Chapter 1- Christian's POV
The men seated us so that I was opposite Mason, Rose and Eddie.
"These are the ones you especially have to watch," the leader warned, nodding towards the others. "They'll fight back. Watch her in particular." He shouted a few more orders before leaving the room. I could hear his footsteps echoing upstairs before it went quiet and we all looked from one to another. I didn't know what was really happening.
"What are you going to-" I started to ask.
"Shut up," growled one of the guards. He took a step towards me but I still wanted to ask. Rose caught my eye and shook her head. If Rose thought it was a bad idea, then it's a really fucking bad idea.
I hated not knowing what was going to happen to us. I wondered why we were still alive. What could they want from us, they were human. I glanced at all my friend's faces; it was obvious they were as scared as me. What was shocking was that Rose looked just as scared. Why would she be scared? She kicked dhampir ass and they were only humans. I could smell the fear and sweat in the air.
Suddenly I could hear footsteps. The leader stepped into the hall, and the guards stood up straighter. That couldn't be good, something was going to happen. God, I don't want to die.
"Yes, sir," the leader said. "They're in here, just like you wanted." What? That didn't make sense.
"Let us out of here!" Rose was shouting her head off while pulling on her restraints. "Let us out of here, you son of a-" Rose looked like she was about to have a full blown panic attack. I had never seen her so scared, not even when it involved Lissa. She was staring at someone with shock.
I looked over towards the hall and all I saw was the white skin and the red eyes. There were two Strigoi. The male Strigoi's face was so scary. It was so cold and malicious.
I saw out of the corner of my eye that one of the guards shoved Rose, before looking back to the Strigoi.
"You want me to gag her?" Rose was pushing herself back against the chair.
"No, I'd like to hear what she has to say. Please. Continue." The male Strigoi said to Rose, she remained silent. "No? Nothing to add? Well. Do feel free to pipe up if something else comes to mind." I have never seen Rose back down, ever.
"Isaiah, why are you keeping them here? Why haven't you just contacted the others?" the female Strigoi exclaimed.
"Elena, Elena, behave yourself. I'm not going to pass up the chance to enjoy myself with a Moroi and . . ." he walked over to Rose and lifted her hair. God her hair looked so soft. Fuck not the right moment. Isaiah then looked at Mason's and Eddie's necks. ". . . Three unblooded dhampirs." I had no idea what the fuck that meant. Isaiah walked over to me and studied me, he was shit scary but I refused to look away. "Look at these eyes, Elena." She walked over and stood next to Isaiah. "That pale blue. Like ice. Like aqua-marines. You almost never get that outside of the royal houses. Badicas. Ozeras. The occasional Zeklos."
"Ozera," I tried to sound fearless, but I'm sure I failed.
"Really? Surely not . . . But the age is right . . . and that hair . . . Lucas and Moira's son?" Isaiah was right in my face, and then he smiled. I couldn't say anything, I was so scared. "I knew your parents. Great people. Unparalleled. Their deaths were a shame . . . but, well . . . I daresay they brought that on themselves. I told them shouldn't have gone back for you. Would have been wasteful to awaken you so young. They claimed they were going to just keep you around and waken you when you were older. I warned them that that would be a disaster, but, well . . ." Isaiah gave a shrug. "They wouldn't listen, and disaster met them in a different way." God I hated him. I wanted to burn him alive so he could suffer. "It's quite touching that you should find your way to me after all this time. Perhaps I can realize their dream after all." Rose was pulling on her restraints, she was glaring at Isaiah, and honestly if looks could kill he would be dead. I wasn't quite sure why she was mad, but then she shot me a sympathetic look. And I realised, she was angry for me, why? I had no idea.
"Isaiah, call the others-" Elena whined.
"Stop giving me orders!" Isaiah shoved her almost through the wall across the room. She looked bloody terrified.
"I . . . I'm sorry Isaiah." She wouldn't look at him.
"You have your opinions; share them in a civilized manner. What do you think we should do?"
"We could throw a dinner party? It's a complete waste, they are never grateful. " Elena was trying not to whine.
"I'm not making a dinner party out of them. I'm not killing them yet either. You're young. You only think about immediate gratification. When you're as old as me, you won't be so . . . impatient." He said he wasn't going to kill us, yet. That meant he was going to kill us. Elena left the room before Isaiah turned to the others. "I'm afraid you three are going to die, but you get to choose depending –" I think I would die if he killed Rose.
"No! You will let them go! I won't fight, I will stay. Just let them go." Isaiah just ignored her.
"-on your behaviour, some of you will suffer more than others." He then turned towards me. "You will live on in glorious immortality-" I couldn't turn into one of them, Rose would stake me. She would hate me. Rose interrupted again but this time she was screaming her head off.
"No! Leave him alone!" Rose was so angry that she was shaking.
"But I will not awaken you, you will choose to waken willingly." Isaiah continued as if Rose hadn't said anything. Rose was pulling on her restraints so hard that her wrists were bleeding. She kept pulling on them and pulling them. "What are you doing!" Isaiah shouted glaring at Rose.
