I had been grievously wrong. The day could absolutely get worse.
On the car ride home, my eyes continued to roam to Reiji. My thoughts were on his threat earlier in the hall. He hadn't spoken to me since, and he was lost in a book as we road to the mansion, but the sight of him made my mind race with the possibilities of what he might do. I would sneak a look at him, then stare at my knees. This went on for several minutes before I glanced up and found him staring back. One sleek brow rose in question before I turned my eyes back on my legs and didn't look at him again. If I had, I would have seen him grin briefly in amusement before his eyes went back to his book.
When we reached the large estate, I practically bounced in my seat waiting for Ayato to get the hell out of the car. I scrambled out the second he did and half ran into the enormous house. The redhead called after me with a laugh but I ignored him for the semi safety of my room.
"What's wrong Bratty?" Ayato laughed again as he entered the house, followed by Kanato and Subaru. "You look a little pale."
I had just placed my shoe on the first step of the great stairwell when a sharp, low word made me freeze in place.
"Stop." Reiji was watching me with his arms folded across his chest. He stood at the center of the room, and though he didn't raise his voice, it carried across the vast entrance hall. The others were scattering into the house, but Ayato and Laito paused to look between us curiously. Kanato continued walking off into one of the sitting rooms. He held up his teddy bear and spoke to him loud enough for me to hear.
"See Teddy? When you break the rules you must be punished. She's so stupid, she just can't help but keep doing it."
I scowled after the evil child as he disappeared into the sitting room with a giggle, but Reiji's hard, deep voice snapped my attention back to him.
"Put your bag down on the table and meet me in my study. Be quick about it." He took a moment to watch me, letting me know with his eyes that this was not up for discussion before he simply vanished. Ayato whistled, long and loud, grinning widely.
"Looks like you're in trouble Western Brat."
"Oh my," Laito smirked at me knowingly. "What could you have done?"
"This is your fault!" I pointed an accusatory finger at him and scowled. "If you hadn't incited those idiots to surround me-"
"I'm not sure what you're talking about. I was nothing but cordial today. You were the one hurling spite at a lovely group of girls who simply wanted to defend me."
I slammed my bag down on a small table against the wall and walked toward the hall that would take me to Reiji's study. Every part of me wanted to ignore him and flee to my room, but in all likelihood he would come find me and then I be screwed twice over for defying him. Reiji was not one for backtalk, and he deeply disliked disobedience. That pretty much made me the target of most of his daily irritation. I tried to avoid him whenever possible. That was not going to happen tonight.
"Have fun little bitch." Laito called after me as I marched to my doom. I flipped him the finger as I went, not looking back.
When I made it to the door of the study, I stopped. The door was simple wood, innocent and plain, but I couldn't bring myself to touch it. My heart was already pounding in my chest.
"Stop stalling." I heard Reiji's deep voice through the door and jumped at the shock. "Get in here."
When I hesitantly opened the door, he was sitting at his desk. His hands were steepled together in front of him, his elbows braced against the dark wooden surface of his massive desk.
"Close the door behind you," he instructed. His tone was flat as he watched me over his fingertips. The whole thing made my stomach flip and a shiver run down my spine. I wanted to run from the room screaming, but he held me in his dark red eyes and I knew that would be beyond stupid.
"I didn't start any fights today Reiji." I turned to close the door, hurrying to defend myself. "It was Laito messing with me! I swear. He riled up these fan girls and-" My words stopped abruptly when I turned back to find him standing in front of me. In panic I sucked in a breath and leaned back into the door, but there wasn't much room between us.
"I told you before, I don't want your excuses." His voice was hard and merciless. He just refused to listen to me and I couldn't stand being reprimanded for something that wasn't even my fault.
"Listen to me damnit! I-" His hand snapped out to close around my throat, tightening until I choked. I grabbed at his hand with both of mine, trying to pry his fingers off, but they didn't budge. When my wide eyes turned up to him, he was watching me with narrowed eyes.
"Watch how you speak to me mortal. I could rip you into pieces with barely an effort."
I choked again, clawing at his hand until his lip curled up in irritation. He snatched up one of my wrists with his free hand and dragged me up onto my toes by my throat.
"Enough," he barked, staring me down as I dangled in his grip panicking. My body went somewhat stil, though I couldn't stop the shaking. When he was satisfied, he set me back down on my feet and loosened his grip around my throat enough that I could get a little air. It was still incredibly uncomfortable and my lungs were starting to protest such shallow breaths.
"You will not speak another word unless I ask you a question. Is that clear?"
I gave him a jerky nod. When his hand fell away from my throat, I took a greedy breath. Reiji turned on his heel without another word and dragged me after him by the wrist he still held firmly. I was led to the side of his desk where the imposing vampire lifted his eyes to the tall ceiling and I followed them fearfully. Dangling down above my head were two long chains. At each end was a thick metal shackle hanging open. When he lifted my arm up toward the first cuff I immediately began fighting for freedom. I jerked my arm against his grip, but he got it to the shackle regardless.
