5. SLAVE
Our lips part, my breathing is fast and my mouth is numb from the bite. He wasn't joking, he's a vampire, I can see his eyes shining. He runs his tongue slowly over his lips, wiping away the traces of my blood as if it were lipstick staining his plump lips. This man is the personification of disgrace.
My lips are numb, I can still taste the ferrous taste of blood, and he gets off me, so fast I can't keep up. I sit at the table, lost in thought: was what just happened a kiss or just the desire for my blood?
"You taste delicious, young lady." My whole body shivers when I hear her voice, far enough away to echo around the room. The sensation of hearing his voice is like a gentle wind touching my hair, that tingling sensation in my body that can make anyone go still just by hearing it.
I get up from the table and look around, searching for some sign of where he is, but I can't find him anywhere.
"If my blood is so delicious, why don't you just kill me?" A loud laugh takes over the room, startling me, and I look around, my footsteps mingling with his laughter.
I feel a wind rushing past me, a sensation filling my hair that startles me. My eyes scan all four sides of the huge room. Hands touch my waist and hold me tightly, I hold back a frightened scream.
"Calm down, are you in a hurry to die?" That husky voice reaches my ear, making me afraid, but the desire to feel his touch on my body distracts me.
"Why are you torturing me? Why don't you get it over with?" My voice sounds urgent, a plea of fear, and discomfort.
He slides his hand over my shoulder, pushing my hair away and leaving my neck free.
"You've got the wrong idea." I close my eyes as I feel his soft, wet kiss on my neck. I feel the same warmth I felt before rising between my legs, passing through my intimacy to my breasts.
"I never wanted to kill you." The tip of his rough tongue touches my neck, sending a shiver down my spine and making me sigh, trying to pull away from him. But his big, strong hands grip my waist tightly, leaving me immobile in place. "Where do you think you're going, young lady?"
I get lost in his words, what do you mean he never wanted to kill me? He can only be trying to distract me. "But... and... the sacrifice?" My voice fails me just as I'm about to ask another question, leaving me feeling insecure at this revelation.
He moves away from me, passing in front of me, and when his attention goes to the buttons on his shirt, he slowly opens them, button by button, while staring at me.
"It was never my intention to kill you, but to make you my slave." I stare into his eyes, not quite understanding what he means by slave. I cross my arms and take firm steps closer to him, raising my head to look into his eyes more closely.
"Slave? What century do you think this is?" A cynical smile appears on his lips, he seems to be amused by my words.
"What's so funny?" my hands rest on my waist, I'm getting impatient, his rude manner is bothering me. The fear I felt was already dissipating, letting anger take over my body.
With just one step, his body is closer to mine, the smile on his lips doesn't disappear and he looks away. I run my thumb over his lips. Meanwhile, I observe his features, his striking face, his scruffy beard and his plump lips with a slight pink tinge.
He shrugged, his honey eyes roaming over my face. "It's not a question of the century we're in, young lady. It's a question of power, of survival. And in my world, the strongest prevail."
Now his eyes were fixed on mine as if he were trying to read my soul. I didn't flinch, keeping my gaze steady despite the whirlwind of emotions churning inside me.
"You're stronger than you look. Most would have succumbed to fear, but you... you have the fire inside you." The tone of his voice softened, but it was still imbued with an air of superiority.
I didn't know what he was up to, but it was clear that he had plans of his own. I couldn't let my guard down, no matter what he said.
"I don't know what fire you're talking about." I play dumb, trying to relieve the sensation that his body is so close to mine, really an unknown fire that is making my palms sweat.
He smiles again as if he knew exactly the effect he was having on me. "You know, you can have anything you want here. Luxurious clothes, jewelry, the best of this castle..."
The offer makes my heart race, and fury takes over especially my reasoning. The next thing I know, I'm raising my hand to slap him across the face, but he quickly holds my hand in the air. "I don't want fancy clothes or jewelry." My voice is firm, despite the uncertainty spreading inside me.
"I want answers. I want to know why I'm here and what you plan to do with me."
He grips my wrist firmly, pulling me against his body. "If I tell you what I want to do with you, will you give me what I want?" His voice was low, charged with an intensity that made me shiver. His honey eyes glowed like flames, burning with desire.
My breathing was uneven, anger and fear mixing with an attraction I didn't want to admit. I hated the fact that he was affecting me in some way, but I couldn't deny him the sudden acceleration of my heart.
"I'm not giving you anything," I whispered, my voice barely holding together. I had to resist him, no matter how attractive he was. This was a fight for my life and my freedom, and I couldn't let his games of seduction distract me.
He let go of my wrist, but slid his hand down my arm to my waist, keeping us dangerously close. His mouth touched my ear as he whispered.
"You're stubborn, young lady. But I like it."
Before I could reply, he abruptly pulled away, leaving me breathless and confused. I ran towards him.
"Wait, kill me. Just kill me." Desperation takes hold of me, leaving my heart beating fast, so fast that I feel dizzy. Just as I'm about to fall, he holds me firmly, preventing me from falling. His eyes, now tinged with surprise, stare into mine with intensity.
"I can kill you, but in another way. And that's the way you're going to ask me. And when that happens, you can be sure that fear will no longer be in you." His words become firm and determined. What the hell does he want from me? Hasn't he already drunk my blood, isn't that enough? His hands squeeze my waist even tighter, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"Your breathing and your heart say a lot of things, young lady. Especially that you seem to want the same thing as me." He slides his eyes down my face until he finds my lips, a mischievous smile appearing on them, showing his beautiful teeth. "Accept to be my slave, miss."
How can I accept being a slave to a completely unknown man who is also a vampire? And does he want my blood or does he want something else? Confusion takes over my thoughts, leaving me dazed.
"But remember, young lady, once you accept, there's no going back." His eyes shine with dark desire, and I feel like I'm on the brink of a choice that could change my life forever.