Well, this is my first go at this so I hope you all enjoy it! This is set in between Pleasures of a Dark Prince and Demon from the Dark, so if you have not read those I would recommend not reading this!
I own nothing; all characters belong to the fabulous Kresley Cole!
WARNING! There will be some very disturbing scenes in this fic! I wanted to explore the idea of what would be the worst possible torment for a Lykae after reading about the "experimentation" in Demon from the Dark and this is what I came up with.
Please R&R!
"The most powerful weapons in my arsenal? Killer aim, killer wit, killer bod. Oh, and a killer werewolf hubby with jealousy issues."
-Lucia, Valkyrie and Peerless Archer (Yes, that includes you, Tera of the Fey!)
"My mate is the most beautiful female in the world. If you disagree, I'll cut out your malfunctioning eyes. If you agree, best not be too vocal about it or I'll cut out your fucking eyes."
-Gareth, Prince of all Lykae
Lucia walked into the building as if she belonged there. She had no idea where Gareth might be held in the ordinary-looking skyscraper, but she figured her chances of finding him were better if she acted like a confident member of the office team rather than skulking in under cover of darkness. The mortals in charge of this operation clearly had plenty of immortal help, powerful beings who would surely be guarding the building at night. Otherwise, they would never have been able to hold Gareth against his will.
Forcing doubts from her mind about the wisdom of coming on her own, Lucia sniffed delicately as she entered the revolving door. No scent of him, but then again, her keen sense of smell was not nearly as acute as her mate's, so detecting him though scent alone in this towering, labyrinthine structure would be challenging.
Deciding that pausing in the entranceway was unwise, Lucia strode towards the elevators directly ahead of her. She would go to the top floor first, where the director of this operation kept his office. The foolish mortal would give her answers or he would suffer. She would simply have to deal with any immortals who might stand in her way.
Fury flooded through her at the thought of Loreans serving mortals. And helping them target rival factions of the Lore, no less. She felt her claws straighten in aggression and was forced to curl her fingers inward in order to hide it.
Internalizing her rage, Lucia gave a beatific smile to the man operating the elevator. His eyes roved over her appreciatively in a way she most certainly did not appreciate. But she hid her annoyance at this mortal's presumption and merely held her smile, widening her eyes in order to appear more approachable.
"Excuse me, sir," she purred. "I need to meet with the director. I'm here interviewing for a new secretarial position, and I'm not sure where to go. You look like a man who knows your way around." She smiled invitingly so he would not mistake her innuendo.
The pathetic man cleared his throat in an uncomfortable way. "I'm not sure. I'm not supposed to take people up to the upper levels without the proper clearance. I can make a call…"
That simply would not do. Lucia allowed her eyes to well up with tears. "But that might make me late! Please, just take me directly up. I can't risk not getting this job! I'm all on my own and will lose my house if I can't pay this month's rent!" She allowed the tears to spill over her cheeks.
"Please, sir, won't you help me?" she peered at him plaintively from beneath her wet lashes.
The man shifted uncomfortably. "Um, well, yes… I suppose I could make an exception… You seem harmless enough…"
Sucker.
A dazzling smile lit up her face. "Thank you, thank you so much! This really will make all the difference!" She hugged the man, pressing her breasts up against his chest. "I just can't tell you how much I appreciate it," she murmured demurely. God, she was acting as lewdly as Regin! She bit down on her distaste.
This is for Gareth. Try not to think about what a slut you look like right now…
"Ah, well, its really no problem," the man was beginning to grow hard against her, and at least he had the good grace to blush and quickly extricate himself from her embrace. He twisted a gold band guiltily on the ring finger of his left hand.
Lucia softened towards him and made a mental note not to kill him later if things got ugly. He really was quite a decent idiot, it seemed. She supposed she couldn't blame him for reacting to her; she was stunning, after all.
After that, they rode up to the forty-fifth floor in silence as the man shifted awkwardly from foot to foot and Lucia dabbed at her eyes and checked her appearance in a compact in a show of mortal vanity. Good, her braids were still safely covering her pointed ears.
With a cheerful ding, the elevator signaled that they had arrived at the designated floor. Lucia went to step out, giving the porter a kiss on the cheek on her way out the door.
"Thanks. You're an angel!" She whispered.
"Uh, no problem."
The elevator doors slid shut behind her with a muffled thump.
This is where it gets sticky, Lucia thought.
Her charm, though considerable, would only get her so far, and she seriously doubted that she could fight her way through everyone in the building and still get to Gareth in one piece. Especially if there were more than just mortals with guns on the premises at the moment.
If Gareth was even on these premises.
Don't think like that! She chided herself.
