Captive Fantasy

by L. Rosario

  "Get on with it, Constantine,” the master suddenly barked out.

  Constantine flinched and once more dropped to his knees. He took hold of Sera's left wrist and carried it to his mouth. With his fangs brushing her delicate skin, he said, “I assume we're naked so that the blood is easier to clean away.” Not allowing her to respond, he closed his eyes and sank his teeth into her veins.

  Sera sucked in a sharp breath and clawed at the velvet fabric of the couch. Her body grew overly warm, then icy cold as her blood surged toward Constantine's mouth. To her surprise, he pulled away without swallowing a single drop, then turned her wrist downward to let the blood flow onto the floor. It didn't take long for her vision to blur and the room to begin to spin.

  "Lie down,” Constantine commanded.

  She hesitated, caught in some sort of limbo.

  With a quiet growl, he eased her onto her back. “Once you've bled out I'll feed you.” He brushed some hair off her forehead as she tried to focus on his eyes. “Promise me you'll drink when I put my wrist to your lips."

  Sera thought about shaking her head. She didn't want anymore of Constantine's blood. Ever.

  "You will drink, my love, or you'll die. No one in this room will move forward to save you if that is the choice you make."

  Those horrible words, along with the disturbing sound of her blood dripping onto the floor, followed her into oblivion.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Valentino clutched at his chest as a blinding pain sent him to his knees. The same agony that had ripped through him his last morning at Captive Fantasy once more held him prisoner. He couldn't feel the beat of his heart under his hand, nor could he stop the rattling of his teeth as a chill worked its way through his body.

  He knew he was dying.

  Only question was, would he wake up a vampire, or was this really it?

  Another pain tore through his chest, making him double over with a sharp gasp. The guard's footsteps were atrociously loud as he stepped into the room, demanding to know what was wrong. Valentino couldn't speak if his life depended on it. He shook his head and tried to breathe through another stabbing pain.

  The guard grabbed a fistful of hair and yanked his head back. “What the fuck is wrong?” he demanded again.

  "D-dying,” Valentino forced out. He squeezed his eyes shut, and the color red exploded behind his lids. It brought to mind blood. Warm, fresh blood. His gums began to ache, and he clenched his teeth together to ward off the uncomfortable sensation. It didn't work. He nearly screamed when he felt his fangs rip through.

  The guard released him and stepped back. “Jesus, you're changing."

  Valentino leaned over his knees to press his forehead to the floor. The smell of polished wood burned the inside of his nose, and he feared his eardrums would shatter as the guard raced out of the room with loud, angry strides. He'd never survive this ... this ... whatever this was. He wasn't even sure he wanted to survive it.

  The chill worsened until his bones rattled, and his teeth knocked together. His new fangs dug into the inside of his bottom lip, ripping at the tender skin and filling his mouth with the taste of blood. Rolling onto his side, he swept his tongue along the bleeding wound and swallowed, but it wasn't what he wanted. He thought about the sweet, metallic taste of Sera's blood and groaned out loud as a hunger he'd never imagined possible ripped through him.

  "Feed him before he loses control.” The guard's voice penetrated the growing haze in Valentino's mind, and it was followed by the soft, melodic sound of a woman whispering, “Yes, all right."

  Fabric rustled, the air stirred around him, and he pried his eyes open to find a delicate, blonde beauty kneeling before him. She smiled and began to unbutton the pale yellow blouse she wore. Just as her beige bra began to show, she grabbed the collar to expose her upper chest. “Are you able to bite me?"

  Valentino focused on the steady pulse at the hollow of her throat. Her veins showed through the tight stretch of her skin, and he tracked one down toward her right breast. He licked his lips and found the strength to get to his hands and knees. He crawled toward her, watching her face through the curtain of his hair, then stopped as her gaze swung to his.

  She smiled at his hesitation and scooted closer then arched her head back. It's okay, this is what I do."

