The Vampire’s Servant
Chapter 75

[Echo]

I woke up feeling better than I ever had. Last night had been perfect. Gray and Victor let me have control and I got to try something I'd been thinking about since they saved me.

That wolf hadn't been the first to introduce me to the idea. Mr. Caine had talked about it a lot. He would tell me what he wanted me to do, what he was going to do, how it would feel for him. He would tell me that I'd like it. I did like it, but only with Gray and Victor. After dressing for the day, I went down to make breakfast. Gray had been gone when I woke up. I figured he went to train. Amy told me I'd train in the evenings during the week and mornings on the weekend while I still had school. I figured I'd have breakfast ready for everyone, it was the least I could do.

I finished putting everything on the table as Gray came into the kitchen. He came over to me and held me to him. I wrapped my arms around him and soaked in the heat of his body. He smelled like soap, but there was an underscent of something wild and woodsy. Gray started chuckling as I began sniffing him. "What are you doing, Echo?" He laughed.

"You smell different. Like fall, when the leaves start to smell crisp and something else, kind of like Rex smelled when I hugged him the other night." I told him.

"You can smell my wolf. The other must be my mate scent. You smell like a lemon sorbet. A little sweet, a little tart, very citrusy." Gray said softly. "You must be much better this morning. I'm so happy, angel. I want you to be healthy." "What's this?" Victor asked as he entered the room.

I let go of Gray and ran over to hug Victor. I sniffed him. He smelled like old books and mint. A thrill ran though me and I felt my fangs come out. I wanted to bite him.

"Are you hungry, princess?"

"You smell like mint and old books. I want to bite you." I said.

He bent down and moved his head to the side. I licked his neck and bit him. It wasn't for feeding, just the need to bite him. I licked the wound closed. "Better, Echo?" Victor asked.

"Yes, sorry. I don't know what came over me." I replied with a blush.

"You smelled your Solus Amor for the first time. If you hadn't bitten me, you would have had an irritable, itchy feeling until you did." He explained.

I didn't like how that sounded. I looked over at Gray. He looked a little sad. I went over to him and pulled him down, licking and biting him too.

"You didn't have to do that if you didn't feel like it." Gray said.

"I love you, Gray. You're my mate. It's different with Victor, but I never want you to feel like I don't love you." I insisted.

"I don't feel like that. I know it's different. He doesn't get to feel the sparks I do when I touch you and when you touch me. It's okay to treat us differently, as long as you love us the same amount." He told me.

"Sit down and have something to eat, Echo. Your bus will be here soon. It may be a little hard to focus if your senses are enhancing. I want you to do your best in school today, and don't forget to get all your missing work from the teachers. We don't want you to fall behind." Victor said from behind me.

I gave them both one more hug before sitting down to eat. Gray ate with me. Amy came in when we were half through eating. She fixed her plate and told me there was a lunch packed for me in the fridge. I'd seen it when I was getting my orange juice and blood from the pitcher in there.

"Thank you, Amy." I smiled.

"No problem. I'll take care of the breakfast dishes. I don't want you to be late for school." She replied.

When we were done, we put our dishes in the sink and got our things together to go to school. Gray insisted that we drive to the bus stop so he wouldn't have to run back for his truck. We parked in the entry to the drive and walked to the spot where I stood for the bus.

The early morning smelled more amazing than it had ever smelled before. I was amazed by the colors as well. They were more vibrant than before. It was like I was experiencing the world for the first time ever.

I wondered what could've created this change. I didn't seem to be progressing this quickly before. Maybe I'd hit the point where everything was just getting better. Maybe it was being able to truly be myself for the first time.

When the bus pulled up, I kissed Gray goodbye and boarded. My usual seat was empty and I sat gratefully. Everything could start going back to normal. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The scent of humans was interesting. I could actually tell that almost everyone on the bus was human.

There were some scents that were like lightning, bright, powerful, and static-y. I wondered at what that meant. There was someone on the bus who smelled like plants. Not like clippings, but like something growing and green. There was another person who smelled like fur. I wasn't able to pinpoint smells right now, but I was hoping it was something I'd be able to do as my abilities grew.

