Reign of the Vampires Read Online Free PDF

in every direction. Ancient tapestries adorned the walls, depicting battle scenes from long ago.
    Danika took a step into the wide entrance hall. She strolled from tapestry to tapestry, studying each in turn. The needlework on them was most exquisite. Each scene illustrated a champion’s victory in battle. The victors were slightly different, but their features were similar; each had the same flowing blond hair and green eyes. It was obvious they were of Nordic descent, and the slight changes in armor heralded the time periods in which they’d lived.
    A human female shuffled toward her and curtsied. The girl was pretty, for a human. Her brown straight hair pulled up into a ponytail, accented her tanned skin and brown eyes. Thin, almost as tall as Danika herself, the girl wore simple, neat clothing. Clive was fair and took care of his slaves. The same could not be said for some society members, unfortunately.
    “I’m Jenny.” The girl’s voice shook. “My master is with the other humans and asked me to bring you down when you are ready. I have a drink—”
    “No thank you, I’d like to move this along.” The truth was the longer she stood in the auction house, the less she wanted to be there. Out of the corner of her eye, Xenock’s image lounged against a wall.
    “Yes, of course, mistress.” Jenny curtsied again. “This way, please.” Jenny shuffled to the back of the marble staircase and pulled open a metal door. On the other side was a second, secured metal door with an electronic lock. She punched the code into the number pad, and the door swung open.
    Danika descended cement stairs into an underground hallway. There was nothing in the barren grayness but a door, with yet another keypad. This time, the keypad opened and Jenny put her hand inside a small box mounted in the wall. Danika heard a click, and then was hit by the smell of blood. Her gums throbbed where her teeth threatened to burst through. Attacking another Vampire’s slave would be a costly mistake. Someone as connected as Danika would not be punished too terribly, except monetarily. But it was taboo.
    “Lord?” The girl sucked on her fingertip.
    “Let’s keep going.” Danika’s voice was hoarse.
    Jenny led Danika down a short hall that opened into an underground quad. Inside, cages lined all four walls. Six cells on each side, facing inward. The floor and twelve-foot-high walls were solid cement; everything smelled of bleach and soap. Water still trickled down the grate in the center of the floor.
    Clive strode to Danika with his arms open and a smile on his face revealing his ever-extended fangs. He was average for a male vampyr, only about six foot. His pale blue, almost white eyes sparkled with mischief. Long golden hair flowed down his back.
    The family resemblance between Clive and the tapestries upstairs was unmistakable, except for the eyes. He could easily be a half-breed vampyr—the son of a royal Vampire and human—instead of a bitten vampyr.
    “Lord Danika.” Clive grasped her hands, bowing. “I’m so pleased that you could visit this evening. Come, let me show you around.” He offered her his arm. She didn’t need it, of course. She was more than capable of walking around herself, but she let him lead anyway. She slid her hand onto his arm, as a queen might have years earlier. “Shall we start with the females?”
    “I prefer a male.”
    “Yes, of course.” His eyes glinted.
    He walked her to the first cell. The human inside was as tall as Clive. When Danika stepped to the cell bars, he stood and moved to the middle of the cell for her inspection.
    She glanced at the name and photo hanging from the cell: “Whitey.” He wore glasses that didn’t fit well, and his sandy blond hair stuck out in all directions. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, and he chewed on his bottom lip. He reminded her of a cornered rabbit, and looked as if the very wind would scare him to death. She smiled in an effort to reassure