  She smelled like wildflowers and blood. Jesus, he could actually smell her blood. He nuzzled his face into the warm crook of her neck, unsure of what to do. His fangs throbbed, but it seemed cruel to just sink them in. He recalled the lash of Sera's tongue, and licked the skin of the woman's neck. She laughed softly and braced her hands on his shoulders. Through the hunger, concern for her well being whispered in his ear and he pulled back. “I don't want to hurt you.” It felt weird to form words around his fangs.

  "You won't.” Her fingers flexed, urging him closer.

  Still on his hands and knees, Valentino inhaled the lovely fragrance of the woman before him, closed his eyes, and sank his new fangs into her willing neck. Blood filled his mouth as her skin tore.

  "Yes,” she breathed.

  He deepened his bite and crawled closer. Her hand left his shoulder to swipe his trailing hair back from his face, and she held it in place to keep it away from his mouth. He'd thank her later.

  Right now he just wanted more blood.

  "I'll leave you two alone,” the guard said, then left with a shuffle of footsteps followed by the door clicking shut.

  In the silence, Valentino reveled in the strong rhythm of the woman's pulse against his mouth. It beat in time to the flow of her blood, mesmerizing him. He jumped when her voice sliced through the moment.

  "I'll let you know when to stop."

  He nodded as best he could, but stopping was the last thing on his mind. The more blood he took, the more he craved. The woman offered no resistance as he continued to feed. Her hand stayed in his hair while the other lightly clasped his shoulder. She sighed softly when he adjusted his bite, and her body shuddered as if experiencing great pleasure. Thanks to Sera, he knew how damn good it felt.

  The thought of Sera had the power to pull his focus from his actions. He slid his fangs free from the woman's neck, and she blinked at him in confusion. “Why did you stop?"

  Valentino stared at the wound on her neck. It dripped bright red blood against her pale skin. The hunger came roaring back, and he clutched his gut and met the woman's eyes. “Your blood isn't working.” No matter how good it smelled or how it tasted, he craved something more.

  She frowned and buried both hands in his hair. “You didn't take enough.” She arched her head back, and her fingers tugged at his hair. “Come, take more."

  He stared at her neck, licked his lips, but then shook his head. “No. I need to find Sera."

  The woman's hands drifted from his hair, and it fell over his eyes. She studied his face while fumbling with the buttons of her blouse. “I've done something to displease you, haven't I?"

  Valentino shook his head and sat back on his heels. He could feel the warmth of her blood in his veins, but the hunger remained. He needed Sera. “I appreciate what you did."

  The woman dropped her gaze. “It's what I do.” They were the same words she'd said earlier. “Would you mind licking the wound so it stops bleeding?"

  The question startled him. He shifted his gaze to her neck and reached out to catch a drop of blood before it could stain the collar of her blouse. She smiled as he leaned toward her to swipe his tongue over her skin.

  "Thank you,” she said softly.

  He pulled back and got to his feet, offering his hand to help her up. The room swayed slightly as she accepted and met his gaze. “You were very gentle. More so than many who have been feeding for centuries. I thank you for that."

  Valentino lifted her hand to his lips. She caught her breath and her cheeks turned bright red. “You were delicious."

  The color in her cheeks intensified and she giggled softly. She slid her hand free and hurried toward the door. Before lea
ving, she hesitated and looked back. “You'll need someone to supply blood if you stay with the coven.” She flashed a very interested grin.

  Valentino raked his fingers through his hair and offered a brief nod. He wasn't quite ready to commit to anything.

  "Well, my name is Stephanie. If you ever need me, just have someone call for me."

  "Thank you.” He watched her walk away and prayed he hadn't just formed some unbreakable vampire/mortal bond by taking her blood. He'd worry about that later, though. First things first. For some reason, feeding from Stephanie hadn't satisfied his hunger, and he needed to know why. God willing, Sera could answer his questions. Looking around the room, he spotted his t-shirt, went to fetch it, and pulled it on. He headed for the door, convinced that being a vampire would afford him some freedom now.

  The green-eyed giant clearly saw things a bit differently. He stepped in Valentino's path and crossed his arms over his broad chest. “Where do you think you're going, freshy?"

