Mistress's Gift

Chapter One

Mistress's Gift

My name is Erica. My title of a slave was given to me by the Rootlies family. I have lived in the role of slave all my life since I was just a baby. My father and mother were attacked by rogues on a feeding frenzy near my master's lands. When my master came to pass the sight he chooses only to save me; letting my mother and father be the rogue's snack food without so much as a second glance at them. This was the tale the other slaves had told me since I came here and since I couldn't remember the day I was brought here this tale was all I had of my mum and dad. Every day I look up at the stars from the castle windows and hope they were drained quickly of their life.

I have never left the castle alone if I have no choice to go out alone master demands I stay under a cloak. I only ever asked once why I needed the cloak and the Rootlies family members I serve all replied the same. "The reason is you're not worthy to be seen by the kingdom," they all told me. The true reason was my hidden birthright as the rightful ruler of the second strongest clan. My clan was called the blood lust but I never knew why the clan was given that name.

"Erica where are you girl?!" one of my masters shouted invading my thoughts. He sounded mad; no worse than that he sounded really mad. "Coming Master" I called out my room in the slave quarters as I started walking to find which master was calling me. "ERICA!!" the master's voice raged showing no patience at all. I sighed picking up the pace in my walk before I could shut myself up I yelled without thinking "I SAID I AM COMING!" I kept my pace increasing to reach the voice. "Great, now you have done it Erica" I mutter to myself as I get on the same floor in the castle the voice is calling from.

I picked up my pace to get to the voice quicker but stumbled backward and fall on the ground walking straight into something. "Sorry Sir, I was trying to get to one of the masters" I spoke in a sincere tone. The person I ran into laughed with an icy tone before speaking to me "I know Erica the master calling you was me after all". I looked up to see Master Fang in front of me. This isn't going to be good. I could tell by his stone-cold emotionless face looking at me. I crawled back slightly since I hate vampires so close to me. "Up Erica and follow me now" He ordered. I got up and followed him to his office. I hate being in here there so much dried blood around from where he takes his anger out on the slaves as the scum calls us.

"What is it you need Master Fang?" I asked politely just wanting out. The stink of the dried blood was already choking me when I attempted to breathe in the place. I kept my head down as I closed the door behind me. He jerked my hair down to make me face him as my head flew up and red flashed across his face. His soulless eyes piercing mine as I dragged my hair freeholding in a scream. While the clutch he held on to ripped from my skull in the progress.

"First of all how dare you think you can speak to me as you did earlier!" he spat at me angrily. "I am sorry master Fang I spoke without thinking" I lifelessly replied with no sign of guilt in my earlier action. I only apologised to get the conversation over quicker to get out of the presents that disgusted me so much.

A slap came across my face as avoided his gaze. A stupid vampire with his increased speed just reminded me so much more why I have always have despised the bloodsuckers. The other slaves always tell me I should be thankful I was saved to serve these monsters. What is there to be thankful for? I mean if they let the rogues have me like they had my parents at least the pain would be over by now instead of me just repeating it daily in this hell hole.

My surroundings became an image of the past as questions started queuing up in my head. Surely if you save even one parent the child would work that much harder to thank the masters. I never saw what my parents looked like or sounded like. Why only gain one slave when the master could have had three slaves in one sweep? They wouldn't have to pay for them either since they would owe him a great debt for saving them. This means they wouldn't have to worry about dealing with my misbehavior either. If my parents were old enough to have me then they could have given him more free slaves.

"Your wondering again" master Fang snarled at me causing me to snap back to my twisted reality called life. "It's just strange master that you only saved me from the rogues when you could have gained so much more by saving my parents too." I annoyed him with my statement; it was easy to see but I am sixteen years old that grew up on a story that just didn't seem to fit. He gave me a glare of pure hate as he spat out "there was no need for your parents." My rage boiled as I snarled at him and went to walk off.

