Chapter 5

• A week later.
• It was morning again, time for all the Masters and pets to have breakfast. Alac walked down to join without Annabel, she had been too tired to crawl down and had begged to stay back.
• ' I don't care if you are weak, all I know is I feed on you everyday and any time I please.' He had said and walked out.
• Annabel had been shaken by his words and started to curse her luck for running out on her this time.
• If he feeds on me everyday, I will definitely be dead in no time.
• She thought.
• ' She is not joining today?.' Mackie said, worried about what could have happened to Annabel. Alac was known for getting his pets killed one way or another.
• ' It, not she and yes my pet is too tired to join for breakfast.' Alac said sounding monster like.
• ' This is the fifth time she I mean it is missing breakfast in a row. Do you have anything to tell us Alac.' Mackie said, scared that the poor girl could be dead.
• Poor Anny! The poor girl didn't deserve this cruel monster as a Master.
• ' I owe no one no explanation, it is my pet and I can do anyhow it is that I please with it.'
• ' I know it is yours but have some compassion and treat the poor pet well. She could.......'
• ' And why are you so bothered? Why are you suddenly concerned for a pet? I repeat that it is my pet and I can kill her or burn if I want to.' He sounded mean and heartless but he knew deep inside this wasn't really him. His real face had gone into hiding seven years ago after the dreadful incident. He vowed to never be soft and gullible not to anyone or anything again.
• ' It's just that...." His words trailed off.
• Its just that I care about her.
• He thought.
• All through the whole argument, Malburt Mac refused to utter a word. He pretended to be engrossed in his meal and watched from his side eye.
• ' I see no reason why you boys would decide to disrespect me while I am still on sit.'' Master finally said then raised his head up, " I believe I trained you both better. I may not be your biological father Mackie but you grew up in my hands. I trained you to be a better man and you Alac, I believe you know your pet the best. I gave it to you before I knew you needed one. Treat it as you please. No more fight about a pet okay, we are family.'
• ' Okay Father.' They said in unison.
• ' Take breakfast to her.' Master ordered Number 2, she was his favourite for being able execute errands well. Number 2 crawled into the kitchen and dished hers from the pet's pot. They had Werewolves whose duty was to come cook and Master paid them off though the pets had to dish it when time was due. She hadn't seen her in weeks, non spoke to her in months.
• How she missed her little nosy kid.
• She missed how Number 6 would always ask questions, always play with her hair and the warmth her words came with.
• She landed a soft tap on the door then pushed it open. She stood freezed at that one spot. The scene she saw was one she never thought she would see in her days.
• Oh! Bless my sight. I can't look at this.
• No one, not even the devil deserved a Master like that especially not her sweet little girl.
• Annabel was laying on the bare ground with her skin turning white and pale. The wounds from the feed, all visible on her neck. It could be up to seven or more, she had lost count.
• She had never seen her little girl who was once full of life and vibrant, this helpless. Annabel had not noticed anyone come in, she was too weak to open her eyes.
• ' Sit up my child.' Number 2 said and held her in her arms, trying to help her up. She did sit up like one who had lost her powers to the devil or even a blood sucking monster.
• ' Ma....mi....to.' She said sluggishly even without opening her eyes and let herself fall into her arms. It had being a long time since she had felt this warmth and kindness and wished it would never stop.
• ' It is I, my child. Eat something and I brought you some boosters." She dragged the tray closer. She knew she had to feed Annabel back to herself. " Take, dear one, open your mouth.'
• Annabel responded and drifted her lips apart slowly, taking in the substance and painfully swallowing them.
• Her neck hurt, every part of her did.
• ' He feeds on me thrice a day, Mamito.' She found her strength and said, still weak but better.
• ' Oh my poor child! This is brutal but just hang in there and you will be fine. I wonder what went wrong with Master Alac, he used to be so kind and compassionate. Just hold on my child, I believe there is still some of his compassion left. He is still the man he used to be.' She said trying to console her. She knew the incident had changed that man whom used to be full of love and positivity but knew deep inside that there were still some of that man left.
• The door pushed open and Alac walked in, frowning at how close they were.
• ' Step out, she can feed herself. I will call you when you need to clean them.' He looked at Number 2 angrily, she had witnessed everything, witnessed all his tears and pains but not anymore. That man she thought was still alive died the moment it died.
