Disclaimer: I don't own the Southern Vampires. Sole copyright belongs to Charlaine Harris. Most of the characters are Charlaine Harris's... but some are mine! All the mistakes are my own.
Chapter Ten:
I found myself pacing my small cell, waiting for the inevitable meeting with Sargon. Abbey had been taken earlier and they hadn't returned her to her cell. I was beginning to worry, but there was nothing I could do about it, I was a prisoner as well, after all. Drazan had come to me earlier bringing me some fresh clothing and ordered me to clean myself up. He said that "his master" wished to meet with me, a prospect I was really not looking forward to. Although I had the urge to go against his demands and forgo the shower and the fresh clothing, as I in no way wanted to seem desirable, I decided against it. If I was going to meet the Vampire, I certainly did not want to do so in my nightgown, which was all I had. I did however forgo the shower, vampires do have a keen sense of smell and I hoped mine would be offending. Okay, maybe it was a little childish, but I am grasping at straws here. I would roll around in a pig sty if I thought it might keep him away. Drazan had brought me an off the shoulder satin and lace antebellum ball gown that was deep blue in color which screamed old fashioned southern belle. It had a billowing skirt that was adorned with cartridge pleats and hoop at the hem that held it in a rigid circle that added to its fullness. I felt more than a little ridiculous in it, like a girl playing dress up. 'Totally ridiculous.' I thought as I stood in a gown, barefoot, in a dark dingy cell of my enemy.
Just when I thought I might wear a grove in the floor with my pacing I heard the jingle of the door and I knew Drazan had returned. He was scowling when he opened the door and it was evident he was not in a good mood.
"The master will see you now." he grumbled, sounding annoyed. I was curious why he was so grumpy. He was such a creepy asshole all the times we had interacted, so this glum behavior was odd. I decided to look in his head, I was a little hesitant, not sure if he could tell I was in there or what exactly his powers were, but I decided to take peak when he grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the cell. I was surprised when I got nothing. I could feel he had shielded his mind and he was powerful indeed. I quickly came to the conclusion that I was not going to get anything from him, so I took in my surroundings. I wanted to keep my eyes out for any opportunity for escape. Drazan pulled me down a long hallway. It was lined with doors like the one to my cell, three each side, the walls and floor were made of the same gray stone blocks of the interior of my cell. It was rather drab, as you would imagine a basement or a dungeon might look. I reached out with my mind to see if anyone were in the other cells, but they seemed empty.
We reached the end of the hall and there was a large opaque glass door. I was a little surprised how modern it looked in comparison to the cell area we were standing in currently. There was a finger print scanner next to the door and Drazan put his thumb on it and the door swung open. Drazan dragged me behind him by my arm down another hallway, but this one looked more like something you would seen in a doctor's office or an urgent care center. The floors were a stark white laminate, cold against my bare feet, and the walls a light cream color. Heavy white doors lined the hall and some of the doors were left open, so that when we passed I could see that the rooms were indeed set up as a doctors office would be, complete with exam tables, white cabinets on the wall, and a small sink on the counter underneath that was littered with medical implements. I was surprised that I had not seen anyone around and it was more than a little disconcerting. I prayed silently that he was not going to lead me into one of these rooms.
Relief flooded through me for a moment when we got to the end of the hallway, that was, until Drazan turned to me suddenly, a small black piece of fabric in his hands. I couldn't tell what it was until he unfolded it than reached for my face. I recoiled pulling back from him and the look of anger in his eyes was almost palpable.
"Stand still bitch." he growled and I stood unmoving. I did not want to risk him hitting me or incapacitating me. If I was to escape, I needed to be uninjured enough to do so. Drazan tied the fabric over my eyes knotting it tightly on the back of my head, then grabbed my wrist and pulled. I tripped over my own feet as he pulled, but luckily I was able to regain my footing while I blindly trotted forward. He then stopped abruptly and I ran right into his back. He cursed under his breath, and then I heard the sliding sound of a door opening. It sounded like an elevator door and when he pulled me forward I could feel the difference in the way the floor felt under my feet. It felt like it was carpeted and I could feel the floor shift slightly as we moved onto it. I took another step in then stopped, Drazan did not release my wrist. Even though I was blind folded I could feel the space we had entered was much smaller, the walls felt as if they had closed in on me. A moment later, I heard the door slide shut and we began to move upward. I could feel my panic ratchet up as we continued to rise and all too soon we reached the top.