"Erica, what are the rules a slave lives by in this home?" he questioned me causing me to stop in my tracks. I sighed as I turned back around to face him. "Well?" he smirked having fun at making my life a misery. I growled under my breath and started to repeat the rule I knew he was referring to "A slave must never question a master's actions or demand their choice to change." Master Fang smirked more with amusement. He stepped closer to over tower me demanding "I said rules, Erica. I didn't say rule so carry on." I glared before finishing panting out of breath "We must do what we are asked to do without complaint. We were wearing collars when we go out. We expect nothing from our masters. We do not speak unless spoken to or given permission. We do not look our masters in the eyes or touch them. "

"Good girl Erica, now listen we have a meeting to attend so behave and don't start!" Master Fang informed and warned me. "Yes, master" I simply replied since this was not normally a slave never was summoned for a meeting. The vampires saw us a too low class to even be seen near any sort of meeting. I couldn't help but be on edge from it since the only time they send slaves to meetings are when there are arguments over whose property the slave would be marked as.

Master fang reached for my raven black hair stroking it as he looked down at me. I moved my head away and attempted to head for the door again. Master Fang soon dug his nails into my arm to stop me. "I didn't say anything about you could leave Erica" he snarled as he jerked my body back to finish talking to me. "The meeting is for your marking we will make the chose to if you go into the program or we let you have a slave partner after" he finished.

The thought of the program he meant angered me greatly. The masters let some slaves have a partner because it made them obey more and less trouble. We would obey more so we didn't get sold or tore apart. This was one method they came across accidentally but used to their advantage. However, if you were a slave the masters hated or didn't disobey to the master's standards you were put in the program to learn your place among vampires.

The program was basically for the slaves who still refused to accept their place in the vampire community. You have to carry a child with another slave of the masters' choice. The child was taken off you at birth and raised by the other slaves while you waited for the next slave to be chosen. This process repeated over again and again until the masters were happy you learned your place. Normally this wasn't decided to the girl was eighteen but guess I will find out today.

I just glared and began growling at him. "Slave you have time to come to terms with your future don't be scared about it. Your blood just smells so much sweeter when that heart of yours is beating fast" He teased as he moved closer to me with a lead. "You're a waste of filth!" I screamed at him punching his chest before backing away slightly being pulled back to reality. I ran towards the doors quickly and hid around the corner.

"Your temper still needs work Erica and a lot of it. You are to never touch a vampire and now you will learn the hard way" he told me with a strict tone. He grabbed me by the throat because I could run again. "Yes master" I replied politely to attempt to avoid whatever it was the sick twisted bloodsucker was planning. Unfortunately for my luck, it didn't work and I was thrown at the office wall. I didn't bother looking behind me I was surely bleeding after that amount of impact to the shoulder.

"SIT NOW YOU LOW LIFE HUMAN" Master Fang barked at me. I pushed my back against the wall as I leaned on it for support to get up. I went and sat in the corner thinking he would leave me be to reflect on my behavior in till we had to go. If he was getting the lead out we must be attending this meeting there is a chance for me to run at. I was wrong, very wrong.

Fang snapped the lead on me only to wrap it around his hand. "What is it you want Master?" I asked trying to help my situation. "Isn't it easy to tell Erica? I am going to show you just how much choice you have in your life. Also, show you the most important fact of being a slave" he spoke leaning into my ear getting a tighter grip. "Your Master can do as they please with you and your blood" he finished scraping his fangs on my neck. "Master please, no" my voice came out begged as I was trying to back up further; but was only held tighter while the fangs plunged into my thigh.

I screamed at the shock of him plunging into a different part to what he scraped; as I looked to see if he was really drinking from me. My eyes were greeted with the sight of him chopping down on my wound sucking at my flesh. I turned my head away hoping it would make him let me go quicker. I am not one to give up without a fight but I have never been drinking before; so it's a shock to the system. One hell of a shock I may add easily. I hate these stupid vampires more than anything else. He pulled away pointing to the door.

"Happily" I raged storming out of the office and clasping my back against the wall. I heard master shouting after me "Now that see if you forget your nothing more than a slave". Master Fang closed the door I could hear him screaming in pain down the phone to someone. I can't lie I was insulated at his action as if my blood tasted that nasty and horrible.

Out of nowhere, Miss Satania came running down the hall. I wouldn't have known who the blur as if I didn't hear her squeaking voice. "Stay here Erica" she demanded as she went into the office. She must have been worried because she left the door open slightly. I heard them bickering to each over while Master Fang's voice sounded weaker with every word.

