Black Ink

by Foamy

What if Rose never escaped Dimitri on the bridge. Trapped under Dimitri's spell and under his complete control, can she be saved before it's too late? But, does she want to be saved? Once everything around her shatters, will she be able to pick up the pieces again? Rated for dark themes, violence, sexual content, and foul language. UPDATED: Chapter 9 now up!

5. You're Buried Deep

AN: Here is the revamp of chapter 4. This chapter was the easiest for me to edit. It was a lot of work, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Richelle Mead owns Vampire Academy.

BLACK INK

ACT I: In the Arms of the Devil

Chapter 4: You're Buried Deep

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"You're a flower that's withering
I can't feel your thorns in my hand
This is no embrace, you're buried deep
You're not crying, this is blood all over me

You're not crying, this is blood all over me
You're not crying, this is blood all over me

And I'll love you, if you let me
And I'll love you, if you won't make me stop."

~ Marilyn Manson - Devour

---

She felt trapped. Caged like an animal on display. A forgotten pet abandoned to fend for themselves. The isolation of the compound was beginning to set in leaving Rose completely on edge. It had been nearly three days since she had last seen Dimitri and the loneliness that she felt in his absence was beginning to affect her mental state. He was the only one she ever saw and was her only source of social interaction. Her routine revolved around her meals, which she received once a day. Her food was brought in while she slept, and the remnants were removed after she fell asleep for the day. There was always enough to space it out and make it last throughout the day. She was not starved by any means, but she imagined that this is what it felt like to live in a zoo. Scheduled feeding times, decent living accommodations, and some minor forms of entertainment to keep you occupied while you rotted away in an oversized prison cell.

Although she was content with her surroundings and the new life that had been thrust upon her, the perpetual boredom was becoming increasingly harder to cope with as the time passed. With only her own company to keep with Dimitri's continued absence, she felt as though she was starting to slip farther and farther from sanity. Days blended together making it impossible to tell when one day ended and the next began. Mix her frazzled mental state with the deep longing for endorphins in the boiling pot, and her captivity became nearly intolerable. She wanted those endorphins so badly that the mere thought of them made her shiver with need. Without them, her body seemed to itch and ache in ways she had never felt before. It proved to be the most agonizing of all. The addiction was setting in and all she could do was wait for her next fix. It was taking too long, and this only made her restless.

Rose spent her days hoping and praying that someone would come and save her from the constant boredom she suffered. The intense cravings made it virtually impossible for her to focus for any lengthy period of time. As a result, she was unable to read and so she was forced to turn to the television as her main source of entertainment. Even still, she barely had the patience for that. Nothing could distract her from that burning need rapidly growing inside of her. It invaded her every thought like a parasite. This was nothing like the mild cravings she would get for Lissa's bite when they had been on the run. Those ones she could ignore. No, this was something much more. It was all consuming.

Placing larger gaps between the bites was becoming more of a curse than a reprieve. The withdrawal was almost too much for her to handle along with her crippling loneliness. Every morning, every day, it was the same. She woke up wishing for Dimitri to show up and give her what she wanted. What she needed most. She would make it through the day only to either crash on the couch or in her bed only to awaken some time later to find that he had not come. That she was still all alone.

Fed up with whatever was on the TV, Rose tossed the remote to the other side of the couch letting out a loud and frustrated growl. It hit the arm of the couch and clattered onto the floor sliding across the room to the wall. She was restless and that made her increasingly aggressive. However, she had no outlet to relieve such an emotion. All she could do was sit around and wait. She hated the waiting. Her body ached with the desire to move about and explore unhindered by the boundaries set upon her. The box she was living in deprived her of that freedom. She could only pace the floor of her apartment so many times. If she continued with this pattern, she would wear a groove in the floor from her incessant pacing. This place was quickly becoming more of a prison to her than a home. She was sick of the cream coloured walls, the cold wooden floor, and the near constant buzz of the TV in the background. The situation was maddening. There was one thing she was certain of; the isolation was slowly driving her insane.

She rose to her feet, stretching out her cramped muscles. Due to her inactivity and improper diet, she was sure that she was losing some of her strength and muscle mass. She had been consuming mostly fast food and though she loved it, she knew that her body required more nutrients than those meals had to offer. It mattered little in this environment, as her skills were of little use here, but she could not help that the thought crossed her mind. She was used to near constant exercise and to be continuously denied this only added to her frustration and restlessness.

Rose moved to the middle of the floor, hiked up her dress so that it rested above her hips, and began to stretch out. Though her attire was not suitable for such an exercise, she was alone and did not want to change her clothing just to stretch. Besides, she had no proper work out attire available to her in this apartment. It was the only thing she could do to focus all her pent up energy. Placing her foot on the back of the couch, she used the leverage to stretch out her leg muscles. She winced at the slight pain, but it felt good despite that. Carefully and methodically, she continued in this fashion until she completed the routine, stretching out all of the muscles in her body. She felt loose and limber, but it did little to help. The restlessness had not left her. Rose sighed straightening out her posture before she began to pace the floor behind the couch once more. Her new favourite hobby.

This only lasted a few moments before she let out a more aggravated cry. She had enough of this waiting game. All she ever did was wait. She adjusted the skirt of her dress pulling the fabric back down to rest against her thighs. If Dimitri was going to ignore her, then she was not going to make it easy for him. It was a combination of her sense of abandonment and her desire to explore that led her to the wooden door that separated her apartment from what she had learned was Dimitri's office. Her hand reached out grasping the handle and attempted to open the door. She was surprised to find it unlocked yet again. This discovery caused her to pause in the doorway. Did this mean he was here? Her heart began to beat faster at the prospect. She sure hoped that he was here.

Placing her hands against the frame, Rose leaned forward peeking into the room. Her eyes scanned the large, open room and her hopes sank. No one was there. She was still alone. Disappointed by this, she stepped back debating if she should head back into her room instead of proceeding forward. However, her decision came easy as her curiosity got the best of her. The brunette teen stepped into the room without bothering to close the door to her apartment behind her. Dimitri had never mentioned to her that she could not come into his office while he was away, and she decided to take advantage of that. If he had not specifically forbidden it, then she was not disobeying him. It was a technical loophole.

The room was warm and inviting unlike the cold chill that permeated the air of her apartment. This was mostly due to the lit fireplace, which was the only light in the room. However, with her Dhampir sight, it was all the light she needed. Rose crept into the room careful not to make a sound. Though no one was there, she wanted to remain inconspicuous so that no one would hear her. The last thing she wanted to do was draw unwanted attention to herself from undesired company. The other occupants of the compound were unknown to her and were, more than likely, very dangerous. Dimitri had given her no idea exactly how many Strigoi resided in this place. All she knew was that Dimitri was not the only one, just the one in charge.

Taking her time, her eyes scanned over the room in greater detail than the last time she had been in here. Rose had been too distracted by Dimitri's presence to inspect it properly during her last visit. Whenever he was around, she had a hard time focusing on anything besides him. She ran her fingers along the top of the desk as she passed by admiring the way the flames made the shadows dance along the walls. It gave an eerie feel to the room, but the warmth made it comfortable.

Chairs lined the wall next to the large double doors that she suspected led out into the hallway. The chairs were large and solid. While heavy by normal standards, they would be easy to move about the room as needed. She crossed the floor deciding to take a look at the books on the shelves lining the walls. There were more books in here than Rose could count. Most were old, heavy volumes that were lined with dust and clearly not in English. That did not surprise her at all. There were a number of different languages littering the shelves but the only one she could recognize was Russian. Big surprise. Rose skipped through them hoping to find something that may catch her eye that was written in the only language she understood. English. She found a few, but not many. She did not think Dimitri would mind if she borrowed something to keep herself entertained. He had told her that he wanted her to feel at home here. That this was her home now. Their home. Together.

Most of the books in her room were light reading. Girly novels that held little interest to her. Though there were some books on combat, animal behaviour, and ancient stories from the world of the Moroi. Those were promising, but, at this point in time, she was not interested in reading about any of that stuff. Not when she could not focus properly through her need for the endorphins. Instead, she wanted something different. Something new. Once her cravings were satiated, she was sure that she would be able to concentrate as she needed.

A sick feeling suddenly erupted in her stomach making her feel both dizzy and nauseous. A familiar feeling that had been strangely absent in Dimitri's presence. Her shadow kissed Strigoi warning system. It was then that she realized that she was no longer alone. Someone else was in the room with her. Slowly, she turned sensing a looming presence behind her. Her eyes fell on the lithe form of a man.

