Self
Chapter 2
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Chapter 2
Hunter
drew me a hot bath, “This will help, I don’t know why it does all I know is
that it works.” He said, “I’ll knock on the door so that you can draw the
curtain. I need to get something for
you to drink, the water is quite hot, any cooler and it won’t help.” He walked
to the door, “If you need anything give a holler and I’ll come.” He said before
walking out of the room.
it wasn’t too hot for me but for most people it probably would be.
when I took baths. As the water rolled
around me I felt that same feeling that had come when Dante nearnear.
room but I ignored them and forced the feeling down. I relaxed in the water, enjoying the feel of it against my
skin. Hunter didn’t come back with
something to drink as he said he would, there was a strange silence, the voices
had stopped. There was something very
wrong but I didn’t want to get out of the water, it was helping, just as Hunter
said it would. Suddenly the feeling
returned, the taint calling me. I
closed my eyes and focused, meditated upon the feeling, drove it away as best I
could. I managed to force it into the
back of my mind, leaving just the faintest whisper. As that happened I heard voices again, two men, one was Hunter
and the other sounded familiar, very familiar.
Then it hit me, Alex, Alex was talking with Hunter.
know. Had he come for me?
enough to know what they were saying, “Alex, what are you doing here?” Hunter
asked, “Do you have any information for me?”
one?” He asked, ignoring the questions, “There’s no point in it, you know
that.”
to watch anyone suffer. She doesn’t
want it so why should it be forced upon her?”
her.”
He asked softly, “Surely your contacts wouldn’t know so soon, so how?”
the truth, I’ll tell you. I’m a slave,
do you understand that? The reaI
‘I
‘help’ you is because my master ordered me to.”
contempt.
tonight to speak with her, I know she may not listen but that is why I’ve
come.”
to strengthen the taint if you’re near?” H?” Hunter asked, his voice, short,
angry.
“He is doing so as we speak. That
doesn’t matter though, are you going to let me through to see her or not?”
said, his voice menacing.
her. I must do as I have been told or
lose the small amount of control I have.”
that was enough for him. By saying yes
to his offer I was given power and a portion of my freewill.
bargain but if I continue to do what he does not wish of me I shall be like all
the others, a true slave. He will be
able to stop me from doing things, not only that but he will be able to force
me to do things that I do not wish to.” He paused, “Will you let me see her or
no?”
can use his power.” He said, “Please leave.
I’m sorry that you’ll lose the freewill that you have left but I can’t
risk her.”
softly.
inside me, like someone was calling.
Suddenly I heard a third voice, “Alex you have failed me.” It was Dante,
“Hunter, where is the girl?” He paused, “Wait, I think I know.” I heard
footsteps coming towards the door.
rushed through me, I could no longer hold it at bay. Dante smiled at me, “Leave me alone.” I whispered, “Please.”
palm up, his fingers curled slightly inward and he closed his eyes.
the taint grew. Suddenly it stopped,
Hunter had grabbed Dante’s arm and forced it down, “No.” He growled, “No, I
will not let you call it.”
away from Hunter, he just looked at him, “Hunter, do you want me to exercise my
right?” He asked softly.
Hunter replied.
to kill our kind and I have done nothing.
It is well within my rights to do so.
My suggestion to you is this, release my arm. I will cease calling it for now and we can just talk.
released Dante’s arm, “Get out of the bath Eva. I will stop the taint from calling for now.” He said before
turning around and walking out of the bathroom, Hunter followed suit.
and I was able to push it back.
Apprehensively I stood up, unsure if it would be a good idea to speak
with them. A black silk robe hung on
the back of the door. Snagging it off
the hook I quickly put it on before walking out of the bathroom.
looking quite at home. He almost seemed
like he belonged there. His eyes were
closed, his arms draped over the arms of the chair, and his long legs were
crossed, tnklenkle of his left leg resting against his knee.
opening his eyes.
ravishing my dear.”
can’t you just leave me alone?”
believe Alex already told you what I wanted.
