A Deadly Embrace
Chapter Four: Stakes Go Higher (Part One)
The terrifying ordeals of the other 'guests' were nothing compared to what lay in store for the unfortunate slayers. Over the millennia Yami and Yami Bakura had sought out vast numbers of victims to practice their items' magic upon. The powerful Ring and even more astounding Puzzle had drawn power from a countless number of souls sent to the Shadow Realm by the ruthless vampires. Even Marik's ambition with the Millennium Rod paled in comparison to the never-ending quest of the two ancients to increase and tap into the full capabilities of their golden treasures.
So while the night was still quite cruel to the mortals trapped within the other chambers, the slayers were undoubtedly about to receive the worst torture of all...
"Comfortable?" Yami Bakura chided the redheaded slayer chained to the wall.
"Go to Hell." Dina spat pulling against the restraints.
Bakura's eyes flashed a threatening red, "Yami Bakura, just let me kill her now. She's of no use to us. Only a nuisance."
"Or a snack." Dina muttered.
"NO," Yami Bakura held a hand up to stop his lighter half from attacking the bound girl. "She's perfect. We'll use our Millennium Rings on this slayer. Remember, I promised you practice. If you're ever to become as skilled as I am with the Millennium Ring then you'll have to learn to ignore the futile and irritating struggles of mortals and utilize them as subjects on which to test and charge your item."
"I see," Bakura smiled deviously, "you mean to show me how to banish her soul to the Shadow Realm."
So that's how they charge those things. They need to sacrifice mortal spirits to that place in order to power up their magical weapons. Psh, like I'm gonna let them use ME for a battery. Dina recalled the plan that Rebecca had mentioned earlier. Judging by the interaction between the two vampires, the 'lighter' half seemed to be the best dupe. I really hate these last minute strategies...
Holding his Ring before the slayer Yami Bakura spoke with pride, "This--mortal--is the Millennium Ring, an ancient weapon of sorcery which will summon forth fierce creatures, trap souls in objects, trade the spirits of vessels, and send pesky humans like slayers to the dreaded Shadow Realm."
"Impressive," Dina yawned, "but it really doesn't go well with those shoes."
"Do not mock the awesome power of the Millennium Ring!" Bakura shouted.
Hm...Yami Bakura regarded his counterpart, ...Bakura seems more aggressive than usual. I hope the little fool isn't plotting anything rash. He might get himself staked by this patronizing slayer.
"Well c'mon boys," Dina's voice rang out, "on with the show."
The older vampire studied her warily, "Why so eager to die mortal?"
"Oh no reason really," Dina plastered on a fake smile, "it's just, you two slipped these lovely bracelets on me so I couldn't kick your butts so-"
"Are you suggesting that we're afraid?" Bakura questioned.
"If you're the 'light' one shouldn't you be a little brighter?" Dina mocked him.
"ENOUGH!" Yami Bakura ordered, "That slayer is baiting you Bakura, can't you see that?! Now refrain from killing her physically and concentrate on mastering your Millennium Ring!"
Playing right into my hands. Dina leered.
Upon witnessing the odd smile creep across the slayer's face Yami Bakura debated on whether or not to read her mind. He decided it was pointless since she'd soon be spending eternity in the Shadow Realm.
The Millennium Ring emanated with a luminous golden aura as the eldest vampire summoned its first power, the ability to unleash fearful monsters. "You're really going to enjoy this." he simpered.
Dina turned her head slightly as the light half-blinded her. Whatever was happening, she had a feeling it was going to be bad. But before she could follow through with the plan---she had to survive the vampires' Rings.
The first monster to emerge from the strange light was a huge insect with an insatiable appetite for human flesh. "The Man-eater Bug." the white haired creature announced.
Blue eyes opened wide Dina started rethinking her strategy. Chained to a wall there really wasn't much she could do to save herself from becoming a side dish for some ravenous killer cockroach. "Whoa! If that thing devours me now how the heck are you supposed to train Bright Boy over there?"
"Not to worry," Yami Bakura assured her, "I'll just have the Man-eater Bug attack and wear you down for a bit. Then Bakura will have his chance to summon a beast. You're a slayer, I'm sure you can endure more than most humans."
