Chapter Text
You really were just bad luck incarnate.
One moment you’d been working the fields diligently, despite the dismal harvest, it was all you had to put food on your table, finishing up for the day you head for home, only to be ambushed on the road.
The next thing you’re aware of is waking on a pile of straw, bars surrounding you; your head was pounding and it was difficult to keep focus, only barely making out snippets of conversation.
“-llent choice sir. I’m sure with a little training she’ll be a fine addition-”
Oh great. Sounds like you’d just been sold into sex-trafficking… That’s just terrific.
You hear the door to your cell opening, even in your half-concussed state, there was no way you were going without a fight, you wait until your captor hauls you upright, risking you’re already sore head, you smash your forehead against theirs, you’re released instantly as you stumble for the door.
In your defence, the plan was not well thought out, of course there would be more than one person present. Hands grab your wrists and pull them behind your back as you struggle, your knees kicked from under you as you land on the floor with a grunt.
“Cease.”
The voice from somewhere in front of you is cool, demanding, authoritative. It makes whomever is currently on top of you stop all movement, releasing your wrists.
“I would appreciate If you do not damage my goods. The sooner she is healthy, the sooner she is of use to me.”
“O-of course sir. My apologies.” your captors voice is quiet, reverent as he stands. In your haze, you make out intricate boots, stopping just before you as strong hands lift you. They’re gentler than the last set on you as they haul you up to stand, gods even through the leather gloves he wore, you could tell he was cold, like ice.
All you can make out is a pale, face, dark hair and golden eyes. Instantly you’re drawn in to those irises, they stare right at you, boring into you. You feel your fingers and toes begin to tingle with numbness as your entire body warms.
“Sleep child.” The man before you murmurs, you fight the urge, even with how strongly your body wishes to obey, with some significant struggle, you turn your head away, as soon as your gaze is broken, the numbness fades from your extremities.
“Hmm… strong will, commendable.”
You don't have the strength to resist as a gloved hand turns your face back towards those eyes, and once again you’re numbing, the gaze softens as he leans closer.
“You must be tired. Come now, rest, when you wake you will feel much better.”
Rest...did sound nice. Your body starts to give, knees buckling as the man holding you easily supports your weight, releasing your face as he scoops you upwards, his gaze only becoming more intense. Eventually you simply cant remain awake anymore, your numb body willing your eyes shut.
“Excellent… I will not require the cage… Thank you for your business gentlemen.”
When you next become aware, you’re laying in a large, regal bed, your head hurt far less now at least. Pushing yourself upright, it takes a moment for your eyes to adjust to the dim light in the room.
At some point you’d been bathed and changed, not something you want to particularly think about, but you’re tattered work clothes had been replaced with a fine silk robe, your fingers rise to your throat, a thin band circling your neck, a collar?Your hair had been washed and tied back and there were still faint scratches and bruises from your scuffle with your captors, but they were mere marks now.
You turn your attention from your body to your surroundings, impossibly tall stone walls and heavy dark velvet curtains, lit only by magical torchlight, even in the dim light, you knew wherever you were was far more regal than you had ever deserved to see. There was a heavy wooden door, the only entrance or exit to the room that you could see, as you debate going to check If it’s locked, you can make out faint footfalls from the other side, watching silently as the man you vaguely remember from earlier enters the room.
“ah, you’re finally awake.” He murmurs softly, shutting the heavy door behind him and approaching, you shuffle away instinctively, flinching away from the hand he reaches towards you, his tongue clicks in annoyance as he lurches forward and grabs your shoulder, pulling you back towards him.
“I do not wish you harm child, but If you do not cease your resistance, I cannot guarantee your safety.” He growls, you gulp, especially when he flashes a pair of long, pearly fangs.
“Y-y-you’re a-a vampire…”
He rolls his golden eyes at you in vague frustration. “I am no baser Vampire my dear. You have found yourself in the possession of one of the Seven Vampire overlords of Tevat.”
Oh, oh fuck, now you wish you’d ended up in the sex-trafficking industry instead as your blood runs cold.
“I am Morax, Vampire overlord of Liyue, and you, my dear little thing, are my newest Thrall.”
