Chapter 12

(A bargain made)

Parker's point of view

My head throbbed as I opened my eyes. I looked over to see Monica was standing by a window. Her arms were crossed and even not completely with it I knew she was scared. "Where am I?"

"Parker," Monica said openly pleased to hear my voice. I watched as she suddenly looked away.

"What's wrong?" I asked. When she didn't look at me my heart sank. She didn't need to say anything else I knew. Still I wanted to be wrong. "Where's Katie?" Monica looked at me and frowned. "I failed her."

"No you didn't!" Monica said quickly.

"Yes Monica I did," I told her disappointed. I had promised to protect my blue eyed beauty and I had failed. Dracula had the woman I loved and I was well aware of how cruel he could be. If he knew about Kaite and I there was no question she'd pay for it.

"There's more." My eyes immediately shifted to my fellow slayer. "He has Danielle as well."

My eyes widened. "Shit!" I knew he wouldn't kill Katie but Danielle was another story. I tried to get out of bed but Monica quickly stopped me.

"We're working on a plan to get them both back but…you have to rest."

"I'm going after Katie and Danielle!" I said firmly.

"Not until we have a well organized plan," Memphis said from the doorway. "All of us want to go barreling in there right now but we won't be of use to either of them if we get killed before we even get inside the castle."

"He took her to Transylvania?" I said not hiding my surprise. Memphis only nodded. We were all in trouble now. We'd gone against a lot of vampires and there homesteads but Dracula's hidden Castle was not something we'd ever attempted. We were still shocked Danielle had escaped the place the first time. "How much of a plan do we have so far?"

"Sonya is getting us a map of the castle now. Until then we…"

"Wait," I practically huffed. Memphis frowned and nodded. There's nothing I hate to do more than wait. I couldn't help but think, 'Hurry up Sonya.'

Katie's point of view

I opened my eyes and every inch of my body hurt. I couldn't stop a couple of tears from sliding down my cheeks. I moved my hand and was surprised to find I was no longer strapped to the table. I was also surprised to feel satin against my body. Slowly I sat up while holding the sheet around me.

I looked around and found I was in fact alone. I was glad for the sheet that someone had covered me with. A cool breeze was blowing through the open window. Slowly I slid of the stone table. I wasn't sure what hurt worse the bruises from the switches or the stiffness from the stone table I'd slept on.

Slowly I walked toward the open window. The room was nothing but gray stones that covered the walls and floor. The ceiling was dark brown wood. The stone table was the only furniture in the room. There was however chains on the walls and instruments hanging on the far wall off to the side. Instruments I knew that were used for torture. I couldn't help but be glad I hadn't seen them when Dracula had brought me here.

As I reached the window I peered outside. There were trees everywhere. I had no idea where I was except for being inside a castle. I only even knew I was in a castle because it was obvious looking outside. As much as I would never want to admit the view from this horrible room was beautiful.

"It is beautiful isn't it?" I stiffened hearing the creature's voice that had taken me hostage. A moment later I felt hands grip my bare shoulders. "Your punishment is over my dear," he whispered into my ear just before he placed a kiss on the side of my neck. "it's time to put it behind you." I felt the count slide his arms down from my shoulders and too my waist before he pulled me back against him. "I've missed you Katie," He told me.

"You missed hurting me," I said unable to stop myself.

Dracula's point of view

Anger corsed through me at her words. I whipped her around to face me before I could stop myself. "I hurt you?" I yelled at her. "You gave your body to my enemy!" I yelled at her.

"Your enemy not mine!" She shouted back.

How I loved it when she showed strength. I was angry but her strength was too incredible to resist. I grabbed her and kissed her hard. Katie tried to pull away but it only excited me.

Hearing a blood curdling scream Katie managed to break the kiss. Her eyes immediately went to the window. "What was that?" She demanded.

"Brock is probably torturing Danielle again." I was engrossed in Katie's beauty and strength the words were passed my lips before I could stop them.

"What?" Katie snapped. I stood there looking at her angry eyes and couldn't believe after centuries of never saying something I didn't want to I'd slipped. "Make him stop!" She ordered.

"Why should I?" I asked suddenly not as impressed with my bride's strength. Who did she think she was to try and order me about?

"You just let him torture her?" My beauty said shocked. "She's…"

"A pet and nothing more!" I said very firmly. "A disobedient pet at that," I added. "I have no reason to protect her." I stepped toward her and she stepped back. "Katie…"

"NO!" She said angrily.

"I have waited long enough to enjoy you," I told her.

"There is no way I am sleeping with you! Your cruel, manipulative, arrogant, evil, torturing jerk!" The brown haired woman ranted off. "What on earth would make you think I'd want to give myself to a man who allows his servants to torture my friends?" She said angrily.

I fell silent for a moment and thought about her words. Normally my reaction would be angry and violent to being told no. I couldn't be that way with Katie. I could simply take Katie; she couldn't stop me. If she had been anyone else I would've.

I walked away from my bride and thought for a moment. As my eyes fell on the instruments and another scream ripped through the air I knew exactly how to get what I wanted. Slowly I turned and faced my young bride.

"You wish for me to end Danielle's torture yes?" I said.

"And not let her ever be tortured again," Katie added.

"Very well. I can accept your terms but can you except mine?"

Katie looked at me very suspiciously. "What terms?" She asked holding the sheet tighter around herself.

I internally smiled at her current modesty. "I will end Danielle's torment in exchange for you." Seeing her confusion I said. "You Katie. All of you." My beauty still looked confused for a moment but I looked the sheet she clung to over and then brought my eyes back to hers. I saw her swallow and knew she understood.

"You mean I have to…"

I stepped toward her and very gently rubbed my right hand down the side of her face and a finger over her closed lips before rubbing my hand down her throat. "You give yourself completely to me. I want to experience what I saw you and your lover enjoy." She went to speak but I spoke first. "So long as you please me I will protect my pet. Refuse me and she will suffer."

It was perfect timing as another scream ripped through the air.

"Alright. But please allow me to recover from my punishment first," Katie pleaded.

"When you…"

"You have to stop her torture now. I'll comply but you have to stop her torture now," My bride bargained.

"I will give you three days," I countered. I'd been waiting far too long as it was. Reluctantly she nodded and lowered her head. "Say it."

"Three days."

"You may return to your room you woke in. We will meet later." She nodded and I walked away.