A/N: Alright. So, yeah, I got no reviews for last chappy. None, zip, zero, nada, nothing. Do you know how depressing that is? Just a little "Love it," or "Hate it" will do, but no. I got nothing. *sniffs pathetically*

But I'm a merciful writer - at least for my readers anyway, characters…not so much- and I've decided to go ahead and post this chappy for y'all. Just please-please-pretty-please-with-a-cherry-on-top leave a review for me. Just a little one?

*gives you googoo eyes*

Chapter 5

Isaac continued to touch me and my fury continued to grow within me until finally, it burst.

A hidden strength I only drew upon as a last resort suddenly burst to the forefront and I pushed my attacker away then struck him across the face with a perfectly executed roundhouse kick. I then took a defensive stance even as Isaac still struggled to recover from my sudden assault.

Regaining his footing with as much dignity as he could muster, Isaac met my eyes coldly. His hand reached up and brushed away a few dribbles of blood from his split lip and studied it with a snort. "Well, well, well. It seems our little Hector is actually fighting back. Bravo," he said patronizingly, clapping his hands together in a mockery of appreciation.

My face remained frozen in the very image of fury. "Be gone, Isaac. You have your duty, I have mine. I suggest we continue on our way."

I waited while Isaac studied me with a bemused expression. Several painfully slow seconds passed before the red head shrugged and sauntered off down the hall. "Suit yourself, Hector. Just remember, one day you will drop your guard," he paused, looked back over his shoulder, and smirked, "and I'll be there to take you." He winked slyly then continued on his way.

I kept up my defensive stance for several seconds longer then I probably needed to; but after what my counterpart had just said, I was loath to lower my guard even the slightest little bit. Instead, I waited until the silence had permeated everything around me before I dared to slink back to my chambers.

Once inside the relative safety of my private rooms, I slammed the doors shut, locked them, and sank to the floor in a tight ball. My back pressed against the locked doors and my arms wrapped tightly around my knees while my forehead rested atop my knees.

This was not my day.

First, I was taken none to gently by my Lord. Second, I was commanded to capture at least two innocent young women and bring them back here for my Master's amusement. Third, I burned down a village, killing innocent humans in the process. Fourth, I betrayed Ted by kidnapping his sister Sarah mere minutes after meeting and gaining his trust. Fifth, I discovered I had failed my Lord Dracula by only capturing one young woman instead of the commanded two. Sixth, I was told I would be punished for my failure to obey my Master, and knowing him that means I will probably scream until I have no more breath to do so. Seventh, I was almost raped by Isaac. Eighth,…I'm still waiting for that one to happen.

I sighed despairingly. This was definitely not my day.

I heard a faint gurgle from above my head. Curious, but still cautious and on edge, I looked up. And blinked. "Gurgle?" I called faintly.

An affirming chirp was my response followed by a fluttering of feathered wings. I watched as a creature that was a cross between an oversized crow and one of the numerous gargoyles that decorated the exterior of Castlevania, glided down to alight on my folded knees and gaze at me with his coppery orbs. He chirped and cocked his dragon-like head to the right in curiosity.

I smiled gently and ruffled the steel grey feathers on Gurgle's wings affectionately. "I am well, little one. You don't need to worry about me."

Gurgle growled and snapped at my fingers warningly. I paused in my movements and blinked in surprise. Then I smiled again, this time sadly. "So, I'm that easy to read, am I?" It wasn't a question.

My bird type innocent devil chirped and wrapped itself securely around my throat humming as he did so thus allowing the vibrations to travel through my neck in an attempt to calm me down. I felt his long, sinuous tail tighten around my throat and his little head rest comfortably on top of mine. His tiny claws which were sharp enough to easily tear a human to pieces, and strong enough to carry my weight for long distances, were placed gently on my cheek and ear holding hit lithe body in his comfortable position. His largish feathery wings tickled my skin as they folded.

"Comfortable?" I asked half teasingly.

Gurgle sighed contentedly in response and I couldn't help but smile. While Fee was more the motherly type, Gurgle was more of the brotherly type. Though whether or not he resembled the older brother or the younger brother more, depended on both my mood and his mood. At the moment, he seemed to be more of the younger brother in his worry and style of comforting by conveniently getting comfortable himself. I adored my friends.

My friends. They had always been with me, even when my mother was still alive. Given I thought they were my imaginary friends at the time. I could still remember…

"Hector? Hector! Come in, supper is ready," my mother called, her lovely auburn hair spilling over her shoulders from their loose restraints.