"Let go of me you twisted fu-" The shackle clicked shut around my wrist and his free hand tangled a fist into my hair. He wrenched my head to the side and his teeth clamped down over my neck in the next moment. My cry of pain echoed back to me in the ornate room. When I tried to push at his chest with my free hand, he simply grabbed my wrist and clamped down harder with his fangs. My body wilted at the pain, but the shackle around my wrist kept me upright. As Reiji lifted his head away from mine, I was panting softly. My heart was racing in my chest, and I'm certain he could hear that too.
"Your attitude is deplorable," he said flatly, searching my eyes as I glared at him. "It requires correction."
I flinched when the second shackle snapped shut around my wrist. Now I was dangling about a foot away from his desk, and completely out of options. I watched as he pulled away and returned to the desk, pulling out the long top drawer. When he withdrew a black leather riding crop, my mouth fell open.
"Oh hell no. Why do you keep that in here?"
Reiji was back in front of me in a flash. The flat end of the riding crop pressed up beneath my chin and he narrowed his eyes on me.
"If you do not stop talking, I'm going to gag you." My jaw snapped shut, which only made the vampire smirk. "Good girl."
He stepped around me to run his fingers gently down my back. I felt it like his touch was electric and the sensation made me shiver. It felt beyond terrifying for him to have such freedom with my body.
"I wanted you to undress before we started, but I suppose this will do for now." He sighed softly and his fingers fell away. "You are an infuriatingly obstinate thing, for someone in your position."
I wanted to tell him to go fuck himself, but clamped my jaw to keep the words in check. Honestly, fear was helping in that regard, as much as I hated it. I was scared to piss him off now that I was hanging from his ceiling. It seemed like a bad call.
The crop whistled softly through the air just before it cracked across my lower back. I arched forward and let out a sharp cry, tugging at the shackles. Behind me I heard the soft sound of his laugh and then the crop returned with a loud snap. The sound was more startling then the impact itself, to be honest. It hurt, but the pain was a lingering sting rather than the agony fear had convinced me it would be. Even so, my voice rose sharply in the room with each lick of the crop. My breath came in short pants, my fingers flexing up above me in the shackles. I danced slightly on my toes, but there was nowhere to go, and the chains kept me fairly centered, exactly where he wanted me.
"You are not here on vacation Cara," his deep voice was calm despite the steady rain of strikes across my body. "You have been delivered to this place as our sacrifice. You exist only to please us."
"I'm not," I panted between words when he struck me again. "Your toy."
Reiji went still for half a second before a sharp crack snapped fire down across my back. I sucked in a breath and it came out as a soft groan of pain. The vampire behind me didn't care. The crop cracked down in two more rapid strikes that made me bite down on my lip to contain my cry. My back was throbbing, the skin felt hot. His fingers tangled in my hair, wrenching back my head until he could bite down into the place he'd pierced before. The punctures were still sensitive and when his fangs sank down into them my breath rush out in a harsh exhale. My eyes closed at the pain, my jaw clenching. Reiji didn't take much, but he made sure it hurt. His deep voice was just beside my ear when he stopped, harsh and angry.
"Learn your place human. You belong to us now. You have no say in the things that we do to you, and you have no right to argue against them. You will do as you're told, or you will be forced, and punished for your obstinance. Either way, the outcome will be the same. You will submit to us or you will die."
"You're going to kill me either way," I sniffed, resenting the tear that slipped down my cheek. My voice was irritatingly shakey. I hated letting him hear that weakness. "What's the point in playing nice?"
When I blinked he was standing in front of me. He reached out to lift my chin in his gloved hand, wiping the tear away with his thumb as a dark smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"We have been over this Cara. Do try to wrap your tiny mind around it this time. The longer you remain a source of entertainment and sustenance for my brothers and I, the longer you will keep your life. The choice is very simple. Submit or die. So?" He tilted his head leaning in to pin me with a piercing stare that managed to be imposing and mocking all at once. "Which do you choose?"
We stared at each other for a long time. I blinked the moisture from my eyes and wished for not the first time that I had laser vision. If only I could melt him right on the spot, or punch him right in his glasses. He seemed to recognize the violence in my eyes because his grip on my jaw tightened painfully.
"Answer me." He didn't raise his voice, but it was harsh all the same. I flinched at the words then narrowed my eyes in irritation of my own weakness and his annoying ability to frighten me. My jaw was clenched as I spoke, but he was right. The choice was very simple, it just meant swallowing my pride long enough to keep breathing. When I grit out my reply he arched an eyebrow.
"What was that?" I knew he could hear me. The bastard just wanted me to repeat it and let it sink in.
"I said I submit," I snapped louder. "Are you happy now?"
The hand gripping my chin slid down to close around my throat. I really didn't like his thing for choking me.
"When you speak to me you will lose the attitude, or I will cut your tongue out of your mouth."
That made my heart thump painfully in my chest. I looked up at him with slightly widened eyes and my mouth remained closed. Reiji smirked at that, his hand loosening on my throat to stroke his fingers across his bite mark instead.
"You continue to make this so hard on yourself," he sighed watching his fingers as they drifted down to my shoulder. "If you could manage to watch your mouth, this whole thing could go much more smoothly."
