He should be here soon.
Mark Caten picked up his faceted wine glass and poured deep red wine into it.
If he said he’d come and he meant it, he will come.
Robin will come.
He watched the outside monitor.
But what if he’s already here?
Mark took a sip of his drink.
What if my guards let him in?
“Hahahahahaha! What worthless guards! I’d have to fire at least one of them to teach them all a good lesson. But which one? Which one?” He licked his lips and turned on the monitor for Jay’s room.
Jay and Maelin, Dave and Hank sat on the bed. Preyuna stood off to the side.
Mark pressed a couple of buttons near the monitor to turn the camera.
Isellta laid in Jay’s arms.
He turned the camera again to scan the room.
Robin wasn’t there.
Maelin stroked Jay’s back.
I could fire him.
Hank hugged Dave, who returned the hug.
Mark Caten smiled and swirled his drink.
I could fire one of them. Which one? The tall beefcake or the shorter girly boy? It would lose impact if I fired both. It must be one or the other.
But I will deal with that decision if they sneak Robin in behind my back.
I will make that choice if they ever betray me.
If they ever try to kill me, I will make them regret it.
He turned his attention back to the outside monitor.
Come on, Robin.
Come.
I’m waiting for you.
****
Isellta’s mouth dropped open. He gasped and struggled for each breath. The inside of his mouth was as colorless as his face and hair.
The sight sickened Preyuna.
I don’t want to see him like this. I hate seeing him like this. I want to blame Jay. I want to tell him that he let Isellta slip into this state. I want to say that he could have done something to stop.
Stop.
just stop.
Preyuna moved closer to the bed. “Can I touch my harem member, guard?”
Jay regarded her with blatant distrust. Words weren’t needed.
“You stupid guard. What do you think I’m going to do to someone who is dying? What? Do you honestly think I’m perverse enough to hrrash ka kae with someone who can barely breathe?” Her voice betrayed her with a slight tremble as she continued, “Someone who is beyond consent and arousal? Is that the kind of woman you think I am? If you think that of me, you are the stupidest human alive. You really are.”
“It’s because of you that he’s like this. He is dying because of you. Because of how you treated him.”
She wanted to tell him how full of rubbish and nonsense he was, but his words stung. She felt their truth.
She felt defenseless.
Preyuna flipped her crimson and silver hair over her shoulder. “I’m going to see if Robin is here, stupid guard.”
“You’re just going to leave?”
“Yes, I’m ‘just going to leave’, stupid guard. Isellta may be too far gone. Maybe nothing will be able to reach him. But if I can get Robin in here. That ugly, ruined vampire. If I can get him in here, if he could touch Isellta, if he could talk to him, it might be enough to wake him.”
Jay laughed brokenly. “It won’t be. I know it won’t be. I’ve done everything I could think of. Everything, Preyuna. I’ve tried. I’ve tried so hard and for what? What good have I done? Nothing. All of that effort—”
She sighed. “Such annoying over-emotionality. I’m leaving now before I decide to punch you in the mouth.”
Having said that, Preyuna left the room.
ambroseandelsie 