Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2023 02:31:22 -0700 From: Saudade Survivor Subject: Tabula rasa ch. 9 This story, depicting sex between a consenting seventeen-year-old male and other consenting males, if this subject offends you or is illegal in your area please do not read. This story will also deal with sexual assault, child neglect (emotional), Anti-LGBT Bigotry, Racism, Ableism, Discrimination and other possibly sensitive topics.this story is fiction and completely a product of my imagination. The author retains all rights to this work. If you enjoy it, or wish to contact me, or tell me what you think, questions etc please tell me so at SaudadeSurvivor@gmail.com Im always happy to hear what you guys think! I love to hear from you guys if you like the story! Hearing from you guys, what you think, really is one of the big reasons we post here! This story is brought to you by Nifty, providing interested readers with entertainment and pleasure. If you enjoy reading Nifty, please support it. Please remember to donate to Nifty if you are capable of doing so. your donations keep this as well as other stories and reading materials on the site free to the public. Thank you and I hope you enjoy! Ch 9. Aspen Brooks "Bro you can't smoke in my car ..." the cigarette was limply between my lips, I had just gotten my lighter out as Chet spoke up. Rolling my eyes I placed the dart back in its box. "I don't know why you care if I smoke or not..." I mumbled, looking out the window as we drove along the highway. "I don't care if you smoke dude, I do care however about getting that nasty ass smell in my car ... I don't even know why mistress V. even lets you smoke at all, my pops would throttle me if I started smoking." I eyed him from my side of the car as he drove, one hand on the 12 of the wheel, his other on the side of his door. He was wearing a Ralph Lauren polo shirt and khaki shorts which seemed to fit him perfectly. He looked like a complete Ken doll. My fingers nervously fiddled with the sleeve cuff of the dark blue blazer I had put on over my white shirt. I could feel the gold pin slightly weighing down the left side of my collar's tip. "Angie couldn't stop me from smoking if she tried, I'm only doing this trip and wearing these shitty clothes to be amicable... I don't need Loren sending me across the country and away from Izz..." I didn't know why I was even admitting this to someone like Chet. " What are you talking about? That entire outfit costs probably more than what my mom makes in two weeks! Not including the bling!" " Bling? " I gave him a raised brow as I looked over what I was wearing. Chet leaned over and flicked the pin on my collar. " Yeah, that looks pretty spendy ." He said with a chuckle as he went back to watching the road. I gave him a scoff. " I don't know how much that is, I don't even know who it was that gave it to me, just some initials but Loren and Angie insist I wear it..." " Must be something to do with whoever owns your family." He gave a bit of a head shake. I pulled my collar out so I could look over the pin once more. The small intricate cursive D was cradled by the small bat Design behind it. I swear it was looking back at me. I let go of the soft white material as what Chet just said registered in my mind. " No one fucking owns me Chet! I don't know what my parents were part of, who's lineage they belong to, but it isn't something I signed up for!" I practically yelled over at him. He put his hand up towards me in mock defense. " Dude, don't take it out on me, I'm just saying how it is. You don't get a choice in this, I don't get a choice in this. Your family is a Familiar lineage, it's part of the amazing lottery you were born into. Just like how some people are born into wealth or poverty." He explained calmly as he took the next exit off the highway. " You were born into a family who's entire purpose is to serve a being that is above your own species on the food chain. You seem to be someone who belongs to a very important higher member of said food chain from what they said at dinner the other night." He said plainly with a small chesty chuckle. " It's not something I want." I was mumbling into my shirt as I leaned forward, arms crossed. Chet went down a semi rural road, driving past a large rounded sign with the words "Aspen Brooks" over what looked like a pair of greenhills formed by signs' negative space. You could see a small bit of the massive area behind the large building. It seemed like the back was directly open to a large pool, behind which quite a few courts for various netted sports were sitting. Chet drove over to a covered double door to the rather large white and tan building. I followed Chet's lead as he hopped out of the car. He tossed his keys to the approaching valle with a sharp nod of his chin to the guy. Another valle opened the doors for us as we approached. " I'll be in the locker room or out at the racquetball court when you're done.'' Chet said, giving me a wave as he scanned a card and stepped behind the door which locked immediately after he went through. The woman at the front desk looked like a dyed Barbie doll. Dyed blonde hair, dyed tan skin. The smile she showed me was the most plastic I've seen in a while. she blatantly stared at Chet's ass as he moved inside