The elevator stopped with a little jolt and I could hear the door slide open. Drazan roughly pulled my wrist and we moved forward. We walked for a bit and made a right hand turn, then quickly, a left. Suddenly, I realized I should have counted my steps, but Drazan was dragging me quickly behind him and I was struggling to keep my balance. The floor under my feet was smooth and cool. It reminded me of the wood floors back at the plantation. That thought launched a painful yearning deep inside me, what I wouldn't give to be home and safe. 'Stop it right now!' I chastised myself. 'You need to be paying attention to your surroundings!'
Drazan suddenly stopped, but this time his arm stiffened and he squeezed my wrist tighter in warning so I didn't run into him again. The urge to pull off the blindfold was almost unbearable, as I heard him open yet another door. A booming voice rang out and startled me because after the silence of the walk it took to get here, I was not expecting it.
"Ah Ms. Northman!" The cheerful voice said and I forced myself not to shutter at the sound. "Drazan leave us." he commanded and I heard the door shut behind me. I held myself completely still to keep from whirling at the sound. "You may remove the blindfold now." The man suggested and I eagerly ripped it off my eyes. The room was bright and it took me a second to take in my surroundings. What I saw was a bit shocking. A man, or should I say Vampire, with shoulder length light brown hair and cold dark eyes sat regally in a white wicker armchair, near which sat around a round white wicker glass topped table that looked more like it should be pool side rather than inside a...home? But that wasn't what was shocking. Next to the Vampire was the body of a girl. She was sitting in the chair to his left and she was slumped over the table. Her head rested on the glass table top, with her strawberry colored hair covering her face. I could tell by her mind that she was dead and I was pretty sure this was Abbey. Fear shot through me as I realized it was most likely her, I had yet to see her in person, but I was fairly sure that it was her as I had not seen or heard any others.
"What did you do to her?" I blurted out, stunned and appalled. My eyes shot to his face and I for the first time I took in how lovely he really was. Abbey had been right, he reminded me of Brad Pitt, but really Brad didn't hold a candle to this creature. His alabaster skin glowed brightly and his sly smile lit the room. I was floored. The visual pictures I had conjured in my head were of some nasty old ogre of a man, a Dr. Frankenstein or something, but this man, who I assumed must be Sargon, looked more like a movie star or a model. The only thing giving him away was his eyes, cold, dark, and lifeless. He was dressed in a red velvet smoking jacket and a pair of silk black pants. Master piece theater popped into my head and I imagined him sitting next to a fire reading a book. He was nothing like I expected.
"Oh don't mind her." He said and grabbed the back of her head and lifted it from the table. He turned her head to face him and he looked at her for a moment with a smirk. "She was not what I had hoped she'd be." Her face was lifeless, it was Abbey and she was surely dead. I felt a surge of grief for her as I thought of Hunter and how he would react. Then I thought of my own fate. 'Am I going to die here, now?'
Sargon looked at me curiously then let Abbey's head fall back onto the table, it landed with a sickening thud. "Please Sookie, may I call you Sookie? Come sit." He said cheerfully as he motioned to the chair to his right, as if it was nothing to be sharing a table with the dead body of a young girl. His messed up attempt at being polite was freaking me out.
"I'm fine." I said through clenched teeth. I could feel my magic igniting within me, I struggled to hold onto it but all too soon it was slipping away, I was too weak with the wrist and ankle bracelets.
Delight seemed to cross over Sargon's face for a moment, and then he said, "I must insist." He motioned again to the chair on his right. 'Shit!' I reluctantly walked over and sat in the chair. I wanted to keep my eyes on him, but they kept flashing to the poor innocent dead girl. I thought for a second that I might throw up and I took deep breaths to calm myself. Sargon sat quietly watching my reactions intently. I kept silent.
"It is quite impressive to see you can gather any magic while being so incapacitated. You are an impressive specimen." He nodded at me approvingly.
"Remove my restraints and I can show you some real magic." I stated under my breath, without thinking. I glanced up quickly to gauge his reaction. He looked displeased for a moment then amusement cross his face.
"I have heard of your feisty nature. Your reputation is not falsely earned I see. How is it the Northman has not broken you of this behavior?" Sargon looked me over like a puppy who's master had yet to house break her.
"Eric loves me the way I am." I said defiantly. "He would never want me broken."
