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My parents had been forcing me to feed vampires since I was 8. They said it was the least I could do to make up for being evil. I thought that was what all my life would be like. To clean the house, take care of everyone, cook all the food, feed vampires, and then die when my blood drained. But the night befor my 18th birthday, this vampire Victor visited. As usual, Mom recommended me. Most vampires took the suggestion, but he scoffed. “Why would I want a child?” He inquired. “All of my clients were more interested in her. They say she’s sweet and addictive. We’ve already had three offers to buy her when she turns 18.” Mom told him. My eyes widened and I turned to stare at my parents. They didn’t even look ashamed. They looked pleased. How could they sell me, like sell me, not just my blood? “How much were they offering?” The Vampire asked. "The current high offer is one and a half million. " The Vampire did not even give me a glimpse. “Two million, if she’s everything you say she is, and I take her tonight.” Then, everything in my life changed... -------------- A Found Childe I slammed Springer’s head against the brick of the alleyway. If he breathed, he’d be purple by now. He was 5’9” with nearly white blond hair and violet eyes. It was the bloodline of my sire that gave him those eyes, and I was about to take them back if he didn’t have the money he stole from me and a damned good excuse for his flippant message. “Grrllbplmm.” Springer gurgled. My lip curled into a snarl. I wanted to properly crush his throat. After everything I had done for him, for nearly eighty years, the little bastard stole from me! I’d spent fifteen years tracking him down. All the way to America! I had to live out of a suitcase while trying to figure out where he’d gone! No servant to take care of my needs! Nothing! It wasn’t until a donor told me about a spell which hid you from others’ sight, that I figured it out. My work was put on hiatus while I tracked my wayward childe. Fifteen damned years! Going dormant for that long, leaving my territory for that long. I was homeless and reputationless now. Only a rumor, a ghost, in the world of the undead. His little game had cost me everything I’d worked for. I tightened my grip on his neck. Taking his head off would make me happier than any damage I could do now, but I wanted more than a pound of flesh. Of course he wouldn’t be able to tell me anything if I crushed his throat. At least, not until he healed and I didn’t want to wait that long. I sighed, let him down, and stepped back. Springer dropped to his knees gripping his throat. I glared at him with disdain. “Well, where is it?” I growled. “I spent it all. I’m sorry, master! Please, don’t kill me.” He begged. He was only a hundred years old, but he’d been trouble since before I brought him over. He wasn’t my first choice for a childe of mine. If not for the fact that his father had been a dear friend of mine, I wouldn’t have. Jacob always regretted having me turn his son. So did I. He’d wanted his son to live, but life as a vampire wasn’t the same as life as a human. It had taken decades for the boy’s memory to come back. Just in time for him to sit by his father’s death bed. - “What did you spend my money on, Springer?” I hissed, stepping closer again. “A house, cars, blood, clothes. They’re all yours… well, except the blood. I don’t think her parents will sell her, but I can tell you who to contact to feed on her.” He offered eagerly. “Parents? You fed from a child?!” I saw red. The words of the witch who had told me about the concealing spell rang in my head. He was hurting someone. He was hurting a child. That was my one rule when it came to feeding. Never feed from someone who isn’t able to understand what they’re offering. Not the mentally disabled, not children, not intoxicated people, not the elderly. The punishment was death. “It wasn’t my fault! I said it as a joke and the mom just let me! I didn’t know how to handle it when she took my joke seriously. Her mom insisted on triple the payment and let me have the girl. So… I fed on her.” He insisted. “You tell her, you were only kidding and NO ONE feeds on a child. What kind of parents would let that happen? Is her mother an addict?” I asked, livid. “No. Super middle-class average family. She was selling blood because they needed the money. Now, I think they do it so they can play more.” “How long have you been feeding on the girl? You implied it was more than once.” “Ten years. I usually see her once a month. Last time, her parents said, if I doubled my payment, they’d let me take it from the artery in her thigh. That’s why I’ve been working as an enforcer. I needed the money. She’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted, master. I was addicted from the first drop. It’s been hell these last couple months, trying to earn it.” Springer whined. I snarled. “How many others feed on her?” They would all die. Ending with Springer. Taking advantage of children made them monsters in fact instead of in name. I wouldn’t let