before looking back at me unapologetically. " Hi! How can I help you today, sweety?" She asked in a rather well practiced fake happy demeanor. "Yes, uh hi, I'm with Loren and Angelique Vanderbelt, they wanted me to sign up here?" I could tell that saying their names had a reaction to her. She seemed to stiffen a little, never losing her plastic smile. " Oh yes! Come with me, Mr. Vanderbelt already did most of the paperwork! Let's go get you a key card, and your welcome packet Mr. Aronovich!" She gestured towards the door Chet had gone through as she stood up and began walking to the door herself. " Just, call me Alex please." I responded with a bit of a frowned irritation. I didn't even tell her my name and she already knew it. I hated that shit in these environments. I should have just been used to it by now. " Oh of course Alex, please this way." she said as she scanned her card and held the door open for me. I quickly walked through into a secondary, larger and much nicer lobby. The gray thin carpet immediately switched over to light brown and red speckled granite flooring. The room was practically a lounge with how many chairs and leather couches there were. As the woman walked in behind me, a tall thin very pale man in a black suit looked up from the desk at the other end of the lobby. The long Concierge Desk was firmly placed between two c-winding staircases on either side leading to a balcony on the second floor. "Please wait here, I'll see about someone coming to get you started with things." She didn't even let me reply before she spun and left to the first much more bleak lobby behind the locked glass door. I decided to take a seat in one of the plush chairs facing the long thin desk on the opposite side of the room. The man at the desk was busy on his computer or at least tried to make it seem like he was. He had hair clearly parted and pushed back with product. Though I could not say whether the raven black hair was from said product or natural, it was in stark contrast to the man's pallid complexion. Considering how his movements mimicked that of a marble statue I was pretty sure what, or who I was looking at was not someone who would be looking forward to retirement, or a social security check after a certain age. I absentmindedly checked my phone as I waited. Izz had sent me a small smile and heart. I sent one back and felt myself smiling. I looked up to see a group of men walking from one door of the lobby to the other. Two were of the same breed as the Concierge, the other two following behind looked like normal people. It was really strange to see so many vampires just walking around when I never really saw any before I moved here. Perhaps I just didn't notice them like I do now. As the group passed by I could see that the two in the front were having some comedic conversation. Both were smiling like idiots as they spoke. They seemed to be wearing some leisure wear and each had a racquet in their hands. I didn't really think of vampires as enjoyers of sports. I caught myself snorting at the idea. I guess they heard me snort as the one closest to me turned in my direction. He seemed to look me over before giving a cheeky grin. I guess he liked what he saw. I tried to give a polite smile to the scruffy haired blonde as they passed. I hope it came off as polite, and not inviting. Sometime after the four had left two more people came run-walking through the opposite direction. Both were wearing full on hospital scrubs. That's strange. I was told this place had rooms for the more nightly oriented guests, but why would they need nurses? That seemed a bit fishy. After waiting for twenty five minutes with no one appearing I decided they probably forgot about me. I decided to walk up to the concierge at the desk. I stood in front of him silently for a few moments until deciding to clear my throat in hopes of getting his attention. It worked. The man looked up at me with a face of indifference. " Yes, sir, may I help you?" He sounded slightly annoyed that I had interrupted whatever he was doing. " Yea hello, I was told to wait for someone to get me to sign me up? The lady at the front said they would send someone but It's been a bit and I think they may have gotten distracted." I said bluntly as I looked back at his cold eyes as he looked me over with a slight frown. "Name?" he asked as he started typing something into his computer. "Alex Aranovich.'' I responded just as flatly as he typed it in pausing as he read something. " Mmmh, you're Vanderbelt's ward aren't you?" He looked between me and the computer a few times before he stopped, his eyes slowly squinting as he looked at my throat. " Where did you get that pin?" his thin pointed fingers gestured to the pin in my shirt collar. "Ms. Vanderbelt gave it to me. She said it was a symbol of the person who my family was...uh hired by." I was close to giving a snarky response to this frowning jerk, however I didn't think it smart to get snarky with a vampire I don't know, even if this was a public place. I noticed he seemed to sit up a bit in his chair. He even readjusted his tie and checked his hair. "Aha oh Mr. Aranovich, I do apologize. Let me introduce myself. My name is Mason Dower, the head administrator and partial owner of Aspen Brooks. Please have a seat and I will be sure