Love and Hate

By The Bunnies Will Kill Us All

A/N: Due to request another masterful chapter has been delivered. Thank you so much to the reviewers. Specially those who used flattery.  This is AU/Pre-Stargazer and obviously with no Erich death.

Chapter Two: Abduction

Raquel unpacked her worn-out suitcase. Before Evernight Academy her life had been an adventure. Full of travel and new experiences all the time. She never felt like a misfit, or afraid. But her family had settled down so she could attend a high-end academy. She didn't travel anymore. The only memories of her travels were the various tears and nicks criss-crossing over her luggage bag. She sighed, carefully stowing the bag in her closet.

Her room was small, a reflection of her family's situation, and yet another sharp contrast to separate Raquel from the beautiful and undeniably evil people at the horrid school she had so recently escaped. All the furniture in it was either damaged or second hand, if not both. But the room was warm and cosy, and full of the scent of lavender, which wafted up from the garden under her window. She collapsed onto her bed, fondling the comforting familiarity of worn flannel sheets, and then hugging her pillow tight. Her eyes fluttered closed as she breathed deep. Home.

Raquel pondered how to escape the eventuality of returning to Evernight, and to Erich.

"I might even visit..."

His words echoed ominously, making her room seem that much smaller. Raquel knew she should not let her memories ruin the relative comfort of her sanctuary. He didn't know where she lived anyway.

Oh, you know he can find out. So very easily. A taunting voice at the back of Raquel's mind hissed. She stiffened, knowing this sinister part of her conscience spoke the truth. He could find her. In a heartbeat. He would just know, without thinking, without even looking. He would find his way here with hands tied behind his back and blindfolded.

And you want him to. A part of you can't wait till he comes and claims you.

No, Raquel thought furiously, springing to her feet. She didn't want him. She wanted to escape him.

"Raquel, honey! Dinner!" her mother called merrily from the kitchen. She had been so happy to see her daughter again after so long. She'd fussed and preened and promised all wonderful sorts of food. Raquel wasn't so hungry anymore.

"You see, Raquel-love, you belong to me."

She didn't want him. No. Not even a little. Not even subconsciously.

"You're property. My property."

She would never be his property. She was her own person. He was a creep. And a creep that she would hate until her last breath. She wouldn't let him control her like this, not when he was so very far away.

"M'coming, mum!"

Just act normal, she rationalised, act normal and eventually she wouldn't have to act anymore.

ΩΩΩΩΩ

Although completely vampiric and evil, Erich was not above guilt.

He was also not above feeling rage and frustration at discovering this perceived shortcoming.

He'd loved confronting Raquel like that. He'd adored the total control, the look of lust in her eyes as he forced to the surface feelings she didn't want to admit she had. The simple pleasure of taking what wasn't his, the taste of her blood on his tongue. But then a part of him would say 'was it really necessary to scare her so much?' and his sadistic joy would come to an abrupt halt. He'd become moody and pensive, dwelling on their encounter for hours, though not looking back on the events in the victorious light he had hoped for. He only felt frustration. With her and with himself both.

But of course, it was her fault. He was only angry at himself for letting her obvious plot to torment him get under his skin. She was the architect of this mess. She would pay. She would writhe in pain if that is what he chose.

He veered his car to a sharp left. Tyres screeched as he bulleted down a well worn road, burning tar as he went.

She would not go unpunished for this.

ΩΩΩΩΩ

"Raquel," there was no hint of playful sadism in Erich's voice today. Only a dark, blunt kind of anger.

Raquel screwed her eyes shut. She'd known her happy little sanctuary would not shield her long. He was going to hurt her, right here in her own back garden, and there was nothing she could do to stop him.

"You keep away from me," Raquel said in a voice that was braver than she was, "my mother is inside. She'll hear me."

"Your mother went out," Erich said coldly, his gaze not wavering, "I was waiting for it. Your other family members are also absent. I've been waiting three days for this opportunity. Crouching under a bush like an animal. I could have just snatched you away. I came close several times, it's no more than you deserve."

