Girl, Bitten

by Graceley Knox

  There’s a cut on his lip as well.

  “Did I bite you?” I ask in confusion. I hadn’t realized that I did.

  “No, I bit my own lip before biting yours and sealing my request for your hand.”

  “I’m not sure what that means exactly.” It doesn’t sound like I’m going to like it very much. Arsen grabs my hand, towing me behind him as we leave his study.

  “It was the only way I could think of to keep you safe. Just remember that.” Arsen glances back over his shoulder, lines of tension between his brows.

  “What’s going on? Please talk to me,” I say.

  “We don’t have the time right now, but I’ll explain it all to you. I promise.” We round the corner and come face to face with a group of blond-haired vampires, covered in head-to-toe leather.

  I don’t hear whatever the vampire in front of me says. My vision tunnels and my ears ring as I stare at the man in every single one of my nightmares since the attack.

  Chapter 6

  My rage manifests and I lunge at him.

  “You son of a bitch!” I scream.

  Arsen doesn’t stop me but watches as I slam my fists into the vampire who attacked me.

  “Christ, woman.” He grabs at my wrists. “Calm yourself.”

  “Calm down? I’ll give you calm. You killed me. You killed my classmates. They were innocent people.” I can’t believe it. I slap at his chest again, infuriated. This bastard stands in front of me and Arsen apparently knew him enough to let him and his goons in his house.

  “Ah, so that’s how you know him. I was wondering who at your clan turned her, Nikolai,” Arsen says. “Not like you to just turn someone and leave them to the wolves.”

  “Funny story. I barely remember that night.”

  “You don’t remember killing multiple people and attacking me?” I scoff. The balls on this fucker.

  “I remembered your face, beautiful. That’s about it.” He smirks at me and I gag in revulsion.

  “Ew. Don’t even look at me, you creep.”

  Nikolai laughs. “Oh, you’re going to be so much fun to be with.”

  “Be with?” I ask, confusion lacing my tone as I look to Arsen.

  “Yes, be with. I’m here to claim what’s rightfully mine. I am your master. I made you. As such, you belong to me.” He smiles at me, smugly.

  Did I just land in the 1800s where women had no rights, and people were still property? I do the only thing I can do. I laugh. A deep, full, belly laugh. I slap my knee as I draw in a breath to tear into Nikolai.

  “Over my dead body. When hell freezes over, even. Never. Going. To. Happen.”

  Nikolai holds up one finger. “Technically, you’ll be the living dead soon, so I guess I get my way after all.”

  “Buddy, not for all the money in the world.” I lean back toward Arsen, waiting for him to back me up but he just watches our exchange with a narrowed gaze.

  “You act like you have a choice. Clearly, Arsen hasn’t filled you in on how our world works.”

  “Oh, he gave me the gist of it. And I know that you’re psychotic. So, thanks, but no thanks.” Frankly, I don’t care if I break every vampire law or custom or whatever, I’m not going anywhere with this guy.

  “I’ll admit, my actions the other night were less than polite.” He shrugs, unapologetic.

  “Yeah, polite isn’t a word I’d usually use in conjunction with a murderer.”

  “I was not myself. I have more control than a fledgling.” Nikolai sighs like having to explain his actions to me is beneath him.

  “How do you mean not yourself?” Arsen asks before I can.

  Nikolai looks around, pausing dramatically before responding. “I was infected by the virus. Out of my mind and on a bender, if you will.” He waves his hand at me. “Until I bit this lovely little morsel here.”

  I step back, bumping into Arsen as every vampire in the room starts whispering amongst themselves. He can’t be right. There’s no way.

  “He’s lying. I remember how you taunted me.” The flash of his fangs in the lab. The way he chased me down the hallway.

  One of the men behind Nikolai steps forward. “It’s true. He was infected, and he escaped. We were tracking him and by the time we found him in the woods, he was covered in blood and coherent.”

  Arsen looks at me sharply before narrowing his eyes at Nikolai. “Give me your word that you do not lie.”

