Kidnapped By The Vampire Prince (BBW Paranormal Romance)

by T. S. Ryder

  "He's not dead yet," Gloria said. "He will die, but I wanted to give you one last chance to come out of this alive, Sofia. We used to be such good friends. All you have to do is walk away, and I can convince the others not to kill you or your child."

  But Sofia didn't trust a single word coming from her former friend's mouth. She snatched up the gun that Aaron had dropped and pointed it at Gloria. Her hands shook, but her mouth tightened in determination. She wasn't going to walk away, letting Aaron die, and she certainly wasn't going to let this witch stab her in the back again!

  "You are going to leave right now or I'll shoot you!" Sofia hissed.

  Gloria held up her hands and backed away a step. "You're risking yourself and your child for nothing."

  "Once Aaron is fully vampire again—"

  "He can only become a vampire again if he drinks the potion through your blood. You have to drink it first, and then he drinks from you. Just like before. But if you drink that, it will kill your child."

  As if hearing the words, there was a soft movement inside of Sofia's belly. She gasped, fighting the instinct to put a hand on her stomach. The movement was gone as fast as it had come. But it was enough for Sofia to waver. Could she really risk this child growing inside of her? What would Aaron want her to do?

  Well, that was obvious. He'd want her to protect herself and their unborn child above all else. She lowered the gun, tears streaming down her face.

  "Good choice," Gloria said softly. "Now just put down the gun and walk away. You won't hear anything, I promise."

  Sofia hesitated. When was the last time Gloria had kept a promise? Hell, when was the last time she did anything for Sofia that didn't have layers on layers of self-interest in it? The book hadn't said that she needed to drink the potion first–there was something about blood, but it was too smudged to read, and two short for complicated instructions.

  "Sofia, I'm telling you he's not worth it," Gloria said. "Come on, all you have to do is drop a few pounds, and every man in the country will be drooling for you."

  A hiss escaped Sofia's clenched teeth. She leveled the gun again, pointing it at Gloria. Her eyes were narrowed as the witch backed up a step. Her heart continued to pound, but she was determined.

  "You have always lied to me. Why should I believe you this time? I can't believe I ever called you my friend."

  "Sofia—"

  "Even if I walk away, my child, Aaron's child, wouldn't be safe. If you are after the king, then you want to destabilize the vampire government. Aaron having a child and heir—"

  "Don't be an idiot," Gloria growled. "Just walk away! How is a vampire's spawn worth your life?"

  Gloria stepped towards her. Sofia's fingers seemed to move on their own accord. The gunshot rang through the swamp, echoed back at her from all angles. A jolt reverberated up her arms. Gloria screamed and fell.

  "Gloria!" Sofia gasped, dropping the gun. She started forward before stopping.

  The witch clung to her hip, screaming and writhing in pain. In the bright moonlight, Sofia saw a well of blood coming through her fingers. Bile rose in her throat, but she grabbed the gun again and turned away from Gloria. She had to finish this potion!

  She hurried back to the thermos and knife, cutting off the last of the toadstools she needed. Once she added it to the potion, she stirred it with her knife. The brew bubbled, changing from a sickly green-yellow to something far darker. Sofia couldn't tell if it was blue or black–but she couldn't waste time hesitating. With the thermos in hand, she returned to Aaron.

  "Drink this, darling," she whispered, pouring a little into his mouth. "Drink."

  Aaron moaned, licking his lips. His eyes fluttered open, but rather than the clear gaze Sofia expected, he looked dazed and confused. He licked his lips again. "Thirsty."

  The book did call for blood. Sofia's heart sank. What if Gloria was telling the truth? That the only way to save Aaron was to drink this foul brew? It would poison her child, she had no doubt about that. She felt sick, staring down at her husband as he continued to lick his lips, eyes not focused on anything.

  "Like I said, he needs to drink it when it's imbued in your blood," Gloria gasped. Her face shone with slick sweat in the moonlight, but a grin lit her face and she laughed. It looked maniacal. "So? What's it going to be, Sofia? Are you going to let your vampire continue to be human, or are you going to kill your child?"

  Sofia bit back bile. "There has to be another way."

