by K A Young
As I fiddle with the chains, I can see him just entering my field of view before he kneels right beside of me. Without even glancing up and maybe he thought I did it out of fear, I scoot back and away from him, a low chuckle leaving his lips as he outstretches his arm and says, "Here," offering me the clothing.
"What's this for?" I question skeptically, my eyes lifting from the chains and narrowing them on the seemingly harmless attire.
"I don't mind watching you try and kill me in the outfit you are currently wearing," he motions to the torn dress, and I notice the way his eyes linger for a moment on the portion of my chest spilling from the tear. I glower darkly at him while he finishes, “However, I am certain you don't feel the same way."
Ya think?
What tipped you off?
It's not fair how my cheeks suddenly become warm at the way he eyes me, a blush clearly rising in my cheeks. Quickly, I dart forward and take hold of the clothing, wanting to cover up everything he continues to stare at like eyeing me as a piece of meat.
I hiss between my teeth, "Well, I wouldn't have to worry about that if someone hadn't ripped my dress apart!"
Hint, hint.
Nudge nudge.
Survey says...
Cocaine! Yes...don't think I haven't noticed how close his name runs alongside a drug.
"Now, now," he shakes his head as though chastising a small child for acting out, "I believe I told you multiple times to stay still. If you had been a good little slave and listened, you wouldn't be left practically naked."
The anger within me boils over. However, I choose to bite back the bitter response that gets caught in my throat, forcing me to swallow the vile words that want to fire off from my mouth.
As he rises to his feet, he narrows his eyes on me, and any amusement that had been present recedes when he commands, "Change."
You're not my mother...
I think he's forgetting one crucial key factor still preventing me from doing as he says. With that in mind I raise my wrists up in front of me while rolling my eyes, "You really think I can change with these on, now do you?"
Awe, I think I stumped the pureblood because a slight irritation crosses his features when he sees the shackles. Instead of lingering on that emotion, the corners of his lips turn up into a smile as he laughs while withdrawing a key from his pant pocket. He takes hold of my wrists to steady them while unlocking the shackles.
In the next moment, the shackles fall away from my wrists and land on the black marble flooring in front of me. The full sound of metal clinking against marble raises my awareness of the little sensation of freedom I have attained, the shackles gathering in a small pile.
Locaine turns his back on me, taking steps toward a different cabinet, one with a reddish gold color, the trim a light beige. The sound of faint heels clicking against the marble draws my attention to the ballroom doors. Three vampires enter the room, the doors silently shutting behind the male with dark skin, his light brown hair cut short while his pale blue eyes reflect the same disdain the other two hold for me. He wears dark slacks, a steel gray shirt adorning his chest.
The second male walks further into the room, jet black hair covering his right eye while the one in sight reveals a deep hazel tone. He wears the same dark slacks as the first, his emerald shirt standing out against his light skin.
He is led by a woman, the one who appears to be their leader. She stands tall in silver heels, the floor length sapphire and silver gown clings to her body. Fiery red hair falls in ringlets over her shoulders and chest, emerald eyes locking themselves onto me while she crosses to a position within the room that's close enough to attack me from if she so wishes but still far enough away to not interfere with the challenge I have accepted.
It's uncomfortable, stripping away the torn dress under their gaze, but I change quickly into the sweatpants and t-shirt. Locaine had taken a moment to pause when the vampires had entered, noticing now the woman whispering something into the dark-skinned male's ear. However, he doesn't halt for long, continuing his way to the cabinet and opening the doors.
He takes from his pocket the syringe he'd used to inject me with the blood thinner Lovenox, his eyes lingering on the variety of weapons I can see. It's only a few seconds later when I break the silence by asking, "Now what?"
This is his queue, knowing I'm dressed and turning to face me. Something in his eyes can't be hidden, and it makes my skin crawl from the way he observes me. When he parts his lips and praises me with, "Good slave," like I belong to him, that's when I lose it.
"I am not your slave!" I snap at him, the rage building within me, my muscles tensing as I clench my hands into fists.
Locaine's tone shifts to one of a dry nature, crossing his arms in front of his chest while he states blatantly, "If you want a weapon," he narrows his eyes, "I suggest you come here quietly like a good slave should."
I continue to fume, but I no longer lash out, knowing the only innate weapon I have is no longer accessible to me. Instead, I bite my tongue and take the few steps toward the cabinet, Locaine moving to his right and allowing me to gaze at the many weapons available.
"Select whatever weapon you like," he tells me, the choices limitless except for the only one I want...my blood magic.
My eyes immediately trace over the dagger, my body going ridged once I outstretch my hand to pick that one. However, I force myself to stop, hesitating as a short-ranged weapon won't do me any good against him...
With much deliberation, my eyes fall on a short sword, deciding upon this weapon as my selection. After taking the handle into my hand and feeling the weight of the weapon, I understand that no matter what I pick, I'm screwed...
My pride...it's a dangerous thing, and now I'm locked into this...
He unfolds his arms from across his chest, his fingers capturing my chin once again and forcing me to look up into his eyes. He looks me once over before he asks, "Are you ready?"
"Yes," it comes out more like a whisper than what I wanted it to.
