HERE you go!! i hope you all enjoy this chapter. I loved writing it!
-ONYX ash.
Harper awoke, freezing. She curled against herself, her back cradled by steel. She opened her eyes to a flashback of the night before. Harper stiffened, her eyes slamming shut in fear. A shiver danced down her spine as the memory faded. Cloth brushed against her finger tips and she clutched at it. Her face buried into the soft silk and she realized she was holding Lestat's shirt to her like a child would. She sat up, looking down at a sleeping demon. He wasn't breathing, and she found that this troubled her a bit.
"Lestat?" She asked quietly, placing a hand on his chest. Nothing happened, but she couldn't help but feel the hardness of his build. She scooted closer, her hair falling down into her face. She leaned over him, peering down into his sleeping face. For once she could admire him without the scrutiny of those black eyes. Lestat's face was still, unmoving, dead. Still, a small part of her thanked him and that part just so happened to be in control of Harper Van Helsing.
Harper leaned over him a bit more, her nose brushing the tip of his.
"Thank you." She whispered, placing her lips against his for a brief thanks.
In that short moment the world froze. Lestat's chest rose and fell, and a cold breath dripped over her lips. It was as if Harper had breathed life into him. Before she could throw herself backward a hand gripped her neck and Lestat's mouth parted almost desperately. Harper gawked down at him, seeing his eyes only half open. His mouth locked on hers and she could not escape their delicious hold. Her breath caught in her lungs, and she couldn't help but fall into his illusion. She placed her own hand within his golden hair.
Finally his eyes opened fully.
Lestat stared a moment at the mortal he held against him, and pulled his lips free. Confusion crossed over his features as his hand fell away from her neck like she had the plague. Harper also came back to reality and jumped off of the bed, nearly tumbling to the ground.
"Good morning." Lestat cooed, stretching.
The look of confusion had vanished and once more she was left with statuesque Lestat de Lioncourt. He grinned and it was purely predatory.
"Had quite a scare last night didn't you?" He teased and she scowled, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I do apologize for Gaspard." He said sarcastically, "He's a little mortal shy."
He cackled darkly, placing his arms under his head. Harper frowned deeply, rolling her eyes.
"Though I have to admit, you two are rather similar in personality. Let me see... You both have the social skills of a rabid dog... You both carry that insufferable defiant glimmer in your eyes."
He grinned once more, tapping his chin as if thinking hard.
"You both believe that I am both blind and deaf. That I do not see what you do. And what you are..."
Harper noticed the venomous tone to his last sentence.
"And you both think that you can break free from me. Though I honestly don't see why you'd want to."
A fierceness came over his features, and for a moment Harper felt fear once more. Why did the asshole have to try and scare her at every given moment? Especially after last night. What did he want? Her to have a bloody heart attack? That could be arranged if he kept the bullshit up...
"A pointless, and rather insulting, thought... If I do say so myself..."
In a flash it was gone, and once more that handsome glower peered out at her with little interest. How long had she been imprisoned here? The thought caught her by surprise. She had been to obsessed with making Lestat's life Hell; she didn't know... couldn't be more than a week. Still. Was no one looking for her?
Harper ignored Lestat, as he seemed to do the same, and traveled across the room in a daze. She climbed into one of the large chairs, pulling her feet beneath her. She was facing the television, her face disappointing. The boob tube flickered to life as id it knew what she wanted.
The darkened room was suddenly blossoming with color. The same video she had turned off days ado played once more. She watched as Lestat moved over the screen, demanding her attention with every sinful movement. She had to look away, finding herself embarrassed to gaze upon him without a returning pair of eyes.
This one song seemed to drag on and on until she heard the final riff. MTV news flashed on and Harper looked up.
She stared at herself.
The T.V. Went black and she stood, confused. Immediately she turned to look at Lestat.
"MTV is a waste." He chimed, looking over his marble nails.
Harper glared at him, understanding. He didn't want her to know that people were looking for her, that some people actually wanted her back. He wanted her to feel isolated. No. She would not be fooled. Harper sat back down, frowning. She was defeated for now. For now being the key words.
She thought she heard the rustle of the bed sheets, and she glanced back but Lestat had done a vanishing act once more. Looking back, she was startled to find Lestat in her personal bubble.
"Why waste your time admiring me on screen when I am but feet away?" He teased, leaning over her chair.
"Actually, you're a bit closer than a few feet... As for your question?"
She grinned.
