Chapter 16

There was this lonliness that set in within her. Hessa looked at her reflection in the lagoon and stared at the marks on her neck. Draco didn't even bother to heal them, for some reason he liked to see them on her...it aroused him. Regardless of how much he faught it, Draco was very much like his father, but unlike his father, he did feel remorse. He had brought her flowers and candy but she didn't really want them, causing him to throw them into the fire and walk away. Hessa had even refused sex and right now he wasn't about to force her. Draco was trying to win her affections the right way but she could tell he wasn't going to wait much longer. It was the way he was looking at her, he started to bully and growl at her, trying to trip her onto the bed but she would immediately get up.

Today she bathed while he went out to get food and suddenly his reflection soon joined her causing her to jump. Hessa stood up and saw him with a few rabbits in his hand. Draco could smell her sweet scent, it was so much stronger when she bathed and it had been nearly a week since she touched him...his eyes turned reddish which was always dangerous and Hessa found herself backing up and him coming towards her, "tell me...what does it take to make you happy?"

"What?"

"I said...WHAT does it take to make you happy?"

She looked down, her hand feeling against the hard rock as if there was some hidden way out, "I just..."

Draco looked at her, he could smell the fear within her, she was shaking, "you're scared of me..." He watched her close her eyes tight, "it's about damned time I put some fear in you, that you listen to me."

Her eyes flashed back at him with anger, "how dare you! You don't have the right!"

Draco laughed at her, one that sounded much like his father's...,"my dear, I have every right and you know it. You are bonded to me, therefore, my property...or must you read that book again?"

"You sound like your father again..."

"And he is part of me, I told you this," his clawed hand caressed her face, only for her to try and slap it away. Draco grabbed her wrist and squeezed as she squealed painfully, "should I show you how much like him I can be?" He then threw Hessa a few feet...it wasn't as far as he could throw her, but he didn't want to seriously hurt her. She landed with a 'thud' and and had the wind knocked out of her. Territory. She was territory. Pure instinct took over now.

Hessa scrambled to her feet, "Draco?" He wasn't answering...his eyes were red...he wouldn't kill her, but he could if he wasn't in control. A Conk only had the need to flee if she felt she was in danger from her master and this was one of those times. 'RUN!' her mind screamed and despite their bond...she ran fast and hard.

Draco looked on in disbelief for a moment and then outrage...his mate was running from him! She can't do that! She was to have his offspring...it didn't take the first time but she was fertile now and he wasn't about to let his little pet take off. His own primitive mind was active, Hessa hadn't meant to do it, but she activated it when she ran... he wouldn't kill her. He didn't chase after her right away, it was a game really, it wouldn't take him long to find her.

Hessa ran away from the cave...it was cold, she had forgotten that Draco had put warming charms in the cave. Looking back, she was surprised he hadn't caught her already, but Hessa had been with the family enough to know how they thought. Yet she has abilities she didn't let him in on. She delved into more books about herself and Conks to blend in with their surroundings, a form of protection, like a camelion but not. Draco would most likely be able to smell her, but wouldn't know from what direction it was coming from.

'I doubt I'll get away,' she thought sullenly. If she could only get to the Order, but where would they even be? And despite all of that, even if she did manage to get away, Draco would stop at nothing to get to her. No, she would be putting innocent lives in danger.

It was so cold out here. Her breath was frozen in the air, night air, and her clothes were not sufficient enough to keep her warm unlike Draco's. His were made of a special material to keep him warm, especially when he was on a mission. Despite it, she backed up to a tree and blended into the scenery.

Draco watched, he had already caught up to her but was simply observing for his own amusement. Then came the shock when he saw her blend into the scenery...she had camelion like qualities that she had never told him about! How dare she...that willful little imp! He jumped down, pretending to look like he was looking for her but he knew exactly where she was. Finally, looking ahead, his hand reached out to the side where the tree was and grabbed her. Hessa gasped in surprise and looked up at him in fear. "Think I didn't see you? Think I wouldn't figure it out! You hid this from me...your master, your mate." Tears were rolling down her cheeks, the grip on her forearm was painful and he wasn't letting up. "You like to be away from me? FINE THEN!" Draco threw her down in the snow and took off so fast she only caught a glimpse of him over the hill.

"Draco?" Hessa stood up, rubbing her forearm and shaking from the bitter cold. He had left her there and what was worse, she didn't know where she was. Deep saddness ran through her heart, did her master not want her anymore? With a blank look on her face and uncertaintly, she turned in the opposite direction and started to walk.

He was going to teach her a lesson, she needed to appreciate what she had, she needed to understand...yet...he could feel the saddness in her. After a few minutes Draco had realized that maybe he had gone a bit too far. And another thing...she wasn't chasing after him, she wasn't behind him at all and that made him nervous. He was a fool to let her out of his site, especially with the war still going on and he was possibly being tracked, but in his anger he hadn't realized the stupidity of the situation. Draco took off to find her but she wasn't there anymore and the snow was covering her tracks quickly and her scent was fading, he had to make haste or else he could lose her in this dangerous weather.

Hessa's lips were turning blue, she was freezing and there were no caves around to take any kind of warmth and knew little about survival. Her legs were getting numb and she felt so sleepy, the sub-zero weather was taking it's toll in the half hour she was out yet she kept going with her arms folded and her hands tucked deep in her upper arms. Soon she couldn't walk anymore and simply collapsed, her eyes fluttering because of the snow flakes still falling on her face. She heard the snow crunching and someone was walking towards her, yet it wasn't Draco...

"Here now, what's this!" It was an older man's voice. "Dear Gods, what are you doing out here like this and in those clothes!" the man panicked and turned her over, touching her face and hands. "You're like ice! Are you there, dear girl? What's your name?" Hessa was not responding. "We'll get you inside," with a whistle the man's broom came, he managed to get another blanket out of a satchel and wrapped her in it then carried her and set her in his lap and they flew off.

Draco got there just as the man left. He was upset yet grateful...but it was time to get back what he lost.