Initiation Read online

  Nicolette stroked Addison’s cheek as she knelt in front of her, Nicolette fawning over her as if she were a child. "Tonight you will have your first taste of blood." She beamed as she put her hands on Addison’s shoulders. "And after your first taste, you will get your fangs."

  "Then, the Master will give you your second bite, and you will no longer be just a scavenger, but an elite as we are. You will drink from Samson to become his mate and then you will become an official member of our family." Victoria was behind Addison, running her fingers though Addison’s long hair and looking her over closely, as if trying to memorize her features.

  "Samson?" Looking confused, Addison turned her head to the side a little and looked at Victoria.

  "Your mate." Victoria leaned close to Addison’s ear as she spoke, her breath hot on Addison’s face. "He will take care of you, and you will share a closer bond with him than anyone else. Sharing each other’s blood makes you as one."

  Hearing the words Samson’s mate sent a chill down Addison’s spine. She wanted to stay with Christian, and the thought of belonging to another terrified her, especially a man she didn’t know. Victoria turned Addison around and pointed to Samson, the man Addison had met the night before. He was a handsome man with a tall bulky frame, a hint of green in his blue eyes.

  He and the others looked over at Addison when they saw Victoria pointing toward them. Addison wasn’t smiling anymore, a sad frown gracing her lips as she looked at Samson. His gaze held warmth that should have eased her fears, but didn’t. The other elites waved to her too, all sending her friendly gestures and trying to make her feel welcome.

  Christian didn’t look happy either. His face was partially hidden, his hands steepled over his lips and nose as he watched her reaction to Samson closely. He seemed to be waiting for her to do something—his brow was lowered as he narrowed his stare on her.

  Christian’s attention was focused entirely on Addison, but something deeper than her reaction to her potential mate occupied his thoughts. There was tenseness in his pose, the skin on his fingertips turning slightly white as he pressed them together. Hidden behind his hands was a look that would give away what was bothering him, one Christian was fighting to keep secret.

  Looking into his eyes, Addison caught the anger that lingered there, a giant frown wrinkling her chin. He slowly lowered his hands, a small smile peeking through, that made her frown turn up a little, but not enough to form a smile. Addison quickly looked down at the floor, nervously pushing some of her dark hair behind one of her ears.

  His brief smile melted when he saw the slight tremble of her pouted lower lip and the way she was desperately trying not to cry. He looked away from her, his expression turning sour as he glared at the pillow next to him.

  "What’s wrong, my dear?" Victoria wrapped her arm around Addison’s shoulder and hugged her, laying her head down. "Don’t be afraid. Samson won’t hurt you, and you’ll grow to like him. I know you are fond of the Master, as we all are, but you must remember—none of us have ever been worthy of being his mate."

  Samson was talking to Christian now, Christian’s face still showing his foul mood as he listened to Samson talk about Addison. Christian’s gaze had wandered back to Addison’s, giving her his full attention as Samson’s voice became just another noise in the background. There was dazed look in her eyes, her lips partially open as her jaw dropped a little. It was as if they didn’t want to break their connection for fear of the other one getting away.

  Victoria lovingly turned Addison around, ripping her from her staring contest with Christian. She stood Addison up and walked her out of the room, one of her arms slung lovingly over Addison’ s shoulders as she whispered in Addison’s ear. Christian didn’t watch them leave, his eyes quickly turned to Nicolette’s instead. He motioned for her to come to him, and Nicolette quickly went over to speak with him.

  In another room, Victoria fawned over Addison, redressing her in a white dress similar to the ones they were all wearing. When they finished, they re-entered the sitting room. There were now other women there, the donors, all of them wearing vacant expressions as they stared distantly ahead.

  Nicolette immediately walked over to Victoria and Addison when she saw them entering the room. She placed her hands timidly on Addison’s bare shoulders, the long wispy sleeves of her dress slit near them and letting a tease of skin show through.

  "Please…" Nicolette slowly eased Addison away from Victoria, "Let me escort her." There was apprehension in her voice that Victoria noticed right away. "Come with me, my dear."