"Well then it is a good thing I do not plan on returning you to him." His smile turned mocking and I cringed.
"What do you want with me?" I said in a smaller voice. This was really not good.
"I want what every Vampire wants." Sargon's expression turned preditorial. "Your blood."
"But I hear you have so many different types of mixed breeds in your retinue. Why me. I am nothing special." I said with little hope of convincing him.
"Oh what have you heard about me?" He said curiosity lighting his dark dead eyes. I was a little surprised that this was the conversational turn he chose to take. I could tell he was an egotistical bastard from the way he preened himself.
I wanted to keep his thoughts away from my blood so I indulged him. "I heard you are breeding supernaturals and amassing an army of vampires that have variable genetic traits." This was really the sum total of what I knew about him. I hoped it was enough to keep him talking.
"Ah. Is that what everyone thinks?" He replied, and he seemed almost disappointed.
"Yes." I said, then asked, "Is it true?"
"Hmmm..." He said apparently thinking over his answer. "To an extent, I suppose."
"What do you mean?" I probed further.
Sargon's eyes narrowed as he looked at me, he did not answer my question, "You know, many supernaturals that are turned do not retain their previous powers. Very few in fact do. It depends on the potency of their blood and their magic. I wonder how you will be once turned."
I could not stop the ripple of fear that went through me. Not only did I really not want to be a Vampire, but the thought of this Vampire being my sire, was sickening. If I ever did decided to turn I would have chosen Eric, Pam, or maybe Shane, not this evil creature that sat beside me. I would be helpless, forever doing his bidding. All remnants of my life lost forever, and this scared me more then dying. Abbey had gotten the better end of the deal if the choice was to be turned and be his child or die. I hoped to share the same fate as her when the time came.
I really took in the room we were in for the first time, as I was trying to distract myself from this horribly uncomfortable situation. 'What a strange room.' I thought. The room wasn't large but it was a well done impression of a garden or a back yard. On the walls were painted to look like a bright sunny day, light blue in color with clouds dotting the sky. The walls wainscoting looked like a white picket fence, and on the ground around it had flowers and bushes planted all around. I briefly wondered if we were still underground, or if there was a way out on this floor. Sargon interrupted my thoughts when he realized that my attention was not on him.
"Now." He said reaching for my hand, I tried to pull away but he was too quick. "I wish to taste you." He said licking his lips. I began to struggle until I saw the pleasure on his face and then I ceased my movements. He frowned just a tad and said, "Struggle if you like, I love the taste of fear." Without another word he bit into my left forearm right above my wooden shackle and sucked on the wound. I cried out in pain and then he released me. His cold black eyes hazed over for a second, then he scowled. "Your blood is delectable, although I can still taste Northman." He said almost to himself. "Drazan." He called and Drazan was in the room within seconds, I briefly wondered if he was standing outside the door. "I thought you said you gave her the serum."
"I did Master." Drazan said.
"Then why do I still taste Northman polluting her blood?" Sargon looked peeved. 'Is that what the pink stuff was that Drazan had injected me with? Something to purify my blood?'
"I do not know. I gave her the normal dose." Drazan said looking a little sheepish now.
"She is bonded to a very old Vampire, surely you took that into account?" Sargon said sarcastically.
Drazan's face turned cold, "I must have miscalculated. I will dose her again after you have gone to rest. Drazan's eyes went to Abbey's lifeless body for a moment, and I saw a flash of some emotion I could not decipher, almost too quick for my eyes to catch. But Sargon noticed immediately.
"Take this," Sargon motioned to Abbey, "out of my presence."
"But Master, I thought you were going to turn her?" Drazan said and then he looked as if he regretted those words almost instantly.
Sargon growled, "She was not worth my time, her gifts were nothing special, typical of a half breed. Do not be so sentimental. She was only a weak relation to you."
I was shocked and confused. I thought she was a relation to Aldon and his lover. 'How could she be a relation to Drazan?' I watched as Drazan carefully pulled Abbey's body from the table and he cradled her in his arms, walking out of the room without another word.
"What is he to her? Aldon..." I asked not finishing my thought, not knowing if he would answer.
"Aldon." Sargon laughed heartily, "Vampires can not breed. He is an imbecile." My face fell just slightly at his words. They had tricked Aldon, but he was so eager to give his mate what she wanted he was oblivious.
"What? I thought you breed supernaturals." I said.
