Celebration

Roman

"Journey, sit still," Levi growled at my pet, as she sat there bouncing in her seat.

She immediately stopped bouncing and started playing with her new toys and her stuffed animal.

But less than a minute later, she was bouncing in her seat again.

"Journey," Levi warned.

"I can't help it," she whined, as she stopped moving again.

This had been going on for about 30 minutes now, and Levi was ready to pull his hair out. Journey was miserable because as we discovered about 10 minutes ago, through a little investigation on google, Sprite does have sugar in it. Never again.

"Journey if you don't learn to help it, I will punish you, myself," Levi threatened, as her face filled with fear.

"Levi, you will not punish my pet for something that is not her fault. I gave her the sprite. And we were warned what sugar does to her," I defended her.

"Father, she's being obnoxious," he groaned, looking down at her angrily.

Suddenly, Journey was up out of her seat, and sitting across from us with an irritated look on her face, and her arms crossed in front of her.

"I'm not ob-ob-obnoc.. whatever you said. I'm not that!" She shouted at Levi, giving him her best glare.

I thought it was adorable, but Levi did not agree. He always did have a stick up his ass.

"Journey, get your ass back over here now," Levi ordered with a glare of his own, which was not adorable at all.

She immediately obeyed, and when she got close enough, he grabbed her hand and pulled her over his lap.

"No, Levi," I shouted, as I pulled her up off his lap, and sat her back down in between us. "You're not going to spank my pet. She's only acting this way because of the sugar in her system."

He just rolled his eyes, and went back to scrolling through his phone, while I put her seatbelt back on her.

"Please try to be a good girl, Journey," I pleaded with her, trying to keep her out of trouble.

She nodded her head, and looked longingly at her toys left in the middle of the floor that she dropped when Levi caught her off guard dragging her to him.

"Levi, get her toys for her. You made her drop them when you grabbed her," I ordered, annoyed with my son.

He rolled his eyes, but did as he was told. She seemed a bit more calm after that. She still bounced some, but she would catch herself before Levi said anything.

We were all sitting quietly, when out of nowhere, Journey says, "Prince Levi said a bad word."

"What bad word?!" Levi scoffed, looking down at her confused.

"I'm not allowed to repeat it," she replied, looking at him surely.

"You can say it this one time," I said, as she turned her attention on me.

"He said ass," she answered and then looked down, almost ashamed of herself for saying it.

"Yeah, you're definitely not allowed to say that. But I shouldn't have said it either. I apologize for saying that, Journey," Levi said, sincerely.

"I'm sorry for being a bad girl," she said, as she looked back and forth between both of us, looking very apologetic. "Please don't kill me. I wasn't trying to be."

"What do you mean don't kill you?" Levi asked, shocked by her pleas. "We would never kill you for anything," he said, actually trying to comfort her.

"Ms. Young said that I had to be a good girl in order to stay alive. And I really want to be a good girl. I didn't mean to act the way I did," she practically cried, not feeling comforted at all by Levi's words.

"Journey, listen to me," I said, as I turned her body to face me. "You are a good girl, you just got hyper, that doesn't make you a bad girl. That means you made a mistake okay? And no one, for any reason will ever kill you. Even if you are a bad girl, we will just correct your behavior. You are the King of Vampires' pet. You never have any reason to fear for your life. Okay?" I gave her my best reassuring look.

"Yes master," she agreed, nodding her head.

For the next twenty minutes or so, she went between bouncing and sitting extremely still. Levi didn't say anything else to her. I guess he realized that all he was doing was scaring her, and that wasn't going to work with her.

She eventually wore herself out, and laid her head in my lap, and her feet in Levi's lap, and fell asleep.

I decided not to wake her up when we made it to the castle, I just took her up to my room, and laid her in her bed. She is going to have her own room, but I haven't had it made up just yet. So I put an extra bed in my room, and it's hers.

