A/N: So… I wasn't able to post this as quickly as I liked. I've been working extra hours and have been so tired that I wasn't in the mood to do any writing or editing for that matter. But I did finish this last story for this particular arc! For this next part, again please note the M rating of this story. This will feature torture and more violence, in particular involving a minor. So please read at your discretion. Thanks and don't forget to review!

Synopsis—Erik travels to various countries, leaving behind more bodies in the demon's wake, but ends up in Persia where he has a score to settle with an old enemy.

Bloodlust 3

Erik had to leave Paris.

There was too much blood and death in his memories and leaving seemed like the only choice.

Traveling was difficult in his new state, but he was anything if not adaptable. Erik found ways during the night to go from city to city, town to town. His unnatural speed allowed the distances to blur and not take as long to cover when he had been a normal man. Then again… Erik was never normal, but at least he had more of a good reason to travel at night.

During the day Erik sought shelter in homes where he compelled the owners to invite him in. Their reward was granted when he woke—providing a swift, painless death with their blood donation. He never stayed long to learn what happened afterwards and he dared not listen to gossip or news.

Yet, as further as Erik went, a part of him still longed for Paris and what he left behind. But the pain of losing Christiana was still too fresh… he couldn't return now.

For now, he settled on his journeys and left behind a sampling of the local cuisine from where he traveled—sometimes hiding or leaving the bodies out so the fear would spread. The demon enjoyed the chaos and it stirred the blood of those it fed that were already frightened of the beast of the night.

For the next two years, Erik traveled to Spain, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Poland, Romania, and various European countries. Eventually, he found himself back in Italy and later in Rome. It didn't take long for him to learn of his old mentor's death and it deeply saddened him to hear the terrible news.

A part of him wondered if Luciana had something to do with it.

Just the mere thought of her name sent the demon in him with such rage. She was the reason why he craved so much blood. Instead of gratitude and loyalty that a Childe might have for its Maker, Erik only felt hatred and murderous anger. If he crossed paths with Luciana, he wouldn't hesitate in killing her and this time… she would stay dead.

Perhaps that's why he was traveling for so long and far.

He wanted to find his Creator and destroy her for taking away all that was precious to him and enslaving him to the night and human blood. The idea thrilled the demon and it longed for such a satisfying confrontation that it would undoubtedly unleash.

However, Luciana was not in Rome. Nor was she anywhere else for that mattered.

It would appear that she disappeared from the face of the earth… but it would be later… much later that Luciana and Erik would meet. The circumstances would be somewhat ironic and the end…

Well, that is another story for a later time.

For now, Erik knew in his gut that Luciana was alive—existed—and when he finds her… he will make her pay for the Hell she put him through.

xxXXxx

While it was natural and fitting for Erik to end up in Rome, it was now quite fitting that he traced his steps back to Persia.

He was growing weary and his patience was running dry from the failing attempt in locating Luciana. So when he could not enact his revenge on her…

He knew of another he wanted to seek out with a surprise visit.

The palace hadn't changed much since the last time he was there, back when he was in favor of the Shah and after the khanum wanted his head on a silver platter.

The only difference was him… he had changed dramatically and in a twisted way, he had to thank Luciana for his new enhanced abilities. Not that he would want to admit that aloud or to her.

Sneaking into the palace was too easy and Erik was able to find his way to the khanum's chambers without detecting attention.

All he had to do was follow the trail of power, arrogance, and death.

It was the first time Erik actually was inside her rooms; previously their meetings were conducted in the throne room, the torture chamber, and the dining room. Of course, he was not at all surprised to find her rooms to be just as luxurious as her expensive taste and everything was exquisite and seductive.

Cool, silk sheets of red and cream danced across the bed, floating curtains, soft rugs, and tasseled pillows revealed a sensual and comfortable environment. Even the air was spiced with perfume and other aromas with its sultry and luring call. But beneath that entire exterior laid a darkness so revolting and hideous that the next bit of decoration would be a stark contrast to the rest of the room.

The khanum did not hide her thirst for blood or her love of torture not with the plethora of weapons at her disposal on displayed: whips, daggers, axes, lassoes, sabres, spikes, shackles, and other torturous devices. She did have a gun but she rarely used it since the bullet was quicker to kill the intended instead of drawing out their suffering.

Erik had it on good authority that she enjoyed a good bout of torture before retiring. So he stepped out onto the balcony, keeping himself hidden in the shadows and away from the moon's glare. There he waited for her to keep her nightly appointment.

He did not have to wait long.

From his hiding spot, he observed a guard bringing in the new victim—a young girl no more than fourteen—inside. She was already sniffling and quietly weeping for she knew what her fate was going to be. She didn't even try to beg for help from the guard.

Erik admired that and he thought about killing the guard and freeing the girl. Depraving the khanum of her fun would be tempting, but he knew from past experiences that the girl would suffer tenfold if she survived and he would be doing her a great kindness if he did not interfere.

The guard had her wrists tied and her arms lifted in the air by the rope. He tied off the end to a tiny pole so the rope was tight and kept her suspended. He finished by shackling her feet so she could not kick out just as the khanum entered.

The years had been kind to her, although she was older; the "little sultana" still maintained her beauty. Erik could not stop himself from gazing at her figure and noticing how soft her brown skin looked from the flickering fire. However, there were tiny flaws that were exposed and ones she could not hide. She had wrinkles around her eyes, cheeks, and mouth to indicate her age and her long, black hair was stiff and smelled of dye to keep the gray from showing. But there was no mistaken her brown eyes so cold and malignant and darkening with the heightened anticipation of pleasure that would take place soon.

She circled her prey slowly, inspecting her closely and nodded her approval.

