A/N: As always thanks to Red for being a truly loyal reader, and thanks to TopazQueen, who I know is always reading. (^_~) Thanks guys.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Three Guards had rushed into her cell, and the one that Kara had run into had roughly forced her back until she was once again standing by the far wall. She was surprised to see that, as far as she could tell, all were human and one was staring in muted shock at Cortez's burning body. Kara stared numbly at him and she felt a lot like she was underwater, observing things from very far away. There was a curious absence of sound. She pressed the hand holding Cortez's dagger a little deeper into the folds of her skirt and was glad that the guards, too well trained in Ulrich's service, had simply lowered their spears at her and were making no further attempt to restrain her. She was sure she would have lost the knife if they had and at this point it represented hope. Something she could cling to. If they took it she might very well be lost to despair.
One of the guards, the one who had forced her back into the cell, began calling instructions, none of which Kara actually heard. Two more guards came rushing down the hall and barrelling into the cell, pushing the younger guard who had still not recovered from his shock, harshly out of the way of the burning corpse and began stamping the flames out with their boots. The smell of charred flesh crept into Kara's nose and turned her stomach. She stumbled as if she had been struck a blow, putting her free hand out against the wall to steady herself.
I've killed someone, she thought, feeling more ill by the second. She could feel the blood draining away from her face.
The guard who was so obviously the leader regarded her coldly as the thing that was once Cortez was dragged away.
"A brave attempt Princess," he said and then his face softened at the look of sickened, stunned horror that was spreading over Kara's face. She looked pale, and he felt a twinge of concern for her, but he had been given very strict orders and he knew first hand the price of disobedience. "I am truly sorry you did not succeed," he said sincerely. As if taking their cue from that the remaining guards filed silently from the cell. He left last, giving her one last look of cold pity before slamming the door shut and leaving her alone in the dark.
Kara slid down against the wall and huddled at the bottom, leaning heavily against it. She clutched the dagger like it was the last real thing left in the world.
~*~
Hunter rode his horse hard, with Jareth close on his heals. Wolves bayed in the distance and every so often a flash of grey or brown would appear, guiding them onwards. Hunter couldn't help but notice the similarities between a court hunt and what was happening now. He shook his head rapidly to clear the image. He had to concentrate. A sleek black wolf appeared right in front of them suddenly, almost causing the horses to rear in surprise. The wolf veered sharply to the right and Hunter pulled on the horse's reigns, dragging the beast round and following the wolf recklessly.
The horses crashed through the forest, branches stinging Hunter's cheeks and once or twice he had to duck in order to keep his head. The sound of wolves howling got louder and more urgent and Hunter knew they were getting close.
~*~
Ulrich opened the cell door quietly, carrying only one small candle which cast its light almost desperately in a small pool. He had of course learned what had happened with Cortez and the girl had more guts than he had given her credit for. He did not lament Cortez's death and had been well aware of his motivation for coming to Kara's cell in the first place. It was after all the same as his own. The girl had done him a favour in killing Cortez as he would have killed him anyway had he succeeded and there was no doubt he would have. Cortez was a vampire, well had been a vampire he corrected with a small smile, and Kara was human. Even the weakest half vampire fledgling would have no trouble in overpowering her.
He looked her over coldly, realising she was not yet aware of his presence so he took his time. Drinking in the details. She was pretty enough for a human, he thought, making his task not at all unpleasant to his mind but then the Prince did have taste in women if nothing else. The blue skirts of her dress were pooled around her where she knelt on the floor, leaning heavily against the wall. Her black hair cascaded down her back in somewhat tangled mass and some had fallen into her face, partly shielding it from his gaze though he could tell her eyes were closed. His eyes moved down, lingering over the swell of her breasts in the tight bodice of her gown. She looked broken, and defeated he thought. His smile got wider.
Kara was not sure how long she had been leaning against the wall. She knew her crying had subsided some time ago and now she felt curiously empty, like she had nothing left to give. She could feel the weight of the dagger in her hand, still hidden and pressing against the top of her thigh and it felt heavier than it should. At least she thought it did.
