Disclaimer: I do not own TBBT or its characters. I merely play with them.

Rating: Mature for strong language & sexual themes.

Warnings: Threats of torture, some rough handling, murder, references to torture, discussions about murder, I think that's about it for now.

Italics are character's internal thoughts.

Elizabeth's laughter stopped the moment the dungeon doors opened throwing the two vampires leading her for a loop. They eyed her suspiciously, slightly unnerved by how fast her face went impassive. Her once red eyes were completely black and her fangs pushed greatly into her bottom lip forcing small drops of blood to bead on her lips. Her hands were still clenched in tight fists. Her face screamed one thing…retribution.

"Elisabeta!" Ana gasped from her cell as the vampire was lead by. The holding cells were set up in two long rows with a 8 foot wide gap between them. The 10 ft by 10 ft cells contained no furniture and only a small toilet in the corner with nothing to grant them privacy.

"Elisabeta!" The redhead pushed against her cell bars, her left arm extended as she desperately tried to touch the woman. Elizabeth needed to be grounded before she slipped too far into her fury.

Brutus laughed, shaking his head at the immortal woman who had frantic tears falling from her eyes. Ana's arm flailed, fingers twitching. "Stop or we'll kill you!" He barked, annoyed with the emotional woman's antics.

"Threaten her again." Thomas seethed from his cell next to Ana's. "I beg of you."

Brutus leaned towards his bars, though ensuring he remained out of arm's reach. "Or what?"

"I will tear out your throat." Thomas' eyes narrowed, the red darkening a shade.

"Such violence in you lot." Brutus chuckled, yanking Elizabeth forward towards the furthest cell at the end of the two rows. It was the toughest cell made mostly of stone, concrete and the toughest metals. A cell designed to hold the strongest of people.

Brutus released his vice tight grip on the woman's neck as Napoleon pushed her into the cell and slammed the door shut. Elizabeth stumbled only slightly before regaining her composure. Righting herself, she gracefully sat down on the provided stone bench facing the perplexed men, clasping her hands in her lap.

Brutus and Napoleon looked on in amused confusion. They expected much more from the highly feared Dracul Princess.

"I guess you reputation is merely a rumor?" Brutus asked, running a hand through his shortened brown hair. "I expected more of a fight from a Dracul." The two men laughed at the lack of response from the woman. Her eyes were focused ahead, staring off into nothing. Her expression calm, serene.

"All bark." Brutus scoffed, turning around in time to see Penny shoved into the cell across from Ana and 3 down from Elizabeth. They had orders to leave the cells adjacent to Elizabeth empty to prevent her from getting a feed in. John knew her coven was loyal and willing to sacrifice themselves for her. He needed her weak.

"Have fun." Elizabeth's soft voice stopped the two dark haired brute men's retreat. Brutus turned around and crossed his bulky arms, his muscles pushing against his fitted black suit.

"Say something, Princess?" Napoleon and Antony, the tall, thin blonde guard with blue eyes who had moved Penny, both laughed at his antics at taunting the obviously harmless woman.

Elizabeth's eyes finally shifted to him, focusing on his. Brutus shivered at the intensity of her stare, the black depths feeling as though they were sucking his life out.

"Have fun." She repeated. "For when I get out, I will nail you to a table and skin your flesh from your body with a scalding knife one strip at a time. I will make you scream and beg for death at my spear. Only then will I show you the hell I'm truly capable of."

Brutus, Napoleon and Antony all shivered and drew back at the woman's calm tone They expected fury, tears or even screams. Not cold, calculated intention.

"You're crazy." Brutus barely whispered, beginning to lose his nerve in her presence.

Elizabeth's cruel smile is what sent the three vampires running from the dungeons.

Time dragged on. Penny sat on the floor with her back against the furthest wall in her cell, tears streaming down her face. She didn't care the beautiful green dress she wore was being destroyed by the rough, dirty stone she sat on. Or that mascara ran down her face. She only cared that Leonard and Sheldon were now at the mercy of a crazed man and the only person who could stop him was stuck in a cell staring off at nothing.

"I'm scared." Ana finally whispered, breaking the suffocating silence. "I'm so scared."

Thomas stood from his spot in the middle of his cell and rushed over to the bars that separated his cell from Ana's, his arms reaching through.

"My love." He coaxed her towards him, grateful when the sobbing woman relented and pressed against the bars seeking solace in his arms. Their embrace was awkward and uncomfortable, separated by the metal, but neither cared.

"I'm so scared, Thomas." She whispered, forehead resting against the cold metal and eyes searching his. "What do we do? They will torture and kill us all."

