Submitting to the Bloodlust

Party Ready

Mauri's POV

Ambrose is an extraordinary city. Knowing that it is just a few hundred miles from human civilization is shocking because it doesn't compare to anything I've experienced before. The streets are paved with dark bricks instead of asphalt. These bricks are laid in perfect lines, shifting from grey to black to create intricate patterns. Vibrant bushes adorned with flowers of every shade line the sidewalks. The contrast of the dark bricks against the natural colors is visually pleasing. I didn't notice it yesterday, but there are hundreds of shops that connect the castles.

Humans work in these shops, although they don't receive a salary for their labor. Apparently, serving the Ambrose community is considered a privilege.

"Do any vampires work in their city then?" I inquire to Demon.

"Not typically. Vampires don't need employment to sustain themselves. We are simple creatures with modest needs, so there's no necessity for us to work. However, many vampires own businesses both here and in the human cities nearby."

"So, do you own anything here?"

Demon nods. "I own a hospital two cities over and some of the shops here in town."

I figure he would own a hospital, but it makes me wonder if he only owns it for its blood supply. I know that vampires prefer to drink straight from the vein, but they also indulge in blood from blood bags. I survey the shops once more and realize that I can't easily distinguish between vampires and humans. "Umm, how can you tell the humans from the... blood-suckers?"

"Maurianna, please don't refer to us like that," Demon admonishes before explaining in detail about the humans in this city.

It's quite simple to identify humans from vampires once you know what to look for. Humans wear collars around their necks, with the color indicating their rank as servants. A green collar signifies a first-time servant, who is closely monitored by patrols. A silver collar denotes someone with freedoms similar to those of vampires; they are not owned and live here willingly. A black collar designates them as a pet or a vampire's slave, requiring an escort, and some even wear leashes. These humans are usually here against their will.

We are shopping for dresses for a party to be held at the black castle. Finding modest dresses in these shops has proven to be quite a challenge. Most of the dresses seem designed for a brothel, being body-hugging, strapless, and sporting high slits. Definitely not my style. Earlier, I found a modest green dress that was tasteful, but something inside me is screaming to wear red.

"Hello, madam. May I assist you in finding anything?" the boutique associate asks. She is not much older than me and wears a silver collar, like most of the women working on this strip.

"I'm looking for something red and tasteful. Nothing that suggests I'm looking to invite several men to my bedroom for an orgy."

My choice of words shocks my parents. "Mauri!" my mother scolds.

Demon simply shakes his head and chuckles. "She has a point, Liv," he jokes, pointing to a mannequin dressed in a black leather halter dress.

The associate disappears through the door behind the register. Moments later, she returns with an armful of red fabric, handing them off to my mom with a smile. "This is all the red I have. Let me know if these won't suffice."

My mom ushers me back into the dressing room, handing me the heap of clothes. I sift through the stack, and the last item, a red A-line cocktail dress, catches my eye. The red fabric boasts a thick lace design that adds a seductive touch. The neckline is more modest than I'd expect from this city. It exudes a flirty and confident vibe, rather than the overtly sexy and desperate aura of the other dresses.

This is something I'd wear on a first date—it's gorgeous. I try it on and fall head over heels in love with it. After picking out shoes, I bring them to the register to pay, pulling out my card and pushing it toward the clerk. "Do you accept American Credit?" I ask.

"We don't take cards, ma'am," the store clerk states as she pulls out a bag. While she's placing my items into the paper bag, Demon comes up behind me.

"Lilly, please put her items on my account and add her and my wife as signers, with a daily limit of one thousand."

"I'd be happy to add them as signers, but everything she and your wife have bought today, I put on the King's tab."

Demon's expression turns to one of rage. "And why would you do that?" He hisses at her, red veins swirling menacingly in his eyes, hinting at his lethal bite.

The sales assistant steps back, putting as much distance between herself and Demon as possible. "I-I-I-it was the king's orders, sir. A gift to your wife for her return," she stammers out of fear.

My mom steps between Demon and the counter, thanking the clerk. "Thank you for your help, Lilly. I'll express my gratitude to the king this evening at the party." She then turns to my dad, searching his face. "Let's go, Demon."

Demon appears reluctant to leave. I don't understand why he's so upset about the king's generosity, but something feels off about the situation. He snatches the bag from the counter and storms out of the shop. I offer a small smile to the clerk and follow behind them.

After a light dinner, we all prepare for the party. Garrett is going to be my escort tonight. As a human, I'm not allowed to attend the party alone.

Demon assures me that although it's well-known that I am the daughter of his wife and off-limits to vampires due to his protection, they don't know that I am his actual daughter; they believe I am only his stepdaughter. He emphasizes that this information must remain a secret, never to be disclosed to anyone.

Everyone is expected to attend all parties held at the high castle. Ignoring an invitation from the king is unheard of. According to Demon, nobody has ever ignored the king's invitation, as it's more like an order.

