Queen of Darkness

Chapter 8 - Homecoming

It was an evening similar to any other, after dinner Pierré went out to the stables to check on the animals and the workers while I went upstairs to have my bath and get ready for bed.

Pierré had taken longer than usual to return and I was just about to go looking for him, making my way down the stairs when I heard voices arguing. I recognised Pierre’s voice but not the other... The other being louder and more dominant and aggressive.

As I moved closer to the door I saw the two men just outside, Pierré noticing me first, motioned for me not to move, he didn’t want me to come any closer. I also saw something else... Fear, it was written all over his face.

When Pierré motioned to me to stand still, It drew the attention of the other man who slowly looked around at me.

He looked at me intently, studying me, his gaze landing on the cuts in my neck and shoulders and I saw the anger rise in his eyes, he clenched his jaw and grabbed Pierré’s shirt by his chest pulling him closer, hovering over him, other fist clenched, ready to beat Pierré “How dare you touch her, who the fuck do you think you are!?”

Pierré: “Please Master, forgive me... I’m sorry” Pierré was almost in tears, pleading for forgiveness. I’d never seen him like that. He always gave the impression of being fearless and strong but now... He was a different man.

I instantly knew who this man was, when Pierré called him Master... He was my Master, and that evoke such fear in me.

Master Robert pushed Pierré so hard that he fell to the ground, he spun around and confronted me. He towered over me with his large frame. I was so frightened I just lowered my gaze as a sign of a submission. He glared at me without a word just breathing heavily like a predator, waiting for me to make a move before he pounces.

When I showed no reaction other than staring at the floor he finally yelled at me to go to my room and stay there.

I tried to look for Pierré but Master Robert’s brought shoulders blocked my view, so I just hurried up the stairs without looking back.

As I shut the door I heard the arguing continue but I couldn’t hear what was being said. I jumped into bed and waited... The arguing eventually stopped and it became silent. Hours passed before I eventually fell asleep.

I woke up in the middle of the night from another nightmare, caused by my worry if Pierré was alright. I decided to sneak out to his room to go check on him but to my surprise I found my door to be locked.

All I could do was go back to bed, lying tossing and turning until I eventually fell back asleep.

It was just before sunrise when I jolted awake from a nagging feeling that I was being watched. Startled I sat up in bed pulling the covers up to my chest. I squinted a few times trying to adjust my eye sight but all I could make out was a silhouette of someone sitting in the chair in the corner of the room.

From the broadness of his frame I knew it was Master Robert, but he didn’t move or make a sound.

Me:“Uhm... Master Robert?”

There was no reply and that made me even more uncomfortable.

Me: “Master Robert, I’m sorry for angering you, I’m not sure what precisely I did to anger you, but I will like to set things right if I can...”

I was mumbling on, trying to defuse the situation, trying to get him to say something... Anything.

He stood up and strolled closer to the side of the bed. I was scared and couldn’t see him, I couldn’t see his facial expression and feeling so powerless made me uncomfortable, so without thinking about it I did Magick to light the candles in the room.

The candles sprung to life but he didn’t even flinch, he kept glaring at me. With the candles lit I could see him clearly for the first time.

Master Robert was not as tall as Pierré in fact I think he was only a little taller than me but he was well built, Brought shoulders and muscled chest and upper arms. He was older too, probably in his late thirties. Black hair that was cut very short and black facial stubble as if he had not shaved in a week. Thick eyebrows and piercing dark blue eyes. He was an attractive man but I wasn’t attracted to him.

As he got closer to my side, I felt more intimidated and unintentionally made the candle on the bedside table burn more vigorously.

Master Robert got a devious smirk on his face and stated “Very good Aurora, but tell me... Can you do this?” he waved his hand and the candle floated up, levitating in mid-air.

Pierré mentioned that Abigail was Master Robert’s very good friend, and he did get her to teach me, even stating I had the gift, but it never even crossed my mind that he too had the gift. It made more sense now why he would be interested in owning me.

Me:” No Master, we have not covered levitation yet”

The expression of amusement that crossed his face, faded and he sat down on the bed. The sun had come up and light flooded the room. With his Magick he extinguished all the candles.

