by Mary Abshire
While I ate little bites of food, I thought about Drake. They hadn't destroyed him, but they did the next best thing. They'd starved him. He'd been gone a little over three years. I wondered if he'd been in that room the entire time. The thought of it gave rise to more heartache and anger. He'd served them loyally and been treated worse than the vampires they went after.
It must have taken me at least an hour to consume half of the chicken parmesan. Given the circumstances, I'd eaten more than I thought I could. Of course, my intestines were grumbling. After I set the tray on the table, I returned to my not so cozy bed. Since I didn't feel up to par to pace the room, I decided to nap.
As time passed, I was in and out of consciousness. The quietness of the room and floor hindered any deep sleep. My mind refused to shut down completely. Thoughts surfaced from my conversation with Nassar in the medical room. They wanted to study me because I was special. If Drake wouldn't have found me using my ability and Kuri wouldn't have blabbed his mouth to the VETOV, then I wouldn't have been in such poor conditions.
Hearing the snap from the door, I sat upright. A servant entered the room with a tray. I sensed he was human immediately since the room didn't chill.
"I brought you dinner," he said with a British accent. He set the food on the table, then collected the other tray.
"What time is it?" I rubbed my eyes, then pushed my hair back.
"Seven in the evening, miss." He paused near the open exit, holding the leftover food from earlier. "Would you like to relieve yourself?"
I almost chuckled. "I will later."
After he left, I moved the tray from the desk to the end of my bed. For dinner, the main dish contained a small steak, potatoes, and a vegetable medley. Rolls were on a side dish. I found it strange the vampires offered me such attractive meals when they could've simply served me soup. Similar to lunch, I picked small bites and took my time eating. When I'd grown tired of looking at the food, I set the tray, with a portion of steak left, on the table. Then, I returned to my bed. At some point, I dozed off.
I woke up later to the sound of the door opening. I lifted my head and found Nassar entering my cell. The servant who had delivered my dinner stood outside.
"Get up," Nassar said.
I slowly pushed myself upright. Staring ahead at the table, I refused to give him my direct attention.
"Isabel has arrived. Everyone has decided to start without Elissa," he said.
"Okay."
"Do you need to relieve yourself?" he asked.
"Yes."
From the corner of my eye, I watched him walk to the open door. He paused before exiting.
"If you want to survive, answer the questions and say nothing more," he said.
I looked at him. "I don't want to survive."
He lowered his gaze. "Jon will escort you," he said before he disappeared.
I stood and stretched. Jon waited near the door.
"Would you know what time it is?" I asked as I headed toward him.
"Two in the morning, miss," he said, then we walked side by side down the hall.
He escorted me to the upstairs facility where I released my bladder, splashed water on my face, and brushed my teeth. When he'd told me the sealed toothbrush on the counter was mine to use, I'd nearly hugged him. I wanted to take a shower since it had been a few days since my arrival, but I knew it would be too much to ask. After I'd finished in the bathroom, Jon accompanied me up to the main level, then outside the building.
A cool wind caressed my flesh while we walked along a dirt path. The air held a trace of moisture while clouds covered most of the night sky. A small trace of joy sparked within me. After a few days in the dungeon, I was glad to see something other than walls and bars.
I followed Jon to the front of a building. The tiny bit of happiness I'd felt quickly died when I recognized where he was leading me. My warlock guardian, Sean, had been murdered inside. I'd hoped I would never return.
Jon took me to through the all too familiar corridor, then down a spiral staircase to the lower level where the meetings typically occurred. From the moment I entered the building, I'd noticed a huge temperature drop. I rubbed my arms as we headed toward the dreaded room.
The chatter of male and female voices spilled into the hall. My pulse sped while my blood burned within my veins. My face warmed. If I’d had a superpower to destroy all of them, I would've used it without hesitation.
Jon entered the room, then stepped aside. I walked inside and the talk quickly ended. A chair waited for me in the middle of the room. I went straight for it.