Rose jumped back startled by his sudden appearance. She had not heard the door and subsequently had not heard him enter. She had been too wrapped up in the books on the shelf to notice. A rookie mistake. When she turned, she had been expecting to find Dimitri but was met with a completely different figure all together. Immediately she could tell that he was not human in any way. The paleness of his skin gave away his Strigoi nature. His thin frame and above average height revealed that he had been a Moroi before he had been awakened. His hair was cut short and was dark in colour. Almost black, much like her own. His eyes were once a pale blue, but like all Strigoi, they were now lined with red marking him as inhuman. His face was narrow with high cheek bones and slightly squinted eyes. The tops of his ears were slightly pointed adding to his preternatural appearance.

He regarded her with curiosity, his eyes scanning her up and down as if he were sketching her in his mind. Committing every curve and every feature to his memory. It was an intimate stare. Rose unconsciously shivered under his heavy and scrutinizing gaze. She had never seen this man before and the way he was looking at her made her feel extremely uncomfortable. Like she was a piece of meat. A sinister smirk formed on his face showing off his sharp fangs. Rose felt all the heat drain from her face and she was sure that her complexion had visibly paled. She was frozen in place under his dark expression.

"Why if it isn't the little pet," he remarked with amusement evident in his voice.

He stepped towards her moving slowly. Cautiously, as if not to frighten her. However, she was not fooled. There was a menacing gleam in his cold eyes that was completely predatory. Like he would eat her whole. It was so very different from the way Dimitri would look at her. With her eyes focused on him, she could tell that he had not come for a friendly visit. Rose shook her head and stepped back, away from him, realizing that she could be his prey. While she had been suspecting that Dimitri's colleagues were aware of her presence, despite the fact that he kept her well hidden, it was completely different coming face to face with that fact.

After the initial shock of his sudden appearance wore off, Rose found her voice. "Dimitri wouldn't like it if he knew you were in here," she informed him squaring her shoulders and standing straight. She found that her words sounded less confident than she had hoped.

He had the element of surprise and therefore, the upper hand. As much as she wanted to stand tall and without fear, it was nearly impossible. She could put on a good show, but she did not convince anyone. He seemed amused by her flustered response. His nostrils flared slightly as he inhaled her scent laced with her fear. It was alluring.

"He'd feel the same towards you. Why are you out of your room?" he asked her watching as she slowly inched back towards the door that led back to her apartment. If she could get there, maybe she could lock the door. This reaction did nothing but stroke his ego. He thoroughly enjoyed the sensation that her fear sent through him. "Wandering around a vampire infested compound isn't good for self preservation little one," he chided her when she failed to provide an answer to his enquiry.

Rose blinked at him a few times feeling her stomach twist unnaturally as his words sunk in. He was right and it made her feel stupid, like she was a naive schoolgirl. She was smarter than that. In the moments when she was alone, it was easy for her to forget exactly who else resided inside the large building. She could get lost in the fantasy that this was her and Dimitri's little world. When isolated as she was, reality was easy to misconstrue.

"I was just...I just wanted to wait for Dimitri." Her explanation sounded equally as stupid as she felt.

The tremble in her voice sounded pathetic even to her own ears. Speaking softly and stuttering like a frightened child. All that covered her form was the clingy red dress she wore that left her legs visible. A good portion of her ample chest was on display, her natural curves accentuated by the tight fabric. While the dress was short, the sleeves were long coming to an end at her wrists. The material clung to her body like a second skin leaving nothing to the imagination. It was impractical. It seemed that most of the clothing provided for her were fitted in this fashion. Exposing as much of her as possible while keeping the important parts hidden. The way the dress fit her also made it obvious that she had neglected to wear a bra underneath the garment. There seemed to be no point in wearing one if she just was going to spend her day in her apartment alone. Now, she felt as though that choice had been a mistake. Rose felt completely exposed. Naked under the intensity of his stare.

The unknown male Strigoi continued to stare at her completely enthralled by her presence. She was unique, that was certain. There was something dark inside of her that called to him, and he could not explain it. He wondered if Dimitri felt the same pull and that is why he held onto the Dhampir girl so tightly. It was curious indeed. Finally getting a good look at her, he could understand why Dimitri was so enchanted by her. Her appearance was exotic and beautiful. Pure temptation in female form. Oh, how badly he wanted to rip it all away and take her for himself. Afterall, 'finders keepers'.

"Is that so?" he commented almost taunting her as he drew closer. He wanted to frighten her just a little more.

She hid it well, but there were certain things that her expression could not disguise. He could hear her blood racing through her veins as her heart thundered in her chest. The scent of adrenaline and fear made the blood taste better. His hands slid into the pockets of his jacket in an attempt to appear slightly less threatening. As much as he was enjoying her growing anxiety and her urge for a hasty retreat, it was much more fun when the victim was willing. From the scarring he could see forming around her neck her consent was not out of the realm of possibility, not that he needed it. It was clear that she had been bitten on many occasions, and deeply. This increased his likelihood of getting to taste her blood. He licked his lips at the thought. She would have to be addicted by now.

"Well, he won't be back for a while yet," he informed her as he halted his stride to stand less than a foot from her. Intimidation was key in this game of cat and mouse. Predator vs. prey.

His words sent a shiver up her spine. It felt as though a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her and she froze momentarily from the shock of it. Panic began to set in as she realized that she needed to get out of there and fast. With her head screaming to get away from him, her flight instincts responded. She could feel her legs shaking, but she forced that aside asserting her main goal in her mind. Get out.

"I'll just...I'll just go back to my room," she said her voice shaking almost as much as her legs were. It was obvious that she was unsteady on her feet. Rose silently cursed her voice for its failure to sound more assertive. She had failed miserably. Why was she suddenly such a weak and pathetic coward.

The man was unimpressed and disappointed by her desire for a hasty retreat. They were just starting to have fun. He had to stop her before she could compose herself. His hand reached out grabbing a firm hold on her wrist. His grip was not strong enough to hurt her, but it was enough to keep her from retreating. She struggled against his hold. However, she could not break free. He was much stronger than her.

"Hey now, not so fast little pet. There is no need for you to be scared of me," he assured her gently coaxing her closer.

His fingers rose to stroke the side of her face attempting to lock eyes with her. All he needed was the smallest amount of eye contact. The slightest push of compulsion and she would bend to his will. She would be his to mold and use to his pleasure. His pet. Belikov could go to Hell if he thought he could keep her all to himself. The delusional asshole needed to learn to share.

Rose recoiled from his touch and immediately turned her head keeping her eyes from his. Instinctively, she knew what he was trying to accomplish. Dimitri was far more subtle about it. So much so that she did not even notice him doing it. That or his presence just made her ignorant to it. The man's close proximity to her furthered triggered her flight response and her body acted accordingly.

"Just leave me alone," she cried using all her strength to rip her arm out of his grasp. She was successful and, in a flash, she twisted her body back around. Rose wasted no time gearing herself up for the sprint that would take her just beyond that wooden door. She had mere moments to cross that distance.

Luck was not entirely on her side. It rarely was these days. Just as she turned, he seemed to materialize in front of her completely blocking her path. Without time to slow down, Rose ended up slamming into him at full speed. His body was hard like a rock. Dazed from the collision, she stumbled back tripping over herself and falling down onto the floor. She landed flat on her ass, a jolt of pain shooting up her spine at the impact. Rose cursed under her breath pushing past the pain and focusing on the situation at hand. There was no way she was going to escape, and she was becoming increasingly aware of that fact. This man had her trapped and it felt like the walls were closing in on her.

The unnamed Strigoi shook his head amused by her feeble attempts to flee from him. A satisfied smirk spread across his face as he heard the pounding of her heart in her chest much faster than it had before. She could act calm and collected all she wanted, but her body was giving all of the opposite cues. This was exactly as he had wanted it to be. A chuckle of amusement escaped him. Manipulating this girl was so easy, no wonder Dimitri enjoyed toying with her so much.

He grabbed a hold of her arm, pulling her to her feet with ease. "Come now, no need to be frightened of me Dear," he taunted retaining his hold on her as she struggled to get free of his grasp. He ignored her pitiful attempts maintaining his grip and focusing on his desires, which currently involved him with the young Dhampir girl. "I won't hurt you...much."

The dark haired man moved swiftly, faster than she could even blink. In one motion, he grabbed a hold of her neck and pushed her back slamming her body into the wall. All the air was forced out of her lungs leaving her gasping for breath. Despite the ferocity of the attack and the fear and adrenaline setting in deeper, she could not help but feel a bit excited. It danced through her nerves caressing them softly relaxing her. His hand released its firm hold on her neck and moved to grip her arms tightly to hold her in place, and effectively preventing her from attacking him in retaliation. She was a Dhampir, and he had seen her fight Dimitri the night she escaped. He did not want to give her the opportunity to best him. However, Rose could not have attacked if she tried. He had the upper hand.

