you are not one of the High Consul's servants. He has plenty of those already. Get dressed. I'll send in your maid. She'll bring you to the baths to wash up."

With that, she turned on her heel and glided out of the room.

Well, Vita was already dressed, albeit in the clothes from yesterday, but that would be fine for now. The more pressing matter was what to do about the High Consul. He didn't want her as a servant or a consort, so what did he want? She thrived on knowing what others expected of her, what her duties were, and who she served.

Everything about this situation was… odd.

At first, she had thought Aurora to be one of the High Consul's servants, but no, she appeared to be much more than that. A partner, or confidante of some sort? A lover, perhaps, though clearly not one who was jealous of others.

When she lived with Mariana, she wasn't a servant, though she did many of the chores. The woman was old and had some trouble getting around. Vita never minded helping her or taking on the brunt of the housework, though Mariana did the cooking. She always had a clear expectation of her role in a household, and now that was all gone .

The High Consul was kind one moment, and spiteful the next. His kiss was soft and sweet, and then he forced her to watch him with his progeny, ordering her to leave when he'd had his fill. It was impossible to know what he wanted, what he expected, and that put her on edge.

At the same time, she could feel her body humming with anticipation, a flicker of heat between her thighs as she recalled the way the High Consul had fucked the woman, how he'd used her mouth, how he'd fed on the man.

Why did she want those things? From a monster, no less. A monster who could have his way with her, drink her blood if he wanted to. Somehow, the idea ignited the flames even further, tempting Vita to press a hand between her legs.

A timid knock at the door roused her from her thorny thoughts, all twisted together like a rosebush. Before Vita could answer, a woman walked in, a gentle smile on her face. She was older and quite tall, with ash brown hair braided neatly down her neck.

Her voice was quiet as she curtsied. "Shall I show you to the bathing room now?"

So this was her maid. She had a maid now. This was something that was happening.

"That would be nice, thank you." Vita paused, then remembered her manners. "What is your name?"

"Livia," the woman said, as she curtsied again and led her through the door.

The hall was empty as they walked down it, the opposite way from the High Consul's room. Livia guided her through an archway and another door, which revealed an open air bathhouse.

The beauty before her took the breath from her lungs. A round bath built into the ground was the focal point of the room, steam rising from the balmy water. It was large, much larger than any bath she'd ever seen, even the main one in the Praetor's villa.

Marble walls enclosed the open space, the midday sun warming the stones underfoot. Vita could just see the tops of the trees over the exterior walls. Two open archways flanked the main entrance, but she couldn't tell where they led.

The room was empty, save for her and Livia. The maid held her hands out expectantly, and Vita wasn't sure what she was supposed to do.

"Your clothes, Domina."

Oh. She wanted her to undress. Right here. In front of her. Apparently, the people at the palace didn't believe in privacy.

"You can just call me Vita."

She removed her dress—the gift from the High Consul—and draped it over the servant's waiting arm. After a pause, she did the same with her undergarments.

Livia handed her a bar of soap that smelled of roses.

"There are towels and clean clothes for you," she said as she pointed towards a neatly folded pile on a stone table. "I will get these items washed. The privy is on the right and the sweating room is on the left."

She curtsied and exited the way they'd come in.

Vita was alone.

After a few deep breaths, she held her arms out; the sensation of sunlight warming her bare skin was delightful. She dipped a foot into the bath, then slowly made her way in, sighing as the warmth reached every one of her muscles. She wasn't sure what to expect, but maybe she could at least enjoy this bit of peace.

Birdsong twittered from the trees outside and she tried to relax, closing her eyes and letting the steam embrace her. She wondered what Verian was doing right now, if he had heard the news and was worried about her. She hoped she'd be able to leave the palace soon, so she could speak with him.

What would he think about what had happened last night?

What would he think about the fact that the High Consul is a vampire ?

Vita was still trying to wrap her mind around that. Monsters were real, and she was living with one. But Aurora's words had comforted her, despite it all. The High Consul wouldn't hurt her, wouldn't bite her, unless she wanted him to . The mere thought made her blush, the bath suddenly becoming too hot.

She took the soap and lathered her body and hair; the suds creating a pleasant aroma. It brought her back to the rose garden, and she remembered she could visit it in the light now. She had thought she would never see the High Consul after that night.

How wrong she had been.

When she was adequately clean, Vita got out of the bath and grabbed a fluffy towel, placing it on the warm stones so the sun would dry her. She must have drifted off to sleep, because the next thing she knew, someone was tapping her on the shoulder. She startled awake with a small yelp, eyes wide until she remembered where she was.

It was only Livia.

"Domina. Would you like some refreshment?" The servant gestured towards a tray set on another stone table.

Vita covered her chest with crossed arms, sitting up with a groan and moving to the pile of clothes.

She swooned at the lovely red dress, the color of newly plucked raspberries in a layered sheer chiffon. It was more beautiful than anything she had ever owned. There was also a pair of lacy undergarments, far racier than anything a proper woman should wear.

Pretty obvious who wanted to see her in those.

She slipped on the undergarments, then shimmied her way into the dress, enjoying the way it smoothed over her curves. She ran her hands along her soft belly and ass, the fabric pleasing to her fingers. The dress had a plunging neckline with flowing sleeves sliding down her arms, cinching her at the waist and brushing the ground. Satisfied, she sat down at the table to tuck into the food and drink.

There was a veritable feast before her. The scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, making her mouth water, along with a soft cheese drizzled with what appeared to be honey and jam. Sliced meats splayed on a plate, and a large goblet of water sat on the tray. There was also a carafe of red wine and an empty glass .

She took a big gulp of the water, then tucked into the food, dipping chunks of bread into the cheese. She jumped in her seat when Liva touched her hair.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Domina." She held out a hairbrush in explanation. "Is this alright?"

Vita nodded, mouth full of food, and closed her eyes with pleasure when Livia ran the brush through her hair. Gods, that was positively divine. She would definitely let herself enjoy this.

By the time she had finished her meal, Livia had wrangled her unruly hair into two braids and pinned them into a bun at her nape. Two tendrils of raven locks curled in front of her ears, framing her face. Vita excused herself to the privy and when she returned, the servant gave her a warm smile.

"You look very fetching, Domina."

A smirk tugged at her lips, though the Domina continued to make her cringe.

"I think the High Consul will be pleased with you," Livia continued.

With a few simple words, it all came crashing back to her. Vita had been enjoying her pampering, but she wasn't a guest. She was a prisoner.

A prisoner who still didn't know what her warden wanted with her.