The set up hadn't changed from nearly six years ago. Tables were set up in a wide U fashion. On the left side of the room, Sophia sat next to a woman with long, wavy brown hair. Since I didn't recognize her, I guessed she was Isabel. Nassar, Constantine, Ramon, and Quon occupied the seats behind the middle table. Viktor rose from a chair on the right.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice," Viktor said with the tips of his fingers touching the table. "As you can see, the half-demon has finally surrendered."
All eyes turned to me. I pressed my lips together and clenched my fists in my lap.
"Now that she is here, I suggest we proceed with our studies as we had discussed previously," Viktor said.
Nassar placed his hand on the table. "And what about Drake? What shall become of him?"
"We agreed he would spend three centuries rotting in the cell," the evil Russian said.
My heart gained extra beats. They had condemned him to starve well past my lifetime, yet they let other bloodsuckers roam the earth and kill as they pleased. I had zero respect for any of them.
"Jessie is weak in her current state," Nassar said. "Mentally and physically. If you want to study her, then you'll need an incentive to keep her alive."
Viktor threw up an arm. "Why should we care about her wellbeing? She cared so little when she took Renaud and Anton from us."
"She won't live long enough for you to study her if her health and mental stability does not improve," Nassar argued.
"He has a point," Ramon said in his thick Spanish accent. "She would make a better test subject if given the proper motivation."
"What do you suggest?" asked Isabel.
"I recommend we suspend the sentence imposed on Drake for the time being," Nassar said.
Victor and Quon grumbled, but the others remained quiet.
"If restoring her lover will motivate her to stay alive, then I vote we do it." Isabel turned her attention my way. Cold, cruel eyes stared at me. "I want the bitch sliced open so we can see where she sends souls."
A strong cramp pained my stomach. I stiffened and tightened my balled hands.
Viktor snickered. "We have many plans for her, I assure you."
"It will take time to return him to his natural state," Sophia said. "What will you do with her until then?"
"We can see that she supplies us all with a daily dose of her blood," Viktor said with a pleasing grin.
"If you drain her too much, she will weaken," Nassar said.
"Not to worry, I have two specialists who will take good care of her," Viktor said.
They shifted their gazes to me.
"Do you have anything you'd like to say, Jessie?" Ramon asked.
I glanced at each of them and sensed nothing good. Their heartless eyes and cruel hearts would never change. I was glad I hadn't let Drake try to turn me into a vampire. I never wanted to be like them.
"Free Drake and I will stay here for you to study," I said.
Viktor sat while heads turned. They looked from one to another, silently communicating.
"I give you my word, I will make no effort to leave if you set Drake free," I said.
"You would sacrifice your life for his immortality?" Sophia asked.
"Yes. I came here to free him. He gave up everything for me. I will gladly do the same for him."
Nassar pushed his seat back, then rose. "I suggest reevaluating the matter after Dr
ake has returned as whole.
"Agreed," Constantine said.
Slowly, each vampire spoke their approval, except for Viktor. They turned their attention to him and waited. The Russian clasped his hands together and pressed his elbows on the table.
"Fine," he finally said.
Nassar looked at me. "Jon will escort you back."
Heart filled with hate toward all of them, I headed for the door. Jon waited past it, in the hall. When he saw me coming, he stepped back. I passed him and strode down the hall. I knew my way to the prison and didn't need anyone to accompany me. I couldn't run. I couldn't hide. The vampires would find me. Why let them enjoy the hunt?
Jon followed me to my cell. When we reached the barred door, he entered the code to unlock it.
"You're a brave woman, miss," he said softly as he tugged on a bar.
I entered the cell, then spun to face him. "I'm going to die regardless of anything. I'm not brave. I just know my fate."
He closed me inside, then turned his attention down the hall. The patter of shoes and cool breeze alerted me to a vampire approaching. I backed away from the bars and crossed my arms.
