The Blood Boss by Davidson King

Chapter Seven

Jayce

After a week working for Cain, I had no complaints, other than boredom, and I wasn’t sure what that said about me. His meetings all took place in his study and over the phone. I sat, listened, and in seconds became bored. I couldn’t figure out why I was even here. I mean, I guess if he wanted to punish me it was working—boredom sucked.

Sibell called me every other day to ask how I was and how I was being treated. I answered her, told her about the torture boredom, and she seemed to think being bored was good. I was having a hard time agreeing with that theory. When I tried to bring up her interest in Cain or ask her about who she was to him, she would suddenly have to hang up.

It was a gray day and rain was threatening to fall, so instead of walking the garden like I usually did when Cain dismissed me, I meandered along the many hallways of the bajillion-square-foot mansion. I got lost a few times, but the staff and other vampires were able to help me out. Just when I thought my boredom was going to suffocate me, I heard someone shout my name.

I made my way through the labyrinth of corridors until I came to a sudden halt in the foyer. Cain, Emil, Natalie, and Petru all stood there staring at me. After a hurried self-assessment, I couldn’t figure out why they were glaring.

“Uh, hi?”

“Where were you?” Natalie stepped up to me and tossed me a long coat.

“I was dismissed for the day, so I was taking a walk. Why, and what is this for?” The gray coat wasn’t mine.

“We have a meeting. We will stop to pick up Reginald Bouvier and then go to Asherah Bay to meet with Rogos and Sable.”

“The Sirens and Tritons?” Quickly, I put the coat on as excitement prickled over my skin.

“Yes.”

“Awesome!” I made to rush out the door, but a large hand gripped my coat.

“Not so fast.” Emil chuckled. “You’ll observe only. Don’t speak; only listen unless otherwise instructed.”

“Rogos and Sable have their ways of doing things, and I don’t have time to explain them. You will be quiet.” Cain turned and walked out. I had so many questions, but it didn’t feel like the right time, so I followed after everyone.

I didn’t know much about cars, trucks, or anything with wheels, really. But I knew the large SUV-type thingies we were getting into were not standard. They were huge, luxurious, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say custom-made.

Emil, Cain, and I got into one wow mobile while Petru and Natalie got into the other.

Each SUV had a driver, but I’d never seen either one of them. I sat back and watched as we drove off the estate, and the realization that this was my first time leaving since I got here made that familiar homesickness poke through.

“Emil, when we get to Reginald’s, instruct him to drive with Natalie, and she will explain everything to him.”

“Okay.”

The two vampires talked as if I weren’t there, and the more invisible I seemed to them, the more I felt it. Even when we got to Reginald’s and Emil stepped out to talk to him, leaving Cain and me alone, the vampire didn’t talk. Why was I even here?

The closer we got to the bay, the more the pressure in my chest began to ease. I loved the water. I’d always wanted to buy a little house on the beach and spend my days there. Maybe have a family and kids, I wasn’t sure. There was just something about the water that eased my soul.

“We’re here. Remember, be silent, Jayce.” It was the one and only time Cain had spoken to me since we’d left the estate. I nodded and waited until Emil and Cain exited to follow.

While I loved the water, I’d never been to Asherah Bay. From what I understood, it was private, and if the Tritons and Sirens did their business there, I was starting to understand why.

Cain was speaking with Reginald while Emil and Petru were walking around them, surveying the area, likely making sure it was safe. Natalie was on the phone with someone, and me? I was marveling at the beauty of this place.

I inhaled the scent of the sea, letting the salty breeze coat my skin, smiling when the wind brushed through my hair. Such peace.

“Come on, Jayce,” Natalie snapped, pulling me from my blissful daydream.

I brought up the rear, no one looking back to see if I was still there, and I briefly wondered if I could run away. But I couldn’t—they’d go to my parents, and Lord only knew what would happen.

As we got closer to the shore, I thought maybe we were going swimming. I didn’t know how any of this worked. I didn’t see anyone waiting for us. One look at Cain and I knew whatever was happening, he was used to it.

Reginald walked over to a large rock, lifted his wrist to his mouth, and dripped blood over the surface. I had to assume that was how you summoned them. No sooner had Reginald returned to us than I saw figures begin to rise from the water.

I wished my eyes didn’t require me to blink, because I didn’t want to miss a second of what I was witnessing. There were six altogether, and of course I knew that two of them had to be Rogos and Sable. What surprised me was, as they reached the shore, legs formed where mermaid tails should be.

All six figures were focused on Cain. When two stepped up, there was no question they were the leaders. Rogos had long white hair and muscles that went on for days. His skin, while appearing beige, had a blueish tint to it. His eyes were completely black, not a trace of white anywhere. Sable had rustic brown wavy hair that fell over her left shoulder. Seashells were clipped to her ears and stuck to her pearlized skin. Her eyes were an aquamarine, and like Rogos, there was no white to be seen.

“Rogos, Sable,” Cain greeted. “This is Natalie, my assistant; Emil and Petru, my associates; and you know Reginald.” He didn’t bother to introduce me, and I’d be lying if I said that didn’t sting.