Rose pulled one more time and they snapped. And all of a sudden she was tackling Isaiah to the ground. Eddie was struggling with his restraints, trying to break free. There was a blood curdling scream, and I thought my heart had stopped. Isaiah had one arm around Rose's waist, his other hand was in her hair; exposing her throat. He plunged his fangs into her throat, blood was pouring down her neck soaking her top. I realised then, to my horror, that I was thirsty. I hadn't had a drink all day. When Isaiah released her neck, she looked deathly pale, as pale as a Moroi. She could barely stand. Isaiah threw her against the wall next to me like she was a rag doll. There was a long gash across her temple; blood was trickling down her face. She was barely breathing and she was unconscious.
"Mmm, she tasted so good. Would you like a taste Ozera?" He picked up Rose's body and pushed her neck towards my face. I was trying not to breathe, but the smell of her blood was so good. I felt my fangs descend. He dropped Rose's body onto my lap, her neck was exposed and the blood was starting to soak my shirt. She was so tempting, but I shouldn't. "Ugh. We'll have to wait longer." Isaiah picked her up again but put her back in her chair. "Use two this time; I don't want her escaping again. And untie Ozera. Do you understand?" He asked as he walked towards the door.
"Yes, of course sir." One of the guards responded and walked over to Rose, pulling her arms behind the chair, her head falling forward. The blood dripped from the gash on her face, straight onto her jeans. I need to stop looking at her. I'm only making myself hungrier. I felt my wrists being released and immediately ran to Rose.
"Rose? Rosie? Wake up, come on Rose, wake up. Rose?" God, her head was bleeding badly, I need to stop it. I need a cloth or something. My shirt is already soaked and it already had holes in it. I ripped the bottom of my shirt off and held it to Rose's head. The fabric became soaked in seconds. "Come on Rose, wake up. Rose?" I have no idea how long I kept begging her to wake up, but Eddie and Mason had fallen asleep, woken up and gone back to sleep again. And I was getting hungrier and hungrier.
"Ugh, my head is killing me. Christian? How did you get out? He didn't kill me? Why" Rose looking around making the wound on her neck bleed again. Hmm she smells so good. I wish I could taste her. Or maybe kiss her. God I would love to kiss her. I know it's not fair on Lissa but I think I'm in love with Rose. "Christian?"
"Huh? Oh yeah. They released me. I'm guessing he didn't kill you because he said he would make those who misbehave suffer." I hate to see her in pain.
"Ah your awake, I was wondering how long it would take. Two days is a long time. Isaiah did take a lot of blood. And he smashed your head. And you did cut your own wrists. It's a wonder that there's any blood left in you." Elena said walking over to Rose. She brushed Rose's hair out of the way to look at the bite mark. "Oh he got you good didn't he? My turn!" Elena lunged for Rose's neck and bit hard. Rose had been unconscious for ages before Elena released her.
I got up to go to Rose but Elena stepped out in front of me and kissed me. I was shocked at first but then I realised, she still had Rose's blood in her mouth and it tasted amazing. It was like I hadn't eaten anything in a month and someone gave me a really tender, juicy beef steak. But I wanted more. The only way to get more was to get it from Rose.
I started to walk toward Rose when Elena disappeared from the room, only to return seconds later with Isaiah. Eddie and Mason were screaming at me to stop. But I couldn't, I wasn't sure if I even wanted to stop myself. I leaned toward Rose's neck and kissed the bite mark that Elena had made and quickly loosened her restraints. God, she tasted even better while her blood is still warm. I bit her and heard her moan in pleasure; I don't think anyone else heard her except the Strigoi. I felt her trying to push me off once she fully regained consciousness. The adrenaline in her blood just made her taste even better. At first she almost got free but as I continued to drink, her struggles became frantic and uncoordinated. Eddie and Mason were still screaming at me until Rose's struggles stopped all together, and it became deathly silent. Her blood is addictive; you just want to keep drinking. No wonder Lissa kept drinking it. No I have to stop; I don't want to become a Strigoi. I pulled away and her head fell back. I stumbled back to my chair. I heard Mason and Eddie sigh in relief.
"Come on, finish the job. Or I will kill her slowly." Isaiah said as he came to stand next to me, Elena remained near the hallway. I couldn't do it, I couldn't kill Rose. I loved her, and Lissa loved her too. I would actually be killing Rose, Lissa and myself. I wasn't even hungry anymore, but her blood was amazing.
"I won't do it." I tried to be strong for Rose but I knew what I said would have consequences and that scared me shitless. Isaiah looked directly into my eyes and kept eye contact. I knew what was coming and I had no way to stop it.
"You know that I can compel you and you will do everything I say. You will drink every single drop of blood from her body." He was pointing straight at Rose. I don't want to do it. I can fight this if I tried had enough. I was trying but I still stood up and walked over to Rose. I looked over to Eddie to see if he could help but he was just staring and Rose's unconscious body. I brought my lips to her neck once again.