Gone

He pushed open the heavy wooden doors to freedom, glad to be out of the musty ancient cobbled walls of the court house. His taste had been the first sense to go after he changed, he was slowly losing touch but luck for him he still retained a sense of smell.

Marino inhaled a deep breath of sea air and went to put a saddle on his gigantic sea horse, the latest and fastest model that he paid a bag of gold doubloons for and the sea horse was worth every penny.

The day was unusually warm and they were getting a lot of sunlight, which was unusual for that time of year. He loved how the sun reflected brightly on the crystal waters and appreciated the ripple in waves.

He felt a glimmer of anticipation at the thought of going home and basking in the warmth of Juri's body heat. To this day he still didn't have a clue what about Juri that captivated his senses so easily but he felt like the more attached he got to her.

The more he felt purpose and like his inner senses were being reawakened and he could live vicariously through her. As he reflected on it some more, he gave due thought to the basis for soulmates.

Marino had never given credence to it before but after meeting Juri he began to change his mind. He knew he was bonding with her as a human, something that could get him killed or a face worse than death stripped of his nobility, wealth and ostracized by the Vampire community but he was willing to risk it all for her.

There was one way to get out of the situation and that was to convert her to a Vampire. The vampire would have nothing to say if she was turned but he wanted it to be her decision. He wanted her to want it for herself and not something he forced upon her.

Back in the day he would never have been concerned about a human's feelings but the more he grew to know Juri, the more he appreciated both the good and bad about her. She was far from perfect but she was his and he would do anything he could in his power to keep things that way.

Marino hurried home from the Vampire Council's meeting that had been called due to the increase in Merfolk attacks after the recent calm. Everyone was agitated and tempers were flaring as those who wanted to get revenge versus those that just wanted to wait and see.

He was glad when it was over as he made his way home, he was stopped by some human kids selling chocolate cookies, he bought some for Juri and for Eileen. He felt guilty for not visiting Eileen more but with Juri and his duties he was very busy.

One of the kids in particular caught his eye because she made him think of a younger version of Juri. He knew it was impossible now but a part of him secretly always wanted a child.

Now that Juri was in his life those feelings returned tripled and he couldn't help but wonder had he been human what a child of his and Juri would look like.

After years of training and hard work he finally landed a seat for himself on the Vampire Council and he looked forward to reaping the rewards and maintaining his position on the council for a long time.

He kept his life private and personal and with the exception of Blake he didn't have any other close friends. He and Blake had fought in the Napoleonic Wars together and had a mutual long standing friendship that spanned decades and stood the test of time.

It was he who, despite his better judgment, intervened on Selene's behalf thanks to Juri's endless nagging. Blake would never have taken a house slave other wise if he had not lost a gambling bet to Marino.

Unlike Marino, Blake saw Selene for what she was a human blood slave, she was only their for food and a good time. She was good in bed and managed to keep his attention with some new tricks in the bedroom.

He would never dream of marrying his blood slave. He had plans to marry for gains, he was ambitious and there were many beautiful female vampires from noteworthy houses that could boost his station as a politician and new player in the Vampire King's court.

Blake had only disgust and disdain for Marino's obsession with the human Juri. He advised his good friend to sell Juri countless times because she was a needless distraction for him when he just gained a seat on the council.

He tried hard to remind Marino of the hard edged Vampire he was that tirelessly and ruthlessly worked his way onto a Vampire Council seat. He let that dumb cuck Benson walk over him and for what?

Some ridiculous maggot he got in his head to give the blood slaves more rights and protection from the Vampire council. Most of the humans here below sea level were born into blood slavery.

They know no other life, they argued that they would just breed and turn to crime if left unmanaged. Benton suggested that the only way they would free the humans was if they conquered and subjugated the Merfolk race to take thier place.

"For far too long they have been a thorn in our sides, I say now is the time to trim that bush once and for all"

"Hear! Hear!" came the cries of agreement from the deafening crowd.

The chairman had to bang his gavel loudly to bring back order and civility to the room. All had started to talk and argue with each other at once. Marino had enough of the nonsense by that time. He just wanted to go home and curl up in bed with Juri, domestic bliss had been growing on him for some time now.

Some of the council members were still in stuck in the past where they ruled supreme and everyone pledged fealty to them, they would balk at the idea of living without slaves, who else would do all the menial tasks and dirty work.

"Where was that savage just now?" Blake asked as he raised an eyebrow at him.

As they left the hall together after the meeting for the Vampire Council had been adjourned.

"Mind your own business," responded Marino cheekily.

"Juri, I'm home."

Silence.

That's strange why had she not come to greet him like usual. Maybe she was upset about something else now and was sulking in her room. Women you can't live with them and you can't live without them.

"Have I got a treat for you."

Marino was in a good mood and not even Juri's sulking could ruin his mood. She would come around after touching her a little here and there, she would be begging him to take her. The thought of her writhing in sexual frustration and unrestrained passion underneath him made him want her more.

He eventually pushed open the door to their bedroom, but like every other room he had passed along the way it too was empty. That's when he went ballistic and searched almost every room in the mansion from top to bottom but she was gone.

She had not left him, everything she owned was still there and nothing of value that could secure her a passage to the topside was missing. Yet there were no signs of a struggle or fight she had left on her own volition. Marino went down to the basement to the one place he had yet to search.

"Eileen, these are for you."

She sniffed and before she looked in the bag, she said, "thank you for these delectable chocolate cookies, but I can tell that something lays heavy on your heart."

"I'm that easy to read?"

"Only to those that know you well, what's wrong?"

"It's Juri she's missing."

"Oh, she hasn't come back from a visit with her friend Selene?"

She didn't get a response as just like a blur of wind Marino was already out the door. Damn it, Eileen you should have said that sooner, look how much time has been wasted. He knew Blake knew nothing of Juri's visit or he would have mentioned it.

Blakes place wasn't exactly in the best location, he always hated going to his place because it was near the fish market and everyone knew that at the back of the fish market, you could find a den of iniquity, for whoring, gambling and shady deals.

It was also the location for nightlife, wild parties and of course the auction where he bought Juri in the first place. If Juri wasn't back yet that meant something had gone wrong he could only hope her trail hadn't grown too cold.

Marino stopped by his bed stand to pick up his pistol that he had tucked at the back and that's when she saw and read the note she left for him. He tucked it in the pocket of his front jacket, that he also stuffed with extra cash for bribes and he was on his way to rescue Juri.