  “I give you my vow. I was sick. I thought they were going to have to put me down. And then after I bit her, I started to regain my senses.” He points at me. “She is the key to curing this virus. And she belongs to me.” He places his hands on his hips. “So hand her over.”

  “I’m aware of the way things are supposed to work, Niko,” Arsen says. “However, she’s not a piece of chattel I can just hand over to you. We’re no longer living in the old days.”

  Nikolai cluck his tongue. “Oh, how I miss those days.” He claps his hands together, startling me. “Enough chitchat. Time to go, beautiful. We’ve got plenty to do. We need to figure out how you healed me so we can cure the rest who are infected.”

  “No fucking way.”

  “Now wait just a minute,” Arsen says at the same time.

  I’d rather eat raw bull testicles then follow that guy anywhere, and if they expect me to listen, they’re going to have to drag me. Besides, the smirk on Nikolai’s face is too smug. He must normally get his way. Right now, he expects the same. No way in hell.

  “We have sick as well, Nikolai. And we’ve already set up a lab for Sasha.” I nod, liking where Arsen’s going with this.

  “It’s a really nice lab. I’m quite attached to it.” My words are a complete lie, but I’ll say whatever it takes to keep Nikolai away from me.

  “You think we don’t have a lab as well? Don’t play games, Arsen. Don’t make me break our truce.” Nikolai steps forward, his fists clenched. The vampires behind him shift forward, each of them tensing.

  The vampires standing behind Arsen and me shift, low hisses drifting past us.

  Arsen holds up a hand and they all quiet down. “That is not what I’m trying to do, Nikolai. And you know it. Part of our truce is that we share the cure. It doesn’t just affect the Baetal. It affects the Draugur, too. Or have you forgotten?” Arsen crosses his arms over his chest, calm despite Nikolai’s aggressive stance.

  “Oh, I have not forgotten the terms our predecessors set and agreed too. You can trust me on that.” Nikolai winks at me and I cringe.

  “There is no way I’m going anywhere with you, Nikolai.” I shake my head, unhappy at the turn of events. “You can’t make me do anything I don’t want to.”

  “Sasha.”

  I turn to Arsen, “Why can’t I just go home?”

  “That’s not the way this works.” His tone is gentle but firm.

  “Then fine, I’ll stay here.” Simple as that. Problem solved.

  Arsen shakes his head, “You can’t do that. either.”

  “Well, what the fuck then?” I throw my hands into the air. What good is it to make out with the Master of the Draugur if it doesn’t get me anything special? Like protection from the psycho standing a few feet from me. Call me petty, but what does a girl have to do around here to be able to exorcise her free will?

  “Until your change is complete, you’ll have to go with your maker. It’s not safe for you or the general public if you’re not guided through the change.” Arsen turns from me, focusing his attention on the other master vampire. “However, you should know, Niko, that I’ve made a formal claim for Sasha’s hand.”

  Nikolai’s face turns almost feral with anger. “When the fuck did you manage that?”

  Arsen smiles tightly. “Don’t you worry about that. All you need to know is that blood has been exchanged and my offer was accepted.” He dips his head. “You know the laws. Anyone in our covens can make an offer for her hand.”

  I rub at my forehead, not liking the idea that people can just offer up some bl
ood to exchange and be in the running for my heart. Or well, my courtship? Jesus Christ. I don’t even know what to call it.

  “Um, for the record, I’m not accepting any other requests,” I chime in, waving my hand in the air and glaring at every man in the room.

  Nikolai laughs. “Oh, she is delightful. I find I quite enjoy her candor.” He looks behind him at the men at his back. “Don’t you agree?” They all nod like good little soldiers and I grit my teeth.

  It’s like hive mind over in camp delusional over there. I look at Arsen. “They’re all crazy.”

  He rubs his hand across his face, hiding what I suspect is a smirk. “He is right, though. You are quite blunt.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I’m charming as hell. Let’s get back to the point here. I’m not going anywhere with him.”

  “What part of you don’t have a choice is hard for you to understand, beautiful?” Nikolai asks.