  "Another way. That's so like you. You can never accept truths. Always looking for another way, another explanation. You're a weak, simpering woman. The only reason the vampire chose you was because he knew he could mold you to think what he wanted."

  Sofia tried to block her out, closing her eyes to think more clearly. Why did the potion have to be made by her? Probably because there was still something inside of her from the first potion, and this one counteracted it in her blood before taking those same properties to Aaron. And if that was the case, then he had to drink the potion from her blood.

  And if Aaron had to drink blood imbued with the potion, then the only way was to drink it and have him drink from her.

  Except there were plenty of ways to add the potion to blood without cycling it through a human body first. Sofia's hands clenched. She could add her blood to the potion. But without knowing the right dosage, that could end up as dangerous as straight poison.

  I've already risked giving him part of the potion without blood, I have to do everything I can.

  Steeling herself, Sofia wiped the remnants of toadstool off her knife. It was a toxic planet, but that didn't matter–it wasn't so poisonous that the little bit of juice transfer from it into her system would have any serious effects. She hesitated as she put the knife against her wrist.

  "Going to kill yourself now?" Gloria panted. She dragged herself up, though she kept her weight from her still-bleeding hip. "Even I didn't think you were that weak."

  Sofia closed her eyes and slashed herself. White-hot pain flared through her and she screamed, dropping the knife. Hot blood poured over her skin. Tears blinded her, but Sofia found the thermos again and drained the rest into Aaron's mouth before she pressed her wrist to his lips, her blood pumping down his throat.

  Please let this work.

  The dark potion and her slick blood spilled over Aaron's face. His eyes snapped open. She felt his tongue run along the cut in her wrist, then the scrape of his fangs.

  A screech made Sofia jump. She whirled around to find Gloria glowing in the night. Her eyes glared a brilliant blue, her skin paling to a ghostly white shade. The sheer hatred on the witch's face made Sofia shrink back.

  "I warned you," Gloria growled, the sound guttural. "I offered you a chance to escape. Now you will suffer the consequences!"

  A flash of light blinded Sofia. She cried out, shielding her eyes. When the light was gone, so was Gloria. In her place was a monstrous beast.

  Skin white as a corpse glowed in the moonlight, her body long and sinuous. Arms and legs multiplied, claws instead of hands and feet. Huge, black, multifaceted eyes shone from the deathly pale face. A mouth full of layer upon layer of razor-sharp teeth opened wide. What looked like armor made from knives burst out along the creature's back. A low hissing filled the air. To Sofia's horror, dozens of snakes pushed their way out of the creature's head, blood-red red gleaming against green scales. Sofia drew back, heedless of her still-bleeding wrist as she stared at the creature that had once been her friend.

  "What are you?" she cried.

  "Your death." The voice was not Gloria's. It was guttural, hissing, the voice of a snake.

  The creature lunged for her, emitting a high-pitched rattling noise that shook Sofia's bones. She threw herself out of the way, screaming. The creature laughed. Pain erupted from her legs. Claws dug into her calves, pulling her closer.

  "Gloria, please," Sofia begged. "I thought you were my friend!"

  "Gloria is no longer here," the creature said.


  It lunged for Sofia's throat, mouth open wide. Sofia swung her knife blindly. It bit across the creature's face. But even as it swung back, screaming, the snakes protruding from its head struck. Sofia screamed as their mouth latched onto her wrist. A fiery, burning pain shot through her. Everything swirled.

  "Gloria wanted to save you," the creature hissed. "But it seems that she underestimated just how stupid you are."

  Chapter Nine – Aaron

  There was something bitter on his tongue. Aaron licked his lips, trying to get rid of the taste. It was like the skin of a grapefruit. Nasty flavor. But there was also a slightly pleasant taste beyond the bitterness. Something sweet. It reminded him of running through a garden in bare feet with the sprinklers on, feeling the warmth of the sun on the top of her head and cool earth between his toes. The taste was like holding Sofia in his arms, as they made love, a swell of love the only thing between them…

  Sofia.

  Aaron licked his lips again. That was Sofia's blood. What was her blood doing in his mouth with that bitter taste?