"Ya might just lose that bet." Dina murmured as the menacing beast loomed over her. One swipe sent a muffled scream of pain flying through her lips. Another resulted in a full blown cry of agony as blood spilled to the floor from her two deep wounds. The slashes swept across her torso. The damage was severe yet not life threatening. No organs were gashed and the cuts were pretty clean.
Bakura was getting edgy, "Are you sure this won't kill her?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Yami Bakura scoffed, "weakling or not she's still a slayer. I'm sure she's received worse thrashings before." All the same, he called off the monster.
Bakura sighed with relief. If that creature had killed her, I'd have never had my opportunity to slay a slayer.
Dina was on her knees, her body wracked with pain. The sting of one wound had no sooner died down when the agony of another arose to take its place. "Is th-that all you've got?" she managed.
"Hardly." Came Yami Bakura's smug reply. Facing his counterpart he gestured towards the second Ring, "Your turn."
Nodding Bakura took his stance and began concentrating on the perfect beast to summon. It has to be something that will inflict damage yet still leave the slayer formidable enough to make her a respectable kill for me. Bakura concluded, But Yami Bakura didn't leave me much to work with. She's half dead already.
I'm not gonna live long enough to pull this off. Dina cringed.
"I summon White Magical Hat." Bakura exclaimed.
The same light was there again, and it made Dina's stomach churn to think about what lay in its midst waiting to lash out at her. Still...if she had to die she would do it with some dignity.
Both vampires watched in repressed admiration as the slayer got off her knees.
Just who is this mortal? Yami Bakura felt a sudden fear grip his heart (the one he'd tried to convince himself didn't exist anymore). No one's been able to stand again after receiving a beating from my Man-eater Bug!!
His lighter counterpart was equally as baffled. "You--you're standing!"
Dina's defiant gaze of blue fury met his awestruck mahogany stare, "Like I said parasite, is that all you've got?!"
Infuriated by her rebellious attitude and the confusion it caused him, the young vampire ordered his monster to attack.
Leaping sideways as the creature in the white tuxedo sprang forth, the redheaded slayer narrowly dodged the blow and landed a kick in the duel monster's back---pinning him to the wall. Her strength was giving out slowly, the blood flowed down over her stained garments and onto the floor.
"So she still has a bit of life left in her after all." Bakura heard his darker half say. Perfect, this means I'll still be able to kill her myself and earn a little respect from the others. I'm tired of being a doormat and a weakling around here. If I wait for Yami Bakura to decide when I'm strong enough I'll still be considered a rookie centuries from now!
To Dina's surprise the creature under her heel was called back just before her strength fully diminished. Now what?
Bakura took the opportunity to advance on the puzzled female. His older self watched as the white haired demon grabbed the slayer by her throat and slammed her against the stone floor.
"What are you doing you little fool?!" Yami Bakura demanded.
"What you don't believe I can!" Bakura snapped back.
Taken aback by this strange and violent behavior from his apprentice the older vampire seethed with rage. Eyes glowing an intimidating red he growled to the other male, "Do not dare to defy me Ryou Bakura. I MADE YOU!"
Dina moaned in pain as the younger bloodsucker placed a foot on her chest, pressing weight against her fresh wounds. More blood spilled forth as he argued with his harsher self, "You may have 'turned' me Yami Bakura but that doesn't mean that you OWN me! I am my own vampire. I can hunt when I please, drink from whomever I want to, and even-" he flashed a sinister crimson glance down at the helpless woman, "-kill a slayer."
Talk about having your unresolved issues. Dina was still as patronizing as ever, even with death staring her in the face. Turning to Yami Bakura she smirked, "Sounds like Junior here wants to be treated like one of the big boys."
"You stay out of this!" the vampire ordered, "And you Bakura, this is not the way to earn a higher standing in the clan!! I'm your only hope of impressing the others and becoming a full fledged member. Without me you're nothing!"
This only seemed to further enrage the underestimated monster atop Dina. Wincing in pain she felt Bakura's foot bare down harder against her, the blood flowed like rivers from the cuts the Man-eater Bug had thrust upon her.
