Master of Mine

*Frank*
The nurse looked over my knee carefully and tutted at the lack of care done for it. She was a human thankfully and understood the woes of our kind. An elderly one though, so it was probably because she was too old to have children or work anywhere else. Still though, she was kind.
Pulling out a brace for it and some crutches, she sent me on my way with a smile. Not before slipping a bottle of pain medication into my hand however. I took it in surprise, she was way too nice.
She saw my amazement and looked at me in sympathy, "Honey, you need all the hope you can get. I just pray your master doesn't put you in this condition again. God knows that we humans try our best in the circumstances we're in."
I nearly had tears in my eyes at her sympathetic words. Thanking her profusely, I headed out into the hallway. Hopefully, my new servitude under Gerard wouldn't be as hazardous to my health. Maneuvering down the stairs with crutches was tricky, but I made it to the Drawing classroom right before the bell rang.
Dunking out of the way of the vampires that trickled out, I waited for my new master to appear. After five minutes, I still hadn't seen him. Derek usually wanted me to carry his books and would immediately find me so he didn't have to haul the load. That didn't mean that Gerard was the same, but I was confused as to what I should do.
Plus, I was getting curious as to his whereabouts. Leaning in slightly, I tilted my head so I could look in and saw him talking to the teacher. He was holding up a piece of paper to her, which no doubt held a work of art on it.
"This is a magnificent piece. Is this your mate?", she praised him. He ducked his head with a small blush and shook his head. That struck me as odd. Since when did vampires blush, let alone act all shy and submissive. He must think very highly of this woman, especially considering his position in their ranks.
"Well, whoever it is, you certainly captured them beautifully." She took the drawing from him for grading with cautious hands, and he turned to see me in the doorway. The teacher also glanced over, caught me looking in, and gave me a large smile. "So this must be the vampire that took your interest!"
I looked at Gerard in confusion. Was this lady delusional?
I shook my head slowly at her. "No ma'am, I'm waiting for my master. I'm a human and I apologize for interrupting your conversation." I didn't want to start out on the wrong foot, but by the glare that Gerard sent me, I had. Shit.
The teacher had a strange look on her face as she glanced between Gerard and I. "It's quite alright, Gerard was just handing in his drawing. I'm sure he didn't mean to keep you waiting. Both of you should get going to your classes."
She waved her hand in a dismissal and Gerard quickly strode over to me, grabbed my upper arm, and practically dragged me out of there. Once we were in the hallway, he pushed me up against the wall of lockers, my crutches banging off the tiled floor as my hands instinctively closed on his wrists in fear. His hands were clutching my shoulder like talons. Inwardly I hunched down, scared that the worst was about to happen.
"You will wait for me, no matter how long I take, got it? And don't ever come looking for me.", he growled into my face quietly. Cold displeasure pierced me through his eyes. "No wonder Kingsley treated you so roughly."
He gave me one last push into the wall with those words and stepped away. I slide down the wall in emotional turmoil, not believing that he hadn't hit me. I could feel my heart beating wildly and my body was shaking. He hadn't stuck me, but his words were just as hurtful. This Master of mine could affect me in ways that Derek never could. And all of the events that had happened today had gone so fast that I hadn't even been able to process them fully. I felt tears prickling at the corners of my eyes at the frustration, confusion, anger, and disappointment. Disappointment at making Gerard angry with me. Which confused me further since disobeying vampires had usually been in my nature. What the hell was my mind thinking?
Unbeknownst to me, Gerard had been looking down at me with a hard stare until it finally softened. I don't know whether he pitied me or something, but I jumped when he knelt down and helped me up. His hand was soft as he pulled me upright. Once I was on my feet, he gathered my crutches and handed them to me. I took them with a shaking hand because of his unexpected kindness.
"I'm not a harsh master Frank, but I expect to be treated with respect. Just do as I say, and I will never hurt you okay?", he murmured, putting his hand on my head and patting it. I didn't say anything and just stood there, stunned as I felt his hand on my head. He wasn't harming me, in fact, he was comforting me. A hand that should have been violent upon my head, was actually combing through my hair in a soft manner.
Another hand lifted my chin and made me look at him. "Okay?", he asked, golden eyes pinning mine down again.
I nodded stiffly and he gave me a small grin before rubbing my shoulder, fingerlings making circles in the muscle.
"Alright then. Now that we have an understanding, you should head off to class. My last one is Art History. Meet me there at the end of the day." He gave me one last smile and walked off.
It seemed like him leaving me standing in the hallway with a dumbfounded look was becoming the normal thing.

Notes