I turned with an excited expression. Food! I loved food. I couldn't imagine life without it. "Can Urim and Fee come too?" I called back.

"Urim and Fee? Are they your friends?" my mother asked gently, coming out of the house to better see my 'friends'.

"Mmmhmm. Fee's the fairy and Urim's the big rock thing," I informed her proudly pointing to each friend in turn.

"'Big rock thing?'" she asked with a slight waver in her expression. After a moment, it calmed. "Are these your imaginary friends again?"

"They're not imaginary. They're real!" I insisted with a childish stomp of my foot.

My mother knelt and brought me into her gentle, loving embrace. "Oh, Hector. You have to stop this. The other children won't play with you if you keep pretending to see monsters."

"They are not monsters, Mother. They're my friends," I sobbed.

Why? Why wouldn't my mother believe me? Was it because she couldn't see them? Was that it? But then, she couldn't see God but she knew he existed. So then why? Why wouldn't she believe in my friends? Why?

XxX

The first thing I became aware of when I opened my eyes was the rush of air passed my face, indicating I was moving. Then I saw the flash of wood.

Oh, I'm falling.

Thunk!

I moaned and struggled up to my hands and knees before looking over my shoulder to see what caused my fall. I saw two feet. My gaze followed body up the legs, up the torso, and finally to the neck. I felt fury fill my body once more.

"Isaac," I all but growled. How did he get into my room when my door was locked?

"Hector," he cooed. "Fancy seeing you here. What? Was it more comfortable to sleep on the floor by the door then on your fluffy, enticing bed?"

I stood and brushed myself off. "I don't need this. Unless you have something important to say, leave. These are my personal chambers, they are not your personal playground."

"Now that point is debatable. But that aside, I've come to inform you that your punishment has been decided. My Lord Dracula wishes to see you. Immediately. I suggest you hurry. We wouldn't want your punishment doubling, now would we?"

I sighed. "Gurgle," I murmured to my friend who was still firmly latched around my neck, "you know what to do."

The feathered reptile gurgled happily and leapt onto Isaac face. The other Devil Forgemaster cried out and slapped at his face and body in an effort to remove my friend. I didn't even try to hold back my chuckles as I sauntered passed the red head and out the door. I whistled and almost instantly Gurgle was wrapped around my neck again. I continued on my way, leaving a thoroughly flustered and furious Isaac behind.

The closer I got to the throne room, the more anxious I felt. I felt dizzy and a bit nauseous, which only added to my anxiety. Gurgle shifted on my shoulder and I reached up to scratch his head. His familiar weight calmed me somewhat, but it wasn't enough to calm me completely. When I arrived at the throne room, I took a deep breath, and entered. I crossed to the center of the room and bowed deeply in submission, waiting to be recognized.

"Hector, you may approach," my Lord's voice echoed.

I gulped and rose from my bow to stride purposefully forward to kneel at my Master's feet. "My Lord, I await your punishment," I said quietly, submissively.

I felt Gurgle grumble and shift on my shoulder again as I waited patiently, my heart fluttering wildly, for the vampire lord's pronouncement.

"Your companion is not needed. Dismiss him," my Master commanded sternly.

Gurgle growled, but I reached up and caressed his head. "It's alright, Gurgle. I'll be fine. I'll call you when I need you. Go rest," I ordered gently. My innocent devil eyed me pleedingly, until his head lowered in submission and he faded out of existance. I felt bad for telling him to leave when all he wanted was to kkep me calm, but a command from my Master was a command that never went unheaded without suffering the consequences. Something I was about to experience, I though with a quivering breath.

I looked down at the cold stone floor once more listening to the loud silence that pounded my ears. I prayed something would happen! I couldn't take this silence. I couldn't stand this waiting. ...but at the same time, I didn't want anything to happen. I am a paradox.

My thoughts ceased with my breath when a slender, cool hand rested lightly on my head entangling in my curls, then slid down my cheek to my chin, lifting my face to its owner's. Cold, golden eyes met my silver flecked blue and suddenly I couldn't move. I couldn't blink. I could barely breathe. I could only listen.

