Chapter 8

The French vampire named Etienne had in total bitten me seven times. Though I almost came to the point of exsanguination, the shadow stopped him and they left. Days past until they came again, this time for real torture as it seemed my blood didn't have a song.

This had surprised me, but no amount of torture made me let go of memories. Even as I was tortured, my mind went back to those light, happy days of my life as a young human, untouched by the cruel world beyond. I had been nieve to believe I knew all. The man had been handsome, his sweet words like a sound, and his voice one of a wild world.

'Could I kiss you, Ms...'

I jerk away from the memory as the sound of the door opened. How long had I been here, days? Weeks? The cool air was a restbit to my poor body. Hunger was the only thing that dominated my mind as I lifted my eyes towards the door. Light was flooding in, but I could only make out a hazy figure after what happened to me days ago. I blink but my vision will not clear as I hear the voice that had been in my memory moments ago, 'To think I would meet your here again, my duchess.'

In an instant I feel the chains around my wrist disappear and myself floating slowly downward into a warm, strong embrace as I gain my legs once again. I could barely lift my head and croak out, 'Blood.'

I feel something press against my lips and know it's a wrist, from the strong gong like sound of a heartbeat in my ear. Without hesitation, I bite down hard, and drink deep. In that one mouthful it felt like burning lava going down my throat, pure energy sings into my veins, and I pull away instantly. That wasn't any vampiric blood, no simple phantom. It was a Pureblood, as my eyes pop open with full clarity to see, the Dracul Pureblood looking down at me. My hunger instantly extinguished for the first time in several years. He lifts his torn wrist to his lips and licks the blood away, the wound gone before I can apologize. I could now feel the power radiating from him as I sputter, 'S-Sir, I'm so so sorry. I... I...'

But instead he lifts me up into his arms and says simply, 'It was invited.'

Turning from the nighmarish room that had been my world for who knows how long, I look up at him, and ask, 'H-How did you find me?'

'You were not my target, but a happy accident, my duchess.'

'Nina,' I say looking at the rooms we go through as we pass my eyes wide. Blood splatter was everywhere, as were remaining body parts of both human and vampire origin.

He nods, sees my shock, and says, 'They tried to fight me, but were unsuccessful.'

My wide blue gray eyes slowly turn back to him. He said this as if he were simply taking out the trash, not killing innocent life... Though when I saw Etienne's head on the ground I didn't mind as much.

'You... You can put me down.'

'I think not, ' he states firmly as he walks out into the cool night air towards a waiting limo and two SUVs where seven vampire wait in a line as if backup to the Dracul Pureblood. He slides me into the seat of the limo, closed it behind me, and I watch as he Converses with the other vampires. They dart inside and then the Dracul Pureblood comes around the limo and gets in on the opposite side. I push myself against the door, feeling every hair raising in fear.

This was the way of the Pureblood, they had little control over their power, or if they did they couldn't control the effect it had on lower ranking vampire. Looking out at the open warehouse door I had come from. I look back at him. He was on his smartphone, looking like a CEO. The silence was shattering me until he says, without even looking up from the glowing screen, 'Go ahead and ask your questions.'

'Why were you here?'

He glances up at me and asks coldly, 'You are clanless correct?'

'Yes.'

'Then it doesn't concern you.'

I wasn't exactly shocked by his words, as clanless were always considered lesser. They have little power and are considered the fringe of the vampire society. But I didn't think of myself as that, I wasn't addicted to any drugs of the vampiric race, wasn't a homeless one, and didn't scavenge. Looking at him with all the nerve I could, I say firmly, 'I was kidnapped and tortured for weeks for an ability I have. So I feel like I do have a little right to know what is going on.'

Slowly he looks up at me, as if surprised by my tenacity, his wolfish blue eyes seeming to analyze me. He crosses his legs and tilts his head as he says, 'That is true, it is strange they would be interested in you. What ability is it you have that they can't live without?'

This is where I simply stare back at him, I couldn't tell him. How many vampire would give for what I have? I smell the first waft of his pheremones, they were sharp and terrifying and I start shivering like a human. He says with a small edge in his voice, 'Do not make me ask again.'

I continue to shake, sweat pouring from my skin. These pheremones were so much stronger than those at the club and I couldn't believe it as I feel my lips part, about to give out the secret I had kept from every vampire save two. Clamping my teeth together, I glare at him. He seemed surprised and turns towards me, leaning forward, as I feel him start to try to glamour me and take the information from my mind forcibly. Tears start to leak from my eyes, as I push the torture to the surface to cloud the truth. He murmurs, 'Interesting.'

Almost instantly, he releases me, the pheremones seeming to be sucked back into himself and I gasping like a fish out of water. Quickly I wipe the tears from my eyes out of embarrassment and look back at the warehouse as the seven men return to the SUVs and start them up,the driver for the limo getting in and starting up.

'Crow, return to the mansion.'

A Native American turns to look at me and asks in that slow, halting way of the Cherokee, 'And the girl.'

'She will be of use to us. Return to the mansion.'

Crow gives me one last look and turns to the steering wheel and leaves the place of my torture behind.

Looking at the Dracul Pureblood I knew as Nicholi, I ask, 'Did you kill at those people in that warehouse alone.'

He was back on his phone texting and says nonchalantly, 'Yes.'

He didn't have a spot of blood on him, speaking of the power of the Pureblood. I gulp down my still shaken nerves, the remaining emotional baggage of the torture, and open my mouth to ask about the warehouse as he says, 'So easy to read, I will explain to you why I was at the warehouse when we are back at the mansion.'

Shaking my head, I say, 'That is unnecessary, I am fine not knowing. You can drop me off at the closest ATM and I will disappear.'

He glances over at me from his phone and says as he continues to type, and puts the phone down to look at me, 'You are invited to my home. Please accept.'

It wasn't a request. All I keep remembering is the voice of my phantom teacher, 'Never say no to a Dracul Pureblood.' but I couldn't stay here. The longer I stayed by a stronger vampire the likelier I would become part of the clan, something I didn't want. Closing my eyes, knowing very well I could die, I say, 'I must decline.'

The Dracul Pureblood looks at me with raised eyebrows and a slow grin, showing his very long fangs, spreads on his face, his sharp eyes unchanged, as he says softly, 'Very interesting. You are my guest, you will come.'

My fate would be sealed if I didn't get away. His smile melts away as he picks up his phone that had started ringing and says, 'I know you are wondering my name besides a Dracul Pureblood, it is Nick, Ms. Simmons.'

Jerking I stare at him in surprise, I had never told him my last name.