to get someone for you right away." The man quickly stood as he gestured back to where I was sitting. " Can I get you anything to eat or drink, sir?" he clasped his hands together as he gave me a small smile. I could feel my eyebrow push up my forehead as I looked at the immediate change in his demeanor. " Uh, n-no thank you, and you can just call me Alex, uh," I looked at his name tag as I had already forgotten what he had said his name was. "Mason?" He gave an affirmative nod as he walked over to one of the large doors on the left side of the room. " Very well Alex, please make yourself comfortable, I will return shortly." And just like that I was alone in this massive lobby, nothing but the cold granite floor and pillars to keep me company. What a fucking weird place. Not five minutes later Mason returned with what I could only describe as the epitome of over-worked, underpaid secretary of a woman. Her hand adjusted a strand of hair that had fallen from her mousy-brown messy bun. Mason whispered something in her ear as they approached, before breaking off and going back to the desk on the other side of the room. His shiny dress shoes clacking along the granite floor as he did. "Alex?" the woman asked with a warm smile as she looked me over. " Yes, that's me," I said as I stood up. I gave her hand a shake. Her fingers were just as cold as you would expect them to feel. " Hi! My name is Marjory. I'll be setting things up for you. Please follow me." She gestured for me to follow as she walked towards the door she had come out of with Mason. We went down a white hallway lined in lemonade pink molding with various doors that seemed to lead to private offices or rooms. She ushered me into her office which was four walls more than a cubicle. I sat down as she did the same. "I want to personally welcome you to Aspen Brooks, and apologize for the wait, lots of work came up today." She gave a slight awkward laugh as she spoke her last words. " That's... alright." I didn't really know what to say. She handed me a small package as she continued to speak. "Now inside this packet you will find your ID card which gives you access to the facility, though not the entire place, some areas are off limits to our human guests." She admitted with a small smile that seemed very forced. "You will also see a few brochures on the different activities we offer. We have courts for most any sport you would wish to participate in, as well as an all access pool and spa," she went on. " A spa? I knew this place was a country club and had rooms for guests to stay in if they wanted but I didn't expect this place to be a spa as well." I admitted to her as I looked through the packet. I made sure to put the access ID card in my wallet as she went on. " Yes spa, hospitality suites for our non-human guests, and we also offer medical benefits as well. We also encourage our human members to donate blood if they can, though it is not a requirement." She explained. " Now Mr. Vanderbelt has taken care of your members fees and other paperwork, so really all we need to do is set up a general profile for you which I can do for you, as well as set up a medical profile for you, Mr. Vanderbelt has insisted you be fully set up with any and all benefits, after all someone such as yourself surely deserves it." She kept looking from my eyes to the pin on my shirt, giving an embarrassed smile as she was caught. " Uh, right..." I was worried to even ask what she meant though I'm pretty sure I knew. " Hm that's strange..." She slowly spoke as she typed out a bit. " Is something wrong?" I asked as I tried to look around at her monitor to no avail. " No, nothing is wrong Alex. It just seems somehow you already have a medical record on file, that's strange since you didn't have a basic profile in our systems until today..." What? Why would I have that? I've never even been here, let alone heard of this palace until a month ago. My curiosity was getting the better of me. "If it's a file of my medical records, can you print me a copy of it?" I held my breath for a response. " There doesn't seem to be a digital copy, but there is a note of a physical file. If you like I can make a copy of the physical folder for you, though due to Hippa Laws I can't access it unless you give me direct permission." She explained as she looked back over at me. "Oh, yeah please, I would very much like that!" I quickly blurted out. I wanted to see that file. Why did this facility have my medical records? Loren even shouldn't have had a reason to have it let alone give it to them. " Very well. I'll be right back. I don't know how long it will take to copy it, or how big it is, so it may be a while. Would you like a magazine while you wait?" I shook my head in the negative. "No, I have my phone." "Very well. I'll be right back." She excused herself, turning her screen off as she stood and left the small room. The moment she was out of the room I quickly sat at her desk and turned her screen back on. I gave out a small groan as I saw she had signed out of her computer before getting up. Damn her proper computer skills. I didn't know how long she would be, or if trying to guess her password wouldn't lock the system or alert someone or not so I decided to leave it be. After a few minutes I got up from my seat and stepped out