Author's Note: Hey everyone I just wanted to take a moment to introduce my new Beta for this story, 2MuchReading. Thanks for taking this on 2Much!
Chapter 11
(Punishment)
Dracula's point of view
I walked calmly down the stairs as I made my way toward the dungeon. The air became colder as I descended. The air smelled musky leaving no doubt that any prisoners would be miserable in their cells. I went past several areas. As I got closer to an open area I used for water torture, I heard the sounds of crying and chains rattling.
A pleased smile crossed my face. My pet was already whimpering and I hadn't laid a hand on her yet. I stopped before rounding the corner of the stone wall. I listened to her cry for a few moments. I loved the sound of fear in a woman's cry.
Danielle let out an exasperated grunt. "I have to get free!" She whimpered as she pulled at the chains some more.
"It will do you no good to pull at the chains," I told her rounding the corner.
"Stay away from me you monster!" She shouted at me as she backed up.
I couldn't help but be amused at my pet. The redhead yelled at me trying to sound brave, but the fact that she was trying to get as far away from me as possible revealed how truly afraid she was.
"That's no way to speak to your master, Danielle," I told her in a clear firm voice. "You've been very naughty."
"You have no right to…" Danielle started to say.
"I have every right!" I snapped at her. "You are my property! Mine to do with as I wish!"
"No I'm…" Danielle started to say again.
"To give to whom I wish," I added sensing my servant Brock's presence. I watched as her eyes went wide as Brock stepped up revealing himself on my left. I smiled at her pleased with her fear. There had been a time when my servant had made use of the woman now chained before me.
"She doesn't look as useful now," Brock said not hiding his anger toward her. "The stench of slayer is on her."
"Yes, she needs to be bathed," I agreed keeping my eyes on the human woman. I watched as uncertainty entered the eyes of the already scared woman. "Clean my pet," I ordered. "Completely." Brock nodded and walking over to a cabinet took out a bucket and a scrub brush.
"No!" Danielle said horrified as Brock approached her. "You can't!"
"You're just my pet; he doesn't need to be gentle," I said unconcerned.
Danielle screamed as Brock approached her and ripped her shirt open. The buttons flew through the air in opposite directions. I didn't stop him as he removed the rest of her clothes; cutting some of them free of her body.
The redhead tried to close her arms and cover herself as much as possible, but with her arms chained and almost fully extended above her, it was useless. I watched as Brock turned on a water hose that I knew would only produce very cold water. She screamed at the contact of water. I wasn't sure if it was the coldness of the water or the harsh stream of water hitting her body that made her scream.
Brock had the sprayer on the harshest setting, but I didn't care. Danielle meant nothing to me. It didn't bother me that he was rough on the human woman. Brock dropped the hose and Danielle shivered as tears streamed down her face. Brock picked up a bottle of liquid soap and then squirted it at her several times before putting it back down.
I watched as horror entered her face as he picked up a rough scrub brush. "No! Please! No!" She pleaded looking at the stiff bristles. She quickly began trying to move her legs back and kept them closed.
Brock walked over to the wall and took down two more chains. I laughed as she screamed and tried to struggle as he chained one leg and then the other forcing her legs apart.
"Brock please!" She begged.
I couldn't help but be amused that the human thought my servant would show her mercy at running away from both him and me. Brock ignored her. After putting water in the bucket, he got the scrub brush and approached her.
I watched as the first stroke with the brush turned her skin dark red as she screamed. Brock showed no mercy and scrubbed her skin like he would an outdoor rug. The more she screamed the harder he scrubbed.
Danielle couldn't stop screaming as his scrubbing became so hard she began to bleed. He wasn't careful of any area of her body. Brock scrubbed her breasts just as hard. He was no more gentle as he scrubbed between her legs scrubbing away the stench of our enemies. I knew my servant was upset with the woman, so I allowed him free reign to hurt her.
He scrubbed her completely before dropping the now bloody brush into the bucket and picking up the hose once again. Danielle let out more wails of agony as the harsh water was used to completely rinse her body of all remaining soap.
"Thank you, Brock," I said and stepped closer to my slave. I looked her body over and frowned as I saw she had received a tattoo in an attempt to hide my mark. "You dare to try and hide my mark?" I yelled at the bleeding woman. Danielle cried but didn't respond. "Get me my iron and my whip!" I said angrily. "Now that you are clean, it's time for you to be punished."
It was only a few moments and the red-haired woman began to scream as I took the majority of my anger out on her. I gave no mercy with the iron or whip. Danielle had evaded me for twenty years; she would pay for it.