I decided to sit down at my desk and get some work done before it was time for dinner. I really needed to work some in my office, but I didn't want Journey to wake up alone in a strange place.

"Master," I heard a gruff little voice speak, as I looked over to see Journey sitting up, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"Yes pet?" I asked, amused by her sleepy state.

"Where am I?" She questioned, looking around my room, in awe.

"You're at the castle, in your bed, in my room," I answered.

"I don't have to sleep on the floor or in a cage?" She gasped, looking at me in disbelief.

"No, of course not. You will have your own room, once it's completed. It's connected to mine, through that door," I said, pointing to the door that connects our rooms. "It may take you a while to realize this, but being pet to the King means a life full of privileges beyond anything your imagination can think of," I told her, as I watched her stare at the door that I had pointed out to her.

"Wow," she awed, looking at the bed she was sitting on. "The sheets are so soft."

"I'm glad you like them, pet."

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, quieter than most knocks. I can only assume it must be a servant.

"Come in," I called through the door.

The door opened, and in walked a shy looking servant girl. She wouldn't look at me directly, as expected. All servants all told to never look at Royalty in the eye, it's supposedly a sign of disrespect.

I don't know if anyone told Journey that or not, but she has looked both me and Levi directly in the eye on countless occasions. Doesn't bother me though, I would rather know she was listening to me than her just staring at the floor.

"Your majesty, dinner is being served in 10 minutes," the servant girl announced, and then began to walk out the door.

"Hey, what's your name?" Journey asked, as she jumped out of bed, and quickly made her way to where the servant girl was standing.

"Willow ma'am," the girl, Willow answers her.

"I'm not a ma'am. I'm a pet," Journey replied, tilting her head and giving Willow the strangest look. "Can we be friends, Willow? My name is Journey."

Willow just stood there awkwardly looking at Journey, knowing that it was against the rules for servants to be friends with pets, but probably not wanting to hurt her feelings.

"Journey, Willow is too busy to be your friend, pet. But you will make friends with some of the other pets okay? We will find you some friends." I said, trying to get Willow out of the uncomfortable situation.

"Oh," Journey started, looking a little sad. "I'm sorry for asking that Willow. I didn't know that you were so busy. It was nice to meet you though," she finished, trying to look positive.

My little pet has a big heart, I can already see that. She hasn't had to go through the rigorous training to be a pet, and been told all the rules that they must follow. There's so much innocence left in this little girl, and I intend to keep her that way.

"Thank you, Journey," she said, as she turned and walked out the door.

"Come, Pet," I said, as I motioned her to come to my desk.

She immediately walked over to my desk, sat down on her hands and knees on the floor, then looked up to me expectantly.

"No, why are you on the floor?" I asked, as I reached down and pulled her back up to her feet, and into my lap.

"Well, Ms. Young said that all pets are supposed to sit on the hands and knees at their Masters' feet," she replied, looking down shyly.

"Sweetheart, I think you better forget about what all Ms. Young told you. Pets in the castle are never required to sit at their masters' feet. You will notice at dinner, that most pets sit in their masters' lap," I told her, watching as her eyes widened in shock.

"So I sit on your lap? All the time?" She guffawed.

"No, not all the time. But if I call you to me, generally I want you to sit in my lap, while I talk to you. Or at dinner. And sometimes if you're feeling insecure, or scared, you can always just climb in my lap for comfort. But if you do not wish to sit in my lap, I won't force you. I just don't want you sitting on the floor. The floor is not entirely clean, and I don't want my sweet little pet sitting on it," I said, trying to clarify, but from the look on her face, she was more confused than ever.

"So do I stand all the time, when I'm not in your lap?" She looked totally lost.

"No sweetheart, there are couches and chairs all over the castle," I answered, kinda surprised by her question.

"Pets aren't allowed on the furniture," she scoffed.

"Well, they most certainly are allowed on the furniture in this castle," I explained, as she just looked at me in disbelief.

