The Vampire’s Servant
Chapter 21

[Echo]

Drew arrived about fifteen minutes after Victor went to bed. I grabbed the information we needed and locked up. On the way to the school, we talked about the meeting and what he thought I should make for dinner. We settled on fried boneless skinless chicken breasts with mashed potatoes, country gravy, and pan cooked broccoli.

The school was huge. I hadn't ever thought about how big a high school was. It was two floors in the center and a single floor branching out from each side. There was a big fenced field in the distance and the parking lot was the size of the one at the supermarket. My sister and brother only talked about a handful of people, I didn't realize there were so many more they'd never mentioned. Students were milling around the campus as we parked and got out of Drew's car. My nerves were going crazy.

There were too many people! I froze in one spot. My stomach was trying to bring my breakfast back up.

"Calm down, Echo. Just take slow, deep breaths. In through your nose, out through your mouth. You're fine." Drew said softly as he held my shoulders.

I had never realized that his eyes were so blue. I guess I'd never really looked at them. How was I going to make friends if I didn't even look at people!? I wanted to go home. I wanted to sit in the library or try to learn how video games worked. I didn't need college. I was happy to take care of Victor and play all day.

"Stop pulling away. You need to get a high school diploma. You need to have this experience." He told me.

"Did you? You're around two hundred years old. Did you go to high school?" I asked.

"Well, no. I went to a one room school and had to quit when I was twelve to help on my family's farm after my two oldest brothers died. But I would have gone if I'd had a chance. It's only a couple months, Echo. You can do this. You don't want Victor to be mad at you, right?" He pressed.

I glared. "You had to say that, didn't you?"

"There is one thing I've learned about you, princess. You want your master to be happy with you. Even more than I want mine to be happy with me, and I sleep with mine." He laughed.

"Is Victor going to want something like that?" I blushed.

"Probably not. He's very straight laced and sees you like a little sister or close friend. But, you never know where you'll be in a couple hundred years." He shrugged. "That got you out of your head! Let's go, kiddo."

"I hate you so much." I growled and followed him to the entrance.

***

I was looking intently through the paperwork once we reached the office, handing everything over that Drew asked for as he needed it. There were a lot of forms to fill out. I hadn't realized they'd faked immunization records. I knew I'd had all of my shots, because my parents didn't want Harmony or Val to get sick because of me, but I didn't even know it was something I needed for school.

"Let's get a picture for your school ID. We have a little card printer here, so we can get that to you today along with your class list." The secretary, Ms. Diaz smiled.

"Thank you." I replied and stood where she directed.

As I looked at the camera, the office door flew open.

"Echo!!" I heard Harmony shout.

"One more, you look like the life got frightened out of you. Miss Gale, please refrain from frightening students getting their pictures done." Ms. Diaz scolded.

"Sorry, ma'am." My sister replied.

I saw her pull out her phone out of the corner of my eye. If she got Val out here, I would never have a chance to leave. He was much bigger than Drew. I needed her to stop what she was doing.

"Drew. Will you talk to my friend Harmony for a moment while I get this done?" I asked.

"Sure thing, princess." He said and crossed to my sister, distracting her from whoever she was messaging.

My picture was taken and Ms. Diaz got me the card, a print out of my class list, my locker number, and the combination. She gave me a basic list of supplies and told me when I would have to be at school for my first class along with information for the bus. I thanked her and went to deal with my sister.

"Hey, Harmony. How have you and Val been?" I asked with a smile.

"You ran away." She hissed. "We didn't even know until Monday. Mom and Dad said you snuck out sometime Sunday night. Why would you leave us?"

"Can we talk outside?" I asked.

"Come on. I have first period free." She said and pulled me outside.

Drew and I led her to where we'd parked. I refused to say anything until I was sure no one would overhear it. Harmony pouted a little about having to wait, but it was for the safety of everyone. Now, I only hoped what Victor said about me being the mistress of the territory was correct.

"Drew. Keep an eye out for people getting too close." I ordered.

"Yes, Mistress Nightshade." He said with a bow.

"Mistress Nightshade? What the hell is that? Why are you here? Who's that guy? Why did you leave us?" Harmony wept.

"I love you, Harmony." I said in a normal tone of voice.

"I love you, too, Echo." She whispered out of habit.

"Never whisper that again. They can't hurt me anymore. This is Drew Golden. He's my friend. He's helping me get signed up for school because my master wants me to have a degree. My name is Echo Nightshade, now. Mom and Dad sold me, Harmony. They sold me to a man for two million dollars." I explained.

"They what? That's illegal! Let's go to the police. They can arrest them and the man that bought you!" Harmony insisted. "He didn't... he's had you for a week. You aren't a sex slave, right?"

"No, Harmony. I'm not going to the police either. If I do that, then the three of us will be separated and there will be no money for you to go to school. My master is a good man. He just needs someone to take care of him. I have a ton of freedom, all the food I can eat, he gave me his credit card which has yet to hit its limit and I've spent over twenty thousand dollars already.

Don't let mom and dad cheat you and Val out of your part of the money they got for me. They said five hundred thousand each. You can let them know I told you and they better make good on their promise or my master will not be happy with them." I smiled, remembering the frightened look on their faces.

"You don't want them to pay for what they did?" She asked.

"No. I want to be done with them and never think of them again. They'll pay when they blow through their money and have no way to get more." I laughed.

"What do you mean?"

"Dad lost his job over ten years ago. He never got another one aside from a little part time office work. Certainly not enough money in that to afford the big vacations, expensive clothes, remodeling, extravagant toys, and luxury cars. My master told me about what they'd bought, since I was locked in the basement and never really understood what was going on with the money I earned." I scoffed.

"You earned?" She squeaked.

"I need to go. I have to get things together for a dinner party my master is hosting tonight. Ask Mom and Dad. See what story they spin. Then talk to me on Monday. I'll tell you the truth."

"You're different than you were before, Echo." Harmony whispered.

"Yes. I'm learning more about myself every day, and I'm protected in a way I never was before. I know my worth more than they ever did or ever let me believe. I still love knowing you and Val are safe and happy, though. Let's be friends for the rest of school. Okay?" I offered.

"Let's be friends. I can't wait to hear what they have to say. How could they sell their own daughter?" She wept.

I put my hand on her shoulder and she slipped in for a hug. I'd been able to put my sister and brother aside in my mind for nearly a week. I hadn't realized exactly how much I missed them until that moment.

Holding my sister tight, I nearly started crying. Maybe they would meet up with me sometimes and we could spend time together. I loved Victor, but he wasn't as close to me as they were. We'd rarely ever been apart this long. "Echo!!" I heard another voice yell.

It was male, but not Val. It took a moment and another yell before I registered who it was. I needed to go before he cornered me.

"Oh my god. I have to go! Sorry, Harmony. I'll see you Monday." I pushed her off. "Drew! We're leaving!"

I got in the car and locked the door. Drew started to say something.

"Drive, old man, or I'm telling Silence and Victor you tried to put your hand up my skirt." I ordered.

"It was a joke!" He insisted as he sped out of the parking lot.

"When I say we're going, we're going. Now. Time for grocery shopping. And remember your manners." I told him, looking in the side view mirror as Gray finally stopped chasing us.

That was one persistent wolf boy. How did he figure out where I was? With my luck, he was a student at the school and I had all my classes with him.... I probably just jinxed myself with that thought....