The Vampire’s Servant
Chapter 29

I was eating my dinner when I heard Marius in the entryway where Victor and Rosalynn were working. I tried to focus on my food, but it was hard with the noise of their talking. I ended up listening in on their conversation. "I'll return shortly with some of my staff to help with this mess. Where is Echo?" Marius asked.

"She's having her dinner in the kitchen. I checked on her, she's uninjured." Victor answered.

"Good. Go get cleaned up. I'll bring my staff to clean this mess and we can dispose of their vehicle once she's in bed."

He must have left because I could hear Victor and Rosalynn heading up the stairs. Their footsteps were heavier than normal. That must have made them tired.

I got up and started a kettle with water. I would make them some tea to help calm them down and make them feel better. Then I wouldn't be useless Echo anymore.

Once the water was started, I went to get the blood out of the fridge. I thought again. They'd been protecting me. They deserved something more.

I went to the doorway by the entryway and made sure not to look. Soon, Marius' voice was resonating in the area as he gave directions to his people. I called out to him softly and he seemed to appear in front of me. "Echo. Don't go in there. Are you alright?" He asked.

"I'm fine. Just shaken." I took a moment to explain what had happened. "I wanted to ask for your help."

"You want to live somewhere safer? I can take you home with me. You'll have everything you could want or need. I find myself worrying about you rather more than I thought I would." Marius admitted.

"No. I want to stay with Victor. Could you get me a cotton ball with your saliva again? I want to use my blood for the tea." I told him.

"Why would you do that?"

"Because they fought to protect me and my blood is stronger than the blood we have in the fridge. I want to give them an extra boost since they fought so hard." I replied with a blush.

"You really are too sweet, Echo. Victor doesn't realize how lucky he is to have you for his servant... or maybe he does. I'll help you, but I want you to agree to be trained in fighting. You need to be able to protect yourself during the day and to protect Victor as well." "Yes, please. I hate being a burden on him. I'll learn to fight." I smiled.

It was true. I was berating myself the whole time I was in the pantry. I wanted to have some sort of future with Victor, but I couldn't do it if I was this useless. I needed to learn how to protect myself.

Marius went to the bathroom and returned with the cotton ball right as the kettle was starting to whistle. I pulled out a glass and a knife in preparation. I was far more confident in it than I had been the last time I cut my finger.

The blood poured into the cup and I cleaned the cut. It was smoother than the last time as well. I finished mixing the tea with the blood and rinsed the cup so Victor wouldn't refuse it.

"I'll go get them and bring them to have tea while you finish your dinner. I don't want you to see the mess they made. My people are thorough and won't leave a single spot behind. No one will ever have to know what happened." Marius assured me. "Thank you, Marius. I really appreciate everything you're doing to help me and Victor."

"No. Not you and Victor. I am doing this solely for you. You are my family. I have none left and will care for you as much as I can." He said firmly.

"Thank you either way. I am happy to be your family."

"Don't go telling people I'm actually this soft. There would be others who would try to use you to get favor with me. Not Victor, but others. The world of vampires tends to be fairly cutthroat." Marius told me.

I finished the tea and put the tea service in the middle of the kitchen table. I sat at my seat and started to eat again. My food wasn't as tasty as it should have been and I didn't know if it was my nerves or the temperature, but I ate it anyway.

Victor and Rosalynn came into the kitchen and sat down, pouring tea for themselves and for Marius. He settled in with them and sipped his tea with a reverent look on his face. They all seemed to visibly relax as they drank.

Once I finished my food, I worked on cleaning up the kitchen while they quietly had another cup. I hoped that it would help them feel better. I really wanted Victor to be healthy and happy.

"I didn't think we had AB- in the fridge." He said with a tone that made me worry.

"This tea does taste very familiar." Rosalynn murmured.

"I don't think this counts as breaking the rules. You didn't drink it from her. Just like the test didn't break the rules." Marius replied.

I stared at him. How could he out me like that? Although, maybe they were starting to pick up on it. Still, it was rude.

"Echo. I told you no." Victor chided. "Don't do this again."

"She wanted you to feel better. The blood of a dhampyr of her level can help you to heal, regain energy, and feel better in general. Don't be harsh with her over this. She was being a good servant." Marius told him.

"I don't want her giving up her blood because of some misguided idea that it's better. She gave up enough already. I won't be like those vampires who fed on her before."

"You're not like them! I wanted to do this. I wasn't forced to. I want you to be healthy. You take care of me and want me to be healthy. The way you two were walking so heavily made me worry you'd worn yourselves out fighting. Please, don't be mad at me. I was so worried." I insisted.

Victor moved quickly from the table to where I stood and pulled me into his arms. He held me and rocked me gently. I loved the feeling. It was safe and comforting.

"I'm not mad. You shouldn't worry. I'm old enough to take care of myself. I was worried about you the whole time. Hunters can do very bad things to human servants. They're no real match for us unless they can find our daytime resting place. The location of my home was a secret only shared with my lieutenants, the Alpha, and the donors. That means someone talked. Trust that I will find out who and they will be silenced."