It was just so unlike level-headed Lucia to go barging in like this without a clear plan. It didn't sit well with her. But she would be damned if she allowed one more day to pass by while her allies strategized when Gareth was in danger!
Betraying none of her uncertainty, she strode up to the circular desk directly in front of the elevator where a harassed young woman sat, busily answering the phone while working on the computer at the same time.
When Lucia reached the desk, she had to wave to get the girl's attention. Startled, the young woman looked up at her questioningly.
"I have an appointment with the director," she stated confidently.
"Oh, are you his eleven o'clock? Miss…?"
Lucia snuck a glance at the computer monitor where the director's schedule was clearly displayed. Eleven was supposed to be a meeting with a Mr. O'Rourke. Crap.
"I'm actually a last-minute fill-in for Mr. O'Rourke. He's not feeling well today, so he sent me along in his stead. I'm his personal assistant, Tracy Clarke."
"Oh," the secretary blinked in surprise. "Mr. Stanton has never met with anyone other than Mr. O'Rourke himself. I don't know how he will feel about seeing someone different. I'm sorry, but I will have to check with him to make sure that this is okay."
She peered at her phone, which was lit up with blinking lights like a Christmas tree.
"It seems he is still on a conference call, but I will check with him as soon as he is finished. Would you mind having a seat?"
She gestured towards a row of plush armchairs lining the wall.
Crap. If she didn't get in that office soon, Mr. O'Rourke himself was sure to arrive and blow her cover before she could ask her questions. But it was far too soon to openly resort to force.
Lucia plastered on an understanding smile.
"Of course. I understand. But would you mind if I use the restroom while you make the call? I would like to freshen up if Mr. Stanton does agree to meet with me."
"No problem," the woman returned her smile. "Down the hall and to the left."
Lucia nodded her thanks and headed in that direction. However, she did not stop at the wooden door marked with a stick figure in a dress. She marched right past it with an air of purpose and a look of superiority that dared anyone to question her right to be there.
But everyone she passed hardly spared her a glance, and she continued toward the office at the end of the hallway unimpeded.
"Edward Stanton" was emblazoned on the door in imposing gold lettering.
This is it, Lucia thought to herself as she turned the doorknob hard, casually breaking the lock as she forced the door open.
She had thought to catch the director by surprise, but he just smiled at her genially, despite the fact that she had just barged her way into his office unannounced.
Warning prickles danced their way up her spine, and she knew that she didn't have long until she would have to turn to violence.
The man was clearly mortal and no match for her strength. She coiled her muscles, preparing to spring over the desk separating her from Edward Stanton and get some answers her way.
But she was stopped short by a strong arm which closed around her windpipe from behind with shocking speed. She was lifted her off the floor by her neck. Her hands flew to the corded muscles of the forearm which was now cutting off her air. Her sharpened claws dug into her attacker's skin, tearing away bits of flesh, but the arm only tightened around her throat, causing her delicate bones to scream in protest as they ground together.
Through her blurring vision, she could see Stanton smiling.
"Just in time, Jon. I was worried you might be late," he addressed the hulking- and definitely immortal- male who was threatening to separate her head from her body if he increased his grip.
"Would you like me to dispose of her?" The brute's dispassionate voice came from behind her.
"No," Stanton's smile twisted into a leer. "Don't you recognize her? This is Lucia the Archer, Gareth MacRieve's mate. I think having possession of her will greatly aid us in our task. Physical pain does not seem to affect the Lykae in any lasting way. But I have heard that threatening their mates brings out the worst in them, and harming their female can madden them beyond recall. This will allow us to test the greatest weakness in the breed."
No no no! Lucia would not aid them in harming Gareth! She was here to rescue him!
The growl that was meant to issue from her throat turned to a strangled whine as her crushed voice box protested. She renewed her struggles against her captor, kicking out behind her. But she could gain no leverage, and the few hits that did connect seemed to have no effect on her massive captor.
She might be able to survive strangulation, but that did not mean that she could retain consciousness without oxygen flowing into her lungs. Her vision began to darken, her limbs going numb.
"Take her down to her mate. I'm sure that's what she came here for. I will not deny them the joy of their reunion." Lucia could hear the laughter in Stanton's voice, but it was as though it was coming to her through a long tunnel.
"Hmmm, she is a resilient little thing, though. She should have been out by now. Ah, well, all the better really. She will make for very interesting study. Go ahead and incapacitate her, Jon. I don't want her causing any trouble on the way down."
Her vision completely obscured by the black spots dancing before her, Lucia didn't even see the hilt of the dagger that smashed into her temple at a speed that would have killed her had she not been immortal. As it was, she felt a starburst of pain and red filled her vision before the blackness took her completely.