Katie's point of view
My cheek throbbed and I touched it even before I opened my eyes. Slowly I sat up and looking around I had no doubt who had me. The comforter and sheets on the bed were crimson red. Once again I was the creature Dracula's prisoner.
I couldn't help but be afraid as I looked the room over. A sense of relief entered me as I found no sign of the count. Quietly I slipped out of the bed. My cheek really hurt and I wanted to see it. The last thing I remembered was striking out at the count. The fact my cheek hurt led me to believe he must have hit me.
There was a full length black rod iron mirror on the other side of the room. Slowly I walked toward it. I wanted to see my cheek but I was also afraid to. The count hadn't hit me before. He had branded me, yes, but he not actually hit me.
I kept my eyes cast downward as I made my way to the mirror. I dreaded seeing how bad it was but needed to. Reaching the mirror, I took a deep breath and looked up into the mirror. There was a large bruise on my cheek, but I must admit it wasn't nearly as bad as I'd expected.
I grimaced as I touched the sore skin. "This will take a while to heal," I said disappointed.
"Then perhaps you will think twice at raising your hand to me in the future." I instantly stiffened at the sound of the counts voice. I swallowed hard knowing he was angry with me and I had no idea what he would do next.
"Turn around," He told me in a firm and powerful voice. I didn't want to but reluctantly turned to face Count Dracula. The look on his face was stone cold. I wanted to do nothing more than run. "I'm disappointed in you Katie," The Count said taking a step toward me. The moment he stepped forward I stepped back. Unfortunately, the only thing I accomplished was to back myself up into the mirror.
"You went with my enemies," The creature practically spat at me as he walked closer. I felt fear, but I also felt panic as everything in me told me to run. The Count took another step and I tried to flee. It was a mistake. I barely moved at all and Dracula had me by the throat against the wall.
"Feel the need to run?" He asked coldly. "Could it be you've done something you shouldn't?" He sneered.
I began to shake as I realized what he hadn't said. Somehow, someway, he knew about me and Parker. He squeezed my throat and I cried out in pain.
"Yes, Katie, I am fully aware of your slayer lover," He snarled. "I was already going to punish you for going with my enemies so willingly. Then you go and give your body to one of them. You're going to pay for your betrayal, Katie. I don't tolerate disobedience from any woman; especially not a bride."
"Then maybe I shouldn't be your bride!" I said angrily. I barely got the last word out and Dracula grabbed me. I braced for impact; assuming he'd hit me again. To my surprise he didn't hit me but kissed me instead.
Dracula's point of view
I know I shouldn't have given the girl a false sense of security, but I had wanted to kiss her for so long. I would still punish her but I wanted this.
"No!" My brown-haired beauty said tearing her lips from mine and moving her head to the side.
My lips landed on her cheek. I leaned back and looked at her. "You are hardly in a position to be refusing me anything."
"I won't marry you," she said with forced firmness.
I rubbed a hand through her hair gently a few times before grabbing it roughly and yanking her head to the side to look at me. "You are mine, Katie, but first you need to get that slayers stench off you." Keeping hold of her hair, I forced her to walk toward the private bathroom. We entered the room and I closed the door.
My hand stayed holding her hair as I went to the tub and started the water. Once the tub began to fill I released my beauty. "Remove your clothing," I instructed. She looked at me but didn't obey me. "Remove them or I will," I warned giving her a look that dared her to refuse.
"Are you going to leave?" She asked quietly.
"No," I told her.
"But…" Katie started to say.
"I have already seen you Katie," I said as anger began to surge through me again at the sight I'd witnessed from outside the slayers bedroom. "Now!"
Katie jumped and then turning her back began to remove her garments. I watched as more and more of her body was revealed to me. Finally I saw her naked from the back.
"Get into the tub," I told her. She did and sat down quickly trying to hide herself by facing the wall. "Face me Katie." When she didn't immediately obey, I reached over and none to gently moved her body to face me.
It took effort for me not to make an approving sound at the sight before me. Katie was even more beautiful naked than I had expected. "It's time to get that stench off of you. Afterward we'll address your punishment."
Katie's point of view
I've never felt so humiliated as I did sitting in the tub while the count literally washed my body. I wasn't allowed to wash myself at all. If Parker had been the one to bathe me I might not have minded, but I didn't want the vile creature touching me with my clothes on, let alone off. The fact he seemed to be enjoying it made it even worse.
I was more than happy when the bath was finally over. I just wanted to get my clothes on and huddle in a corner and die. Dracula wrapped me in a towel and then led me out of the bathroom.