Thomas' grip around her tightened. "I will now let them hurt you, my love. Elizabeth won't let them hurt you."

Ana pulled her head away, leaning to look at Elizabeth who was still sitting painfully still and quiet. Her unblinking, unmoving eyes glazed and unfocused.

Shrill screams echoed in the dungeons, drawing Thomas, Ana and Penny's eyes towards the stairs that lead up into the manor. Penny covered her mouth, trying to stop her dinner from rising up her throat. Ana gripped Thomas tighter when the realization hit her, they had not brought anyone else down.

"Oh God!" Ana choked out when she heard Philip screaming loudly. His normally calm and collected voice was harsh and pained. John and his people were torturing and killing all the residents of the manor, intentionally leaving Elizabeth's closest for last.

"Ana, Ana look at me." Thomas frantically commanded, trying to grab her head to turn her gaze back to him and away from the blasted stairs. "Ana, please my love!"

Ana finally relented, her frightened green eyes wide and wet. Her body trembled violently in fear as Thomas tried to ground her.

"I love you, Ana." His voice cracked. "I love you with every part of my soul. I swear on my life I will not let them hurt you. Do you hear me? I will tear this fucking manor down brick by brick with my bare hands before I let them hurt you."

Ana could only nod, unable to speak as sobs wracked her small form.

Penny pulled her knees to her chest, her hands covering her ears as she rocked back and forth. One by one, John's people tortured and killed. The screams were never ending and it was only due to not hearing Leonard nor Sheldon that kept her from truly breaking.

Ana had finally stopped crying and was sitting on the floor leaning against the bars. Her hand held firmly in Thomas' who sat leaning against his bars as he spoke softly about their life. He reminded her of the first time he met her. How beautiful and incredible she was. He spoke about their first kiss and how soft her lips are. He spoke about their future and promised her she would have one.

Some unknown time later the doors opened and heavy steps were heard coming down. Ana and Thomas broke apart, moving to opposite sides. They would not give their tormentors any ammunition to use against them and NO ONE knew they were a couple. Not even the catatonic vampire in the furthest cell who remained unmoved by everything.

A blood splatter covered Brutus and Napoleon appeared, dragging a bloodied and limping Simon in. Throwing him into the cell next to Penny, Brutus turned back to Elizabeth, sneering at her.

"Your boyfriend is up soon, all mighty Elisabeta. Let us see if that cracks you." Brutus spat before turning and quickly leaving the room. It didn't matter he just spent 4 hours meticulously torturing and killing countless followers of Elizabeth who had been hiding in the manor, Elizabeth's presence was downright unnerving.

The door slammed shut once more and a few tense moments later the screams started once again. Thankfully for Penny, they were female.

"Simon!" Thomas harshly whispered, looking at the man through the bars. He looked terrible. "Simon!"

Simon groaned, turning onto his side and facing Thomas, raising a brow.

"I was wondering about you. I'm glad to see you're okay." Thomas smirked slightly.

Simon smiled softly as he shifted so he was sitting up, leaning heavily on the bars that separated his cell from Penny's. Penny flinched only slightly before tearing off part of her dress and pressing it against a wound on his back.

"I'm sorry." She whispered when he flinched in pain.

"No problem. Thank you, my dear." Simon choked out, his throat burning. His eyes finally shifted to Elizabeth, staring intently for a few moments before turning to Thomas who had resumed his spot leaning against the bars while holding Ana. "How long as she been like this?" His head nodding at Elizabeth.

"The whole time. She has barely spoke and hasn't moved." Thomas relayed, his gaze instinctively moving to Elizabeth.

"Good, good." Simon mumbled, nodding.

"Why is that good?" Penny whispered a little unsure why they'd want her catatonic.

"Trust me, we need her like this." Simon turned towards Penny, smiling in gratitude at her continued ministrations at his wounds. "Elisabeta will get out and the more angered she is, the better chance we have."

Penny glanced towards Elizabeth's cell, narrowing her eyes slightly. "Is she in a frenzy?" Penny had never seen a vampire look so calm and serene when facing certain death.

Simon hissed slightly at the stinging pressure on his back, Penny offered him a small apologetic smile. "No, this is something much deeper and darker. She is focusing on all her fury and allowing it to consume her."

Penny shook her head, clearing her mind and trusting that Simon knew what he was talking about.

"Are you and Leonard married?" Ana abruptly asked, trying to soften the mood of the dungeon.

"No, not yet. He'd like to be though." Penny softly responded, her eyes flooding with tears. "He…he had asked me plenty of times before, but I always said no."

"Why?" Ana asked, genuinely curious. She loved Thomas and knew if he got down on one knee, she'd happily accept.