myself, my bloodline, or my people be tied to creatures who would do that. “Silence is the broker. She’d know who else. She doesn’t know that we book with the mom and feed on the kid. Silence just thinks the mom is popular because she’s AB-. It’s harder to find here.” Springer said. “Until I take care of this, you will stay in town. Spells won’t work this time. If you run, I will tie you to a tree and let the sun take you. Do you understand?” I said in a deadly tone. “Yes, master.” “Take me to my house.” I ordered and he led the way to his car, which was now mine as well. - We drove through the city to an upper class neighborhood. Houses were large and spaced far apart. He pulled up to a gated driveway and pressed a button on the visor to open the gate. There were security cameras on the stone posts that the iron gate was attached to. The long driveway was lined with trees. Lamps were dotted along the path, but they weren’t lit. As we approached the house, I was even more impressed. It was a large colonial style house. The porch had columns that reached up to the top of the second floor. It was white with blue shutters and a blue door. He parked the car and we went in. The entry was vast with a marble staircase and marble floors. Nothing was on the walls and he made no move to turn on a light. A cheap table stood nearby and the fake wood print paper on it scratched as Springer tossed his keys onto it. I winced. A house like this didn’t deserve cheap furniture. I wish I could say that was the worst thing. Unfortunately, he’d decided to decorate the house with furniture and items he found either on the street or at Wal-Mart. It was inexcusable. He’d been here for nearly a decade. He should have decorated the first winter he was there. Stores were open after sunset in the winter. There was no excuse for such a disgraceful setting. “This is appalling. You have no window coverings, where do you sleep?” I asked. Springer pulled out a flashlight and showed me down to the basement where there were no windows. A mattress lay on the floor. The smell of dirt, dust, and mildew tainted the air and made me sneer in disgust. Why would a man buy a house like this if he were planning to live in the basement on an old mattress like a junkie? I thought I’d suffered. He did this to himself through his own laziness and thoughtlessness. “You’ve lived here for at least ten years without basic utilities. Without moving out of the basement. Why didn’t you get a human servant to take care of your needs?” I asked. “I tried, but I couldn’t keep them. They fell out of my thrall in three days.” He admitted. “You didn’t feed them any of your blood? You were just using your mind control?” I pressed. Idiot. “I… I didn’t think to do that. Sorry, master.” Springer hung his head. Even when he was alive he’d been flighty and impulsive. It had caused the wound that made his father ask me to save him. Forever twenty and seeming to be mentally as ageless as he was physically. I sighed. This city was perfect. The vampire population was low enough to not have many conflicts, but large enough to never feel alone. There were plenty of humans to feed on and a blood broker when you didn’t feel like hunting. I was sure there was a daytime servant agency as well, Springer just hadn’t thought to look for it. “Give me the address for Silence, then I want you to prepare a place for me to sleep that is clean and safe. When I return, you WILL be here. Do you understand?” I growled. “Yes, master.” Springer bowed and dug through his wallet, handing me a card with a heart dripping blood and the name of the broker on it. I grabbed the keys on the way out and put the location in the sat nav in the car. I had to find the vampires who fed on the girl and end them, have Silence remove the mother from her menu, and figure out a way to make it up to the girl who my idiot childe turned into a delicacy in this territory. At least one of those things could be finished tonight. Faced with Silence The building where Silence ran her business was in an older part of town. There were several row houses that had been turned into businesses. The tree lined road was peaceful at nearly one in the morning. I climbed the stairs to the door and rang the bell. A tall woman with golden blonde hair and silver eyes answered. She was quite beautiful with an hourglass figure and pale skin that seemed to shimmer in the moonlight. I bowed to her. “Are you Silence?” I asked. “Yes, how may I help you?” She replied coolly. “I have a matter of great importance to speak with you about. Your business, and your life, is in danger. I would like to offer my assistance in helping you keep both.” I told her. “Come in. I don’t want to talk about this in front of the whole world.” Silence said and led me to her office in the back. I noted that the house was tastefully decorated and well-appointed. This was a vampire who knew how to take care of herself. Glancing to the side as we walked down the hallway, I saw her human servant straightening up. The place smelled clean. A mix of cleaning chemicals, along with the scent