Chapter Ten: The Thrall

Aiera's POV

The moment her fangs sink into my throat, my body goes into survival mode. Something deep and ancient in me comes to the surface, my spine pulses energy.

I push her away from me. She flies in the air, landing on the other side of the room, crashing against some vases and furniture.

With lightening speed, I am on the other side of the room. I lift her by her neck up into the air and glare at her, my voice dangerously low.

"Never touch me like that ever again." There is fear in her eyes as she trembles under my grip.

"What are you?" She whispers.

My instincts are screaming at me to end the woman who threatened me but there is a small corner of reason in my mind that reigns that thought in.

Still, I tighten my grip around her neck, ignoring her question and growling instead. "Do you you understand?"

"Y-yes my lady." She chokes out, shaking her head repeatedly. The fire in my blood cools down. I release my hold on her neck. She drops down to the marble floor in a heap.

What just happened? I've never acted like that before. I didn't even know I had such strength. I'll think about later but first I need to make sure nobody finds out about this. Goddess knows how Ryean would use this to his advantage.

I turn to Rashva. "Make sure no one knows about what just happened."

"Of course, my lady." She offers me a bow.

I narrow my eyes at her composed appearance, not a stitch out of place. How she managed that in such is s short time is beyond me. I also suspect that her promise to keep this to herself will not last fir long. She agreed to readily. I have to think of some other way to silence her for good.

She is back to her composed self. It's almost like what happened in the last few seconds was a lie, were it not for the broken glass and furniture strewn around the room.

There's also something different in her eyes. When she first saw me, she looked at me as if I were the dirt on her shoe but now there is a hint of respect gleaming in her eyes.

Mikiel opens the door. Taking in the carnage around the room asks, "What happened?"

Rashva brushes off a speck of non existent dirt from her skirt. "Nothing, there was just a small mishap. The lady resolved it excellently well."

His gaze lands on the bite mark on my neck and then the handprint on Rashva's. He doesn't comment on either.

"Good." He says then proceeds to shut the door without so much as another question.

I realize that this must also be part of the numerous tests I had it pass. It seems the first one was gaining Rashva's recognition.

The fact that my handler who was supposed to protect me didn't bat an eye to my bite mark is proof enough that this was planned.

So it's either my handler isn't doing his job of well, handling me or he is been instructed to do nothing. My guess is the latter.

What I don't know is if this is a normal test that all members of the thrall have to undergo or if it is just peculiar to me. But perhaps what I'm most curious about is if these, 'tests' will continue and what will be Mikiel's reaction to that?

He genuinely seemed to care about someone he just met at the border or at least to a certain extent. Enough to help me with the guards.

It doesn't matter either way, whatever tests or obstacles they bring my way, I'm not going to take lying down. I initially planned to just lie low in the thrall but if this is going to be my day to day, I might as well kick butt in the process. I'll let them know that I'm no wilting flower.

"Allow me to introduce myself, my lady." Rashva bows to me again. I am not lost on the fact that she suddenly started calling me 'lady' after I had my hand wrapped around her throat.

"I am Rashva, the Steward of the Razar's thrall. I am to see that all members of the thrall have everything they need to survive." I raise an eyebrow at her ironic mention of survival when she just threatened my life. Her stoic expression doesn't give anything away though.

Her arm sweeps around the room. "This is the reception hall of the thrall, the chambers of the Razar's.....possessions." Possessions? That's an odd thing to call the Razar's concubines. I'm not lost on the subtle way she implies that i am now a possession.

Although the room is in disarray, the pure opulence of it is not lost on me.

The thick scent of incense wafts in the air and the soft glow of candelabras stationed at corners contrast against the scattered lavish furniture.

She flicks her wrist and a stunning woman dressed in pure white attire appears from the corner of the room that I would have was empty just a moment ago. She has golden tresses that cascade down her back and crystal blue eyes. She looks more like a consort of the thrall than a maid.

"This is Amara, she will be your maid. She will see to all your needs." The woman in question bows in deference. 

"Please follow me, my lady." She leads me through the winding corridors. We burst out into a brightly lit courtyard. I glimpse the most exquisite men and women I have ever seen.

They are all dressed in decadent satins and silks that leave nothing nothing to the imagination, a dressing style I have come to associate with a majority of the vampire court.

The strong scent of sex lingers with the incense. I don't have much time to gawk though. I hurry to catch up with her brisk movements.

"Your chambers, my lady." She bows at the waist, ushering me into the dimly lit chamber.

We enter a gorgeously decorated chamber. The walls are painted in turquoise and cream with intricate tapestries lining the walls.

A fire crackles in a large hearth, lending a warm glow to the room. At the center of the room, is a large canopy bed with the softest looking cream colored linen sheets. Lavish furniture are tastefully arranged the room.

My eyes widen at the opulence. I didn't expect to be offered such a room. Amara opens a door at the corner that I didn't notice.

"Your bathing chambers, my lady." Indignation leaves a bitter taste in my mouth as I am suddenly aware that I smell of several days sweat and blood is all over me.

The door opens to a beautifully appointed bathing hall large enough to contain at least ten people. The rose petals scattered around the milky water of the tub which cause fragrant steam to waft out. Smiling, I run my hands through the warm water.

"I will undress you now."

"No!" I snap. I should be able to take off my clothes, goddesssdamnit. Besides, I don't like the idea of being naked with someone I do not know.

She bows low, her tone tinged with apprehension. "If it is found out that I do not attend you properly, I am be killed my lady "

Is it really that serious? I give in and sigh, "Very well." I can't get someone else in trouble because of me. It's not like I didn't get similar treatment when I was in the palace with Kael.

She takes off my clothes quickly and gestures for me to step into the bath. I sigh deeply as I feel the warmth of the water envelope me.

Amara takes one of the scented oils lying beside the bath and applies it in my body, her touch cool and impersonal. I observe that she does not ask me what scent I prefer. I wonder if that is deliberate.

After the bath is cold and I am thoroughly clean, I step out of the bath. I notice Amara staring at my body with a critical, discerning eye, her gaze settling on my breasts and hips. She looks me in the eye for the first time.

Whatever she sees there cause her eyes to narrow, her gaze piercing as she asks. "Tell me, my lady, are you pregnant?"