Safeword: Storm Clouds(25)

Abbot had been at the house when she'd returned and they had talked using their mind link so no one could overhear.

You had to go and tell him how strong I was, didn't you?

Of course, it would not have been fair for either of you for him to think you restrained when you really weren't. He needed to know what was going through your head, and for him to think you were submitting to being bound when you weren't, that's not a good way to start a relationship.

But Abbot, he rappels off the side of mountains. With ropes designed to hold nine thousand pounds of weight, and that have this coating on the outside so they can rub against rocks and cliffs and not fray.

So, you're saying he actually managed to restrain you?

Kendra had shot an image into his head of the two ways Eric had tied her up.

He's a clever one, you may have met your match with him, Kendra. I'm very happy for you.

And now Abbot and Eric were in the soundproof office talking about goodness knows what. Kendra hadn't been upstairs when he arrived, staying in her room for a bit to deliberately have it be just Eric and Abbot without Kendra when he was introduced to most of the house. Now she was up in the main great room with some of the other vampires so she'd be around when they came out of the office.

It was a pretty normal weekday evening for now. The TV was on and some were watching it. Some, like Kendra, had a laptop in their lap. A few were reading a book. Two were playing a game of chess. Abbot and Eric stayed in the office close to two hours and when they finally came out they went straight downstairs. They could all hear Abbot showing him their current security arrangements. This was bizarre, because it was not information usually given to humans. At least, not unless the human was a human companion, and Abbot always chose females for his human companions. That was the final straw that got the other vampires wondering about this human that the Master Vampire had just spent so much time with behind closed doors. There was always curiosity when people went to the soundproof office, as that might mean there were secrets to be discovered. It might also just mean a contract needed to be negotiated in private, too. But the possibility of secrets got everyone guessing. Vampires can smell a lie, so there aren't really that many secrets within their social circles.

As the vampires were guessing someone noticed Kendra wasn't part of the conversation. "Kendra, do you know what this human does that has Abbot's interest?"

Kendra looked up, said "Yes", and then focused back on her laptop.

The entire room stopped talking and looked at her. When they realized she wasn't going to offer any more information they turned their attention to her. She sensed them using their noses, and someone said, "You smell like.. him. And... sex. Did you have sex with the human?" It didn't matter that she'd showered and changed clothes and slept all day, his scent would still be on her if someone focused their attention towards smelling her. She knew that, and was okay with it.

She looked up at them and said, "He tasted better than you can imagine. I would love to have him for a human companion and with Abbot's blessing I will attempt to groom him in that direction. But, right now his business is with Abbot, and when Abbot wants you to know about whatever arrangement the two of them have then Abbot will tell you."

"You're no fun."

She grinned at them. “Oh, I think I'm a lot of fun. Just not for you, Byron."

They all heard voices and footsteps coming back up the stairs together then and everyone went back to what they were doing. When Abbot brought Eric back up he walked him into the great room and said, "Hello to all. Eric will be giving me some proposals for ways we can use technology to improve our security. He has some good ideas and I look forward to seeing his proposal. Also, we have too many vampires who have not kept up with technology. I want all vampires living in my territory to be available via email. Eric will be teaching a class to familiarize everyone with how to get around the computer, how to send and receive email, and how to look things up on the internet. Everyone not currently available to me via email will be required to attend. Anyone else who would like to attend because you would like to be more comfortable with a computer is welcome to attend, but please let me know of your intentions as soon as possible. Eric will be purchasing computers to use in the classroom, and then I'll be distributing the computers to people who take the class who either do not already have one or who have an older one that can't handle the current software. And finally, he will teach another class to help people who need help figuring out their cellphones. Those currently not available to me through text messaging will be required to attend. Again, others may attend if they feel the class will be of benefit to them. Eric is in my employ and is under my protection. Anyone who has a problem learning from a human needs to get over it unless they think they know more than he does, in which case they won't need to go to the class and can still get over it. I will be sending this information out via email, and I will get a list of those not available by email to Josef, who will have his people contact them to let them know they'll be required to attend the class. Once we have an idea of the number of people taking the class Eric will order computers and we will set a time and date for the class."