Waving the guard away so he could take his post, the khanum reached out and ripped away the rags that kept the girl clothed. Instantly, she was naked and the chill in the air had its immediate effect as she trembled and bumps appeared on her flesh. Seeing her quiver aroused the older woman and her tongue darted out to wet her lips at the sight of her smooth and untouched skin.

Not a single blemish or mark was to be found.

Oh yes… she was the ideal candidate and for that… she would suffer greatly.

The khanum ran her hands all over the girl's body, feeling and caressing the flesh, her façade locked in deep concentration as she envisioned what she should do. The intrusive violation caused the girl to continue her sobbing, but she bit down hard on her lip to keep from making a sound… so hard that Erik could smell the tiny bit of blood.

Then the khanum left the girl and walked over to her wall of horrors and reached for a whip.

This was not an ordinary whip either… at the end were three tails and each had a triangular head.

An invention of the khanum's no doubt.

When she turned with her weapon of choice, the young girl could no longer keep her silent vigil and started to wail and moan as she pulled on her restraints.

The pleased look began to wipe away as the khanum's brow narrowed. She backhanded the girl across the cheek.

"Silence!" the khanum ordered, the command coming out like a hiss. When only a quiet whimper emerged, the khanum smiled and nodded that this was suitable. "Good…" she cooed. "That's much better."

She began to circle her again, and all the while, she bided her time so to make the suspense unbearable for the poor thing as she tightened her body to prepare for the blow that was soon to come.

"Look at you my Desert Rose," she said in that condescending tone. "So young… so perfect. I have never seen someone at your age with such flawless beauty. I can only imagine that you drive those poor men out of their wits with that innocent visage. But then again… perhaps you are not as innocent as you like them to believe. Perhaps you are no better than the whores in my son's harem."

Without warning, the whip was brought down on her chest, slicing her right breast opened. The khanum raised it again and hit her stomach and hips, the sharp heads dragging over as much flesh as it could touch.

Blood filled the air and the demon growled with need.

Despite the khanum's insinuation, the girl's blood was pure. Virginal pure.

The whip whirled around and slashed at her backside this time. The girl screamed loud and long, gasping for air once the whip was lifted from her skin only for it to come back down again. After a few more hits, the khanum ceased the whippings and went back for a new choice.

The girl was bleeding all over and her back was stripped a quarter of her skin off. She didn't bother to muffle her cries as she screamed and wept at the same time.

This time… clamps were provided to keep the girl's mouth wide opened.

"Stick out your tongue," the khanum demanded. "Come on. I want to see that pretty little tongue of yours."

When the girl didn't obey, the khanum pulled on the clamps so it stretched out her mouth even more, slicing the skin.

At last, the girl did what she was told and the khanum seized it with a tiny pair of pliers and pulled a small dagger from her pocket.

"Since you cannot keep quiet… I will do it for you."

The knife was slow and cruel, taking its time as it went into her tongue. When the task was completed, the girl's soul decided to depart when the shock came too much for her to handle.

This was unexpected and the khanum could only stare at the lifeless form now before releasing a scream of outrage. The guard was called in and the khanum was not to be pacified as she accused him for picking a weakling for her activity. She still had more planned for the girl and now that her death was too soon… the guard would have to take her place.

He did not betray a single emotion when the khanum said he was going to have to stand in the girl's place. It was a punishment that he saw coming when he heard the sultana scream.

Another guard was brought in and he was responsible for getting rid of the girl's corpse and for securing his fellow friend into the shackles and rope. When the guard was ready, the khanum took her time and was delighted that he lasted an hour before he died.

With the bloodlust fulfilled for now, she was ready to retire.

Shedding her bloody robes for clean, white ones, the khanum laid down and fell asleep.

Seeing his opportune moment, Erik crept towards the bed. Years ago he had lusted for his mistress, willing to please her, but the admiration turned into contempt and he wanted her to know the real meaning of desperation and the urge to plead for death. As his shadow loomed over her, Erik clasped a hand over her mouth, promptly waking her up.

The demon was already in place and he looked into her eyes and murmured in his silky voice, "You will follow me and you will not speak. Not a sound should I hear from those disgusting lips."

Nothing could compare with the thrill he felt when she obeyed his every command. As he walked out into the hall, she was at his heels in her silent submission.

Whenever a guard came near them, Erik broke his neck and left the body where it fell. There was no time to hide and he would be gone before the alarm would ring.

Erik took her to his torture chamber, his former pride and joy.

Turning to the khanum, Erik spoke:

"I thought about repaying you the same way you did to me and to your subjects. Flesh for flesh, blood for blood. But then I thought—you would probably enjoy it. Where's the lesson in that? But this…" he motioned to the chamber. "Your dream, your vision… This would be much more fitting. Quite poetic don't you agree?"

Staring deeply into her eyes once more, Erik gave his final command.

"Go into the chamber. Once you're in and the door is secured you will be free to speak; however, you cannot escape the chamber. If someone tries to save you—you will not leave that room. You will remain there until I say you can leave."

Like the mindless puppet, she did what she was told and once the door was barred… Erik turned the chamber on and immediately her screams for help began.

By the time her screams were finally heard, the guards rushed in to find their mistress trapped in the torture chamber.

Erik was gone.

From within, she shouted about a demon from Hell and how he put her in here and she had to escape because it was getting hot… too hot…

The loyal guards found the trapped door that would allow her to exit, but their attempts were futile. The khanum could not leave the room. It was as if an invisible barrier was in place to keep her from passing through.

So they had no choice but to watch and wait as the khanum burned alive—a new addition that was created in case the victim survived the heat and noose.

When the room was free to enter, the puzzling story that spread was how, even in death, the khanum's body refused to leave the chamber.

Next: The Beginning of the End—Christine was shot… what happened after?