  Valentino shoved past the guy with ease. Yet another thing to contemplate later. He hurried toward the steps, aware of the heavy footsteps following close behind. At the bottom, the guard grabbed his arm and spun him around. Valentino snarled and ripped free. “I'm going to find her whether you try to stop me or not."

  The guard fisted his hands at his sides, looking for all the world like he wanted to sling Valentino over his shoulder and carry him back to his room. Thankfully, he didn't. “You can't go to her during the ritual, you stubborn bastard."

  "Does that mean you're trying to stop me?"

  The guard shook his head. “No. I should, but I won't. But it'll be my ass if you're caught blindly roaming around, so follow me.” He brushed past Valentino, then glanced back. “Coming?"

  With a nod, Valentino followed.

  The guard led him into the very bowels of the house, where the walls were made of thick stone and glowed with the light of ancient torches. The floor was a dangerous, uneven path and the ceiling barely high enough to walk under. All in all, a pretty eerie place.

  The smell of blood permeated the air and grew stronger as they neared an arched doorway. Valentino's fangs stirred and threatened to lengthen. Sheer force of will prevented that from happening. What his body craved and what Stephanie had failed to provide was just up ahead. He could smell it, and as it coated his tongue and burned his nostrils, one name whispered in his ear. Sera.

  The guard hung back as Valentino approached the doorway. “You go in alone.” With that, he turned and headed back the way they came.

  Valentino stepped inside and froze. His heart, or whatever remained in his chest, seized as he took in the horrid scene being played out in the center of the vast chamber.

  Sera knelt naked before Constantine with her hands gripping his bare hips and her mouth fused to the flesh of his left thigh. Spread around her was a pool of dark blood. Valentino knew without moving closer who the blood belonged to. He could taste it in his mouth. He wanted to throw his head back and scream at the loss, but his gaze shifted to Constantine and anger boiled to the surface.

  The man stared at Sera with an undisguised look of pure lust. The fingers of one hand twisted in her hair, and the other hand rested on her shoulder. Sera's eyes were closed, and her pale profile was smeared with blood. Constantine's blood.

  Valentino's stomach turned and rage propelled him forward. His boots made enough noise on the rough stone floor to draw the attention of everyone but Sera. Constantine lifted his head with a dark, dangerous look in his eyes, but Valentino refused to let the unspoken threat stop him.

  He stalked forward, took hold of Sera's nape, and hauled her to her feet. Constantine reached for her, but Valentino stepped between them. An unfriendly snarl answered the action, but he ignored it. The lower half of Sera's face was covered in wet blood, and she did nothing to wipe it away as she stared up at him in confusion.

  The sight disgusted him, and he made the mistake of letting her go in order to tear off his t-shirt. Once free, Sera darted away and hid behind Constantine. She peered around his shoulder and looked at Valentino as if he was the devil come to steal her soul.

  What the hell had happened down here?

  "Sera?” He kept his voice low and calm. “Here, baby, wipe your face.” He held out the shirt, but she only ducked further behind the shield of Constantine's naked body. Damn. He lowered his arm and glared at the vampire. Constantine smirked, and Valentino's rage escalated. “What did you do to her?” It was hard to voice the question when all he wanted to do was rip the guy apart.

  "I did what was necessary to save her from her own foolishness."

  "Meaning?” The other vampires in the room stirred, and Valentino figured he was one wrong word from sending them into a frenzy. He'd have to tread carefully because he doubted their loyalty would lie with him.

  Constantine's smirk turned into a smile. “Meaning, Seraphina is all mine.” He spread his arms, and Valentino noticed the bite marks scattered about his chest. “She enjoyed it, I assure you."

  Valentino took a step forward, but an unfamiliar voice stopped him from lunging at Constantine. “I suggest you keep your temper in check, Valentino."

  Valentino turned to meet the startling blue gaze of another vampire. The man was tall, blond and undeniably powerful. His aura crackled around him like some sort of shield, proclaiming him the master of everyone within this chamber. Valentino didn't feel like playing minion. “What did this bastard do to Sera?"