"Go to hell!" Raquel snarled, darting back, looking for the hope of an escape. But the yard was vast and open, with nothing to offer sanction or protection from such a beastly shadow of man.

"You've gotten brave, I see," Erich had her pinned to the ground in an instant, his forearm against her windpipe, a silent threat.

"I don't like it," he continued, "I don't like a lot of the things you think you can do with me, Raquel. You think you can invade my mind without consequence?"

"I didn't-"

"You think you can interrupt me!?" he exploded. Every muscle in his body tensed, his teeth were bared to her, and Raquel shrunk back, a pitiful noise escaping in her terror. She racked her fingernails across his forearms frantically. He didn't even seem to feel her attempts to escape him, even though angry red lines began to appear across his skin. Raquel felt real horror, anyone else would be bleeding at her full efforts, he merely looked like he'd suffered a mild scratch.

"Oh, did I scare you, love?" Erich snarled, "good, you deserve to be scared. To crawl on all fours and beg!"

"I'm sorry!" Raquel cried in a moment of pure terror.

"That's more like it," Erich grinned horribly, he pressed his thumb hard against her pulse, "next time make it believable... but enough of that for now. We're going on a trip, just you and me."

ΩΩΩΩΩ

How had it come to this? Raquel wondered pensively, sitting rigidly in the passenger seat of Erich's car. He'd forced her inside his somewhat outdated but doubtlessly expensive car and locked the doors. She hadn't struggled, it all seemed futile now.

"Aw…" Erich mocked, eyes deviating from the road as he caressed her cheek with his icy fingers, "don't be sad, my love. I at least did not kill your family. You should be relatively pleased."

"Where are you taking me?" Raquel asked coldly, numbly. She was at a point past fear.

"Somewhere secret," Erich grinned, "where we can be alone. I'm not going back to Evernight, and neither are you. Never."

Raquel trembled. Never. She was going to die in this place that she approached, then.

"You're going to kill me."

He shrugged.

"Maybe. Dunno. Haven't really decided."

"What's the alternative?" she asked fearfully, "being like you? Becoming a monster? Kill me now, vampire boy. Kill. Me. Now."

Erich laughed.

"You were so scared before," he grinned, "what on earth happened to you, my lovely? You're quite unstable, back and forth between utter terror and misplaced bravery. You shall most definitely make a wonderful toy."

"I'm serious."

"You're always serious," Erich said almost teasingly, "lighten up, baby."

She stared in disbelief. What was he doing? Why so cryptically sweet all of a sudden?

Nothing good would come of this.

ΩΩΩΩΩ

His grip was unbreakable. He held her face in between his hands with possessive certainty, acting as if he knew that she belonged to him. His lips claimed hers, bringing the shameful feelings back to her. She didn't like this, but she could not deny that small part of her that wanted – no craved – Erich. It made her sick; it made her so desperately sad.

But she could not help falling into his embrace. Giving up. She was just so tired. Tired of running, of fighting. She just let it happen. It was easier.

He'd taken her to a cave, deep in the woods. It was dry, and there was some small furnishing to be found inside. She didn't have any idea where she was, and didn't know where he'd stashed the car keys. She knew on a subconscious level that she was far, far away from anyone and anything. If she ran, she ran to nothing. It was flawlessly planned on his part. He'd be able to track her even if she did escape.

His urgent kisses moved down her neck and across her collarbone. She'd never seen him like this before. Like a lover. It made him seem vulnerable, more human.

But he isn't human. Never forget that.

She shivered, remembering the proximity of her veins to his fangs. This isn't safe.

As if he had heard her thoughts, he drew out the sharp gold pendant he had used last time, and shoved her backwards roughly.

The jolt of hitting the floor was enough to alert her to the increasing danger she faced. He loomed over her, pendant glinting in dim light. He could see in perfect detail, but she couldn't. He pinned her hands above her head and continued to bite and kiss her collarbone.

Then he pressed the medallion against her skin once more, and brought his lips to the wound.

And she didn't fight.