He leaned in pressing his nose against her neck and inhaling the sweetness of her scent. The action caused Rose to shiver with anticipation. She knew what was coming and so did her body. The promise of bliss caused desire to flare up inside of her. She bit her lip to keep from expressing it vocally. Her fear was melting away and being replaced with the same desperation that she had been feeling earlier. In the presence of another individual willing to give her what she had been deprived of for too long, the cravings for the endorphins had returned full force urging her to satisfy them. He groaned in appreciation of her scent and muttered something under his breath, but she did not care to hear what it was. She was not even sure if it was in English.

All that Rose could focus on was the pounding of her heart and the closeness of his fangs to her skin. They were so close but not where she needed them to be. Rose tilted her head to the side exposing more of her neck giving him silent permission to bite her. The thirst for her rapidly growing addiction made it impossible for her to resist the temptation. She needed him to bite her. There was no question about it. No hesitancy. She wanted the rush and the numbness that followed as the endorphins spread through her body. A small moan slipped from her lips at the thought, and she unconsciously pressed herself against him.

He smirked at this. "Eager little thing aren't you," he teased his warm breath tickling her skin and making her shudder involuntarily in anticipation. He chuckled darkly at her reaction to his closeness. "He's got you begging for it," he added before running his tongue along her jaw.

He dragged the muscle down her neck savouring the feel of her skin against it. The salty yet sweet taste of her assaulted him. His mouth began to water at the prospect, and he ran his tongue over his fangs before returning to her neck. Her veins pulsed against him, and he could not resist the urge any longer. Not when he could feel the blood rushing through her just underneath the surface.

"You wouldn't mind if I took a bite, would you now?" he asked her his breath tickling her exposed skin.

Rose shook her head vigorously her body already tensing up to prepare herself for the initial pain of the bite. She could not turn down his offer. She was in too deep, and he knew it all too well. It was obvious as she displayed all the classic signs of an addict. Taking advantage of the situation, he opened his mouth pressing his fangs against her eager flesh. In that moment, everything else faded away. The room melted away and a sense of calm washed over her. Nothing else mattered but the feel of his sharp fangs against her skin. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she relaxed against his hold. However, the moment was short lived. She inhaled sharply as the tips sunk into her barely piercing the skin before it was all ripped away. Still, a small trickle of endorphins flowed into her system. Hardly enough for her to notice. No where near the amount she needed. She cried out in frustration at the loss and opened her eyes to see what the interruption was.

The man was pulled away from her and thrown across the room in one swift motion with powerful force. He hit the opposite wall hard causing the sturdy surface to crack due to the ferocity of the impact. The man fell to the floor momentarily stunned by the sudden attack. Rose snapped back to reality sobering almost instantly at the sight in front of her. Standing protectively between her and the unnamed male Strigoi, was Dimitri. A very pissed off Dimitri. He glared at the other vampire with a murderous expression etched onto his face. She could feel the rage radiating off of him. It filled the room causing her heart to beat faster in response. It scared her yet excited her at the same time. However, it was not Rose who held his attention. His cold dark eyes were trained on the other Strigoi across the room. The trespasser.

The unnamed man rose to his feet casually brushing himself off. The manoeuvre Dimitri had pulled barely phased him. "Now that was a little uncalled for," he remarked shrugging his shoulders. The joints cracked as he did so, popping back into place. He was eerily calm and relaxed for having just been tossed across the room like a rag doll. He was completely unaffected by the other vampire's extreme display of aggression. It was clear that these types of interactions were commonplace.

"What are you trying to pull Adam?" Dimitri asked his voice even and steady as he spoke. Only the low rumble underneath indicated his displeasure of the intrusion.

The man, Adam, had stepped foot uninvited into his territory. Most egregious, the other man had touched his property. Dimitri was enraged, furious, but he managed to hold it together in order to extract answers from his associate. His expression went blank, his guardian mask concealing the emotions churning inside of him. Adam had dared to invade his private space and defile his Roza. The insolent prick. Dimitri needed to know the reason why the other man had disobeyed his orders before deciding on his punishment.

Adam seemed undisturbed by his leader's questioning. He merely shrugged before answering. "I'm making a point," was his simple reply. It was clear that he was not intimidated by the larger and slightly taller male. In fact, the whole display of dominance seemed to amuse him. "Do you get it brother?" he questioned quirking an eyebrow at the other Strigoi.

Dimitri snorted at the condescending attitude the other man was putting forth. Adam had regarded him as if they sat on equal footing which did not sit well with Dimitri at all. "I am not your brother," he snapped irritated by the suggestion.

Such a term implied, not only that they held equal titles, but that they possessed a close relationship. That they were attached to one another somehow. That could not be further from the truth for Dimitri felt no emotions where his underlings were concerned. In fact, he could care less about them. They were useful, but unimportant. They meant absolutely nothing to him. They were expendable.

"What business brings you here?" Dimitri pressed, his body language revealing that it was more of a demand than a request. An order he expected to be followed.

Adam glanced at Rose before gesturing towards her, "She shouldn't be here," he stated his expression morphing into one of longing.

He licked his lips taking in her form imagining the taste of her blood on his tongue as it had been so rudely denied to him. Not from the girl, but by her overbearing protector who was greedy and kept her for himself. His own personal blood whore to feed from and fuck whenever he desired. It was not fair. Moments before, the girl had been more than willing to have his fangs lodged into her flesh. However, Dimitri's presence seemed to completely change her tune. The Dhampir slut was a little tease. She had toyed with him, and it annoyed him. He did not like rejection, especially for another man.

"Her presence is torture," he added catching his bottom lip between his teeth his eyes remaining on Rose.

Dimitri brushed off his comment finding it irrelevant to the situation at hand. Adam's opinion on what he did mattered little to him. He stepped to the side slightly, sheltering Rose from his view. Dimitri did not appreciate the way the other man was staring at her. As if he had a right to touch her. "She is none of your concern," he informed him dismissing the topic completely. He could keep whoever he wanted. He did not need to explain himself or justify his actions to one who was beneath him, especially Adam.

The other man groaned running his hands through his short hair. "It's not fair you get a plaything and no one else does," he complained with a whine to his voice. It made him sound like a spoiled and greedy child. It was a sound that did not suite the lanky dark haired Strigoi.

"I am in charge, I can do whatever I want," was Dimitri's blunt retort.

Adam craned his neck to the side to put Rose in his sights once more. She shied away from him, pressing her back against the bookcase behind her as if she could sink into it and disappear. He smirked at this response enjoying the aroma of fear still flowing from her. "She is a pretty little thing," he commented before quickly side stepping and zipping passed his leader and stopping mere inches away from the Dhampir girl.

It was a bold move, and although Dimitri turned, he made no effort to stop the other man, at least, not yet. He had to admit, he was intrigued to see what Adam hoped to accomplish by this manoeuvre. Sensing no immediate danger to Rose, Dimitri allowed it. At least, for the time being. He was close enough to them that he could react at a moments notice should the other Strigoi try something foolish. He could afford to humour the other man for a few measly moments. Besides, Dimitri was curious. He wanted to see how far Adam was willing to take it. How brave, or stupid, was he.

Adam closed the distance reaching out and running his fingers down the side of Rose's face. She shivered shrinking away from his touch. In response to this reaction, he growled in annoyance grabbing hold of her chin. He forced her head to the side to expose her neck to him as he had done before. Rose made no effort to resist him. His fingers ran over the mostly healed marks residing there before turning to look at his superior.

"Why is it only you who gets a taste?" he questioned admiring the elegant curve of her neck. He licked his lips his eyes shining with desire. "Didn't you ever learn to share?" he added his voice nearly a whisper as he leaned down pulling his lips back and exposing his fangs. His intentions were clear, and Dimitri could not allow that to happen. Adam was crossing a line in a dangerous game.

Dimitri's reaction to Adam's goading was instantaneous. Faster than Rose could blink, Dimitri grabbed Adam by the back of the neck. With excessive force, he slammed the other man's head down onto the desk, his face pressed down against the wooden surface. A loud thud resounded throughout the room and Rose jumped at the sound startled by the sudden aggressive outburst. Dimitri snarled his face contorting and twisting until it was almost unrecognizable allowing his bestial nature to overtake him. His usual firm self control was completely absent. Adam's left arm flailed out to fend the stronger male off, but Dimitri caught it easily. He twisted it and bent it behind Adam's back with minimal effort. It was like he was little more than a child in comparison. The dark haired man cried out at the pain this action caused but Dimitri remained unaffected. All he saw was red and he needed to make an example out of his subordinate. Adam had the nerve to invade his space, touch his woman, and disrespect him. These offences could not go unpunished.

