The Vampire’s Servant
Chapter 124

[Sean]

I rode the bus home. Rosario didn't show up at school. I figured he was just busy packing.

Echo was distant today. It got worse when we found out the couple from yesterday woke up not feeling the mate bond. She looked like she was trying not to cry. When I got off the bus, I walked down the street to my house. It was a little surreal that I wasn't going to make this walk again. But, I was excited for a change in my life. Moving in with Echo and Gray was going to put me at the heart of the curse situation. I wanted to help as much as possible and this was going to be what ensured I was always there to get the most up to date information. I opened the front door and my mom was right there.

She grabbed me and pulled me into a tight hug. I hugged her back. Mom had been acting like she would never see me again, but I promised her I would come for dinner and game night on Saturdays and stay overnight to spend time with her on Sunday mornings. "I can't believe this is the last time you'll come home from school. My baby is moving away. I thought we had three more months before this happened." She sniffled.

"Mom, I'm going to be in town and I'll move back as soon as we figure out this curse. I promise, you're not losing me forever." I murmured.

"I know, I know. I just wasn't ready for you to be all grown up."

"I have to finish packing. Are you and dad really okay with driving me over? I can see if someone else can take me."

"Your father is getting off work early today just so we can take you. He wants to know where you're going to be living. So do I." Mom insisted.

"Let me go, then. You know dad doesn't like to leave late for things. I still have work to do." I told her.

Mom let me go and I went to my room. I'd packed a suitcase with clothes last night. Today, I wanted to get some books and other things. I worked on getting a box packed with some of my books and other items. I pulled the pack of condoms out of the nightstand. I didn't want mom to go through my room all weepy and nostalgic and find them, so I put them into my bag. Maybe I could sneak into Rosario's room one night and actually make use of them. I smiled at the idea of finally being intimate with my boyfriend. There was a knock at my door and I called out for them to come in. My dad opened the door and closed it quickly behind him. He approached me, looking determined.

"I want to make sure you absolutely know what you're doing. You aren't feeding vampires. You're just there to help with the curse. Don't let them bite you." Dad ordered.

"Dad, the vampires aren't interested in my blood. I'm sure they have other ways of getting what they need that doesn't involve drinking blood from a teenager. In both times I've been there, they haven't once approached me about it. Please trust that I know what I'm doing." I said.

"It's not that I don't trust you, Sean. I don't trust them." He sighed.

"You trusted Echo. She wouldn't have done this just so vampires can drink my blood, dad. Rosario will be there, Gray, Cam, Val, and Harmony will be there. They have a lot of choices before they even consider a witch with no affinity." I chuckled.

He nodded and picked up the box I had just finished. I grabbed my suitcase and we headed out to the car. We loaded the stuff into the trunk and I got in the backseat. Dad was driving and mom got carsick in the back, so I always sat there.

As we drove, dad gave a lecture on the rules with different supernaturals. He made sure I understood as much as possible. I wanted to roll my eyes at him, but this was what dads were supposed to do. They were supposed to worry over you and make sure you understood the world.

We turned into the driveway and he hit the intercom button at the gate. A voice I didn't recognize answered. They directed us where to park and opened the gate.

When we pulled up, I saw Val and Cam's cars along with two cars I didn't recognize. Gray's truck pulled up behind us as I was opening the trunk. He jogged over. "Hey! Let me help." Gray smiled.

I felt a little guilty that my heart did a flip. I loved Rosario, but Gray was my crush for so long, that I sometimes had trouble. Especially when he smiled. Maybe this would be what I needed to get him off my mind.

Gray picked up the box and my suitcase, leaving nothing for us to carry in. He nodded to my dad and mom.

"I'm Gray Padua. I live here. It's nice to meet you."

"Oh, you're one of Echo's husbands." My mom said.

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you for letting us borrow Sean. He's really smart, and we could use as many smart people working on this problem as possible." Gray smiled. "Follow me."

He led us into the house. We were met by Echo and a short, pale girl. Echo nodded to us.

"Sean is in room six." She told the girl.

The pale girl took my things from Gray and headed up the stairs. She lifted them as if they weighed nothing.