  I lunge for him again, but this time Arsen stops me. “Give me a moment, Niko.”

  “Oh sure, I’ve got nothing but time.” He turns his back on Arsen, talking low with one of his men.

  Arsen grips my hand in his, pulling me around the corner. I look up at him, letting the sheer terror at the thought of going with Nikolai show on my face.

  “Arsen . . . I can’t.” My entire body shakes at the thought of being at Nikolai’s mercy again.

  He rubs my palm with his thumb. “I know this isn’t what you wanted. And it’s not what I promised you. But I will make sure you are safe and back with me. As soon as I can.”

  “How soon is soon?” I ask.

  “There is some red tape I have to work through. Vampire politics are just as bad as human politics. Just a bit deadlier.”

  I don’t like the sound of his tone. Like he’s resigned himself to what’s about to happen. “So what choices do I have here? Surely there has to be some loophole.”

  “I’m afraid not, Sasha.”

  “So I’ve got no other choice than to go with Nikolai until I change?”

  “None.”

  Fuck.

  Chapter 7

  No matter how much I don’t like it, I follow Nikolai out. I’ll be leaving with him by my own two feet or dragged on my ass.

  He stops just outside the passenger door of his yellow Maserati and holds it open for me.

  Of course. His car is a flashy cock enhancer.

  I stop and wait. I don’t want to give him any satisfaction for his false display of courtesy. We stand like this for two long minutes. Nikolai waits for me to sit, and I wait for him to get the fuck away.

  When he finally relents and slams the passenger-side door, he strolls over to the driver’s side, granting me a small victory. I can open my own goddamned car door, thank you very much.

  Before I climb in, our eyes meet across the roof and he smirks.

  Prick.

  My creator is a real asshole. He is turning me into the monster I am becoming and I can’t fight him. Despite what my heart and mind say, I have the inclination, the desire, to obey.

  The dark expression on Arsen’s face as I left still haunts me.

  Nikolai starts the engine and exhales. “I know how this must look to you, Sasha but—”

  “Shut up. I have nothing to say to you.” I cross my arms over my chest. My eyes stay locked on the road as Nikolai pulls the car out of the compound.

  “Let me be clear, I don’t have any intention of harming you. In fact, quite the opposite.”

  I have to hold onto my anger because I’m terrified. And if I stop being angry, terror will suffocate me.

  “And let me be clear. You are monster. A murderer. And because of some stupid vampire shit, I have to follow you home. But don’t mistake what I have to do with what I want to do.”

  My stomach aches and my skin itches as though I’m fevered from the inside out. I’m not sure if it’s the upcoming change or my nerves but either way, I am total clusterfuck.

  “Oh, little rabbit.”

  “Do not call me that.”

  “I never meant you harm. You lived because I let you. Now you’ve been given a great gift.”

  “Lucky me.” I mock him and cross my arms again. “And others died because you let them.”

  “You may judge now, Sasha. But soon, you will come to understand that the lion who hunts the zebra isn’t cruel. He is a natural predator, as are we. Humans constantly kill without thought or concern for the repercussions, especially for their own food.”

  “Don’t call people food.”

  “But they are.”

  “Can we just stop talking?”

  I hope the rest of the drive will be silent, but I’ve discovered Nikolai does only what he wants. I simmer in my own hate for the vampire beside me as he offers an explanation as to why he barged into Arsen’s compound and dragged me out.

  “You don’t understand. You need to stay away from Arsen. You don’t understand everything he’s capable of. You don’t know everything he’s done.” A glance from me freezes his words only briefly. “I can imagine what you may be thinking.”

  “Can you? Because it seems to me like you couldn’t give a damn about anyone besides yourself. Why else would you show up like you owned the place and demand me to come with you? You’re wrong. You can’t imagine what I’m thinking because deep down, you don’t care.” I huff, turning my head away from him.

  When he doesn’t say anything back, I find his face in a deep scowl. His eyes flash in the highlights of the car, the squeaking of the leather on the steering wheel the only other sound joining the deep silence.

