Chapter Thirty Four:
The Shepherd is Deceived
The visions she experienced were nothing like the ones she experienced from Gracen.
Darius had been treated like an animal by the hands of Silas, his own father.
She felt pity for him and prayed he would be merciful in his dealing with her.
The word "mercy" almost brought bile seeping up from the pit of her stomach, expecting such a thing from someone who had never been given it in his life.
Darius had led a cruel existence.
He'd done despicable things but he'd also done some of those things in order to survive.
The hardest vision had been Gracen's death.
She saw the demon cut open Gracen with one swipe and felt Darius' anger.
He had not wanted to kill Gracen, knowing it would hurt Heather but the demon had gotten carried away.
He knew Gracen could not recover from such a wound.
It was a slow, painful death.
She felt Darius' remorse.
Still, he could have helped Vivian.
Darius did not seem to be affected by any of the visions but rather put off by the entire ordeal, particularly since he was having some side effects of having drank her blood in one gulp.
She was exhausted from the visions.
Her body ached all over and it worried her.
Darius sat in the chair, saying very little in the past hour.
She sat up, not wanting to make eye contact with him.
"We will need your knife," she said softly.
It got a rise out of him.
"Like I am going to hand you a knife," he replied as he leaned forward. "It would have been much easier if you had just let me…"
She extended her hand.
"You will need to slice my palm…and then…yours. They have to be bound…tied together while we…"
She teetered on the edge, feeling rather lightheaded.
"Relax," he grumbled. "I won't get any pleasure out of it if you pass out. I'll get us something to eat."
He picked up the phone on the bedside table. "Any preference?"
She shook her head.
"Raw oysters," he announced.
"Not…that," she glared.
"Bloody steak," he said licking his lips.
"Soup…sandwich," she countered.
He frowned. "You need some meat on your bones. I like my women with…." He didn't finish when she glared at him in defiance despite feeling wiped out.
He chuckled as he placed the order with his cook and then gently shoved her onto her back.
"Might as well rest."
She did as she was told but rose immediately when she felt him lie down on the bed.
"Relax. If I wanted to jump your bones I could have already done that without all of this ritual shit. Besides, I'm just as tired as you."
Several minutes passed in silence and then she did the unthinkable.
She had no idea why she began the conversation.
"Why didn't you try to help Vivian?
"She wanted to punish Gracen for not choosing her. Her plan was for me to take her while Gracen watched. I refused so she offered herself to that shit for brains demon."
"Wait, you told Gracen you took Vivian in his bed," she accused.
"Sorry but I had other plans...with the red head in the video."
Sara glanced at him. "You refused because Vivian had been promised to Gracen."
"Whatever," he said not liking how she was able to read his thoughts and feelings.
"She had that demon so hyped; he could smell her virginity. He practically drooled around her. She had no idea what she was dealing with. A demon can take so much and then...well, you saw. He'd sliced and diced Gracen before I could react. Whatever he did to Vivian she deserved. She asked to be taken...she didn't set out any rules...like you."
Sara jumped when there was a tap on the door.
"Enter," he announced.
A cart was rolled inside and a man stood, waiting for further instructions.
"You can leave," Darius yawned.
Sara opened her eyes as several minutes passed.
"Don't expect me to serve you," he huffed.
She took the soup and sandwich to the chair and sat down.
"You could serve me," he said as he eyed her.
"You don't expect me to serve you," she retorted.
"I am going to enjoy…you later."
He fetched a bowl of soup and bit into the sandwich.
She finished the soup but left part of the sandwich.
"You better eat all of it. You're going to need your strength," he smiled.
She remembered the marathon of sex for the first several days and she gulped.
She wasn't sure how she would feel when she suddenly felt the urge for Darius.
The thought was too much to bear but she could not turn back now.
She didn't have a choice if she was going to follow her plan.
"Come here," he ordered.
She stood on wobbly legs and made her way to his side of the bed.
"You can follow orders," he said in a low growl, "That's good."
She didn't flinch when he sliced the palm of her hand.
He quickly sliced his and then bound their hands together.
Both clutched at one another as they tried to adjust to the new wave of sensations.
She felt her body being lifted and then pressed into the bed.
"You're mine now, Sara."
There was little to console Grissom as he flew into a tirade after her departure.
He sat at the kitchen table with a bottle and a glass.
Francis sat across from him.
"We should have done something," stated Grissom as he emptied his glass.
"She threatened to call the police on me if I tried to stop her," replied Francis. "Gil, she made up her mind."
"She did it to protect us," he choked, the thought much easier to bear than the reason she had given just as he felt his heart ripped from his chest.
