A/N: I am so sorry that it's taken so long for 8, everyone. I went out of the country for Spring Break, and I had prom and show choir competitions. I promise to have nine up by May 1. Then there's graduation and planning to do, so I'm not sure how soon 10 will come. Thank you for the reviews and keep them coming. You guys are my encouragement. ;-)

Chapter 8: Punishment

Piper took a deep breath before opening the double doors to Adrian's mansion.  She knew what was coming. Stiffening her spine with resolution, she calmly pushed open the right door and stepped inside the entrance.  No one was there. She let out her breath in a rush and closed the door behind her. Oliver, her chauffeur, came from the kitchens.

"Adrian and Mr. Hunter are in the conference hall, Miss. I'd suggest you wait until he's calmed down before approaching him." The middle-aged werewolf gave her sympathetic eyes. Oliver had always been kind to her.

"Why delay the inevitable, Olly? I'll see him now." Piper touched the man's shoulder and turned down the hallway to her right. She could hear Hunter's deep voice coming from the other side of a solid oak door.

*As long as he doesn't find out about Connor, it doesn't matter what Adrian does to me. Connor is what's important.*

With that in mind, she knocked softly.

"Enter." Adrian's full voice called coldly.

Piper walked into the conference hall and quietly shut the door.

Hunter's eyebrows narrowed with disdain and he grimaced. "I see that your lovely little pet has finally graced us with her presence. It's a shame that you can't even control a pathetic made-vampire, Adrian. How can I expect you to be my heir?"

Adrian violently stood up from his chair at the long table. "It was a small error on my part, Hunter. It won't happen again. It seems as though I've been lied to. I spoke with several of the elders' wives, none of whom knew anything of a hunting party." His voice was verging on yelling.

Hunter ran his ever-shifting eyes up and down Piper's rumpled dress and messy hair. "It seems to me that she found something more interesting to do than hunting."

Adrian's face turned livid at this and he strode across the room to stand directly in front of Piper.

"Piper would never defy me like that, would you? WOULD YOU?!" Adrian slapped her across the face before she could get out an answer. Piper had learned the hard way that it was best not to speak during one of his tirades.

"I'll leave you to handle this situation on your own. But, Adrian?" Hunter called in a deadly voice. "See to it that this inconvenience doesn't happen again." With that, Hunter Redfern left the hall.

Piper's cheek was stinging but she controlled the urge to rub her face.

"I want to know exactly where you were and what you were doing, and if you don't tell me I'll force the answers out of your slut mouth!" Adrian grabbed her upper arms and shook her.

"I went dancing at the Black Iris and fed off of a few college boys. It was nothing!" Piper tried to step back from him, but he came closer.

"DON"T LIE TO ME! You stupid bitch! Do you think that I don't know? That I'm too stupid to figure it out?!" Adrian threw her against the wall and Piper leaned against it.

"I'm not lying, Adrian." Tears sprang to her eyes.

Adrian's eyes burned with fury. His voice dropped to a deadly calm. "You're seeing someone. You're blocking me too much for a name, but he lives in the city. Tell me it's just a fling, Piper. Tell me that it's nothing." He took another step closer to her trembling body.

"It's nothing -- just a stupid fling."

"You filthy whore. You don't need anyone but me. I'm everything to you." He grabbed Piper's neck with his left hand and pressed his lips right against her ear. "It ends right now."

Piper nodded slowly and a tear ran down her cheek. He slowly released her and took a step back.

"Do I have to start locking you up again? Is that what you want? Was he worth it Piper? Was he a good fuck? Tell me that he was worth it!"

Piper knew there was no way she could answer this without being struck.

Adrian was even more angered by her silence. He grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her to the floor. Ripping off her evening dress, he snarled into her face. "Am I not good enough for you? Am I so bad that you have to lay with vermin? We'll fix that."

Piper closed her eyes and willed herself not to cry. She wasn't really there. That wasn't her on the rough carpet of the conference hall. She was back in the city in Connor's apartment. That's where she had left her heart. Adrian could do what he wanted to her body, but he would never have her soul. That belonged to Connor.

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A/N: It got a little graphic there, guys. I'm telling you now that it only gets worse. Other than that, what did you think? If you liked it or have constructive comments, review it or email me at PeachGoddess63@aol.com