From Slavery to Freedom

By T.A. Chase

Can a caged human learn how to be free, and break down the bars imprisoning a demon's heart?

Malachi has spent centuries as the bodyguard and head security guard for Andor, a master vampire. He's never concerned himself with the humans around him, seeing them as lesser creatures. It isn't until Andor falls in love with a human, that Malachi begins to see some value in them.

Since he was fifteen, Doll has lived in a cage, being used and beaten by humans and vampires alike. Some days, he's not even sure he's sane any more, but some hidden strength keeps him going on instead of begging for death.

One fateful night, Doll and Malachi cross paths, and it changes their lives forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Jul 23, 2012
• ISBN: 9781781840474

T.A. Chase

There is beauty in every kind of love, so why not live a life without boundaries? Experiencing everything the world offers fascinates TA and writing about the things that make each of us unique is how she shares those insights. When not writing, TA's watching movies, reading and living life to the fullest.

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A Total-E-Bound Publication

www.total-e-bound.com

From Slavery to Freedom

ISBN # 978-1-78184-047-4

©Copyright T.A. Chase 2012

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright July 2012

Edited by Rebecca Douglas

Total-E-Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2012 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, United Kingdom.

Warning:

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Total-e-sizzling and a sexometer of 2.

This story contains 116 pages, additionally there is also a free excerpt at the end of the book containing 12 pages.

FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM

T.A. Chase

Can a caged human learn how to be free, and break down the bars imprisoning a demon’s heart?

Malachi has spent centuries as the bodyguard and head security guard for Andor, a master vampire. He’s never concerned himself with the humans around him, seeing them as lesser creatures. It isn’t until Andor falls in love with a human that Malachi begins to see some value in them.

Since he was fifteen, Doll has lived in a cage, being used and beaten by humans and vampires alike. Some days, he’s not even sure he’s sane any more, but some hidden strength keeps him going on instead of begging for death.

One fateful night, Doll and Malachi cross paths, and it changes their lives forever.

Dedication

To my editor, who told me she was looking forward to reading Malachi’s story. This is for you and for all my readers who stick by me, and love my stories.

Chapter One

Flashing lights and the pounding beat of music drove the humans in unusual rhythms called dancing. At least, Master Sven had told Malachi that that was what the humans called it. Malachi would call it strange and rather perplexing, if he were to ever really think about it. More often than not, Malachi ignored any human he might come into contact with, unless it was Master Sven, or someone who threatened the man he worked for. If that happened, he dealt with them swiftly and in deadly fashion.

Malachi.

He turned to see Master Andor approaching him. The way Andor moved through the crowd belied the fact that he was pretty much blind, and could only see the faintest differences between black and grey. Bowing slightly, he waited until Andor stood next to him before he straightened and spoke.

Everything appears fine, Master. There are far more people than I would like, but I believe my men can deal with any trouble, should it become necessary.

Andor, the most powerful master vampire on the West Coast, nodded. I wouldn’t expect Wilton to try anything. He knows I could crush him with a thought.

Malachi kept his gaze moving. His demon senses gave him abilities even vampires didn’t have—like sensing evil intent and thoughts—but just because he had them didn’t mean he could relax. Having a master like Andor, who didn’t forgive mistakes easily, meant that Malachi had learnt to never make any. It was easier on his body, because Andor believed in corporal punishment, which usually meant flaying strips of skin from Malachi. Being a demon made it impossible for him to die, but he could still feel pain.

Andor, can I go dance?

Malachi hid his wince when Sven, Andor’s munr, spoke up. Sven was the only being in the world that the master vampire cared about, and being Andor’s munr, or heart, Sven tended to get what he wanted—usually. But something about the club and the meeting was putting Malachi on edge.

"Master, I would suggest keeping your munr close tonight. Master Wilton might not harm him, but I don’t trust the humans in this place." Malachi’s instincts told him something was wrong and he didn’t have time to check out what it was.

Andor seemed to study him for a moment, and though it was hard to tell when Andor wore darkly tinted sunglasses, Malachi knew he was reading his mood through the mental connection they had. The master vampire nodded.

Not tonight, Sven. Once we are back on my territory, you can go out dancing whenever you wish.

The human pouted for a second before shrugging. Okay. I know both you and Malachi have your reasons.

"The reason is you are my munr, and without you, I’d go back to the darkness I was falling into. I don’t want to go back there again. You are the centre of my world, Sven, and that makes you the most precious thing I own."

Sven narrowed his eyes, and Malachi knew Andor would pay for the ‘own’ comment. Yet, in vampire society, Andor did own Sven, and all the other humans in his herd. Outside Andor’s compound, no one knew that Andor didn’t drink from anyone except Sven. Over the year they’d been together, Andor had discovered he only had to drink once a month from Sven to survive. It kept Sven from being jealous, since Andor no longer drank from any of the herd. Maybe it showed a weakness in Andor, to settle for only one donor, but Malachi thought it had actually made Andor stronger. It had certainly helped him regain his strength, but his eyesight remained damaged beyond repair.

The club manager came up to them. Master Andor, it’s a pleasure to see you. Master Wilton wishes for you to join him in his private rooms.

Malachi shifted his weight slightly, putting his body between his master and the manager. There wasn’t much that could kill Andor, but it was Malachi’s job to take a bullet, figuratively or even literally speaking, as Andor’s bodyguard.

The manager paled. It wasn’t often demons walked among humans, and the mortal probably hadn’t seen one quite so up close and personal. Malachi didn’t even curl his lip to show his fangs. The human wasn’t going to cause any problems.