"You know you shouldn't bite her Fang! The girl is dangerous" Miss Satania scolded him. I heard a low hiss at her scolding from Master Fang. "It is still weak remember she doesn't know who she is or what she is. You can't punish her and let her just carry on with that foul mouth of hers; she will notice and be a spoilt, bratty, misbehaving slave forever" Master's voice came out frustrated. "We are just lucky she isn't an only child so there is someone else to rule" Miss Satania sighed in defeat as I heard her feet pacing the room.

Okay, this is just creepy cause there is another ruler the king and queen had two children and both were in that room. What the heck?! Miss Satania was trying to make it so I was punishment free for life. I chuckled to myself slowly "Bloodsucker knows me too well I sure would use it to my advantage". Anger grew in me the more I was not knowing what's happening.

Suddenly, a scream filled the air and it wasn't human so I walked towards it to be greeted with a grim sight. I stubbed back as I saw Master Fang's face cracked and black veins spreading from the corners of his mouth.

Satania snapped her head up at me just as Master Fang was coughing up black liquid falling onto his hands and knees. "Erica, I want you to go to Mitchell and get a formal dress for the meeting. You have 10 minutes only understand" Miss Satania instructed clearing wanting me out of the room. I knew her reminding me of the time was her way to say don't be a pain in the dress. I simply nodded and started making my way to find the tailor.

This day gets more weird and strange by the minute. The slaves never normally got any new clothes only hand me downs and to get them we would have to fight over them like animals. So for me to get a new dress made for me excited me too much to question what she was up to.

Master Fangs screaming died down as I walked down the hallways. Another slave I raised as my own called Ben pulled me around a corner by my shelf. He finished pulling at my shelf when we were in front of a cleaning supply cupboard. I gave him a giggle at his cheeky grin before getting down the clothes for him from the top shelf knowing that what he normally pulls me over here for.

"Little man, do you know where the tailor is?" I asked politely. "The tailoring room as normal" he answered me in an obvious tone. I giggled and ruffled his hair "Thanks and don't get in trouble you". I started running to the tailoring room with Ben pouting behind me about ruffling his hair up.

I entered the tailoring room looking around for Mitchell but couldn't find him. I sighed and turn towards the door when I shivered from the speed of one of them creatures rushing past me. Great, What now?

I couldn't see another human in the room but even with it being a gift from Mistress it was still new clothing. It was strange Mistress was normally taunting me about how she always had new clothing and I didn't. I spoke up to the empty room not wanting to waste the chance at new clothing "The Mistress has sent me for a new dress to attend the meeting in. I have to leave soon so she asked it be quick".

"Yes, Of course, Erica this way" a voice hurried me along from behind me. I spun around to see a short man with blonde hair and hazel eyes holding an aqua fabric in one hand and scissors in the other. Hazardously, I followed him to the center of the room with both excitements about having a dress made just for me and anxiety from his sudden appearance into the room. "Where did you come from if you don't mind me asking? I looked around and no one was here is all" I curiously inquired.

He moved like a blur around the room giving my anxiety reason to stir. There was no way this male slave was human! Before I could get a focus on this man I once thought was a human-like me I was getting tugged over somewhere. "What are......" I began but my question was cut off by a girl standing in the mirror's reflection looking back at me. The dress was simple yet stunning!

It was fitted at the waist then flowed out just above my knees. The top was half was square cut and had elegant long shelves. Even with the dress being just a basic aqua I felt myself feeling honored to wear Michael's newest piece. I turned to my side slightly and seen the dress was held in place by some teal ribbon that crisscrossed from the upper back to the waist.

"I am not human Erica by the way but I am not like the family of this house either. I don't treat humans as a lower class object. After all, I am still just as much of a slave as you" he said to me standing next to the mirror. His voice seemed to darken at the mention of the family and I felt my headache slightly. Once this meeting thing is done everything goes back to normal and I will be grateful. This day has been strange after strange and right now all I wanted to do was see the next moonrise.

"ERICA, GET MOVING NOW!" a voice raged from the hallway. I quickly gave a warm smile to the tailor in a sign of thanks and ran. When I found the source; Master Fang snapped a lead on my collar and started dragging me out the door. Do these bloodsuckers even think of the factor they have incredible speed and us humans don't?!