My body shook as we entered the room, but it was not from the cold. I was scared. I knew he was going to punish me and the memory of the branding came back to me. I feared what he'd do to me now.
"Come," He told me as he walked over to the door.
"I'm not dressed," I reminded him.
"I do not want you dressed yet. Now come!" he replied simply. I didn't argue and followed the vampire out of the room. We walked down a long hallway before coming to a dark wooden door with black iron and studs on it.
Dracula waved his hand and the door opened. He entered and I reluctantly followed. I jumped hearing the door slam behind me. A staircase was before me. I wanted to run and I think he knew it. He stopped a few stairs up and turned to look back at me.
"Do not make it worse for yourself. You will already need recovery time." He stated.
I swallowed hard at his words but reluctantly followed. We walked up several stairs before entering through an open door. In the middle of the room was a stone table. There were stains on the table. Based on the color of some of the stains, I was guessing blood was one of the stains.
I couldn't stop myself from stepping back at the site of it. The count grabbed my arm just before ripping the towel away from me to reveal my body. I gasped but he gave no apology or words of encouragement. Instead he practically thrust me at the table. "Lay down," he said coldly. I didn't want to but laid on the stained table face down.
"Turn over." He said. When I didn't move he rolled me over roughly. A look in his eyes and I knew his punishment for me would not be light. I was even more certain as he walked around the table and secured my hands and ankles by restraints. A look of pure lust ran through his eyes before they became clouded with anger once more.
Dracula's point of view
I did enjoy the sight of Katie's body but this was a time of punishment. I couldn't punish her the same way as Danielle. I wanted to hurt Katie but not leave permanent marks that would tarnish her beauty. So instead of using a razor-edge whip on Katie like I had Danielle, I had sent my servants to collect me a handful of switches. Katie would feel pain but no permanent damage would be done.
Five green switches lay on a nearby small table. I reached over and picked up the first switch. "I do not wish to tarnish your beauty my dear. This will hurt but no permanent damage will you incur," I told her.
"What are you going to…" Katie's question died as she let out a scream as I brought the switch down on her stomach.
"No one touches you but me!" I told her and brought the switch down on top of her breasts. The blue-eyed girl screamed again, but I did not stop. I hit her again and again. Tears flowed down her cheeks but I ignored them. Katie had given herself to my enemy and she would pay for it.
I didn't hit my beauty in the face; instead, I hit her between her collar bone and mid thigh
"Stop! Please!" She begged after I'd hit her several more times. I didn't stop though and continued my assault for a couple more minutes. Finally I stopped and threw the switch to the side finished with it.
I looked at her red-streaked body. I knew I had hurt her but she deserved it. No one was allowed to betray me and not answer for it. I walked around the table and released her hands and ankles. At first I saw hope in her eyes but it quickly faded away with my next sentence. "We aren't finished; turn over." I stated.
This time Katie obeyed immediately. She whimpered from the pain she had endured and what she knew was coming. I immobilized her once again and then picking up another switch allowed her screams to fill the room once again.
The brown-haired girl was covered in red lines by the time I halted my assault on her naked body. I knew she was in pain and the sting would continue for a while but I had not broken the skin. I did not want scars on her. Finished, I threw the switch down.
"Do not disobey me again," I warned and left the room leaving Katie still chained to the table I had always used to punish brides of the past. I left the room and made my way toward the dungeon.
I felt calm as I approached the cell area. I could hear crying and new it was Danielle; she was currently the only one I had in a cell. I reached her cell and looked in at the bloody and badly beaten woman. "I do hope both you and Katie have learned your lesson now." I watched as the woman looked at me with pure hate. My emblem was firmly on her chest.
"I'm going to kill you," She spat.
"You don't have the ability," I told her. "You're not strong enough; you never were." I gave a disappointed sigh. "It's unfortunate you and yours had to bring my bride into all of this. Now I must allow her recovery time." I saw the look of surprise she was trying to hide in her eyes. "Do not think for a moment you are the only one that screamed tonight. I do not take kindly to a woman that belongs to me giving herself to my enemy. However, given what I saw just before I left, I'd say Katie's lover should be dead." I saw a pained look in her eye and turning around I walked away.
"No!" I heard her wail as I left her presence. A pleased smile crossed my face. My pet and bride were back in my possession and Katie's lover should be dead.
Author's Note #2: I'd love to get Reviews! Thank you to those that Review add this story to Favs and Alert and of course for Reading! Oh and by the way the site seems to be having some issues so I am having to put in my own page breakers right now. Hope you don't mind.