Take me to Wilton. I don’t like spending any more time than I need to away from my compound, Andor ordered the man, before offering his arm to Sven.

Malachi gestured for the other four bodyguards to surround Andor and Sven while he took point. If an assassination attempt was going to happen, they would have to go through Malachi first, and since he couldn’t die, it was idiotic to try it.

Their group cut a swathe through the crowd, pushing people aside like a tsunami wave. No one would dream of approaching a master vampire without his permission. To be honest, Andor was so powerful and old, he didn’t need Malachi around to keep him safe. Malachi was there to protect Sven, and to keep an eye on things while Andor slept each day.

The stench of human sweat filled Malachi’s nose and he resisted the need to sneeze. He hated how humans smelt as if their flesh was rotting slowly away, and how they didn’t realise they were dying second by second. He shot a quick glance at Sven, who walked quietly next to Andor, his eyes focused ahead of him.

Sven’s scent had been changing subtly over the year since he’d bonded with Andor. Maybe the stories of a munr living as long as their vampire were true. Malachi made a mental note to do some more research when he had a free moment. Being a demon didn’t mean that Malachi was stupid, or that he was only a killing machine. He’d just never had much use for humans, and demons didn’t spend time with others of their kind—they tended to be solitary beings.

The manager led them upstairs, and halfway down a hall to a red door. Malachi had already taken notice of the exits, and where he’d move Andor and Sven if he needed to get them out quickly. The human knocked on the door, and nervously cleared his throat.

Master Andor is here, Master Wilton.

Let the bastard come in then, Lester, a voice called from the other side of the door.

Yes, sir. Lester opened the door, then bowed, gesturing for Andor to step in.

Andor never entered a room unless Malachi had checked it out first. From the moment Malachi stepped in, his blood started to burn. Nothing about the situation felt good. He didn’t want Andor to come in there, and he especially didn’t want Sven in the room.

Looks like Andor doesn’t trust me, boys, Wilton quipped.

Malachi pinned the other vampire with his gaze. Master Andor has no reason to trust a scumbag vampire like you.

Wilton shot to his feet and flew at Malachi. Without even really thinking about it, Malachi grabbed Wilton by the throat and tossed him back onto the couch he’d been sitting on.

Show your betters more respect than that, Wilton, Andor commented as he strolled into the room. My bodyguards trust no one, and I even less than they do.

Wilton coughed, clearing his throat and glaring at Malachi. The demon wasn’t worried about Wilton. He might be a master vampire, but he was young compared to Andor, and if all of Andor’s punishments couldn’t hurt Malachi, he was certain no fledgeling would.

Andor took a seat in the room—commanding everyone’s attention—and Sven sat down next to him. Malachi stood to Andor’s right, hands behind his back and feet slightly spread, ready for anything Wilton might throw at him. The other guards formed a half circle around them, creating a wall to ensure that if there was an attack, it would come from the front.

Wilton glared at Malachi, who made sure contempt for the vampire showed in his eyes. Foolish creature, Malachi thought. Doesn’t he know what a demon looks like? Hasn’t anyone told him not to mess with a creature forged from the darkest bowels of Hell?

What sort of business offer do you have for me, Wilton? I don’t want to spend more time here than I have to, and if you continue to antagonise the head of my security detail, I’ll allow him to kill you.

Sven breathed in deep, and Malachi sensed something had caught the munr’s attention. Malachi turned his face away from Wilton, knowing Andor could take care of the younger vampire. He looked at Sven, and followed the human’s gaze to see what he was looking at. Whatever it was had horrified Sven to the extent he couldn’t hide his feelings.

Anger and disgust mingled in Sven’s eyes, and Malachi wondered what could bother him that much. Tilting his head slightly, Malachi spied—through a gap in the crowd of humans gathered around Wilton—a cage set in the corner of the room. Being a demon, Malachi’s eyesight was a hundred times better than any human’s.

His nostrils flared as the creature inside stirred, and when it lifted its head to meet his gaze, Malachi understood what had upset Sven. It was a human, not an animal, and it was male. What hair the male had hung in greasy curtains over his shoulders, though it looked like someone had ripped chunks of hair out in spots, for the human’s scalp showed, pink under the dim lights.

While the human in the cage looked filthy—and probably there was a layer of dirt covering him—most of the marks on his body were bruises, bites, and whip scars. The man was someone’s pet, whether he belonged to Wilton or one of Wilton’s human herd, Malachi didn’t know, and really didn’t care. It wasn’t any of his business what other creatures did to each other. He existed merely to keep Andor alive.

Yet the man lifted his head a few inches. He peered through the cascade of matted hair to meet Malachi’s gaze. His eyes were cornflower blue, shot through with gold streaks, and Malachi blinked, never having thought of anyone’s eyes in those colourful terms. Wildness played over the male’s face, and Malachi realised the man in the cage might not even be human any more.

He’d seen situations like this one before. People who got carried away, and thought they could treat other creatures liked they owned them. They’d beat and abuse them until all the humanity was removed, and only an animal was left to serve its master. Vampires tended to do it with their herds, seeing the mortals as cattle, living only to feed them blood and be a warm body to fuck if they needed.

Malachi understood how a sight such as that would upset Sven, yet it meant nothing to him. Over the centuries he’d been alive, he’d seen all the terrible things humans could do to each other, and the truly horrific things vampires could inflict on those they hated. None of it touched him.

He started to move his gaze away from the cage, but with a small tilt of the blond’s head, Malachi saw the crazed look ease from his eyes. Wounded pride and fierce strength filled the man’s face for a second, before it slipped away as a human kicked the cage, rattling it and managing to hit the man’s