Page 5 of Indentured Companion
Tears slid down my face. If I survive this, I’ll have to do this for a whole year. Three times a day. Can I really go throughthisevery time the Korvis gets hungry? In the background the door was being rammed with something. Part of me started to hope they would hurry up and save me for foolishly letting this space vampire bite me.
Finally, he carefully eased his fangs out of my neck and lapped at the wound. I must taste very ‘palatable’, if he wanted every last drop he could get. He hummed with satisfaction and his face covering was back in position by the time he finally released my neck. “You were delicious. Apologies, but in the end I fed from you fully, so you will feel quite drained. Here, take this. Quickly.” He retrieved a plain silver fabric purse from a pocket from the right side of his robe. I watched with blurred vision and heavy bones as he opened it to show a long line of red pills. He took out one, cast his lilac eyes over me, and then retrieved a second. “I’ll get you some water. Hurry.” He unceremoniously pushed each pill past my numb blue lips and marched around the office to retrieve a cup and use the water cooler.
His face.
It was hidden behind the green and silver covering, butmy bloodhad transferred to it where his mouth was.That’swhere the horror movies got that image from. It was a haunting sight. If I had any energy to be afraid, I would be screaming and running for the door. Speaking of which, the Sacron security guards from earlier finally bust the door open and had guns raised in all four hands. Again, if I had the energy to be afraid, I would be worried about getting shot. Currently though, I was struggling to stay conscious. The Korvis only afforded them a sideways glance through his veil and brought the cup of water over to me. “Here you go.” He pressed the rim of the cup to my lips and poured the water into my mouth. I spluttered, not wanting to even exert myself with swallowing, but I had no choice. “Show me you’ve taken the Regen-pills?” He asked me like I was a naughty child. I opened my mouth. It was easier than trying to speak. My neck was so sore I wanted to cry. “Good.”
“Sir!” Yalla forced her way in between the guards, who were waiting on her orders, and came to fuss over me. “She’s as pale as snow!”
“Miss Stone is perfectly fine. She has taken the necessary Regen-pills. All she needs is some rest.” He spoke dismissively. Rest though? That sounded good. My eyes drooped and I could have happily curled up on the desk to have a nap. “But first we need to sign our contracts. And….” He moved the stylus quickly over one of the tablets. “Here is mine.”
“Wait, she can’t-”
“Here is yours Miss Stone.” He offered it to me and I hazily tried to focus on it. “Please sign it.”
“She’s in no state now to be-”
“Miss Stone has already given me verbal consent. This is simply a formality. Move aside.” He growled. Heactuallygrowled, and Yalla stumbled back to the safety of her guards. He still ignored all the guns trained on him, and pressed the stylus into my hand. “You will wish to sleep soon. You need to sign it now.” As if to prove the point my head lolled once. I shook it and blinked a bit more focus into my vision. “Now, Miss Stone.”
I gave that bloody veil over his mouth one last wary stare, before I sluggishly signed the contract. It must have been the blood loss and how tired I felt, but I just wanted to do whatever I had to so I could get some sleep. To dream myself away from this nightmare. “Perfect.”
If the Korvis that now owned me hadn’t caught me, I would have slumped face first off the desk and planted my nose into the floor. Two misleadingly strong arms wrapped around me and with some uncomfortable jostling, I was lifted into the bridal position. “I suggest to prevent a public relationsmisunderstanding,a taxi cab is summoned. Otherwise, the inhabitants of this starbase will see me with my veil bloodied and a pale human in my arms, and make anincorrectassumption.”