Sean sat next to me when we reached his stop. He talked to me about some of the stuff I'd missed in the classes we had together. He told me about the things that had happened in the popular group since Harmony, Valor, Gray, and Cam were all gone. Melissa tried to takeover and everyone suddenly decided to go reconnect with old friends at different tables during lunch.

Harmony would have to put Melissa back in her place after a week of thinking she was in charge. I knew everything would be put right before the end of the day. I relaxed in the seat and listened to him talk.

When we arrived at school, I actually managed to push myself into the flow of students coming off the bus instead of waiting until the end. When I stepped forward, the person near me froze. Her eyes widened and she let me out.

"Vampire." She whispered.

I blushed and hurried past her. Cam said I smelled like a vampire before, but no one ever said anything. Was my scent more strongly vampire now that I was healthier? I hadn't thought of that.

Harmony, Val, Cam, and Gray met me near the bus. We walked into the school and to my locker. I needed to put my lunch away before class. The girl from the bus walked by and stared at me. "What's wrong, Echo?" Gray asked, probably sensing my nervousness.

"That girl called me a vampire on the bus. Do I smell more like a vampire now?" I looked at Cam and Harmony.

"I wasn't going to say anything, but you do. There's something under it that isn't vampire, but people who have very little experience with them wouldn't know the difference. Don't worry. She's fae. They were a favorite food for vampires for a long time. Some of the younger ones hear old stories and are told not to go out at night or a vampire might eat them. Just do your best and be yourself." Cam said with a smile.

"Are people going to hate me for smelling like a vampire? I'm not going to eat anyone." I whispered.

"We know that. If anyone causes you any trouble, let us know. We'll take care of it. We're here for you." Gray replied gently.

I nodded and they walked me to home room before heading off to their own classes. I approached Mr. Taylor. I could tell now that he was a werewolf. "Echo, can I talk to you in the hall?" He asked.

"Sure." I said.

"Posey, please come up and read the announcements. Feel free to do what you want after the announcements, everyone. I'll be back in a minute." Mr. Taylor told the class.

A girl from the back came up and took the sheet with the announcements. We headed into the hallway. Mr. Taylor looked around, and I grew nervous.

"Echo. I know what happened to you. I'm not going to give you any assignments for creative writing. I'll consider you caught up. All I want you to do this week, is try to rest. If you can, write about what happened. You don't have to show anyone. Write it in a journal or something. I want you to try and talk to the counselor here. Mr. Moxon. He's a good man, and a member of the pack. He can help you through any residual stuff. All of your werewolf teachers were told to send you to him if you start having issues." He said quietly. "I don't think I'll have any. I've been fine all weekend. I even left the house a few times and I was fine." I assured him.

A soft, pitying look crossed his face. I didn't understand. Everything was fine. I was safe now. The men who took me were either dead or locked up.

"Sometimes these things can creep up on you. Just promise me you'll go see him if you have problems. We can't call your mate out of his classes with human teachers, but his wolf teachers will release him if you need him. We can see about getting your sister or brother too. We'll find one of your supports to come help you." Mr. Taylor promised.

"Thank you. I don't think I'll have a problem, but I appreciate you trying to help. I'll go see the counselor if I need to." I replied with a smile.

We went back in the classroom. I sat next to Sean. He gave me a worried look, but didn't say anything. I was grateful for that.

I didn't have any trouble in my free period. I spent that time with Gray and Harmony, like usual. We talked about plans for the prom. It was in two weeks. I was excited about being able to go. I wanted to show off my new dress.

It wasn't until third period that I had a problem. We were working on an in-class assignment. It was really quiet in the room, when suddenly I heard several people running down the hall.

Without warning, my mind threw me back into that cell. I was hearing my ex-mother scream and beg for the wolves to stop hurting her. Tears welled up in my eyes and I couldn't seem to breathe.

Flashes of Daniel and his threats, the wolf who fed me in the beginning, and the nights hearing the screams from the next room, all crashed over me. I covered my ears and closed my eyes tight, but nothing blocked out the sounds.

I felt someone touch me and my blood turned to ice. I didn't want to be hurt again. I didn't want to be held down and forced to drink from that bottle. I jerked away from the touch.

"Echo. Echo. You're alright. It's Mrs. Davis. Everything is alright." My teacher whispered, pulling my hand from my ear so I could hear her.

