She lay there stunned, Lenneth feeling the weight of Lezard and the bookcase pinning her against the floor. She made a sound, a wordless question, but there was no response from Lezard. She shifted, hearing the creak of the book case, feeling Lezard settle more firmly on her.

He wasn't moving, arms hanging limply down on either side of her. His body and the book case cast her in shadows, and Lenneth found it difficult to breathe. She wondered if she was panicking, hearing her breath come out in slow, shallow breaths. The seconds seemed to tick by, Lenneth just laying there, shivering, feeling Lezard pressed against her naked lower half.

Lenneth shuddered if she thought about it too hard, needing little to remind her of his rough treatment of her. Never had he been so cruel, so harsh on her body, and it had driven her to do a desperate, stupid thing. Lenneth wasn't even sure what she had been thinking when she reached for the bookcase. She had just wanted Lezard to stop, wanting him to cease using her body as his play thing.

She had been surprised when she found the strength to topple over the book case, but never more taken aback than when Lezard had screamed her name, throwing his body on top of hers. The man had hunched protectively over her, curling himself around her body, protecting her from the brunt of the damage. It gave her mix feelings, Lenneth not wanting to feel gratitude to him for his protection. Not when he had put her in this situation to begin with.

Her back was hurting, crying in protest at bearing the full weight of Lezard and the book case. She realized she had to move, Lenneth letting out a pained hiss as she reached out with her arms. Her hands knocked fallen books out of her way, clearing a path on the floor. Her fingers sank into the plush carpet, Lenneth dragging herself out from under Lezard. It was slow progress, bit by bit she moved, cringing as she heard the book case make an ominous sound, fearing it would slide off Lezard and onto her.

But it didn't, and within minutes she was free, laying on the floor, panting. Lenneth slowly pushed herself up with her hands, sitting up to look at Lezard. His eyes were shut tight in sleep, glasses skewed crookedly on his face, a crack in one lens. She shook her head, hands reaching for her skirt, shoving it downwards to cover herself modestly.

Crawling on her knees, she moved towards Lezard, a shaking trembling hand reaching out to touch his face. A touch that was tender, moving the hair out of his eyes, Lenneth peering into his face. Her hand dropped down to his shoulder, and she gave him a shake, trying to rouse him. He stayed sleeping, and she pushed harder at him, testing his slumber. Convinced he wasn't waking up, she turned her attention to his pants, the material shoved haphazardly down to his knees.

Her hand found her way into his pocket, fingers digging around, searching out the key ring. She found it, gripping it firmly, and stood, wincing at the pain in her legs. Lezard had stabbed into her especially hard when the bookcase came tumbling down, inflicting pain in the most intimate of spots. She bit her lower lip, slight pain to take her mind off of it, cringing as she moved.

Lenneth stumbled towards the door, shaking hand putting the key into the lock. It wasn't the right one, her hands fumbling, trying key after key until she found the one that unlocked the door. She pulled it open, seeing the darkness that extended beyond the well lit bedroom, leaving her uncertain, fearing the unknown. A moan from behind her, Lezard slowly regaining consciousness decided her fate.

Lenneth slipped through the doorway, easing the door shut behind her. She took care to lock it behind her, knowing it would only delay him best, his magic was simply too powerful to let a paltry wooden door keep him from pursuing her. Gripping hold of her skirts, Lenneth took off running, biting back pained whimpers. She wondered if she'd be bruised, wondered if the back her body would darken from the way Lezard had landed on her. But mostly she wondered if she'd get away.

Running, listening to her footsteps pounding on the stone floor, turning corridor after corridor, windows letting in little light into the tower. She paused to try doors, rattling their knobs, finding more often than not they were locked, barring her from escaping this endless hall. She was getting hopelessly lost, having no idea where she was going, just trying to get away.

Ugly red runes glowed on the walls, flashing crimson with power, a low hum constantly in her ear. They were everywhere she went, almost mocking her, Lenneth knowing they were spells, ancient magic designed to keep the Gods from noticing this place. It made her want to scream, to beat her fists against the walls, but she wouldn't afford herself the delay. Always moving, always running, desperate to find a door that would lead her to freedom.

From far off, she heard the sound of an explosion, followed by her name being screamed out. Lezard had awakened, and it made her heart quicken in fear, Lenneth trying to move faster. Again he screamed out her name, his voice a mixture of anger and fear, the sound faint from the distance she had put between her and the bedroom. But she knew he would be on the move, Lezard searching for her, his anger making him foolish.

