Aubin Leclair was nothing more than a slave owner. The moment she accepted his hand, in the back of her mind, she knew it was wrong. She longed for attention, for love, for acceptance, and getting it from one man was never the issue. However, when she gazed upon a concubine selected by a coven of vampires, it struck her then the mistake she’d made.
Was it greed?
Absolutely, but she never would have held that against Aubin.
That night, he wined and dined her, giving her the impression of the luxuries the vampire community in Paris was known for. She would want for nothing and anything she needed, he would have provided.
Or so she thought.
That night, when he brought her home, he escorted her to the attic. The room was dark and musty. Light barely crept through the ceiling and the lone window was a small port type hole that had shutters across it. And they didn’t move. It was merely for decoration.
There was a twin sized mattress in the corner of the room with threadbare blankets, a small side table, and everything else belonged to Aubin.
She blinked and turned back to her vampire. “I don’t understand,” she had whispered.
He reached for her hand and squeezed it, then metal wrapped around her wrist, metal clanking as it snapped closed. When he dropped her hand, she glanced down and gasped.
“What is this? What are you doing?”
He grinned such a sadistic smirk it sent a shiver of fear down her spine. She backed away from him until the chain pulled at her arm.
“Welcome home, mon amour.”
She gritted her teeth and snarled. “I am most definitely not your love. You just wait until The Covenant hears about this!”
“And how will they hear about it, mon petit?”
She growled and pulled at the restraints. Pain shot through her arm and she cried out. Gripping her arm, she pulled it to her chest and stared at vampire before her. She had made a grave mistake accepting his offer.
Closing her eyes, Alexia brought herself out of her memories. It was midday in Paris, two weeks after her meeting with The Covenant. Opening her eyes once more, she stared out the window of her hotel room onto the terrace. The grass was green, and from her view, she could see the Eiffel Tower. At night, the tower was lit up with twinkling lights and it was a spectacular sight.
Although the sun was up, the air was crisp. She tugged her cardigan around her body a little tighter and absentmindedly rubbed the scar around her wrist, the one that was caused by the shackle given to her by Aubin.
Turning away from the window, she made her way through her bedroom to the desk. She took a seat and crossed her legs. A note from The Covenant sat unfolded next to the bedroom telephone. Picking it up once more, she looked over the heading, then the letter.
To Miss Alexia Daucourt,
Please be aware arrangements have been made for your stay in the Hotel Edgar until the annulment is completed. Upon that time, if you wish to resume your life as a concubine to a vampire, or vampires, the choice shall be yours. If you forfeit that right, we’ll request your services as a donor. The decision is yours.
As soon as the declaration has been delivered, word will be sent your way and the vampire Aubin Leclair will be dealt with accordingly.
Kind regards,
Silvia, Assistant to The Covenant Leaders
With a sigh, she set the letter back down and raised her eyes to look at herself in the mirror just above the desk. She wasn’t left with much of a choice, really. Become another concubine or a donor. Either way, she would never be free.
She frowned at herself and grew curious why a mirror would be placed above the desk. The lighting was horrible for applying any kind of makeup.
Why else would it be there?
Behind her, the bed came into view and she smirked. Of course, some enjoyed watching themselves in the mirror while they fucked.
Alexia could see the draw to do something like that, but it had been so long since she’d been with anyone intimately. Aubin tried, but he never succeeded. Thankfully.
She tugged at her sleeves and stared at the skin of her forearms. Faded scars and a few not so faded stared back at her. When she was locked up, in the darkness of not only the attic, but of her own mind, she began cutting herself. The pain reminded her she was alive, and it was becoming something of an addiction. She never cut deep, only just enough to draw a little bit of blood.
Was it like serving herself up to her vampire?
Probably, but that wasn’t the intent. She needed to know she was alive. She refused to be a victim. She would survive this vampire and having escaped on her own, she would be free once more.
Well, as free as The Covenant would allow her to be.
She glanced toward the bedroom door and curiosity grew what would be on the other side. Of course, the hallway, but she wondered, often, if it would be Aubin waiting there to kidnap her and bring her back to the attic room.
That fear kept her from touching the doorknob, but she couldn’t let him have that control. She needed to get past it and know she was strong. She would get through this, and he would no longer have that hold over her. She would no longer look over her shoulder to see if he was there.
At least, that was her plan. But for now, looking over her shoulder was one of the ways she could attempt to protect herself. She never knew when the vampire could or would show up, but at least during the daytime, it was less likely.
Vampires did not combust in the sunlight like it was portrayed in the movies, but their skin did burn. It was like a fair person being out in the sun without sunscreen. In a few minutes time, their skin would burn red. It was like that with vampires, but worse. Their skin could blister, but they would not combust.
Vampires walked in broad daylight sometimes, but they would always be covered, head to toe. Large, oversized hat usually gave away who the vampire was, especially during an overcast day, paired with a scarf in the middle of summer was like looking upon a moving target.
But most humans had no idea, and it was best to keep it that way. Imagine humanity realizing they were not alone.
Blood demons and vampires walked the earth long before humans did, dating back to the ice age era. It was crazy to think about, but considering the extremes the vampires could endure, it made sense.
With a sigh, Alexia stood and grabbed her sunglasses. She snagged her cell phone from the desk, compliments of The Covenant.
Room key in her pocket, she grabbed the door handle to exit and paused.
Could she do this?
Of course she could. But first...
She stood on her toes and glanced through the peephole in the door. No one was on the other side.
But could he be hiding down the corridor?
Now you’re being ridiculous.
With a deep inhale, she turned the knob and pulled the door open, then screamed, jumping back.
“Putain de merde,” a woman yelled, startled across the hall.
Placing a hand over her heart, Alexia let a laugh escape, then shook her head. “I’m so sorry,” she started. “I didn’t realize someone would be out here.” Nor did I see anyone.
“American?” the woman asked.
“Yes.”
“Welcome to Paris,” the woman told her. “And please, do not cry out like that again. It will draw unnecessary attention.” The woman glanced down Alexia’s body, then back up again, as if sizing her up, maybe judging her.
She was right, though. Yelling in an otherwise silent hall could draw the security guards nearby. No one needed that sort of regard. Then again, if she had the protection of the guards, then there was no way Aubin could get to her.