Echo came over and held out her hand to my dad. He accepted it. She did the same with my mom.

"I need to know what adults are in the house." Dad said.

I sighed.

"Well, there's Dillon and Jean-Claude. They're helping get people settled. My uncles are here, they're unpacking. Finn and Victor are still asleep. And... Talia.... I think she's in the library. Talia!" Echo called. A short while later, the small vampire came into the entry way. She had a congenial smile on her face and greeted my parents.

"This is Talia. She's Victor's sire and the oldest person in the house." Echo grinned.

"Talia the Traveler." My dad said quietly.

"I see my reputation precedes me." Talia chuckled. "Do not worry about your son, I will make sure that he is safe here. All the children are under my care and I do not fail those in my care." "Th-thank you. If you say he's safe, I'll believe you."

"Good. You should get going. We're trying to get everyone settled in before the boys wake for the night. Sean will see you some other time. I'm sure he's eager to get unpacked." She smiled.

My parents hugged me and my mom gave me a kiss on the cheek. I said goodbye to them and waved them off as they drove away. I returned to the entry way. Talia was still there. "Did you use mind control on them?" I asked.

"No. When people know who I am, they tend to just do what I say." Talia shrugged.

She wandered away and I shook my head. Echo seemed amused. Gray crossed to her quickly.

"Have you showered yet?" He asked.

"No, I was waiting on Rosario. He said he'd be here soon. I should have plenty of time before Victor wakes up." She responded.

Gray swept her into his arms and started kissing her like his life depended on it. I tried to look anywhere but at them. The intercom rang, breaking them apart. Echo sighed and went to answer it. "Who is it?" Echo asked sweetly.

"Rosario." Came the strained answer.

Echo looked alarmed and opened the gate, followed by the door. I was right behind her. I didn't like how he sounded.

Rosario pulled up in a brand new car. It still had the dealer's ad plates on it. He wasn't in his glamour. When he got out, I could see blood on the leather seat.

I pushed past Echo and ran to him. He leaned against the car, looking completely fine. I couldn't even see where the blood was coming from.

"You're pretending to not be wearing glamour. Drop it now. Let me see." I insisted.

"You're so cute, babe. I'm fine." He assured me.

"There's blood on your seat." Gray said, sniffing. "I smell a lot of blood."

"Just let me go rest in my room. I'll be fine." Rosario told us.

As he tried to move from the car, he lurched a little and started to fall. I caught him and, even though his shirt looked dry, he felt like he was covered in warm, somewhat sticky, liquid. I pulled my hand away and it was covered in blood. "Shit." Gray said and moved to support Rosario.

Rosario grunted and groaned with pain. I didn't know what to do. I was panicking.

"Can you lift him, Gray?" Echo asked.

Rosario shook his head. "It's mostly on my back and legs." He whispered.

"Let's get him up to his room. I want him cleaned up. I'll try healing him." Echo said.

Gray and I helped Rosario up the stairs and Echo led us to a room with a number six on it. I barely had time to register everything, Rosario's glamour faded as we crossed the threshold.

The back of his pants and shirt were torn up and I could see where some of the tears wrapped around his waist. He had a split lip and his face was a little swollen. Echo gasped.

"There are towels in the bathroom, Gray. Go get two, please. Sean, help me get his clothes off, I don't want him to have to shower twice." Echo ordered.

My hands were shaking so bad I couldn't manage his zipper and button. Echo started tearing the fabric on his shirt and then moved to the waist of his pants. I looked at her helplessly.

She grabbed where the material was the thinnest and started tearing it away. Gray came out with the towels and laid one on the bed. He helped us move the, now, naked Rosario and had him lay on his stomach.

I covered his butt with the other towel when Talia charged into the room. Her eyes were wide as she took in the sight of Rosario on the bed. I stepped in front of him. He'd told me how vampires reacted to fae blood. "Who the hell did this?!" She growled. "Who hurt this child?"

I turned to look at Rosario, but he moved so I couldn't see his face. I knew exactly who did this and it made my blood boil.

"His father." I hissed.

Echo looked at me, then back to Rosario. She clenched her fists.