"Really?!"

"Yes, Pet. You can sit on any piece of furniture in this castle, except in the throne room. You do not sit on the throne. If we're in the throne room, then you will sit on my lap in there."

She just nodded her head, in understanding.

"Do you feel uncomfortable sitting in my lap, pet?" I asked her to make sure she was okay with it.

"Yes, I feel quite safe here," she nodded, as she smiled sweetly at me.

"Good. Now we are going to dinner, and I want you to be on your best behavior, okay? Try not to speak, unless spoken to. And I'm gonna need you to stay in my lap the whole time. Understand?"

"Yes master," she replied, giving me an assured look that she would be good.

"Okay let's go," I said, as I put her on her feet, and grabbed her hand to walk out the door.

"Where's my leash?" She asked, as she tugged back on my hand a little.

"You don't need it, unless we leave the castle to go somewhere." I told her, as I pulled her out the door towards the dining room.

"Oh," she replied simply, as she followed me.

Journey

We walked through what seemed like a million hallways, until we finally walked into a room with the longest dinner table I had ever seen. There was like a hundred chairs there at least. Some of them were full with different various Vampires. Lots of them had their pets in their laps, waiting for dinner. And some of them didn't seem to have a pet.

The room seemed to go silent, as soon as we entered, everyone bowing their head in respect to their King. Master simply nodded at all of them, as we made our way to the end of the very long table.

He sat down at the head of the table, and pulled me down on his lap, like he said he would.

"Who do we have here, father?" A man sitting to the left of us, with a pretty pet sitting on his lap, asked.

"Nico, Gracie, this is my new Pet, Journey. Journey, this is Prince Nico and his pet, Gracie," master replied, and I simply nodded my head in acknowledgment. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to speak or not.

"She's so tiny," Gracie said, as she looked me up and down, examining me. "Why is she like that?"

"Gracie, don't be rude," Nico scolded, as he gave her a warning pat to her thigh.

"I'm sorry. It's nice to meet you, Journey. How old are you?" Gracie didn't seem sorry.

I looked up to my master, as if to ask permission to speak, and he nodded at me.

"I'm 10 years old. How old are you?" I replied.

"I'm 17. Aren't you way too young and little to be a pet," she scoffed.

"Gracie, enough," Nico growled, as he smacked her thigh a little harder this time.

"I'm sorry, Master," she replied, as she put her head down.

I also put my head down in embarrassment because of her statement. Was I too young and too little to be a pet? Why did the King want me, then.

"You're an absolutely adorable, pet, Journey," Prince Nico said, as he put his hand under my chin pulling my head up to look at him.

"You definitely are, pet," master said, as he put his hands on my shoulders and gave me a reassuring squeeze.

I just nodded my head, as I glanced over at Gracie, who was giving me a horrendous look. I have a feeling, she isn't going to be my friend. More like my enemy, I'm guessing.

A few seconds later, Prince Levi walked in, and sat down on his chair to the right of master, and pulled a very pretty girl, down in his lap.

"Journey, I would like you to meet my pet, Daisy," Prince Levi said, once they were settled in their seats.

"Daisy, this is the King's new pet, Journey. She's a very sweet girl," Prince Levi introduced us.

"Hi Journey," Daisy chirped, as she reached out to shake my hand with a sincere smile on her face.

I again, looked to master for permission, and he nodded.

"Hey Daisy, nice to meet you," I replied, and shook her hand.

"You are so cute, Journey. How old are you?" She asked sweetly.

I instantly frowned, and put my head down, not wanting to answer her question, because Gracie was so mean about it.

"She's 10 years old, Daisy. Way too young to be friends with us," Gracie scoffed from across the table.

"That's it," Prince Nico said, as he stood up, and grabbed Gracie's hand, and lead her out of the dining room, with her begging not to go the whole time.

"Don't worry about her, Journey. She's just a mean girl. I'll be your friend, I don't really care how old you are. I was just curious," Daisy told me, very sweetly.

