Chapter 21: The Vassal That He Listens To

Valene:

Apparently, sleep had no use for me that night. I was lucky enough to find an hour before I had awakened again. I sat up and just stared blankly out of the small window in the distance.

I got out of bed and grabbed my bloodied clothes, deciding that I’d try to find a washing machine. Harlyn may have brought me some lounging clothes but nothing else.

The vassal quarters, to my surprise, did not have a washer or dryer, so I had to venture upstairs but only after attempting to check in on Harold. I sort of figured he’d be asleep because it was late.

When I ventured up the stairs, I was glad to see that there was no one around. This gave me space to search the house without much interruption or inconvenience of the proper vassal protocol.

I finally found the washing room on the other side of the huge mansion at the back near the rear entrance. After I placed my clothes on a cycle I ventured into the dining area where I noticed a beautiful night view. Leaning against the counter, I stood with my bag of donuts in hand as I stared at the alluring view of the moon and waited for my clothes to finish their cycle.

“You are up late.”

Quickly, I shifted my stance to see that my luck had changed. “Master Barbosa,” I said with obvious disappointment. I bowed in acknowledgment of him.

“Am I interrupting?”

Yes, I thought and rolled my eyes. “Of course not, Master Barbosa.”

“You forget that I know what you are thinking.”

“Oh…right.” I muttered.

This whole time, I was careful not to regard him too much as he had a talent for forcing one to engage him. I wanted a peaceful not and being around this Lycan King, I knew that it would not happen. Then I remembered the wound that I was supposed to keep an eye on.

“How are you faring, Master Barbosa?” I asked after taking a deep breath and trying to prepare myself to get close enough to him to check his wound. Before I was close enough to remove the bandage, however, I knew that it wasn’t looking good. Darkness oozed through the bandaging.

“I’m fine.”

“I don’t think so. I said without hesitation.

“What did I say?” he hissed with aggression and I wasn’t about to argue so I backed,You off.

“As you wish, Master Barbosa,” I replied. I wasn’t going to continue to deal with his belligerent attitude. If he wanted to stand there and die in the kitchen then far be it from me to stop him. “I should go check on my clothes,” I said and headed out of the kitchen.

I got past the threshold when with a speed I didn’t think he was capable of in the state he was in, the Alpha was suddenly standing in front of me. He walked towards me and forced me back into the kitchen. “You really think it is that bad, little human?” he asked me.

“Do I think what is bad, Master Barbosa?” I asked.

“This!” He growled and as he did, his legs nearly buckled under him. Quickly, I reached for him as his hand fell against the wall above my head.

His hair was drenched in sweat and the heat radiating from him was like hot air emanating off him and on me.

“May I ask you to lift your shirt?” He didn’t say anything and his hair was practically draped over his face as he towered over me. “Master Barbosa,” I said sternly. He grumbled and struggled to lift up his black tank top. After I was partially sure that he was steadied, I shifted my attention to his wound. “Let’s have a look-oh!” I gasped, as I peeled the bandage. “This doesn’t look good at all. It’s completely infected! But how so fast? I-” I was surprised to see the multiple dark veins rising up his abdomen, all leading into one direction; his heart!”

“Hm…” he growled as I felt him weakening.

I already knew that there was no time to waste. “We have to get you to hospital, Master Barbosa.” I was significantly smaller than he was and I knew that I was weaker but as long as he had part of his strength, that was all that we needed. “Can you get to the car?” I asked.

He looked down at me. “If…it is life or…”

“Death!” I exclaimed. “It is definitely death if we don’t get you to hospital, Master Barbosa! So please-”

Before I could finish my sentence, were at Master Wade’s car, me in his arms. The Lycan Alpha dropped to his knees with me in his arms.

“No, no, no! Why would you-” I started to curse under my breath as I struggled to get him into the passenger seat. Fortunately, the car had a remote start and Master Wade always kept a spare in the vehicle. Immediately, I hopped into the driver’s side and dug off into the street. As we headed down the street, I lifted his shirt and saw the poison had gotten significantly closer to the part where his heart was located.