"I suppose it has to be because in person your odor is significantly more repulsive." She replied sweetly, tapping his cheek lightly.
He frowned but leaned over her still, "Ah, but yours is ever mouth watering."
He licked his lips, as if thinking of a feast. Harper couldn't help the shudder that trickled down her spine like an ice cube. Quickly she changed the subject.
"I thought Bella was bringing me clothes..." She said, looking down at clothes that weren't hers.
"She did."
"Those were not clothes."
"Ahh, but they were a type of clothing."
Harper frowned.
Lestat grinned.
"Which pair are you wearing?" He purred, leaning closer to her.
"That's none of your damn business."
Lestat cackled darkly, "Black with red trim?"
Silence.
"Ahh, I am correct then."
"I'm not allowed to wear my own clothing?" She asked outraged, but he placed his fingers to her scowling lips.
"I thought you looked far more ravishing in my clothes... Draped in my bed..."
He grinned, nearly rubbing against her in a feline manner. She frowned but pulled his face close to her. Letting her cheek brush against his she whispered in his ear.
"You should see naked.." She teased, but her replied without hesitation.
"I have." He growled, wrapping an arm around her back.
Lestat pressed her body to his, running the tip of his nose over her pale jawline. With a handful of her black curls he tugged her head back. Against her will she cried out in pleasure, and Lestat did not hide his astonishment.
She... liked... pain?
He grinned tugging harder. Again she cried out... To test his theory once more he tugged hard. Nearly ripping hair free. And in reply she groaned, tugging on his shirt.
"Hmmmm..." He grinned running his tongue over his canine teeth.
"I've found your weakness..." He whispered against her throat and he then reluctantly released her. Harper threw herself away from him, breathing hard. Trying her best to play it off as some sort of sickness.
"Now... Look me in the eye and tell me once more why you prefer me behind a glass screen."
The next week continued like this. The two of them using their own body to get under the skin of the other. Harper had never met a man that she wanted to kill so much.. Nor a man that she wanted to bed so badly. Lestat had never found a woman, nor man, whom he wanted nothing more than to lock away forever. To enslave and take over every evening. He'd never met a woman who could drive him insane with mere glances. But it was working for the both of them, and Bella found it quite amusing... But other did not agree.
Harper awoke in Lestat's damask room, disgruntled. Lestat had taken the television out of the room. Now all she had was the bloody stereo. 'Cause that's soooo entertaining... Tired, she pushed the comforter back from her body. Barefoot, she tip toed across the cold floor to the bathroom. The light flipped on and she thought she saw a shadow.
Harper spun around, staring into the darkness of her cage. Just her imagination... Had to be. But she'd been seeing shadowy flickers for a week and a half... Harper rubbed her forehead. Just the strain of being kidnapped, she told herself. Nothing more, nothing less. Harper closed the bathroom door, feeling a tad bit safer. She stripped, turned the water on hot, and jumped into the jet stream. It didn't take her long to shower but it was still relaxing.
She stepped back into the cold room, a towel wrapped around her torso, though she could probably run around naked and no one would ever know. Harper pulled the small duffel bag from under the bed free, somewhat thankful that Lestat had at least agreed to let her have her own under garments and her toiletries.
Harper was pulling a pair of Lestat's leathers over her legs when another shadow caught her eye. She froze, looking around the room cautiously. She quickly buttoned the pants, and searched through the duffel bag for a bra. She found one, pulling the straps onto her shoulders, reaching around her back to clasp it on. But someone grabbed her hands, reaching around her front to rip the bra off once more. Hard hands gripped her left breast, nails digging into her flesh.
"Lestat! NO." She cried out.
She was flung across the room, her head finding the wall in a deafening crack! The same hands gripped her throat, and Harper clawed at his hands. A second pair of hands slapped her across the cheek and Harper felt a trickle of blood. In a rush of adrenaline Harper reached out and slammed her fist into someone. A hiss sounded, and Harper grinned slightly.
She was slapped once more, and before her eyes she saw the blurred vision of her attackers. She choked for air, striking out and hitting a hard chest. But her strength was waning, and was no match for the vampire bastard. The grip on her throat tightened and she cried out. But the darkness took her quickly...
Cold. Terrible cold, like a frost bitten winter. So much cold. I'm freezing... she thought. But I must be dead... I must be. They choked me... they killed me... They killed me! They murdered me! They killed me!! I am murdered...