Rogos gave a watery hum. “I had no idea vampires were keeping slaves anymore.” It sounded as though he were talking underwater, yet I could understand him completely.

“We don’t.” Natalie’s brow furrowed.

“Him.” Sable pointed toward me. “You don’t introduce. Must be slave.” Her voice sounded equally as liquid, but more choppy, as if she didn’t understand human language as well.

“He is working off a debt. He’s only here to observe.” Cain tried to steer the conversation away, but Rogos and Sable didn’t seem to care.

“Name,” Sable was looking at me. “Speak.”

“His name isn’t important. We are here because you’re sinking my ships. Ships that are full of nutrients my vampires need. If they don’t have them, they will be forced to drink from the people of Black Veil, and chaos will ensue. I will not have that!” The longer he spoke, the more Cain’s voice rose.

“Your ships come and go as they please, and we are at your mercy. We get nothing for the passage.” Rogos smiled, his sharp triangular teeth gleaming. “The water is ours, Blood Boss.”

“You want compensation?” Natalie chuckled. “Why not simply ask for it? Why kill and destroy?”

“Coming from a vampire, that is humorous. All you do is kill and destroy.” Had I not read the book Cain gave me, I’d probably have agreed with Rogos. And in that moment, I forgot to keep silent.

“That’s not true.”

All eleven sets of eyes were on me now, and I’d never wanted to be standing on quicksand more in my life than in that second.

“Not true…voice.” Sable nudged Rogos, who, without taking his eyes from me, waved her away.

“What part is not true?” Rogos approached me, and I chanced a glance at Cain, who was not happy at all.

“Well, I don’t know if you’re receiving compensation, but I meant vampires aren’t out there killing and destroying. I’ve lived in Black Veil my whole life, and it’s a pretty peaceful place.”

“Voice,” Sable said again, but no one was paying her any mind.

“And how long have you been in Black Veil?” Rogos narrowed his obsidian eyes at me.

“I’m twenty-three.”

“Your business is not with him.” Cain stepped beside me.

“What is your name?” Rogos asked me, completely ignoring Cain.

“I, uh…” I looked up at Cain, who rolled his eyes. “Jayce.”

“Healer,” Sable practically hissed.

“Enough!” Cain shouted. “You will let my ships pass.”

“Or what?” Rogos stood the same height as Cain. Two massive men, power hungry and radiant.

“A war is not what you want with me, Rogos.”

“You have offered me nothing better, Blood Boss.”

“You want compensation, I understand that.” Natalie was scrolling through her tablet. “Perhaps our ships can deliver things to you.”

“We can get things. No need for you.” Sable sneered at Natalie.

“Then what do you want?”

There was a long moment of silence where Rogos and Cain stared each other down. Sable was whispering something I couldn’t hear, and all I could do was watch.

“We negotiate monthly.” Rogos stepped back.

“And for this month what would appease you?” Cain folded his hands in front of him.

Rogos turned his head toward me, and his mouth curved into an unsettling smirk. “I would like to hear a song.”

“What?” Natalie laughed. “Sable is a Siren; have her sing for you.”

“No. Him. Jayce, you sing me a song. And if you do, I will let your master’s ships pass for one month without issue.”

“I…” I had no idea what the right answer was. I searched Cain’s face for help, but he shrugged. Fucking shrugged. “I’m not a very good singer.”

Rogos waved away my words. “Nonetheless, let us hear a song.”

“Any song? I’m not great at remembering lyrics.”

“Hmm…” Rogos tapped his chin. “A song your mother maybe sang to you as a child?”

I thought about Anne and her little lullabies she sang to the foster kids. She told me once she’d sang the same for me.

I closed my eyes, mostly because I didn’t want to look at anyone while I sang…I wasn’t lying when I’d said I was bad. My father told me never to do it unless I wanted to clear a room. Oh, well—Rogos asked for it.

I took a deep breath and began to sing the lyrics to “Good Night My Angel.” As I sang, horribly, I was sure, I thought of my mom. How she’d kissed my cuts as a kid, listened to my made-up stories, and how she and my dad would dance in the kitchen when they thought everyone else was asleep. I missed them.

When I could no longer remember the rest of the words, I finished. There wasn’t a sound, so I cracked a lid open.

Rogos and Sable stared at me as if they’d seen a ghost; Cain appeared almost bewildered. Everyone else, I guess the best way to describe them was shocked. I knew I was bad, but damn, I’d rendered them speechless.

“The voice,” Sable hissed right before she lunged at me. I would have surely been mauled had Cain not stepped in front of me and pushed her. She sailed through the sky, landing in the water.

“Who are you?” Rogos cocked his head and tried to lean closer to me, only to be stopped by Cain.

“Enough, Rogos. He did what you asked. One month we get. In one month’s time, we will speak.”

“Yes.” Rogos answered Cain but never looked away from me. “We shall meet again…Jayce.”

He turned and raced toward the sea as the others followed. I had no idea what had happened, and one glance at everyone else told me they didn’t know either.