Chapter 6

Cold

The overseers building was large, multi-storied, and constructed from gray masonry. It served many functions: the overseers’ headquarters, blood donation and storage facility, medical clinic, and detention center. For the size of the building, it had few windows, which added to its oppressive aura, a looming structure centrally located in the small town.

The town was nothing extravagant when compared to the cities. Its purpose was to serve the needs of the rural slaves and their work.  

There were places that distributed rations and supplies, repair shops for farm machinery, fueling stations, a primary school, modest homes for slaves that weren’t farmers, and even a beloved marketplace offering goods for sale or trade—where slaves could spend their meager earnings or barter a craft. There was also a neighborhood of nice houses provided for the vampires assigned as overseers to the area.

Prince Isaac placed Juniper back in his seat when the vehicle stopped, indicating they had reached their destination. The vampires exited the car, and before too many seconds passed, Jun’s door was opened for him. Prince Isaac helped him out, this time leading him by his other arm. Jun supposed that that bit of skin needed a bruise too.

Once outside, Juniper couldn’t sense signs of his family nearby. They must have been taken to a different entrance. There were more vampires, though—probably guards or some of the overseers. The prince led the boy towards the notorious building. Jun felt a sense of foreboding, even without seeing the overbearing structure.

His family had told him about the overseers building. All slaves over the age of eighteen and of fairblood quality or higher were required to report monthly to “donate” blood. It was how a whole society of vampires could remain comfortably nourished. Most slaves didn’t mind, as they were given extra food on those days. Jun’s family would always give it to him, despite his protesting.

In addition to giving blood, there were also periodic medical examinations. The vampires wanted their slaves in good working condition. Healthy humans were productive humans. There were no starved and sickly slaves in the Black Territory. Jun could guess as to what happened to humans unfit to work—a fate that was supposed to be his.

Jun breathed in clean and filtered cool air when they entered the building. It felt unnatural. Jun decided that he preferred a fresh breeze through an open window.

The group consisted of the prince, his captive, and five other vampires trailing behind them. Isaac ushered Jun through a door, and then it was just the two of them in an unknown room.

The room smelled thoroughly sterile, like cleaning alcohol. Jun felt a bit light-headed from the assault on his highly sensitive senses.  

Prince Isaac guided him to sit on a metal exam table. It was cold and hard, like the rest of the environment. Jun shivered where he sat, unable to stop. He guessed that his blood would be taken here—the prince wasn’t forthcoming with information.

The door opened, and in walked two people, a vampire and a human.  

“Hello, Your Highness. I’m Dr. Coles.” 

Jun was learning that most vampires spoke in an assertive and commanding way, even when addressing superiors.

“So this is the human in hiding.” The doctor approached Juniper as he sat quivering. “I’ll conduct a routine medical exam, as you’ve probably never had one, and then I’ll administer your blood test.”

Though authoritative, he spoke kindly, trying to calm Jun. The manner of his speaking reminded Juniper of the time they had found a wounded barn cat. He and Cypress spoke similarly to try to coax the animal into accepting their help.

Did the vampires see him as a frightened animal? To them, he probably was. Rather than feeling affronted, Jun let himself be calmed. He liked how this doctor vampire at least told him what he was going to do.

“Would you like refreshments in the office, sir?” Dr. Coles asked the prince.

“No. I’ll stay and observe.”

Well, Jun’s newfound sense of calm melted away at the thought of an audience.

The doctor returned to addressing Jun. “Stand and undress. You may hand your clothes to my assistant.”

Now the shivers were back. Jun desperately wished he didn’t have to do this, but there was no room for hesitancy when a vampire gave orders.

Juniper took his clothes off, trying not to be too clumsy and slow about it. His clothes were secondhand and worn: a short-sleeved cotton shirt, jeans, briefs, thick socks, and boots. He gave them to the slave woman who was the doctor’s assistant.

Now he stood bared before the room’s occupants. He felt his exposed body heat up in embarrassment, acutely aware of the eyes on him, especially the prince’s. Lust shrouded the room. Now the boy was very aware it was directed at him. There was no denying it this time. His body continued to tremble.

Dr. Coles proceeded with his examination. Juniper’s body was poked, prodded, and measured with instruments he had no names for. The doctor also made inquiries here and there, asking about things such as his birth date and exercise and eating habits. He felt well and thoroughly checked over. There was not a modicum of privacy left for the poor boy.

Blessedly, the slave assistant handed Jun a new set of clothes after the examination portion. He slipped on briefs, light linen drawstring pants, a plain cotton shirt—Jun was thankful it had long sleeves in this chilly building—and canvas loafers. Though simple, the clothes fit him better than his own.

