With the office locked and closed, no one can even see it was here in the middle of the compound. I can't even see the shimmer of magic that was there a minute ago as I sit on the throne.

Shawna had knocked so beautifully, annoying the hell from Skip who then went over to pick her up. It was funny to watch the slight grimace spreading over his face as he went away toward the guest room. She'll be interesting to keep around.

There's some more lightness inside me as I fold my body deeper into the leather strips of my throne and await for her to arrive. As if some invisible weight has been lifted from my shoulders, I feel lighter and brighter. I'm one step closer to fully immersing myself as the Lord. It was almost too easy to kill Lucius, but with all the planning I had done beforehand, indeed expected. And then came the hard part. Keeping the throne.

Just like sharks attack when they smell blood, the other Lords can attack any time - I'm too new and too young, but that has also worked in my favor, they are all stalling, possibly until the annual Lord's meeting with the Council. But I have some doubts, Rekish might break and attack just to test my strength. The lord of the city of Laripe has always been a hothead.

First I destroyed the whole apparatus which had held Lucius' reign - got myself a new accountant, a lawyer, got new people to lead various businesses Lucius had owned, and even new guards who answered to my three lieutenants. One can never be too sure when a hurt minion of a former ruler could pop out and cause chaos. With this move, I've lowered the chances of that happening and strengthened my influence because those who got themselves a job will be grateful for such an inspiring opportunity.

A concubine...it has been a consideration and a concern.

The web I have woven around this town is still incomplete. Some vampires stand on tradition, and tradition says that a Lord or a Lady must show off their strength, their potency, their absoluteness. A concubine is one way of doing it. The one way most of the rulers seem to prefer.

Now I have one, a person to flaunt my status with, a person who will stand there like a prized possession, a beautiful and alive sculpture existing just for me. A load of bullshit if you ask me, though, something others find quite convincing.

Now I can--no, we can resume with my plan.

"Asuka."

After my call, she appears to my side, one knee encased into the black rug as she kneels and her eyes are respectfully tilted to the floor. She obviously expects punishment for her drama act, but that isn't the first thing on my mind.

"How are the preparations for the Introduction Ball coming?"

Quite startled, Asuka raises her head, dark eyes wider a notch as they fill with surprise and questions.

"We made sure all the final preparations can be finished in a week and stopped at that point as per your wishes, my Lord."

"Good. Continue preparations and in two weeks' time we'll hold it here."

Asuka seems to want to ask something but I beat her to it.

"I'm putting you in charge." It's a request she can't refuse. And she would have refused if I didn't make it so. "Arrange everything, use anything, include anyone, I don't care. Just make it happen." I pause in my speech before delivering the most important part having what has usually been deemed as the wicked smile. "I want it to be a blast."

Asuka bows her head once more. "Of course, my Lord," she agrees and then she disappears into the hallway.

I feel her energy shimmering somewhere in the compound, excitement and resignation both vibrating, quite a contrast to Shawna's cool and dreadful signature coming closer to the throne chamber. I'm quite eager to hear what she thinks about the note I left her.

The voices are muffled because of the silencing magic, however, I hear them just fine: Skip's words with which he is attempting to sound void of emotion and Shawna's ones delivered almost as a screech.

The door opens with a bang.

"--stop following me," she practically screams into Skip's face as he walks alongside her stomping, while his expression shows such profound annoyance it's almost too amusing to watch.

"Mistress, I ask of you not to yell while in the presence of the Lord."

"Oh, fuck off!" she spats and turns her penetrative stare in my direction. Her brown eyes are flashing thunder as she stares, but then, when they meet mine it's like some of the fight goes out, her body stiffening under my considering gaze. That angry lith is still there, like an invite, and I feel a resolute excitement resonating in my blood.

My, my. What a stingy reaction.

"What's with that concubine training?" she asks with just a barely trembling voice, yet enough for my ears to discern.

Ah, there it is. I knew she would have an interesting reaction.

"What, no hello?" I ask, putting a hand over my chest in mock insult.

Her nose twitches.

"Yeah. Hello." The words rush out, just as fake as my fit of pique. "Now, please answer my question."

That's different. I'm not really sure, but I think she's hungry and it's making her irritable, which actually works in my favor. At least, for what I have in plan next and that makes me grin which causes another violent twitch in her posture.

My magic flares in a certain pattern, summoning the nearest servant to my side. Angus arrives without much fanfare, sliding the door open and walking leisurely to their side. The servants' garbs are black with white seams, similar to guards' robes, and consist of a fitting button-down shirt, snug trousers, and boots to complete assembly.

I see the exact moment when Shawna realizes Angus is human, her nose flairs with a deep breath audible to me, and then her right hand clenches into a fist.

Angus patiently waits for orders even though his blue eyes watch the potential danger on his left.

"Bring some nutritional refreshments for the Mistress," I order, waving a hand in Shawna's direction.

Almost unnoticeable jerk passes through his composure, but what really stands out is the slight widening of his deeply settled eyes, followed by a slight tic of a strong brow, easily visible with his dark red hair pulled into a tight bun on the nape of his neck.

Ah, it wasn't a slip of my tongue when I titled Shawna 'Mistress'.

"Of course, my Lord," he says and then he's off to bring the blood, and I know that the rumors of a concubine will start circulating the household tonight. Honestly, it makes my blood shimmer with even more excitement.

"Mistress?"

From the frown I see on her face, I don't think I should've heard that. I let my fangs drop out in the representation of a smile. She twitches again.

"Why, yes," I answer with mirth. "The concubine holds the title as the Mistress of the household."

There's faint desperation swimming in the pools of her brown eyes as her expression changes from scared to annoyed, then resigned.

She sighs before asking, "What does it mean for me?"

Good girl, you learn so fast.

"You will stay here, in a room we provide for you and will attend the Introduction Ball which will be held for you," I explain. "Whatever you may need, tell someone and we will provide it. Anything else will be discussed at a later date."

That desperate glint turns darker with each word I utter. She is silent for almost a minute before I feel her magic swish around and a wave of anger floods out.

"I will not be branded like cattle!" she spats out with a steely expression.

I blink. And then I blink again. I'm aware my silence is making her tremble, but I have no idea how to answer that, not yet. Branded, she says... Ah, that was that scar on Lucius' minions. Probably something he'd tried to put on her that time when she nearly scalped him bald. Oh, this is even better than I have expected. And it opens interesting possibilities.

"I won't brand you," I say and give her a shallow nod.

She seems to be drinking my words just like a parched traveler would delight at the fresh water. The dimmed lights in her eyes slowly trickle back to their normal shine. And I don't smile, but it's a near thing because she just fell into my carefully laid trap.

I'm quite devious, aren't I? To let her hear what she wants to hear the most.