Daniela's POV

I was watching TV in my room, curled under the warm blanket. It was almost time for bed, and there was nothing better to do than to watch TV. Victor has been away for a couple of days, one of his friends had a birthday and they were going to celebrate it in Greece. The prince was never going to take me with him, because I would distract his friends, and he didn't want to worry about me. He was afraid they might steal me from him. Not that I wanted to go, and I was glad the prince had left me here. These three days without him were one of calmest days I had spent here. I swam in the pool, I read books, watched TV- just some peace and quiet.

Victor was going to come back tonight, but it wasn't certain, he might have decided to stay a bit longer. His plans were always changing, depending on the prince's constant mood changes, and that why I thought that Victor would probably return home tomorrow. So after the dinner, I turned the TV on, found some very funny comedy to watch, and curled under the blanket. I had put on my pink nightgown, and my hair was a little messy.

Just when the commercials started, I heard a car outside. I wrapped myself with the blanket and went to the window and moved the curtains aside. One of the prince's limos had stopped just outside and my heart skipped a beat. Victor had come home! And I so hoped he had decided to spent a few more days with his friends in Greece! I watched as the car door opened and the vampire prince got out of the car. And he looked up to my window, as if sensing I was watching him. I immediately took a step back and returned and sat down on the bed. Will he come to my room? Was he drunk or sober? Suddenly the movie didn't seem so interesting anymore, because I was too scared to think what would Victor ask of me tonight.

I nearly jumped off my skin as I heard a knock on the door after maybe tem minutes later. The prince didn't knock, he would just enter. I wrapped myself better with the blanket.

'' Come in.''- My voice was shaking already, and I haven't seen Victor for three days. It only took one look at him to make me like this.

'' It's me, dear.''- To my biggest relief Dora entered, but my relief quickly vanished. Dora rarely came to me at this hour, it was nearly 11 in the evening, and she didn't bother me at this late hour. –'' I thought you were asleep.''- She smiled at me in a way that warmed my heart. This woman was the closest thing to a mother I had now, and she was always so caring. I liked how she spoke to me , kept me company and tried to make me smile.

'' No, I was just watching this movie.''- I lowered the volume down a bit, and placed the remote control down beside me. –'' Does he want to see me?''- I gulped as I waited for my friend to confirm my fears. There was no other explanation why Dora came to my room so late at night. She respected my free time.

'' Yes.''- Dora gave me an apologizing smile as I left the blanket on the bed, turned off the TV and stood up. I wasn't going to see the end of this movie tonight. And I had hoped to just watch some relaxing movie, and go to bed.-'' The prince has missed your company, and said you have to go see him.''- I sighed as I ran fingers through my hair. Why didn't Victor go to bed like he was supposed to? Wasn't he tired from the journey, the flight? What was so urgent that he had to see me this late at night?

'' But I…''- Dora caressed my cheek.-'' I don't have a say in this, do I?''- I knew the older woman pitied me. I was like her own daughter, she had told me that once. She pitied me and wished she could somehow help me, but she could lose her job and most likely her life if she helped the prince's girl to escape. I had been surprised to learn I was the first woman to live in here, like I was Victor's girlfriend or something. Although I was more like a slave, without an opinion. But still I had been the only female, vampire or no, that Victor had picked to live with.

'' I'm afraid not, dear.''- Dora began to comb my hair, because it was a little tangled from the lying around. I put on the blue silk shirt she gave me, also a pair of black trousers. Dora handed me a perfume, which smelt like vanilla, and a pink lip gloss.-'' His Highness was very impatient.''- I nodded as I applied the lip gloss.

'' So I better not keep him waiting.''- I said with a fake smile. My hand began to tremble , but I hid it in my trousers' pocket. Dora hugged me and I rested my head on her shoulder.

# # #

I knew the way to Victor's room so well that I could probably find it with my eyes closed. I had walked it so much, that I really couldn't lose myself in the mansion. If years ago someone had told me I would live in a place like this and with a real royalty, like in the fairytales, I would think he was insane. I had always pictured the princes as kind, sweet and charming. Not controlling, demanding or possessive. I would never had imagined my life would turn into this. I still didn't know what Victor's plans for me were, will he ever let me go? I had hoped and prayed that he would at least bring another girl to live with him, so he wouldn't demand my attention so much, that he would allow me more freedom. But so far nothing like this happened. I knew the prince drank blood from some of his servants and fans, but he didn't pick a single one of them to live in a room like mine. I was the only woman with that privilege and wonderful clothes.