Honestly, the king sounds like an old man who revels in power. Yeah, I'll pass. If it weren't for my mother's insistence, I would be the first to ignore his invitation. Besides, I really don't want to go with Garrett. He's a big, imposing man who terrifies me. He never smiles and looks at me as though he wants to devour me. Then again, many of the vampires I've passed have had the same look when they glanced at him.

A knock at my door snaps me from my thoughts—Demon. I step back and open the door. Demon smiles warmly at me. "You look like a princess, Mauri," he says.

My mother approaches from behind him. "Technically, she is a princess of the Mara Clan," she mentions.

She pulls me into a hug and kisses my cheek. Tiny red veins tingle on her skin, and she abruptly backs into my father's chest.

He gently turns her around, holding her by her shoulders and gazing deep into her eyes. "There will be something for you there, can you wait?" She shakes her head, and before I can grasp what's happening, they both vanish in a gust of wind. Garrett appears at my side, dressed in a navy-blue suit with a red tie. He offers his arm, gesturing for us to proceed down the corridor.

"What happened?" I ask him as we walk down the hall and through some doors.

"Garrett, what happened? Why did Demon and my mom leave?" I inquire again, since he refused to answer me initially.

"The smell of your blood made her want to feed," he murmurs. "Demon took her to the feeding room."

"What's the feeding room?"

He looks over at me with irritation on his face. It's clear that he's not my biggest fan, but I don't care. If he's going to be my new bodyguard, he'll have to get used to my questions. I'm here to learn about vampire ways so that when I inevitably become one, I know what to do.

He opens a door for me, and we step outside. "It's a room where vampires who don't have pets go to feed," he finally answers.

"Feed on what?"

"The blood of humans."

The combination of the cool autumn breeze and his revelation sends tiny bumps across my skin. I pull my arm away from his and wrap myself in a hug. I find the news deeply disturbing.

The thought of my father holding a human down while my mother drinks the life out of them disgusts me. Who in the world would find blood appetizing?

When Garrett touches my shoulder, my consciousness is yanked away from its inward spiral. I realize that we've arrived at the front doors of the high castle. The doors are at least thirty feet tall, making me feel as minuscule as an ant.

Since my arms are still wrapped around me, Garrett places his arm around my shoulder, signifying ownership to the guard.

"Name?" the guard demands as he scans his finger down a clipboard.

"Garrett Thorndale of the Mara Clan. This is my date, Maurianna Saulsman." It's only when Garrett says my name that the guard looks up from his list.

"Ms. Saulsman, a table has been prepared for you and your date. Please follow Willow to our VIP section," he states, gesturing to a woman standing just inside the door.

When we enter the doors, Willow bows to us and leads us up an impressive staircase. She takes us to a table on the balcony's edge overlooking the ballroom. The entire ballroom is adorned with even more elegance than I had originally imagined. Soft music wafts from the band on the stage at the far end. As we take our seats, Willow places a glass of champagne in front of me and a glass of crimson liquid in front of Garrett.

"Is that blood?" I ask once Willow has walked away.

Garrett rolls his eyes, taking a sip of his drink and smacking his lips as if the blood were ice water quenching his thirst after a long summer day.

"So, what do we do now? Do we just sit here in silence, or should we dance or mingle with others?" I inquire genuinely, as I've never attended an event like this.

Garrett sighs audibly and shakes his head. "We wait for Olivia and Demon. I told the guard you're my date, but that's not true. You're my protectee. We won't be dancing together, and until Demon arrives, you won't be mingling with anyone." His tone is curt and impatient, as though he'd rather be anywhere else.

"What's your problem with me, Garrett? Why are you so hostile?" I press him.

He laughs and drains the remaining blood from his glass. When he sets the glass down, tiny red droplets splatter across the table. I edge back and cross my arms over my chest, awaiting his response.

"I don't like the way you make me feel," he finally admits.

"Make you feel?" I'm baffled by how I could be responsible for his feelings. I've always been polite to him. Sure, I ask a lot of questions, but that's because I don't have anyone else to ask. Demon is frequently absent dealing with my transitioning mother, and Garrett is the one always with me. Does my curiosity truly bother him that much?

"I've dedicated my life to Demon, and I promised him I would always obey his orders. You make me feel things I shouldn't. I don't like those feelings."

I'm puzzled by Garrett's confession, but before I can press for more details, he looks past me and jumps to his feet. Bowing his head, he says, "Good evening, King," then stands tall, gazing out at the party below us. "You always throw a remarkable party, sir."

I rise as well and extend my hand, ready to greet what I anticipated would be an old man. But I lose my breath when I see him.

He appears to be in his mid-twenties, tall with impeccable posture. His build is muscular, though not excessively so. His dark brown hair is neatly styled, just long enough to run your fingers through. His eyes are green, a color I haven't seen in any other vampire. He is the most handsome man I've ever seen in my life. When I lock eyes with him, it feels as if the room fades away, leaving just the two of us at the party, which terrifies me.