into the hallway. I still had this itch to snoop. I tried the door exactly on the opposite side of her office. Locked. I tried a few more doors, all locked. On my fifth door I was about to try the handle until I heard rustling inside. I put my ear to the door as I clutched the knob. A muffled shrieking cry came from the other side. Someone must be hurt. I quickly opened the door and found myself facing a pale round ass furiously thrusting back and forth between a pair of spread heel-clad legs. My face went red as I realized what I had just walked in on. Those were not screams of pain. The man vigorously thrusting between the woman's legs leaned up from her neck. The blond shaggy man looked back at me. I was frozen in place as he looked back at me. His face was warped as it had become the visage of an angry bat-like gargoyle. "Get the fuck out!" he screamed at me from between blood smeared lips, his hips never slowing down, long sharp fangs glistened from within. "S-sorry!" I yelped before closing the door quickly. Jesus Christ do all vampires feed like that? Why did his face look so...inhuman?! I tried to slow my breathing. I realized my body was shaking like a leaf. I made my way back to Marjory's office and sat back in the small itchy chair next to her desk. A few moments later Marjory came back to the office followed by Mason on her heels. She had a rather hefty yellow manila folder in her hand. She sat down at her desk, placing the folder down as she set her attention to Mason. I soon followed her lead as he cleared his throat. "It seems you're a very peculiar person Alex. I've never seen a medical record locked away in our Restricted Section of files before. I thought, considering who you are though, and seeing as they are your medical records, it would be a good Idea to approve the copy of such files. The original will have to stay with us of course, though I'm sure you understand." He explained as he nodded to Marjory, his hands clasped together at his waist, with a confirming nod she handed me the thick file. " That's fine,.. Do you know why this is here before I had set up a profile with your business?" I said wearily as I opened the folder. The first few pages seemed normal. Social Security information. My last check up information from back in up-state New York as well as some small information regarding my parents. These documents had things such as my blood type, sex, and basic health information like when I had my tonsils removed. The next few pages were very confusing though. Some very strange charts that looked like a mix between graphs and heart rate charts. I tried to quickly read over the varying paperwork of Enzyme readouts and things that talked about Codon Charting, Chromatograms, and something called "Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats of Genetic Information Cas9 Modification." C.R.I.S.P.R. was written underneath followed by what seemed like just even more scientific charts and lingo. I had no idea what it was. CRISPR sounded really Familiar though, I'm pretty sure that had to do with genetic modifications. Jesus Christ were these bastards fucking with my genetics? How could they even do that without having me locked away in some lab? I had no recollection of anything more than a normal doctor's exam now and then growing up. Nothing to this extent... "You would have to speak to His Eminence about that." He seemed like the question had made him rather uncomfortable. " I'm sorry, His Eminence?" Who was he talking about? " What exactly is all this?" I pointed to the thick folder of papers in my hands. Both of them merely shook their heads; their faces seemed as confused as mine did. " His Eminence Prince Sebastian d'yavolova, your family is one of the royal Lineages. That pin you're wearing marks you as his. However this is the first time I've ever seen these papers. In fact I had no idea these were in our files until Ms. Lanshum brought them to my attention, requiring administrative approval to even access them..." Putting the file down I took the pin off of my shirt. I looked over the Stylized D with the small bat. Prince Sebastian d'yavolova.. So that was the name of this Elusive Vampire my family was under. Of course it had to be a fucking prince. Honestly some things started clicking into place. My family's enormous wealth. Their entire company had dealings in overseas land ownership, U.S. land sales and maintenance for European Accounts. We were the royal Vampire Families book keepers. I honestly don't know why I burst out laughing. The sheer far-fetched-ness of the situation maybe? My family were bookkeepers and money launderers for undead royalty! The other two gave me these looks like I was insane. After finally being able to calm down I flicked the pin onto Marjory's desk like it was something I had found in my nose. " I don't care what my family signed up for, or even if they didn't. I didn't sign up to be owned by some Pompous Royal Prick. '' I practically scoffed as I stood up, sliding the manilla folder into my satchel. Both Mason and Marjory looked utterly taken aback at my words. " Mr. Ara - Alex please, I wouldn't go around saying such things, and I wouldn't get rid of this if I were you. The consequences of such things are ...dire." He said with a grim expression, holding the pin