1. Vampire owners and humans.

The New Invictus City 3199, present

Ocean

Though the street hadn't heard laughter for a while, there were still the streetlamps, stubbornly shining into the night. The road itself had that well-loved appearance; the traffic of decades having passed over it. This was a street where real life had been, the turning of skipping ropes and shrieks of children. And then, the memories, reality, and dreams of so many collapsed. The times- they change along with a new power raising. It was hard to believe that not even a soul who had witnessed the former splendour of the beautiful city was around to talk about it. Most of the humans who live there must spend their days locked up in owner-issued chambers or avoid being caught on the streets. If anyone thinks Varden is a terrible man, they should pray they never encounter the guards.

The sole of my worn heel slips in the puddle, the squeaking sound is soon followed by a low curse as I register what is seeping from the drains. The metallic stench rises to my nostrils, my face scrunches up in disgust, all I can do is hold my nose and hurry away from the scene. Sometimes I can't help but wonder why so much value is placed on blood when it is so wastefully squandered. Why do they fill the drains with the liquid that others fight over? Is it a form of revenge or a rebel wanting to spite someone? Then, I remember that no human should be caught in a situation like this, especially not a collared one. For a brief second, the sound of my heels on the pavement is the only sign of life.

I nearly jump when the Warden's deep, raspy voice echoes through the dead streets as he makes his planned announcement over the street loudspeakers. "Uncollared humans, under rank nine, aged from seven to twenty-nine years, are to follow the guards to the blood bank for their weekly donations. Collared humans, ranked eleven to fifty-five, are to gather in front of the Invictus building. Further instructions shall be presented by the owners. Remember, a satisfied owner is a generous owner. Follow the new order, dote the supremacy of caretakers." As the announcement ends, hundreds of forlorn, almost lifeless-looking mortal bodies flood the streets and make their way through the crowd. I hurriedly hide my face under a hood and pause for a moment.

Doubt fills my mind – I am not allowed to have free will or a mind of my own. Yet, my so-called owner is nowhere near, so I should have the right to stop and rest for a moment.

As if on cue, the collar around my neck sends an electric shock down my spine, reminding me where I belong. My muscles clench in pain, nearly me to my knees as Count Vladimir enjoys his victory with a remote control in hand. As the pain intensifies, I fear the worst scenario - he nearby, hiding in the shadows, watching me disobey him.

It would be nothing new, though a vampire, Vladimir loves to act like a dirty rat, creeping through the old streets in search of his property. But why would he? Hadn't he sent me to the shop with a written note to deliver some of his necessities? I followed his instructions, not daring to contradict the vampire for a moment. The scars adorning my body are enough to remind me to swallow my pride and follow the new order.

"What's the hurry, my bunny?" Vladimir's raspy voice echoes off the old, empty buildings and sends another wave of shivers down my spine. But instead of an electric shock, I feel nothing but revulsion and fear of the undead. No human can hear his footsteps, but sometimes Vladimir walks like the living creatures to seed more fear in his possession. He said I've been difficult; my resistance and free will angered him. I have enough scars, the more added, the less my value would become, and I'm supposed to be an investment, not a throat he can leave by his side. Vladimir claims that he tried to keep his hands off me because humans are fragile - any blow can be fatal. Of course, it didn't matter how hard he tried to stay away; he claims that my audacious nature brought out the worst in him, and now I have to live with the consequences marked all over my body. I'm the most valuable in his collection, but Vladimir keeps repeating that sooner or later, he should get rid of all women.

I cast my head down and try to hide the fear I feel, or at least attempt the impossible. But what could I do? The vampire is a natural predator, following the warmth of blood and heartbeat. Vladimir can sense the terror; he follows the familiar heartbeat and the sound of blood coursing through my body. Sometimes I wish the shifters would have caught me; after all, they are said to let their humans run free, live their lives with a smile on their lips. Here, in the city of the undead, they would find nothing but despair and misery. My voice cracks as I remember that the vampire is waiting for an answer. Nodding my head or giving him any kind of body gesture doesn't work; the Count demands words. "I... am not... in a hurry, my Count."

A low chuckle leaves him before an ice-cold hand strokes my cheek. Startled, I jump back and gasp as my back collides with Vladimir's firm chest. His hands wrap around my torso like venomous snakes, holding me captive. Even though my instincts scream to break free, I know better than that. "Stop it, my bunny, don't be afraid of me; I wouldn't hurt you for as long as you're a good little slave." His whisper sends more shivers down my spine; whenever the owner seems to be kind, he has the worst intentions. Vladimir's lips graze my ear; he guides them down to the crook of my neck, igniting panic within my whole being.

"My... My Count, I am not of age." I grab on the last resort I have and remind the owner of the odds against him.

He cannot blindly disregard the laws written by his own kind, especially the rules he would follow as a so-called caregiver.