Locaine's touch dismisses itself, a warmth fading away as he leaves my side, walking back toward the center of the room where he comes to a standstill. His hands rest within his pockets, his icy eyes staring directly at me as the tips of his fangs glint dangerously from his slightly parted lips.
He merely nods and says, "Begin when you are ready."
The weapon suddenly weighs heavy in my hand, knowing this decision of mine was something I should have thought through, but I didn't. Glancing down at the blade I thought only of the dagger and my blood magic, my parents telling me there was absolutely no point in me learning how to use a weapon as my blood magic is a forced to be reckoned with on its own.
It would protect me.
A glare crosses my features when I glance at the cocky pureblood. He stripped me of the only weapon I'd ever known and even then...I can't control it the way I should be able to.
I never trained a day after Alyssa's death, so my skill set is nothing to brag about. I regret this decision...each passing second making me wonder exactly how long I can go before I'm at his mercy. The reason I moved away, to begin with, was to escape this world, but I now know you can't avoid what you are born into.
I test one step forward, and Locaine remains where he is, his eyes never leaving me for a second. Taking four more steps toward him, quickening my movements, I bring the short sword overhead and swing it directly at his face.
Locaine merely steps to the side, utterly unfazed while his hands remain firmly in his pockets. He's bored, the disinterest in his features becoming clear while he makes this appear what I already know.
It's a game to him...
...one he's already won, and he's just playing with me.
I'm not a serious threat to him, and it shows now more so than when he was taking precautions in the dungeon.
Angered by this, I backslash the blade at his new position, and in the blink of an eye, he is instantly behind me. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as a chill
passes through my body. My instincts kick in, and I immediately drop down to my knees, the cold marble floor felt through the fabric of the sweatpants while I attempt to swipe his feet out beneath of him.
Attempt is the keyword.
I would have contacted his shins. However, he's now standing in front of me, looming over my figure as he sizes me up.
Shit...
I spring to my feet, dashing at him with my blade slashing at his chest. Before I can blink, his grip on my elbow makes me grimace, yanking me forward and right past him. I collide with the ground hard when he lets go, and my momentum carries me forward, crashing down while I gather my bearings.
For a moment I pause, the searing pain burning up through my knees at the force I hit the marble with, radiating up to my hips and making me clench my teeth together. While I steadily push myself up off the ground, I turn to come face to face with a demonic sneer planted on his lips.
I won't give up.
Sidestepping twice, my boots echoing off the ground, I take another strike at his face, wanting to wipe that look from it. He merely outstretches his arm, taking a firm hold of my wrist in his hand and squeezing it roughly. My face contorts with agony, the weapon falling from my loosened grasp and clattering to the ground while I gasp from the pain I'm in.
Locaine spins me around, pinning my arm behind my back, his breath fanning my neck and raising goosebumps across my skin. My heartbeat continues to skyrocket, the fear closing in around me that I'm about to lose.
"Give up yet?" His voice is low and near my ear.
"No," I reply while flinging my free arm up to his face, attempting to hit him. He is much faster than I, and it appears he knows what I'm going to do before I even do it. He catches my arm, securing it along with the first at the small of my back.
I can practically feel him grinning from behind as he chuckles, "How about now?" His teeth dangerously scrap the top layer of the skin near my left ear.
"Fuck you," in a last-ditch effort, I suddenly fling my head back as hard as I can, however, I just barely miss his chin and collide with his muscular chest. Locaine jerks my arms up higher behind my back at that little stunt, drawing them up almost past my shoulder blades. The pain is too much, a scream ripping from my lungs while my vision crosses for a moment, the pain exploding down the muscles in my back and arms.
My breathing is coming short and quick, my head pounding as I try to process the pain and block it out. It's hard to do this, feeling as if my shoulders are going to twist out of their sockets at any given moment.
"And now?" Locaine's amusement is my pain, knowing he's enjoying this way too much.
Hissing through gritted teeth I seethe, "I'll tell you when I've had enough!"
He sighs in annoyance at my continued efforts to change the inevitable outcome. Locaine roughly throws me to the ground, knowing this can't possibly be a full display of his strength but it hurts nonetheless.
I have just enough time to flip over onto my back before he looms over my body, straddling my waist with both of his knees on either side of my body. I quickly throw a punch to his face, but he strikes my arm before I make contact. Yelping in pain when his fist punches me in the stomach, all the air leaves my lungs. Groaning in pain, I look up at him, my eyes wide with the sudden impact he has made.
I throw another punch with my opposite arm, aiming right for his chest but I quickly find out that this is futile. Another quick hard jab erupts a new kind of pain to radiate through my body, my abdomen already feeling the repercussions of challenging him.
The tears are hard to hold back any longer, escaping my eyes as they cascade down my cheeks. I whimper pathetically beneath of him when he takes both of my wrists into one of his hands, pinning them directly above my head against the marble flooring.
He lowers his lips down next to my ear as he whispers, "Come now slave, end this now."
I weakly reply, "N-No..."
I will not allow him to break me, to bend to his wishes. I will not bow to his will, I don't care how much pain and suffering he makes me endure, I won't go down without a fight.