And this is the price of freedom, your every drop of courage, ounce of pain, and pint of blood. Paid in advance…she thought remembering something she had heard somewhere at some point though she couldn't remember now.*
Gradually though she became aware of another feeling. Eyes watching her. Slowly, almost sluggishly, like someone coming out of a deep sleep she opened her eyes and looked up. Ulrich was leaning against the door, holding a candle in his hand and clad only in a pair of breeches. He watched the look of terror that spread across her face with pleasure.
"You surprise me, little human," he said coming closer into the cell and kicking the door shut. For a moment the candle flickered and came close to going out. Kara was the only one praying that it wouldn't.
"I did not expect you to have such strong…killer instincts," he said softly.
Kara flinched as if he had hit her and she lowered her head. Ulrich put the candle down and moved forward until he was standing in front of her and laid his hand on top of her head, taking her gesture as one of submission.
She shuddered and her stunned mind was jolted back into action. The fact that he had touched was the encouragement she needed to make sure that he didn't touch her again. She pushed herself clumsily to her feet, pointing the dagger upwards, hoping to strike his heart but willing to settle for enough ground to get herself out. Her sudden movement caused Ulrich to stumble back, throwing him off balance and he narrowly avoided the steel blade as it came close to his bare chest. Kara fell as the momentum of her thrust continued to carry her forward. Ulrich caught her wrist in one strong hand and jerked, taking her completely off balance and causing her to fall against him. His arm wrapped around her waist to steady them both and he noticed that her feet had gone out from underneath her and he was supporting her weight entirely. A rather easy thing for a werewolf to do.
Kara let out a small cry at the pain he was causing to her arm, but she held stubbornly to the knife.
"You little hellcat," Ulrich growled. He actually growled. A low guttural sound that human vocal chords could never make. His grip on her waist tightened. "I see I shall have to keep you under tighter control, starting with keeping you in chains until that rebellious spirit is beaten out of you!"
Kara grunted trying to twist out of his grip but he was far stronger and her efforts were futile and only cost her energy.
Ulrich's hand moved to hers, prying the dagger away from her though she fought to keep it. Her hand felt as if it would be bruised by the effort. Still holding her tight against him he examined the dagger in the feeble light. Ignoring Kara as she continued to struggle.
"One of Cortez's. My, my you are a clever little thing aren't you," he muttered condescendingly, turning it this way and that and testing the weight, the feel of it in his hand, but as far as he was concerned no weapon would ever do justice to claws and teeth. No pleasure as great as a bare handed kill. Still it could be fun to use. "However it isn't even silver. Do you really think it would have had any effect? Even if you had been fast enough to land your mark?"
He moved quickly, shoving her back with most of his body and wrapping his free hand lightly against her throat, using it to pin her against the wall. Kara clawed at his hands in vain.
"I will teach you not to disobey me," he whispered, bring the tip of the blade close to her face. "And if I have to scar your pretty face in order to do that, then so be it."
Kara stiffened, preparing for the blade to sink in but he moved again. So suddenly she had no time to react and she was on the floor, gasping for air. He let her climb to her knees before grabbing a fistful of hair and twisting her head back, holding her in place. The point of the knife came to rest against the swell of her breast that was just exposed by the neckline of her dress.
"Go ahead," she challenged him. "I'll die before I ever submit to you!" she bit her lip as the blade bit into the soft skin, drawing a thin but deep red line, suppressing a whimper and giving him no other sign of the pain it caused her. She was glad Cortez had kept the blade sharp.
There was a crash of splintering wood that seemed deafening in the small, stone cell. Ulrich pulled half away from her, turning as much as he was able while still maintaining his hold on her.
"Let go of her!"
Kara could have died at the relief coursing through her body at the sound of Hunter's voice and the instant flaring or their bond as his mind touched hers.
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*The quote is from Andromeda if anybody's interested.
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