“Why? Why didn’t you ask for help, you fool?!” I snapped under my breath, not even caring about saving face at this point. He’d probably not last the ride. “What were you thinking?” I hissed, and then suddenly felt guilty because I remembered that I was supposed to be looking after this wound. The Lycan King had no vassal-his fault granted, but regardless, because he was Master Wade’s guest, I had to act accordingly.

With my eyes on the road, I suddenly heard him laugh, and when I did almost swerved off the road as I tried to figure out what in the world was so funny.

“I thought…that I was fine.” He said. “I…was…until…”

“Stop talking!” I insisted. “You’re wasting energy.”

I ran the car up on the curb of the hospital and quickly rushed out of the car. Bursting through the hospital doors, I screamed. “Help! I need help! There’s a Keeper in the car! He’s dying! An Alpha is dying!”

I was forced to wait outside while they dealt with Alpha Barbosa. I was a vassal, and no matter whose vassal I was, we humans were not allowed inside the inhuman medical centers without our Keeper's advisory. Since mine was nowhere to be found, for the time being, I was an enigma best left to the outdoors until my Master showed up.

Thankfully, Master Wade showed up soon after we arrived. “Valene!” He exclaimed on approach, doubling back at his car, which was sitting partially up on the sidewalk. “What happened?”

“I-he’s been poisoned!” I quipped. “I didn’t think that I had time to call anyone! I’m sorry, Master Wade, I-”

“Don’t apologize, vassal.” The Lycan King’s Beta quickly said on approach. “Thank you for your service,” he said and then immediately headed into the medical center.

“Come,” Master Wade said and I followed him into the hospital as he began to ask his question. “So, tell me about the wound, Val.”

“Well, it seemed like a normal wound just like the others-I mean...it was a little more extensive than the others but it was nothing out of the ordinary, nevertheless. Which…is why I didn’t think much of it when it looked like it was at risk of infection. There was no telling what had gotten into the wound after he contracted it. Wasn't like he did a good job of covering it.”

"Probably because had assumed it would heal soon enough." Master Wade thought out loud. I could tell at this point that he was running things over in his mind.

“I did tell him that I’d look at the wound later and…” I slowed my explanation and Master Wade seemed to notice. “I didn’t,” I confessed. “In truth, Master Wade, I took a shower ate a few donuts, and just…dropped,” I said. “I-I should have gone to check on him.”

“Well, how did you find him this way?” He asked me.

“He…actually found me.” I clarified. “I…I was in the kitchen waiting for my clothes to finish a cycle when he came in. He was drenched in sweat and his wound…it was…”

“What?” Master Wade pressed.

“It was black oozed…completely infected. Almost as if it was necrotizing or something.” I just couldn’t believe that no one noticed this while the Lycan Alpha was in the meeting. “All due respect, Master Wade, did no one notice how terrible a shape he was in?”

“Valene, I know that it may be hard to believe but Ares was fine in the meeting. He almost seemed to be healing completely.”

I shook my head, thinking about how stubborn the Lycan King was. “He was probably putting on airs so that no one would baby him. He seems to be most stubborn that way.” I hissed.

“You found that from such a small amount of time spent with him?” He asked, almost amused by my comment.

“He hardly wanted me to look at the wound when he found me. Never mind taking him to get some bloody help,” I found myself displaying far more frustration toward the ALpha than initially intended.

“Hm,” he let out a small snicker. “That is Ares Barbosa. He has been like that for as long as I can remember, that lad.” We walked further into the med bay. Every staff member that we passed bowed and acknowledged their Alpha. “You did a good job, Valene. I’m sure he would appreciate your quick thinking.”

“Quick thinking,” I sneered impatiently. “Not quick enough. What if he dies, Master Wade?” I confronted the potential reality.

“He won’t.”