No, no, no, no…
Vampire’s weren't exactly uncommon, but everyone knew that the seven overlords were something to fear, the wrath of one alone could bring the undoing of entire nations. You cant help the way you tremble in fear as he leans forward, slipping onto the bed with you. Gods he was huge as he all but caged you down into the silken sheets, nosing along your throat, the feeling of his fangs gently scraping along your skin only amplifying your terror.
“mhm, I can smell your fear child. It’s intoxicating.” He growls against your jaw as you clench your teeth. “you’ll do just nicely… I’ve never smelled a human so tantalising before.”
You squirm uncomfortably, your jaw quivering, was this really how you were going to die?
“Such a timid little thing.” The Vampire above you grumbles, a long and sharp fingernail tracing the collar around your throat. “If it is death what you fear, you need not… You are skinny and small, I wish for a healthier pet before I begin to feed off you.”
That...does not make you feel better in the least.
“S-so what?” you whimper “You’re going to fatten me up l-like a prize pig and kill me? I-I’d rather you just kill me now.” you turn your head away wrenching your eyes shut in a vain attempt to stop the tears that are threatening to spill fourth “I’m so tired...just end it now and let me be free.”
The vampire, Morax, sits up, looking down at you. You probably look absolutely pathetic, whimpering and crying as you are, but you don’t care anymore, you’d worked hard your entire life and this was where it got you, it was like the gods of old were laughing at your existence.
“Such a change from the spunk I saw when picking you out… Truly you are a strange human.” He murmurs “Know that I’ve no intention to kill you, child. Unlike my other thralls you are...how do I put it...special. Something about your smell, your blood, even without tasting I know you will be a valuable asset to me.”
Great, so he wasnt going to kill you either? You were just going to be stuck as a vampire lord’s slave until you died naturally?
“This does of course, mean you receive certain...perks, that my other fodder does not.” He continues “Decent meals, the ability to roam my castle as you see fit, to sleep in my own bedchambers, to name a few.”
Your eyes shoot open in horror at the last part, Food and a bedwarmer for a terrifying vampire lord? The more he spoke the more you wished for death. He eyes you hungrily, his hands flexing tightly in the silken sheets on either side of you.
“Come now, you must be hungry. The sooner you’re up to a healthy weight, the better.” You can tell it’s taking a supreme amount of self control for him to pull away, sliding off the bed as he beckons you to follow. You consider refusing, hunkering down where you are and waiting for whatever punishment, perhaps if you resisted hard enough, he’d just kill you? But no, if he was holding himself back from feeding on you as it was, then he had no intentions of letting your life slip away so easily, so begrudgingly you slide from the other side of the bed, slowly walking around to follow him, keeping several steps behind.
You keep your eyes to the floor, following silently behind your new master as he walks, he’s speaking, but you don’t particularly hear the words, head too clouded with dark thoughts to fully comprehend. A slight breeze catches your attention, stopping at a window with the curtain’s opened, it was dark outside, but you could make out the mountains surrounding the dwelling, some grandiose castle if you were to hazard a guess. Approaching the sill of the large arched window, your hand grips the stone tightly, everything here was so cold and heavy.
You could just toss yourself out of the window right now, if the impact didn't kill you, you could at least run and either Morax would catch and hopefully kill you, or the elements would get you eventually.
“Why do you wish for death so, child?”
“You can read minds.” You sigh, of course he could read minds.
“I can, though I dont actively attempt to pry.” He confirms, resting a hand on your shoulder, heavy enough to be a warning ‘don’t try it.’ “Ever since waking here you have wished for death. Why?”
“what do you mean, why?” you spit, keeping your eyes focused out the window. “I have to be the worlds biggest joke. I worked hard to help others and keep food on my table, and now I’ve become the food on the table. My entire life has been one stroke of bad luck after another and now I’m being fattened up to be fed on like yesterdays leftovers.”
Morax sighs, his brows knitting together as he pulls you away from the window, drawing the curtain shut before tugging you down the hall by your arm. “Have I not already told you that I’ve no intent to kill you, foolish child!?” He grumbles, “Be as obstinate as you like, but sooner or later you must. Accept. Your. Fate.”