He was then directed to sit on the exam table once again.  

“Tell me about your vision. Are you totally or partially blind?” inquired Dr. Coles.

“Well, sir, I can see lightness and shadows. That’s all.” He could hear the tapping on a screen as the doctor hummed in response. Jun wondered what the doctor’s report said about him. He hoped it wasn’t too bad.

Dr. Coles spoke to the prince. “He is slightly undernourished but better than I expected, given he wouldn’t have received his share of rations.” He returned his attention to the boy. “It’s a good thing you are naturally smaller framed.”

Jun had always been self-conscious of his build, especially when compared to his brothers. He never considered that it had helped him stave off hunger.

“His face has significant bruising, and there are lighter bruises on his waist and arms. This ointment will help. It looks like he has sensitive skin… I recommend careful handling.”

The assistant gently applied the ointment over the marks.

“Thank you,” Jun said to the other slave softly. The pain was already beginning to diminish.

The woman didn’t respond. Maybe they weren’t allowed to talk.

“I will draw your blood now,” Dr. Coles said.

The woman tightened a band around his upper arm, and then Jun felt a sting in the crook of his elbow. He winced, but it was quickly over. Something was wrapped around the wound to stop further bleeding, and Jun felt relief that his exam was over.

“Well, it certainly smells enticing. I don’t think we need to worry about him being a lowblood. However, we will know for sure in a few hours,” stated Dr. Coles.

Juniper inwardly balked at the comment regarding the smell of his blood, but he supposed good-smelling blood boded better for him.

The doctor patted Jun’s head and said light-heartedly, “You’re a charming little one. I hope your blood tests well.”

“Uh, t-thank you, sir?” Juniper wasn’t quite sure how to respond to that.

Dr. Coles only chuckled as he went to retrieve something. “Now, one final thing…”

“I’ll do it,” Isaac cut in, startling Jun with his authoritative voice.

“Right, I’ll leave you to it.” There was a slight hesitancy in the doctor, barely discernible. “His full medical report should be accessible soon, and his blood results will be uploaded to his file when it is available… I’ll be leaving then, sir.”

With a bow, both Dr. Coles and his slave left the room.

Juniper felt the presence of Prince Isaac as he came nearer to him. That presence could swallow him up. Power, dominance, and lust all mingled together and were barely contained in a single form.

Jun tensed when he felt something thin and cold snaking around his neck—he was being collared.

The prince’s fingertips lightly brushed Jun’s skin as he fastened the clasp at the nape of the boy’s neck. Only a vampire could remove it. Now Juniper was a slave like any other.

Prince Isaac’s touch lingered on his neck. The entirety of his hand easily wrapped around Jun’s slender throat. He could feel his blood pulsing underneath the pressure of the vampire’s grip. It felt warm and intimate. If the collar wasn’t enough to make Juniper feel owned, this touch surely did. His very lifeblood was in the hands of the vampire before him.

“Now, this lovely neck is properly adorned.”

Jun felt a warmth building in his body. How could he become so entirely unraveled by the prince’s words and touches? Perhaps it was only the vampire’s incessant lust influencing him.

Juniper knew very well the desire he was experiencing—what healthy human wouldn’t? He just couldn’t comprehend his desires directed at the frighteningly powerful vampire prince. The man that had taken him from his family. The man that could order his execution.

Juniper needed to divert his thoughts somewhere else. Before he could stop himself, he asked the one question that had been burning in his mind all day.

“What’s going to happen to me? Your Highness.”

Prince Isaac was quiet while slowly removing his hand from Jun’s neck. Jun desperately hoped he would answer. His very life was uncertain, and he couldn’t handle not knowing any longer.

“It depends on the blood test. You are a pretty human. Because of your affliction, your worth lies in the combination of your physical attributes and blood quality…” The prince paused as if considering the options. “If you’re an average fairblood, a brothel will take you. Should you be a highblood, a courtesan house may purchase you, though, with your looks—you would likely be auctioned as a vampire’s pet… or even a thrall.”

The color drained from Juniper’s face. The prince had answered in his detached and unhurried manner of speaking. A feeling of dread crept into Juniper’s heart—as if icy tendrils slowly closed around him.

“And if your blood should test poor, you will be sold to another supernatural—blood quality doesn’t concern them. The fae especially like to collect pretty things… They would offer a good price for you.”

When he finished speaking, Prince Isaac moved to stroke Juniper’s soft wavy hair—a gentle gesture so opposite the bone-chilling words. 

“Oh,” was all Jun could say.