“How do you know that?” I asked. For some reason, I didn’t even care that I was speaking frankly in front of other inhumans. For some reason…I was worried about the Lycan Alpha and Master Wade seemed to notice.

His brow raised as he looked down at me and then he answered. “I just know that he’ll be fine, Valene.”

“But…what…if he isn’t, Master Wade?” I asked, my gaze hitting the floor.

“If he isn’t…well, we will cross that bridge when we get to it.” We kept walking in silence, heading toward the Lycan King’s room. “You seem overly concerned about him,” he noted.

“I was tasked with looking after his wounds, Master Wade. If something happens to him because of my carelessness, it will bode well for the Wade family nor Master Barbosa’s pack.”

“Hm,” he replied and I had nothing more to say on the matter. Whatever was left to comment was completely on Master Wade. “It will not come to that,” he reassured me once again.

“Alpha!” An inhuman woman bowed to him.

“How is he?” Master Wade asked.

“He…he is stable. We’ve filtered most of the poison out of his system and have moved him to a room. It had already started to work around his heart. Had he waited any longer, he’d probably be dead.” she said. “Is this…your human?” she asked, her tone suddenly less friendly.

“She is,” replied Master Wade.

“I don’t know if this is of any importance, Alpha Wade, but your human is the one who brought him in.”

You’d think there’d be some sort of gratitude for saving the last living pure-blooded Alpha King’s life; of course, I wasn’t due such accolades.

“Did you know that she was with another inhuman without supervi-”

“Where…do you come off questioning me about what is mine?” he interjected before she could finish and then stepped closer to her with intimidating form.

“I-wh-I just-I’m sorry, Alpha, I didn’t mean to imply-”

“You did,” he said calmly. “I am your Alpha. You do not question how my vassals are used.”

“W-I didn’t mean to question or-”

“Take me to the Alpha Barbosa,” he demanded cutting off the now frightened nurse.

“Y-yes, Alpha Wade! As you wish. Follow me!”

As she shuffled forward, a side glance showed Master Wade, looking down at me as I looked ahead. He no doubt realized how demeaning the conversation concerning me that was being had in front of me could be. There was no doubt in my mind that he’d address this later, but I was past that now. I already knew what entailed being a human serf and I didn’t need coddling behind every note of insult or distaste of my presence. The biggest concern at the time being was the Alpha Barbosa.

“You did a good job, Valene. You saved the Alpha’s life,” he said to me.

“Thank you, Master.”

The nurse stopped in front of a room and opened the door, allowing us space to enter. She moved aside as Master Wade entered the room. “You’re dismissed,” he said to the nurse, and quickly she scurried off but not before glaring at me. Pissing off an inhuman for simply doing my job…all a part of a day’s work.

We entered the room, and Master Holt or Almeida, I wasn’t sure which to call him as I’d heard two separate surnames for the Beta, was standing next to his Alpha.

The Lycan Alpha’s eyes were open and he was quite alert for someone who had just gone through such an ordeal.

“How are you, Ares?” Master Wade asked as he approached.

“They keep telling me that I would have been dead if not for your little human,” he noted.

“And yet, they still treat her as if she’s done something wrong by bringing you here herself.” Master Wade commented with obvious irritation.

“Do they now?” Master Barbosa asked. “Give me the name of whoever has given you trouble, Alpha. I’ll be sure to talk to them.”

“The only thing that you need to concern yourself with, is getting better.” Master Wade replied. “Seems we have far more to go over than I thought if their bite can do this to someone as strong as you and without you seeing it.”

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Master Barbosa had said and started to get out of the bed, tubes snapping away from his arm as bells and whistles started to go off. Before I realized it, I had taken a step forward, about to shove him back into the bed myself, and then I thought better of it. I placed my arms behind my back and locked my hands together to keep myself from making a move I would regret later. What on earth was wrong with me?

“Relax, irmãozinho.” Beta Holt said to the Alpha. ‘Little brother’ he called him.