Master Robert: “Aurora, I need you to listen to me very carefully, Even though you technically belong to me, and for that reason you cannot ever leave... I do not wish to keep you or treat you as a mere servant; you are far more valuable and gifted as such. I want you to call me Robert, no more of this Master nonsense, is that clear? ”

Me:” Yes Mast... I mean yes Robert”

Robert: “I hope that you have been well taken care off, my apologies for not coming home sooner but I had a lot of things to attend to in Romania”

Me: “Romania? That’s incredible... Uhm, Robert... Did you lock me in my room last night?”

Robert: “Yes Aurora, it was for your own safety... After the argument I had with Pierré he retaliated and I just wanted to keep you out of harm’s way”

As he spoke of Pierré my mind went back to seeing him grovelling in fear “Pierré... Where is he, is he alright? .... He would never hurt me, we love each other”

Robert seemed annoyed yet there was a look of sadness in his eyes. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about Aurora... The thing is, I wasn’t angry with you last night and I apologise if that is how I came across, I was furious with Pierré but then you walked in and I didn’t want you to see or hear the things you did. I should have handled it better; you just walked in at the wrong time... And then when I saw what he did to you... I just lost all control”

Me: “What he did to me?”

Robert nodded, he looked genuinely concerned but I didn’t understand until he reached for me and ran his finger along one of the fresh cuts in my neck, his touch sent a shiver down my spine in a creepy way.

Me: “Oh no, this wasn’t Pierre’s doing... I had an incident in the garden involving a rose bush” I stated matter of fact” followed with a forced laugh trying to lighten the seriousness of the matter.

Robert sighs deeply “Firstly, if you are going to practice the art of deception you need to learn to lie a hell of a lot better than that, and Secondly, Never... Ever lie to me again Aurora... I know he fed on you”

“You know?” I asked shocked, I was under the impression that Pierré kept his vampirism a secret, the only person knowing was Tessa... I had no idea that Robert was aware of it.

Robert: “It’s getting late... Get dressed and after breakfast come meet me in the Library, there is some things I need to attend to first but we can continue our conversation later”

After breakfast I met Robert in the library, he went through everything Pierré taught me in our sessions but It kept bothering me that I haven’t seen Pierré.

Me: “Robert, where is Pierré?”

Robert became irritated but tried not to show it “Aurora, Pierré left”

I was surprised at his answer, it didn’t make sense and I wasn’t sure I understood correctly “left?”

Robert: “I’m sorry Aurora, I understand you have feelings for him so this will be hard for you, but I want you to know that I care and I’m here for you... The truth is Pierré didn’t care for you, he just used you for his own desires....he loves Tessa and they were having some issues so he used you to hurt her, and he played with your feelings, that’s why we argued when I got back that’s why I was angry with him but when I saw he also fed on you, that just made it worse... He had no right to use you or hurt you... Pierré left and I feel responsible for that... After I sent you to your room I gave Pierré the option to set things right... He could stay and be with you but had to set Tessa free or He could make things right between him and Tessa but In that case they both had to leave, I didn’t want them around you as a constant reminder of how he hurt you.

Pierré was livid with the ultimatum, he obviously chose Tessa but he wasn’t happy about leaving... He was angry with you Aurora, Blaming you for losing his comfortable lifestyle... He threatened to harm you, that’s why I locked you in your room... to protect you”

I felt my heart being ripped out; I was at a loss for words and in total disbelief. I ran out the library in distraught, making my way to the kitchen... I needed proof. Tessa was nowhere around but I did find Madeline who confirmed that Tessa left with Master Pierré, they were to start their life together and Tessa was finally happy as that was what she has been dreaming off for a long time.

Not happy with what I heard I took off towards Pierre’s room. It was the worst feeling in the world seeing his room empty, all his clothes and belongings gone, even his books were gone, the only proof that He was ever there was his smell that still lingered in the air... Or maybe it was just my imagination.

I dropped to my knees, weeping... Pierré was my first love, and now he was my first heartbreak

I didn’t even notice Robert coming into the room, only noticing him when he picked me up into his arms and carried me to his room.

Robert laid me down with him on his bed, letting me lay with my head on his chest while he softly ran his fingers up and down my arm. I didn’t want to be in his arms, on his bed, crying into his chest but strangely it was comforting.

Robert just held me, whispering words of comfort, allowing me to cry... So I cried, until I fell asleep.

I didn’t even realise how exhausted I was. Once I woke Robert took me on a stroll through the gardens... Explaining that one of the reasons why I felt so exhausted was due to loosing so much blood on a continuous basis...Pierré didn’t only steal my heart but he stole my life force as well.