Page 7 of The Coven’s Sacrifice

“Yes.” I wasn’t, but right now I wanted to be anywhere but here.

“Splendid. I have to go over the rules with you.”

“Rules?”

She nodded, climbing up on one of the chairs. “You must know what you are allowed to do here, and what you are not allowed to do. As well as what the masters are allowed to do to you.” She snapped her fingers and a huge book appeared.

“That’s the rules?!” I gasped, taking in the sheer size of it.

“No, these are all questions and answers from past sacrifices. I wrote them all down to save myself some time. You all ask so much and this was just easier.”

Sort of a rude way of saying it, but if Sienna had to do this every twenty-nine years, I understood her need to make it easier for herself.

“The rules are here,” she said, snapping her fingers. A smaller book appeared. “And you will find that the masters can do whatever they want with you. That also involves killing you, which for some reason, you all seem to ask.”

I swallowed. I’d known they could kill me if they wanted to, but knowing it for certain…

“You can take the book with you and read it whenever you please.” Another of her rare smiles, although this one looked like a customer service one and not at all genuine. “If you have further questions, then do not hesitate to ask. I live to serve.”

“Can brownies lie?” I blurted.

“Yes,” she grumbled.

I figured.

“Can I take the rules with me, too?” I really wanted some privacy for this part.

“Of course. But please do not be startled with the number of questions about dismemberment and torture. Your ancestors were extremely dramatic.”

I just took the books and left.

Chapter Five

Colin

The book of questions was simply too big to filter through in one day. After going through the rules, my brain couldn’t handle anymore. There wasn't a lot I couldn’t do, per se, but the things I was no longer allowed to do, like leave this property, still felt like a noose tightening around my neck. With each new rule, a part of me withered away. It was one thing thinking I wasn’t allowed those freedoms anymore, and another thing to read it on paper. I was allowed a phone and the computer, for internet purposes, but the magic surrounding the mansion would stop me from making any calls or chatting with people. Even blogs and other ways of communication were stopped by the magic.

I didn’t even want to think about the list of everything the “masters” were allowed to do to me. It truly was anything and everything. I doubted the questions would help me much, if my ancestors had asked questions about what the vampires could do to them, all would be affirmations and I sort of didn’t want to read that.

I rubbed my temples, then my sore neck. The biting mark had disappeared sometime during the night, but the ache was still there, reminding me it had been real. I’d eaten lunch in my living room, not wanting to stop my reading. I also wasn’t ready to see when the monsters would wake up. Now it was nearing dinner. Why? You ask? Because I fell asleep while reading the damn rules and dreamed wonderful versions of how I could be killed. When I woke, my heart had been beating and my dick had been hard. I couldn’t remember what the last part had been about exactly, dreams were like that. The one thing I did remember was being chased.

Knocking sounded at the door, making me groan. I already knew it was Sienna. I could tell from the way she knocked. It was only my second day here and I was already getting familiar with the sounds and creatures.

Twenty-nine years to go….

“Colin,” she called through the door, not even raising her voice, but I heard her just as clearly from the tiny dining table. It was pushed into a corner in the living room. I was a little sad when I knew its purpose was for me to sit and eat alone. I would likely eat all my future meals alone.

What a depressing thought.

“Dinner is being served in the dining room,” Sienna informed me, clearly okay with speaking through a door. “Are you decent?”

“Coming!” I didn’t want to see the vampires, especially not after that damn nap. I sadly didn’t have a say in the matter. According to the rules, I was being summoned. I always came when being summoned. There wasn’t a part that told me what would happen if I should refuse them. That alone was enough for me to hurry into my clothes from yesterday. I should really order more soon.

Sienna gave me a questioning look when I left my room, eyeing my clothes. She wasn’t one to judge. Her dress was also the same as yesterday. I didn’t say that, but I was ready for the retort if she dared mention my outfit.

We walked in silence, which I appreciated. I needed the time to get my mind back on track. I would see Jacob, and the thought made my stomach flip with something like nerves and excitement. I wished it wouldn’t. I wished above all else that my body wouldn’t react to him the way that it did. Not because he was a man. I couldn’t care less about that. No. It was the fact he was a freaking vampire!

“Took you long enough,” Alexander drawled at my entrance. Then grimaced at my outfit. “You do know you are allowed to order clothes here, correct? No need to wear the same filthy things as the day before.”