Chapter 1 – Captured Queen

SPOV

I woke to the usual pain that didn't die away after a night of sleep. My pain was constantly there, reminding me of where I was. Honestly, I dread waking up at all. If I moved, there was an ache in my neck that flared up, pulling me out of sleep. After all this time, I was used to it and it didn't bother me as much as in the beginning. Like clockwork, I kept my breathing at a steady pace, but it was still hard to breathe with the heavy arm thrown over my body. I didn't even want to see his arm in my periphery. I wasn't ready to put on my show. The act was getting easier for me, but these were the few precious moments when I don't have to pretend. There wasn't someone watching my every move. In these moments, I was safe. Safe until Borys wakes up next to me.

I looked at my left hand, resting next to my head on the satin covered pillow. There was an impressive diamond ring on my third finger, my wedding ring. The ring was beautiful in its golden setting, but I didn't want it. It only reminded me of the day I got this ring; the worse day of my life. On that day, I wore the most insulting white wedding dress that showed too much skin and the neckline plunged to just above my navel. I shook my head, steering my thoughts away from that day. The pain burned through me, but it didn't bother me.

There was no telling of time here or the marking of days here in the Oasis and that is how Borys wanted it. The Oasis was an ancient Egyptian tomb, and though impressive, that's what it felt like to me; a tomb. But I was not going to die here. From what I could gather, counting the days in my own way, I was in this prison for more than six months. I was in this hellish kingdom as their queen. I, to the people, was Sofia Maslen, Queen of the Oasis. Though I was queen, I had nothing but sympathy from everyone. Borys Maslen was a terrible… I can't even call him a 'man.' He was a vampire, yes, but he was a monster long before he was turned. He enjoyed torturing people and took pleasure in causing pain. Unfortunately, there was something he enjoyed even more; drinking my blood while having my body.

I hated all of this, but most of all, I hated Borys. For some unknown reason I couldn't bring myself to completely hate the woman who is the cause of why I was forced to marry Borys, Ingrid Maslen or as I knew her, Camilla Claremont. She was my mother, but my mother died when I was a child. When she became a vampire, Camilla died and Ingrid was born. She wasn't the best mother, but she was mine and I love her. She left me when I was nine years old when she began her search for Borys and he found her. She wanted to become a vampire and gave him something of great importance; someone she loved the most; her daughter. By giving me to Borys, he agreed to turn her; however, Camilla lied to Borys. I wasn't the one Camilla loved the most, that was my father, her husband, Aiden Claremont. Camilla wasn't going to give Borys the love of her life, so she gave him the daughter she didn't want; me. A girl was of more worth to Borys than a grown man.

That was when I first met Borys. I was home with my babysitter when mom came home and he was with her. They came to get me. That night it was discovered that I was the 'immune.' Borys tried to turn me into an immortal nine year old vampire; for what reason, I don't know and I never thought about it. But, to their surprise, I didn't turn; instead I suffered from a terrible fever that left me bed-ridden for more than five days. My body rejected the serum that was injected into my body from Borys's bite. When I woke from the fever, I found my father crying by my bedside and my body was burning to the point of deliriousness.

Now, here I am, an eighteen years old queen, lying next to Borys in his bed as his wife, or should I say, a prize and captive. I hated it, but he didn't know that nor did he care. He enjoyed my fear, when my body shook from his touch. Borys was a sick man who took pleasure in my fear, but now, he simply enjoyed having me near. His arm tightened around me, pulling me harder against his body. Every time this man touched me, I took a scolding hot bath to burn the feeling of his fingers off my skin.

A tear streamed from my eye as I felt his breath on my neck, flaring up the pain from his bite. Borys insisted I sleep with his bite marks on my neck, as a reminder of who I belonged to. Why would my own mother do this to me? In the beginning, she stood by and did nothing, but now, it was my turn to drive her mad. She hated seeing me with Borys. I was supposed to be driven insane and a babbling fool after a few weeks within Borys's grasp. I wasn't going to let that happen to me. I was going to escape and put all of this in my past. No one could know of my plans to escape the Oasis, Borys and Ingrid.