Penny finished her work on Simon's back before leaning against the bars, her hands roughly wringing in her lap. "I don't know." She shrugged. "I was scared of the commitment I guess. Now though," her eyes drifted towards the stairs that lead to a bloody nightmare, "I really wish I had said yes."

Penny's shoulders shook as tears streamed down her face, the pain was horrible. Her heart was breaking. She had always feared the commitment with Leonard, the idea of being tied down to one man the rest of her life. And now, not knowing if he were alive or dead, she wished she had not been so scared. The fear of commitment was nothing compared to the fear she had that she'd never see him again.

"Leonard is fine, Penelope." Simon softly spoke, reaching through the bars to pat her hands in a comforting gesture. "John has a plan for them and based on his longtime rivalry with Elisabeta, I would guess it's to wait until everyone else is gone to torture and kill them in front of you and her."

Penny looked horrified at Simon's response, finding no comfort in it at all. How could he so calmly talk about torture and murder, in front of her no less, like it was nothing?

"Elizabeth won't let him die." Thomas provided neutrally, drawing Penny's wet gaze. "As soon as she gets out, she will kill any and every person who stands in her way. John will die. There is no question about that."

"Vaclav?" Elizabeth's calm voice drew all eyes. Penny looked shocked at her random speaking while Thomas and Ana looked confused. Simon closed his eyes.

"Yes." He nodded, resting his head once more, trying to find strength.

"What about him?" Ana asked, her voice rising an octave and looking at Elizabeth who was still unmoving and didn't look like she had just spoke. "Elisabeta! What about him?"

Elizabeth stared ahead, ignoring her friend. Ana went to yell again, but Thomas nudged her and shook his head to stop her.

"Ana," Simon's soft voice lured her eyes, "You need to trust Elisabeta. Please."

"I do." Ana gasped. "She knows I do. I trust her with my life. I just can't take this anymore. I just can't." Her voice trailed off, lowering her head.

An agonizing 30 minutes passed before the dungeon doors opened once more, hurried footsteps descending. Ana and Thomas broke apart, Penny moved back from her spot next to Simon where she had been helping him, Simon pulled himself into a standing position and Elizabeth remained unchanged.

A young female vampire appeared, her face and clothes covered in blood. She frantically looked around before running towards Elizabeth's cell, stopping before it. The young vampire looked tortured, her eyes misty and hair in disarray. She dropped her head, shifting it to the right so her neck was bared to Elizabeth in a sign of submission

"My Queen." She started, her voice shaky. "I have come to release you. I…I cannot follow him. Please, you must regain order."

Elizabeth didn't respond or move.

The young vampire looked to Simon, tears falling from her eyes, her body beginning to tremble.

"If…if I let her out…will she…will she kill me?" She choked out.

"Most likely." Simon nodded honestly. "But I promise it will be fast. Turn and leave now, when she gets out, and she will, it will be a slow agonizing death that will go on for days."

The vampire began sobbing hysterically, knowing her death was guaranteed.

"We didn't know." She whispered. "What he had planned. We didn't –"

"Silence peasant!"

A deep voice shocked those held in the cells as Vaclav stormed down the path. They had not heard the door open or the steps, but that was expected as he used the hidden passage in Elizabeth's torture cell. A passage that was designed for this specific purpose, in the event she were imprisoned in her own manor.

The young vampire cried and cowered as the imposing man approached her. His mid-back length raven hair was pulled back in ponytail at the base of his neck, his red eyes were glowing in fury, his black armor added to his look. His angular face was contorted in barely disguised fury. Penny even cowered against the wall fearful of the man.

Without pause, Vaclav approached the enemy vampire and with viper speed drew his sword and severed her head from her body. The head rolled down the walkway. Penny covered her mouth in slight disgust. Thomas smirked and Ana took a relieved breath, Elizabeth had planned for John to imprison her and as such she had her plan to break out. Her plan – her most feared right hand who had a sadistic side that rivaled hers.

"Brother." Vaclav nodded to Simon, offering his hand to his longtime friend. Simon shook it with a small smile. "How long?" Vaclav asked, nodding at Elizabeth.

"My best guess is somewhere around 6 hours." Simon responded, pulling his hand back. Vaclav nodded, turning to face the impassive woman.

"Elisabeta, hear my words." His deep baritone bellowed in the stone dungeon. "He is kept in a room with the other mortal beyond the dining hall. John has 150 of his men stationed around the manor. I have brought 10 of my fiercest men. We will fight with you, for you, our Queen."

"I'll fight." Penny's sure voice turned all heads, except Elizabeth. "He has my love. I will fight with you, Elizabeth, and for you."