of Silence, permeated the air. This was precisely how a home should smell. I was tempted to ask if I could stay here, but I didn’t want to risk my idiot childe running again. - Silence sat behind a large oak desk and indicated the leather wingback chairs on the other side. I sat and waited for her to be ready. The chairs were buttery and comfortable. She pulled out a little voice recorder and turned it on. “I’ll record this meeting. If the council comes to investigate whatever you’re speaking of, I want to show that I have done everything in my power. Now, please tell me who you are and what you are about.” She nodded. “My name is Victor Nightshade. I came hunting my childe who stole three million dollars from me fifteen years ago. When I found him, he told me he had spent all my money. Much of it had been spent on blood.” I stated. “I’m not responsible for what he did with your money. I hope you aren’t trying to take it back. What is your childe’s name?” Silence asked. “Paul Springer.” I replied. “I don’t want the money and I don’t hold you responsible for how he spent it.” She dug through her files and pulled out one with Springer’s name on it. After flipping the pages, she looked up and smiled tightly. “Yes. He was seeing a woman called Verity Gale for the last ten years. He’d had a few others before, but only requested her after his first feeding with her.” She opened a laptop on the desk and typed a few things in before continuing. “She’s fairly popular. Maxed out at four vampires and she has a waiting list. AB negative is rare here, but I don’t think my others are as popular. She probably offers other bonuses for additional cash. I don’t stop them from doing that, if she wants to sell herself for extra, I’m not one to tell her no.” “She’s letting them feed on her minor daughter.” I told her. Silence’s mouth dropped open in shock. Rage came over her features and she balled her fists. The elegant woman I’d met a few minutes ago was gone. Silence was seething. She wasn’t mad about them feeding on a child as much as the punishment for going against the brokers’ guidelines. I wrote them. Like in my brood, the penalty for merely trading in child’s blood is death. “That bitch. I’m removing her from my catalogue. I refuse to be associated with the trade of children. I cannot believe this! The council would have my head. Blood brokers aren’t allowed to sell children! How can you help me? I don’t want to die for this.” She pled. See, reputationless. She had no idea who I was, or she would have been much more frightened. It didn’t matter. Once I resolved this issue, I could get a new place in the council and start rebuilding. “I need the names of everyone on that list and everyone who has fed from her. The council will look at this as retribution. I will kill them for taking a child. As my own childe was the first to feed from her, he will also die. I’ll need an appointment with the woman so I can make sure this doesn’t happen again. Can you make that happen?” I asked. “Yes. I’m printing out the client and waitlist. If they’re on it, they must know.” She said disdainfully. “Those were my thoughts.” I nodded. Silence leaned over and snatched a paper from the printer. She handed it to me, on the bottom, she wrote down an address. I looked over the list. Thirteen vampires would die by my hand, sentenced by me and my wayward childe. Their blood was on his hands. “I’m texting her that her appointment this week cancelled, but I’m trying to find someone else from her waitlist. The address I wrote there is hers. She sees clients on Saturday evenings.” She stated in a very professional tone. “I will give you my cellphone number. Text me with the time. I should be able to make quick work of this list. Is there a servant agency here? I need someone to take care of the house my childe bought.” I asked. “Not any more. They started human trafficking and got shut down by the feds two years ago. I can try to find you one from my clients, but donors don’t see themselves as servants.” Silence said, offering a small smile. “Could your servant assist me? There is no electricity or running water in the house. Having internet and a few new kitchen appliances would be nice as well. I would be willing to pay.” I offered. Her servant seemed to be an able human. I would only need him for the basics, setting up services, helping me take care of the girl, maybe finding a new servant of my own. “We’ll do this for free. You give me the address and I’ll have him set it up. You’ve helped me far more than you know. I have to run an audit on all of my donors now to make sure there isn’t any other funny business going on.” She sighed. I wrote down the information and started hunting. I wanted to be back at the house as soon as possible, just in case I had to fix whatever Springer messed up there. I looked at the sheet with the names and addresses for the vampires who’d fed on the girl. Three of them lived in the same house. Lucky me. *** Three hours later, I was pulling up to my new house. I’d stopped at the hotel where I was staying and picked up my bag