I realized I was in class. In school. I felt my face turn red as I noticed people were looking at me. Harmony and Val came over to my desk. Sean was watching from a distance.

"We can take her to the counseling office, Mrs. Davis." Val said quietly.

"Good. Grab your things and take her to see Mr. Moxon." She replied softly.

She wrote us some hall passes and we headed to the counseling office. I was embarrassed. I really thought I was fine. We walked silently. My sister and brother on either side of me, protecting me.

When we got into the counseling office, they led me to one of the doors on the side. It was open, but Val still knocked to get the counselor's attention. He looked up and smiled tightly.

Mr. Moxon was a tall, thin, man with white hair. He was dressed in nice slacks and a plaid button up shirt. When he came around the desk, the scent of wolf got stronger.

"I was hoping you'd be able to make it through the day. Please, come in. Close the door, Valor." He said.

Harmony ushered me to the couch and Val joined us. Mr. Moxon leaned against the front of his desk. He waited until we were settled before speaking again.

"Alpha Trent told me what happened to you. He gave me a brief overview of your life before you came to school with us and what your situation is. I passed on some of that information to a therapist in the pack. I want you to see someone about this and he was the best option. There aren't a lot of supernatural therapists, and most of them are either in our pack, or fae. You smell too much like a vampire for a fae to accept you as a client. I want you to tell me everything. I'll do what I can to help." Mr. Moxon said gently. "How much of everything?" I asked.

"All of it. I'll help with what I can from it, but the more I know, the easier it'll be for me to make a rescue plan for you when you're at school."

I held Val and Harmony's hands and started telling him everything. I knew they only knew the things they saw. They didn't know about all the things that had happened with the vampires. When I moved on to talking about the kidnapping, they listened intently, squeezing my hands from time to time.

Tears were in Harmony's eyes when I described the sounds coming from the room next to mine in Daniel's basement. For most of my life, I thought of Verity as my mother. Even though she hated me, on some level, I loved her. It was hard to hear her being tortured and abused like she was.

When I was finished, I looked up at Mr. Moxon. He had gone pale. I looked at Harmony and Val. He looked angry and she seemed terribly sad.

"Everything's okay now. I have Victor and Gray to take care of me. They make me feel safe." I murmured.

"That's at home, Echo. Who makes you feel safe when you're not at home?" Mr. Moxon asked.

"I... I don't know. I really thought I was fine." I replied.

"What happened in your history class?" He asked.

"It was quiet. I was working on the in-class assignment. Then I heard some people running down the hall. It reminded me of the first night Daniel gave Verity to the wolves. I couldn't stop hearing her scream." I said softly.

"I'm going to print off some grounding techniques. I want you to read them and practice them. If something like this happens again, ask for a pass to come down here. I'll let all of your teachers know. It would be best if you were near Grayson. As your mate, he can help you cope with overwhelming feelings." Mr. Moxon told me. "I'll make sure he's excused when you are as often as possible. You can both come in here until you're feeling up to going back to class."

"Okay." I answered.

"I'm going to let you three stay here until lunch time. I've notified Grayson and Cameron. They'll come here before going to the cafeteria. Echo. You need real help to deal with all of this. I'm going to call my friend in the pack lands. I want you to start coming here for first period twice a week to talk. I'll see if my friend can come out here during that time to start counseling you. Promise you're going to come see me." He said.

"I promise, I'll come see you." I replied.

"Good. Just relax with your sister and brother for now. I need to make some calls and get some paperwork done. Everything will be alright. You're safe here." He promised.

I nodded my head and leaned against Val. He stroked my hand with his thumb. Harmony leaned against me. I didn't know what caused it, but I started to cry.

For the first time, in a long time, I was crying because of what was done to me. I was crying for the child I didn't get to be and the person I had to become to deal with it. I was crying for the loss of my whole family, my parents who I'd never meet, my sister and brother who were kept away from me, and my fake parents who were killed or tormented because of me.

It actually felt like I was releasing something that had been bottled inside me for my entire life. It felt like I was finally freeing myself of that life. I'd been saved by Victor and Gray. They loved me in a way that made me feel complete instead of lonely. I loved them more than anything I'd ever known. Possibly more than I loved Val and Harmony.