Lauren

You know it's going to be a bad day when you wake up and the first thing you notice is a pounding headache and a metallic copper taste in your mouth. I opened my eyes to an eerie red light. This game of musical chairs was getting old. Where was I this time? God my head…another headache…Christ…let's see, the last thing I remembered…the vampire man…what an asshole…I hoped it still hurt where I kicked him. Then again my own jaw was still hurting from where he'd hit me back. At least my memory wasn't lapsing anymore.

I tried to move my hands and feet. They didn't budge. Blinking in the dim light I could see why, I was strung upside down. Both feet were tied together and my arms where spread eagle. An upside down cross? How original. Was this part of the ritual the Order had been babbling about? The door opened, letting in a flood of fluorescent lighting. My eyes…yeah that helped out the pounding headache I was fostering. Groaning, I blinked trying to see who it was standing in the door. All I could make out was a silhouette, but that was all I needed.

"Hey Chop," my voice sounded rusty from neglect, "I don't suppose you have a cigarette on you?"

"It's pleasant to see you awake for a change, child," he greeted me. He stepped into the room. Behind him was a familiar looking man, Vampire Lord Raymund, or so he said, if I remembered correctly this time. Chop approached me. Carefully he looked into my eyes with a flashlight. "I see you haven't been eating." I glanced over to the uneaten food resting on a workbench a foot away. How the hell was I suppose to eat with the food all the hell over here? I snorted.

"Shall we get this examination underway doctor?" Raymund asked.

"Why the hell is he here?" I growled, glaring at Raymund. Chop carefully rolled my shirt down, pulling me forward from the red glowing wall so he could check how my back as healing. I could feel his boney old fingers poking me like a stiff twig. I winced as he began exploring the sore part of my back.

"I am here to protect my investment, my dear," Raymund gave me a toothy smile. His vampire incisors dug into his bottom lip a little. I gave him a dirty look.

"Then try investing in better room service," I retorted annoyed. "FYI: it sucks."

"Ah well, if I may say, I think I rather enjoy our current arrangements," Ray leaned against the wall, watching Chop. His eyes flashed red in the dark. Vampires…they only think about one thing.

"Excuse me?" I asked irritated. "Maybe you should be strung upside down. See how much you like it." Then again he probably would with my luck.

"One hour 7B and we begin the ritual," Chop murmured. "Everlasting life will be ours." I raised an eyebrow.

"So what the hell do you need me for? All you had to do was get Raymund to blow you." Calmly Raymund strode across the room and backhanded me, making my neck painfully twist to the side. I felt blood oozing into my mouth from a cut on the inside of my cheek.

"You're going to be the catalyst that suspends death, my dear," Ray smirked. Arrogant bastard. "After that, perhaps you and I can learn more about each other."

"Don't hold your breath," I replied. "I don't date violent bastards."

"We shall see about that," Ray replied. He came closer and bent down to look me in the eye. "You are more precious to me than you can imagine, my dear." He gently wiped away the blood that was streaming out of my mouth with a rag. He lapped up any that got on his hands when he was done. Attractive.

"Then let me go, if I love you, I will return," I replied sarcastically.

"She's nearly healed," Chop said as he pulled off his plastic gloves. "She should be ready for the ritual." Right nearly healed, sure I was. I'm sure that's why my back was a blistering hole of pain.

"Good," Ray stood and turned to Chop. "The rewards are yours to reap, inform me the minute you have succeeded. I must leave you now, my dear, there are some more pressing matters to be dealt with." Ray bowed to me. I give him a dirty look. "I look forward to our engagement."

"Go to hell," I snapped. Ray gave no sign that he had heard me.

"Doktor," he nodded his head at Chop. Then he left, the door closing firmly behind him, shutting out the bright fluorescent light.

"Well now 7B," Chop continued to examine my arms. "What is really preying on your delicate mind?"

"What is this crap?" I asked, trying to move straining against the red threads. I succeeded in cutting my wrists up.

"Ah, ah" Chop gently slapped my arm. He continued his examination, moving on to the arm he just hit though somehow completely failing to notice the blood falling from my now cut wrist. I better not have to foot a bill for this kind of crappy treatment. "You're astute mind impresses me, my dear," Chop continued. "This tread possesses quite miraculous qualities. It is pliant as spider silk in the wind yet can cut through iron. It holds it's shape for hours on end."

"That's nice," I grumbled, "but what is it?"

"It is the thread of hell, often used by the marionette demon class. Is there anything else that is bothering you my dear?"

"And you would care because?"

"Should we fail, you will most likely be dead," he informed me flatly.

"Gee, thanks for the heads up." Chop turned off his flashlight, pocketing it. He headed for the door.

"Be well 7B. It has been a pleasure operating on you." Yeah I'm sure it was you fucking jerk. Still, I say nothing, he's not worth the effort to speak. Silently the door closed behind Chop, leaving me in the red lit room.

I glanced over at the glowing thread. Plaint yet firm eh? Wriggling I pulled against the string that bound my wrists. God it felt like fish line being tightened against my skin. Fish line with melted glass on it. Ignoring the pain, I continued to slowly pull outwards. Eventually the hole was big enough for me to pull my hands through. I rubbed my poor wrists in the darkness. They were bleeding, but amazingly it wasn't too bad. Nice. Now for the hard part. Reaching, I pulled myself up, straining against gravity and my out of shape muscles. Once I was close enough to touch my own toes, I took a breather. God my wrists and my back and my head, these kind of vacations weren't healthy. Slowly I unzipped my combat boots. Gravity took over after that.

Wheezing I landed on my back. Oh…man… The pain made me light headed enough to wonder how that had ever seemed like a good idea. God…my fucking back, what the hell had they done to my fuck back? Rolling onto my stomach I eased myself to my feet. Smirking, I sent a silent thank you to Chop. He had been so helpful with providing me with information I'd needed. I went over to the threads to retrieve my boots. This demonic shitwas through withmessing up my life. Time to get the hell out of Dodge.

Raymund

There were intruders, he would have known that even if he hadn't sensed the empress. He'd thought she'd catch up with him eventually, but he hadn't thought her timing would be so inconvenient. She was looking for him, he knew, that red headed bitch was the single reason most vampires cowered in the shadows now, like common criminals. Well, when he was god…a few changes would have to be made…

Smirking, Raymund reached for his whip. Such as weapon befitting of a future god, the master of all. He would kill the bitch…both of them, that dhampire who claimed to be Empress and the wench key. It wouldn't be long till the angels fell under his hand and then there would be nothing standing in his way. The world would be his on a silver platter. It was enough to make him laugh.