Freedom Lost – Chapter 2 Captivity
Kosta dreamt of breasts of every size. His exploits with his fellow vampire guards were never far away from his subconscious. The vampire guards frequently abused the female slaves before feeding on them, and one of their favourite activities was stripping the human women naked and toying with their bodies. Sometimes the vampires fed; sometimes they mutilated their victims, by slicing off their breasts, leaving the women to die. Viktor knew what went on in the castle dungeons, and didn't care much; so long as productivity wasn't affected.
Serena and the others were given a reprieve, at least for that day. The new slaves were left to ponder their uncertain future. Serena noticed Kosta observing her momentarily before locking the door and moving away. The girl couldn't breathe all of a sudden, the memory of that cruel looking vampire who carried a whip and sword knocking the breath from her, but something else stirred in her as well – a strange kind of attraction to him. For hours, Serena and her fellow slaves were left to their own devices and they listened to the snarls of the lycan slaves in the dungeons nearby.
At dusk, the slaves were let out of their cells and taken through the catacombs and passageways of the castle. Serena walked, making an effort to keep pace, if only to avoid the guards whips, despite her disorientated state. Her thoughts were irrational: Where was Kosta? She longed to be in his embrace! An internal voice screamed within her brain You want to be loved by a vampire? He would sooner feed on you than love you! Serena knew that voice was the rational voice and that seemed to clear her head. The slaves reached their destination – a great hall full of dark, gothic statues, gigantic stone pillars and furnishings. Serena tried to make herself inconspicuous by shrinking into the crowd of captives around her. She cautiously manoeuvred herself so that she was half concealed by a largish woman directly in front of her.
Fearful cries rang out as the group in the middle of the hall realised they were surrounded by a large number of vampires. Not only were they contending with the rank and file of guards and overseers, but the aristocratic council members as well. Serena turned quickly to observe her frightening surroundings, catching sight of a tall, thin vampiress leaning casually, but exuding an air of subtle menace, against one of the pillars. Glancing beyond the blonde vampiress, she spied Kosta and the dreaded Soren moving toward the wretched human crowd like wraiths. The cries became louder and someone screamed as people were seized, pulled out of the crowd.
"Oh no! Please no!", Serena cried out herself, her voice one among many. She spun around dizzily, coming to the horrid realisation that her cover, the largish woman disappeared and was being fed on by the blonde. Her body twitching, blood gushing from a neck wound to which sharp fangs were still attached. Serena lurched toward a vacant pillar behind her and supported herself, tearfully witnessing the destruction of the weaker slaves. She was not known as a crier, unlike some women in her village, who sobbed and wailed at the drop of a hat. Even in the face of terror, she remained stoic, weeping in private for the lost. The stoicism, of which she was proud, deserted her at this moment and the tears streamed down her porcelain face like a river. Then her eyes met those of Viktor.
The Vampire Elder sat on his throne, a gourd of blood held aloft in his right hand. Bright blue eyes seared through her very being and the vampire smirked. Fortunately for Serena, Kosta caught sight of the two and realising what was about to happen roughly shoved Serena aside and approached the throne.
"My Lord", the overseer bowed deferentially "I would ask that the girl be spared"
"Why? What does the girl mean to you?", Viktor asked raising from his throne and approaching the overseer. Serena watched the conversation from her position fearfully.
"I will assign her to an appropriate work detail, as well as the other fit ones", Kosta gestured, half turning to indicate the surviving captives amid the carnage and chaos. Now it was Kosta's turned to smirk "besides, I'm quite warming to the idea of keeping a pet"
"Very well", conceded Viktor, disappointed of the loss of a potential meal distorting his features, noting Kosta's orbs glowing and then dying out. The elder pointed to a young male in the grip of several vampire guards in the distance "YOU! Here!" The phalanx of guards dragged the male captive toward the fanged Viktor and the male screamed as Viktor fed.
At the same time, Kosta had turned to where Serena sat on the floor. Not even one second later, he reached out and pulled her roughly to her feet. Slamming Serena against a massive stone black pillar, Kosta held her securely with one hand against her chest. Coming in closer, so that his face was inches from hers, he pushed his body against hers, almost suffocating. Kosta's face (and fangs) were inches from Serena's neck and he understood why Lord Viktor would have enjoyed feeding on her virgin's blood. However, Kosta didn't want her for food – he desired something else.
"Don't you have something you wish to say to me?", he snarled, fangs beared and eyes glowing.
"You, you my life", Serena's eyes were wide and gazed, hypnotised into her rescuers vivid blue transformed eyes "If there's any way in which I can repay you"
Kosta grinned then. At the same time, his hand roamed up and down her body. The hand came around to her breast and he squeezed it. "Oh yes, you can and will repay me!" Suddenly, he withdrew from her, regarding her momentarily before delivering a shattering backhander. Stunned, Serena was knocked sideways away from the pillar and found herself on the floor again. This time, she allowed the tears to fall and she sat hurt and bewildered. Glancing surreptitiously at the overseer , through eyes burred with tears, Serena saw him gesture toward two other helmeted guards.
"Take her to the cells!", she heard him order. Minutes later she found herself frogmarched and shoved unceremoniously into her cell.