  Suddenly, Nikolai pulls the car to the side of the road with a screeching halt, jerking it to a stop. His nostrils flare when he turns to me. “Fine. I’m done being nice. I tried reasoning with you but obviously you’re not having it. I want you to stay with me. I’ll give you anything you want. Just help me find a cure for what’s ailing the vampires.”

  Disbelief along with knowing Nikolai to be a complete douchebag makes me laugh sarcastically. “What makes you think you have anything I want? I don’t care about riches or power. I’m not joining you. You’re an over-controlling asshole who forced me into a life I’d rather not have been in. So fuck your problems.”

  The suddenness of Niko’s raised hand makes me wince. I expect a hit only to feel the soft brushing of fingers against my cheeks.

  When I open my eyes, he’s smiling. “That may be how you feel now, but soon you will come to realize the truth of what’s going on.”

  I hate myself for the comfort his touch brings me. I shouldn’t like his touch, shouldn’t feel anything but anger and fear. Instead, my emptions are becoming contradictions. His blond hair and the silver blue of his eyes have me hypnotized. But it is because my instincts are telling me to trust him? Or the bond between sire and fledgling?

  But before I can react, he pulls the car back out onto the highway and continues the drive toward his compound.

  The gravel crunches beneath my shoes as I step out of the car. There is no way I’m letting Nikolai get away with trying to win me over with his arrogant charm or this odd power he wields over me. His inhuman beauty is already causing enough of a problem.

  My hand lays against the cool, yellow frame of the car, my eyes on the ground as I think about the dark look in his eyes and the softness of his fingers on my skin. Fondness for him warms my chest before shock weasels its way past it.

  What the hell, Sasha?

  Why am I feeling anything outside of anger for Nikolai? He’s an asshole. He’s a possessive, overly controlling, power-hungry dick. I clench my teeth in frustration. The crunching of Nikolai’s black, high-end boots brings my attention back to the very vampire I want to punch right in his pretty face.

  “We should get inside. It’s cold out here.” Nikolai offers his arm to me like I’m his prom date. I’m quick to decline. He shakes his head and chuckles, turning to lead me into the dreary, gray building.

  Members of Nikolai’s coven jeer and glare
as we make our way through the room. Instead of cowering, I meet each glare with one of my own. I’m already bullied by one vampire. No way in hell am I being demeaned by another.

  We walk down a dimly lit hallway until we reach a room at the farthest end. Nikolai opens it to reveal decor I didn’t expect. It’s upscale and surprisingly modern. A bed with deep, blood-red sheets is in the center of the room.

  Great. I don’t want to know who or what he uses that for. I scoff. The smell of scented lavender candles mixes with what faintly smells like alcohol, sex, and of course, Nikolai assaults my nose the moment I step into the place.

  Odds are he’s entertained quite a few “guests” in his room. The thought makes me want to wretch. Yeah, who knows how many of the vampire biker chicks he has in here on a nightly basis. Probably a few human girls, too.

  Nikolai takes off his jacket and hangs it on a rack in the corner. The muscles in his back ripple underneath the tight material of the black shirt he wears. His shoulders are broad and well-defined against the low-cut collar of his shirt. I didn’t think he was someone who cared about muscle definition, but he’s got enough to show that he does.

  Nikolai is anything but safe, and I can’t forget that, no matter what this stupid bond between us tells me. He refuses to tell me exactly what he meant about Arsen but I know just from the aura around him that Nikolai is just as, if not more, dangerous than Arsen. Maybe this is one of the things drawing me toward him.

  A slight snicker only a few feet away from me alerts me to the closeness of his proximity. His eyes are half-closed, his fangs sitting over a coy smile.

  “Here’s how this is going to go. You’re going to help me find a cure. Somehow you cured me. I want to know how. In exchange, I’ll do exactly what I said. I’ll give you a seat of power right next to me when we push Arsen and his coven out of the picture. Anything,” his fingers hold my jaw as he leans into my face. “And I mean anything is yours. You have only to ask.”