Chapter 19

A flick of water, a pat on the cheek, rough with calloused hands and an impatient tap, was what stirred her away from her stupor and into a world of haze and spinning colors.

They were eyes; the first set of shapes that formed, cold cruel steel eyes that stared down at her. "It's amazing the capacity of something so weak to survive with such a pathetic state."

There was a familiar presence about her, a chill that would run up and own her spine. Mary-Lynnette formed simple words, "I saw you… back…. Back there… far in the—in the corner." The memories were scrambled around, flying to fast for her to even catch them and get a firm grip.

She was rewarded with a smile, nothing proud or impressed, it was amused. "Yes, I was. Observant little thing aren't you? Yes, I was there. Hunter Redfern summoned me with something valuable for me at the end of the rainbow. Of course playing with you with keep me entertained for a while. A bonus."

Mare hated showing how shaking and weak she was when she only wanted to stay strong even in a situation that had given her nothing and had lost all and any control she had. " I'm not a toy for you to play with when you're bored with your skulking around." But her voice squeaked and croaked when her throat begged for something liquid.

"Many people have said that over the years. I doubt you will be the first to take that choice with you to the grave." The woman grabbed a handful of air and yanked up until Mary-Lynnette was face to face with her. "Mary-Lynnette, toy and walking food bank for Ash Redfern, son of the leader of the nightworld, Hunter Redfern. Lived in a small town of nothing with your younger brother who is also following in your footsteps with Jade Redfern. One thing you need to understand child is that I will never under estimate my prey, vermin or not."

If someone asked Mary-Lynnette in the future why she did what she was about to do she would give only one answer. "I am not weak" When the vampire's face leered at her, Mare took her wrists and flick up in such a way that the chain connected to the bed post whipped upward and into the porcelain skin in front of her.

She yelped and released her grip on Mare's hair and watch in amazement as blood already trickled down her cheekbones, but the wound had already begun to heal by the time eyes grew colder. "Are we starting lessons early? I was going to wait a few days but you seem to be so eager to learn why make you be patient?" Belladonna hadn't even bothered to wipe away the trail of red on her snow white skin, her eyes took on a silver haze, her hands reached back toward the figure in the bed—

"Belladonna." The voice froze her in its tracks, "Not today, you can have her tomorrow afternoon. Not before, damage her too much and its our head that on the line. Let the creature get the blow of his anger instead of us." The owner was a calm brooding man with warm brown hair and storm eyes that seemed to be in a torrent of a hurricane.

"Balthazar." Belladonna spoke, "As logical as always. When will I see you show any emotions of anger in those eyes?"

But there is emotion there; Mary-Lynnette noticed that from the first moment he had appeared in her line of vision. The storm that was raging in on in his eyes and grown into a violent torrent of thunder and lightening when his eyes fell upon the female vampire. It was hate, a passionate hate for the woman before him. Not once had they fallen upon the human, not once did they leave Belladonna.

"Lily wants to see you. I wouldn't want to keep her waiting if I were you."

The vampire looked like she wanted to say something but at the last moment thought better of it before walking out the door passed him. However not before she quickly raised a hand, a feathery touch against his skin before leaving.

He turned to go, "Thank you" Mary-Lynnette whispered, even doubting whether he had heard her at all.

Balthazar turned then; "Don't mistaken my intentions for duty with kindness. There is no need for her to have everything that she wants." His voice spat out the last few words and quietly shut the door behind him.

As the night fell into her window Mary-Lynnette was forced to endure the fact that she was more alone then she had ever felt in this world. That the one person who could chase away all her fears had no idea where she was in this world.

Or how long it would take to find her.

She tried to curl up in the far corner away from the door and hugged herself with the thin shawl of the blanket that scratched her skin. With eyes that didn't want to close she tried to dream of old memories, where she was safe and happy. Where this world hadn't existed.

I should have called my dad, I should have told him the truth—I should have told him that I wasn't going to college. Tears poured down her face as she realized the last words that she had spoken to her dad held lies in them.

Was this what it was like? When everything that you were so sure of isn't that anymore, do you feel regret and remember all the things that you had done wrong in the past? Or do you remember the times that you wished you could change? Like lying to your father, or holding back the most important words to someone that you care so much about?

I have so many things that I want to do that I can't just stay here and leave things the way that they are. I can't—her thoughts traveled down the faces that were so important to her. The ones that mattered to her.

Mark, her dad, stepmother, Rowan, jade, Kestrel, Bunny, and the new friends that she had made in Lord Thierry's mansion…. Ash.

She had to find a way out of here.

I know that this chapter is short and I do apologize. So many things are happening here at college. I am transferring to Plymouth state University, if you attend that college I could use some more friends!

Any along with that I have to fill out more homework assignments and projects. lol

I will have another chapter out in a few days or so.

Till next time!

~Triss