My eyes were shut, so I had no idea why it took so long for Yalla to acknowledge that instruction. I was so tired, and so sore, I subconsciously nestled into my new master’s chest and started to surrender to slumber. My perception of reality started to blur and skip through time as I dozed in and out of consciousness. We were walking for a while and the mild jostling of it made my neck throb in protest. At some point, the taxi must have arrived as the Korvis awkwardly slid inside to hold me on his lap. The process of lowering me hurt and I groaned to portray my discomfort since words were too difficult to form.“Hush little flower. Rest. I am here.”He growled something at me and if I wasn’t half asleep it would have creeped me out. I lolled against his chest, tipping back out of consciousness for Lord knows how long, when I was being lowered to lay on something soft. I couldn’t even open my eyes, but I groaned again and my fingers twitched as I felt my boots being removed.“We are home now. Sleep and be well.”I became aware of something warm pressing down on me, a blanket I think, and I couldn’t hook my fingers into consciousness any longer. I fell into a deep dreamless sleep. I didn’t even have the energy to dream. A good job too, as after allowing the Korvis to feed on me, I’m sure I would have had nightmares.
Chapter 7
Introductions
Valerie
I awoke with the distinct feeling like I’ve been dragged ass first through a heavy drinking session. Then in a shuttle crash. Possibly on some powerful pain medication. Either way, I feel like hell. I groaned and my hands curled against the bedsheet beneath me. It was soft and fine. I smelled a fresh scent from the warm duvet I snuggled beneath. It was odd, because my bedding has always smelled of the chemicals used to clean them and keep them sterile between washes. Yet this smell reminded me of freshly picked flowers.
Or, were there actual flowers in my room? I managed to force my eyes open and orientated myself. I was laid on my front, my right cheek cushioned by a plump pillow, and facing a bedside table. It was quaint, wooden which was a real novelty, and had a vase of flowers I didn’t recognise. Like blue roses, thick and waxy, but the petals were open, drooped, and pointed like a lily. The stems were brown and the smell was divine. I started to lift my head to get a better look at them. Pain shot through my neck and I winced.
“Ouch.” I sluggishly reeled my left hand back towards me and touched at my neck.
“Are you sore?” I tensed stiff. “I gave you two Regen-pills so you shouldn’t be…perhaps three next time?”
Holy crap.My memories slammed into the side of my skull without mercy. His gravelly voice brought it all back to me. Father’s debts. Walking with Cassie into the Indentured Services Centre. And oh of course? Deciding I would rather allow a Korvis to use my blood for food than allow many others to use my body for sex. Being vampire food for a year did mean he had to keep me alive, after all. Goodness, how did I end up being in such a desperate position? Oh yes. My gambling father. Bastard. “Miss Stone?”
Ooooooo, the space vampire is sitting on my bed. Hang on? This isn’t my bed?
I sat up and braced myself against the headboard. At least all my clothes were accounted for. A quick toe wriggle confirmed he had at least taken off my shoes before putting me in bed. I lifted my gaze to look at the Korvis. He was dressed as mysteriously as the day before. Today his veiled robe was a deep purple colour, which complimented his piercing lilac eyes. “Good morning Miss Stone.”
“Valerie.” I corrected him and cleared my throat. There was a dull ache to my neck but not as bad as it should be. Considering he went full on vampire on me yesterday. “You drank my blood. I think we can be on first name terms.” I laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
“…in my culture that is a very intimate request.” His diamond shaped pupils darted away from me briefly. I can’t see his face, but if it were possible to tell from someone’s tone of voice, I would guess he is blushing. Whatever that looks like for his race beneath his headdress. “We are known by our titles and tribe names to most. We share our chosen names with only our inner circle of intimate relationships.”
“Oh, sorry.” I shrugged. “You are the first Korvis I’ve ever met, and I’m afraid I don’t know anything about your culture. I’m sorry. I didn’t meant to offend you.”
“That’s quite alright.” He chuckled, and again I’m struck by how deep and gravelly his voice is. It doesn’t match his delicate attire or genteel manner at all.
“I understand that I’m not to call you by your chosen name. What shall I call you?” Because I doubt very much he will like me calling him a space vampire.
“I am the Dynast.” He spoke with rumbling pride and lifted his chin. “You have signed the confidentiality agreement, so you cannot discuss me or anything you observe whilst in my care with others, unless I permit it.” I nod. “Having signed it, however, I can now tell you all about myself.” He sounds pretty happy about that. Huh. “I am the Korvis Dynast.”
Nope. I’m drawing a blank. Did he miss the part where I told him I don’t know anything about his culture?