This was odd considering the contrast between the two. To be honest, there wasn’t much at all. In fact, I thought that Master Barbosa was older than Master Holt. Not because he was more weathered but I...I guess I just thought that an Alpha would be older than his Beta. Narrow-minded thinking, for certain.

“You are not going anywhere until you are properly healed,” he said, putting his foot down. In that way, he reminded me of Master Slaughter and how he could be with my Keeper.

“I am the Alpha, Zevi.” Master Barbosa grumbled.

“What did I tell you, irmãozinho, if you have to tell me that you are an Alpha, then you-”

“Are not acting like one.” Master Barbosa finished.

It was cute-their exchange. To me, it displayed that even the most rigid and ornery-seeming person could show a little humility to another. It also showed me how close the two were. For some reason, seeing this was refreshing and without realizing it, I a hint of amusement fell upon my lips as I kept my gaze steady on the ground.

“Tudo bem, irmão. Eu não preciso que você me persiga.”

“Eu não teria que se você apenas me ouvisse.” Grumbled the Beta, relaying that if Master Barbosa would simply listen to him, he would not have to get on the Alpha’s case. Needless to say, this too, I found amusing.

Master Barbosa radiated a disgruntled growl. It was evident that he no longer wished to linger on the subject of chastisement. “What…what path are we to take following this..this point?” he asked. I noticed through his voice that he was overexerted and extremely exhausted.

“We need to find whoever did this, first and foremost.” Master Wade said. “We cannot have such an inhuman with a power like this running around the Veil-or anywhere for that matter.”

“Well then,” Master Barbosa pushed up again and started to get out of bed. “We’d better get out there and see-”

I didn’t realize that my hand was pressed against his shoulder, pressing him back down until I was standing looking into his eyes with agitation and bewilderment. Then I quickly looked away to preserve some semblance of respect . There was complete and utter silence resonating throughout the room and I knew then that it was too late to retract. I had to say something logical-something that would suffice for why I acted so…brashly and out of line.

“Apologies, sir. Your wounds are extensive, the poison may not have completely enveloped your heart but it was close. Surely, it has caused stress. You are speaking with labored breaths, and you’re still sweating profusely. If you leave now…you won’t get far. You are dehydrated and you need rest, Master Barbosa.”

After I said my piece, I noticed that while his gaze steadily cornered on me, he retracted and with a seeming reluctance, got back into bed. When I saw him get back into bed, I quickly backed away, admittedly surprised that he had listened, and then stood next to my Keeper once more.

Following what I did, I thought it best not to say anything else. I had already acted out turn. The best move from that point was to proceed with caution.

“We should let him rest,” I heard the Beta of Master Barbosa say. He then regarded his Alpha. “I will send some of the pack members out to canvas.”

“Proceed…with extreme caution,” Master Barbosa replied. “We can’t…have,”

“He’s overexerting himself.” The same nurse who spoke down to me earlier suddenly entered the room. “With all due respect, Alpha.” she regarded Master Holt. “Beta. Alpha Barbosa really needs to rest. The poison really has done a number on his heart, depleting most of his energy. The next few hours will be crucial to his recovery.”

“Thank you, nurse.” Master Wade countered in short. He sounded as though he was still aggravated by her earlier audacity.

As we left, Barbosa called to his Beta. “Keep…me informed, Zev.”

“Of course, Alpha.” he bowed then shortly after, we dispersed but not before I glanced at him to see him lying there in the bed, his eyes hardly open.

“Come, Valene.” Master Wade called to me and immediately I followed.

When we congregated outside of Alpha Barbosa’s room, they began talking about how to proceed.

“We need to track the culprit and find them quickly.” Master Wade said. “We also need to find out if there are any more beasts with this power running around.”

“If there is, we will definitely have a bigger problem on our hands.”

“So when would you like to put this plan into effect, Alpha?” Beta Holt asked.

“As soon as possible,” Master Wade replied. “I’ll probably be sending my scouts out tonight.”

