10 Mistresses?

He tisked at her, "No, use your words." He said, voice firm. 

She cleared her throat, eyes darting to the right and finding Lea. Her handmaiden smiled back at her.

"Yes, Lord Reign." She whispered softly. 

The vampire smiled, and she stared at his fangs. 

She would be the talk of the estate. Her and her vampire lord fiancée. 

She cringed back, but he held her face firmly in place. The smile on his face turned into a frown. Marci's hands grew clammy as she waited for what would happen next. 

With a clenched jaw, Lord Reign stepped away from her, cold hand dropping from her chin. 

"I've brought you another gift." He said. He nodded his head to his servant. Marci tore her gaze away from him and glanced over at the blonde vampire. He flashed her a smile and walked towards the carriage. He leaned in through the door and spoke too low for her to hear. Then he stepped back.

Marci's eyes widen when a girl around her age walked out. Her brown hair was pulled back into a bun on the top of her head. Loose strands framed her oval face, capturing her red eyes. 

A vampire, Marci thought. Both her and Pierre were vampires like Reign, but they were not of high status. Her brows furrowed in curiosity. 

The white and brown gown stated that the girl was another servant. Following behind her another with blond hair and red eyes emerged. She was pretty, with pouty lips and high cheekbones. 

Marci frowned when she realised that Lord Reign rode the same carriage as these two girls. She bit her lip, unless they weren't servants but his mistresses. Her frown deepens. 

She glanced at her father, he had mistresses. Her gaze drifted to the three women who huddled a few feet from them. They wore different dresses though, solid colours of dark green, red and blue. It said they were more than just servants, but less than noble.

She glanced at Lord Reign and breathed in when she found he was already staring at her. He was a handsome human - vampire. Of course he was going to have mistresses. 

"This is Anna," He gestured to the brown haired girl, "And Louisa." He pointed to the pretty blond haired one. The two of them courtesy her, making Marci's eyebrows raise in surprise. "They are yours to do with as you please." 

Marci gaped at him, he was giving her mistresses?! Her face flushed red as she darted her gaze to the two women. 

"I can not, My Lord." She rushed out with a heavy breath. Her eyes glanced around her, why must he give her mistresses in front of everyone? She had never done anything with anyone, let alone with the same sex. 

"You can not, what?" He asked, eyes narrowing as he takes in the redness of her neck. "They are your handmaidens. That is my gift." His lips curved up as he tilted his head, "What were you thinking, my little peach?" 

Duchess Marciella tensed beside her. 

Marci gulped, eyes darting down to the jacket that matched perfectly with her dress. The dress he gave her. 

"N-nothing my lord." She cleared her throat, "However, I already have a handmaid." She resisted the urge to look at Lea. 

His eyebrows rose, "And why not have more? If you don't need handmaidens, then use them as friends." He shrugged his shoulders, "Or beat them to a pulp when you please. They are yours. I won't take them back." 

Marci frowned at his words. Not only was he talking about them like they are objects, but he was even offering her to abuse them. Was that what he did to these poor girls? 

Her eyes darted to the two new arrivals and scanned the spans of skin she could see. Their face and neck appeared to be flawless, and their arms as well. But then makeup can do wonders these days. Not to mention vampires could heal faster than humans.

She narrowed her eyes and dragged them back to him.

"I accept." She said. If anything, it was just to get these young ladies away from the monster. She took in a deep breath to hold in the urge to cry. Her mother and father were really selling her off to him. 

"Good. I wasn't going to let you refuse." He smiled. 

Marci looked away, just because he was handsome didn't mean he was a pleasant man. He was a vampire for goodness sake. Everyone knew vampires had no sympathy for humans. She glanced at the two handmaidens gifted to her, even vampires weren't safe from other vampires. He gifted them to her like they didn't have lives of their own. 

Were they ripped away from their homes? Their families? 

She frowned, brows furrowing as she resisted the urge to stroll over and counsel them. Now was not the time. After dinner, she would ask them to accompany her to her room, and get to know them that way. She nibbled her lip, perhaps she could even set them free, if they were hers as he said. 

***

Dinner was tense. 

Marci glanced at Duke Marcus. He sat at the table, hands tight around his cutlery. His face was red, no doubt because of how angry he brewed in his spot. 

Next to him Duchess Marciella was stiff in her chair. She ate, almost like she wasn't bothered by the predator in the room. 

And Lord Reign went about conversations as if he didn't sense the atmosphere. 

Or maybe he just didn't care. Marci leaned towards the latter. 

Marci noticed Lea, Anna, and Louisa, huddled in the back right corner, conversing among themselves. She eased slightly, happy that Lea was getting to know them. The two girls didn't appear to be too upset with being there, so that must be a good sign. 

"It's been a long journey, making two trips and all." Lord Reign said. "And dinner has been lovely, though not quite full filling. I guess I'll be making another stop for dinner."