• Number 2 crawled out of the door and threw another glance at Anny.
• ' Be strong my child.' She whispered so silently that even the waves could not hear.
• ' Eat up and stop acting like a whimp.' He said and walked to his bed, laying down and ignoring her presence.
• ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
• That night she found herself in her peace zone, on the beach. She knew it was dream but felt safe that she had somewhere else to be, away from the Monster. She listened to the silent sound of the wave, the waters going back and forth.
• How she missed her freedom.
• She thought.
• A hand landed softly on her back and she turned. It was Mackie, it had been almost two months he showed up in her dream.
• ' Mackie but I never thought of you.' She was confused he showed up even though he hadn't crossed her mind in weeks.
• ' I know Anny. I came on my own, I had to check if you were okay. I was scared you were dead.' He held her close in a hug.
• ' But I...... Is this real? Are we real?.' She asked and made Mackie laugh.
• ' Of course we are Anny. I am so sorry you had to end up with Alac and I am sorry that you had to go through all that but believe me, Alac is a good guy. He just needs to reconnect with his old self so just give him time.' He assured her.
• ' Till when Mackie, till when do I do this? I have become a shadow of myself, separated from my kind. She fell into his strong arms and sobbed while he patted her back gently.
• ' Pour it all out my love.'
• She cried for some minutes then wiped her tears with the back of her left palm. Lifting her eyes, she looked into his eyes and saw love, love from a werewolf.
• He loved her?.
• She couldn't believe it, found it hard to believe.
• ' This is all just a dream Mackie, you even barely look at me when we are together.' She said and drifted back, positioning herself well on the other end of the bench.
• ' I know so but I just wanted to be sure of my feelings, wanted to be clear that I loved you. I love you Anny, I really do and I am willing to take this risk for you.'
• Her eyes opened wide.
• How easily he said he loved her but how unreal the dream felt to her.
• It's all a dream Anny, don't get your hopes up.
• The tiny little voice said.
• ' Close your eyes Anny." He said and she did as instructed. He lifted her hair from her back to the left hand of her neck and placed it on her neck. " You can open it now, Anny.'
• She stared at the necklace on her neck, the string made of wool, black wool while the pendant was in shape of love, only broken.
• ' Thank you for the pendant, I like it, its beautiful. But can I ask why it is broken?' She asked curiously.
• He took a deep breath, ' Well, this used to be love or an heart but since we share the same heart now. This is yours and this is mine." He brought out his and showed it to her. " Always have this on Anny, every time and any time and so will I. Any day you think of me or want to pass a message across, I will be able to read your thoughts even from afar and anytime I think about about you or miss you, you will be able to read mine. This is our heart Anny and it is connected. I love you Anny, so much.'
• ' I love you too.' She whispered.
• She woke up cold.
• Was she cold from sleeping on the cold floor or cold from spending too long on the beach?.
• The dream, everything felt so real.
• Mackie came,he showed up in my dream and and....
• She remembered the necklace he had given her and touched her neck. Lo and behold her once empty neck now had a necklace sitting beautifully on it.
• Was this real? Was it real? The dream?
• Yes it was, Anny.
• The tiny voice said and Anny smiled at the fact that for once the voice said just what she needed to hear.
• ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
• He was baffled by the Monster he had become, how inhumane he was now.
• How he wished things were like they used to be before? Like he used to be before?.
• Ever since he got back into this house, the painful memories he had tried to forget came rushing in. It was this same house, this same room that everything happened. Everything that took away his sanity and burnt his heart into ashes. This days he barely recognized himself, barely knew himself.
• He stared at his pet where she laid down still weak but better and dreaded what he had become.
• Did I really do this to her?.
• He asked himself, hoping to hear a no.
• Her skin looked dry and pale compared to how healthy she had being when he got her.
• I am a monster.
• He just couldn't help it, couldn't help himself from craving for more. Lately his crave for human blood increased, double the way he used to before. That was his way of letting it all out, his anger and guilt. The more he fed on her, the more angry he got but he still would not stop. Feeding on her made him feel relaxed and angry all at once.
• I caused it. It was all me.
• He could have said no, made a wise decision but no, he had let circumstance get the best of him.
• No! Leave me.
• He said to the little man inside him trying to get out.
• I just can't let you out. No more guilt.