  Nicolette sent Victoria a worried glance that she didn’t want Addison to see. Addison noticed, however, her nervous gaze turning to Victoria as she moved her head slightly to look back. Nicolette made Addison turn around, ushering her forward quickly. Leading Addison as if she was child, Nicolette sat her down on the floor between Samson and Christian.

  Addison was scared, her eyes downcast as she gripped tightly to the fabric of her silky dress. She could see a woman kneel in front of them, but she could only see the woman’s knees. She looked up when she heard Christian’s voice.

  "Addison." Christian’s eyes met with hers, his hand holding onto the woman. "Pay attention and never look the donor in the eye on your first feedings."

  Addison nodded her head quickly, her eyes now trapped in Christian’s powerful gaze. Holding the woman’s wrist to his lips, Christian’s eyes remained focused on Addison’s fearful ones. He bit down, and Addison watched him suck out some of her blood before removing his mouth.

  He wrapped one of his arms around Addison’s shoulders, putting his lips close to her ear as he spoke, "Now drink." He put the woman’s wrist up to Addison’s face, some blood dripping onto the floor.

  Addison looked at the woman’s distant gaze, but Christian grabbed the side of her head and pushed it down, making her look at the woman’s wrist. Addison slowly pressed her mouth to the woman’s flesh and reluctantly tasted her blood.

  Her cheeks squished together as she closed her eyes tightly, trying not to gag. She wanted to stop, but she knew Christian wouldn’t let her. She could feel him rubbing her back gently, his closeness making her feel more at ease, although it didn’t entirely erase the sickening feeling.

  The others watched Addison closely, as if she was their child and they were watching her perform her first solo. After a few sips, to Addison’s surprise, the blood began to taste rather delicious. The feeling scared her and there was an intense pounding pumping throughout her body as she drank, her skin tingling. An overpowering pleasure had now replaced her earlier repulsion.

  Seeing the change in Addison, Christian smiled and moved away from her.

  Sitting up on his knees, Christian bit the woman’s neck, making her gasp as he stole her breath by squeezing his hand. Pulling Addison away from the woman’s wrist, he led Addison to the woman’s neck.

  Addison was still a scavenger, and although she was enjoying drinking blood, she didn’t have the intense urge to latch on with a death grip like an elite would. Unlike them, she didn't depend on it to sustain her. To her, it was like sampling a fine wine—only a few sips were needed to enjoy the flavor.

  After a few seconds, Addison stopped, the incredible feeling subsiding a little as she focused on where she was again. She jumped back in surprise when she saw the woman in front of her stand up on shaky legs. Seeing the woman move, Christian shot up and angrily bit at her neck. When she was dead, he stopped and let her body drop the floor.

  Addison, who had stayed kneeling as she watched what Christian had just done, slowly sat down again, her body falling in a heavy slump. She licked the blood off her lips, her nervous eyes scanning the room quickly and looking at all the faces staring back at her.

  Their attention was on her for a few seconds, but then they turned to the other trancelike donors that knelt in front of them. Addison shook, her lower lip trembling furiously as the reality of what she had just done set in.

  She sat still for a
few moments before turning to Samson, who was biting a man’s neck. His nose was scrunched up in an angry expression as his evil eyes settled on hers, Samson biting the man like a lion gnawing on its dinner. Addison jumped when the woman’s hand hit her shoulder, and she quickly moved closer to Christian.

  Christian watched her fear curiously, a calm look in his eyes as he switched his sitting position on the floor to accommodate Addison’s body. Spreading his legs apart, he held his hand out to her, Addison quickly jumping into his arms and hiding in them like a scared child. Her head peeked out at the others as she clung to him, Christian slowly stroking her hair.

  The other vampires were feeding, each female paired with an elite and sharing a human feast. It was very romantic in a sense, the loving way the elites acted toward their mates. The male was controlling the victim in the trance, allowing their mates to feast on them without the violence normally involved in subduing an unwilling victim. Addison was watching them intently as she sat on her knees, her arms clinging tightly to Christian’s back.