Nassar came to a halt near the door. "You should've kept silent."
"I don't care what you think anymore. You're no different from the others," I said.
He squinted his eyes at me. "Do you really believe that?"
"Absolutely."
He stood behind the bars, staring at me. Did he really think I thought he was an ally? If he was any decent person, vampire or not, he would've listened to Drake and me years ago. He wouldn't have let the others kill my friends. He would have encouraged his peers to work with me instead of making my life miserable. But no, he had done nothing to stop them. The only item I could give him a tiny bit of credit for was convincing the others to recover Drake. Aside from that, he was still an evil bloodsucker.
He turned away from me. "It should take about three days to heal Drake."
"Don't worry, I'll eat the food and give you my blood. You won't hear me complain at all." Yes, I was being spiteful. He deserved it.
Nassar walked away without another word. Jon followed him at a distance.
I sat on my bed and pressed my lips tightly together. Part of me wanted to cry, but the larger part of me fed on a miniscule piece of happiness. They were going to return Drake from his state of starvation. If I played my slave role properly, I could see him again. Maybe, just maybe, I could hug him again. And that would feel like heaven.
Chapter Twenty-One
Two days passed slowly, but I'd fulfilled my obligations. I ate every meal, then late in the afternoons, one of the doctors would collect me from my cell. They took two bags of blood from me before returning me. I wondered why they hadn't filled a third bag, but I didn't question. After the second, I was always woozy and lightheaded, but I recovered with rest and nourishment.
Neither Nassar nor any of the others dropped by for a visit. I was glad I didn't have to see their faces or feel their icy energy.
By the third day, I was crawling out of my skin. It had been nearly a week since my last shower and I just couldn't tolerate myself any longer. I submitted my request for a shower and new clothes to Jon, who relayed it to one of the powers that be. When Jon delivered the good news and delivered new clothes, chosen by Sophia, I almost hugged him. After lunch, I donated my blood, then took a shower in the bathroom upstairs. The bra and black dress with blue flowers fit snugly, but they were clean and fresh. I wouldn't complain.
I ate dinner, meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans, then took a nap. But I couldn't sleep well. Nervous energy kept me tossing and turning. I kept wondering when I'd see Drake again.
I paced the room, trying to relieve my anxiety if only a little. As time passed, I began to suspect I wouldn't see Drake. I gave up waiting for someone to show and returned to the bed. Listening to the soft buzz of the light encouraged my eyelids to close. At some point, I drifted asleep.
The sound of the door opening woke me up. I pushed the blanket off me on my way up.
"Morning, miss," Jon said as he set a tray on the table.
I yawned, then asked, "What time is it?"
"Eight o'clock."
I scratched my head and looked at the food. The aroma of bacon and sausage gained a growl of approval from my stomach.
"Thank you, Jon," I said as he left.
He gave a nod before he disappeared. Jon had always treated me kindly. I liked him and pitied him. He was being used just as I was. I'd considered asking him why he stayed, but I didn't want to cause any trouble for him.
After breakfast, I paced my cell again. Lunch came and went, as well as my time for donation. The days were becoming routine, which I didn't mind. If my future imprisonment were to be similar, I'd ask for a television and books. Even criminals got those simple luxuries.
While I passed the time pondering, I couldn't help but notice no vampire had stopped by for a visit. I wasn't complaining, but the lack of communication from any of them put me on edge. They were all evil. What did evil people do? They calculated how malicious they could be to harm others.
Following a short trip to bathroom, Jon escorted me back to my cell.
"Do you have the time?" I asked.
"I believe it's about three," he said. "It was quarter 'til when I left to fetch you."
"Thanks," I told him as I entered my dungeon.
"I'll be back in a few hours with dinner." He shut the door, then disappeared.
Alone again, I lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Life had never been so boring. If only I had an e-reader and access to unlimited books.