before I went hunting. It was lucky I did. My clothes were ruined with rips and blood. I managed to kill five on the list. The three that lived together, and two others who they’d given me information on before I killed them. Those two had given me more on the others on the list. It would make my hunt tomorrow night just as successful. I walked into the house and Springer met me at the door. “Where do you go to clean yourself?” I asked. “There’s a stream that runs through the backyard. I have a bucket by it.” He answered, ducking his head. “I truly despise you.” I growled and left the house. - Once I was clean, I went back in and made my plan for the week. It was Wednesday morning. I wanted to have all the other vampires dead before I went to deal with the mother and the girl. After putting together the information the dead vampires gave me, I had a list. Tomorrow night, I would try for another five, but four would be acceptable. Springer would be last. He would have to live the next few days knowing he was responsible for these deaths and that his was coming. I contacted the council to let them know what was happening, who was involved, and how I was fixing the issue. Rosalynn was my advocate. She and I had been friends, and broodmates, for centuries. I was happy for the assignment. “Do you think you’ll have to kill the parents?” She asked. “I don’t really know yet. Silence is the only blood broker in town, but they could sell her on Craigslist or some other online marketplace. It would attract a worse client base. The girl could get hurt further, or someone could decide to take the whole family to drain.” I told her. “Vic, we need more information on the family. Can we keep this under wraps until we know what it looks like? Have Silence schedule you for Saturday and try to get a read on the situation. I have the name of the woman and will do what I can tonight. Giselle is going to work a background check during the day. You know she’s good. By tomorrow, we’ll know a lot more and you can go into this with something.” Rosalynn replied. “Are you thinking we may need to relocate her?” I asked. “It’s possible. At nearly five thousand a feeding, her parents won’t want to give up that kind of money. It’ll depend on what else you, and Giselle, find out.” She said solemnly. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow, after I return from my hunt. Stay safe.” “You, too.” She answered and hung up. Springer had pulled another mattress from one of the bedrooms upstairs and made it up with sheets and blankets. Very low quality sheets and blankets. I curled my lip at the idea of laying there for the day, but there weren’t many options. I lay down and closed my eyes, waiting for the sun. A Gentle Echo [Echo] I woke up excited, a rare thing for me. Today, Harmony had a date with the boy she’d had a crush on for the last two years, Cam. I was going to help her get ready for the date. He was taking her to lunch, then the zoo, and the botanical garden. It was a perfect first date plan. I crossed my fingers he’d ask her to the prom. She’d be over the moon! Pulling out my sweat pants and a t-shirt, I dressed and headed upstairs to cook breakfast. Saturdays were late days for the family, so I didn’t have to have it done until eight-thirty. I liked being able to sleep all the way until seven on the weekend. It made up for the week when I’d only get three or four hours of sleep. I was allowed to eat more on Saturdays, too! Three meals, and lots of water and juice. It easily made Saturday my favorite day of the week. Though, Sundays were a close second. On Sundays, my parents locked me in the basement with some food. I didn’t have to cook or clean all day. I could just rest and read. Harmony bounced into the kitchen just as I finished setting the table. She had a huge grin on her face. I loved seeing her happy. My sister and brother were my whole world. “Today’s the day, Echo! I’m so excited!” She smiled and did a little dance. “I’m excited for you!” I returned her smile. Valor, our brother, walked in the room and threw his arms over her shoulders. He was taller than us, even though he was the same age. Val was nearly six feet tall with wavy dark brown hair, almond shaped hazel eyes, and a dimple in his left cheek. Harmony and I didn’t get dimples, but she had the same hair color and eyes. Mine were a little darker. My hair was practically black, my eyes a greener sort of hazel than theirs. Val and Harmony were more tan than me, because I wasn’t allowed to leave the house. Otherwise, you could totally tell we were siblings. We were triplets. Harmony and Val were fraternal twins, and I was Harmony’s mirror image twin. They even had the same birthday. Since I was born three minutes after Harmony, my birthday was the 31st of May and theirs was the 30th. “Hey, little sisters. Are you ready for your day?” He asked. “Cam’s going to be here at eleven. Mom’s letting Echo help me get ready after she’s finished her morning work.” “I did a lot of it last night. Val, your laundry will be on your bed when you’re done with breakfast.” I told