  Christian leaned close to Addison, whispering in her ear as he slid a dark curl away from it, "Did you like your first drink?" He shifted a little, wrapping his arm around her.

  "Yes." Addison lifted her head and faced him quickly, Christian dropping his hand from her hair and watching her movements closely. "It was really strange…" Looking at him lovingly as she whispered, Addison scooted even closer to him. "It tasted really bad at first, but after a few sips, it tasted amazing."

  Addison looked down as she bit her lip, a sad look in her eyes as she released her next words quietly. "But what I did felt sinful…" Her hands played with the front of his dark dress shirt before she let her fingers slide between the gap in the fabric where it was buttoned.

  "And the thought of a drop of blood touching my tongue makes me happy. I can still feel the longing in my chest." She put her palm over her heart, a few tears zigzagging down her cheeks. "A part of me is very scared of this desire, scared of becoming someone I’m not."

  "Do not feel that way." Christian wore a small frown as he lifted his arm and looked at his own wrist. His gaze switched back to Addison again, his expression darkening. "We are Gods. Do not be afraid of the hunger. Embrace it."

  Addison giggled nervously, resting her hands on her knees as she pointed to a painting hanging on the far wall. "That’s a Hamstein, right?" Biting her lip a little, a small set of fangs peaked out from her upper lip as she tried to change the subject. "I’ve never seen that one before."

  "It’s called Satan’s Circle." Christian nodded, his eyes glued to his fingers as he slowly ran them up and down Addison’s bare arm. "Hamstein gave it to me a very long time ago."

  "Wow—a personal piece given to you by Hamstein himself." Addison smiled at him, but his eyes didn’t meet hers. Instead, Christian picked up her hand gently and ran his fingertips slowly over the surface of her skin as he inspected it closely. "It’s very erotic, is it not?"

  Her eyes scanned the painting quickly, a warm smile on her face as she took in the naked figures in the painting all sitting around a devil-like man. Some of them were positioned in sexual poses, this painting very risqué compared to Hamstein’s other tasteful nudes.

  "The devil in the middle kind of looks like you, sitting among your family." Addison grinned, and playfully grabbed at her dress, which was fanned out around her. "Except that you are much more handsome, Master. Even the great Hamstein can’t capture your greatness."

  Christian frowned again as he studied his own wrist once more, a slight longing in his eyes. Then, his gaze switched back to Addison, his face turning slightly hard.

  "Master?" Addison put her hand on his knee. "What’s wrong?" Christian’s distant expression melted her smile, igniting a sweet, motherly look on her face as her voice cooed from her slightly pouted lips, "I haven’t offended you by—"

  "Addison…" Christian sighed, grabbing her fingers as he locked her in his stare. Her eyes darted over his face quickly, his sudden movement catching her a little off guard. "Here." Holding out his hand to her with his palm upturned, Christian put his wrist close to Addison’s mouth. "You must drink from me."

  "I can’t." Addison’s light blue eyes opened wide as she took his outstretched hand and held it lovingly. Her soft fingers curled into his palm gently, a breathless air to her tender tone, "I don’t want to hurt you, I—"

  "Do it." Christian slowly unhooked her fingers from his hand, again pushing his wrist toward her lips. "Drink until I tell you when to stop."

  Pouting a little, Addison gently took his hand again. "Okay." She hovered over his skin for a few seconds, afraid to bite him. Pulling slightly away, her voice became shaky, as if she were going to cry, "I…"

  Christian looked past Addison and at some of the startled faces of his vampires. They were watching his actions very closely. Grabbing her waist, he turned her around forcefully, shoving her butt swiftly onto the floor between his legs and pressing her back against his chest.

  He wrapped his arms around her for a few seconds, whispering in her ear lovingly as he nuzzled into the crook between her head and shoulder. "It won’t hurt me. I’ll like it, I promise." His mouth touched her face as he rested his cheek against hers, the soft kiss of his skin making her shiver. "Do this for me. I want to know what it feels like."

  Sliding his hands up her knee and under her dress, Christian rubbed his cheek against hers. His fingers crept inside her panties, his smile growing when he felt her jump at his touch. A surprised gasp escaped her lips, and Addison covered them with one of her hands. His voice was breathless and smooth, "Taste me."

