After an eternity of silence, the ‘Master’ shut his laptop and told the Bear to leave us. The older man did as he was told as if he was dismissed by the school Principal. I wasn’t completely sure I wanted the Bear to leave after all. He suddenly didn’t seem that bad now that the cold blue eyes of the vamp were fixed completely on me. His features were pure granite. Like most vampires in our region, he looked Nordic; it was commonly believed that his race had originated in Sweden and so they often referred to themselves not as vampires but ‘Northerners’. I certainly wasn’t going to ask one if it were true. He was cold and expressionless. I felt a strange tingle coarse through me.
The vampire continued his long silent stare which was starting to make me feel squeamish and a little horny, mixed with a dash of nausea, a heady combination for a Friday night.
“You are Katie’s friend,” he suddenly said in an accented voice that sounded like a combination of Northern European and English. It came out not as a question but a statement.
“Yes.”
“And you agreed to come here of your free will in her stead. And you are prepared to undertake all the duties that Katie performed?”
I didn’t really like the sound of where this was going but I answered “yes” anyway. I supposed it was best to stay on the good side of a vampire who reportedly kept a dungeon filled with human virgins to satisfy his every evil whim.
“Very well, you will be required to work five shifts in the bar, plus provide evening sustenance to a Northern co-worker. Chloe will organise a uniform for you.” he said matter of factly waving a hand in the girl’s general direction. He was clearly dismissing me.
Wait. There was no way I was going to put up with that deal. I couldn’t possibly work my normal job and then come work night’s here for five days. I decided to tell Mr. Evil Sexy Vampire so.
“That’s not what Lavinia said I would have to do.” I questioned sounding far braver than I was. “She said I would do two shifts and there was nothing about providing sustenance, or whatever the hell that means,” I continued.
The beautiful man let a slight look of confusion cross his face for a brief moment before he leaned forward slightly menacingly and continued his silent stare.
If I was slightly uncomfortable before, I was dead set worried now.
“Do you know who I am Sascha?” The way my name slid from his tongue made me understand why the Bear was afraid of him. Here was a man who was used to getting his own way, whatever means possible. However, I am the youngest child of two lawyers, so I am also used to getting my own way as well.
“Listen, I don’t mean any disrespect to you, I understand you are a badass vamp and all that, but the situation is like this. Katie had a family emergency and can’t come and do her shifts. I know this is a pain in the butt for you but I am not only willing to do it in her place, but I am qualified and I am doing it for free. So I think this is more like a win-win situation for you. So why don’t we just agree that I will do the two shifts as originally agreed, and the ‘co-worker’ can arrange their own sustenance.”I told him.
Chloe let out a little shriek and looked purely horrified. I had completely forgotten she was on the other side of the room behind me, but I was suddenly glad she was.
As if reading my mind, Sebastian who had not taken his eyes off me during my little speech suddenly asked Chloe to leave us.
Okay, this was not good. My sister was definitely going to have to get a new bridesmaid. I stood up wanting to leave but the vampire slowly came around to my side of the desk and his murderous glare made my feet plant firmly on the floor. There was no way he was going to just let me get away with my outburst.
Sebastian was at least 6 foot 6 and he was every inch of it as he leaned over me, intimidating me. His expressionless face leaned down to meet my ear while he placed his large hands gently around my throat, not tight enough to kill me, but enough to make it hard to breath. “I have killed others before for much less than the disrespect you are showing me now woman,” he whispered in my ear. I was strangely aware that his nahd was quite warm, not cold like I was led to believe. His warm breath was sending strange tingles through me as I fought the urge to either run, cry or give him a big fat kiss on the lips. “I am not in the habit of making deals with women, but I will grant you this one reprieve Sascha, because I feel you are going to be more trouble than you are worth” he continued. “You will work here for me tonight and tomorrow night, and at the end of service you will come back here and you will submit to me. Do you understand?”