My heart skipped a beat as I stopped in front of Victor's room. I hoped he was asleep, but somehow I knew I wouldn't be this lucky. I released a deep breath, and I knocked on the door.

'' Victor?"- No answer came, and I knocked again. Usually he would tell me right away to enter. He was a vampire after all, and he could hear me perfectly well, so this was a bit strange. Maybe he was asleep, I bit my lips as I contemplated if I should try again. Or he was in the bathroom. I didn't want the prince to yell at me later because I hadn't come. I grabbed the doorknob and turned it, expecting it to be locked, but surprisingly, it wasn't. The door opened smoothly, and I carefully entered.-'' My prince, I am sorry for..''- I was about to apologize for entering like that, when the sight before me froze me on my spot. My master wasn't asleep, not all. And he wasn't alone. Victor was on the armchair near the fireplace and there was a girl on his lap, one of the servants. Her name was Jane, a bit older from me, with curly blond hair and green eyes. The prince had wrapped his arms around the girl's waist and he was drinking blood from her neck. And Jane was without her blouse, and I blushed. Also Victor's shirt was unbuttoned. It was very clear what was going to happen later. My voice must have snapped Victor from his hunger, because he opened his red eyes and they found mine over the girl's shoulder. He immediately stopped feeding and let go of Jane. The girl turned to look at me too, angry that I had ruined her fun.

'' Daniela.''- Victor whispered, his eyes still red as blood. He licked his lips, and I shivered when I saw the sharp fangs. Jane was still eyeing me with malice and she hugged the vampire prince.-'' Do you want to join us?''

'' I am sorry…''- I blushed.-'' I will leave you now.''- I turned around and closed the door behind me as quietly as possible. I felt so humiliated and uncomfortable. I wanted to run to my room, but I didn't want to wake everyone, so I just started to walk faster. This had been so awkward! First, the prince insisted I had to come to his room, because he missed my company, and when I did, he was with another. Did he do this to humiliate me? If he didn't want to see me tonight, why bother telling me to show up? I was about to cry, and I rubbed my eyes. This had been so humiliating!

'' Daniela, wait!''- My heart jumped as I heard his voice, but I didn't bother to stop. Why was he following me? To embarrass me more? I stubbornly kept walking until I reached my room. I was just about to open the door, when Victor ran to me.-'' Please, just listen to me.''- He grabbed my forearm and turned me to face him. His eyes were brown now, and he seemed nervous.

'' I am tired, my prince, and I would like to go to bed.''- My voice nearly broke. –'' It's late.''

'' Danny, please, I was hungry, that's all. I was waiting for you when I got so hungry that I needed someone to quench my thirst. I thought you will take longer to get ready.'' – I nearly gagged how hollow this excuse sounded. –'' Please, just come with me.''- He began to caress my hair, but I backed away.-'' I bought you a present.''

'' I am so sorry I saw this, Victor. I should have knocked louder or something.''- I sobbed and a tear streamed down my cheek.-'' There was no point of you to show me how much you value me as a human being, this was unnecessary. I know I am easily replaceable, and I serve only as entertainment here. You could have at least spared me this humiliation.''- Victor was staring me sadly, like I had hurt him, not the other way around. Like it was nothing for me to see how he was entertaining another girl. –''You probably woke up Dora so she could come to my room and pick me what to wear. I was watching a very funny movie, and I was sleepy when she came. But since you demanded my presence, you woke up both of us. We had tried to be as quick as possible, so you won't have to wait too much. And then…that was embarrassing.''- Maybe I had said a little bit too much, but I couldn't stop myself. He disrespected Dora, he woke her up near at midnight, and for what? So he could show me that he had company?-'' You should have locked your room, if you didn't want visitors.''- I turned around to try to hide in my room, but the prince stood in front of me.

'' Can you please just let me have some sleep?''- I tried to get past him, but he didn't move. He was a little drunk, and I winced. His moods were very unpredictable when he was drunk. Victor either yelled, smashed furniture, or acted strangely nice to me. From the look in his brown eyes now, he was in the soft mood. –'' It's late.''- I was still afraid if he would yell at me for my answering back to him, that he would punish me. But I had lived in here for nearly two months, and not even once I had caught Victor with another woman. I knew he slept with others, Dora had told me that it was usual for him, but so far I had been spared this view. It was uncomfortable and insulting for me, like he wanted me to see it. Maybe he had hoped I would appreciate his attention more that way. But to me it was embarrassing. That servant , Jane, would surely tell everyone tomorrow how I had come to his room, uninvited, too desperate for his love. Although she wouldn't know the prince had literally ordered me to go to see him.