His grip on the back of Adam's neck was firm holding him in place as he leaned down towards him. He stopped when his lips were just centimetres from the other man's ear. "Touch her again and I will kill you." His voice was eerily calm as he issued this warning, but his body language read differently. "Rose is mine and you do your best remember that. If anyone harms her, that individual will reap the consequences," he threatened lowering his voice. He spoke so low that only Adam could hear the venom dripping from those words. When he received no response, Dimitri pulled his head off the desk by his hair and slammed it back down again with more force than before as if to further emphasize his point. "Understand?" he roared in Adam's face.

Adam winced as the pain shot through his arm and neck at the pressure being applied to those areas. The rage present in Dimitri's voice had the desired effect. He trembled with fear at the thought of his own death and found himself nodding as much as the position allowed. "Yes Dimitri. I'm sorry," he apologized. The words came out in gasps due to his restricted airway. It was extremely uncomfortable.

Satisfied with the response he received Dimitri released him. He stepped back running a hand through his hair never taking his eyes off of the former Moroi. "Get out of my sight," he snapped coldly gesturing towards the door leading out into the hall.

Adam needed no further direction. Righting himself, he bolted from the room disappearing as fast and quietly as he appeared. The only proof of his presence was the newfound crack in the wall and the loud bang of the door as it slammed shut behind him. Rose immediately felt relieved, and she visibly relaxed at his swift departure. She was once again secure, and a sense of calm settled over her. She was safe. Still, she could not help but feel the slightest bit guilty for the events that had just transpired. If she had fought back, maybe the situation could have been avoided altogether. Instead, she had went along with it.

As she came to this realization, she began to feel nervous. She shifted her feet casting her eyes onto the floor. "You didn't have to do that," she spoke up breaking the silence that had settled throughout the room.

Dimitri's nostrils flared and he let out a small snort at her words. Rose did not understand this world he lived in. She had no idea the things he had to do to stay in a position of power. The things he had to do to keep her here. "Yes, I did," was his sharp reply. His eyes remained fixated on the door as he spoke ensuring that Adam had fled and had no intention of returning. He did not want to have to put him in his place again. "You have no comprehension of the things I need to do to maintain control of this compound," he seethed through clenched teeth.

Rose's cheeks flushed and she suddenly felt stupid for speaking once again. It seemed as though she could never find the right thing to say or know exactly when it was best to stay quiet. She could feel the heat rushing to her face causing her cheeks to turn pink. She coughed nervously sensing the thick tension that hung in the air between them. "I'm sorry," was the only response she could muster.

With Adam gone, it was just the two of them. In the blink of an eye, he turned his attention to her his expression shifting from its blank state and anger filling his features. His eyes were set a blaze and her heart dropped to her stomach at the sight. His rage was now fully focused on her. She froze completely with fear as it gripped her heart tightly in its grasp. She felt her stomach twist making her feel sick again.

"What did you think you were doing?" he demanded clenching his fists at his sides in an effort to reign himself in. His temper was flaring out of control, and he could not afford to lose it at this moment. However, he could not ignore what had happened here between her and his underling, Adam. It was a matter that required his immediate attention. "Letting that piece of filth touch you like that, inviting him to feed on you."

Rose's eyes widened at the disgust and accusation in his voice. All the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as her body recognized the danger before her. "I'm sorry," she repeated her apology. Her voice came out at a much higher pitch than she expected. It sounded pitiful to her ears, almost like a child.

Desperate to appease his temper, her mouth kept moving and she kept talking even though all her instincts screamed at her to stay silent. Nothing she could say would ease the tension or quiet his fury. She had not meant to, but she had betrayed him. That realization made her sick to her stomach. She had wanted Adam to bite her and had not considered the consequences or severity of her actions. Rose knew from the way he was looking at her that there were going to be repercussions. Her behaviour would not go unpunished. How he would do that however, she had no idea, and that made her feel so much worse.

"I didn't mean to," she stuttered out finally before shutting her mouth. Her cheeks felt hot under his intense gaze, and she was certain they were bright red. "I didn't know what to do."

Dimitri scowled at her inability to provide him with a satisfactory answer to his question. His orders a few days before had been clear, and she had claimed to have understood them. He cast a sideways glance to the open door that led back into her apartment. He knew that he would have to perform a sweep of it before returning her there alone to ensure her safety. It was a complete inconvenience, which only added to his foul mood.

"I told you to only come in here when I am alone. That does not include times when I am not present," he snapped at her enraged by the lack of sense she displayed and the naivety with which she had behaved. They both knew that she was much smarter than this. It was maddening for him to think about what would have happened had he not intervened when he did. "How stupid are you to think that you can just wander about as you please?"

Rose stumbled for a reply but came up empty. Struggling, all she could muster was some pathetic stuttering, "I...I..." she uttered blaming the miniscule dose of endorphins and the adrenaline pumping through her system for her inability to speak comprehensively.

Growing impatient he pressed on, "Do you have any idea what could have happened to you if I hadn't shown up?" he asked her only to be met with her blank and fear-filled stare. Her brown eyes were open wide resembling a deer caught in the headlights and it was very unbecoming. Had Adam been able to continue his assault, they would not be having this discussion. "He would have killed you," Dimitri informed her ensuring that she knew how close to death she had truly come moments ago. He needed her to understand that he could not always be here to save her.

"I know, but..."

Tired of her pathetic attempt at an excuse, he reached out and roughly grabbed a hold of her shoulders. This earned a gasp of surprise from the young woman. He pulled her to him, leaning down staring directly into her eyes. Her body automatically grew rigid in his grasp. "Are you really so far gone that you will let anyone touch you? Feed on you?" he demanded shaking her in an effort to knock some sense into the foolish young Dhampir.

Her body jerked back and forth as he shook her. The intensity of his cold stare made her quiver and Rose had to look away. However, the shaking did seem to jar her out of her stupor allowing the reality to set in. "No…I just...I just..." she stammered trying to articulate her response.

Dimitri noticed the fog had cleared from her eyes, now more lucid than she had been moments before. His hold on her released but with enough force that she stumbled back a few steps. During their physical altercation, he had shifted her to his other side, closer to his desk. So close that she nearly backed into it when he had let go.

"You just what?" he pressed curious as to what she managed to come up with.

Rose's eyes widened and she took a step away from him. Everything that had transpired hit her and she realized exactly how much her actions, or inaction, had upset him. Her heart began to beat faster as fear took her over again, initializing her fight or flight instincts in the same manner that Adam had. As before, flight was the easiest response and with the predatory stare he had fixed in her direction, it was the most sensible. Dimitri was well aware that he was scaring her, but he did not care. Let her be scared if it got the point across.

Rose continued to move backwards trying to calculate her best method of escape when she realized the hopelessness of it all. Even if she did run, where would she go? Besides, he was much faster than she was. Her body began to tremble in fear, the gravity of the situation setting in. She was trapped and completely at the mercy of his temper. There was no escape.

He had never spoken to her so harshly, and it made her feel more nauseous. While he seemed to sense her distress, he did not react to it. Her stomach churned as the fear began to shift into abject terror. He was not making a move towards her. He did not have to. That dangerous glint in his eyes told her more than his actions could and her body was responding in kind. Her breath came out in sharp gasps, and she was near close to hyperventilating.

Still, on the verge of a full blown panic attack, she managed to gather her wits enough to utter a response. "I just wanted you," she confessed her voice cracking signalling that she was on the verge of tears as well. She looked up at him with those teary eyes, biting her bottom lip hard almost drawing blood. "Please don't," she pleaded in a whisper cowering from the man before her.

Dimitri could not help but feel proud at the reaction he received. He did not have to do anything, and she was falling apart before him. He revelled in it. In that moment, he wanted her to fear him merely to prove a point. For her to see just how volatile a Strigoi could be behind their human exterior. With the smallest amount of effort on his part he could elicit the most dramatic response from her. It proved that his compulsion held fast to her even in times of his absence and lengthy spaces between the endorphin doses. Even the small trickle Adam had managed to give her had not been enough to satisfy her cravings.

"Don't what Roza?" he probed further as he stepped towards her, approaching slowly.

Rose took another step back trying to keep some distance between them. However, she bumped into the side of his desk signalling the end of her backwards stride. She swallowed hard, trying to dislodge the lump that had grown there. "Please don't hurt me," she spat out, her voice sounding small and pathetic.

