Chapter 4 Never Again

Eleanor's POV:

I kept my head down, a habit formed through years of survival. "Yes, sir," I replied softly.

The vampire stood motionless, studying me. Even without looking directly at him, I could feel the weight of his gaze.

"Were you crying?" His voice was unexpectedly gentle. "Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you."

My stomach twisted with anxiety. "Th-Thank you. Where would you like me for your feeding, sir?" I asked, hating how my voice trembled.

"Look at me," he commanded softly. That's when I realized I was shaking uncontrollably. I hadn't been this terrified since my first time, at seven years old.

When I finally glanced up, I found myself staring into impossibly deep crimson eyes, ancient and powerful. The vampire went perfectly still for a moment, his expression shifting subtly as though he'd caught something unexpected in the air. His eyes lingered on me with an intensity I couldn't interpret, and I felt an odd warmth rush through me—different from fear, more like an inexplicable pull.

"Your blood scent is quite extraordinary," he whispered, almost to himself. "No scars on you or your mother, skin so pale... interesting."

I bit down hard on my lower lip, every muscle in my body tensing as I fought to contain the terrified whimper building in my throat.

His eyes narrowed, clearly sensing my fear. "You won't be feeding me. I ate earlier," he stated firmly, then added with unmistakable disgust, "And I don't drink from underage children."

A wave of relief washed over me—he wasn't going to drink my blood after all. Maybe there was a shred of humanity behind those crimson eyes, some moral line he wouldn't cross. But my relief vanished as quickly as it had come, replaced by a cold dread. If he didn't want my blood...

"I'm s-sorry." I took a deep breath to steady my voice. "Did I do something wrong? Did you change your mind because of me? How can I fix it? Please." I couldn't keep the desperation from my voice.

He stepped closer. "What will happen if I don't buy you?"

I fought to stay calm as I felt the power radiating from him. "They'll be angry with me, lock me up, and keep taking offers until my birthday, I suppose. They'll sell me to the highest bidder. If you don't buy me..." My voice grew quiet. "I can't bear to imagine what monster might claim me instead."

I looked up at him, my expression earnest. "Please... you seem different from the others. I'll be eighteen in just two months. After that, if blood is what you want, it wouldn't be wrong anymore." The desperation in my voice was real but controlled. "Please buy me. Take me away from here. Whatever you want from me has to be better than what they have planned."

Sebastian went silent, his eyes unfathomable.

"You're coming with me," he finally said, his voice low but firm. "I want you to pack your things."

"Yes, sir," I stood, then hesitated. "But if I go out without bite marks, they'll know you didn't feed on me."

Sebastian had started toward the door, but paused at my words. He turned to face me.

"You're leaving tonight," he said firmly. "Don't worry about what they might do. I'll ensure your safety." His voice softened slightly. "At my home, you'll have more freedom, and never need to feed anyone again if you don't want to."

"Really? Never again?" Relief flooded my voice, though I noticed where his eyes were focused, creating a strange mix of anticipation and apprehension.

"Really, never again." He stepped back, seemingly forcing himself to create distance. "Now go. I don't want to stay here any longer, and we need to discuss some things before we reach my mansion." He nodded toward the door.

I hurried out to gather some shopping bags for my belongings. Being a servant wouldn't be much different from my current life. Never feeding a vampire again—being safe—was all I truly wanted. I might not see my sister and brother again, but they'd be taken care of. I hoped this wasn't a trick to make me more compliant, but something about Sebastian made me trust him, despite what he was.

Ten minutes later, I'd packed my few possessions and written a goodbye note in black marker on the back of my door. Aurora would probably see it Monday after school. I simply wrote that I loved her and Olive and would see them again someday. I didn't mention I was leaving with a vampire—I didn't want her to worry, or to risk her searching for me. My new master might be kind to me, but I couldn't know how he'd react to discovering my siblings.

When I returned to the living room, my parents were smiling and shaking Sebastian's hand. I stood beside him, head down, waiting.