him. “You’re the best, Echo! Thanks for grabbing it last night. I really wanted to wear my favorite shirt to the movie tonight.” He winked. “Maybe mom and dad will let you come to the movie this time, Echo.” Harmony said hopefully. “Maybe.” I replied. They wouldn’t. I had to work tonight. It was part of the way I earned my keep. I cleaned the house, took care of everyone, cooked all the food, and fed vampires. Mom and dad said it was the least I could do to make up for being evil. It made them happy and kept me near my sister and brother, so I didn’t mind. Though, I was a little scared when Mr. Springer asked about biting me somewhere else. Mom told me it would happen eventually. At least he was the gentlest of the vampires. None of the others thought to ask. I heard mom and dad talking about offering it to one of the others once Mr. Springer stopped coming. He’d been willing to pay double so it must be a really important thing for them. - Once our parents came into the kitchen, I left to clean their rooms and fold Val’s laundry. After I finished Harmony’s room, I pulled out the dress she was planning to wear to make sure there weren’t any loose strings or stains. It was perfect. I went to her vanity and set out the makeup I would be putting on her and the jewelry that would look best with her dress. Harmony came in to get her towel and go take a shower. I headed to the kitchen to clean up and eat my breakfast. Eating meat was rare for me. There was almost none left over after meals normally. But, today, there was bacon, sausage, and eggs. I poured some milk and grabbed an orange from the fridge. Sitting down for the first time in two hours, I relished the moment and chewed my food carefully. The memory of my Saturday meals made it easier to get through a week of nearly nothing. I took my multivitamin with extra iron, like I did every day, and finished off my milk. After breakfast, I rinsed my dishes and started the dishwasher, then pulled out the meat for dinner. Dad wanted to barbecue, so I needed to have a selection. He liked making a little of everything. It meant I would get to eat some, too. I loved barbecue days. I went back to Harmony’s room when she called out to me. She was in her dress and needed me to zip it up. Then she sat at the vanity while I brushed and styled her hair. It was shorter than mine because she was allowed to go to salons. I’d made the mistake of asking mom if I could get a haircut when I was ten. She shaved my head. It wasn’t a great look for me. All of my clients complained. I never asked again. Now, it was nearly three feet long. Harmony’s hair went to the middle of her back. I loved helping her style it. I only ever tied mine back or put it in a braid. Moving to the front of her stool, I started applying the eyeliner and eyeshadow she liked and a little lip pencil with gloss. She preferred it to wearing lipstick. Her skin was flawless, so she never wore concealer or powders. Once I was done, I stepped aside and let her look in the mirror. “It’s amazing. You always make me look so pretty, Echo.” She gushed. “You’re already pretty, Harmony. I just polish you a little so you can shine like you’re meant to.” I smiled back. “I love you, Echo.” She whispered. “I love you, too, Harmony.” I whispered. Mom and Dad didn’t like us saying that, so we were always quiet. It was ten-thirty before we finished everything. I went to the basement to wait for mom to call me out. I was to always be in the basement for thirty minutes before company came. I decided to prepare my outfit for my client while I was there. Mom and Dad didn’t like buying me clothes other than my sweats and t-shirts, but my clients wanted me to look nice while they drank my blood. My hands shook while I looked through my options. * My entire life was spent telling myself, ‘I’m happy’. It’s given entirely to taking care of my family and living for their big moments. I’ve never gone to school, never had a vacation, and only rarely get to see the sun. I might as well be a vampire myself. I was already evil enough. All I needed was to die. I didn’t know what would happen to me once Val and Harmony were out of the house. Both were going to college. I’d already passed the homeschool exam for a degree, but I wasn’t going to college. The thought of my future terrified me. There were only a couple months until our eighteenth birthdays. Then another two months before they’d leave me. Dad and Mom talked about travelling for a year once they were away at school. Would I stay here? They wouldn’t want to take me with them. If I stayed, then I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. Cooking for one, cleaning for one, never having anyone to talk to. I hadn’t been to a grocery store since I was six. I didn’t have any money. Maybe I’d leave home when they did. Run away and be evil somewhere else. My parents wouldn’t have to worry about feeding and clothing me, and I wouldn’t have to worry about hurting Val and Harmony. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Focus on now. Later will happen when it happens. I can’t fight the future, I reminded myself. I pulled a royal blue wrap dress out. It played well with my paler skin, verses Harmony’s darker tone, so she gave it to me. The dress had short sleeves and opened more around the neck. It would be easier if my client tonight was a messy eater. I would braid my hair, to make access to my neck easier, too. After ten years of this, I was an expert. When Harmony left on her date, my mom called me up and I started on my afternoon cleaning. I needed take care of the garden in the back. I weeded in the front last night. The back garden had vegetables instead of flowers. Valor sat outside, pretending to sunbathe, and talked to me while I worked. He told me about school. His last basketball game with his friends, the girl he was thinking of dating, and the math test he had coming up. Val hated math. I helped where I could, but I wasn’t much better at it. - At four, Harmony texted mom that she was heading home and I went back to the basement. I’d started the meats marinating at two and gotten all my work done, so I was happy for the break. I lay in my bed and thought about all the tasty things I’d get to eat tonight. I made a pineapple upside down cake for dessert. It was one of mom’s favorites. If I was very good, they’d give me leftovers from dinner tomorrow. Mom was making a roast with mashed potatoes and garlic roasted brussels sprouts. It was one of my favorite Sunday dinners. I planned to be very good. We had dinner at six-thirty. I ate in the kitchen while everyone else ate in the sunroom that opened to the patio. From where I sat, I could hear their conversation. Harmony was telling everyone about her date. They’d held hands while they walked in the zoo and gardens. He’d kissed her under an ivy covered gazebo and asked her to be his girlfriend. It was perfect. Our parents raved over how polite he was and how well-mannered. They really liked him and hoped her relationship would be successful, like theirs was. Val knew him from the basketball team and told a couple stories about Cam that I’m sure would have embarrassed him, if he were there. - When dinner was over, I cleaned the dishes, both tables, and the grill, then went to see Val and Harmony off. My dad used to take them to movies when I worked, now they went together. I always had to see them off, they used to refuse to go unless I told them I didn’t want to. Now, it was just tradition. Neither of my siblings knew what I did on Saturday nights. It was better that way. They both felt guilty enough for not being able to treat me like a normal sister. I stood in the living room as they got money from dad, then put on their shoes and jackets. I always felt better when I knew they’d be gone while a vampire was in the house. Harmony turned to look at me and frowned. “Can’t Echo go with us this time? I really want her to come with.” She asked. “No. Echo stays home. Go on, you’ll be late.” Mom said. “If Echo’s not going, I’m not going.” Harmony asserted crossing her arms. “Echo.” Dad said. He was giving me permission to speak so I could shut her down. I wanted to go with them. I didn’t want to get bitten tonight. But I had to and I wouldn’t let my sister put herself in danger. I never wanted a vampire near her. “You and Val have been looking forward to the movie, Harmony. Please go and have fun. Mom and Dad have their own movie night tonight and I really want to read the book you bought me.” I smiled. “I’ll stay home and we’ll read together. Mom and Dad can go out to a movie. Val can invite one of his friends and give them my ticket.” Harmony insisted. Mom’s eyes narrowed at me. This wouldn’t be good if I couldn’t get them out. I would be punished harshly for not trying harder. “How about next weekend? That way Mom and Dad have time to pick a movie to go out to.” I suggested, really wishing for her to accept it. She looked like she was going to argue again, but nodded instead. I almost sighed in relief. The sun was starting to go down and I still had to get ready for the vampire. After Harmony and Valor left, I turned to go downstairs. My entire body felt heavy. Every Saturday night, I felt like I died a little. One day, one of my clients would kill me. Sometimes, I prayed for it. “You better think of a way to get them out of the house next weekend.” Mom warned. “I’ll become sick on Friday night. It will last until Monday. During the week, I’ll make sure to work extra hard and on Monday, I’ll do any work I normally do on Saturday.” I said. “Good. Go get ready. You have a new client tonight and I want you properly cleaned and dressed. Silence says he’s very old and very rich.” She grinned. I nodded and went downstairs. A hot shower helped chase away the chill of selling myself to a ‘very old’ man. I knew he probably didn’t look it, but I was still worried. Mom told me most donors were confident, but my clients liked how scared I was each time. So I had that going for me. Most vampires liked the flavor of fear and I was terrified. .... Open the app and continue reading the rest of the story . 👉(It will automatically jump to the book when you open the app)