To kill the time, I rested on the bed, humming classic tunes from the 1980s. Jeremy loved music from that generation. I blamed him for getting me hooked. With my thoughts on the demon, I wondered how he was doing. I hoped Shawn had made it back safely to Pittsburgh.
Trying to stay awake, I left the bed and paced in my cell. While walking back and forth, I did some arm exercises. Movement kept my worry and fear from spreading. My temperature had risen and I was about to break into a sweat when I heard footsteps approaching. I stopped and waited for Jon to appear with my dinner. When he appeared, I was surprised to see he was empty-handed.
He entered the code for the lock, then tugged on a bar. "Come with me, miss."
"What time is it?"
"Seven."
I took a step closer to the exit. "Isn't that dinner time?"
"I was told to fetch you and take you to another building."
I studied him, looking for signs of a hidden weapon. Wearing jeans and a gray sweater, he looked the same as when I'd seen him earlier.
I moved toward the open doorway. "Has a meeting been called again?"
He started walking down the hall and I followed him.
"No, not that I know of," he said.
"Then where are you taking me?"
"To one of the guest rooms," he said as he began climbing the steps.
Anxiety grew within me as I questioned why someone had summoned me to a guest room. If I had to be alone with a vampire, I would likely do more harm than good. The chance to destroy them was never far from my mind. I just needed opportunity and a weapon. I already had desire and, if I died, well, I would eventually at the Fort. Why not take one with me to Hell?
Jon led me from the building to a different dirt path that led away from the two main structures. Dirt got into my sneakers and I wished I'd worn socks. On a positive note, I was able to enjoy the sunset. Shades of pink and purple colored the sky. Clouds were rolling in and the smell of rain clung to the air.
"Who sent you to get me?" I asked as we approached a smaller building.
When he didn't answer, I suspected a vamp had manipulated his mind to command him to fetch me.
Jon continued down a small hill to a door on the side of a stone building. Reaching the door, he knocked on it first, then pushed it open. A cool breeze drifted out and caressed my skin.
Knowing there was a vampire waiting inside, I stopped before entering. "Why aren't you going in?"
"I was told to make sure you arrived, then I need to return."
Alarm bells were figuratively sounding in my head. I didn't like being lured into a trap. Peering inside, the room looked similar to the guest suite Jeremy and I had stayed in years ago. There was a sofa and chairs, lamps, and paintings on the walls. Slowly, I stepped into the room. What I saw after I entered nearly brought me to my knees.
"Jessie?" Drake said as he carefully approached me. "Is it really you?"
My heart wanted to explode. "Drake?"
I took a step toward him. His body appeared normal, not shriveled like a prune. He'd changed clothes and now wore a pair of dark jeans and a long-sleeved red sweater. Staring at him, I had no doubt my lover had returned.
"Jessie," he said.
Tears threatened to leak from my eyes as he rushed for me. He captured me in his arms and held me tight. His cool energy surrounded me. He kissed my head and cheek multiple times before he buried his face into my neck. I held him tight while he kept me locked to him. His rosemary cedar wood scent hadn't changed from the last time I smelled it over three years ago. Three fucking years!
"I can't believe it. I don't want to, but you're here," he said, then took my face into his hands. He stared deep into my eyes. "We'll get through this. I promise."
I blinked and a few tears escaped. "Drake—"
"Shh…" he said, then pressed his lips to mine.
The kiss started gentle, but I didn't let it stay that way for long. I'd missed him for too long. I slid my tongue into his mouth and he accepted it with the care a man should. He sucked on it and my body came alive with desire. I wanted him more than air, than life, than anything on earth, and I was going to get what I longed for.
Drake kept his lips glued to mine while our bodies remained pressed together. I dug the tips of my fingers into his back and moaned as he stroked my tongue. He felt so good and so very hard near my belly. He moved his hands from my face, then slid them under my arms and lifted me. My mouth broke free as I gasped, but I refused to lose him. I quickly wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his torso. Slowly, he lowered me and I devoured him with another kiss.
