Marking Meeting

Chapter Three

Marking Meeting

"Just let me sleep" I groaned turning to my side trying to avoid the light. The surface that was under me left me as I fell and thumbed onto another hard surface. "Ouch!" I yelped as I fluttered my eyelashes slightly starting to wake. "Stupid thing" I called out holding my head checking for blood. Luckily, there was none so it must not have been a far fall.

I was laying on a wooden floor in front of some draws. I pushed my body up and sat knelt while my eyes adjusted to the light. I used the draws to pull myself up still feeling drained as the memories flooded back to me like water cleansing the confusion. This Luke bloodsucker bit me! My trail of thought was broken when a voice spoke from behind me "You are awake I see".

I snapped my head to it and stood up. "Where did you take me?!" I screamed at Luke not caring to show respect at this creature. Right now, I want today to be over and my tolerance of these things was wearing thin. "Slave of the Rootlies your Master is already angry. Do you really want me to tell him you're being bratty? If not I suggest you shut up and get over here!" Luke calmly ordered grinning at his own remarks. I walked over quietly knowing I had already got two of my kind in danger and I wasn't planning on any more joining them.

"Good filth, Now follow Fang and Satania are waiting" he barked his last order at me coldly. I hissed under my breath with my head down as I followed the sound of footsteps. The thing in front of me knocked on the door before throwing me over to Mistress Satania that keep a grip on my arm in till she got me to Master Fang. He quickly let me fall onto the floor in front of him. I held a growl back and glared at the ground.

"I take it this is the slave you wish to have your mark" A strange voice spoke clearly. I looked up to see we were surrounded by bloodsuckers quickly I bite my tongue to stop myself cursing at them. "Yes, this would be the filth"

However, Satania Rootlie is also asking her mark to be placed on the filth. So, we came to your clan for a final choice to be made as I know you will make the right choice old friend " Master Fang explains to the stranger. Mistress Satania huffed and everyone knew why imminently carrying on not showing any concern for their own. The females are seen as the lower class compared to the males in this culture. The result of clear to everyone whose's mark I was going to end up wearing.

Another thing was for sure; I knew this was going to be painful. The other slaves that had been marked before I would come back to their beds crying in pain from the after sting alone. It was something everyone being raised young by the other slaves were warned about. We were always told never to start basically 'asking for it's ahead of time always try and avoid that day as long as we can.

"Apologies for the delays the slave has caused us" Both the Rootlies spoke at once. "The reason we were late was that that thing bit me! Not me asking him to". My mouth didn't have time to finish spitting out the smart remark as a voice cut through the air sharply. "Name slave" it spoke demandingly.

"Erica" I quietly spoke as I looked around at the room filled with these things on higher ground than me. Their attempt at making me feel small but I know there is nothing lower than these creatures. "Slave to the Rootlies bloodline" I finished as Luke smirks at my good behavior. "Stupid bloodsuckers" I muttered to myself glaring at Luke evilly.

I felt a slap across my face as a hiss slipped out at Luke. "What the hell!" I yelped before realising the blow was from Master Fang. Mistress Satania was standing a few feet behind him most likely hoping she could get a hit in. "Now you see why this one nears branding early and why this matter needs to be addressed quickly before my authority is questioned" Fang Rootlies spoke angry down at me with a dangerous look.

"Yes, we do Fang and who was the useless creature hissing at?" one vampire asked looking bewildered with my attitude towards vampires. "Your son most likely Drake. The two had some conflict on the way up here" Mistress Satania emitted to the clearly disapproved vampire. I rolled my eyes at the mention of the annoying bloodsucker trying to be quiet.

"Seems your correct Fang" Luke's irritating voice chimed close. His hand reached into my hair and I jerked my body away from his hand. "I am not a slave to your bloodline! So, get off and stay off!" I hissed. "Shall we carry on with the meeting?" Master Fang suggested ignoring me and just passed me over to Mistress Satania. Mistress Satania twisted my arm behind my back and held me still. Unfortunately, Luke decided he was going to stay next to me.

Both the Rootlies started making their points and I let my thoughts take me away from the two's pathetic point-making. My attention snapped back when Luke jerked me from Mistress Satania and took me back to Master Fang. I hissed and pulled my arm out of his grip once we reached him.

"Erica, slave of the Rootlies, today you are to be branded under Fang Rootlies mark. He will from now on be your only Master. Let your Master's mark always be a reminder of your place of being pathetic filth on this earth's soil." Luke's father spoke down to me as if looking at an object of disgust or disease.

