Hey guys! Thank you so much for the reviews :) Sorry if the update is later than usual. I've been swamped with school work since everything is online now. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
After rummaging through the outfits in the old closet that was once mine, I finally picked out a black lace lingerie bodysuit. I wanted to wear something that wasn't nearly as revealing as the others which were mostly two-piece sets. This was a one piece, so it at least covered my stomach—but even then, it was still so revealing. The lace didn't actually hide that much, and the padding in the bra was so thick it almost made my breasts look fake. It was better than the rest of the outfits, but I still felt so exposed.
I spent an hour doing my makeup while everyone else downstairs was getting ready. My eye makeup was dark and bold, and my lips were tinted pink along with a sheer coat of lip gloss. I hadn't worn this much makeup since my days here. Looking at myself in the mirror, I decided it was enough.
Now, if this had been any other circumstance, I would have admitted I looked good. Before being kidnapped, I used to have crazy fantasies about dressing up like this with Dimitri. I used to joke about it with Lissa at times, and I remembered the days where we would browse through lingerie stores and giggle at how 'fun' it would be to play around with it. A part of me still wanted to do those things, but it would be a while before something like that happened. There was nothing wrong with lingerie, but every time I saw myself wearing this, all I saw was a bloodwhore. It had been washed since the last use, but I still remembered the streaks of blood running through the fabric. I remembered people tearing it off of my body like it was just yesterday. The thought of it happening again made me anxious, but it most likely wouldn't happen tonight with guardians watching me through security cameras. I had the earpiece communication too, so if anything went wrong, I could alert them in an instant.
I found a little red trench coat inside the closet which had been sitting there, untouched even when I had been held captive. There was quite a bit of dust on it, indicating that it hadn't been worn in a very long time. I decided to wear it to cover my half-naked body. The last thing I needed was for my parents of all people to see what I was wearing.
I was about to head downstairs until I heard voices coming from the kitchen. Dimitri and Damian were the only ones left in the house to wait for me, and they were actually talking to each other. I stood at the top of the staircase and decided to briefly listen to their conversation.
"...I know you're helping us, but it doesn't change what happened in the past. You may not have hurt her the way the others did, but you should have helped her long before it got to that point." Dimitri's tone was a little harsh, but he wasn't yelling. Maybe the two men were trying to get along or at least reach some sort of understanding. To be honest, I didn't think Dimitri could ever develop any kind of friendship with someone who was affiliated with my kidnapping. He was so protective of me.
"I fucked up a lot of things," Damian sighed. "I was a coward. I never intended for Rose to be hurt so badly, but I didn't have a choice. I was just taking orders from someone who had a lot of power. The most I could do for her was offer comfort when she was in pain, but even that was risky."
Dimitri paused, and I could hear him shifting his position. "I saw that picture of you two."
"That...isn't what you think. I was trying to help her."
"I know. I don't hate you for that," Dimitri admitted. "I just want to ask you one thing, and you have to answer me honestly."
"Shoot."
"After all of this is over, you're going back to jail. So...why help? Is it because you have to, or because deep down, you actually care?" Dimitri asked.
"Both, really," Damian answered after a few moments. "You could say I was forced, but...I do care. I care about Rose. I know people think differently, but I there's nobody in this world that could possibly hate me more than I hate myself. I hate myself for what I did to her, for what I let happen to her. I care about Nevaeh too. I want both of them to be okay despite what happened. I live with the guilt everyday."
"I don't entirely trust you, Damian, but I believe you care. Listen, the only thing you can do now is move forward. Help Rose find what she's looking for. You didn't protect her then, but you can help protect her now. Will you?"
"I'll do whatever it takes."
"Alright," Dimitri said firmly. I knew their conversation had come to an end and finally headed downstairs. The looks I got from both of them were consuming. I was covered, but the amount of makeup I had on probably caught their attention. I wore a little bit of makeup at the academy, but it was usually just natural and didn't hide much. Right now, I looked like I was about to go on stage.