  He felt a sharp tug in his chest. Blinding, white-hot pain shot from his heart, bursting to all his extremities. His eyes snapped open. The moon shone hot above him, burning his skin with the sunlight it reflected. He threw an arm over his eyes, unable to suppress a whimper of pain.

  Sofia's scream pierced the air.

  A rough, hissing voice spoke. "Gloria wanted to save you. But it seems that she underestimated just how stupid you are. And here she tried so hard to save you. Was it worth it, Sofia? Your vampire king will die anyway. Your child will die anyway. There is nothing more anybody can do for you. You could have lived, but now you die."

  No.

  A roar built in Aaron's chest. His extremities were all pins and needles, but he forced himself up anyway. Sofia huddled on the ground several feet away, her hand clamped over her wrist. Aaron smelled her thick, sweet blood in the air. Standing over her was a creature he hadn't seen in years–decades. A centipede-like monster with snakes for hair.

  A gorgon. His stomach churned. If Sofia looked directly into its eyes she'd be turned to stone.

  The roar burst from his mouth. He threw himself forward, wishing he had a sword to drive through the creature's body. It whirled on him, striking him away at the last second. He hit a tree and crumpled at its base, the wind knocked from his lungs. The gorgon laughed as it advanced on him. A clicking, hissing noise filled the swamp. The snakes on its head bent towards him. One spat a glob of poison at his face. He rolled to avoid it, then jumped back to his feet.

  Aaron rose his fists and he glanced around quickly. Sofia lay on the ground, moaning, but she was still flesh. The gorgon hadn't been able to turn her to stone. Good. Whatever else had happened, he at least had time. Her knife lay on the ground several feet away, and next to that was the gun. The king glanced back at the gorgon. If he could shoot out its eyes…

  "How did you manage to infest the human?" he asked, backing away from Sofia. He had to keep the gorgon away from her.

  "Gloria? It was easy. She was easily swayed to believe that vampires were the cause of all the problems to witches like her. She volunteered to swallow the egg that I hatched from. I don't think she realized that it would destroy her, that I would claim her body and she would be left with nothing." The gorgon smirked. "And you. Such a coward you won't look at me directly?"

  "If you're trying to turn me into stone, it won't work. Gorgon magic doesn't work on vampires," Aaron said. He looked up, meeting the gorgons' eye.

  Both his legs seized. He cried out, stumbling backward. One leg worked, but the other was stiff. The pain was blinding and Aaron crashed down. When he grasped at his leg, it was hard and cold as marble.

  "You are not fully vampire again. But I don't need my magic to kill you. All I need is to bite your head off."

  The gun. Where was the gun? Aaron rose his head avoiding the gorgon's gaze. He'd have to go towards it to get the weapon. The flesh beneath his hands was softening again, the stone creeping out of him. The pain remained, though. Aaron sucked in a deep breath trying to push it aside. But when he tried to get to his feet, his leg wouldn't work. He needed more time.

  "Are you responsible for these radical witches?" he blurted, dragging himself back from the advancing gorgon.

  "No. They are the ones that found me and grew me." A grin stretched across the creature's face. "But they have done some fine work. Soon you will be dead and the vampires will dissolve, fighting each other to be the next king. The destruction will cause the humans to attack, fearing for their lives. And I will bring back my kind from the depths of Erebus and we will have the world again. The age of vampires is at its end, and the age of magic is returning."

  The gorgon jumped at him. Aaron rolled to dodge the claws that swiped at his face. He threw himself over his own head, somersaulting to land next to Sofia. He snatched the gun up off the ground and leveled it at the gorgon. It shrieked as he emptied the clip, finger pumping the trigger again and again.

  Blood poured from one of its eyes and one of its claws had been blown off, but that was it. Aaron cursed, dropping the empty gun as the creature attacked again. He barely escaped the blow; its claws tore through his shirt, exposing his skin to the chill air. Aaron grabbed the fallen knife and whirled, striking at the gorgon's other eye.

  It blocked him with one arm, two others striking at his stomach. Aaron jumped back, twisting his body as he did so. Claws caught on his arms and legs, but only scratched as he threw himself out of reach. A screech filled the air, arms slashing at him again. Aaron dodged the creature's blows, dancing just beyond its reach, drawing her little by little away from Sofia.