He smirked in triumph and gently pushed her shoulder making her sit on the edge of the desk. He controlled her and it was about time she understood that. The anger and outrage may have fled from his features, but they were still present within the darkness of his eyes. "Who said I was going to hurt you?" he asked her, his expression softening slightly.

Rose sucked in a breath as she felt him slide the fabric of her dress up. His hands gently stroked her inner thighs, kneading the supple flesh. Her body immediately reacted to his touch. The feel of his skin against hers ignited the flames of desire within her. She could feel it rapidly pooling in the pit of her stomach replacing the fear and panic she had felt before. She bit her bottom lip again, whimpering at his gentle yet firm caress. The coolness of his skin greatly contrasted the heat that now radiated from hers, and it made her shiver. Her body shook with anticipation as his fingers travelled higher and higher in a teasing fashion. She shifted her legs apart as his hands moved higher giving him more access. She did this unconsciously. Her body was completely aware of his presence, and it sent her senses into overdrive. Their previous discussion faded away and all she could think about was the feeling of his body pressed against hers. Rose licked her lips and arched towards him already feeling the intoxicating effect that he seemed to have on her. Her eyes closed as she relished in his closeness unable to resist him, not that she wanted to. It was no secret to either of them that she wanted him.

A small grin graced Dimitri's lips at her body's immediate positive response to his attention. Testing his domination over her was proving to be a very profitable gamble. His display could have either destroyed all of his hard work or help to reinforce it. He was pleased that the latter proved to be true. His hands continued their path upwards pushing the hem of her dress up to gather around her hips. They slid back down, and he continued to stroke her thighs nearing their apex. A small whimper reached his ears as it flowed out of her, and he instantly knew what she wanted. He was more than willing to give it to her, but in light of recent events, he wanted her to beg for it. Her reckless and shameless behaviour earlier was not acceptable, and she would not be rewarded for it.

"You trust me, don't you?" he questioned her leaning forward and brushing his lips against her collar bone. He could smell her rapidly forming arousal and it only fuelled his own desires. Her heart thumping in her chest made the saliva pool within his mouth. Her blood tasted the sweetest when it was pumping quickly through her veins. Fresh and free flowing.

Rose nodded in response panting as his fingers continued to idly brush the smooth skin of her legs. Slowly, they inched towards her centre not leaving his intentions up to her imagination. It was very clear what he was going to do. Her core pulsed, throbbing with need. The slow pace was killing her. She had been starved for his attention and she could not wait any longer. Her body yearned for him, desperately.

"Please Dimitri?" she whined in encouragement her voice shaking with lust. She shifted her legs even further apart giving him permission and access to her body. This time the action was completely intentional.

He loved the effect he had on her. The simplest touch or the slightest shift in emotion could ignite an immediate reaction from her. Whether it was positive or negative, subtle or dramatic, it mattered little. In mere moments she was putty in his hands willing to be formed into any shape that his heart desired. Oh, how easy it was for him to manipulate her, and he was thoroughly enjoying it.

"You would tell me if any of my other 'friends' came to see you, wouldn't you Roza?" he asked complying to her whispered plea by brushing his fingertips against her through the dampness that now soaked her underwear. Rose bit her lip harder holding back a throaty moan, managing to nod agreeing with his request. This seemed to please him. "Good girl," Dimitri praised her rewarding her by gently stroking her heated core. She squirmed under his touch eager for more, but he did not react and remained in complete control. He had all the power in this situation, and she knew it just as well as he did. "You wouldn't lie to me, would you?" he continued sliding his finger along her slit resting it on the sensitive nub just above her opening. Her breathing hitched and he paused to watch her expression as he pressed down on it, hard.

Rose cried out at the burst of pleasure that rippled through her body from the action. She rolled her eyes back at the sensation allowing it to wash over her. She could feel her body shudder and her toes curl inward. Her breathing became heavy and sweat began to form along her brow. "Never," she managed to gasp in reply after a few moments once her body had calmed down a little bit. She met his gaze no longer bothered by the difference between his expression and his eyes. She was far too gone at this point to care. "I'd never lie to you," she announced with complete sincerity.

Dimitri ran his free hand through her long brown curls as if he were petting her. "That's what I like to hear," he practically purred in her ear, his voice low and husky. "They can't be trusted." He added before pressing a kiss to her lips.

The effect he had over her was all consuming. She kissed him back eagerly as he shifted the wet fabric of her underwear aside leaving her completely exposed to him. He pulled away from the kiss watching her expression while his fingers began to gently stroke her sex. Rose moaned tilting her head back in delight from the immense pleasure that simple action sent coursing through her body. He had her precisely where and how he wanted her. Writhing beneath him and willing to cater to his every whim, his every desire, eager to please him.

Dimitri placed rough kisses along her jawline shifting down her neck his fingers never stopping or slowing their movements. His fangs gently grazed her skin creating nothing but welts on her skin from the slight pressure he applied. He was teasing her, and his efforts were rewarded as her skin pimpled, and her hips bucked against his touch. The action made her whole body shake sending a wave of excitement through her. He chuckled at her enthusiastic reaction and slid one finger inside of her eager and wanting opening.

Her response was instantaneous. She gasped loudly arching her back towards him her hips bucking again. He captured her lips in a bruising kiss wasting no time in becoming acquainted with her lower body. He slid another finger inside of her pumping them in and out at a steady pace. Rose braced herself on the desktop rolling her hips along with the rhythm of his hand. Soft and breathy moans escaped her from his ministrations. Dimitri's free hand latched onto her hip, holding her steady to maintain control of the rhythm he had set. He ran his tongue along her throat as he curled his fingers and increased the speed of his movements. She moaned loudly in his ear gripping the edge of the desk tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force of it. A satisfied smirk spread across his face as he watched the expression on her face change with every movement. It was completely erotic to witness.

"You are mine," he announced sliding his hand up her body to her breast and pinching her hardened nipple through the thin fabric of her dress. She whimpered tossing her head back in bliss. Her chest heaved as her breathing became erratic signalling that she was getting closer. This encouraged him, but he slowed his pace to draw it out wanting this to last a little bit longer. He was having fun toying with her. "No one gets to enjoy you but me." he stated firmly thrusting his fingers faster once again.

He enjoyed torturing her in this fashion almost as much as he enjoyed her reactions to his touch. He felt the need to assert his dominance over her and prolonging her pleasure and hindering her orgasm gave him the perfect avenue to do so.

"Tell me Roza, who do you belong to?" he asked pressing his fangs against her throat barely piercing her skin there.

The sharp points sank in just enough to draw blood, but that was the extent of his attack. This mimicked what Adam had done to her before. The small bite, and the miniscule dose of endorphins, was enough to elicit a reaction from the Dhampir. She cried out loudly her hips rolling against his hand determined to create more friction. The pleasure was agonizing, and her body ached for release. A release that only he could give her, but that he would not allow. Not until he received the answers he craved.

"You," she managed to gasp breaking the skin of her lip from the pressure of her teeth clamping down on the swollen tender flesh. The metallic taste of blood hit her tongue, but she paid it no mind. If anything, the taste of blood enhanced the experience. "I belong to you," she moaned closing her eyes tightly as she felt his thumb gently slide over her clit teasing her further.

Dimitri inhaled deeply scenting her blood in the air. He groaned at the aroma as well as her answer to his question. He was thoroughly pleased. Rose learned fast, but then again, he already knew that. "That's a good girl," he praised her again repeating the movement of his thumb but this time he applied more pressure.

Rose whimpered her legs shaking from the sensations his ministrations caused. He could tell that she was very close. He leaned forward, hovering over her all the while, his fingers never stopping or slowing down. He nuzzled his face into her neck, sucking on her pulse point. He gently nipped her again, this time just enough to draw blood. Her breath hitched sharply at the sensation. His point had been made and with her confession he saw no reason to continue and prolong the inevitable. As much as he loved to feel and watch her squirm beneath him, he would enjoy being inside of her more. But first, he needed to finish what he had started.

His breath was surprisingly warm against her ear. "Now cum for me Roza," he whispered huskily into her ear. It was an order, not a request. His tongue traced the shell of her ear as his thumb pressed down on her clit as he had done earlier.

A loud strangled cry erupted from her throat, and he felt her inner walls tighten around his fingers. Her body shook as her orgasm coursed through her. He smirked against her neck, running his tongue along the tender flesh again enjoying the salty taste of the sweat on her skin. It was all just too easy. Far too easy to make her bend to his will.