Vaclav raised a brow at Penny's offer, but instead of declining with disdain due to her inexperience, he accepted. They needed all the bodies they could get. Simon smiled at Penny in approval, Thomas nodded with a smirk.

Vaclav turned back to Elizabeth. "My Queen." He bowed, offering his neck as he unlocked her door and stood back. Wordlessly Elizabeth stood, walking towards the open door, stopping to face Vaclav.

"Did you bring what I asked?" Penny shivered at her unnaturally cold tone.

"Indeed, my Queen. Under heavy guard just off the coast awaiting the call." Vaclav stood, looking the woman in the eye.

Vaclav had been a loyal follower of Vlad III and his niece. He had swore his life and soul to the Dracul family. After Vlad died, he became Elizabeth's most trusted and most lethal right hand. He was the first mortal she turned and became her most trusted council member. Unfortunately for John, he had not created a plan to deal with Elizabeth's most brutal allies who she had stationed all over the world. No one as brutal as the man before Elizabeth.

Elizabeth nodded before turning and walking down the walkway at a brisk pace, stopping at a large closet and disappearing inside.

Vaclav moved to release Simon, Thomas, Penny and Ana. Thomas and Penny quickly following the path Elizabeth took without question. Penny moved to enter the large closet that held a shocking amount of armor and weapons, but was stopped by Thomas who quickly pushed her aside and covered her mouth.

Elizabeth knelt before a painting of her Uncle, her head down and eyes closed. Penny was shocked that in such a short time the vampire was able to change from her scarlet red dress that she had been wearing to her blood red armor.

"Do not speak, just change." Thomas whispered. "Quickly."

Penny nodded as Thomas pulled away, both entering the closet and quietly as possible, changed into their armor. Luckily being vampires they moved significantly faster so in only a minute both were completely changed into a shockingly comfortable black thick armor. To Penny it felt more like a thick bodysuit that had chain link armor over it. Dressed, Penny and Thomas joined Vaclav off to the side, their heads bowed silently while Simon approached Elizabeth.

Speaking a language Penny could not understand, Simon pat Elizabeth's head, raised his hands and then pat her head again. At the end of his ritual, he leaned down and kissed her bowed head, offering her his blessing. Ready to fight, Elizabeth stood.

"Take Ana through the passage to my yacht. Travel out and await the call." Elizabeth ordered, her incredibly disturbing eyes focused on Vlad's painting.

"Yes, my Queen." Simon bowed, quickly leaving the room, grabbing Ana and opening the secret passage way to allow Vaclav's men to enter and slipping past them to follow their orders. Elizabeth was past frenzied, he would not challenge her.

When Elizabeth turned around, Penny nearly gasped in shock. Elizabeth's eyes were entirely unsettling and nearly impossible to stare at directly. The normal silver-white were a dark black with a moving yellow-orange aura surrounding her pupil. It made it look as if her eyes contained fire. Vaclav smiled evilly at the sight.

"Penelope and Thomas, locate Sheldon and Leonard and take them to safety." She ordered.

"Yes, my Queen." They both bowed, turning to grab their weapons of choice. Thomas decided on his usual heavy whip and two swords. Penny chose two heavy skinning knives she knew she could handle.

"Vaclav." Elizabeth smirked.

"My Queen?" He smiled, approaching the woman with a seductive sway.

"Kill, impale." Her eyes flared at the impale reference.

"With great pleasure, my Queen." He bowed before grabbing his weapon of choice, a large, heavy morning star. Vaclav's men moved to grab their weapons, among them a flail, a pernach, a war hammer, a pike and an assortment of swords. Penny had a fleeting thought that this looked very similar to a LARP battle that Leonard had taken her to once. She swore she'd never complain about them again. After she killed any and every traitor who stood between them.

"Drain your kills." Elizabeth ordered as she turned to grab her trusted long metal spear that hung below the painting of her Uncle. With an evil smile Elizabeth turned to face her small army. "Let us."

A/N: Now would be a good time to remind y'all that this fic is rated M. I've made many references to Elizabeth's background and sadistic tendencies and right now she's about as pissed as she's ever been. As such, the next chapter will be very torture heavy. Some may find it uncomfortable and gross. Sorry, but it is what it is. Elizabeth and Vaclav were raised in the 1400's and they didn't exactly have the same standards for treating people the way we do now.

Another note, the references to Elizabeth as "Queen." The older vampires (Simon & Vaclav) are more traditional so instead of using the modern terms for the highest ranking vampires (Elders), they refer to her as their Queen. John technically should be considered their King, but neither men believe he is worthy of such title. It's also considered to be a sign of great respect which is why Penny and Thomas refer to her as Queen when they received their orders.