Chapter 9

I finished up Alex's chores before heading to the infirmary to check on him. He didn't need to stay, but the last thing he'd want to do is stay with me.

I open the door to find he isn't there. I rush to my room to find him sweeping up glass from underneath the table the mirror was above.

"Thank you." I say, making him jump. He just nods. I see him hesitating, deciding whether or not to say some thing.

"I'm really sorry." He says.

"For what?" I ask. He pauses before talking again.

"For being so disobedient and breaking everything and causing you stress." He says quickly. He's standing there awkwardly, his hands shoved in his pockets.

"You can't forget I'm not your equal. I'm not only your master, but even vampires haven't gotten away with acting like that." I say.

"I'm really sorry." He says.

"But humans treated animals with respect. Fed them, didn't abuse them, and some were even part of the family. If you start showing respect to everyone around here, I will show you respect also." I say, grabbing his arms. This time he doesn't pull away.

"And that includes respecting yourself, and Mariah, who really cares for you." I say, rubbing my thumbs over the two bandages on his wrist from his suicide attempt. He tugs away but i grab his arms again, and don't let go.

"Ask me to let go." I say. He stops struggling.

"Let go" he says

"Respect?" I ask.

"Please let go of my arms." He says harshly.

"Nicely." I ask.

"Please let go of my arms." He asks, this time more kindly.

"Why? Is it touching you that's making you uncomfortable, or do you just not want to talk about the fact this is the third time you've tried to kill yourself since you've been here."

"Third?" He asks. "Arena, guards, and this." I say, running my thumb gently over the bandages, causing him to try to pull away.

"Do you just not like me touching you, or do you just not want to discuss the matter yet?" I ask again.

"Both" he grunts, continuing to pull.

"Stop struggling." I say. When he does as I say I let go.



I turn on the lamp by bed and turn of the over-head light and hop in bed.

"You need extra sleep." I say.

"Do I sleep in here?" He asks. And I nod. He lies down and curls up into a ball right in front of the door.

"What are you doing?" I ask. He sits up, looking confused.

"If someone opens that door your going to get hurt, not to mention tile flooring isn't very comfortable." I chuckle.

"You said to sleep inside of your room instead of outside, master. So isn't this where I sleep?" He asks.

"Woah! Master!? You went from calling me a leech to master." I laugh.

"Do I call you something else?" He asks.

"Master in front of people other than my sister or Mariah, but Jack is fine."

"Anything else?" He asks, clearly not wanting to call me by my first name.

"Either Jack or 'my lord and savior, the greatest being on the earth'" I say, grinning at him.


"Aw c'mon! That was funny!" I complain. Alex just looks at me.

"What's wrong with Jack?" I ask.

"I'm your slave, n-"

"Pet" I correct him.

"I'm your... Pet, not your friend." He says simply.

"Well that's too bad, Alex. You have to call me Jack."

"My name is Alexander, and alright."

"Alexander is a mouth full. I personally like Lex better than Al-"

"No! No way!" He interrupts. I glare at him until he apologizes.

"Alex it is. I'm a little tired of this. I am very kind. I haven't killed you, hurt you, drank from you, and saved your life. Be more appreciative." I say.

"Yes, master."

"I told you to call me Jack."

"Sorry, force of habit, Jack." He says.

"Well, where do I sleep then?" He asks.

"In my bed, just like the first night." I say.

"Wait what?" He asks, clearly upset.

"Don't worry, the only time I touched you was to pick you up and up you in the bed." I sigh.

He nods and starts to unbutton his pants.

"Woah what are you doing?" I ask.

"What do you mean?" He asks, clearly embarrassed.

"I said to get in the bed, not strip." I laugh. His entire face turns red from embarrassment.

"But, the first night-"

"I was seeing your previous owners by looking at your tattoos. And when you passed out from sleep medicine, I wasn't going to put your pants on for you. Jesus, if I didn't even touch you when you spit in my face, you think I'm going to use you as a sex toy?" I ask, now annoyed.

"How am I supposed to know!? Your a vampire, aren't you!? I'm only alive because I know stuff about the demons!" He yells. He's on the verge of tears

"Who told you that?" I ask.

"You said that's the only way I could be valuable, other than for my blood or my death since I've had so many owners." He says.

"What? No. I'm not going to kill someone for acting crazy because their scared." I say.

"IM NOT SCARED OF ANY OF YOU!" He yells. I sigh with annoyance. Why won't he just get in the bed.

"Mariah told me everything. I understand that-"

"What!? The bitch-"

"Hey, be nice" I say. He tries to hide his look of disgust but it's obvious there's nothing he wants to do more than kill me.

"Alex, come here. Right now." I demand. He walks over and hops in the bed, as far away from me as possible.

"There are bad vampires, and good vampires. There are bad humans, and good humans. Remember that, okay?" I say, pushing his hair out of his eyes. I notice he's crying.

"Is it okay if I touch you?" I ask.

"Your asking?" He asks. He looks shocked, as if I wasn't kind before. I guess he was so blinded by his anger and fear he didn't see it.

"Yes, I am. Is this okay?" I ask while rubbing his back. He hesitates before nodding.

"Good. Vampires kill humans, humans kill humans, humans some times kill vampires. Your being racist right now." I say, flashing him a grin. He laughs, and it's the first time I've seen him actually laugh, other than the time where he spit in my face.

Before he could stop me, I quickly kiss his forehead before turning the light off.

"Night, Alex."

"Good night, Jack."

Notes

So I've been studying my ass off this week. Thankfully I pre-wrote the story until chapter twenty, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to update. My hair has been falling out from a mixture of stress and not eating. I can't wait until the break.

Also, it's the second night of Chanukkah (or Hanukah, since it's a hebrew word there isn't a correct spelling) So yaaay presents!