"You'll be my friend?! Oh my gosh, I can't believe it," I squealed, excitedly.

"Okay girls, calm down. I'm glad you're gonna be friends, but we don't wanna get too excited at the dinner table," Prince Levi warned.

"Yes master," Daisy said, at the same time as I replied, "Yes sir."

"Oh Genesis, you are gonna love the King's new pet," Daisy said, as another man sat down next to Prince Levi and pulled his beautiful pet in his lap.

"Hey, I'm Genesis," she smiled at me sweetly.

"I'm Journey," I said, excitedly without looking at master for permission. He didn't say anything about it though, so I guess it wasn't a problem.

"Aren't you adorable. We could have so much fun, dressing you up," Genesis said, while Daisy nodded excitedly.

"Journey, this is my other son, Prince Jace. And you have obviously met his pet, Genesis," master said.

"She's so cute, father," Jace started, looking at me, "where did you find her?"

"At an orphanage. She's only 10 years old, but something about her, called her to me." Master answered.

"He's already treating her like a daughter," Prince Levi announced, looking over at me sternly.

"Aren't you the lucky girl," Genesis smiled at me, sweetly.

"So where are Nico and Gracie?" Prince Jace asked, just as the servants came out and started serving the Vampires their plates.

"Gracie is probably crying many tears of regret at this very moment with a very red bottom," Prince Levi answered, as Daisy nodded her head in agreement.

"What did she do this time?" Jace asked, as he began digging into his steak and baked potato.

"She was being very rude and disrespectful to the King's pet," Levi replied, as he too started eating.

"Gracie is very lucky the King didn't decide to punish her, himself. He would have definitely been harder on her than Nico would be," master announced, while he cut a piece of his steak off and brought it to my mouth with his fork. "Try this, Journey."

I took the piece of meat off the fork, and savored the taste in my mouth. I didn't even want to swallow, it was so good.

"Did you like that?" He asked me, looking at the side of my head.

"Yes sir. Very much," I answered, nodding my head vigorously.

He suddenly stopped a servant that was walking by, and said. "Please bring 3 more plates with steak and potatoes out for these 3 pets. But I want one of the steaks cut into small bites, as I don't want my pet using a knife," he told him, and he nodded and walked away.

I looked over to Daisy and Genesis, who were openly staring at master with slack jaws. They were obviously in shock, and I was as well. Both of the Princes were staring at their father in shock, as well.

"What?!" Master asked them. "I want to celebrate Journeys first day here. And her two new friends get to celebrate too. They immediately accepted her, and were nice to her, so they should be rewarded," he announced.

"Oh Gracie is gonna be soooo mad," Genesis giggled, as both she and Daisy smiled at me with wide genuine smiles.

"That's the point, I think," Prince Jace smirked. "You two, be sure to rub it in her face, when you see her."

"Oh we will," they both chimed, simultaneously.

"Good," Master said, smiling at both of them mischievously, as he took a sip of blood from his silver and gold chalice.

Soon, our plates arrived, and as the King ordered, mine was already cut into small bites, so I didn't have to learn how to use a knife today.

"What's this?" Prince Nico asked, as he returned to his seat, without Gracie. He waved his hand in front of our plates, looking at his father curiously.

"This is a celebration of Journey's arrival here. Daisy and Genesis were allowed to participate because they were nice to Journey. They treated her well, without being told to," Master answered him.

"Oh I see. Well I must tell Gracie of this as soon as I return to our room," Prince Nico smirked.

I looked up at master, wanting to ask something, but no one had spoken to me, so I couldn't.

"Did you have something to say, Journey?" Master asked, when I caught his attention.

I nodded, and he granted me permission.

"Prince Nico," I started out, kind of shyly. "Is Gracie okay?"

"She will be fine, Journey," he said reassuringly. "She just had to be put back in her place. She knows very well not to disrespect the King's pet, but she chose to do so anyway. So she had to be punished."