I can’t leave you alone use use I tainted you. By doing so it shows that I want you.”
her?”
her. I am not the one who tainted her.”
He sighed, “If you want I shall tell you exactly what happened, although I
don’t know why it should concern you.”
my sake, for Hunter’s.”
head back, rolling his neck, it popped once, “Alright Eva, I’ll tell you.
decided that she hadn’t resisted long enough.
He came to me, asking permission to kill her, I granted it.
one.” He paused, “Does that explain everything? I am the master here, I am the one who controls every vampire in
this area.” He said, shooting a glance at Hunter.
her? Why?”
eyes; I avoided him, “Because she wasn’t important. She was none of my concern, it didn’t matter to me whether she
lived or died. I gave him what he
wanted. I granted his wish.” He paused,
“Ask Hunter what it brought him. He got
something out of it as well.”
ask him anything. He was looking at
Dante with such contempt in his eyes; he hated wit with all his heart.
whispered, “Tell me though, why me?”
mind, everything.” He whispered seductively.
growled.
then. My slaves are in no way human.”
He paused, “I do not want you to be a vampire either, at least for now.”
“It
should be.” He said, his voice laughing at me, “Why don’t you ask Hunter what
he received? It would be interesting to
hear what he thinks.” He said, changing the subject.
I said, looking over at Hunter, “He doesn’t have to tell me anything, he didn’t
even have to help me.”
“Very well.” He paused, “Alex, go home and prepare, you know what I’m going to
do.”
wish.” He said re wre walking out.
asked softly, I still felt for him, still loved him.
strip him of his freewill, just as I’m sure he intends to do with you.” He said
softly, “If he wants you to remain human and not be his slave, he will remove
your will to resist. The vampire lord
does not like his humans or slaves to resist him.”
softly.
a specific area. Dante is the vampire
lord here.” Hunter replied, “He holds the most power of any vampire lord I have
met.”
been sent to see, to threaten?” He asked softly.
surrounding this one.” He replied softly.
simply.
smiled, “He has a secret.” He turned back to me; “He is exactly as he appears
to be, to the trained eye, but to you he looks human, just as he wishes to.”
would be well within my rights to do so.” Dante sighed, “Hunter, I suggest you
tell her. No point in keeping it a
secret. After all, once she succumbs
she will understand, she will know what you are.”
daughter was taken and killed I went in search of the ones who did it.
transformed me. I became one of them,
one of the people I hated. Dante would
not allow me to destroy myself so I cannot.
Unless he grants the request it cannot be performed.
should we meet. No one, except for the
one who made him and I, knows what he is.
I allow him to pretend he’s human.
He ignores what he is; acts as though it never happened.
wanted to I a I allowed him to. I could
have forced him to hand you over but I didn’t.” Dante said softly, his eyes
still closed as he leaned back.
understand Hunter.” I looked over at him, “It’s alright, I understand.”
to give you over to him.” He said, was going to continue on but Dante
interrupted him.
time.” He said, looking over at Hunter, “This time you shall give her to me,
not only that but you shall accompany me.
What he is preparing for is not only the stripping of wills but of your
full indoctrination into our ranks.” Hunter’s eyes grew wide, “Don’t look so
surprised, you knew it was bound to happen someday.”
strength. My holding has remained small
thanks to theviouvious lord. It is time
to take back what is rightfully ours.” He smiled, “You are my enforcer, have
been, now it is time for you to understand the true meaning of that title.”
whispered.
it.” He said, his voice quiet, calm, “You have no choice.”
you’re right.”
her.”
shock. I wanted to flee, to get away
but I couldn’t. Suddenly Hunter’s arms
were wrapped around my torso, “I’m sorry,” He said softly, “but I have no
choice.”
said, gently tipping my head up so that our eyes would meet.