“I was hoping you’d say that, Alpha.” The Beta replied. “The Blood Moon will be right behind you.”

“Just in case there are more of these poison-carrying beasts around, we may need most, if not all hands on deck.” Master Wade replied.

“I agree,” he said.

“Should you have one of the pack member’s mates stay with your Alpha? Maybe an Omega?”

“He won’t listen to them when it comes down to it.” Master Holt replied.

Silence ensued and then I felt eyes on me. I hated being in situations like this. I should have never made a move to help the Alpha. Well, Vale, you asked for it. Now deal with what happens next, I said to myself.

“Your human seems to have a way with words…my Alpha usually does not adhere to requests with one simple ask. Especially…from a human.” He chuckled. “I know that we have not made the best impression concerning our intentions of…your rare-blooded human,” he said. “But…I need Ares to do what needs to be done to get back on the front lines. Sometimes his stubbornness can outweigh common sense. Your human seems to have a way of keeping him grounded. At least for the time being.”

“What is your point, Beta?” Master Wade asked and to be honest, I was wondering too.

“I’m requesting that you allow your human to stay with my Alpha until I return to relieve her. I swear to you that she will be safe.”

“How would know that if you are not around to see to her?”

“With all due respect, Alpha Wade, if my Alpha wanted to kill your human he would have done it the first chance he had; which was when you allowed him to be alone with her the first time.” He pointed out. “Not to mention the second time.” Master Wade did not budge or speak at all, and this seemed to slightly frustrate the Beta. He exhaled and stepped forward. “You know, Ares, Wade.” He said to my Keeper. “Once he finds a weakness within he destroys it. Do you really think that Ares would keep this weakness? A human that does not belong to him? He will not hurt her.”

“In the position that your Alpha is in now, I have no doubt in my mind that Valene could kill him even if he did try anything. That is not my concern, Zevi,” he said.

“Then what is your hesitation, Alpha?”

“You are right, Beta,” Master Wade said. “I do know your Alpha. And while he may have trained himself to keep restraint in the presence of my vassal, I have noticed his intrigue of her.”

“Who would not be intrigued by a sangue de ouro?” he said, referring to me as a gold blood in his native tongue. “Does not mean that he wants the human! Ares does not see the point in human aid, so he certainly wouldn’t want her to-”

“If your Alpha could find a Valene, I assure you, he’d change his mind.” Master Wade said and to be honest I was becoming very uncomfortable by this conversation.

“Alpha-”

“Nevertheless,” I watched from the corner of my eye as Master Wade lifted his hand to pause the Beta. “I will allow her to stay while we are gone. He does need someone competent to watch over him and…I trust Valene with my life.”

“I would too after the blood bath she caused at the bar,” The Beta commented with a hint of amusement in his voice.

Instead of responding to the Beta, Master Wade turned to me. “Valene, I want you to watch over him.”

“Master Wade, I’m not sure that’s a good idea. The staff here does not-”

“I…don’t care about the bloody staff. I will handle them, and if I find that they have acted with insubordination, then they will answer to me.”

“Yes, Master Wade. As you wish.” I gave in.

“I will check in on you in an hour,” he reassured me.

“Yes, sir.” I then with reluctance headed back toward the Alpha’s room.

“Hey…little human.” Alpha Barbosa’s Beta called to me.

I turned and bowed to him. “Yes, sir.”

“Thank you…for saving him.”

“It is my job, Master,” I still didn’t know what name to call him and so I just didn’t.

“Your job is to look after your Keeper,” he said to me. “So, thank you,” he said again.

“You’re welcome, sir.”

“Almeida or Holt,” he said as I started to open the door to the Alpha Lycan’s hospital room. “Either one is fine,” he added and then headed off with Master Wade. Apparently, he noticed that I was having trouble figuring out what to call him as well.

As I opened the door I felt a sense of appreciation that brought a smile to my face. I entered the room again and there the Alpha was, asleep.

“Alright, old man,” I muttered. “Guess it’s just me and you again.”