out for me to take. I rolled my eyes at it, grabbing the small thing and shoving it into my bag. " I guess Loren would be pissed if I lost this stupid fucking thing." I quickly started walking out of the office. I had had enough of this place, I just wanted to go home, maybe try and look over those papers closer. I honestly didn't even know anymore. I felt so fucking violated. Who was looking over my genetic makeup, this prince fucker? Why, though, was the other question I had. " Sir, where are you going?" Mason had a fearful look in his eyes. He followed right behind me as I made my way to the lobby. " Why not just..." his eyes lit up as he seemed like he was trying to think of a way to keep me here. "Let's just take a few breaths, why not stay for some of our spa treatments? Your credentials give you full access to our treatments, and they should help you to feel calmer." He spoke quickly as he looked at me with pleading eyes. "Listen, I'm not really in the moo-" I was silenced from my quippy response as I ran face first into a tall figure in a full Tennis uniform. Two muscular yet lanky arms reached out and grasped both sides of my shirt as I fell backwards stopping my descent to the floor. "You!" The man now firmly grasping my white shirt between both tightly closed fists was the messy blond guy from the lobby...and the accidental intrusion earlier. Though his face looked pretty normal now. " You little perv..." He gazed back at Mason. " This little guy was voyeuring on my feeding session Mason." his teeth were gritted as he looked down at me. "That wasn't on purpose", I quickly lied to hide my snooping as, with a bit of effort I was able to yank his hands off of my shirt, readjusting the material as I looked back at him with annoyed eyes. "I was looking for the bathroom, and walked in the wrong door." "You were feeding Mr. Flarity and you didn't think to lock the door?" Mason asked credulously, looking over the angered man. " Well, I,... Familiars shouldn't just be walking around here anyways." He tried to argue back as his arms crossed in irritation, blowing his hair out of his face. "Those rooms off limits to Familiars are locked Mr. Flarity, you know the policy." Mason glared over at this Flarity fellow from below his lids. "I'll try harder to remember next time I guess..." he looked at me with a sigh as his shoulder seemed to slowly loosen up, arms going down to his sides before reaching out to shake my hand. "I'm sorry man, I shouldn't let my temper get the better of me. I'm Devon Flarity by the way.'' His face went from annoyed to contemplative and then to a bit of a warm smile, or it would feel warm if I knew he wasn't a vampire. His face seemed normal though now, not that terrifying visage of bat and gargoyle it had been before. "My name is Alex." I responded with a shrug of my shoulders, shaking the cold hand offered, though I could tell my face wasn't as inviting as his. I wasn't too keen on being labeled a perv. "Just Alex? No last name there Alex?" he gave a small chuckle as he squeezed my hand in a rather flirtatious manner before letting go. "Alex Aronovich." I relented as I looked down at my shoes. "Alex here is one of His Majesty, d'yavolova's Familiars." Mason explained much to my irritation. I gave Mason a dirty look before turning back to Devon. "Ah shit I practically assaulted Royalty, Jesus I feel like a total jerk, man I'm so sorry." Devon's face seemed to be a bit fearful now. If this is how people reacted to someone barely even associated with this prince guy I was very much dreading what he himself was actually like. "Please, don't be, just treat me like a normal person for God's sake, I haven't even met this supposed prince yet. I already hate being associated with him..." I almost whispered the last words out of embarrassment. This just seemed to make Mason even more nervous, while it seemed to amuse Devon. "Ahaha.., Mr. Flarity can you take Alex here to the spa for me? I really must get back to my desk." Mason was already walking backwards towards the door to the lobby, his fingers fiddling with his tightly combed hair for any strays. "Yeah sure I guess. Come on Alex, let's let this stuffy guy get back to his duties." He snickered as he wrapped a lanky muscular arm around my shoulders, turning me to go further down the hallway. After a few steps I quickly pushed his arm off me, taking a few steps to the side away from him. " So your first day here huh? Again I really am sorry about earlier. I should've locked the door behind myself." He said awkwardly as he rubbed the lower back of his head. "That's fine." I responded a bit too sternly before trying to calm myself down a bit. " If I knew what was going on in there I wouldn't have barged in there. Honestly, the show was not my cup of tea..." I gave an awkward laugh as we walked down the hallway. "Ahh I figured as much, you don't exactly scream straight guy aha, You're too cute to be." he said with a bit of a shrug, I looked over in time to catch him checking me out as he spoke. " Yeah well, I'm not straight, but I am taken." I exclaimed firmly, putting a hand up in a stopping motion. "Mmmh dating another Familiar huh? Who's the lucky guy?" he had a mischievous grin as he asked the question, shoving his hands into his pockets. " Uh, not exactly no, I only know one