Rose's vision blurred and stars danced behind her eyes unable to stop the tremors that rocked her body from the intensity of her climax. Her lower body went into spasm and every nerve ending in her body was set alight all at once. The heat that had once been focused in the pit of her stomach now spread throughout her entire system coating it like liquid fire. It was like she was burning from the inside out, but in the most pleasant way. Once the sensation passed, she went completely limp as if she had been drained of all her energy. Exhausted, she laid down with her back flat against the surface of the desk unable to keep herself upright any longer. Her breathing was heavy, her chest heaving as she came down from her peak. Her body was spent. All the strength had left her, and she could not have moved even if she tried.

Dimitri ceased his movements and removed his fingers from inside her, stepping back to admire his handiwork. His Rose was definitely a sight to behold. Her brown eyes were glazed over, her arms were spread out, and her chest heaved from the exertion. Her legs rested open with the skirt of her dress bunched up at her waist and her panties shifted to one side. Her mind was still reeling from her high and she was no longer able to form conscious thought. The pleasure and endorphin cocktail coursing through her system was all consuming, and she was lost in it.

Having Rose sprawled out on his desk, legs spread so invitingly, fully on display. Her position gave Dimitri many pleasurable ideas. She had yet to try to resist him and she would be willing, that much he was certain. The scent of her arousal hung thick in the air in the wake of the activity they had just engaged in, which aided in drawing out his own. He greedily drank in the sight of her in her euphoria enjoying the fruits of his labour. The world could end right in this moment, and she would be blissfully unaware. She was perfection and she was all his for the taking, and boy he wanted her. His mouth watered at the mere thought of it.

Once her breathing had regulated, he determined that it was time that he brought her to a more comfortable location. While it would be fun to simply take her right here on his desk, he did not want any interruptions. No, he wanted Rose all to himself. She was his to play with. His possession. His, and no one else's. He approached her again and with minimal effort he gathered her up into his arms. She was light. Much more so than he had anticipated. It was evident that she had lost some weight during her stay here. Rose groaned in protest of the movement, but she made no effort to resist him. Her weakened condition worked well in his favour for she settled into his arms, her body remaining limp in his hold.

Dimitri carried her bridal style through the wooden door and back into the apartment that acted as her home. Her prison of luxury. He took her straight into the bedroom, placing her gingerly in the centre of the bed. Rose let out a small sigh of contentment as the soft comfort of the bedding surrounded her. She sunk into the mattress her eyes fluttering but not opening. He chuckled lowly running his fingers through her hair before zipping out of the room. He returned to the living room closing the door to his office with more force than he had intended. It slammed shut and he engaged the lock on the door to ensure their privacy. He had no desire to be interrupted whatsoever. It was just the two of them as it was meant to be. Within moments he rejoined her in the bedroom.

Her eyes had remained closed her expression relaxed and serene. Her breathing had evened out signalling that she had fallen asleep. That did not dissuade him in the slightest. He would get what he wanted. Keeping his eyes on her sleeping form, Dimitri carefully undressed, folding his clothes neatly, and placing them in a pile on top of her dresser. There was no rush. He had the time and patience to be tidy. Once he had removed all of his clothing, he slid into bed beside her. She stirred slightly as he jostled the mattress, but the movement did not wake her. That did not matter. His hands slid down her body memorizing her every curve. She was perfect in every way. He pulled at the hem of her dress at her waist, sliding it up completely exposing the black lace panties on her body that were doing little to shield him from her sex.

Dimitri leaned down placing a chaste kiss on her lips. Rose shifted underneath him stirring from her light slumber. He continued to kiss along her jaw following the path up to her ear. "Wake up Roza," he whispered into her ear. At the velvety sound of his voice her eyes snapped open instantly meeting his gaze. He smirked at her. "I am not finished with you yet," he informed her grabbing her underwear and sliding them down her legs.

Rose made no verbal reply as she blinked to cut through her high and clear the drowsiness from her mind. However, she did lift her hips allowing him to remove the unwanted garment easily. He tossed her panties over his shoulder, and she spread her legs again allowing him to settle between them. His hands grasped her thighs and pulled her closer to him. He then took hold of her shoulder, lifting her, and forcing her into a sitting position. Rose groaned as the grogginess refused to dissipate as quickly as she wanted it to. She did not have the strength or the will to stop him.

Dimitri bunched her dress in his hands and tugged it off before allowing her to fall back onto the mattress. She landed with a dull thud now naked beneath him. The red dress was discarded in the same fashion as her underwear had been. His eyes never moved from her as he drank in the sight before him. She was so beautiful. A work of art, and she was all his. His hands slid down her body slowly. Exploring her bare skin. She shivered at his touch her eyes fluttering closed once more.

He stopped at her hips gripping them firmly. He was careful not to be too rough and hurt her. That was not his intention. "You are mine Roza," he growled possessively echoing their earlier lesson as he roughly pushed himself inside of her.

Rose moaned loudly, her eyes snapping open at the mix of pleasure and pain as his cock was forced carelessly inside her body. He did not allow her any time to adjust to the intrusion before he began to move. His hips crashed into hers with hard and deep thrusts. Her body responded instantly knowing exactly what to do. Her over sensitive body complained as her hips moved to meet his. She ignored its protests giving into the pleasure that was created by the movements. Wrapping her legs around his waist to draw him closer, she allowed him to indulge himself in her body. He groaned loudly lifting her up off the mattress and leaning back pulling her to him. Her legs now straddled his thighs. Dimitri buried his face into the crook of her neck his rhythm never stopping or slowing down. The shift in position brought him deeper inside her and she cried out loudly at the sensation it caused.

It felt good. Real good. It was almost too much. Rose managed to raise her arms and wrap them around his neck to steady herself. He helped to guide the motion of her hips as they rolled against him. She relaxed in his hold allowing him to increase his pace. Her breath came out in heavy pants. The heels of her feet pressed against the small of his back and her head tilted back in pleasure. Her eyes shut tightly as the rapidly building feeling in her stomach exploded as she launched into another orgasm. This one was much more intense than the one before and had come about much quicker than she had expected.

As she crested the wave, her walls clenching tightly around him, he bit into her neck again eagerly drawing blood from the wound. It was extremely easy as it rapidly pumped through her veins from the thundering rhythm of her heart. The euphoria from the bite and from her climax coalesced overriding her senses. Her body shook uncontrollably, and her vision swam in and out of focus as he continued to indulge himself and ravage her body to his heart's content. The endorphins flowed into her, dulling the world around her, numbing her. Rose closed her eyes giving in to his wishes. A small smile tugged at her lips from the exhaustion that settled within her. This just felt right. Like it was exactly how it was meant to be. She was where she belonged, and she would not have it any other way.

---

"You have no right to treat us like slaves!"

Dimitri sighed in annoyance at that statement. It was one that he heard often, nearly on a daily basis, and it grated on his every nerve whenever it was uttered. He ran a hand through his hair glaring at the two other Strigoi whom currently occupied space in his office. One was male and the other female. Both were unwelcome at the present moment. The female stood a few feet from the front of his desk whereas the male sat on a chair to her right. It was Layla, the female, who had spoken.

Layla had been human before she had been awakened. She was a small woman, roughly five foot six inches tall with long, straight, dirty blonde hair. Naturally her eyes were blue, but now they were distorted by the red that encircled her pupils. Her pale skin and the red haze of her eyes suited her well. Her figure was curvy and was often accented by the tight fitting clothing that she wore. The features of her face were narrowed and angular giving her a sort of feline look about her. The same could be said for the way she moved. Graceful and silent. A deadly combination. Currently she had her hair tied up tightly in a ponytail pulling it away from her face. The dark jeans she wore were torn and muddy and the tank top she wore looked equally as worn though much less dirty. She stood before him with her arms at her sides and her hands clenched into loose fists.

Layla was smart, calculating, and cunning. If she saw an opportunity to get ahead, she took it without hesitation. It was that tenacity and ferocity that made her a valuable asset. Out of all of his underlings, Layla got on his nerves the least. While at times outspoken, she knew her place in their world. She had been human, which put her low in their ranks.

The male was named Morgan. At one point in his life, he had been a Dhampir. A Guardian. Young, barely out of his teens when he was awakened, Morgan was the more subdued of his cohorts. He was not much taller than Layla coming in at five foot nine inches tall. His shoulders were broad, but his body was lean and not overly toned. His light brown hair was in a constant state of disarray. It stuck out at odd angles which he never bothered to fix. He sat in the chair, his right ankle resting upon his left knee as he observed the blonde woman between them. His expression was blank. Unreadable.