"You don't think it was Gray, do you?" I asked.

"No. Hunters hate werewolves as much as they hate vampires. Hunters almost never work with werewolves and would just as soon have another wolf dead than accept his money and go after a harder target. You were very smart to hide. They might have hurt you or used you as a shield."

"Marius wants me to learn how to fight. Is that okay with you?"

"Yes. I was thinking the same thing. We need to find someone to teach you though. You need to learn to fight with the abilities you have as a dhampyr as well. I am at a bit of a loss." Victor said after he released me.

"I know precisely who we need to train her. I'll make the appropriate calls. You will house the trainers when they come and make sure they are fed." Marius stated in a commanding tone.

"Yes, Master Marius. I appreciate your help. We will take care of whomever you send to help my Echo." Victor replied with a bow.

I loved it when he called me his Echo. It actually made me feel like I was wanted. I was actually wanted by someone who didn't only think of what I could do for them. My being his servant was one thing, sure, but it wasn't the only reason he kept me. Victor wanted to give me a better life.

"You're healing well, Echo. This is the first of your gifts to manifest, aside from being immune to mind control." Marius smiled. "I wonder what other talents you have. So far, these are great defensive abilities. I can't wait to see how you grow."

"She will start a very powerful line when she begins her second life." Rosalynn said with a nod. "Both of those are rare abilities."

I blushed. It was difficult to think of my second life. The one that would happen after I died. Hopefully, it was a long time off. Victor said I could end up living for a very long time naturally. Drew told me that you stop aging when you accept your master's servant mark. Either way, I was in for a long life before that one ever started.

"You need to go get some rest, Echo. Take a bath, calm your mind. There is nothing that you need to be concerned with now; only getting enough rest for school in the morning." Victor said.

"Who will take care of you during the day? What if more hunters come?" I asked.

"Echo, you're no match for hunters. I'd rather you were at school, safely with your sister and brother. I will contact Trent about having some warriors assigned to walk the perimeter. It would make good use of my agreement with him." He replied. "Alright. I'll go. Will I see you in the morning?" I asked.

"Of course you will. I want to see you off to school. Go on, sweetheart. Everything will be alright now." He kissed me on the forehead and gave me another hug before letting me go again.

"I'll take the back stairs, so I don't interrupt Marius' people. Good night." I said with a slight bow and left.

It was only just nine o'clock. I knew a bath would help calm me down. Just knowing Victor wasn't mad was helping a lot. I needed to rest before school. I hoped my first day wouldn't be difficult. I really didn't need that after tonight.

-

[Victor]

-

After Echo left, I went to sit at the table again. I stared at the teapot. The power in her blood was stronger than it had been when we'd tested it. Eating regularly and properly had strengthened her. Rosalynn picked up the pot and refilled everyone's cups. Master Marius watched me as if he was waiting to see what I'd do. I didn't know myself.

"The blood will be wasted if we don't drink it, Victor. You know you still want it. Her blood is hard to resist." Rosy said.

"I didn't want to be like them. I didn't want to use her." I repeated.

The draw of having her blood again made it hard to resist. Echo wasn't food. She was my friend, my servant, my.... No. Not my heart. I loved her, but not like that. I wouldn't give in to the pull of the blood.

"She's impressive. She could tell you were tired from the sound of your footsteps and that her blood would be better for you than normal human blood. Victor, she's more intuitive than any human or dhampyr I've ever met. She knew instinctively when and how to lie to Silence's servant and to those hunters. She's already shown a lot of qualities of a successful vampire." Master Marius told me as he sipped his tea.

"There's another ability she has that she doesn't realize." I replied.

"What is it?" He asked.

"When she was hiding in the pantry. I heard her telling me in my head. I tried to answer back in the same way, but she didn't respond."

"We'll have to test it when she's not as upset. It might just be the way she's bonded with you trying to create the servant connection or it might be something completely new. Maybe the ability to communicate mentally with other vampires. That's an unheard of talent." He said.

"Master Marius, would you be willing to take me home tomorrow evening? I have urgent business in my territory, but I have to complete the test on the other two children." Rosy requested.

"Of course, but you better not tell anyone about this or my ability. It's a secret for a reason. My servant is waving to me. They're done. Get rid of the car. We'll take the body parts with us to be disposed of in my territory. Find out who told and make sure they never speak again. If I find out Echo is in danger, I'm taking her home with me. That child's life is important. She cannot begin her second life until she's healed. With the memory loss, she might end up only remembering vampires hurt her and get herself killed trying to kill everyone who might have done anything to her." Master Marius warned.

"I'll have a wolf guard starting as soon as possible. She'll be trained and I'll get her healed, Master Marius. I promise, you'll never have to worry." I vowed.

"Do not make promises you have no way of keeping, Victor. Especially not to me." He replied darkly as he rose to leave. "You will not like the result of my disappointment."

Master Marius headed to the entry and soon I felt his power leave the house. I drank the tea in front of me without thinking. The threat in his warning was clear. I would work even harder not to be on the wrong side of him.