Damian had seen me like this countless times, so this was nothing new to him. On the other hand, Dimitri couldn't pull his eyes away. It wasn't necessarily in a checking-me-out kind of way considering the regretful circumstances, but even he hadn't seen me look this dolled up before. Okay, maybe he was checking me out, but he was good at hiding his emotions. Plus, he probably didn't want to make me uncomfortable.
"You forgot these," Damian reminded me, holding up a pair of black open-toe stiletto heels.
"I am not wearing those."
"Would you rather go in barefoot?" he asked.
"Yes, actually, I would. Those shoes are bloody annoying." I had worn them a few times, and I absolutely hated them. I had worn heels in the past for school dances and events, but these heels were very scandalous.
Damian rolled his eyes, shoving the shoes into my chest. "Just put them on."
Reluctantly, I slipped my feet into the uncomfortable shoes and stood, resting my weight back to get a better sense of balance. I grabbed one of the car keys from the counter, but before I could even open the front door, he snatched the keys away from my hand. "Nice try."
"Hey!"
His only response was to open the door and usher me out. The amount of looks I got as soon as I walked out of the house was uncomfortable. It was darker now, but my makeup was visible from a mile away. I completely avoided eye contact with my parents and rushed to the car, waiting by the front seat until Dimitri unlocked the doors. A hand touched mine, and I turned around to find Kira standing by my side again. She still had a sad look on her face, but she seemed to be doing better now than before.
"Rose...I'm so sorry about everything," she said. "I didn't mean to cause more problems for you. I wish I could do something else to help you."
"Hey." I cupped Kira's face in my hands, tipping her head up until our eyes were levelled. "You don't have to do anything else. You called someone who still thinks you're strigoi. For someone who just got their humanity back, that must be a lot. All of this is, so thank you. The only thing I want you to do now is sit tight and be strong, okay?"
She nodded, pulling me in for a hug. It was the first time hugging her in a few months, and it brought a smile to my face. She was broken and emotionally unstable, but she would be okay. She might have needed a load of help along the way, but I was willing to give that to her once this was all over. We had both gone through some terrible things together and could help each other.
"Get in," I said softly, opening the back door for her. She crawled in, moving behind the middle row so that she could sit in the very back, right behind Damian. I moved into the front seat, nearly running into Eddie.
"Damn it," he muttered, sulking as he took the middle row.
I smirked, climbing into my seat. "My turn to get shot gun, buddy."
"Fine. I'll allow it this time," he teased. I reached back and punched him playfully in the arm, hearing Dimitri chuckle as he started up the engine.
The drive wasn't long, but the closer we got, the more anxious I became. I noticed Dimitri's hand on the gear stick and slowly reached out, placing my shaking hand on his.
"You're nervous," he realized, stroking my pinky finger with his thumb.
"Of course. I'm about to walk into rape territory."
"Rose," Dimitri scolded, darting his eyes to the back seat through the rear-view mirror. With a very fragile and unstable girl in the back who had experienced the same things as me, I needed to be careful with my words.
"Sorry," I muttered. I remained quiet for most of the ride until we started to approach what looked like a small town. Well, more like a ghost town. It was so quiet here at night.
"We're almost there," Dimitri informed me. I groaned, tapping my foot nervously on the floor of the car. Dimitri always knew when I was feeling off and didn't hesitate to check in. "Rose, if you're having seconds thoughts, you really don't have to do this. We've called for backup. We can just arrest those people on the spot if you don't want to go in."
"No, no I have to. I'll go in first. Once I get what I need, I'll leave it to you from there."
Dimitri sighed, tightening his grip on the steering wheel. He hated the whole plan. He hated the idea of me going in and potentially being touched. He hated anyone who tried to hurt me. I hated it too, but I needed to know where Nevaeh was, and I was desperate. If I had to torture someone to get what I wanted, I would.
"Remember to park in the back," Damian prompted as we approached the club. Dimitri made a tight turn, pulling into a small space behind the building. As soon as everyone parked and the headlights went out, we were left in darkness.
Dimitri pulled something out of his pocket. "Alright," he began reluctantly. "Listen to me very carefully. This is the earpiece you'll have, so make sure to keep it hidden behind your hair. Every one of us will have one, and we'll all be connected so we can talk to each other. We'll be watching you through the security cameras to make sure you're okay, but if at any point you feel unsafe or in need of help, tell us. For your own safety, you must follow any instructions given to you by any of us. Do you understand?"