From the sounds of his grumblings, Borys was going to wake soon. My time was up. Closing my eyes, mentally, I put my mask on and became Sofia Maslen. I couldn't, not for a single moment, let my mask fall. It was exhausting, but it was safer that way.

I exhaled slowly, wincing, "Borys, wake up. You're squeezing me." My hand rested on his, "Come on. Time to frighten the masses." I rolled my eyes as he breathed a smile. I looked over my shoulder, smiling sweetly, "Come on, you old man." His muddy brown eyes opened, "Old man?" Borys hugged me closer and kissed my cheek, "I should punish you for that." I batted my eyes at him, "You already did, but you won't be happy." I sat up, showing my injured neck. A strong hand brushed over the bites, making me flinch in pain, "You were bad." I pointed out the blood spot on my pillow, "But you've wasted my blood. I thought every drop of it was for you."

Borys took the pillow and inhaled the scent, "I see your point." Everything inside of me protested being near him. I moved to get out of bed, but a hand caught my arm and I was pulled back. My cheek landed against Borys's chest. His hand stroked my hair, holding me in place. My eyes closed and I imagined myself being held by man. A man with gorgeous black hair and beautiful blue eyes I could lose myself in. His hands were gentle when he held me and he loved me and I him. I missed him so much but we couldn't be together any more.

Borys held onto me for another moment. Grasping my face between his hands, he moved me closer to press his lips to mine. Borys's kiss always tightened my stomach, but I didn't let it show. I let my lips move against his, responding to his kiss, feeling his tongue against mine. My throat closed to hold back the bile until the kiss ended. "Let me eat breakfast, then I'll join you at the training center." Borys brushed my hair back, "You know you're not allowed there when the guards are training. You distract them."

I batted my eyes again, "But you've said I was their inspiration." "No, you are my inspiration. Besides, Ingrid wishes to speak with you." I rolled my eyes, "Well, I don't wish to speak to her." I moved to get out of bed and walked into the closet. Borys sighed, "Sofia, she's your mother." I stood in the door, leaning against the frame, "No, she's not. She stopped being my mother when she left with you." Borys's eyes darkened and I rephrased, "Borys, she left me when I was a child. For half of my life, she wasn't there. Besides, outside of you, me and her, no one else knows she's my birth mother because I don't want anyone to know. And, please, could you speak to her about how she addresses me. To everyone, I am to be called 'Your Highness.' I don't ask for much, so please?"

There was a power, an influence I now held over Borys and I used it to make my life somewhat livable. Borys's eyes were fixed on me as I posed in the door frame, my hand on my hip, grasping the silk nightgown I was wearing, "Borys?" His eyes moved over my body, "I'll speak with her. Now come here." I shook my head, "No, you have a training to lead and I have to get dressed." And if you touched me again, I will throw up. Moving into the closet, I selected my garment for the day. Space…. I needed space, but that was short lived. There was a whoosh of air behind me and a loud closing of the closet door.

My dress fell from my hand as I turned around. Borys stood against the door, trapping me in the closet with him, "Did you just refuse me, Sofia?" I gulped and swallowed, "No… yes. It's just I didn't want you to be late. I was thinking of you." My body trembled for a moment, knowing what was to come; punishment for disobedience. Borys stalked over, backing me into the wall. His weight pressed me hard against the wall. Hands groped at my body, "You don't refuse your king, wife. The training will start when I get there." His cold eyes drifted down my body coldly, possessively, "Now, because of you denying me, I want you on all fours on the floor now."

My teeth sank into my teeth, "Yes, husband." The word left a horrible taste in my mouth. I was ready to handle this, but this was my life and I had to play along to survive. My lip trembled, but I hid it from him as I kneeled on the floor, putting my hands down. "Drop your head." My head dipped slowly until my chin touched my chest. A whimper tried to escape my mouth as I felt the silk of my nightgown lifting off my legs. Borys was breathing heavily as he knelt behind me. His hands gripped my hips, "I want to hear you scream, Sofia."