"Oh right," I scoffed before my brain could stop the words. "Then maybe I could learn to enjoy myself. Is that what you're saying?"
To my surprise he didn't attack me. Something changed in his hard expression, something that made my cheeks go warm though I couldn't explain why. Amusement glimmered in his dark, red eyes.
"This does not have to be entirely unpleasant Cara. You might enjoy some of the things I will do to you. If you behave yourself, I might even reward you for it."
"So I'm your pet now?"
He chuckled softly at that and his hand lifted to stroke his thumb along my bottom lip. The contact made me freeze. Reiji had never touched me like that before.
"If that is what you wish to call it." He said, but his eyes were on my mouth. His attention made my cheeks steadily warmer. The tone had shifted and I wasn't entirely sure what to do with myself now. Honestly I didn't know how to react to Reiji when he was...what was this exactly? Some kind of psychotic flirting?
"What do you want from me?" The words came out a little shaky. He was freaking me the hell out. His red eyes lifted up to mine and held me in a heavy stare.
"Your blood, obviously. But occasionally," he tilted his head to look over my face, his fingers running back through my hair. "The distraction your company provides. You might be a short break from the tedium of this existence. In return, I will reward you for your obedience."
I blinked at him. There was only one question on my mind now that he was looking at me like this. "Reward me with what?"
Reiji's smile widened, but he looked at me like I'd said something adorably foolish. "Pleasure of course, should you deserve it."
My eyes popped wide open in shock and I stumbled over my words. Of all the things he could have said, that was the last I expected. "You...but...what?" Had I just slipped into the Twilight Zone? Where the hell was this coming from?
The vampire chuckled softly at my stunned reaction. His hand drifted slowly down along my side as he spoke. I was too shocked to move.
"I told you before, this doesn't have to be entirely unpleasant. At times, I might be moved to let you enjoy it."
"I don't...are you serious right now?" Was this crazy vampire actually flirting with me? That was possibly more terrifying than he normal menacing ways.
"Why wouldn't I be?" He asked with a slight frown. "Unless of course, you prefer the whipping. We could continue with that now if you'd like."
"No I..." My heart was a pounding drum in my ear. "I don't want that. I'm just...this is seriously out of left field. You know that right?"
He shrugged a shoulder his arms folding across his chest with the crop dangling from one hand.
"I suspect you will need time to think it over. That's acceptable. Either way I will have your blood. It is up to you whether or not you enjoy the process."
For once I was entirely speechless. Scary Reiji was one thing, but Flirting Reiji was a whole new type of frightening. How the hell was I suppose to digest this version of him when the man scared the crap out of me? If I wasn't chained to his ceiling, I would be trying to flee the room.
"You're blushing," Reiji said suddenly, smirking as I glanced away self consciously. "Do you find the concept intriguing?"
"Mostly I find it frightening"
"I think you like to be frightened." He watched me closely, his dark, red eyes pinning me in place again. My breath went shallow under his attention. "You constantly test my brothers and I, like that foolishness you pulled on your balcony the other night. You know you can't win and yet you continue to fight. That either makes you an idiot, or you enjoy the punishments you receive for these actions more than you are willing to admit. Perhaps Ayato is right." He grinned. "Perhaps you really are a masochist."
"I am not a masochist," I said firmly, shifting uncomfortably under his steady gaze. "You are all just weird sadists."
Reiji stepped closer, invading my space in my next blink. His hand settled around my throat, his thumb pressing up beneath my chin to raise my head. His face was so close to mine that he could have kissed me with the slightest shift of his head. For just a moment I was afraid he might.
"What I am Cara, is old and bored. I can distract myself with your body and the soft sounds you might make for me, but I would be just as happy with your screams. Remember that the next time you decide to misbehave."
As I swallowed in fear, the shackles above me released. My arms went instantly around my body, like I could protect myself with a self hug. I didn't know what else to do with them. Reiji nodded back toward the door, watching me closely.
"You may go," he said and that was the magic phrase that switched my body back into survival mode. I didn't waste a moment to rush passed him toward the door and quickly pull it open.
"Cara," his deep voice made me freeze halfway out of the door. When I looked back at him he was sitting at his desk again, watching me. "If you continue to cause unnecessary problems, you will find yourself in worse situations than this. A few light swats with a riding crop is the very least I can do to you."
I didn't know how to respond to that, so I just fled instead. I didn't mind if it made me look weak, I just needed to get out of his study. He had left me feeling confused and anxious, completely thrown by his random proposition. Like all of the Sakamakis, Reiji was devastatingly handsome. I imagined that made luring in his prey pretty easy. He was also domineering and violent. That seemed to be a trait of all the brothers. The idea that he might feel even remotely attracted to me was like finding out I'd just won a trip into a pit of live snakes. I was absolutely going to stick with my original plan of avoiding him at all costs. For my own safety.
Thankfully the halls were empty as I hurried up the stairs. The brothers were off in their various areas doing whatever is was vampires did in their spare time. I diverted to the large bathroom down the hall and locked the door though I knew it was pointless. Suddenly I needed a very cold shower.