His irritation over my stubbornness is becoming quite clear, a low growl emitting from the back of his throat. Very quickly, he stands to his feet, dragging me up to mine in the process. His grip doesn't falter, dragging me across the ballroom to one of the walls where he hurls my already broken body against its hard surface. All at once, the air leaves my lungs again, a small audible gasp leaving my parted lips in the process.
"D-Do you get off p-pinning me to every-y god damn wall?!" I attempt to yell at him, my voice quivering.
I know I'm screwed the moment his icy blue eyes shift to a deadly black rose, the anger surging to the surface and no longer containable.
He takes in my scent, breathing me in deeply while he runs his free hand over the fabric of the shirt shielding my stomach. Once he reaches the hem of my shirt, I use the last of the strength I must struggle against his unwanted touch. His skin against mine makes me feel so many ways, but I shake my head once his hand skates up to cup my breast through my bra. I pull against the hand restraining my wrists as hard as I can.
He's irritated with my actions, lifting my wrists away from the wall for but a moment before he growls and slams them back against the wall. My elbows go limp from their once locked position, the ricocheting pain pulsing through my body.
"You just simply have to ask me to stop little hunter," Locaine's voice is raspy against my ear, a shiver traveling down my spine at the way he refers to me. He also must have concluded that continuing to strike me isn't going to make me stop fighting back.
Pain I can endure...
...but not his sensual touch.
He slowly begins to lift my bra, feeling his touch further as I beg him, "Please..." heat rising in my cheeks, not wanting any of this.
His fingers glide over my supple skin, and he asks, "Please what?" I shake my head from side to side to clear my mind, my eyes holding embarrassment when he continues, "You have to be more specific than that."
"Please stop," I can't pull myself away, drowning in the way that he's lighting a fire through my body, struggling against his iron grip.
Locaine roughly pinches my bud between his fingers and I tilt my head back while a soft moan escapes my lips. He chuckles with amusement, "I'm still not too sure what it is you want me to stop doing? Have to be much more specific than that."
I know exactly what he wants, but I don't want to give it to him...the satisfaction...
When I don't respond promptly, his hand relinquishes my skin, pulling out from under my shirt. A brief sigh of relief leaves my lips, but it isn't long-lived.
Locaine hooks his thumb into the waistline of my sweatpants, dread filling me while my heart continues to beat faster, threatening to burst from my chest.
What frightens me more...
...he's doing all of this in front of the three vampires who continue to observe us.
When he slowly begins to pull down the sweatpants I yell, "Please stop!"
His dark, seductive eyes lock onto my terrified features as I whisper out with complete disgust, "Master." The word tastes bitter in my mouth having said it now for the second time.
Locaine instantly stops his actions, removing his thumb completely. Shock overwhelms me as his vice grip releases my wrists. In a matter of seconds, I fall into a crumpled heap on the floor, hugging my sore wrists against my chest while I attempt to steady my heartbeat. My whole body vibrates with fear when I look up at the monster before me, his dark eyes reverting to their usual icy blue.
What have I done...?
Chapter 6
-Annika
Locaine's voice echoes, breaking the silence surrounding us while he asks, "Where is your family?"
I pale, my face draining of all color as the blood swiftly draws back away from my cheeks. I had almost forgotten the deal we had made, regretting to even allow my pride to get in the way of the indisputable fact...there was no chance in hell I
could have ever beaten him.
In what world could I have?
Oh yeah, the one where I didn't run away like a coward and stood next to my parents, deciding to become stronger than remaining weak. That's my fault...all of it is.
I lost, now I am left to tell him what? I have exactly no idea where my family is...family implying my parents. However, my grandparents became more like my parents ever were. I will not reveal their location...not after everything they have done for me.
"I-" my voice betrays me the second I allow a sound to leave my parted lips. Instead, I shift my gaze down onto the floor between my bent legs, my wrists still holding fast against my chest.
The moment Locaine lowers himself, squatting down to become eye level with me, I flinch and pull my knees tighter to my chest while shutting my eyelids tight together. His elbows rest on bent knees, catching his gaze as my eyes briefly flicker up from the marble floor before darting to my left side, desperately trying to look at anything but his captivating gaze.
His strong fingers wrap under my chin, taking a firm grip before he roughly tilts my head back to meet his gaze. His eyes bore into mine just as he says dangerously, "Don't make me repeat myself, slave."
It is gone...
All the fight and courage I once had was gone...
How could I have ever thought to take on a pureblood would end up well? I'm not a fully trained hunter, my skill level far below the par of a regular vampire. I rely solely on my blood magic to kill any vampire, even before me leaving my parents and the only world I ever knew far behind.
What did I think I could accomplish by challenging?
That's right...my pride is my downfall, and he now knows precisely how to push me.
Locaine's features remain placid, awaiting my response.
When I finally find my voice buried deep inside of me, I reply, "I don't know. I haven't s-"
My response does not please him, interrupting me when he releases my chin and stands to his feet. His presence looms over me, his features changing drastically...his emotions vanishing from his face. He shoves his hands into his pant pockets, a sigh audible and reflecting the irritation he now shows.