"I am far more powerful than you are willing to see!" Bakura went on with his spat. But something was distracting him now. The heavy smell of blood in the air was all too alluring to his keen senses. And this blood was the most tempting, the most seductive, the most...Grr, there were no words to describe it!!!
Yami Bakura was having an equally difficult time keeping his train of thought with the tantalizing smell of the slayer's essence lingering thickly in the air. Everything vampiric within him was screaming for her taste, demanding that the insatiable hunger be filled with her rich blood. He wanted to drop to his knees and crawl to the source of his instincts' desire right then and there. But there was still his lighter half to contend with. Was he feeling this inner torture as well? He had to be, his resistance was bound to be weaker than his was...even when he was distracted with wrath. For a vampire, blood always came first.
On the verge of fainting (something she NEVER did), Dina managed to look up at the being standing over her, one foot bringing forth blood from her slashed veins like someone wringing out a soaked sponge. What met her eyes startled and bewildered her. The young vampire who was boiling over with homicidal fury just seconds ago was now fighting some internal battle against his senses while---sniffing the air?
What in the-?
Damn this weakness! Bakura clenched his fists and let his glare fall to the slayer, Did she have to smell so good?!
A knowing grin appeared on Yami Bakura's face, The little brat is finally coming back to his senses. He can't forget the overwhelming taste of his first meal. And the blood of that slayer...who could ever erase that from their mind?
"Well now," the older vampire addressed his young comrade, "what's happened? You don't seem too interested in killing her anymore...no, I think something else is on your mind."
Cringing Bakura cursed himself for being what he was, not just a vampire, but a pathetic shell of a nocturnal predator. He remembered The Eastern Star and the taste of Dina's blood as it flowed into his mouth and trickled down his throat. Each drop of her blood brought him closer to the brink of insanity yet nearer to the full understanding of himself and the world in general than he'd ever dared to travel before. Thoughts that eluded him, made him fear for his mind, his heart, his soul...they were common knowledge as he gulped down her crimson life force. Oh how he longed to experience that again! And again...and again...and again...
Bakura's eyes snapped open from his deep thought as a realization hit him. The one thing he'd been trying to do, the one thing that he NEEDED to do---was now the one thing that he could never do. If I'm to survive this dark, endless existence I've been doomed to...I can't kill the source of my one pleasure. This wretched slayer must live!
Yami Bakura was in tune with Bakura's thoughts now. They were nearly identical to his own. And Bakura's revelation was now his as well. Damn the slayer! DAMN HER AND HER HEAVENLY ESSENCE!! The nightly terror dug his nails into his skull and let out a mental cry of rage.
Dina forced an eye open through her overwhelming pain and saw two very ticked vampires glaring at her. Their expressions reflected a variety of different and outright perplexing emotions...love, hate, resistance, compliance, hunger, and self disgust.
"I have a feeling that this is gonna be worse than death." she muttered.
"Far worse." Yami Bakura answered while stalking over to her.
Kneeling down the vampires pressed their mouths over sections of the open wounds. The blood continued to spill forth but in smaller amounts now that Bakura had removed his foot. Wriggling and moaning in pain at having her injuries touched Dina tried to break away from the feeding frenzy she'd become the center of.
Don't move mortal! Yami Bakura's voice boomed in her head.
Bakura hungrily gulped down the red liquid covering his prey, she would be worth the trouble of keeping alive, he was certain that no other human in the entire world had blood so sweet, so tangy, so---ineffably maddening.
The open wounds left no need for the use of fangs. Every now and then the slayer would feel the needlepoint scraping of their front teeth but the sensation paled in comparison to the throbbing pain her torso was in now. Maybe they'll drink me dry anyway, she found herself morbidly thinking, I've been injured before sure. But this is the most extensive beating that my body's ever taken. No way I'll live through this. And I'll die a thousand times over before I let them 'turn' me!
Rushes of numbing cold swept over her paling form. The color began to drain from her skin as her breath grew short and raspy. The icy hands of death stretched forth to pull her soul away from the dying vessel when a calm voice resounded in her ears.
"That should do it."
Her eyes snapped open and she regarded the speaker with an irritated start. Bakura.