I only nodded, going back to my delicious food that I never expected to ever eat. I was so happy that Daisy and Genesis got to have some too.

"How did you punish her? I want to make sure you handled it adequately, or I will finish the job, myself," master said to him.

"Well, naturally I spanked her, father, with a belt. And now, she is in time out for the next 3 days," Prince Nico replied.

"What's a time out?" I squeaked, suddenly worried about Gracie.

"Well, that means she has to sit in our room for 3 days. Her meals are brought to her, but she is not allowed in her own room. She has to stay in our room, where there is no entertainment for her at all." Prince Nico replied.

"Oh okay," I nodded. It wasn't as bad as the time outs we got at the orphanage.

"What did you think a time out was?" Prince Levi asked, as he looked at me with concern.

"Well, at the orphanage, a time out meant that you had to stay in your room for 3 days with no meals, no baths, nobody visits you. You're completely alone. It's very scary," I admitted, as I looked around at all of them staring at me.

"Was it like that for you?" Prince Levi asked Daisy, appalled by the news.

"No master," she replied, shaking her head. "They must have started that since I left."

"Me either," Genesis said, looking at me with sympathy.

"How many times did that happen to you, Journey?" Master asked, sounding angry.

"Um, I don't really know. I got in trouble a lot, due to how hyper I am," I replied, not looking at his enraged face.

"Did anyone else in the orphanage go into time out?" Prince Nico asked me, as he also looked angry.

I just shook my head, looking down at my empty plate, worried that they were all angry at me.

"So, they basically just threw her in a room by herself because she was too hyper and they didn't know what to do with her," Prince Levi said, sounding furious.

"And they didn't feed you when you were on a time out?" Genesis scoffed. "I've been in time out plenty of times, and I was always fed."

"Me too. I'd rather be in time out, than get a spanking," Daisy nodded, agreeing with Genesis.

"I'll start an investigation immediately into that orphanage," Master said, angrily. "They will be lucky, if I don't shut the whole place down, and send the kids to different orphanages around the country."

"They obviously don't know what they are doing, if they can't deal with a simple case of ADHD. All she needs is some medication," Prince Nico announced.

"Ahh that's it. I can't believe I didn't think about ADHD until now. You're exactly right, Nico. You should get her a doctors appointment this week, Father," Prince Levi replied.

"I don't know about the medication they give them," Prince Jace started. "It makes them basically go numb. Like they have no personality at all anymore."

I looked up to master to see him contemplating on the information he was given. He looked lost in thought, so no one else said anything else about it for a moment.

"I don't know. I think I will give it a few weeks, and see how things go. If things get too bad, then I'll take her to see a doctor. I don't want to control her through medication, if I can help it," Master finally replied.

"That makes sense," Prince Jace nodded his agreement.

"Okay, well it's time to get this little pet ready for bed," Master said, as he slowly stood up, and pulled me up with him.

"It's only 8:30," Nico said, as he looked at his watch.

"Yeah, but her file said that her normal bed time is 9:00. She's only 10 years old, Nico," Master replied, as he took my hand and lead me out of the dining room.

"Do you know how to work the knobs on the shower?" Master asked me, as he pulled a t-shirt out of his closet, and handed it to me. "Oh and you can't reach the towels, I'm sure. I'll have to get them put on a lower shelf for you," he said, almost to himself, as he walked in the bathroom and handed me a towel.

"I don't know how to take a shower," I replied, as I followed him back into the bedroom from the en-suite bathroom.

"You take baths then?" He asked me, and I simply nodded. "Okay, so tell me how your nightly routine usually goes?" He asked me, curiously.

"Well, I just go to bed. I usually sleep in whatever I wore the day before," I answered, not really sure what he meant.

"Well, when do you take your bath?" He asked me, giving me a confused look.