"Never again. He will never hurt you again, Rosario. This is a safe home. You're safe here." She promised. "Talia. Go get my sister and brother. I need them to help me."

"Help with what?" I asked.

"We're going to heal this. I'm not going to let Rosario live in pain while this heals at a normal pace. I can do it. I just need more power." Echo said.

Talia seemed to disappear. Gray came up beside me with a damp wash cloth. He handed it to me and nodded toward Rosario.

I sat on the bed and ran the cloth over the unbroken skin, taking away some of the blood and revealing his rich brown skin. I was careful and diligent. I softly murmured my promises of love to him while I cleaned his skin. Before long, Val and Harmony came in the room trailed by a man I didn't know. He looked a little like them, so I assumed it was their uncle. Harmony covered her mouth in shock. Val looked like he was going to be sick. Echo took off her shirt and approached the bed. "Sean, I need you to go to the other side of the bed and hold Rosario's hand. It will make him feel better while I do this."

"Echo." I whispered.

"I know. I'll try to make sure I don't hurt him. Go on." She said.

I got up and went to the other side of the bed. I laid down next to Rosario, on my stomach, and held his hand while looking into his eyes. He looked cold and distant for a moment. Then, his expression softened as he looked into my eyes. "Valor, Harmony, I want you each to put a hand on my shoulder. I'm going to see if I can use some of your energy to help me heal him." Echo explained.

I didn't watch what happened next. I only watched Rosario's eyes. I watched as the cut on his lip healed and the swollen look in his face went away. A relieved look crossed his face. I was happy that the pain was going away.

"What is going on here?" Victor growled from the doorway.

Rosario needed me, I couldn't look up and see what was happening. Instead I just listened while someone grappled with him and the door closed. I hoped whoever got him out was alright. "That's the last one." Echo sighed.

"Thank the goddess." Their uncle said. "That was amazing. Healing magic is rare and you did it like a pro, Echo."

"I've healed people before. Now, I need to go shower, change, and try to calm my husband down. Thank you both for helping. Excuse me." She said.

"We'll leave you two alone." Harmony told me. "We'll let you know when it's time for dinner. Come on, Val. Come on, Uncle Preston."

They muttered their goodbyes and left the room. I reached out and caressed Rosario's cheek. He smiled slightly.

"You told me he doesn't hurt you anymore. Why did this happen?" I asked.

"He lost his temper when I told him I was moving in here. Mom only just got him to stop and told me to run. I don't have anything except what I packed in the car last night." Rosario answered. "You're never going back to him. I never want him around you again." I growled.

"It's not that easy, Sean. I really wish it was. My father is the king. Even after this is all over, he will be the king until he dies or retires. At least a hundred more years."

"We'll stay here with Victor and Echo, then. The vampires will protect you. I know I'm basically useless here. I can't save you. I can't protect you. I can't even heal you." I said in a dejected tone.

"Sean, baby, I'm not just any fae. I'm the prince. I'm going to take over for my mom when she retires. I can't just hide away. You gave me the strength to endure him. I would have just given in at the punch to the face before I had you. He didn't start whipping me until

I turned to leave after telling him I'd do what was best for our people, no matter what he wanted." Rosario explained. "I knew, if I had you, I could be strong. I came here hoping to find you, and I did. You did save me. I'm a stronger leader because of you." "I love you." I whispered.

"I love you, too. I just hope you still love me with all these new scars." He sighed.

I raised up on my elbows and looked over his back. It was as perfect and smooth as ever. I reached out and ran my fingers over his skin.

"You don't have any scars." I told him.

He looked at me in surprise. A grin crossed his face and I knew he was relieved to hear that. I was glad I didn't have to see a reminder of what his father had done to him. I didn't have to see the shiny scars where the terrible open wounds had been. Gently, I leaned in and kissed him. He rolled onto his back and pulled me close. My hand trailed down to where the towel haphazardly covered him.

Suddenly, there was a scream from the hallway. It was followed by a man bellowing.

"ECHO!!!"

We pulled away and I dashed out into the hall to find complete chaos. I didn't see Echo and I worried for where she could be. What the hell happened?