  The master's frown spoke volumes. He gestured toward the door with the elegant sweep of a silk clad arm. “Come with me, and I'll answer all your questions. This is neither the time nor the place for such a discussion."

  "No.” Valentino looked toward Sera, who continued to cower behind her goddamn maker. “I won't leave her alone with him for another moment.” He focused on the master. “Tell me what I want to know right here, right now."

  The blue eyes darkened to an unusual shade of indigo and narrowed in obvious dislike. An uncomfortable sensation crept over Valentino's skin, but he mentally pushed it away. Was the man attempting to control him?

  "Constantine did as he was ordered to do.” Irritation oozed from the master's tone. “In order to cleanse Sera of your deadly blood, he needed to drain her body and replace what she lost. Doing so has reaffirmed their attachment to one another and momentarily interfered with her memories."

  "Interfered with her memories?” Jesus Christ. Valentino whipped around and caught Sera's eye as she pretended not to stare at him. “You don't know who I am?” His heart shattered as she shook her head and leaned into Constantine's side. The vampire wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to his chest.

  There was no mistaking the triumphant gleam in the bastard's coal black eyes.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  The haze in Sera's brain started to thin as she snuggled against Constantine and stared at the man before her. Did she know him? No matter how deeply she probed, no memory stood up to be acknowledged. There was nothing familiar about the tousled dark hair, seductively handsome features, or even the toned, golden body. Surely she'd remember such a man? But she didn't, and the fact that he clearly knew her made her head ache.

  "Shh,” Constantine whispered, stroking a hand up and down her back. “Don't distress yourself trying to remember something unimportant.” His words brought a hateful look to the stranger's eyes, but the gaze softened as it rested on her.

  When he spoke, his voice did strange things to her mind and body. “If the memory lapse is temporary, I'll do everything in my power to help you remember.” He moved toward her and once more offered his black t-shirt. “Take it and wipe your face. Looking like a monster doesn't suit you.” The words, or maybe it was just the voice, tried to work through the fog in her mind.

  Sera pulled away from Constantine and reached up to touch her chin. Her fingers came away sticky with blood. She glared at Constantine and snatched the offered t-shirt.

  "Thank you.” She was careful not t
o meet the man's chocolaty eyes, but she didn't miss the slight quirk of his full lips. Balling the shirt up, she licked a corner, then swiped the blood from her face. She longed to drag the soft cotton over the rest of her body as well. She could feel blood drying on her knees but didn't dare glance down. If she did look like a monster, she'd rather not see it.

  When she felt clean, she held the soiled shirt to her chest, startled by the urge to carry it to her nose. Would a smell trigger a memory?

  Constantine tore the shirt from her grasp before she could move a single muscle. He tossed it over his shoulder toward the other coven members, never taking his angry gaze off of her. “This man, and whatever he claims to mean to you, no longer matters. What happened here tonight has strengthened the bond you and I share, and nothing will break it."

  "We'll see about that,” the stranger challenged.

  Sera looked over and straight into his eyes. He held her gaze and nodded once. Doing so forced a clump of hair to fall over his forehead. The tips brushed his cheekbone and teased the edge of his mouth. She stared and felt ... something. She took a step, but Constantine caught her arm and yanked her back.

  "Get him out of here."

  She could only watch as the master's nod brought two vampires forward. They took hold of the stranger's arms and hauled him roughly toward the door. Not once did he break eye contact with her.

  "I'll make you remember, Sera.” The sound of her name poured over her. “No matter what he did to you, your body won't be able to deny what it knows."

  Constantine's grip tightened on her arm. “You'll keep your distance from her."

  Deep brown eyes continued to hold her gaze, as if Constantine hadn't spoken at all. “I know you, Sera. I know what you crave. What you long for."

  Each time he said her name, a tiny spark tried to light itself in her brain. She tried to think of a way to hold the velvet smoothness of his voice around her. It was like a warm, tempting blanket on a cold day.

  "Sera, you have to remember.” Desperation replaced the honeyed warmth of his tone. His eyes pleaded with her as he fought the men holding him. “Sera, please."