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“Well, take me, for example. If I choose to go to another state for an extended period, unless I have a companion, it would become necessary for me to...invade the local population. We have not worked so hard to negate ourselves to myths only to have a client go on vacation and blow our cover by sucking some of the locals dry.”
Her heart sped up. “And...and so I’d be...”
“In that case, if we did not arrange for you to contact another person, you’d be a traveling buffet. But don’t worry, we make sure they know that they can’t drain you. And if it makes you feel better, once you’ve signed your contract, even the most gluttonous vampire would find it hard to drain all the blood from your body. Do you have any other questions about what we will require of you?”
“Yes. You said—yesterday you said my body and my blood would have to be made available.”
Ms. Pope nodded.
“What about my body?”
“Stacy, you are not so naïve as that. Please do not play games with me. They are amusing for now, but I do grow tired of them quickly. You know what I mean. I can see it in your eyes, hear it in your heart rate. And admit it, you find the idea exciting. Your body betrays you.”
If she were honest, the thought did excite her, on some perverse level. Was it because then she would feel as though she and Thomas were even? He’d screwed around on her, so it was only fair for her to screw around on him, right?
“Dig deeper for your answer, dear.”
Looking into her boss’s hypnotic black eyes, Stacy allowed herself to silently admit that she’d wondered more than once about the life she’d given up by getting married so young. She’d never really had the chance to live before she was a wife, and it seemed BSC was willing to give her that chance in spades.
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
She shook her head. “But am I required to...do I have a choice about if...”
“You will not be forced to do anything. However, I will tell you that in certain cases, there will be consequences if you refuse to perform certain services.”
Could she live with that? What consequences? Would she be fired? Tortured? Shaking her head, she promised herself that she would think more about it later. She would simply cross that bridge when she came to it. Pressing forward, she continued her negotiations. “About my terms—”
“I look forward to this. How do you want him punished? Would you like to detail exactly what we do to him? Would you like to witness his humiliation? Or are you possibly going to allow our devious little minds to explore the appropriate punishment? I promise, we would not go easy on him. We have had many, many years to perfect our methods, and sometimes our employees can get very...creative if allowed to do whatever they please.”
Images flashed through her head. The ones she’d seen yesterday and many more. Thomas chained down as creatures fed off of him—his flesh, his blood, his screams. Thomas getting castrated before his balls were formed into a pair of beautiful ornamental earrings. “No.” She pushed the tempting images away. “I don’t want to choose now. I want to have time to think about what I want to happen to him.”
“Again, you have managed to surprise me. Done. Anything else?”
“Do I get another chance to discuss this with you?”
“Typically, no. Once the contract has been written, it is considered final. I will, however allow you three opportunities to modify it.”
“For what price?”
A slow smile tilted Ms. Pope’s lips. “The price will be determined at the time of the modification. Is this acceptable to you?”
Stacy thought for a few minutes. Could she truly do this? Could she get in bed with the devil? Would she still end up losing her soul, even if they weren’t taking it in exchange for her revenge?
Despite her questions, she knew her decision had already been made. It had been made the moment she saw Thomas kissing another woman and admitting that his business trips were excuses to spend time with his mistress. She’d known she would accept the job when she entered the office. “Yes.”
Pressing a button on her phone, Ms. Pope spoke. “Tina, bring the contract for Stacy to sign.”
“How could it be ready? We only just finished discussing...”
“You will learn that not everything is as it seems in this office. Many things are possible if you open your mind to it. Do you not find it weird that you can calmly ask me how I could possibly have a contract ready for you to sign, but have not once asked how I am able to answer questions you have not asked? That you eventually accepted the thought of me being a vampire with little trouble? Certainly with less difficulty than most mortals. You have not questioned our hallway that seems to never end, or the fact that there is a hidden entrance and exit. I am pleased that you are open to new ideas. That should make your transition into our way of life much easier.”
Tina entered with papers and handed them to Ms. Pope, leaving as wordlessly as she entered.
“I forgot to ask, how long does the contract last?”
“Most people do not ask. I’m proud that you thought to, even if the question was a bit tardy.”
“So, how long does it last?” she asked again, determined to have an answer and not become sidetracked.
