“I already know what you’re going to do to me. I’ve heard the screams from other people and their sobbing afterward. One of the women in another cell told me that you monsters bit her and took her blood.” A chill ran down Glen’s spine. “I’m assuming you killed her, since she never came back after the last time.”

He tilted his head at an angle that made it seem as if his neck were broken, really giving him an evil, inhuman appearance. “Not you, beloved. Your bloodline has assured you won’t be cattle to feed the masses. It’s why you are given food and are cleaned occasionally. We don’t want you to die.”

“What does that mean?”

“Come with me.” He waved his hand toward the door.

Glen hesitated. She hated the dank room where they kept her prisoner, but leaving it was far worse. Creepers always littered the tunnels, hissing when she passed them to reach the room where they allowed her to bathe, where the tub resembled a cow trough with tepid water. They were always waiting, their dirty clothes stinking of death and unwashed bodies. Vlad had kept them from attacking so far, but she feared they wouldn’t listen to him at some point.

“Ticktock, beloved. Hurry your step. You don’t want to anger the master. He has been patient long enough.”

The master. She’d watched enough movies to know he would be the one in charge. The romance novels she read implied Vampires were sexy and charming. That hadn’t been her experience so far. It would be revolting if Vlad touched her or sank his yellowed fangs into her neck.

She took a few deep breaths, attempting to calm her racing heart. At least it will be over soon, she concluded. Don’t go out with a whimper. Die with dignity. Her shoulders straightened as she pushed away from the wall, jutting her chin out. Fuck these assholes.

“After you, unloved. Why don’t you lead the way?” She was proud of how steady her voice sounded.

His eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

“There’s no excuse for what you’ve done to me and all the others.”

A smile curved his lips, the coldness of it enough to make her almost regret her change in attitude. “There’s a spark of that spirit I saw when you were first brought here and demanded your freedom. It was disappointing to the master when I reported that you seemed broken.”

“It’s called being in shock, asshole. I’m over it.” She’d love to break a chair and stake the master, but especially Vlad. Does that really work? A stake to the heart? Holy water? Too bad I’m not religious and don’t wear a cross. To press one against the awful freak and watch him scream out in pain would have made her smile.

“Walk,” he hissed.

She kept her chin up and shoulders straight as she stepped into the tunnel.

“Go to your left.”

It was the direction that the creepers had just taken the large tan guy. She had a really bad feeling as she walked fast enough to keep Vlad from bumping into her. She didn’t run away, even though it was tempting to try; she knew more creepers were somewhere ahead in the flickering candlelight. Additional sconces hung on the endless tunnel walls, about twenty feet apart, but they didn’t put off a lot of light.

“Turn right.”

Glen followed directions and saw brighter lights at the end of the tunnel. They passed more metal doors and she picked up a few sounds of distress. A cell on the left couldn’t contain a woman’s sobs, the distinctive noise soft but clear.

A chill ran up her spine. Vlad had to be lying, and she was about to become dinner to some bloodsucking monstrosity.

Images of old Vampire movies flashed through her mind. The master would probably be some ancient being with horrible features, who would be even less human than what she’d already seen. She slowed her pace, but Vlad’s bony hand shoved against her shoulder to push her forward and right into a large room where the metal door had been left open.

She couldn’t help but gawk a little at the creepers hovering near a door on the other side of the room. They appeared far worse in brighter light than in the dim tunnels. They weren’t just pale, but had thin black veins showing all over their exposed skin. Their eyes were bloodshot, the whites of them almost completely red.

One of them smacked his lips and she glared, daring him to try to bite her. Her hands curled into claws as her muscles tensed, preparing to fight. No way was she going to be a chew toy without trying to tear his evil eyes out.

A young blond man in all black clothing stood in the center of the room. He wasn’t as pale as the creepers or Vlad, but not by much. He smiled, revealing smooth white teeth. His hair was trimmed short and pale blue eyes regarded her. She glanced down his body. He wasn’t more than twenty, if she were to guess, and the modern slacks and shirt made her wonder if he was another kidnap victim.

“You’re pretty.” He took a step closer, staring. “Isn’t she, Vlad?”

“Yes, Master.”

Shock reverberated through Glen. “You’re the master?” She couldn’t hold back the stunned observation. “You can’t be.”

“Why not?” He slightly bowed at the waist and used his hands to make the gesture a little flamboyant. “Am I not what you expected?”

“No.” She wasn’t about to mince words. “You look barely out of high school.”

He smiled again. “You’re a brave young woman.”

“I’m a pissed-off young woman,” she corrected. “How dare you kidnap me and the others. We’re not cattle.” She shot Vlad a glare. “You should be feeding this one cheese because he definitely looks like a rat.”

Vlad hissed, showing those foul fangs of his.

“Enough,” the master chuckled. “She’s got fire. I knew she would.”

“She cried a lot when she first arrived,” Vlad muttered.

“Stop speaking before I rip out your tongue,” the master threatened.

Vlad closed his mouth and stepped back, effectively blocking the door so she couldn’t escape. Her gaze returned to the master. He didn’t look monster-like but instead kind of innocent and youthful, except when he opened his mouth to speak.

“You’re not here to be anyone’s blood donor.”

That made her feel slightly less fearful. “What do you want from me then?”

He stepped closer, examining her face. “I see the family resemblance. The curly blonde hair, the perky nose, the delicate features. You remind me of my sister, except you have brown eyes. She had blue. I knew you would be the perfect host to fulfill my legacy.”