Luke grabbed me again holding me still as I struggled. "Stay still like a good little slave" Luke chipped in my ear. "Just be Lucky I lookout for the other slave's bloodsucker" I snarled lowly so my comment only hit Luke's ear. Luke hissed clearly annoyed at my disrespectful behavior towards him. I just smirked at him happily with myself.

Master Fang picks up an iron rod; steam clearly visible coming off it. Now I know why other slaves sometimes came back in tears; the after sting is going to be a killer alone! "Show me the filthy animal's back" Fang demanded. I started struggling more as two bloodsuckers approached me. One being Mistress Satania and the second another stranger. Both grabbed an arm each and slammed me onto my stomach, forcing me to the floor in front of Master's feet.

Not long after the air hit my upper back and the ground started to shake. I thought back to earlier the cracks on his lips and the dress followed by the blacking out. Master Fang must be up to something or just purely trying to freak me out. He has been there every time something strange has happened today. My thoughts were quickly broken as my upper back burned as if my spine was set alight. I struggled violently trying to get away from the instrument that dug into my skin. "Someone doesn't like heat" Master Fang mocked at my reaction as the other bloodsuckers in the room laughed.

Soon as what felt hours later, the heat was removed but the after sting was just as bad. All I could release was a sound of a whimper. "Get outside and wait there!" Master Fang demand. I got up and ran out of the room needing to get away from the things overpopulating the place. Today, was just creepy, and right now being in unfamiliar surroundings really didn't help my nerves. The unfamiliar surroundings mean I can't run or escape any threats without the risk of running straight into unknown grounds. My eyes started to tear up remembering the impression I made of Master after he saved me.

Once I got out of the room, I quickly began to done up the upper back of my dress to try and give it some protection from the wind hitting it. I hissed as the freshly burnt mark touched the fabric of my dress. While taking in my surroundings my eyes caught sight of an old window as I approached it thoughts were going through my head. He may not have given me just life but it's still surviving is it not? He also had treated me like dirt since I was little even when I first was grateful.

The things were still in there and couldn't care what was taking so long at least I had some time alone. I have never been to another vampire's town before for as long as I have been serving this family I have never had the guts to leave the town. I wonder how different this group of vampires town was. I quickly took one more look at the door to see if there was any sign of anyone leaving but I couldn't see anyone.

As my eyes scanned the hall I noticed a fresh breeze coming through the window and started walking to it. While I walked I let out a low sigh as far back as I could remember this had been a continuous battle. When I show I am grateful then they use it to their advantage to put me down anyway but he did show mercy when he didn't have to. Carefully lifting myself onto the ledge my breath was taken away and my inner battle was forgotten for now. The gardens looked beautiful containing every flower I have ever read about. Our grounds back home were dead and uncared for so I only read about the many types of plants and flowers from books that I manage to sneak out of the library.

Vampires are normally a creature of solitude. Even in the castle, the masters are rarely seen together unless it was because one is injured. However, right now I hope they have a party so I don't have to see that bloodsucker creature for a while. I have never seen the king at as it was forbidden for anyone but a selected few to serve him. Everyone targets a chance to says he is badly broken and passed responsibility to Master Fang in ill health and stays in one chamber. They say it is because his family prefers him to be kept away from Master Fang's choices. I wonder if any of his kind tried to fix their king...

The door opened sharply snapping me out of my thoughts as the oak hit against the wall. "Your Master is going to be a while. So, lucky you slave have me to keep you company in till my father and your Master finishes their discussion" an irritating voice informed me. I keep my eyes away from the owner of the voice and just simply replied, "The only way I would want to be in your species company is watching you turn to ash".

I was struck to the floor but ignored the action and just asked " What are they even talking about? Master never likes staying in anywhere with this many of you things around him". I sat up looking straight at him as he smugly replied "you". His answer made me shake and confused. Why would a gathering of bloodsuckers spent so long speaking about a human?

"I see, " I said shrugging it off to try and keep him out of my head as I stood back up. A breeze of wind hit my cheek and I returned to looking out the windows admiring the sight of the rich gardens below. Even though I couldn't see them in great detail as I could in books with dim lights along the garden paths their colours shone through even in this endless night. I don't know why but my curious mind took over and I couldn't stop the plea that left my lips. "Can I go outside pleased and see the garden, Sir?" I begged kindly and was greeted with a surprised look on the vampire's face at my sudden change in attitude.