Free Rule by Alaska Angelini Page A

couldn’t continue to stay locked away in here. I wanted to get this over with. To start these lessons once and for all.
    “Princess, you shouldn’t be up yet.”
    Even as Marie said it, her head was down.
    “I need clothes. I want to leave this room.”
    Her eyes cut up and she glanced to the door nervously. She didn’t want to be here anymore than I did. It was as though she was in a constant state of fear being in the presence of these leaders. I didn’t feel her unease, even if I did understand why she felt threatened. We were the weakest ones here. No one was to be trusted. The only thing that kept me from not falling into Marie’s position was because I knew I’d surpass the majority of strongest. I was someone . The entitlement had always been there from the moment I was changed. Being under this roof versus the underground city made no difference. I knew my place and it was amongst these vampires.
    “Aetas wants you to stay in the room.”
    I barely heard her as I forced my heavy legs to move toward the closet. They didn’t want to follow the simple order to walk and it was just another thing that made me want to scream. Why was this so hard?
    “I’m going whether you help me or not.” I was breathing heavily by the time I pulled the closet door open. Lightheadedness had me pausing. Marie’s hand settled on my bicep causing me to look up at her.
    “Come and sit, Princess. Let me get your clothes.”
    I let her lead me to the edge of the bed. When she returned with a red dress and a pale pink one, I met her eyes. She was clearly unhappy with the choices, but she placed them down anyway.
    “Stand, let me help you dress.”
    When I rose, our bodies were but inches apart. Her hands settled on the tie on my chest and she pulled the string loose. The material eased from my shoulders and pooled at my feet as her small push.
    “Look at me, Marie.”
    Still, her head was down. It was unlike the woman who’d once been full of life. I could remember our meeting. Our beginning. We were both different now. I’d been the cause of her bondeds’ death. She had wanted to help me, and Marko made her pay the ultimate price for doing so.
    Marie met my gaze, but wouldn’t hold it. After a minute of me not saying anything, she finally came back to me.
    “I’m sorry,” I said, lowly. “I truly am.”
    Tears came to her eyes. “I’m not sorry. I can always get new slaves. Besides, I’m stronger now. Our paths were meant to play out this way.” She grabbed the red dress, sliding it over my head.
    “I don’t like this path,” I said, placing my arms through the long, silk sleeves. “Look at me, I can’t even dress myself. I’m so … dependent.”
    “You’re already tiring. I can see the circles coming back. Let me get you another drink.”
    My mouth twisted at the thought of the weak blood they kept feeding me. It wasn’t nearly powerful enough to make me better.
    “I can tell you don’t like it,” she said, pouring me a glass. “Not that I blame you. I tried it the other day. I wonder why they won’t grant you your own supplier. They did with me.”
    “You were given a supplier?” There was a longing in my voice as I watched her turn around and hand me the glass.
    “Yes, his name is Dustin.” A blush flooded her cheeks. “He’s very cute. And tasty.” As Marie said it, she turned me, tightening the back of my dress. I took a drink, cringing at the thick blood. It was cold now and not at all easy to swallow.
    I moved to the side, placing the cup down. “Lucky. There’s nothing I’d give to taste…” I turned, cocking my head. Confusion swept over her features as I tapped into the smell of her skin. “A vampire,” I finished. “You. You’ll feed me.”
    “Oh, no, we can’t,” she rushed out, stepping back. “Aetas said we couldn’t mix blood with you. One more—”
    “Of them,” I finished for her. “Their blood will battle mine. Yours won’t.” I stepped closer as she moved