The other vampire slid his arms under her limp form and drew her up off the floor. As she was being pulled against him her eyes traveled down back to her now bare torso and she noted that the wounds were all but completely healed. She shot a questioning glance to the predator holding her.
Yami Bakura merely smiled down and opened his mouth, You were on the verge of leaving us mortal. And since that measly little heart of yours needs to beat to produce more of your liquid life force we couldn't very well let you die. So while we fed...we bit our tongues.
Dina's eyes widened, she knew what that meant. Whenever a vampire's blood is placed in an open wound-
"-it heals the injury." Bakura answered as he pulled back the scarlet sheets to one of the two beds.
Yami Bakura carried Dina over to said bed and 'tucked' her in securely. "In the olden days a vampire's blood was often used to treat fatal battle injuries or close gaping surgical incisions. But once the so-called doctors found out that the patients this treatment was practiced upon were now bound to the vampire through that blood well...that practice was regrettably stopped."
All of her lessons about vampires, the warnings that Felaine had given, now came flooding back to the horrorstruck slayer. "Humans are not just captured through 'turnings'", Felaine's words rang out, "for a vampire everything revolves around blood. To be 'turned' is to be lost to their world. To be infected with their essence---is to be bound to them. No vampiric cure ever came without a heavy price."
Trembling slightly at the dismal recollection of her trainer's words Dina wondered to herself just what sort of binding effect this blood would have on her. True, she was still human, still not one of them, but she wasn't exactly free of them either. Not unless they were slayed. Don't sweat it, she told herself, once you stake these two creeps whatever they've done to you will be null and void.
"You should probably eat something now," Yami Bakura's suggestion (delivered in a tone that made it sound more like an order) brought her back to the present.
She was surrounded by bloodthirsty vampires, and her only hope of getting out of this alive still laid within the last minute plan that Rebecca had devised.
"The sun's going to arise soon enough," the elder vampire continued, opening the door. "Watch the slayer Bakura, don't let her move. I'm going downstairs to the kitchen and when I come back...we could all use the rest."
Bakura nodded and kept a suspicious watch over Dina. Yami Bakura headed downstairs. The last thing he wanted was to wake up to a dead slayer (as if that could even happen now) a quick meal would help keep her veins flowing with that exquisite blood of hers. Luckily, she'd be exhausted from her blood loss and most likely sleep through the day. When evening came he and his younger self could easily (okay maybe not easily but certainly more effectively) handle her.
"Hmph," Dina scowled, pressing her head further into the pillow.
"What is it now?" Bakura eyed the slayer with complete distrust and aggravation.
"Yami Bakura, he thinks I fear him." the redhead huffed, "He doesn't know who he's messing with."
Tossing a glance to the shut door the vampire replied indifferently, "Perhaps you're the one who's in over her head here."
Looking offended she inquired, "And just why is that? I mean, he's just a vampire---and I've slain lots of them. You certainly didn't seem to be too afraid of him."
Bakura's gaze fell to the floor, "Well I'm not...most of the time. But once provoked Yami Bakura can be a deadly force to be reckoned with."
"From what I just saw a few minutes ago, so can you." Dina smiled at the look of confusion that the white haired demon gave her.
Bakura felt a light blush creep across his cheeks as he stared into those admiring blue eyes. He'd never really been admired by anyone before. This was--well--new, and kind of exciting. "You honestly mean that?"
Dina nodded, "I never knew that vampires could be so cold towards their own kind. I mean, I thought they always respected those they 'turned'?"
"Not necessarily," Bakura was getting enveloped in their conversation now, which just served to show how cunning Dina could be, "they're still older and more experienced than a newly 'turned' vampire. Just because they feel compelled to share their eternal nocturnal lifestyle with a mortal doesn't mean they view them as an equal. Quite the contrary, some won't see you as anything short of a rank amateur until centuries from your 'turning' date. And some are just as they were when they were alive-"
"-self righteous jerks." the slayer smirked thinking of Yami Bakura.
"Right." Bakura found himself laughing at this.
Winning this clown over was a synch. Dina grinned to herself, And now that I've got his guard down, provided the greedy little bloodsuckers left me any strength, I can make a break outta this torture chamber. "You must've been one heck of a compassionate human during your mortal life Bakura. And you certainly haven't let vampirism change you much."