"We get two baths a week. We take them whenever Ms. Young has time to help us," I told him, honestly.

"Oh wow. Okay, well here, you will take a bath every night before bed. Do you know how to run the water for your bath?" He asked, and I was ashamed to tell him the truth.

"No sir," I answered honestly, as I put my head down in embarrassment.

"It's okay, Journey. Just tell me how you normally take your bath," he said, kindly.

"Well, Ms. Young runs the water for me. I get in the tub, and she washes my body. And sometimes she washes my hair."

"Oh I see," he said, as he looked at me contemplating for a minute, before he picked up his cell phone and dialed a number. "Yeah, I need to borrow Daisy for a minute. Can you please send her to my room?" Then he hung up.

A few minutes later, someone knocked on the door, and master called for them to come in.

The door opened, and Daisy walked in with a sweet smile on her face. "How may I help you, my King?" She asked, as she closed the door behind her.

"I need you to give Journey a bath. Wash her body and her hair for her. I will get her a nanny in the next couple days, but for now, I was hoping that you would help us out," master replied, looking between the two of us.

"Of course, my King. It would be an honor to help sweet little Journey out," she replied, sincerely.

I knew she was laying it on a little thick, but it's probably just because she was talking to the King. I could tell she really liked me.

"Whatcha got there?" She asked me, as she pulled the t-shirt and towel out of my hands, gently. "Journey? Do you have any underwear?" She asked, giving me an odd look.

I only nodded, and pointed to my suitcase that was sitting at the end of my bed, on top of some old wooden chest.

She walked over to my suitcase, laying it on the bed, going through it.

"Oh this is so pitiful," she said, holding up my holy underwear, and I don't mean in the religious way, holy.

"Your Majesty, you really need to let your little pet go shopping. All of her clothes are ridiculous. Do you think Genesis and I could go with to pick out some really cute outfits?" She said, excitedly.

"Yes. If your masters will allow you. We'll go shopping tomorrow morning. But I want you two to remember that she is a little girl. She won't be wearing the little lingerie outfits that the older pets wear," he said, sternly.

"Of course your highness. We will have her dressed up as the cute little girl that she is," she answered, as she picked a pair of my underwear out, that had the least amount of holes. "Now, let's go get that bath done."

As soon as she finished bathing me, she dried me off, and put lotion all over my body. Then she put the King's t-shirt over my head, and it fell to my ankles.

"You really are such a tiny little thing," she chuckled, as she walked me back into the King's bedroom. "She's all ready for bed, my King."

"What about her hair? Shouldn't it be dry?" He asked, looking at her confused.

"Oh yeah, let's do that now, Journey. Sorry, I forgot," she chuckled, looking at master shyly.

We went back in the bathroom, where she lifted me onto the counter, and started slowly brushing the tangles out of my hair. This feels way better than when Ms. Young does it. I could fall asleep with how gentle she's being.

"Does that feel good?" She asked, chuckling at me.

"Yes ma'am," I replied, letting my head fall back.

"Don't call me ma'am, silly. I'm a pet, just like you sweetheart," she tickled my side a little, as she turned on the blow dryer, and quickly dried my hair.

"Okay, She's definitely ready now," she announced, as we walked out of the bathroom, hand in hand.

"Good," master replied, as he stood up, and walked over to us. "Daisy, I really appreciate your help. And I talked to Levi, he said that you can go shopping with us in the morning. Meet us in the foyer right after breakfast."

She simply nodded, and bowed, then walked out the door.

"Okay, it's time for bed, Journey. Come on," he said, as he grabbed my hand, and walked me over to my bed.

"How do you like it here so far?" He asked me, as he pulled the pink covers back, and I climbed in.

"I really like it a lot, Master. Thank you for having me as your pet," I replied, sincerely.

"Well you're a good girl, Journey. I'm proud to have you as my pet," he answered, as he put his head on my forehead. "Sleep now." He said, and I felt everything go dark.