Page 3 of The Blood Master

"Will you tell me your name?" Conall asked and then waited patiently. It took several minutes before words were spoken, and the sound was enchanting. The tone was soft and musical as it played across Conall's mind.

"My name is Joel Penny, sir." He was careful to only answer the question, and Joel was a beautiful name. He was so careful that it broke Conall's heart. His life was on the line every day that he worked for those fucking bears, and he learned to be oh-so careful in order to survive. His little man was going to take time, care, and understanding, and Conall was prepared to give him everything he needed.

"Please call me Conall." He gave him permission, but he doubted that Joel would have the nerve to use it, not for a while anyway, and that was saddening. "How long have you been working for Cassius?"

"Seven weeks, three days, and five hours." He said this with a calm exactness, making it clear how he felt about the job.

"You will never have to go back there." Conall squeezed his hand and glanced away out the side window as thoughts of how his beloved was treated briefly flooded his heart. "I'm taking you home with me to my Coven." Joel's fear spiked, and the trembling began again.

Conall reached out and put his arm around the poor man and gently pulled him closer. It was a risk Joel might completely shut down if he pushed things too fast, but he needed to channel some peace and calm to the man. Joel didn't resist, although his stiffness was slow to recede. The scent of jasmine filled Conall's senses once again and he drank it in. This was his beloved, and they would find their way, he had no doubt.

“Do I belong to you now?” Joel asked his voice nearly a whisper.

"You have always belonged to me. It's destiny, my love." He continued to hold him throughout the remainder of the ride, hoping that the contact would help Joel understand their connection and give him a sense of their destiny. Fate was powerful, and she often helped those in need to see the future she was offering.

They pulled into the garage and were met by Victor and Drakon. Samuel opened his door, and Conell stepped out, extending his hand to his beloved Joel. Joel took the hand and was helped out of the vehicle to stand next to Conell, who adjusted the blanket to cover him more completely, a gesture that was lost on no one. They glanced at Joel and then at their Master and smiled.

“You started a war, didn't you?" Victor commented.

"Not a war, really, since that implies a struggle. It's more like a hostile takeover." He said and then added. "It's time the bears were removed from the area. They're dragging down the property values."

“Are we finishing the job?” Drakon asked.

"Yes, Cassius isn't the leader. He used to be; laziness and debauchery have taken his soul, and his sons are no better. It's time to clear the land, and it's time for the bears to go."

"We're on it," Drakon stated and immediately left the room as he was making calls. Victor came up to stand before him and glanced down at the little dancer beside him.

"This is my beloved Joel," Conall announced.

"I thought so." Victor smiled. "Congratulations, Conall. Go and be with your beloved. I'll handle it from here and keepyou posted." Conall patted Victor on the upper arm, tossed Joel over his shoulder once again, and took off toward the elevators.

Joel was at a loss to understand anything that was happening to him. The incident at the Club was messing with his mind in a spectacular fashion, and everything since then has left him completely staggered. The Master and his men tore through the Club like a hot knife through butter. The bears didn't hold up under the attack, and even the great and powerful Cassius was seen running from the place in order to escape the man’s wrath.

Joel was a bit stoked when the Master dealt a blow to the bouncer that was roughing him up. He couldn’t lie and say he wasn’t pleased when he heard that bone break. That man had hurt so many people that finally seeing him in pain was gratifying.

But then the Master turned on him, and Joel didn't know what to expect. His expression was deadly when he took out the bouncer, but when he looked at Joel, his features softened, or maybe he was just delusional. He tossed him over his shoulder and just headed for the door as his men continued to tear up the place. People just naturally moved out of his way like the parting of the sea. The Master was a man unlike any other.

The ride in the SUV was surreal, with the Master making polite conversation with him and telling him to call him Conall. That would never happen; the minute he broke a boundary would be the minute all niceties ended, and Joel would experience the truth of the Master's intention. That didn't mean he wasn't going to experience the worst that the man had to offer, but in Joel's experience, he found that the worst could always be made worse. Do as he is told and mind hismanners, and there is possibly a ten percent chance that he could eventually get out of this alive.

He listened to their conversation in the garage but tried to remain invisible. The Master kept hold of his hand, and although he was scared, the touch was strangely comforting, as if he had someone there for him, someone to support him. It was crazy thinking, but he allowed himself a little crazy from time to time. Good feelings were few and far between, so he would take what he could get, even those that were simply a mirage.

Conall Rose, Master of the Rose Coven, wanted him for something, probably for the night, and then he'd pass him on to one of his friends or toss him out. Joel was praying that he would get tossed out, and then he'd run until his lungs burst, and he'd never go home with another guy for the rest of his life. If the powers that be got him out of this mess, he would straighten up and be the best he was capable of being.

He stood there at Conall's side, listening as they discussed taking out the bears. It never bothered them that he was there, but it bothered him. Joel didn't want to know any of their plans, so he tuned out and gave a blank stare in the hope of being overlooked. Then the one he called Victor stepped up, and things were said that pulled him back to awareness.

The word beloved was bandied about, and Joel understood the meaning of that word, which was serious and important. He assumed it was used in a baser sense because there was no way he was the Master's beloved. That position belonged to someone better than him, someone much better. It was probably some sort of game they played with their hookups.

Once they were in the elevator, the Master placed him back on his feet and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. Joel kept his eyes on the floor and stayed as still as possible.The Master didn't speak, but he seemed to be communicating something through his touch. Joel was aware that vampires had the ability to influence others, but he'd never been on the receiving end.

This felt like an attempt to calm him, which didn't make sense. Why would he care? Joel was a dancer in that foul club, and he didn't deserve his concern. The elevator stopped, and they stepped out. The building was plain and resembled a warehouse from the outside, but the interior was something else. It was sophisticated, and the design and workmanship model were perfect. It was a home, and it was a workplace. It was the home of the Rose Coven.

The Master led him to a huge apartment that he found strangely relaxing. Joel should be scared stiff and looking for an exit at all times, but he kept finding himself marveling at the impressive beauty that was concealed by the shell of a fading warehouse. It was a masterful move to hide in plain sight like this.

He also noticed that the warehouse was positioned directly behind the bar he’d been at the night he left with Murphy, the Blood Rose. It was the night that changed his life and set him on a direct route to destruction. The pain welled up in him at the memory, and he had to force himself not to start crying.

Master Rose immediately stopped and looked down at him with a soft and reassuring look, and once again, Joel was confused by the apparent consideration. "Do I scare you?" He asked, his tone so gentle.

"Yes," Joel responded and said no more. The Master gave one brief nod and then guided him to a soft couch in the living area of the large apartment. He sat him down and made sure theblanket was tucked around him before going into the kitchen. When he returned, he was carrying two glasses of what Joel assumed was whiskey, and he handed one to Joel.

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