The warmth in Bakura's cheeks was spreading throughout his body, much like the blood circulated throughout his victim's veins. The heat collected primarily in one very tender region, at the source of his compassion.
The slayer watched as the young vampire brought a hand to his heart. "Something wrong?"
"Hm? Oh...nothing. I-" Bakura fumbled through his words.
"What?"
"-I just, well, it's been so long." he was reddening more by the minute as he tried to explain.
"Been so long?" she questioned, "Since what?"
"Since...I've felt it beat." the white haired creature finally met her gaze again, "It's been so faint lately, I'd almost forgotten that it was there at all."
Smiling in spite of herself the slayer sat up on the bed, "Well I'm glad I could remind you."
Bakura suddenly had an irresistible urge to take the enticing woman into his arms, to hold her close, to share the sensation she was giving him. Much to Dina's surprise, he did just that.
"B-Bakura?" Oh don't do this Bakura! she struggled to keep up her defense, Not now! Not when I'm so close to just...
Bringing a fair skinned hand up her back he gathered a handful of her ruby red hair and let it slide through his fingers. He repeated this several times, enjoying the feeling of the overly tense slayer relaxing in his arms.
This isn't real, Dina's mind argued with her heart, he's not in love with me or anything. I was here, I saw how that other vampire gets under his skin. Bakura's just lonely and looking for someone to sympathize with him. He's still a vampire, he'd sooner suck me dry than get too attached. So I have to be just as cruel. Besides...Rebecca's still trapped with the Scarlet Clan's leader in that other chamber. And if the other victims are still alive---I've gotta stick to the plan!
Bakura's Ring activated, enhancing his vampiric abilities. The mystical blood of the slayer had provided the young nocturnal creature with a hearty boost of strength but combined with the power of the Millennium Ring, Bakura was now free to break through her mental barriers and explore her emotions, her memories, her thoughts...
One particular thought caught his attention, 'I've gotta stick to the plan! I've got to---ESCAPE!'
Bakura's eyes turned blood red and he was once again ensnared in vehemence. She was HIS mortal, he and his darker self had hunted her, drank from her, claimed her with THEIR blood! She wasn't going anywhere!!
Crud! Dina thought as Bakura suddenly grabbed her arms tightly and pushed her down to the bed, "I see you're able to read my thoughts now."
"You won't leave here mortal," he seethed, "Not now nor ever!"
"And we're back to not using my name," Dina spotted her mini-crossbow on the nightstand, it was conveniently far enough when she was chained, but now...
A quick, well placed kick tripped the trigger and sent the stake flying into the lighter Bakura's backside. "AAAHH!!"
"Yeah, you're a pain in mine too Ryou." the redhead mumbled and pushed him off onto the floor. Grabbing her weapon and extra stakes she made a mad dash for the door.
Jerking against it she growled in frustration, "How the heck can it be LOCKED?!"
"Quite ingenious really," Bakura yanked the irritating piece of wood from his posterior, "the doors to a few particular chambers can also be locked from the outside."
No sooner had this been said than Yami Bakura unlatched the door and came waltzing right in holding a small assortment of fruit.
"YAMI BAKURA!" the younger vampire shouted.
"What?!" his elder demanded.
Too late, Dina (who'd been blocked from his view by the opened door) rapidly darted outside and raced down the hall, slamming the door shut behind her.
Yami Bakura angrily tugged at the handle, "CURSES! The latch must've fallen back into place when it closed!"
"So much for late night rendezvous." Bakura grumbled from the floor.
"And just what the Hell happened to you?!" Yami Bakura noticed his lighter half on the floor pressing a blanket to his rear.
"Never trust a female." Bakura hissed as the bloody stake snapped into jagged fragments in his fist.
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*Um...this chapter turned out to be a tad longer than I'd originally planned. Rather than making this part twenty (or more) pages I decided to brake it into two chapters. Part two of this one will be out soon. Then you'll find out just what Yami and Yugi have in store for the world's ultimate slayer---Rebecca Hawkins. Don't forget to review please. Thanks for all the feedback! ^_^ *