Morgan was the silent type, mostly quiet and forever the listener. Although not as outspoken as his other colleagues, he had his fair share of snide and unwanted comments and an attitude towards authority. More often than not, Dimitri was finding the young man testing his every order. He was proving to be quite the handful. This was mostly due to his lack of initiative. Always taking shortcuts with sub par work. Making as little effort as possible. He did just enough to placate his superiors. Nothing more, and nothing less. Still, Morgan was the easiest to subdue for he picked his battles and was quick to shut his mouth. A very strategic mind which often proved very useful. That was the only reason Dimitri saw the need to keep him around. A difference in perspective. Otherwise, he was as expendable as the rest of them. Replaceable.

"You work for me," he informed them his tone firm holding an air of authority.

He had to frequently assert himself over them or they would never follow his commands. If he allowed himself to waver, they would take advantage of his lapse and try to overthrow him as Dimitri had his predecessor, Galina. It was the strongest who called the shots and he had to consistently remind those beneath him who the strongest of them was. He was, and that meant he was in charge and no one else. It was a constant battle.

Layla rolled her eyes crossing her thin arms across her chest. She shifted her position leaning heavily on her right leg and jutting out her left hip. Her posture and stance screamed with attitude. "We accept that you're in charge," she replied flatly obviously unamused by his statement. Her annoyance was clear.

At this moment, Morgan felt the need to add to this in his usual casual manner, "That doesn't mean you have to treat us like shit," he piped up as though his input was warranted or pertinent to the discussion. It did not need to be said for it was just a paraphrased version of what Layla had stated moments before.

The blonde woman rolled her eyes again, this time at her companion. She continued on ignoring his useless statement completely. "You may have usurped Galina's position," she began taking a few steps closer to the desk closing the distance easily. Her arms slid down uncrossing and she placed her palms flat against the wooden surface. The same place Rose had been sitting hours before. Layla's pale eyes locked with Dimitri's and the two stared one another down as she spoke. "That doesn't mean that we have to respect you," she concluded her point her voice dipping low. There was a slight threat in her tone that did not go unnoticed by the former Guardian.

Dimitri snorted distastefully at her words. He leaned back in his chair to put some more distance between him and the woman now hovering over his desk. He nodded once indicating that her point had indeed been heard. He did not care because he never wanted their respect. That did not matter. All he wanted was their fear. If they feared him then he was in control. That is how their society worked. Fear was the only thing that motivated them. It made them compliant and somewhat obedient. That is what mattered.

"Very well," he replied after a slight pause. "Have there been any changes?" he asked wishing for a report of this night's activities. As much as his inferiors irritated him, he relied on them to provide him with information. That was their job.

Morgan shrugged nonchalant. "Nothing of consequence," was his lame response before he shifted his gaze from their self appointed leader.

He turned to the young woman who stood slightly in front of him. By the state of her appearance, the young man was very intrigued to hear the tale of her adventures. He had merely followed Layla into the office upon her return to the compound. Actually, he was surprised that Dimitri allowed him to sit in on this meeting. Their leader generally preferred to see them one by one.

Layla glared at him for his less than adequate explanation. The younger Strigoi rarely seemed to run into problems whereas she was always having to get her hands dirty in one way or another. Perhaps that was due to her status or her partner in crime, but the latter would no longer be an issue. Her partner had passed his expiration date. She shifted her feet slightly in agitation before turning her attention back to Dimitri.

"I have decided that I am pulling back my surveillance on Zmey," she informed him returning her arms to their crossed position over her chest. Dimitri said nothing giving her a chance to elaborate but he shot her a questioning look to establish that he expected her to explain herself. Layla caught the shift in his eyes easily. "He has caught on to our presence and we've collected all the information that we can," she said tactfully recalling the events that had taken place nearly three hours before. It had been a fight and she had barely escaped the fray alive.

Dimitri nodded curtly accepting this decision. Although Layla was very headstrong and strong-willed, she would not defy his order outright, or make such a decision in haste. If their presence had been detected, he agreed that continuing was becoming too much of a risk. He needed a new tactic. However, there was a separate matter he needed to attend to before discussing an alternate plan. He had noticed that Layla had returned to the compound alone. Someone was unaccounted for.

"Does this explain Ethan's absence?" he asked coming to address the subject of their missing associate. When both teams had returned. He had expected all four of his remaining scouts to be present. Only two had arrived. Half of them.

"They caught him," Morgan answered with an amused smirk on his face. He had already heard the tale of their comrade's demise and it thoroughly entertained him. Ethan had always been a fool, following Layla around like a lost puppy.

The way he spoke earned Morgan a glare from his female companion. Ethan and the blonde girl had been very close. Morgan had the most to gain from Ethan's absence, and the young man seemed more than eager to recount the story. However, he fell silent by the cold look the female shot his way.

"Zmey's Guardian killed him," Layla announced ignoring the giggle that escaped Morgan at her declaration. There was no humour in the situation.

"Pavel?" Dimitri questioned earning him a nod from the woman before him. He sighed in annoyance.

Losing one of their own was a set back that they could not afford right now. Cutting his forces by two meant that he needed to find replacements. While other Strigoi were easy to come by in Novosibirsk, convincing one to join him would be where the challenge would reside. A task that only he could perform, which meant he may have to leave the compound for longer than just the night. He did not like that at all.

"Figures," he remarked with a snort. "I told Ethan to keep his distance. He could never listen," he ranted shaking his head in disapproval. If Ethan had been thinking clearly and following his orders, he would not have met his demise. He knew not to take the risk of getting too close and attracting attention. His failure to adhere to his instructions was his own undoing. Ethan was an idiot. "This is rather unfortunate, he was useful. We cannot afford these kind of setbacks," was his grim conclusion.

Layla scoffed shifting her weight onto her other leg out of restlessness, "Stop acting like you give a shit about us, we all know that you don't," she spat unafraid to let her opinion be known.

Morgan picked up on her thought and decided to voice his as well. "We're expendable," he stated simply with a small shrug. Personally, he could care less what Dimitri thought of him, as long as it kept him alive. Self-preservation was key amongst the Strigoi. Look out for no one but yourself. You survived much longer that way. It was the only way one could survive.

"True," Dimitri agreed with the young man seeing no point in withholding that information. He had told them that time and time again, and it was no secret to any of the Strigoi working under him. Having the two before him understand that fact worked in his favour. It meant that they would be more willing to appease him and work without question. "Where is Adam?" he asked noticing the absence of the dark haired man for the first time during their meeting. When Morgan had followed Layla into his office, he had expected Adam to be close behind. Despite their quarrel before, he had expected him to make an appearance today. His failure to do so was a curiosity.

Morgan was the one to offer up an answer to his inquiry. "Hunting," he stated simply.

Layla glanced to the side at the crack in the far wall. The crack Adam had created when he had been thrown into the wall earlier during his altercation with Dimitri. "After the macho alpha male crap that you pulled on him earlier, he needed to blow off some steam," she elaborated making it a point for him to realize that she knew what had transpired between the two men earlier that evening. That Adam, who ranked much higher than her, had confided in her.

"He's sure pissed at you," Morgan piped up with a grin spreading across his face. His eyes were alight at the thought of dissension stewing between their ranks. He lived for the drama.

Dimitri was not all that surprised that Adam had informed his comrades of their altercation a few hours before. However, he did not appreciate being called out on it, especially by one such as Layla. He was completely within his right to reprimand Adam for his behaviour and to remind him who exactly was in charge. Dimitri was not about to let him get away with such an act of defiance. Everyone in the compound was expected to follow the same rules. His rules. The one he stressed the most was to stay away from his property. His Roza. She was his and his alone. If he had allowed Adam to go unpunished, then others would follow his example. If his underlings thought that they could bend the rules an uprising could take place. That was the last thing he needed.

"Then he shouldn't put his hands on my property," was Dimitri's simple reply to their comments. He was not going to explain himself further. He did not have to. They knew the rules just as well as Adam did.

This statement seemed to catch Layla's attention and she was not about to let him off so easily. "You mean the girl?" she suggested raising an eyebrow in questioning. His possessiveness over the Dhampir girl was starting to grow irritating. It was causing problems. Unnecessary ones. Problems that Galina would not have accepted under her command.

"Yes," he confirmed without hesitation. If she wanted to pry, he might as well use it to his advantage and reiterate his claim. "She belongs to me and you two will do your best to leave her be as well," he announced shifting his gaze between the two other vampires in front of him. When neither made a gesture of response, he pressed on. "I don't want any of you near her. Is that in anyway unclear?" This time he was demanding a response.