He all but drags you into a grand dining hall, dropping you down into a seat beside the head of the table, he must have some on point staff, a large spread of food already set and awaiting the pair, and yet you’d not seen another person at all.
“Eat. Perhaps after some decent food your attitude will improve.” he grumbles.
“I thought vampires only drank blood…” you comment drily, pushing your food around the plate.
“Technically we beings of the night do not require food, but that does not stop us from enjoying it.” He responds, you feel his eyes boring into your head, only relaxing when you actually deign to take a bite and you hate how good it tastes, tamping down the urge to demolish what was in front of you. “My cooks will also infuse some of my personal dishes with human blood, so no need to fear on your behalf.”
“great.” you sigh, taking another slow mouthful.
“I admit I do not understand why you resist so. It’s clear you are hungry and I’ve not raised a hand to harm you, why do you fight against this?”
Right, this man was born a vampire, he likely had no conceivable idea of human will or shame, He took what he wanted without emotion to feed his own satisfaction.
“I don’t want to be here.”
“And yet judging by your bodily condition, where you were prior was certainly doing you no favours.” He retorts, raising a glass of what you hope is just red wine, to his lips.
“At least there I got to do what I liked.” You spit, quickly losing your appetite.
“Make no mistake child, There are few rules I wish for you to follow here, other than those, you are free to do as you wish within my home.
“So I’m just your cocksleeve and a snack in exchange for almost freedom? That doesnt exactly sound like a fair deal..."
His brows furrow once more as he takes another sip of wine.
“you seem to be misunderstanding, I did not purchase you to be a two-bit whore.”
“Oh really? So why then am I to be sleeping on your chambers?” you place your fork onto your plate, gently pushing it away from yourself, unable to stomach any more, no matter how much your body cries for it.
“That is quite simple.” You watch as he removes one of his thick leather gloves, placing his hand atop yours, gods he was frigidly cold “I enjoy the warmth of humans, nothing quite compares to human body heat, and one figures that it would be far more enjoyable for the both of us if we shared a bed. You receive comfort and a decent night’s rest, I bask in warmth for a change.”
“So I’m a literal bed warmer then…” you sigh, pulling your hand away from his, keeping your eyes firmly on the table.
Morax sighs, returning his glove to his hand “I do hope in time you come around, but make no mistake, your resistance if futile and whether you like it or not, you will be staying here… My rules are simple, you are to come when called, you are to share meals and rest time’s with me, and the most important rule of all.”
He stops reaching over to lift your chin, staring deeply and seriously into your eyes.
“You are under no circumstance, to ever. Enter. The basement… Understood?”
the shiver that travels up your spine at his final rule, what could possibly be in the basement? What horrors were you walking above?
“Do you understand, child?” He presses.
“Be a good dog and don’t go in the basement. Yes, I get it.” You retort, yanking yourself away from his grasp.
“Good.” He nods, retracting his arm “Now unless you desire to eat anything more, it’s fast approaching dawn, it is time for us to retire.”
“Hate to tell you this, but I’m not tired.” you grumble as he stands, his chuckle makes you feel ill.
“Fret not, I know you humans are a Diurnal species for the most part, I can easily fix that given a couple of days. Come along.”
You want to roll your eyes, but everything is starting to go numb in your brain as you rise from the table and follow him down the hall and back to the room you’d awoken in. He instructs you to sit upon the bed as he takes himself off to the bathroom, a door hidden behind a heavy velvet curtain, returning in more appropriate sleep attire.
You tense like stone as he slides into bed, pulling you with him easily, laying you beside his long body. You wrench your eyes shut, feeling his cool breath fanning across your skin as he moves, those fangs ever present in your mind, you know you’re powerless here.
“Look at me.” He asks quietly, you slowly open your eyes, he’s over you, caging you under him as he stares deeply at you.
Oh, you realise now that he must have some sort of hypnosis, for the longer you stare at him, the heavier your own eyelids become, fluttering and struggling to stay awake, even as he gently cups your cheek in one massive, ice-cold hand.
“Sleep now, things will be better come the evening.”