other Familiar and he's sort of a jerk..." I admitted, hoping he'll drop it there. We were coming around a corner now, into another lobby with white sterile walls and a small waiting room similar to the one before the larger room out front. "Ah, a regular joe then? You have to be careful doing that. Even someone with your uh, background can't be forgiven if you let something slip." We had at this point stopped by the sitting area as the woman at the desk talked to what I could only assume was a spa client. "No, not exactly a regular person either, They know, it's.. actually right now it's sort of complicated. I'd honestly rather not speak about it." I found myself fiddling with a lock of hair as I spoke. "Ok, well I'm gonna go see where my friend ran off to. Here, this is my number, give me a call if you ever need anything small stuff." He gave a chuckle and a wink as he wrote his number on a small piece of paper and handed it to me. "It was, well it was odd but nice to meet you ha!" he explained as he gave a wave and headed off back down the hallway. I put the number into my phone absentmindedly as I took a seat. How many different lobbies did this place fucking have? After a few moments the woman at the desk got a call. She wasn't on the phone more than a minute before she hung up and walked over to me. " Alex? Hi I'm Trisha. Mr. Dower told me to expect you, please, come with me." She gestured down the opposite hallway we came in by. I just decided to silently follow her to whatever room we were going to. " Helga will be your spa assistant today." She opened a door to what looked like a massage room with another woman inside. She gave her a nod before leaving back to the front, closing the door to the room. This new woman was rather muscular, her auburn hair up into separate buns. " You can undress down to your comfort level behind the divider there." She pointed to a simple white metal and fabric room divider in the corner of the room. I gave a singular firm nod and moved behind the divider. I suppose a firm massage would help me feel a bit better, and it is included so why not? A soothing plinking melody began to play in the room as I was halfway undressed. I quickly finished stripping down to my black silk bikini cuts, wrapping one of the plush towels around my waist and stepped out. Helga gave a firm but kind smile as she lotioned her hands, gesturing to the table in the center of the room. Laying face down on the table, I adjusted the towel to be more easily manipulated if she needed to. "Alrighty let's see what we're dealing with here." I felt her freshly lotioned hands work over my arms, and back. "Hmm, this still looks fresh, does it hurt ?" She kneaded my shoulder where Izz's teeth marks were. " Uh yeah I guess it's newish, and no it doesn't hurt. " I mumbled, from my head's position in the hole. " Well let's see what we can do about that." I heard her open a bottle and slowly begin to drizzle something cool onto my back. Not long after I heard the cap click shut I felt her rubbing whatever it was into my lower back, slowly working what I assumed was lotion into my skin. I don't know what she was using but between the lotion or oil and her strong hands I was feeling super great, very relaxed. I could feel the tension leaving my body as she worked upwards. Whatever she was using was making my skin feel so refreshed and new, silky soft. Her hands slide up into my shoulders, roughly working the lotion into my skin. Only seconds after her hands massaged the substance into where neck meets shoulder was, I jumped up and off of the table, falling onto the floor as I screamed my lungs off. The searing pain around the bite mark was excruciating. I frantically clawed at my reddening skin. The hot burning sensation felt as if the once soft skin was melting off. I was only partially aware of the masseuse calling for help down the hall as I writhed on the floor in pain. I felt my back slam down into the wall as I crawled across the floor. Soon I was joined by the masseuse once more, followed by a nurse and a large bald man in a deep blue and black uniform. "What happened?" I felt the cold hands of the nurse as she grabbed my shoulders, the large man helped her restrain my writhing frame, not that she needed the help with her inhuman strength. "I don't know, I don't know! I was merely applying the Rejuvenating Blood mixture to his body, and he started crying in pain when I got to the scabbing bite mark on his shoulder!" She spoke a mile a minute as she tried to explain herself. I felt myself shaking as the pain continued to throb in the crook of my neck. The large bald man held my hands from clawing at the spot as the nurse examined the spot. " That mixture won't work on something like this. This is a lycan bite, looks like a mate marking.." The nurse said to the others in the room. "I- it burns!" I yelped out as I tried to wrestle my hands from the large man. He merely held them more firmly. "Brutus it looks like we may have a spy here.." she started wiping the spot with a cloth soaked in warm water, the man holding my wrists face morphed into a more serious, demeure expression as he gave a firm nod. "I'll take him to the Security office once you're through ma'am." The man named Brutus spoke in response to her statements. I was in too much