VICTORIAPOV

Chapter 7

The Passing Of Hands

The blond was beside me in an instant. He blocked the door from my way, his head cocked to one side, watching me with curious red eyes. I flew to the second door, which Laurent now blocked. Think, Victoria! Think! I spotted a window and ran towards it, surprised when neither Laurent nor the blond tried to stop me. I soon saw why. It was tiny, not even my arm could fit through.

"Victoria" The blond called out, and I turned to glare at him. A growl erupted from my chest. A sick smile grew on his lips, and he walked over towards me. Suddenly, he pounced on me, taking me by surprise and knocking me to the floor with him on top of me. I pushed him off me and as he got up, he pulled off the ground to him. I was closer than I cared to be, with one of his hands was wrapped around my waist, the other cupping my face.

"I'm James," He purred, "Your creator"

"You caused me a lot of pain" I hissed

"Sorry, but I couldn't have helped that. You know I nearly couldn't stop myself. Your blood was so tempting, so enticing I almost drained you. I'm glad I didn't though, you're even more beautiful now"

The voice was hollering at me now. "UNSAFE!!! UNSAFE!!!"

"I don't trust you"

"Really? Why not?"

"I don't think you're safe"

"Tell me, Victoria, do you, by any chance, have a talent?"

"A talent?"

"A skill. Something above and beyond the ordinary. I'm a tracker; I can find things, find people, by catching their scent. Once I know how they smell, I can find them anywhere"

"Is that supposed to impress me?"

"Only if you'd like it to"

"I'd like you to get your hands off me"

"Oh, feisty little Victoria, stop playing hard to get"

"I'm not playing anything"

"Then trust me" He murmured silkily, the smile still present on his lips. I slapped his hand away from my face, "Never"

"Then your future is going to be difficult for you"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, Laurent, you obviously haven't told our fiery little pet about her new life, have you?"

"No, James, I haven't"

"What new life?" I growled

"You're mine now, Victoria, so you won't be living here anymore. You'll be staying with me. This is the last you'll see of this place, the last you'll see of Laurent, the last you'll ever see of this whole place"

"I'm not going anywhere with you"

"Oh, I think you are" He tightened his grip on my waist, and brought his other hand to rest on the small of my back. Again, he took me by surprise. Before I could react, I was over his shoulder and we were out of the room. I did the only thing I could think of.

I screamed. I screamed and shouted, thrashing about in James' arms. All he did was laugh.

"Put me down!" I screamed, "Put me down!"

"Calm down, we're only going hunting"

"I'll calm down once you let go of me!"

I heard him sigh, but he lifted me off his shoulder. James pushed me against the wall and stood straight in front of me, another dark smile growing on his lips. I was trapped.

"You belong to me now. You understand that, Vicky?" He asked, twirling a lock of my hair in his fingers.

"My name is Victoria" I hissed, but he continued as if I'd not even spoken.

"And by belonging to me, you do as I say. You do what I tell you to do. Defy me, and you might not see the next morning light" His smile had disappeared completely.

"Are you threatening me?"

That devilish smile crept up to his mouth again, "Only if you want me to"