Most humans would laugh at the term; there is nothing caring about vampires other than their lust for blood and warm bodies surrounding them. Vampires know and want nothing. Humans have no right of choice or future when living among vampires, but the immortal would remind everyone how they save humanity and make everything better than the world knew before they took it over. Vladimir is an influential and powerful vampire, but he is nowhere near those who rule over him. Of course, he wouldn't admit that while surrounded by humans - to them, he must be higher than God. If any of his collared humans ever dared to doubt his authority, he had every right to take them to the blood bank and donate every drop last of their blood. That would be a slow but easy exit. There were far worse punishments Count Vladimir could choose.

Vladimir lets go of my body, but not without a demonstration of his rage. The cold hand that caressed my face a moment ago now clings to my upper arm, immobilizing me. Vladimir is a man without self-control; I have yet to see an undead man resist him, let alone a human. No sane being would resist his will or his wishes, but I did, for that, I must face a punishment of his choosing. My back slams against the brick wall, a sound of breaking bones filling the narrow street. As the owner, he has the right to treat me as he sees fit; inflicting physical damage upon property is common.

"I forbid you from getting close to the Invictus building, disobedient whore! Get back to the club; you will dance tonight! And don't think of playing tricks on me. Tonight's audience might save your life, that is, if you behave." His voice sounds too distant to catch the words. It's not the first time he has acted aggressively, leaving scars and breaking bones, but I have no right to protest.

I let my body slump; it is not as if anyone would dare touch a collared human. Even the starving would never approach me - only the richest and most powerful can collar someone of their choosing. And Vladimir is known as one of the higher vampires, so if someone noticed his house logo on my collar, they would get as far away as possible.

To some, my life might seem miserable since I have no right to decide for myself, act on pure instinct, or even think, but I know that the thoughts of others are nothing but misapprehension. There are many humans outside the walls, fighting for survival each day, chased after like wild animals. For some reason, they think that living in fear and constant movement is better than what humans have under the dome.

The New Invictus City was built by a bunch of Royal Vampires claiming they were going to change the world and make it better. Invictus means "unconquerable" or "undefeated," and the Vampires are especially proud of that. Ironically, their city is hidden, protected by high walls - shielded from everyone. They haven't changed much about the old city - the first change they brought was the dome over the buildings to shield themselves from the sunlight. The people who live in the city have no idea what the sun looks like. I often dream and think about what life would be like out there. Would freedom bring true happiness or rather dreary, sleepless nights? I know that the wildlife is not for me, but that doesn't stop me from daydreaming. Would I ever bring another human being into this world for fear that some of these creatures might steal my child and bring it into their lair? I don't know anything other than my life among the vampires for the past two years. The things that happened before I was bought by Vladimir are buried deep in my mind. Besides, it's not like my past matters anymore - I have to stay here, bowing for vampires and playing the part of a perfect, obedient slave. Slave or not, perhaps the wind playing in my hair could be the most beautiful feeling to experience?

And the sun - the warm, inviting star that could transform my skin tone from lifeless white to the most wonderful, mouth-watering tones of browns. Freckles, would I have the little sun-kissed spots on my skin if I were directly exposed to it? My mind was clouded with images of what nature might look like outside the dome - the green grass I read about in the books. The tall, majestic trees would tower dozens of feet above my head. The flowers that I knew there were so many kinds of, in all sorts of colours - how would one feel if they got to witness the sight right before their eyes for the first time?

I am one of the unfortunate five bought in action by Count Vladimir himself. In the last two years, we lost one girl because she had the misfortune to come of age just weeks before Vladimir bought us. While we were thrown into so-called rooms, Belle was taken to Vladimir's chambers, but she never left. Perhaps she did, but in that case, someone carried her lifeless body out of there. The other girls were not allowed to see this or say goodbye to their friend.

I know that her owner doesn't care for our health or well-being. Moreover, I have the misfortune of ending up at the top of the rankings. The Count had to invest a lot of money for me to end up in his house. I could still remember the auction, especially the words of one guard Vampire - after the rank test, he promised that not one of those men had enough money to buy a human ranked fifty-five. Sadly, I believed his words and met my new owner hours after the auction ended. I will reach the age in two weeks, whereas the other girls would reach it within months. By the time his next victim was ready to be picked by him like fruit, I will be long gone and forgotten.

The collar around my neck sent another electric shock to my body and forced me back on my feet. Holding onto the ribs, I silently implore for a quick death as my feet bring me towards the nightclub. Tonight, I will dance in front of Vladimir's friends, even if I must bleed out on that stage. The Count is more than happy to show off his girls, especially to the high councilors of Invictus. No other man in the City of the Undead had as many and as high-ranked women as Vladimir. They are his greatest possession, another reason to flaunt the wealth and power a Vampire could possess.

The Count needed us more than we would ever need him, but it didn't stop the vile creature from torturing us. After all, we are nothing but a piece of property, destined to die.