"Perhaps," Francis said softly, hoping to ease the man's pain.
Sara's actions did not make any sense especially since she had admitted to believing their was a God as well as a savior.
For her to turn away, would mean utter destruction for her soul
"You…you expect the worse from her because of Heather…Elena!" cried Grissom.
Francis felt Grissom's pain of losing his mate. He still ached for Elena.
"I am more fallen than them," Francis wept. "I was cruel…showed no mercy."
"Heather loved you," stated Grissom.
"I didn't deserve it. Everything she said about me was true. I wouldn't accept…couldn't accept the fact that she might still be alive…after being with someone else."
Grissom felt the man's remorse.
"I felt the same betrayal as you did when Sara was attacked by Darius. When she no longer felt the urge, I thought she had been with someone so that she could break our bond."
His eyes shot up to Francis. "Did she do this to free me?"
"I don't know."
"She always felt that I had been pressured into joining with her. Francis, her actions today don't make sense. She's wanted me as much as I've wanted her. She must have done this because Darius threatened her somehow...and she saw a way to protect us while releasing me."
Grissom stood suddenly. "I've got to find her."
"Grissom, it's been hours. Have you felt…the need for her?"
Grissom shook his head as his shoulders shook. "I'm not sure Sara felt it...not like me since the miscarriage. I fear our bond is already broken."
"Give me your hand," stated Francis.
Francis grabbed his palm and turned it over.
"What is that?" gasped Grissom.
"I've never seen anything like this," stated Francis.
"The scar has changed. It's …an 'X', "whispered Grissom.
Francis covered his mouth and spoke softly. "A cross." Perhaps it is a holy sign that we can take her back...if we hurry.
Darius nuzzled Sara's neck as his hand attempted to remove her blouse.
Her hand clenched his and he felt a bolt of electricity rip through them.
She cried out in pain and it startled him.
"What's wrong?"
She sobbed uncontrollably as she held onto him.
"Calm down, Sara."
Out of nowhere a feeling hit him full force and he gasped.
He rolled to the side, but managed to pull her toward him with his free hand.
Her head lay on his shoulder as her body pressed against his.
"Just lie here for a moment," he managed to get out.
He'd never felt such emotions.
It was a feeling of loss followed by sheer fear.
He felt his free hand stroking her hair.
"Hush now," he said gruffly.
He'd never comforted anyone in his life.
He didn't even know if it helped since he'd never been comforted.
Her sobs slowed as he lay there waiting for her to get control of her emotions.
Once she was quiet, he rolled over to face her.
"It's time, Sara."
She breathed in deeply as she felt his body on top of hers.
His hand slipped underneath her blouse and she froze.
His hand was not like Grissom's.
It was cold as it fumbled with the buttons on her blouse.
He growled as he tore off his shirt and then yanked off his pants.
He was quite masculine in stature.
He yanked on her pants and they slid off.
She lay there in her undergarments with the blouse fully unbuttoned.
With the first touch, he could feel her fear.
He'd never been with a woman with as little experience as Sara.
Already he saw the slight trembling of her body as she anticipated what was to come.
He started to return to the bed but halted for a moment as he morphed into Grissom.
Sara scrambled to a sitting position.
"No!" she cried. "Don't…look like him."
"It figures," he griped as he morphed into Gracen.
"No…you," she insisted.
"I'm privileged," he said snidely as he returned to the bed.
Darius pulled off the blouse and then undid the clasp on her bra.
She shivered when he yanked off her panties.
"Your skin is flawless," he grinned. "Well, almost," he added as he saw the scars from the bite marks.
He yanked off his briefs as he positioned himself.
Her eyes bore a hole through him as he stared at her.
"What?"
"Do you desire me?" she whispered.
"Hell yes. I been waiting all night for this!" he griped.
She was surprised she did not feel any urge for him. She wasn't certain about Darius.
He started to yank her legs apart but forced himself to go slow by nudging her legs to separate and give him full access.
Normally he would have just tossed the woman over onto her stomach and entered her without thought to her comfort.
He learned it was better not to look them in the eye as he pleasured himself with the countless women that passed through the mansion.
For some reason, he did not want to brutalize her but rather enter slowly, hoping when he looked into her eyes, he did not see the same haunted look he had seen in his mother's eyes.
She did not pull away as he positioned himself.
Something unusual happen that baffled him.
He frowned when he did not get a full erection.
This had never happened to him.
Nothing seemed to help and he gawked at his limp situation.
"Shit!" he murmured. "Be back."
He tried to get out of bed but found he couldn't without bringing Sara with him.
He opened the door and whispered something to one of the guards.