"My son Adrian has convinced me of you innocence in the matter of the young woman. He has also told me of the clever way in which you accomplished her capture. Befriending her brother thereby gaining her trust, then betraying them both before they knew what happened." He chuckled coldly. "A very fine job. However, despite this, I did command you to bring me at least two women. You brought me one. And though I congratulate you on the method of her capture, judgment must be passed for your, otherwise, failure. I will be merciful. I would offer you to my son Adrian, but he has already fed. That leaves me."

He pulled my chin up further forcing me to rise from my knees and lean forward so I was practically sprawled on his seated form. I couldn't help it. I felt I would die if I looked away from those glorious golden orbs. My heart raced, but my breathing was slow, steady, and normal. I knew this was a side effect of hypnotism, but I could not, would not fight it. It was a part of my Lord, and I loved my Lord. Fighting it would mean fighting him. And I would never do that.

When my face was mere centimeters from his, I felt his other hand clutch my upper arm and pull me closer so our lips were close enough to brush. My muscles were already shaking from having to hold up my weight in this awkward position. But through it all, my eyes never left my Lord's. They were so beautiful. Such deep gold, almost like honey, but cold as amber. I suddenly had the distinct impression that I was the unfortunate spider and his eyes were the glorious amber cage that held me immobile, frozen in time.

"You're blood smells so good, Hector," he whispered. "So sweet and bitter. So warm and red. If you only knew. Your moans, your screams, your pleas for mercy. If you only knew how wonderful they sound."

I didn't have a moment to react before I felt my Lord's mouth on my neck. I wanted to tense in anticipation of the sharp pinpricks of his fangs, but I couldn't move. I was still held immobile, and the bite never came. Instead, Dracula suckled on my pulse like a child suckles its mother's breast. It felt so good. I moaned quietly as my eyelids slid to half mast.

The hand on my left arm pushed my body down to the side so I lay on my back in my Lord's lap. He raised his head from my skin and captured my gaze in his once more. Neither of us moved for those precious seconds. Then Dracula's eyes turned blood red, glowing dimly in the torch lit chamber, and his head thrust down…and his fangs pierced my throat.

At first, all I could feel was shock. My mind couldn't understand what was happening. I was laying on my back across my Lord's lap, and he was draining me. But it wasn't the gentle suckling from moments before, or the seductive nipping of last night. This was painful. I felt his fangs under my skin keenly, unlike the night before when I was only dimly aware of them through the haze of pleasure. This was clear, absolute torture.

I had failed him.

I screamed and my hands rushed to clutch something, anything that could possibly give me enough leverage to escape my Lord's clutches. But I couldn't find anything. All my desperate hands could find was my Lord's dark head. My fingers tangled in his long midnight tresses and pulled in a vain attempt to get him off me.

Abruptly, he jerked me and I shrieked as his fangs delved deeper into my flesh. But I got the message. I consciously forced myself to stop pulling my Lord's hair, my I didn't release my grip. That was all that was keeping me anchored to this world through the pain. I choked as some blood leaked into my wind pipe making it difficult to breathe. I felt a tiny drop of what I knew was blood trickle out the side of my mouth.

It wasn't just my neck that hurt now, it was my whole body. I felt like I was burning alive and freezing to death simultaneously. It was impossible, yet that was how I felt. I continued to scream and cry and beg him for mercy. Even though I knew I would receive none.

This very punishment was a mercy, however much it didn't feel like it. My Master could very well have tossed me into the dungeon where I would have been at the mercy of anything and everything in castle, but he didn't. He chose this punishment; and somewhere in my pain fogged mind, I knew this. But it still hurt.

Tears streamed down my face and I struggled to continue breathing. My voice had gone hoarse from my sobs and screams, and he still wasn't through with me. He was drinking slowly, prolonging the torture. He wasn't about to let me die on him.

But the human mind can only take so much before it finally gives in and retreats to the dark recessses of unconsciousness. I remember gasping for breath and the feeling of my Lord's tickling tresses brushing my face and tangling in my desperate hands. My tear filled sight dimmed and blurred as the pain began to overwhelm my conscious mind. I heard my Lord growl sending the vibrations through my neck and down my spine causing my heart to leap. He jerked my body again, driving his razor sharp canines still deeper into me. I gasped and shuddered.

Then I fell still.

A/N: Cliffy!!! I'm so nasty. Hope this chapter was an ok length. It took me while to write it due to writer's block *sulks* But I wrote it nonetheless and I'm rather proud of it. So please, read the bold word underneath this and do as they say. ;)

RATE AND REVIEW!!!! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!! ;)