“There’s no use in resisting.” He said calmly, “You will be taken.” I shook my
head, “Hunter,” He said, looking past me, “if you would be so kind.”
grabbed my chin, holding my head still.
Dante smiled as he scanned my face.
As his eyes were about to reach mine I closed themht.
open. Beautiful sapphire eyes greeted
me. I sank into them, an unwilling
victim of his power. I felt it roll
over me, through me, surrounding me in warmth.
I felt my will to resist fall away as I collapsed into darkness.
the air around me was cold. I shivered
as I looked around. There was a table
in the center of the room; shackles for ankles and wrists were attached to
it. Alex was chained to the wall across
the way. As I got to my feet I realized
that there was something wrong. Icy
metal pressed against my throat and there was a weight to it.
collar, leading to the wall. I grabbed
it and pulled, thinking that with as fine as the chain was it would be weak as
well.
wouldn’t bother trying to break it, you can’t.” He said softly, looking over at
me. He had a black eye and there was a
deep wound going down his chest, “My master thought that it looked better than
fully chaining you to the wall.” He said with a quiet laugh, “I have been
punished for failing him.” His eyes narrowed, “Soon my freewill shall be
removed, he will force you to watch so that you know what to expect.”
the chain before giving up, “What do you mean?”
remove your freewill as well, he wants you, I told you that, and he will have
you. You tasted his power when he took
you. Couldn’t you feel it?
at being one with him?” I bowed my head and slumped to the floor.
you feel, almost ashamed. I felt the
same way in the beginning. He takes you
as a reward or as a prequel for torture and pain. In the end it is always the same, you love him.” He whispered.
the wall. I was silent, wouldn’t
respond to what he had said. By not
answering he knew that I was admitting he was right but I didn’t care.
noticed that the wound on his chest was slowly beginning to close.
extraordinary. I still couldn’t admit
to myself that he was a slave but this proved it. Too much had happened over the past day for my mind to handle, it
wanted to shut down, ignore all that had gone on, but I wouldn’t let it.
darkness. Another hour went by and the
door opened, Dante, Hunter, and one other walked in. It was a young woman, a slave.
She walked a couple paces behind them; her dress was the color of snow
and hung to the ground. The bodice was
fitted and the sleeves hung loosely, bell shaped. Alex looked over at them, his eyes traveled to the girl, where
they stayed. Dante walked over to him
and brushed his fingers down the wound.
Alex took in a hiss of air from the pain that was surely spreading through
him. Dante nodded in approval before
motioning to Hunter. He nodded as Dante
approached me. No words passed between
them, none needed to. Hunter unchained
Alex from the wall and left, carrying him easily. Dante kneeled next to me anntlyntly ran his fingertips down my
face before standing up. He motioned to
the girl before walking away, leaving the room. She walked over and removed the chain from the wall.
softly. Slowly I got to my feet.
She said, walking the way Dante had left.
had no other choice. She was stronger
than me, even though she looked to be, as they say, a delicate flower.
dress as we walked, it trailed after her, dragging on the stone floor.
place. Torches lined the walls, ancient
tapestries hung down the stone. I hated
not knowing where I was or where we were going but I could do nothing except
follow her. She took me into a large
room; it appeared to be a dinning room.
The large table was gleaming, carefully polished, it could easily seat
hundreds. Dante was seated at the head
of the table, Hunter to his left and a young man to his right.
head on the wall facing Dante. There
were around fifty vampires seated at the table, all male, each one looked at me
as I walked in. The woman I was
following ignored them and took me directly to Dante. I glared at him as she forced me before him.
supposed to kneel before your master Eva.” He said calmly.
have no master, I’m not a slave.” I growled.
silent, his sapphire eyes gazing at me in anticipation, Hunter looked down at
the table. The girl hit me in the back
of the knee, causing me to fall to the ground, kneeling before Dante.
in my ear, “I am here to serve you, my master.”
won’t say it.”
softly, “If you do he may decide to keep you as a human for awhile instead of
making you directly into his slave.”
and something cold gently run down my cheek.