I nodded rapidly, taking his advice seriously. I was still so nervous, but knowing I'd be able to talk to everyone made me feel slightly better. I wouldn't be drugged this time either, but it still didn't take away the dread I had inside.
"Eddie and I will break into the security office. It's in the basement, right?" Dimitri asked.
"Yeah. That stairway in front of us leads to it. Be stealthy and make sure to knock the guy out before he alerts anybody."
"That won't be a problem," Eddie said enthusiastically.
Dimitri paused, squeezing my hand. "Are you ready?"
I took a deep breath, trying to relieve some of the anxiety that still coursed through my body. I had to be brave. I had to stay strong. There were a lot of horrible memories from this place, but I couldn't let that control me. I had to remind myself that I was stronger now and that I could fight back if I wanted to. I wasn't helpless anymore.
"I'm ready," I told him. We left the car after that, meeting up with everyone else outside. The cold air hit my bare legs and chest, but it didn't make me shiver the same way it used to. My anxiety made the space in the car feel too tight, so being outside was actually quite refreshing.
My mom approached me with Abe in tow. She looked remorseful. "I can't believe we're letting you do this," she said, shaking her head.
"Trust me on this one," I replied. "I know what I'm doing."
"Of course you do," she muttered. I wasn't sure if I should have taken that as a passive aggressive insult, but I didn't have much time to think about it before she spoke again. "Listen, I know our relationship is complicated, but you're still my daughter. It doesn't matter if you resent me or what not. I'll kill anyone who tries to hurt you."
"I know," I said with a sad smile. "Just stay with Dimitri and the others for now. I'll let you know when to come in."
"Speaking of you and Dimitri—"
"Janine, will you come look at this?" Behind us, Abe's voice called for my mother. He must have been eavesdropping—and saving me from an awkward chat I didn't want to have. Luckily, she complied, dropping the subject. I mouthed a 'thank you' to Abe who shot me a wink.
"Rose," Damian called. "We're about to go in."
We were standing right behind the door now. I dreaded what I was about to see inside the building and started to wonder if it would make me go crazy if it was too much. "I'm starting to question my sanity."
A hand touched my shoulder, and I realized Dimitri was still here. He was about to go down with Eddie but probably wanted to stay until I was inside. Without giving it a second thought, he wrapped his hands around my head and pressed his lips to mine, kissing me right on the spot. I was shocked at first with so many people around us, but at this point, Dimitri was probably over with keeping our relationship a secret. To be honest, so was I. In a moment as stressful as this, Dimitri's kiss was reassuring. He trusted me to pull myself together.
Unfortunately, Damian's voice broke us apart, but I knew we had to get going. "Alright, love birds, let's go."
Dimitri pulled away, heading towards Eddie who had been watching us. "Be brave," he said firmly. I nodded, shaking off my nerves again. Damian was getting impatient now, so I hurried over, rushing through the doorway. The place was still the same as I'd last seen it. It was dark, and the smell of drugs and blood was strong. There were strigoi here, and I even recognized some of them. Looking at them used to make me feel afraid, but now I just felt angry. I wanted nothing more than to watch them all burn in the sun.
A slight buzzing noise in my ear pulled me out of my dangerous thoughts. Dimitri's voice rang through the earpiece. "Rose? Can you hear me?"
"Yeah, I can hear you," I answered.
"Perfect. We're in the security office. We can see you guys through the cameras. Are you okay?"
"I think so." Was I okay? Physically, yes. Mentally? Debatable.
Damian's lips moved down to my other ear. He tugged on the sleeve of my short trench coat. "You should take this off now."
"Can't I wait until I get into a private room?" I asked in annoyance.
"One of the rules of this club is that females stay revealed. If you keep yourself covered, people here might suspect you. Believe me, it's better to do it now than to have someone else rip it off of you."
I groaned. "Sorry, mom and dad. I think you should look away from the cameras now."