  Aaron took one more step back, preparing to spring over the gorgon's head, but his foot sank into the ground. Water pooled into his shoes, the springy ground greedily sucking him in deeper. He teetered unsteadily, able to regain his footing just long enough to slash at an arm that came at him.

  The king was forced back another step–his leg sank through the ground to the knee. He pressed himself back against the arms clawing at him, glancing up once.

  His gaze met the black insect eye of the gorgon. A shot of pain went through his body, making every muscle in his body seize. Streaks of gray wound their way up his arms. The gorgon gave him another shove and he fell backward, sinking into the soggy swamp earth. He managed to close his eyes, and his muscles were freed from their spell.

  His enemy laughed. A waft of breath crawled over his skin. Aaron struck out blindly. His hand found the gorgon's face; taking a deep breath, he slid his eyes open a sliver and thrust the knife forward. The gorgon screamed at the blade sank into its last eye. It reared back, all its arms flailing.

  Aaron threw himself forward. He grabbed the gorgon by the neck and scrambled around its body. It collapsed under his weight; he seized the head of snakes, their fangs sinking again and again into his arms, and forced it into the pool of water left by their thrashing. The gorgon's body bucked and writhed. Aaron grunted in pain, moving up its body until his whole weight was on its head, sinking his waist-deep in the water. His legs clenched around the gorgon's head as he held it under.

  When the snakes stopped biting him, he knew his enemy was dead. The gorgon's body lay utterly limp, but he still held it there for another few seconds to make sure.

  When he was satisfied, he stumbled away from the pool. Blood coursed down his torso and legs, but instead of the shiny red it had been moments ago, it was a dull, almost black color. His heart gave a mighty lurch and was still. Aaron closed his eyes briefly–he was a vampire again.

  Sofia was where he had left her, a hand clamped over her wrist. Her normal warm skin tones were almost as pale as the gorgon's had been, looking all the more pallid with the moonlight reflecting off the sheen of sweat on her face.

  Aaron dropped to his knees beside her. She had tied a tourniquet around her elbow, stopping the blood flow. She whimpered as he grabbed her arm and flipped it around. The cut on her wri
st wasn't overly deep. The blood wasn't flowing from it anymore. But there was something else that made Aaron's body seized again, like he had just turned to stone.

  There were two small puncture wounds in her skin just below the cut. Already a greenish crust was forming around them. One of the gorgon's snakes had bitten her. She was poisoned.

  "Hold on," Aaron said, holding her tightly. "I'm going to suck the poison out of you."

  The fingers of Sofia's free hand curled around his bicep and she nodded. Aaron undid the tourniquet, letting her blood flow freely again. It would help get rid of the poison… at least, he hoped it would. He quickly latched his mouth over the puncture wounds and gave a mighty pull. The taste of her blood was bitter, choking him at once. He spat out the mouthful and gave another pull. This one was less bitter, but Sofia was paling further. He sucked in a third mouthful; this time he could hardly taste the poison at all.

  Aaron retied the tourniquet, pulling it as tightly as he could. His head spun as he gathered Sofia into his arms.

  "It's going to be okay," he mumbled, hugging her to his chest. "It's going to be okay."

  Chapter Ten – Sofia

  The thing she was most aware of was Aaron's arms around her. His strong body cradling her, easing the panic that threatened to overwhelm her. She had Aaron. She had saved him. Whatever happened next… it would work out. He was with her, and that was all that mattered.

  "Hold on," he whispered into her ear. "Hold on, my love. I love you. Stay with me."

  "I love you, too," Sofia murmured back. Her eyes felt heavy, too heavy. The darkness of the swamp swirled around her. There was an awful smell, and everything felt like she was wrapped in cotton batting. When she tried to move her arms, she couldn't.

  Her eyes drifted closed as she remembered the day that she introduced Aaron to her parents. Her father had actually got a gun and brandished it at the vampire, threatening him with (non-existent) silver bullets. Sofia had been so angry and frightened… but Aaron kept his cool.