  From where he was sitting, Samson was getting a good view of what Christian was doing. He chuckled as he watched Addison push her dress down to cover Christian’s hand.

  Christian lifted his wrist up to Addison’s mouth again, taking his hand from under her dress and wrapping it around her waist. His lips went to her neck, his hand on her stomach, feeling her quick, deep breaths as he kissed her. Closing her eyes and taking in the heat of Christian’s kisses, she could feel him pull her closer and grind his hips into hers, his grip on her tightening.

  He shoved his wrist to her mouth more forcefully then he had before, this time not letting her push it away. Shutting her eyes tighter, Addison quickly bit down. Feeling her bite, Christian plunged his fangs in her neck. His blood tasted amazing, and her tongue tingled with pleasure. This bite didn’t hurt like his first had, the pain being replaced by a feeling of ecstasy that overwhelmed her senses.

  After a few seconds, Christian could feel her body getting heavier in his arms, her lips barely grazing the surface of his skin. Removing his mouth from her neck, he slowly pulled his wrist away. He let her limp body rest against him as she slept, her breath slowing. Looking up at the others, Christian’s brow was lowered, his light blue eyes narrowing on them as he licked some of the blood that was dripping from his wrist.

  Addison’s eyes slowly fluttered open as she stirred, and Christian turned his attention back to her. She had a sweet smile on her face as if waking up from a wonderful dream, her head still heavy as she let it lay on Christian’s shoulder.

  "Addison?" Christian put a finger under her chin, slowly lifting it to make her look up at him. "How do you feel?"

  Addison slowly sat up a little, feeling dizzy. Her words were breathless, her voice barely audible. "Amazing."

  "For now." Christian chuckled, motioning for one of the women to come over. He kissed Addison’s cheek, squeezing her middle playfully. "But soon that feeling will pass."

  Nicolette and Victoria walked over quickly, bending down in front of them.

  "Take her." Christian released Addison from his arms, placing his hands on her hips and hoisting her into a standing position with the help of Nicolette and Victoria. He looked up at Addison as she swayed back and forth on her feet, a small smile on his face as his eyes met hers.

  She was barely awake and getting sleeper by the second, Christian’s bl
ood like a drug that made her so overcome with pleasure that it overloaded her senses. "Now comes the fun part of an elite’s initiation."

  "How can it get better?" Addison was feeling so good her whole body tingled in delight, the large grin on her face a sign of pure pleasure.

  "It doesn’t." Shaking his head, Christian laughed, his eyes leaving hers and settling on one of his elites.

  "Ooo….kay." Addison smiled at Nicolette and Victoria as they helped her walk on shaky legs.

  They made it halfway to the door before an overwhelming sickness came over Addison, her hands shooting to her stomach. Feeling Addison’s muscles tense up under their fingers, Nicolette and Victoria held onto her tighter to keep her from collapsing to her knees. Addison threw up all over the flawless white carpet in front of her, the dark black vomit thick and staining the carpet.

  Once Addison started, she couldn’t stop throwing up, and Nicolette and Victoria quickly dragged her out of the room.

  Chapter Four

  Starving

  Only communicating with her friends and family through texts, Addison didn’t tell them about becoming an elite or where she was. Her only answer to their inquiries was that she was moving in with a guy she met and wouldn’t elaborate on the details.

  She spent the day after her initiation in bed and threw up any food she tried to consume. Her body had changed, and Addison needed time to adjust to her new status. Her body was rejecting her normal diet, her only craving now for blood. She was still able to eat, but her stomach could only handle very small amounts and it was no longer was satisfying.

  Today she was feeling a little better, weak, but better. She wanted to get out of the room she had been in for the past few days, so she decided to walk around the manor and search for her brother.

  Wearing a blanket over her thick sweater, Addison’s hair was done up nicely, but her face was pale and she had dark circles under her eyes. She found the room where Josh was repainting one of the parlors on the east side. Holding onto the doorframe, Addison peered in, "Josh? Are you in here?"