Page 11 of The Vampire Debt

Kitty snuffles in the corner. I hate this insufferable man. I am used to his hate, his abuse, and every part of his horrible nature. Poor Kitty is not.

His words and his meaning hit home. Kitty isn’t worth anything to him, but I am. Not because he loves me, I doubt there’s any part of him that knows love—but because I can provide him with money to gamble away.

He disgusts me.

“Mmm, perhaps you are right.”

My head snaps up toward Mr. Devereaux, hope springing in my chest that my initial reaction was wrong. That same hope crashes down around me like so much shattered glass as he reaches within a pocket and produces a pouch, heavy with coin.

“This should cover the difference… and then some. You will find this offer to be more than fair.” There’s a strange vibration to his words.

Father looks from the pouch to me, then back. I’m frozen in place.No, no. Please no,I mouth shaking my head and praying that he will refuse.

Kitty looks down at the crumpled handkerchief in her lap. I want her to say something. Anything. Why isn’t she protesting?

This entire situation is mad. What sort of man trades his daughter to pay off his debts?

The pouch lands with a clunk on our rough-hewn table. Father’s eyes glow at the size of it. My heart stops for an excruciatingly long moment as he decides. It should be easy.

Refuse! Refuse the damned offer, you bastard!I fling my thoughts toward him, willing him to do the right thing.

I am crushed, though not surprised, when Father picks up the bag and extends his right hand out. “I find this offer more than fair,” Father repeats. “You have a deal.”

Mr. Devereaux shakes his offered hand.

It is done.

I have been traded for my father’s debts. Kitty smothers a strangled sob, but I can’t look away from the man who now owns me. I stand in place, my body numb. I can barely remember how to breathe right now. I want to scream and rage and refuse. I want to take Kitty and leave these two to sort out their debts on their own.

The vampire faces me, looking far more devious than he had earlier. “It is time for you to pack, Miss Valmont—we must be on our way.”

I stand frozen in place.

“Clara, it is time for you to pack,” Father says placidly. He’s looking at me, but it feels as though he isn’t truly seeing me at all. “Do not make Mr. Devereaux wait.”

Then the vampire turns to Kitty and smiles. Her face goes deathly pale.

I take that for the threat it is and hurry to my room.

My mind goes blank. I can’t even think what to pack. And there is only a single trunk split between Kitty and me. I can’t take it with me, leaving her with nothing.

Kitty hurries in behind me. “Clara,” she says desperately in a hushed whisper. “Are you really going to let him take you?”

I grab my hunting bag and stuff what I can inside. Two shirts and a spare pair of trousers. I have no room for anything nicer—not that I have any desire to look nice for that beast in the other room. As a last second thought, I shove my hunting knife into my bag and bury it beneath the clothes.

“I have no choice…”

“Clara!” Father shouts from the other room. “What in the Otherworld is taking you so long?”

“Clara,” she whimpers. “Do not let that monster bed you.” Her eyes focus on the door at my back. “Kill him... Kill him then return home to me.” She clasps my hands pleading.

I am not sure what I’d expected her to say, only that this wasn’t it.

I smile and nod as if I’ll do just that and be back in a week's time. Though, if I were to kill him, my life would be forfeit. Either way, I’ll never see my sweet sister’s face again.

“Promise me,” she begs again.

“I promise,” I say, gathering her up in a tight hug.