"You don't have to keep reminding us," Layla quipped narrowing her eyes at the tall Russian man seated on the other side of the desk.

Morgan leaned back in his seat, resting his hands behind his head. "Don't worry boss, we won't touch your precious little pet," he replied casually lifting his feet up and resting them on the edge of the desk. There was a slight mocking tone to his voice.

The blonde woman snorted rolling her eyes at his eagerness to please despite his tone. "Speak for yourself Morgan," she remarked uncrossing her arms again inhaling the heavy scent that still hung in the air.

Her nose twitched as it assaulted her senses alerting the monster inside of her and pulling it to the surface. She could feel the hunger building, igniting the fire in her throat. She needed to feed, especially after the night she had. The faint aroma of blood mixed with the thick scent of arousal that was circulating the room was not helping anything. If anything, it was tempting her. Layla licked her lips closing her eyes in appreciation of the sweet fragrance teasing her enhanced senses. She could almost taste it. In response, she could feel her mouth starting to water at the prospect.

"I wouldn't mind a taste of that," she commented suggestively, a smirk tugging on the corners of her lips.

Dimitri growled low in his throat at her comment. It was a possessive sound. He did not appreciate her tone. His nostrils flared slightly detecting the same pleasant and tantalizing aroma that she had. Rose. He had not noticed the potency of the scent before. If he had, he would have moved this meeting to a different room. One that was far away from this office and Rose's apartment just beyond that wooden door.

"She is off limits," he declared his voice lowering in volume and deepening in delivery. A warning indicating that she was treading on dangerous ground. He would not tolerate her disrespect about this matter. "I have already made an example of Adam. Do I need to reiterate my point?" he questioned raising an eyebrow.

Sensing an opportunity, Layla decided to take it and give her employer something to think about. "Keep your eyes on her Belikov," she countered matching his timbre her expression darkening to match his as well. "The second you do something to double cross us, say goodbye to your little Dhampir blood whore."

He scowled at her choice of words. Being human before having awakened, he had not expected such a phrase from the woman. There was no way any of their kind would respect or fear her enough to let her lead. She was no one. Still, he could not allow her to belittle Rose in such a way. Rose was much more than a blood whore to him. Even as a Strigoi, he hated that term.

"Don't call her that," he stated flatly, indicating for her to leave the matter alone.

Layla did not take the hint. Either she did not pick up on it, or she had simply decided to ignore it. He suspected the latter, for Layla was a smart woman. "That's what she is, isn't it?" she questioned feigning innocence. It was clearly an act, and it was obvious that she had said it to be malicious, to get under his skin. He refused to let her see that it was working. "They're not meant to be kept as pets. All they are good for is a quick snack and the occasional fuck." Layla placed extra emphasis on the last word watching his expression intently. She made it no secret that she knew exactly what had occurred here earlier that night. "She is no better."

Morgan smirked spurred on by Layla's boldness. He had always been a follower, never one to set out on his own. Feeding off of the momentum and success of others and acting as if it were his own, rarely starting trouble himself. In a way, this kept him safe. Alive. "I'm sure that she tastes as sweet as she smells," he remarked pleased with his own clever wit.

Dimitri knew better than to be provoked into reacting to such idle threats and off handed wise-cracks. Morgan had made such a crude remark in order to get a rise out of him. To provoke him into action. Layla was doing the same, she was just using an alternate method that was more antagonizing. He refused to give either party the satisfaction of knowing they had succeeded in goading him. He was above falling for their childish tricks. The insufferable little maggots.

"Do you honestly think that taunting me will get you anywhere? If I wanted to, I could kill you," he remarked leaning forward and folding his hands neatly on the desktop. He looked up; his eyes boring into hers. "Maybe I should have," he added cryptically.

Layla scoffed unimpressed at his attempt to frighten or intimidate her. His words were empty just like his threats. She could easily spot his weaknesses and that annoyed her. Before her was no God, just a sad pathetic excuse for a man who met with very unfortunate circumstances and who was getting too big for his britches. Before he had been awakened, he had been a Guardian just as Galina had been.

Apparently, Dimitri Belikov was one of the best. One who Galina had trained personally and who she had rolled out the red carpet for when Nathan dragged him in. Layla loathed to admit it, but his reputation was well earned. However, that did not mean she had to bow to his every whim. To be honest, Dimitri was really starting to piss her and the others off. Still, she had to play it cool and follow along. If he caught wind of her faltering allegiance, he would dispose of her as he had Nathan and Marlen after he and his pet destroyed Galina. She could not allow that. She was a survivor.

"Then you'd have no one to do your dirty work," she remarked still holding his gaze refusing to back down.

Dimitri simply shrugged her words off dismissing her. "Thugs like you are a dime a dozen. There are many other Strigoi eager to take your position," he commented passively turning her own tactic against her. Two could play at this game, and what a dangerous game she was playing. Phishing. Testing his patience to see if she could find anything else that could be perceived as a weakness. That was not going to happen.

His expression hardened and he leaned back against his chair again. "Replacing you would be far easier than the aggravation you lot have been putting me through," he snapped making it clear that he did not appreciate her snarky attitude.

This approach seemed to set the blonde girl off. "Oh, you're so hard done by," she seethed clenching her fists tightly at her sides. She had never had good control of her words. All her self-restraint went into keeping her body in check. Violence begot violence and physically, she was no match for him. He towered over her. Instead, she had learned to use her words to wound.

"You barely leave the fucking compound, and you have your pretty little Dhampir blood whore to keep you entertained," she spat restraining herself knowing that if she allowed herself to act too rashly, it could possibly be the end of her. "Life is so fucking hard." She could not help but get in one last gibe at her 'boss'.

Her words hit a nerve and he snapped. Her insolent behaviour could no longer be tolerated. He needed to remind her to hold her tongue. She did not have the chance to react before his hand wrapped around her throat crushing her windpipe. He snarled at her lifting her into the air up to his height, his eyes locking with hers again. Surprise and fear shined within her normally dull eyes for a brief moment before the emotions disappeared, her mask falling into place again. Glimpsing those emotions within her pleased him greatly and encouraged him. Despite her bravado, Layla was scared of him.

"Don't forget exactly who is in charge here Layla," he snarled harshly his fingers tightening around her throat. He was not hurting her much, but it sent the appropriate message. That he meant business. "Do not try my patience, you will not like what you find," he stated flatly before releasing her.

She dropped to the floor, her knees buckling, clutching her injured throat. She was coughing despite lacking the need to breathe. It was a reflex. She glared up at Dimitri with hatred burning in her eyes, but he was unaffected. "Asshole," she muttered under her breath once her coughing had subsided.

Dimitri ignored her. "You are only as useful as your obedience. I shouldn't have to knock you around to get it. Remember that I am stronger than you." He stated this casually crossing his arms behind his back. Once again, he felt in control of the situation. He had made his point.

Layla continued to glare at him as she slowly rose to her feet. Her injury was already healed. She brushed herself off and fixed her shirt that had gone askew during their one-sided altercation. Still, she nodded indicating to him that she understood. "I'll take note of that," she spat back bitterly once she found her voice. It was hoarse and laced with hatred and malice.

His eyes remained trained on her not trusting her in the slightest. He was beginning to doubt his judgement at sparing her and keeping her around after he had destroyed Nathan. She had been one of his flunkies. "Be sure that you do. I will give you your new assignment tomorrow night."

With that said, he then turned his attention to Morgan who had remained the silent observer throughout their disagreement. The smaller Strigoi nodded indicating that he understood his point as well. He would obey. They both would.

Accepting this, Dimitri turned away from them facing the opposite direction. "I have nothing more to say to either of you. This conversation is over," he announced dismissing both of them with a swift shake of his head. "Leave."

"Gladly," Layla grumbled turning her heel and storming out of the room. She left without a second glance at either of the men.

With a simple nod, Morgan followed her lead, although, at a much slower pace. He glanced back at their leader with an amused smirk on his face. Dimitri turned towards the other man shooting him a glare in warning. Morgan bit back a chuckle with a shake of his head before quickly making his exit.

Once the doors shut behind them, Dimitri was left alone with his thoughts. With the events of the day, he had much to consider and needed to come up with a new plan of action. However, he could not focus on this. Instead, his thoughts wandered to the brunette who was sleeping peacefully in the next room. A place where he would much rather be than here. Rose talked back to him, but when she did it, he found it endearing. Cute almost. Also, she was far easier for him to manipulate. He smirked still scenting her in the air. Yes, he definitely enjoyed her company more.

Dimitri chuckled at his inner musings sitting back down at his desk. As much as he would like to indulge himself in fantasies of Rose, he had work to do.