Chapter 105

Tessa’s POV

“Immortality?” I gasped, blinking at him. “Are you saying the humans here can’t die?”

“Everybody has kryptonite. But yes, it’s very difficult to kill them just like it’s difficult to kill us. Difficult but not impossible,” he answered. “Their aging has also been turned off. Essentially, they have the mortality of a vampire.”

“Why would any human wish to live forever?” I asked, raising my brows.

“Death is a fear known to many. We seek out those we feel could benefit immortality. Those who are dying and have no other choice other than death.”

“Those like Carter?” I asked, raising his brows.

He nods, a look of grief flashing in his eyes for only a moment.

“He would have benefitted from that, yes. But at the time I didn’t know how to do that. Bernard taught me a lot since then and once Carter was fully domesticated, he taught him as well,” Joseph explained.

“And Carter is no longer mad at you?”

To my surprise, Joseph laughed.

“Does he seem mad at me?” He chuckled. “He’s my best friend. It was a couple hundred years ago, so no. He’s still not mad at me. He quite enjoys his life as a vampire, despite missing his human life and his first family. Despite having to watch those he grows close to age and dies eventually, he wouldn’t change it. Only because he knows this is an opportunity he wouldn’t otherwise have. He’d be dead and miss out on a lot.”

“I still don’t understand though. If you can make people immortal, then why not just do it to those you love so they can’t die? It’s like making them into vampires, but not a vampire. That seems like a prime choice, don’t you think?” I said, eyeing him carefully.

“They were called slaves for a reasons,” he said, shaking his head. “. They were not allowed to disobey any order from vampires. I wouldn’t want someone I love to be a slave to the vampires. Not only do they do basic chores, but they also do other things…” his voice trailed off. He didn’t want to continue.

“Other things?” I urged. “Like sexual?”

“Yes,” he answered. “These humans are essentially slaves. They have specific vampires they tend to. Vampires that ‘own’ them. It’s why we give humans a specific part of the village. That way when they aren’t working, they can just…. Be.”

I oddly understood and I found it strangely sweet that he thinks of them like that.

“Do you own a human slave?” I asked.

He shook his head.

“I don’t need them,” he said. “But we do have workers around the village. Like Julie in the dining hall. She’s the kitchen maid so she cleans up after meals and keeps the dining room sparkling. We also have them in the kitchen helping the chefs. We have gardeners and Vamp House maids too.”

“So, like, community servants?”

“Yes, exactly.”

I fell silent and stared down at my lap. This was so much information my entire head was spinning.

“What is it?” He asked, eyeing the side of my face carefully.

“Everyone seems wary of me,” I told him, meeting his eyes. “I can tell they don’t trust me. Even the humans.”

“The humans find it strange that you are here as a guest and not a servant,” he explained. “The vampires also find it strange, but also, they find your blood strange. They can smell you just as I can and remember when I said your blood is attractive? It’s the reason the new vampires were after you. Well, other vampires can smell it too and they aren’t sure what it means. But they will warm up to you. You’ll be here for a couple of weeks, so there’s plenty of time for them to get to know you.”

“And you trust them?”

“They wouldn’t be allowed in the village if I didn’t,” he answered with so much confidence I felt my body relaxing. “If you want, we can stay in this apartment. I know you like it.”

I shook my head, as much as I liked this place, there was something about the private capacity of the woods that excited me. Plus, it was romantic.

“I’d rather stay in your house,” I told him.

He smiled at me and wrapped his arms around me, nuzzling his face around my neck and sending a warm wave of tingles through my body. I breathed him in, loving everything about the way he smelled and the way I felt in his arms.

“Would you mind staying here for a little bit? You can use one of my showers to freshen up. I have a whirlpool tub in the bathroom upstairs. But I have to go to Bernard’s office and speak with him.”

I frowned, not wanting him to leave me alone.

“Is it about me?” I found myself asking, peering up at him.

“I’m not sure, but if I had to guess….”

“I get it,” I said softly. “Okay. But please don’t be long. I don’t feel comfortable being here by myself just yet.”

He gave me a small smile and then brought his lips to mine. His kiss was gentle and sweet and made my heart skip an entire beat.

“I won’t be,” he assured me, pressing his forehead against mine. “I promise, I’m all yours for the rest of the evening.”

He pulled away, leaving me cold and craving more of him. I had to stop myself from whimpering at the loss of contact. When he stood up, I had the urgency to grab his arm and pull him back down and toward me. But I refrained from doing so and watched as he left the apartment, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

…

Joseph’s POV

I knew Tessa was going to be curious and have a ton of questions. Hopefully, most of her questions will be answered tonight during the barbeque once everyone is together. I tried my best to ease some of her curiosity though and hoped that she felt a bit safer.

Everybody in the village knew that Tessa was off-limits. Bernard might not trust her entirely, but he wouldn’t go against my wishes and not take my opinion seriously. He, being the village Overseer and Eldest, was able to mindlink everybody in the village to tell them to lay off Tessa and she’s here as my guest.

It caused most to be curious about her, which I don’t blame them. It’s unusual for a human to be in the village as a guest and not a slave.

Bernard sat in his office which was on the ground floor of the vamp house. He peered up at me when I entered, and he immediately stopped what he was doing.

“Where’d you put your human?” Was the first thing Bernard asked.

“Her name is Tessa and she’s upstairs in my apartment,” I answered with an eye roll as I took a seat in front of his desk.

As I often do, I kicked my feet up and rested them, crossed, on his desk, folding my arms across my chest, and looked at him, waiting for him to speak more.

“Bringing her here was stupid,” Bernard finally said, eyeing me carefully.

“So, you’ve said.”

“She’s different than other humans,” Bernard said, pressing his lips together. “Are you sure she can be trusted?”

“You should know me better than that, Bernard. I wouldn’t bring her here if I didn’t fully trust her.”

He sighed.

“I know,” he said. “Which makes me think she put you under some kind of love spell.”

He smirked at that last part, so I knew he was joking, but I still rolled my eyes at the remark.

“Her blood draws a lot of attention. I just don’t want anyone to lose control,” Bernard said.

“You should have a little more faith in your own tribe,” I said. “Be a bit more like your wife.”

“My wife can be a little too trusting at times,” Bernard breathed, shaking his head at whatever memory surfaced in his mind.

“She can see into the future. I’m sure she’d see if Tessa was up to no good,” I laughed.

“She doesn’t have control over the ability,” he reminded me, which of course, I knew. The goddess Nyx gifted her as a prophet, but she doesn’t control her visions. They come to her randomly.

I’ve witnessed her visions a couple of times, and they always seem very painful for her. By the end of the vision, she’s incredibly weak and spends time in the infirmary or on bed rest. I feel bad, but her visions are helpful.

“But regardless, I’m not so sure Anna’s abilities would capture Tessa.”

I raised my brows, confused.

“What do you mean by that?”

He looked at me for a moment longer like he was taking in my responses.

“You know that as an Eldest, I can read the minds of both Vampires and humans?” Bernard began to ask.

I nodded.

Bernard had many abilities, but reading minds was always his favorite. He can’t read the minds of other elders, but he can read the minds of any human and any vampire. It was a cool ability and was very useful at times. The goddess Nyx gifted him well.

But at that moment, Bernard leaned in, his eyes locked on mine, and he said, “I can’t read Tessa’s.”