'' I know, but I had missed you, Danny.''- Victor caressed my hair and his hand covered my cheek gently.-'' I wouldn't have chased you around the mansion if I hadn't missed you, would I?''- Victor paled as he saw the tears in my eyes.-'' I'm sorry for what you saw, it was cruel of me. ''- The prince moved out of my way and didn't say a word as I walked into my room and locked it.

# # #

I didn't know what made me think of this memory right now as I just discovered that Michael could be alive. Maybe because this had been the first time I had felt so alone in here, so alone and sad. This had happened before Sebastian's death, before everything went to hell. This had been the moment when I realized that I lived with a complete monster, who wanted only to humiliate me. Forbidding my contact with my friends was cruel, using me for blood and pleasure was sadistic, but making me a witness to his love life was also humiliating. This had been the moment when I finally realized I was doomed. That this would be my life from now on. A pet to a vampire, who would boss her around, who would flaunt his love life at her face, and who would do everything to make her life miserable. This had been the moment, that same night, when I began thinking about escape. Even death was better than this.

And now, the thought about an escape again came to my mind. I had done this before, so I could do it too, right?

''No, Daniela, no.''-Dora had found me in the laundry room, as I was folding the clean clothes. I had told her about the article and how Michael could be alive. The older woman didn't have to read my mind to know I was thinking about an escape again. –'' You mustn't.''- She took my hands in hers and we sat down on the bench.-'' I am glad that the boy might be alive, but you mustn't get your hopes up.''- I got a bit angry at her for trying to ruin my joy. I was devastated when I thought Michael was dead, my heart was aching every time I breathed. I didn't want him to come and rescue me, but still part of me wanted to see him again, wanted him to look for me. Was our connection important to him as much as it was to me? Did he feel the same way? It was selfish and wrong to think like this. Michael must hide and protect himself. Victor would murder him if he caught him, and I knew they were searching for the escaped prisoners.-'' From what you told me, His highness will unleash his anger on him.''

'' I know.''- I looked at our hands.-'' I just want to see him, Dora. One last time.''- My eyes began to water again.-''The selfish part of me wants to hold and kiss him, but the sane part just wants him to never look for me. Because I don't want to go through this loss again.''- I leaned my head on her shoulder.

'' You mustn't plan an escape, dear. Not now.''- His soothing voice and a warm hug melted the cold in my veins.-''His highness is still watching your every move, the guards are told to follow you too. If you do something foolish, I don't know what the prince would do to you then. He let it go once. I know this place is hell for you, but..''

'' But what? It won't get any better.''- I hugged her tighter.-'' We both know that, Dora. We both know that Victor won't ever let me go, not now, not even after 10, 20 years. Maybe if he marries some woman, that would make him calmer, and he would release me. But that's just one possibility. I fear the worse. Victor won't ever let me marry, or to have children. He will either kill me or keep me as his pet forever.''- I sobbed.-'' And I want to marry, to have kids.''- While I have worked for Frank and had my own money, I thought I should go to one of these protection centers for abused women. I knew that there I might get a new identity and to live free from my abuser. But that didn't apply for my case. The man who abused me was the heir to the crown, a protection center won't stop him, his family were above everything. If he was any ordinary vampire, it might work.-'' You have no idea how good I felt while I worked in that bar and paid a rent. You have no idea how good it was to be free. I just want that again. Is it so bad?'' Dora held me until I calmed down.

'' It's not, dear. It's completely normal.''- The kind woman repeated over and over as she caressed my hair.

# # #

I knew Dora only wanted what was best for me, that she cared for me. But remaining in here was equal to hell. Yes, Victor spared my life, he probably bribed his father's consuls to allow him to deal with me. After all I was his slave. Yes, I was alive and well for now. But I wasn't free again, and I would never be. And I had to get out from here, I was suffocating in here! I had tried to act tough, to act it was all nothing, but my heart longed for freedom again. I knew it was stupid and suicidal thought, but what if I succeeded again? I had managed it once, why not again? What I had to lose? I was an orphan, with no living relatives. My friends from the boarding school probably hated me now because I never called. I had wanted to reach them so many times during my first escape, but I feared if Victor would find me easier that way. My heart broke just by the thought they hated me for forgetting them, although I never did.

