Over Worked

He had lifted my head and his red eyes were focused on my eyes. My body was relaxing as calmness seemed to come from his touch. My mind knew he could influence my emotions just like mine could, but I was also sure he was not. He was just talking to me like I was a wild animal that he knew wouldn't attack again. That hadn't meant to bite him in the first place. He was the master here. He had his own master, but he was the caretaker and knew what his job was.

I wanted to nod but my body didn't move with the vampire so close. With his eyes so focused on mine I was sure the motion was not going to be enough to get him to release me. "Yes, my lord." My voice sounded wrong and broken but the vampire nodded once before standing and moving away. My mind wasn't sure how many steps the vampire had taken or that he had turned to face the direction he walked or if he had walked facing me.

I knew he didn't need his eyes to see me as I let myself fall to sit on the stone ground. I felt worse than any arena match had left me to date. Yet somehow, I also felt better than I had since being captured. I guess my body didn't like living off of vegetables. Clearly, I could do it, I just wasn't happy about it. I looked up at the dark sky expecting to see rain still bouncing off the shield, but it was too dark for me to see that far.

How late was it? That had taken much longer than I had thought for it to be so dark even with rain. "Just an hour after sunset. Your method is slower though not as slow as what I did to you. Still slower than I had planned today." I felt the black flames give off another shrugging feeling, the vampire had blood and time, so it wasn't important how long this took. None of that feeling was displayed in the body language of my lord though. "It doesn't matter to me anyway. You should go home and get some rest. Tomorrow you will take Jose and your team to go hunting. I want you to learn how to keep blood and meat for as long as possible. With my messenger with you, you can use magic to hunt, maybe you will learn more interesting things that way. I expect you to be away from the Capital for about two weeks. You would do well to figure out how to work with the hunters. I have other jobs for you than to waste your time hunting."

I bowed my head deeper in response to my lord. I didn't trust my voice. I almost couldn't straighten again, now that the drive to bite was gone my body was shutting down.

The vampire spoke again. "Oh, and Mir, do be careful not to bite your wives. I would hate to have to find out if the same madness as my messengers gets, affects you too or not, at least I don't want to learn yet."

My throat felt dry as I swallowed again, "Yes, my lord." I paused as he was still watching me like he was waiting for something. I could tell the black flames were watching my mind, so they knew what I wanted to say but the vampire just waited. I tried to swallow again, and the pain increased. I was going to need water soon. I didn't see the vampire's eyes flick to a person not far from me and back. "May I take that man with me?"

"The dirt belongs to your house. I have already explained to your mother how I want her scheduling to be concerning them. You may do with them as you wish when we are not using them to learn about you." The vampire paused again, then he continued, "I will have Jose let you know when I wish to see you again." It was a dismissal; he was done with me for now.

My head spun for a moment with everything else that needed to be done besides hunting. I jumped as a man next to me that was also wrapped in black flames held out a cup. I figured it was probably more of the green liquid and just threw it into the back of my throat. The terrible taste didn't appear. Ah it had just been water. Well, that was good too.

I looked back up at the dark sky, focusing was becoming harder and harder. I should be working on going home but I couldn't make myself move. I felt the source of the black flames move. The vampire was gone from the arena. I felt someone pick me up before I realized who it was. Jose wrapped my arm over his shoulder and stood like I didn't weigh more than a child. I got the feeling he could have carried me, but he was saving my pride while I was still conscious.

The woman lifted the man that was twice my size with as little effort as the messenger was using to hold me up. I didn't even feel the black flames helping them much. Though my head seemed clouded as I watched the black flames. "Take a break Mir, you haven't worked with magic for so long before. The burn out will be bad enough in the morning without you exploring as I help you home."

"Our lord will not be pleased if I die so soon." Jose flinched like I was yelling. I flinched like I was yelling. This was strange, it was like I was awake but not. My limbs felt like they had people hanging off of them. I felt my eyes open and close slowly as Jose led me from the arena.

I could feel the woman and man following behind, so I didn't look. It felt like I was slipping out of my body. There wasn't anyone in the streets but this little group. The messengers were protected from my wondering self by the black flames. The man was protected by having passed out, but that protection wasn't as good. I was watching him dream as we walked. The dreams were filled with rain. Probably because of the sound of the rain against the pavement as we walked.