"Sometimes, when I can not find one with the genetic makeup I am looking for, but I do not breed them with myself. That is impossible. Aldon's mate had potential, so I had Drazan impregnate her. I thought the mix would breed something special, but, alas I was wrong. Such a disappointment." Sargon paused for a second then continued, "You on the other hand, are a high-bred that I have yet to see, a fairy, human, shaman...the possibilities."
"You plan to breed me then?" I said boldly, I wanted to know the full extent of my situation. "You will have me raped and take the child from me?"
Sargon laughed again, "We have more advanced ways than rape in these times. Science has provided us with more effective ways. I believe you humans call it artificial insemination." I let out the breath I was holding. "No.. the only one that will touch you now is me. You are now mine and therefore I will be the only one to enjoy your body." I stiffened again at his words, my brief relief now gone.
Sargon ran his finger down the side of my face and I turned away. He placed his hand under my chin and roughly turned my face to his. "You are beautiful. I have a thing for southern belles you know." His voice was like silk, soft and smooth. "You will grow to like me, with time. Would you like to experience one of my gifts?" Without warning I felt a pain so terrible run through me that I thought he had decided to kill me after all. My weakened body jerked and I cried out in pain. My body slumped and I could not help but wish for death in that moment. But Sargon did not release my arm, and then another feeling ran through me, this one replaced the pain, and it was pure pleasure. I felt my body warm and involuntarily I became aroused as waves of intense pleasure exploded in my body. I came almost violently from just his touch and then he released me. The guilt I felt overwhelmed me when my body stopped shaking from the aftershocks of my orgasm. I felt like I had been raped, without the bodily contact. My mind and body seemed at war, my body enjoying the feeling of intense pleasure while my mind screamed in protest. I felt ashamed, I never wanted to feel anything like that with anyone but my Eric.
"You are just as beautiful in ecstasy as you are in pain." A cruel smile on his face made me cower away from him. "One of my gifts allows me to effect the physiology of the body of my prey. It works with most creatures. With humans, I can affect them without even touching them. It is one of my more...entertaining gifts." My brain was addled and it took me a minute to compose myself.
"You have other gifts?" I said weakly, I could not stop the tears from spilling from my eyes.
"Yesss." He said satisfaction in his voice. "One that is much more useful to my goals. It is what started this quest I am on. That one, of course, you will know only when I wish for you to know." Sargon was all smiles and I just wanted to disappear. "Drazan." He called and Drazan reentered the room once again. "Take Sookie back to her room. Oh, and don't forget the blindfold. We wouldn't want her to be distracted now would we?"
Drazan walked over and put the blindfold back over my eyes. I didn't fight him, I just wanted out of this room and away from Sargon. He pulled me out of my chair by my elbow and began to escort me back to my room. The whole time he was silent, but I could feel the anger in his touch, I might not be able to read his mind but his tension was evident. My mind whorled, trying to come up with something, anything to change the situation I was in. Then, I had a very bad idea, but the only one I could come up with, the only crack in the armor that I could see to exploit, so to speak.
When I felt like we were getting close to my cell I decided to egg him on to see if I could trip him up and possibly find a way to escape, or even enlist his help. It could be my only chance and I wasn't going to pass it up. "Must really piss you off that Sargon murdered your kin...guess I'm not the only one at his mercy here. At least I am a prisoner, you are his minion by choice. He obviously has no regard for you or your loyalty to him. Seems to me you're nothing to him but a breeding tool and a lap dog."
Drazan let out a low moan and wrenched my arm "Shut up!"
"Why should I shut up. I know exactly what thoughts are running through your mind. You know I'm right." I bluffed, hoping and praying that I was right, I continued my idiotic rant. "You'll never be anything but a pet to him and when he has no more use for you he will end you like he did Abbey. Your feelings, your desires will be trampled on and destroyed by your master, just like he destroyed your kin, without a second thought. Unless that is what you enjoy, well then, more power to you." I said forcing a laugh, making it seem that I was amused by his stupidity. 'That should do it.' I thought.
And…it did. Drazan grabbed me by the hair, ripped off my blindfold, and pulled out a knife which he held to my throat. "You are going to die right now, bitch." he said in a low growl, his bright green eyes burned into mine. 'Oh shit!'
.******~~~~~~******.
A/N: Phew, I had a hard time with this chapter and I hope it turned out okay. Please let me know what you think.