Something moved, and Harper jumped. WAIT. SHE moved. A soft groat escaped her and she jumped at the hoarseness of her voice. She was so cold. Freezing. Harper squirmed, something hard beneath her. She rolled onto her back in the darkness, her body aching in response. Screaming in response. Her torso convulsed in pain, and she held in screams. There weren't any left any how...
She placed her hands above her, feeling hard wood. Her hands moved in the black void, against the wood, and she could feel small notches in it's smooth surface. Scratch marks... The sudden realization hit her. She was buried alive. They left her to suffocate once more. Harper shoved hard on the top and it popped wide open.
She tried to sit up and failed. Not only did she hiss in horrendous pain, but something strong held her in place. Looking down there was a pale arm flung over her mid section, almost lazily if it weren't restraining. Frantically she wiggled but the arm would not move. Rolling over she stared down at Lestat's sleeping face.
No air fell from his nostrils. He looked like a true corpse once more. She tried to maneuver out of his grasp, but there was only room to roll over.
"I hate vampires..." She mumbled to herself.
For hours she stared at his ghostly pallid face, her body still screaming from the sttempted murder. Eventually, however, she drifted back into slumber; unsettling sleep filled with vivid nightmares. Nightmares of blurred faces and strong angry hands. But when these nightmares came to her death they would sink into a winter wasteland drenched in warm blood as snow flakes danced down to the nothingness. Painting the blood with fresh specks of white before they melt into the wet sticky crimson. Footsteps sang off in the distance while a black figure carried something in hidden arms. But this dream was not unpleasant. In fact.. It was rather relaxing.
Harper hissed in pain as she awoke to the stinging in her cheek. She opened her eyes only to have them shut from the blinding light. Cold hands touched her forehead, soothing her. She opened her eyes once more, slowly, finding the light dimmed from her face. This time it wasn't so overbearing.
"W-what's happening?" She choked out, her hoarse voice barelt a whisper.
Bella leaned over her, peering down into her face. "Not to worry, dear!" She said sweetly.
"We're just checking your stitches."
HER WHAT?
"Stitches?!" Harper replied in a panic.
Bella looked at someone else. "She doesn't know?"
A hiss of pity infiltrated her usually sunny tone, and that was unsettling.
"This is the first she's been awake." Said Lestat, sounding almost concerned.
"What did you do to my face?" Harper cried out, tears stinging her eyes.
She could feel bile climb upwards. She must be hideous now. Why would he do this to her? Why? Weren't they having such fun? And now she was maimed... She just knew it.
Lestat leaned over her this time, a hardness to his face. There was no amusement present, only a blank mask.
"It's not your face." He replied. "It's your stomach."
Harper's eyes lolled once more, knowing she was that damaged. She hadn't really felt the pain while she had rolled around on Lestat. She choked, gagging on the image that invaded her mind. She tried to sit up but Lestat held her down easily. She tried to shove his hand off of her, but instead he held her wrist. She whimpered, feeling like a child for the second time this week.
"What did you do, you monster?!" She cried out, outraged.
"I did nothing, Harper... I found you just in time."
"LIAR!" She hissed, tears finally springing free.
Bella leaned forward, wiping her tears clean.
"But it's true, dear, I was with him when he arrived... He'd brought you dinner for the two of you.."
"I'm maimed... I will never again be beautiful.."
Lestat looked down on her, pity engulfing those terrifying eyes that seemed to go on forever.
"Do not move." He ordered, lifting her into his grasp.
He held her tightly and ran. She looked up at him as he ran, almost in awe. Almost. It might have been awe if the bastard hadn't permanently maimed her!!
The cool musky air drifted through his golden locks like water trickling through a stream. It was enough to make her contemplate Bella's story. Could Lestat have actually come to rescue her? Rather than be her destroyer?
Lestat stopped abruptly, and he placed her feet on the ground, but kept his other arm behind her. She was still staring at him, her eyes tracing that cold mask he wore so proudly. He glanced at her, turning her chin with one of his fingers very gently. She stared into a mirror and cringed at her reflection. Across her cheek was a wide gash. Her skin no longer held that pale healthy glow. Her face was bruised in places, and her neck was purple with handprints.
Lestat grabbed the bottom of the v-neck she wore and slowly tugged it upwards. She resisted the urge to shove him away. Finally he pulled the shirt up far enough that she could see the damage. Her knees buckles and she began to tumble, but Lestat's arms were already there t catch her.
There in large and small, deep, cuts across her torso were the words
JUST FOOD