Blood Match

Chapter 15: Master's Payment

⚠️ Content Warning:
This chapter contains references to predatory behavior, psychological horror, and death. While explicit content has been revised for platform standards, reader discretion is advised.

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The walk back to his apartment was quick, his heart pounding and his imagination running wild over what the Master had left as payment for his service.

He knew that his Master was powerful, and that the rules which governed other vampires did not apply to him. He was grateful to have found his Master—grateful to live outside the tiresome boundaries humans had negotiated to feel safe. It was all an illusion, really. The powerful still did what they pleased, and mortals were none the wiser.

He opened his apartment door and the scent hit him immediately—honeysuckle and jasmine, sensual yet understated. As he stepped inside and shut the door, he looked toward the darkened living room. There she was, visible to his eyes through the soft haze of body heat, her infrared signature glowing like a flame in the dark.

She was young—just eighteen, if he interpreted the scent correctly. Her blood was spiked with adrenaline, heightening her natural perfume. It was intoxicating.

He felt himself stir with anticipation, the tension building in his body. How he longed to take his time—to draw it out, savoring every reaction, every shiver, as he pushed her to the edge again and again. He imagined the pleasure mingling with pain, the delicate balance of surrender and survival. But he knew he couldn’t linger. Hunger had no patience, and there was no time to play with his food. The rest—his darker cravings—would have to wait until later, when he could relive the moment in private and indulge the memory in full.

As Leo walked into the gallery, he could sense a shift in the air. Typically laid-back and unassuming, Joseph now radiated an intensity that set customers on edge. Kara worked diligently to maintain a calm atmosphere, smiling and helping visitors as if nothing was wrong.

Leo went straight to Joseph and pulled him aside.

“Rein it in, old son. Tell me what happened.”

“We had a visitor—a vampire. He came into the gallery looking for a donor and grabbed Kara. Liam confronted him. I got here just in time to stop things from escalating. I don’t think he’ll come back, but I’m angry with myself for letting him get so close.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. No one was hurt. You did your job.” Leo placed a hand on Joseph’s shoulder. “I chose you because I knew you would protect them with all that you are—and you didn’t let me down.”

Joseph nodded, taking a deep breath as the tension began to leave his body.

Leo smiled. “Better?”

“Better. Thank you, Leo.” Joseph returned the smile. “It’s been a hundred years, and you can still calm me when nothing else can.”

Leo chuckled. “You still have the temper of a newborn. I remember the day Maria sent word and begged me to come. You were a rebellious brat as a human—and still one after your turning. She loved you, but knew you needed a stronger hand.”

“I was a brat,” Joseph admitted with a smile. “You showed up, grabbed me by the scruff, looked me dead in the eye, and told me things were about to change—and if I didn’t see it your way, life was going to hurt. I was so scared I pissed myself. You stayed with Maria for a couple of months, then took me with you. You were tough. Some of your lessons hurt. But you treated me with respect. You gave me love. You were more of a father to me than the man who gave me life.”

“You’d been abandoned by everyone who should’ve loved you. I needed you to know that nothing you could do would change my love. And once you knew that, you settled. You became a fine man. I’m proud to call you friend.”

“You’re more than a friend, Leo. I consider you my father.”

Leo smiled and patted his cheek. “I love you too, old son.”

Joseph returned to the front, restored to his usual self. Leo went to the back office, where he found Liam sitting at his desk with his eyes closed. He opened them and rose when Leo entered, wrapping his arms around him.

Leo could feel him trembling.

“I hear you had a bit of excitement,” Leo said, stroking his back.

“It was scary, but Joseph was amazing. Kara was brave—she stayed calm through the whole thing. Your lessons on recognizing vampire states really helped. Thank you.”

Leo held him close. “I’m glad the training helped. But I’ll be spending more time here from now on. This can’t happen again. Besides, we need to finalize the last few details for our holiday celebrations. Here—take a look at this.”

Leo handed him a gold-embossed envelope.

“What is it?” Liam asked.

“Open it.”