It was Dante’s fingertips; gently he tilted my head up, “Say it my
dear.” He said softly, gazing into my eyes.
He didn’t take me, didn’t roll his power over me, just looked.
anyone.”
don’t want me to assert my power over you.” He said, winding the chain around his
hand, “It wouldn’t be pleasant for you if I made you say it.”
the table laugh, “You must say it so that my power over you is complete.” He
said softly, his voice rolling over me like a warm blanket.
“Please no.”
hair, down my neck, “I suggest you say it.” He said, leaning forward so that
his face almost touched mine, his lips hovered above mine, almost
touching. I shook my head and he closed
the distance, our lips touched. Gently
he kissed me, chaste, pure, just a touch of lips, “Say it my pet.” He
whispered, pulling away and brushing his hand down my cheek.
pet. Say the words that I desire to
hear.” He said softly, “I could force you to say them but you know that.”
anyone except myself.”
to mine, “I didn’t want to have to do this.” He said softly before sitting
upright in his chair. He smiled down at
me, “Well boys,” He said, addressing the entire table, “it looks like not only
do we get to have one show but two.” Cheers arose from around the table as
Dante stood and yanked on the chain, strangling and forcing me to my feet, “I
was trying to do this as humanly and gently as possible but you have left me
with no other choice.” He said, his eyes were blue fire, “Cyrus, come here.” He
said, motioning to the man who was sitting to his right.
her. I’m going to use the taint, bring
it to its full power, then she will have no course of action but to do as I
say.”
his lips brushed against my throat, “I hope you enjoy this.” He said softly, “I
won’t let you go until he tells me, no matter how much you struggle.”
had when I was in the bath. No words
passed his lips but I felt the heat of the taint, it grew, enveloping me.
arms,do ado anything he wished of me. I
fought, not only Cyrus, but the taint.
Struggled against them both.
Finally it reached a point where I could no longer think; the only thing
on my mind was Dante and the pain that being apart from him caused.
said. Cyrus let me go and I stumbled
forward, collapsing against Dante. He
gently stroked my hair, running his fingers through it, “Say the words I want
to hear.” He whispered.
I whispered.
my shoulders, “Kneel before him and say it again.” He whispered in my ear as he
gently applied pressure to my shoulders, forcing me down.
him. His hands slid off my shoulders,
he didn’t try to keep me there. Dante
jerked on the chain, causing me to fall to the ground.
wasn’t paying attention to me. That
hurt, something deep inside was hurt as his inattention.
him in humility and reverence and say those words. I reached up and grabbed his coat. He looked down at me and pulled away, jerking hard on thein.
softly, his voice quiet, angry.
congregation had gone silent. The taste
of fear was in the air, the taste of anger as well. Dante wasn’t pleased and that made the others afraid.
me. I felt shunned, rejected.
do?”
before me and say the words.”
knee. Bowing my head I spoke, “I am
here to serve you, my master.” I paused, then added, “What ever you desire of
me I shall do.”
she saying that because she wants to or because of the taint?”
said, “She would never say it willingly.” He looked down at me, “But now she is
bound by it. Now I shall remove the
taint.” He said, snapping his fingers.
and disappear. I took in a gasp of air
as I got to my feet, angry. I glared at
him and took a step back, “Who the hel you you think you are?” I spat, “How
dare you.” The room was filled with laughter.
I looked over at Alex; he was shaking his head and chuckling softly,
“What’s so funny?”
“You’re foolish. You belong to him
now. The minute you kneeled before him
and said those words you were fully his.
