15 Christian's new home

"I don't know anymore…" I answered unsurely

"I know Christian, life can be hard on anyone," Harold replied.

"Yes...but!" I yelled.

"But are you going to let this beat you?" Harold said.

I show him my hand is cuffed to the bar placed at the window, the situation seems worse than hopeless in my eyes. Lightly touching my dressed eye I bend down from my position.

"What do you think I should do?" I asked Harold.

"Rest and then never let this hurt you again Christian." Harold put it bluntly.

Rattling the chains of my once again capture I display with my open hand angrily.

"Obviously I have nothing to do other than rest Mr. Harold!" I argued.

Chara inches away slowly out to the hall nervously listening to us talk, seeing the expression of dissatisfaction with me on his face made it hard to look into his eyes.

"That's enough Christian!" Another familiar voice joined in.

"Oh no please don't tell me!" I yelled.

"How could you let yourself get into disrepair like this?" She asked.

"I knew he would turn into a monster!" Harold unbraids me.

"Look at him trying to ignore us! Pathetic!" The voice echoed.

Their words continued, I put my hand to my ear in an attempt to make their words stop.

My eye started to ache the second their belittling brought me down into more reasons to despair, I wanted to just go back to sleep instead of hearing this blame being pushed on me.

I am not able to focus, everything becomes shaky. Holding tight to the bar with both hands shutting my eyes tight against the things I am told.

"Do you hear that?" A hissing whispering voice asked.

"What?" I questioned.

"All the horrible things they are saying…"

"How do I stop it…" I inquired.

"Kill them...kill them....kill them all Christian!" The whispering voice now howled.

"Who cares if I am a monster! It's time I become more right?" I cheered.

Hypnotically I seemingly move on my own trying my best to haul the bar out of the wall, I tug and pull with all my might to free myself from my prison.

"A little more...use all of your strength!" He demanded of me.

Someone embraces me from behind, my eye's pain gradually subsides. I could feel the other entity dissipate.

"Christian! Don't ignore me!" The being cried out vanishing.

"Christian! Snap out of it please!" Chara shrieked.

Realizing that instant it was her sweet voice that drew me out of all my pain I was feeling, another pair of arms slink around my back.

"You are not a monster…" The gentle female voice sang to me.

Opening my eyes I was able to find I was surrounded by Chara, Mr. Harold and his wife were all clinging to me. I release the bar letting my arms drop to my side.

"Christian, are you feeling okay?" Someone behind us asked.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I am sorry for the experiment, but I needed to see."

"See what?" I questioned her motives.

"I put a spell on you...my name is Saniya…" She said with a grin.

"Spell...why would you do that to me?" I argued.

"You need to be tested Christian, you need help and I can help you…" Saniya responded.

"What kind of help?" I inquired curiously about her offer.

Mr. Harold, his wife and Chara get pulled off of Christian. Taking the key out of her pocket she unlocks the handcuff giving him his freedom of movement back.

"Become mine and you can do more than you ever imagined." Saniya explained.

Sticking her arm out she brings a broom out from an imaginary pocket in time and space, moving the air around her.

"Christian, you should worry about getting back to the clan." Chara tells me.

"If I can improve your life drastically will you stay with me?" She asked.

I watch as Alice's parents look scared and frail at me in the heat of decision, I could tell they are telling me not to do it through their expressions alone, Chara is gripping my hand with some pressure.

"Are you telling me you could really help me?" I responded forlornly.

"Tell me? Would you ever be taught to control it?" Saniya asked.

"The last bearer is dead...there is no way he could be trained!" Chara argued.

"Then his best bet is me, then Chara." Saniya stated.

"You want him for something...I am not stupid…" Chara accused her.

"You are all prisoners so it doesn't matter what you think." Saniya explained.

"Then why would you ask…" I questioned.

Saniya pushes Chara away from me to take my hand leading me away from the group, the others slowly trail behind observing me vanish into a wall in the middle of the hallway.

My body begins to tremble in this new space, we were standing in the middle of nothingness made of the vast black space. Stars suddenly splattered above and below us in the shapes of galaxies blooming like flowers.

"Now...you really think I will give you back to Everett now I see your potential?" She tells me.

Saniya snaps drawing my attention to her, she stands there in thought. I did not know what to expect from someone like her.

"Will you return the rest back to their homes if I say yes?"

"So their safe return is all you are concerned with?" Saniya replied.

"Yes…Alice would be happy…why did you kidnap them by the way?" I questioned.

Doing a small twirl Saniya laughed out loud, holding her hands out as the planets exploded in low graphics like a video game on her command; A blurred picture of a sword could be made out in the distance.

"But instead you got me…"

She jumped into the air in excitement, glancing back at me she swung her arm out like a conductor high into the air.

The projections turn red, we are a mere dot pale to the vast red ocean we stood in. The smell of rust or heavy iron was apparent in the room causing me to cover my nose.

"I forgot you weren't a vampire Christian." She says stopping, "Anyways…"

"Anyways?"

"I will allow it if you never leave me…you will be important in the next crimson moon."

"If that is what you wish…" I responded with a heavy heart.

"I love you Christian, thank you for understanding."

"Right…"

"My pet you will be happy here!" She yelled in a strange laughter.

Taking my hand we sprint out of the room to find they all had been waiting for us outside, I do not sugarcoat how I am feeling.

Chara runs into my arms, I could feel something curl around my neck suffocating me. I drop in her arms trying to catch my breath.

I started to choke out falling to the floor, I could feel Saniya's eyes bore in the back of my head.

"Christian! What's wrong?" Chara screamed helplessly.

"If you won't tell them I will Christian!" Saniya threatened.

Crawling to my feet I could feel something cold gather around my neck, everyone around shouted in horror. Chains slithered and locked in place forming into a full and up to date steel bondage collar complete with ring loop.

"Is this really necessary?" I yelled back.

"Yes...yes it is…"

"Christian...what is going on?" Chara requested to know.

"You all are now free to go." I explained, "But this is now my home."

"No! Christian...don't tell me you made a pact!" Chara shouted.

"I did…"

"Why would you do that to Alice?" Harold asked.

"She would be in place of me no doubt!" I shouted back, "It's best this way."

I could see the miserable expression on each one of their faces, there was nothing I could say or do to cheer them up. Alice will be happy at least.

"Then I am staying too!" Chara boasted.

Saniya only shrugs, placing her palms together she pulls an old crafted stick from her sleeves out, she stands there chanting with her eyes closed.

"I will only send those two home then!" Saniya stated.

"Thank you Christian for everything." Mr. Harold said.

He and his wife stand there waiting to be sent home from the strange cottage. Within a few seconds they fade out as though they never existed.

From this moment forward I will continue to be human in the dwelling of a powerful sorceress and living with the maid from the Everett clan.

I felt grateful she was willing to stay with me because truthfully I felt lonely and horrified in this new place. At least Chara could teach me things.

"Christian Darling?" Saniya called out to me.

"Yes?" I replied.

"Be thankful I let you keep a pet."