I gasped loudly feeling Borys's erection roughly pushed inside me. He wasn't of a gentle nature and he always took me harshly. I groaned in pain as he poked, prodded and pushed against my body. My body followed his hands, not wanting to fight. Fighting Borys wasn't worth more pain. I screamed out in pain as his claws cut into my skin, "That's my good girl." My arms shook with tension as I tried to stay up. If I fell down, Borys would put his entire weight on me, making breathing almost impossible. My hair fell like a curtain around my face, so Borys could see the tears falling from my eyes. I didn't cry long; I couldn't. I won't let him see my red eyes. I will not let him see my pain.

Judging by the sound of his grunts, he was almost finished. My eyes pinched closed and I hummed my favorite song; the one he hummed whenever we danced in his haven. I missed my king so much. The man I wanted to marry and not this beast behind me. Borys pulled me up, hard against his chest and rested his cheek to the back of my head. Kisses were pressed into my hair, "I love it when you disobey me, because the punishment is so much fun. I love you." My eyes looked up, through the strew strands of hair over my face, hanging limply in his arms. "I love you too," I whispered. It took a lot of practice, but I got it down. Whenever I said "I love you," I had a fixed picture of Derek Novak in my head.

Derek Novak is the man I love and the only one I'll love. Borys was nothing and soon, it would be over. This man didn't love me, he was obsessed with me. Borys was someone you didn't love, admire, envy; you can only fear and be disgusted by him. Borys's hands moved to cup my breasts as he kissed my hair, moving down to my cheek. His mouth moved down to the injured side of my neck, nipping at the broken skin, coaxing out blood. He was still inside of me, moving at a slower pace, a gentler pace. I had to respond to him or I would be in a worse position. My hands moved up to his, weaving my fingers through his; a method to soothe the beast. I wanted this over and soon. There were things I needed to do. Gritting my teeth and preparing myself for the worse, I leaned my head back against his shoulder, pretending to enjoy this.

He moved us quickly, out of the closet. I gasped as I was thrown on the bed. Borys was on me, back inside of me and moving quickly, "Is this what you wanted, my queen?" I sighed, feigning satisfaction, so that I didn't have to answer him. He accepted my sounds of fake pleasure. Borys grunted once, twice and a third time before collapsing on top of me. Air was knocked out of me and my eyes widened, feeling him entire weight. His weight felt like it would crack my ribs.

Borys moved off and laid next to me, holding my hand. Pain radiated from my hips where he clawed me. Was I ever going to get used to being in pain? He kissed my palm, "You do this on purpose, don't you?" I smiled, "No, I don't. I think you look for way to get me to disobey you, so you can punish me." Stroking his ego was easy; Borys was not a smart man. He chuckled deeply and pulled me against him, "Perhaps."

Borys needed to leave me alone and soon, or I was going to scream. I could only handle being around this brute but for so long. There was a crunching sound and a bleeding wrist was held to my mouth, "Drink, now." Vampire blood had a quicker effect on me. I healed much faster than most people, because I was the 'immune.' The pain in my neck from his bite faded and Borys pulled his hand away, "Now, be a good girl and I will call for you when I'm in the throne room." I nodded slowly, "Alright. I think I'll go back to sleep." He leaned closer until our noses touched. I faked a giggle, only to keep from cringing back, "You made me tired again," I said in a breathy voice.

He growled with desire but I put my hand on his chest, "You know if you stay, I won't rest and you can't break bones. Now go and train your guards. Take your frustrations out on them." Borys smiled, "That is why I love you." After kissing me, I laid down and pretended to go back to sleep, only listening closely. Borys was in the closet. He came out and walked over to the bed and kissed my hair, "My delicious queen, you belong only to me."

I wanted to back away from him, but I kept myself perfectly still, pretending to be asleep. My eyes opened as the bedroom door closed. I jumped from bed and went to the bathroom to draw my scalding hot bath; time to wash Borys off me again. I hated being his queen and possession.