I started to take off the belt and undo the buttons, slipping the material off of my now exposed skin. When Damian thought I wasn't looking, I caught him staring at me. It wasn't in a creepy way, but rather just a brief skim of his eyes that had a hint of admiration. He looked away as soon as he realized he'd been caught.
"What's wrong?" I asked coyly. "It's not like you haven't seen me like this before."
"You caught me off guard, that's all," he said, avoiding eye contact. I wasn't sure what it was about this man, but I started to wonder if he had some secret attraction to me. Even back when I was his little prisoner, he always looked at me in ways they he never did with anyone else. When he did, it wasn't creepy or predatory. More like...desire and admiration. It was hard to tell since he was actually quite good at hiding his feelings, but I saw it in him.
I spoke without thinking. "Do you like me?" I blurted out stupidly.
Damian froze, completely stunned by my question. Even with the loud music, I could hear his pulse start to quicken. "What?"
I shook my head, trying to hide my embarrassment. "Nothing. Take my arm."
Damian was still thinking about my question, but didn't say anything else. He grabbed my upper arm, being gentle this time rather than forceful as he led me closer to the crowd. "I'm going to let you go on your own now. I'll stay somewhere close so that I can still see you. Find someone to talk to and ask for the club owner. If they don't know, ask someone else."
Dimitri spoke through my ear again. "Make sure you watch her."
"I will," Damian ensured him. He noticed my hesitation and placed his hand on my lower back, giving me a small push. "You'll be okay. We're all here."
"Thanks," I murmured. Doing this was definitely pushing my limits, but I didn't let my fear control me. As I walked through the heated club, several eyes were on me within seconds. I tried my best to ignore the dirty looks, but it was inevitable. Seeing a "new" girl—particularly one that didn't look fucked up and used yet—made people want to claim me as their prize.
I avoided looking anyone directly in the eyes, but I could hear everyone's whispers as I walked through the crowd.
"Take a look at that one."
"How much is she?"
"C'mon, baby girl, don't be shy now."
I clenched my teeth, trying to keep myself under control. If I lashed out now, my entire plan would crumble. I tried to stay control but nearly lost it when someone grabbed my ass from behind me. If any of the girls here showed resistance or started fighting, they'd surely be beaten or immediately drugged. I couldn't have any of that happening if I wanted to stick to the plan, so I held back my urge to beat up whoever had just touched me.
It didn't end there. Their hands were everywhere, groping me in ways that made my blood boil. This wasn't exactly new for me, but it was disgusting. It made me wonder how some people did this willingly. I mean, it wasn't my place to judge them if it was their choice, but it definitely wasn't something I would ever do. Unfortunately, most of the girls were here by force.
"I can't take this anymore. I'm going in," Dimitri growled. I could hear the anger in his voice as well as some shifting in the background until Abe stopped him.
"Dimitri, wait. Believe me, this is just as disturbing for me to see as it is for you, but we can't step in yet. We'll have our way with them soon, but we have to wait. They'll be locked up soon."
If they were only getting locked up, they were lucky. God forbid they ever experience the torture methods I had in my head.
I found an opening near the bar and moved quickly. I needed to find someone to talk to, and there was a man sitting on one of the bar stools. I paled, realizing I knew him from my first night here. He was a strigoi, and he had compelled me to stay calm when I had freaked out. He was alone now.
I sat next to him, flipping my hair back to get his attention. "Excuse me," I said, alternating my voice so that I sounded shy and intimidated. He noticed me instantly, flicking his deadly red eyes on me. I'd almost forgotten how cold his eyes were. Those eyes had stared me down while he had forced himself on me. That night was still a bit of a blur, but I remembered him. I wondered if he remembered me.
"Yes?" he asked. His eyes kept skimming my body, constantly looking me up and down. It actually astounded me that I wasn't having a panic attack.
"I'm looking for the owner of this club," I said, placing my hands behind me. "Would you happen to know where he is?"
"Can't tell you," he said emotionlessly.
"Well...I have a session with him. You know what happens if we're late for our clients."
"Did you misunderstand? I can't help you, pretty girl."