I had no one waiting for me in the world outside this mansion. My only closest people here pitied me, and that angered me sometimes. I had become so used to be pitied, that it was scary. And I wasn't like this before. I had been happy, with dream and hopes about my future, with friends, and I used to smile and joke a lot. But now, I was like a shell of this person. I felt more like my previous self while I lived with Sally and worked, and while I spent time with Michael. I desperately craved to be this free again. Free from this abusive man, that bought me to be his slave. Free from all of the chains he put on me.

The first time it had been hard to escape. To plan everything. I had to remember the schedule of the guards, when they end their shifts. And I had a knife with me from my ruined dinner with Victor, when I drugged him. And I had his car keys, which made it a lot easier. It had been suicidal, but I did it. But now it wouldn't be that easy. The guards were more, also they were watching my every move, probably instructed by the prince himself. Also Victor would never be so stupid that to have dinner with me so I could drug the wine or the food. I had to think of something else. Something different. It might end horribly for me this time, but I couldn't be in here anymore so the prince could use me for an emotional punching bag or his girlfriend to insult me. I had to escape again. Otherwise I would go insane in here.

# # #

Michael's POV

I got off the train quickly and I zipped up the leather jacket, because it was getting a little cold. Thanks to my supernatural nature I could see very well during the night and that helped to get as far off the train station as possible. There were police officers patrolling around so I had to hide in the bathroom for some time. I had been ready to fight, I would never let them catch me without fight, but I didn't want to hurt anyone either. They were just doing their jobs. The wolf inside of me wanted blood, wanted to fight, but I had managed to calm him. It was so hard not to give in that bloodlust, when I had been imprisoned for months and a girl I cared for was suffering and I was helpless to aid her. If only I had met Daniela sooner, before her life to belong to that demon and he to damage her soul. Because Daniela was damaged , although the girl herself tried to act brave, she was broken so bad. And I wanted to care for her and to shower her with affection, I really did. I had known this girl for such a short time, but she was the only woman that had managed to make me care like this. I wanted to help Daniela return to her previous self, to make her happy and loved.

I exited the bathroom and I was glad that the police wasn't around. I had been to this town before so I knew the way to the center and where to find a hotel. But it was risky to walk on foot, even though it wasn't far. I took one street, where it was crowded with people, so I could blend with the crowd. There were people talking on their phones, laughing. No one paid attention to me, the sidewalk was full. My wolf searched for danger and for police or a vampire. The smells were so many, and it was difficult. And I was tired, I hadn't slept well last night, and now I was exhausted. I had to be in good shape. I watched everyone around me carefully, my claws were digging into my clenched right fist. One of the girls, that were selling their bodies, winked at me as I passed her and called me handsome. I just sped up my pace.

I stopped in front of one church, it seemed familiar. I knew a priest once, William, who worked in that church, he was a relative of my father, his third cousin. He was a kind man and he helped my family mourn Diana. I hesitated if I should go inside and look for him, and if he would be scared of me, or he would turn me in. William hated the vampires too, but what if decided to help them now? I climbed the steps to the church and entered. There was no one around except one man near the altar, who was praying. I recognized his dark, curly hair, which now was turning to grey.

'' William?''- I said carefully to not scare him. The older man turned around and paled when he saw me.

'' Michael.''- He rushed to hug me and for a moment I felt glad that he didn't call for the police. –'' I thought you were dead, boy. I was praying for your soul.''- William grabbed my shoulders and shook them.-'' You shouldn't be here, you should hide.''

'' I know, but I am tired.''- My knees buckled and I would have fallen, if the older man hadn't led me to one of the benches.-'' And I was hit.''- My wound had reopened itself and the bandage needed changing, the shirt was a little stained.-''Can I please stay for the night?''- My head was dizzy.-'' I will understand if you won't accept me.''- Yes, he was a relative, but I didn't want to cause him trouble.

''Nonsense, you are like a son to me.''- William didn't have kids of his own, so he had been very fond of me and my sister. –''Come, I have somewhere to hide you.''- He locked the door, and helped me to stand up. I followed him to some room at my left and up some stairs. –'' Come.''- William unlocked one room and turned on the light. It was small, but cozy. The sight of the bed made me smile. –'' Lay down. Careful.''- He placed my head gently on the pillow and unzipped my jacket to see my wound.-'' I will bring something to clean your wound, Michael.''- I closed my eyes and sighed.