His screams let her track his movement, hearing it grow louder, knowing he was gaining on her. She tried another door, and this one opened, admitting her into a room. She bit back her own scream, recognizing the hated place well. It was his laboratory, the place where she had awakened, trapped in a body of his own devising. She stood there gaping, staring at the bodies that floated suspended in vats of green liquid, shuddering in distaste. There was so many, lifeless dolls that looked back at her with unseeing eyes, their lips frozen in a smile.

It was blasphemy at it's worse, soulless vessels he had killed to make, men and women dying for a mad man's whim. She found herself taking a step forward, ready to do something, she wasn't sure what when she heard Lezard's shout, realizing he was closer, the man not bothering to check the doors. Why would he, he'd know his home like the back of his hand, know which doors would be locked to her, Lenneth not willing to risk precious moments trying to open them with the keys she had stolen.

"Lenneth!" His voice even closer, she ran deeper into the room, sliding to her knees. She ended up hiding behind a stone slab, a large rectangular block of granite. She sat hunched up against it, knees pulled close to her body, Lenneth tying to control her breathing. She wasn't sure how long she sat there, listening to him scream, hearing him beg and plead than alternately demand she show herself to him.

"Where are you?!" He burst into the laboratory, and she stiffened in fear, holding her breath. He stayed in the doorway, casting about the room for some sign of her presence. "Show yourself to me!"

~Never!~ Lenneth thought, holding back her shudders. He took a step into the room, and she nearly panicked, wondering what she would do if he came around the side of the slab. She listened to his footsteps, Lezard shuffling around the room, checking for something. He muttered something inaudible under his breath, and then he was running, dashing out the room, screaming her name once more.

He sounded deranged, desperate to find her, and she shuddered to think what he would do if he got his hands on her once more. She hesitated to move, fearing a trap, letting minutes go by before she slowly stood. She was cautious as she moved, poking her head out into the hall, scanning in either direction. Lezard had gone on to the right, she was sure of it, leaving her to retreat back towards the bedroom. She didn't want to, but she felt she had no choice, fearing she'd run into him if she followed in his footsteps.

She ran like the wind, braid bouncing at her back, skirts hitched up high so she would not trip. Her chest was heaving, Lenneth long out of shape from months of being Lezard's pampered pet. And still she ran, all but flying back the way she had come. She soon passed by the bedroom, moving onwards down the corridor, in the direction she had chosen to bypass.

She didn't hear Lezard, didn't hear his screams anymore, and that made her cocky. She thought she could do this, could get away, and so was woefully unprepared when he leaped out of the shadows, landing in front of her. She let out a piercing shriek, feet skidding on the floor, trying to come to a halt. But she banged into his front, and Lezard immediately put his arms around her, holding her trapped.

"You shouldn't have run Lenneth." He told her, expression deadly serious. "I don't like it when you're defiant."

Her voice was stolen away from her, Lenneth just staring, finding her eyes were growing wide with panic and disbelief. She made a noise, and began struggling, Lezard fighting with her as she sought to escape his grasp. She was barely aware of him speaking, Lezard yelling her name, hands all over her. She let out a yelp to find her feet lifted up off the floor, legs dangling as she swung them about, Lezard scooping Lenneth up off the floor.

She grabbed at his shoulders, finding he held her up so her head was above his, Lenneth glancing downwards into his eyes. Purple and pure with crazed intentions, he ignored her wriggling attempts, carrying her with little effort down the hallway. Too late did she realize the tower was circular, the floor an endless loop that had allowed him to double back on her.

"No!" Lenneth cried, seeing he was returning them to the bedroom. She despaired to see it, seeing the door blown off it's hinges, wood singed from his fiery explosion spell. Lezard ignored her cries, moving through the door way, Lenneth letting go of his shoulders to grab at the door frame. Her fingers dug into the wood, desperate to hang on, Lezard pulling at her body. Bit by bit her fingers flew free, until she was left grasping air, Lezard's laugh echoing around her as he carried her into the room.

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To Be Continued,

Michelle

Floofal, why thank you. Here you go! One more chapter to go...welll 12 is as far as I have written at least...and it's quite the cliffhanger ending.

Drew L., too scared to sign in or leave and email? It's all right. I just wonder, do you obsessively watch the reviews for this fic? Cause it's kinda funny that you happened to leave a review the same day Floofal left a positive one. Oh well, no skin off my back. As for your question, not all fics are nice. Some are quite dark and sad...if you don't like these kind of fics, then I suggest you stay away from ones that will upset you.

Eleene, oooh you summed it up quite nicely. Quite evil too, to make people squirm! Ha ha!