He may now do with you what ever he pleases and you can do nothing to
stop him.” He paused, “You are now no better than Alex will become in a minute
or two. Well, I guess that you not
being a slave is a plus for you.” He shrugged, “Doesnealleally matter though,
you belong to Dante.”
eyes. As I did so I felt a gentle
pulling on my chain. Dante was wrapping
it around his hand. I grabbed onto it
and tried to pull it away but he yanked me to my feet.
body agaihim.him. Gently he kissed
me. I tired to push away from him, to
escape but he held me still, using his free hand against the small of my back
to do so.
“Hold her for me, if she attempts to stop me from stripping Alex pull her
chain, she doesn’t seem to like that.” He half smiled as he unwrapped the chain
from his hand. Dante handed the chain
to Cyrus before walking over to where Alex hung, “Sylvia,” He said, looking
over at the girl who had brought me, “bring me my dagger.”
jewel-encrusted dagger in hand. Alex’s
eyes grew wide and he began to struggle, “Please no.” He whispered, “Please
master, give me another chance.”
ears. I will not listen this time.
far. I don’t care if it was because of
Hunter that you did not speak with her, that is not the point.
could have done a lot of things to succeed but you didn’t.”
to lose my freewill. I came into this
willingly, I allowed you to make me your slave.”
said, placing the tip of the dagger under Alex’s right collarbone.
of crimson began to flow from the tiny wound.
Slowly he began to drag the dagger downward, pressing it deeper into his
skin. Cyrus tugged
slightly on the chain, reminding me it was there. I looked back at him and he shook his head.
screamed. Dante ignored him and placed
the tip under his left collarbone. He
brought it down slowly to meet the other line, forming a ‘v’.
starting shallow then going deep. Blood
flowed freely from the wounds, trailing in fine lines down his chest.
forward. Cyrus pulled on the chain,
hard, causing me to fall backwards. I
hit the ground, managing to turn and catch myself so that my head didn’t
hit. Finally Dante stepped away.
dagger up and lapped the blood from the blade.
I got to my feet quickld trd tried to get to him so I could hurt him for
what he did to Alex, straining against the chain. Cyrus held it tight for a moment then pulled back.
again. As I strained at the chain again
Dante made a signal and Cyrus released his end of it. I bolted forward and grabbed Dante by the throat.
pinning them behind my back. Holding
them easily in one hand he tenderly brushed my hair out of my face.
said so that everyone could hear.
my hair. A sharp jerk and he pulled my
head to the side, leaving my throat open.
He smoothed my hair out of the way and forced the collar down so that
the strike would be unobstructed.
Softly he brushed his lips across my skin, his tongue flicked out to
taste me before I felt the hard press of his teeth.
strike.
me. Only a sip was taken before he
pulled back, “Now it’s your turn.” He said softly, a wicked smile upon his
face.
wrist, the wound was held to my lips. I
swallowed hard, a tiny trickle of blood flowed into me, that’s all it took, the
bond was complete. In one fluid motion
he released my arms and grabbed the chain.
I looked up to see Alex looking down at me, laughter danced in his
emerald eyes.
be released now?”
tugging on my chain, “Of course.
Sylvia, remove his bonds and get him cleaned up.” He ordered before turning
back to the congregation of vampires, “Now we dine, on my newly acquired
human.” He said, pulling me forward.
survive.” I said softly.
smile, “Being bound to me has it’s advantages, or disadvantages, depending on
your view. Cyrus, you first, then
Hunter.” He said, looking at the two of them.
Hunter first?” I asked softly, trying to stall as much as possible.
second in command and Hunter is my enforcer. When I feed from you I
shall take you. Oh, they shall take you
as well but you won’t come down from mine until tomorrow night, I shall see to
that. Now look.” He ordered as Cyrus
ran his hands down my shoulders.
lasslass=MsoNormal> I turned
quickly and was greeted by a pair of deep brown eyes. In that instant I was taken, pleasure rolled over me and through
me. The sharp sting of teeth was
distant, I could hardly feel it. It
went on like this again and again until I found myself gazing into Dante’s
beautiful eyes. I sank into them and
knew no more.