"Look somewhere else and stay away from him," I heard Dimitri tell me. I pursed my lips, abruptly leaving my chair.
"Unless," the man started, "you offer me something in return."
"And what would that be?" I asked hesitantly. He came closer, moving my hair back with his hand.
"Just a little taste," he said, showing me his sharp fangs.
"Don't do it, Rose. Leave him now," Dimitri commanded. I wanted information, but I wasn't about to give myself away. I was already low on blood myself, and I couldn't waste my energy.
"I'm reserved for someone else," I said curtly, stepping back. He grabbed my arm this time, pulling me against his body in a grip that didn't allow me to leave.
"You know, you look awfully familiar. It's almost as if I can remember the taste of your blood on my tongue. Even your smell is intoxicating. The feeling of you fighting me while I took you as my own. That scared look on your face while you cried for us to stop. I remember all of it...and believe me, I would do it all over again."
I was shaking. Not out of fear, but out of anger. It could have been a mix of resentment and the darkness of spirit seeping through my veins, but either way, I was very angry. So angry that I thought I could start to feel my fangs come out. This guy didn't seem to know about my transition yet and I was afraid I was going to expose myself.
"I'm taking him down first," Dimitri said menacingly. If it was possible, he sounded even more angry than me.
"No way. I'd rather be the one to kill him," Janine said.
"If I get my hands on him, he'll be wishing he was dead," Abe threatened. I would have said something too, but I had to stay quiet. I saw Damian coming up to us, rushing through the crowd. He hadn't been that far away and was quick to notice my situation.
"Marie, you're late. Let's go before your client beats you to the curb," he said, using a voice that was so threatening it would have intimidated me if I didn't know him. He grabbed my arm, yanking me away from the strigoi. If it weren't for him, I probably would have lost it. He pulled us into a nearby hallway which was surprisingly empty but still dark. The only light was coming from the dim red lights on the walls.
"Are you alright?" he asked. I pushed him away as my rage started to take over, but he was quick to react. His speed was actually impressive for a human.
"Rose, you're not thinking clearly—"
"Oh, I'm thinking very clearly," I snapped, pushing him again. While Damian was definitely stronger than the average human, there was no way to surpass me.
"No, you're not. You need to calm down," he said desperately, pinning me against the wall. When I started fighting him again, he held my wrists against the wall. "Rose, think about this. Think about Nevaeh. She's scared and alone and she needs you. Remember what I told you at the royal court? Don't lose yourself."
I stopped struggling, taking in the severity of his words. I had to save Nevaeh. I had to find her. That was the whole reason for all of this. I couldn't lose control.
"Shit," I gasped, sulking. If Damian wasn't holding me against the wall, I probably would have fallen. "I almost lost it. I'm sorry."
"Are you okay though?" he asked. He seemed genuinely worried and I successfully held back my tears. Now was not a good time to get sentimental.
"He deserves to die," I croaked. "They all need to die." Damian pulled back, but I wasn't having that. I leaned my forehead against his chest, grabbing the fabric of his jacket in my fists. It surprised us both, but there was nothing intimate or awkward about it.
"I know you're angry and you have every right to be," he whispered. "But right now, we need to find out where Sebastian is. Can you do that?" he asked, pulling back to cup my face. I nodded, still feeling angry but otherwise okay.
"I spoke to someone when you were at the bar. Come with me," he said, grabbing my arm again. I let him lead me down the hallway and up some stairs. I ended up taking my shoes off at some point since they were pissing me off.
"It's the room on the very end," he said, pointing to the room at the end of the hallway. "He's inside. I'll be out here."
I parted from him again, slowly walking towards Eric's room. Without shoes, I was left barefoot, meaning my footsteps were inaudible and difficult to detect. I knocked on his door, hearing a bit of shuffling in the room on the other side. Eric opened it, and whatever smug look he had on his face immediately disappeared as soon as he saw me. "Marie..."
"Eric," I greeted. "Did you miss me?"
I'll admit, I had to re-read this chapter over and over again, constantly making changes because I was really unsure about it. Please let me know what you thought. It helps a lot! Also, I hope everyone here stays safe, so keep washing your hands :D