pain to argue. After a few minutes of the nurse clearing the reddened area the pain began to subside. I was still a shaky mess. However I was a bit more calm as the nurse wrapped me in a soft robe. The mountain named Brutus walked me out of the room, my things in a large clear plastic bag in one hand, he held firmly around the back of my neck with his other until we reached what I could only assume was the Security Office. "This really isn't necessary, It's not like I'm going anywhere!" My complaints fell on deaf ears as Brutus handcuffed my right hand to the seat on the opposite side of the desk he sat down at. "This is completely ridiculous. I don't need to be handcuffed, I'm not some spy! Why did you feel the need to close it so tightly?!" I was getting very irate at this point. "Be silent." The deep baritone of the guard was firm as he gave me an angered look. " We'll wait for Mr. Dower before we proceed. You're lucky I'm not allowed to deal with such foolish behavior as espionage myself." he cracked his knuckles as he spoke, before leaning forward and beginning to write out some sort of forms, which I assumed had to do with this incident. I rolled my eyes and tried to wait. Every now and then I felt the urge to scratch at my reddened neck. I pulled my bare feet up off the cold cement floor, tucking my legs in close as I waited. I tried to keep my cuffed wrist on the seat's armrest so as not to pull too much against the tight metal restraining it there. After about two hours of waiting Mason came walking into the office with an irritated expression on his thin plaid face. "What exactly is going on here Brutus? Why is Mr ara...Why is Alex here in cuffs?" he pinched the bridge of his nose as he gestured to my hand. "Sir this young man is thought to be spying on the facility for lycans. He was detained after an incident in the spa area, room 213." His voice was firm and he was quick to the point as he explained to Mason. "Spy for lycans... why on earth do you think that?" Mason's arms crossed as his look of irritation deepened. " This individual has a lycan's mate mark on his shoulder. The mark was confirmed genuine when it reacted violently to the absorption of Vampiric infused lotion that the spa uses on the human guests to reduce and remove skin imperfections." Mason leaned forward as he looked at where Brutus was pointing towards my neck. Mason gestured towards the fluffy robe covering the spot. "Do you mind Alex?" I shook my head as I used my uncuffed hand to pull the fabric aside slightly to show Mason the mark Izz had left me. The spot was still reddened by irritation. " I'm not some spy Mason. Loren and Angelique already know about this. It's one of the reasons I've been living with Loren's sister in the first place. It's not even that big of a deal." I huffed as I covered up the mark once more. Mason tapped his finger against his cheek absentmindedly as he thought. After a while he spoke up once more. "Brutus, uncuff him. I doubt he is a spy but I will need to discuss this with his legal guardian. He is still a minor after all." Brutus reluctantly uncuffed me before sitting back at his desk. "What shall I do regarding the paperwork sir?" He held up the partially filled out papers as he glared at me. "Just fill them out like you would normally in a medical incident, but nothing more." Mason placed his hand on my back as he gestured me out the door. He took me to an empty room so that I could change, waiting outside as I did so. "Can you call someone to pick you up Alex? I sadly cannot allow you to remain here for the time being, until I can speak to Loren at the least." He explained as I walked out wearing my clothes from earlier in the day before P.E. I might as well be comfortable if I was being thrown out. He gave my new attire a raised eyebrow as he spoke though never mentioned the severe difference in clothes. " Uh, yeah I think so, I wanted to leave earlier anyways." I muttered as we walked back to the main lobby. He allowed me to wait in the rather comfortable chairs at the least instead of outside. Not thirty minutes later I was getting a text that my ride was waiting outside, ready for me to join them. My bag made a loud thump as I tossed it into the floor of the truck. I quickly scooted down the seat, thigh pressing up against the familiar warm leg of Izz. "Why on earth are you even at this palace?" I could tell he was feeling protective. " I didn't have much of a choice... Do you think it would be alright if we just went to your place? I miss you so much and I just want to cuddle up and talk to you." I slowly leaned my head against his side as his arm wrapped around my shoulders. " Sure thing babe, buckle up." Hello! Saudade here, I just wanted to give a HUGE thank you to my Editor johnny again, He has been doing an amazing job on helping with the new chapters, and another HUGE thank you to Fang Saito who has been helping me with some wording, and very helpful feedback. I also wanted to give one more HUGE thank you to all who have sent letters telling me of what you think fo the story so far. it feels amazing to know you are enjoying the piece, and is very much fueling to cdontinue the wish to write :) please let me know what you think of this new chapter, the things you enjoyed, or any other feedback you may have! thank you