Fear

It was late afternoon when Soren decided it was time to prepare dinner. He and Avery had left Jordan alone with his family and had gone to help to get the place ready for the influx of people soon to come.

The biggest thing to get ready was bringing out all of the cots and blankets. The room in the basement that they had been using for storage had been nearly emptied. They would have to go out for more supplies soon. Soren had also decided that the bedrooms in the dungeon should be what they were using for storage since humans would not be allowed to enter.

This meant that he needed to do something about the humans he had locked up in the dungeon. He had pretty much come to a conclusion on what he would do with them. It was just a matter of waiting for the right moment.

Soren's ability to cook was limited, which was why he was making another casserole, or two.

"I want you to put together a cooking schedule. We have enough people coming that it's going to require a group of people to fix meals.

"We also need a set menu, it should be repeated weekly."

"Yes, sir."

Soren placed the large pan in the oven and took the second one from Avery, placing it on the top shelf in the oven. They were doing two batches at once. Even if they skipped the four locked up, they would still require a lot more food than normal.

"I'll remind you later and have you write it down. It would be a good idea if you started carrying a notebook around with you. We're going to start getting busy."

Soren started the timer on his phone and turned his attention to Avery. He had been pleased with how Avery handled their trip into town and had felt the urge to compliment him several times. Soren had decided against that, though, because he felt that giving too much praise too early would interfere with what he was trying to accomplish.

Soren reached out and pulled back the neck of Avery's shirt as he inspected the bite marks. Avery did not move, his only reaction was a sharp intake of breath and a sudden stillness. The reaction pleased Soren. The musky scent of fear was mixed in with the sweet and tangy scent that was uniquely Avery's.

"I'm thinking that I should find another spot to bite. There is hardly anywhere left here that doesn't bear my mark."

Soren traced a finger from Avery's right shoulder, around his neck, and stopped at the end of the left shoulder. It was clear what he meant by 'here' when he spoke. Soren took a step forward, pressing his body against Avery's, and leaned in to whisper. Soren's right hand moved up to rest against the side of Avery's face and back of his neck, his left hand moved beneath Avery's shirt to rest against his side. Even if Avery wanted to run, he would be unable to.

"Why don't you pick the spot? You've got a few more hours until we go to bed to think about it."

When Avery did not immediately say anything Soren pulled back enough to look him in the eyes.

"Hmm? Not going to say anything?"

Soren bit his cheek, a light nip that did not leave a mark, but it caused Avery's breath to increase and the color on his face to grow pale. Soren laughed and stepped back, releasing his hold on Avery, and pulled out the pack of cigarettes from his pants pocket.

"Come, let's take a quick smoke break before the food is done."

Soren looked around as they moved toward the front door. He could have sworn he sensed someone nearby. That was the downside of having more people around; a lack of privacy.

"I meant what I said, pick somewhere other than your neck and shoulders for me to mark."

"Y-yes, sir."

Avery's voice was shaky, hesitant. He had been lucky that his earlier silence had not angered Soren and did not dare take a chance a second time.

*******

Madelyn felt like her heart had fallen down an endless pit as she stepped into Fry's room. Fry had gone down to talk with her and they had both decided on Madelyn hanging out with Fry in her room. It would allow Madelyn to be out and move around freely while having someone there to intercede if she started to lose control again.

Fry had sent her up first and when Madelyn had walked by the kitchen on the main floor she had caught sight of Soren and Avery. It had surprised her. It was not like she expected anything after what had happened between her and Soren, but it still bothered her to see them together.

Fry came into the room not after Madelyn got there and held an ice cream sandwich in each hand.

"I discovered this in the dungeon's freezer the other day. Pretty sure Jordan was hiding them from the rest of us, the bastard."

Fry laughed and handed one to Madelyn then sat on the end of the bed with a bounce. Fry immediately opened her ice cream and started to eat it. Madelyn took a little more time opening her's as she carefully peeled the paper away.

"I was curious, where does Avery stay? I just sort of realized that I know where everyone else is staying."

"Hmm? Oh, Avery and Soren share a room. I do not question what they do in there. A big no there."

Fry shook her head and took a bite of the ice cream sandwich. She refused to ask about their relationship, or dig any deeper than a superficial level because she had a feeling that it would change how she saw him. Maybe one day she would be less inclined to think like a human and knowing the truth would not make a difference.

Madelyn steered the conversation to more light-hearted topics. A part of her was still stuck on what Fry had said and on what she had seen. It bothered her that Soren and Avery were together and Soren had not hesitated earlier when they had sex. She wondered if that was why he had been so cold afterward.

She was limited in her knowledge of others. She had grown up sheltered. Once she was old enough to leave and attend college she had been so focused on school that she had not dated. It had been a fluke that Logan had even gotten her attention. He had been the only man she had ever been with, and yet every time she thought of him all she could remember was the hunger that had consumed her and the chunk of flesh she had taken from his arm.

~Dinner is done, everyone gather out in the front yard to eat.~

The sound of Soren's voice in her head drew Madelyn from her thoughts.

"Time to go. I may steal another ice cream later, that was good."

Madelyn made an agreeing noise and followed Fry out of the room. She was not sure what the ice cream sandwich had tasted like, her mind had been so distracted that she had eaten it without tasting it. As they approached the front door Madelyn caught sight of Avery in the kitchen. When she turned to look she saw that he was alone and was stacking plates.

"Avery, I-I wanted to let you know that Soren and I… We, um, had sex earlier."

Avery stopped what he was doing to look at her, his head tilted to one side as if confused.

"Oh? Did you come to gloat?"

Madelyn's eyes widened and she shook her head, "N-no, no. I, uh, just wanted you to know that I hadn't realized that you and Soren were a thing. If I had known, I wouldn't have."

"What Soren does is his choice. I belong to him so I simply do as I'm told."

"What?"

Madelyn was not sure if she had heard him correctly.

Avery snorted, "I forget that you're new. Here, make yourself useful."

He handed her a plastic bowl filled with spoons and forks and picked up the stack of plates.

"To make it absolutely clear; I am Soren's property. I don't need your pity or outrage, it is what it is and I've come to terms with it."

Mostly, he thought to himself. There was a small part of him that hated his new life, hated living in a state of constant fear. He knew well, though, that there was no way out for him. Accepting his fate would make his life a little more bearable.