There was a brief knock and a box was handed to him.
He smiled as he opened the box and took out a DVD tape.
He flipped on the television set and then put in the tape.
She frowned as he guided her back to the bed.
She pulled up the sheets to cover her nakedness.
"No need for that," he grinned as he jumped into the bed and then hit the remote switch.
He smiled as he turned to face her.
She glared at him as he watched the video of himself and another woman.
"This does not break our agreement," he announced.
She frowned in disgust.
"It was made…some time ago….last week I think. What? I need some inspiration," he muttered.
Darius leaned on his elbows as he watched the video.
Moans erupted as Darius turned it up. "We could try that position," he offered.
Sara looked away in disgust.
Darius glanced down and frowned when it did not seem to do the trick.
"Turn it off," Sara whispered.
His phone rang and he paused the video.
"Who wants to die?" he announced.
"Sir, they're here…and well, you said we couldn't harm or kill them."
"Great! It figures. Wait five minutes and then let them into the room."
"But…"
"I can kill you so you better do as I say," he yelled.
"Where were we?" He flipped on the video and turned it up.
The guard chuckled when he heard the noise inside.
"Darius….please," Sara whispered.
His free hand traced the scar on her shoulder. "My, I did take a bite out of you."
She tensed at the memory.
"I said I won't hurt you," he snapped.
His lips came down hard on hers and she struggled not to fight while blocking out the noise from the video.
Darius glanced down and cursed inwardly when he was still soft not to mention there was now a burning sensation in the pit of his stomach.
He watched the video remembering how he banged into the blonde causing her to scream out.
He chuckled. "She was such a screamer."
Grissom and Francis stood at the bottom of the stairs.
"I can hold them off," offered Francis.
Grissom started to charge up the stairs when the guard motioned that they could go up.
They raced up the stairs and headed toward the guarded bedroom at the end of the hallway.
Grissom slowed when he heard the sounds coming from the bedroom.
"Harder Darius!" a female voice screamed.
"You like it rough, don't you?"
Darius heard the turning of the doorknob and he quickly switched off the video.
He purposely grabbed Sara's leg and wrapped it around his waist.
The guard opened the door and allowed them entry.
Sara gasped when she saw Grissom and Francis standing there.
"Do you mind? We were busy!" smiled Darius.
Grissom took a step back as he glared at Sara.
Darius intentionally tossed back the sheet to reveal Sara's nude body intimately tucked underneath his.
"If you want to stay, I have to warn you. I make her scream...she likes it hard and fast...but then Grissom you should know that...I think," grinned Darius.
He leaned in as if to kiss her but whispered. "You better make this convincing if you want them to leave here alive...or unharmed. I want a moan out of you...and some begging."
Sara did not even recognize her own voice as she moaned begging for Darius to continue.
"Sara?" Grissom whispered.
"Get out!" she screamed. "Darius, I'm on the edge again...get rid of them."
Darius motioned for the guard but Grissom whirled around and was gone in a flash.
Francis remained. "Gracen was wrong about you," yelled Francis. "You are a slut."
Sara swallowed.
"This is the last time I let you enter my home. Next time…"
"Darius," Sara pleaded softly.
Francis turned and left as Sara slumped back onto the bed.
Darius growled as his condition remained the same.
I'm just tired from all of this bonding crap…
Tomorrow…
Tomorrow I can do the deed…
Her eyes seemed enormous as they stared at him.
"I didn't know you were an actress," he crooned.
"They came here on their own accord. I couldn't let them go…without getting a little peep show," he chuckled but then stopped when he saw how desolate she looked.
"They were not harmed or killed," he stated matter of fact.
She felt as if she was having a panic attack as she realized Grissom was leaving, thinking the worst of her.
She stifled a sob as she imagined what was going through Grissom's head.
Her skin was like ice as his hand glided down her side.
He yanked up the covers and then flipped over to his back, forcing her to lie beside him with her head on his shoulder.
He'd never been this gentle with a woman and he wondered why he was allowing…no, why he needed to feel close to her.
He swallowed, feeling her pain at the loss of Grissom.
She waited for him to make another attempt but he merely closed his eyes.
"You keep your word," he said quietly.
"Do you?" she bit out, trying desperately not to let him see how devastated she felt.
"I guess you'll just have to wait and see," he replied as he let himself sleep.
She swiped at a tear that ran down her cheek.
Grissom may hate me but he's alive…
Note from author:
That was a rather painful chapter...but follow along... Remember to pay attention to titles of chapters and such for clues. Some of you picked up on the clue Sara left behind...some of you noticed even the words spoken to Sara by the voice...big clue there.