SWNOVELS Chapter • Story •
My hearing sense seemed to become more heightened but every time she pushed me I flinched my face and chest. Scared of being shoved and banged into another sharp corner of a table or wall.
She grabbed my hair for complete access of where my head was going. Dove my face into a particular part of the wall and smashed my face. Bringing a shock of pain to my nose making me think it could be broken. I could tell she did that so I could press the elevator button on the wall, in the most inhuman way.
I could feel blood slowly creep out of my nose and falling to my mouth.
“Don’t even worry about her blood. It’s type ‘O’. I heard Alexis’ voice right behind me.
It wasn’t Tiffany smashing me into things. It was Alexis. She must be so angered with me that she’s taking advantage of my vulnerability.
The elevator door opened and I was the first one shoved in. I tripped and fell face first. Since my hands were still roped together behind my back. That left me unable to catch myself falling by. Smashing my face against the floor by the help of gravity.
I could feel the steps of them coming into the elevator. Shaking the elevator floor slightly as the elevator suspended from its cables above. I almost could envision the cables and the structure outside of the elevator box.
As they all settled in the enclosed space, their feet stop and the elevator slowly descended downward. We were off to the basement. Giving me flashbacks to when I tried to look downstairs at the Saltzman mansion and got caught by Tony. The black fabric covering my vision made it easier to make the flashback seem real.
Which led me to think about how my life changed drastically after meeting Tony. How my world quite literally flipped upside down. For the better, and for the worst.
Every breath I took felt so dramatic, as I could feel my body expand. Then I heard the door open and their feet started stepping over me again. I could hear the last pair of feet was wear heels. With the way it clicked against the floor. That last person brought my body back to my feet and pushing me forward.
The smell rushed hard into my face. That iron, rusty blood smell mixed with the scent of death was vivid and vomit inducing. Even the smell could be tasted within my mouth, making me want to vomit my insides out.
That wasn’t an option for me, I had to keep the vervain infused water in my system. Since it probably was probably still inside my stomach. No matter how terrible the smell was. If I threw up and it got on one of the vampires around me, my cover would be blown.
I assumed Alexis was still pushing my cooperative body, since I was still being pushed into corners of walls. The last thing I got pushed into was a plastic curtain that went into a chilled room. A room that didn’t smell half as bad as the rest of the basement. Most likely from the refrigerated location limiting the smell’s ability to spread.
“Put her on the table.” Alexis voice demanded. Hands flooded towards me and continued to push me to an edge of a table like surface. Unbinding my wrists, then picking up my blind body on top of the surface.
The table was made of a cold metal that could be felt through my dark grey pajama set. No fleece was warm enough to counteract this extremely cold surface. Sending my body to shiver immediately and goosebumps exposed under my clothes.
They strapped my ankles and wrists with metal cuffs, increasing the shivers. Securing me to the table.
“Keep the blind fold on her until tomorrow morning.” Alexis spoke out. “Let’s go.”
I could hear the heels and shoes walk away, I could tell only 3 people were in the room. Though I couldn’t tell who those people were except for Alexis.
Once they left, I could tell that they turned the light off. Since there was no visible light coming from the outer corners of my eyes. The only spot I saw a glimpse of anything. Even thought it hurt my eyes against the pressing fabric.
Since it had to be almost midnight, I had plenty of hours to try and rest. Which wasn’t going to be easy with this cold temperature intensifying through my body.
Then I could hear coming through the plastic curtain. Someone walked into the room but wasn’t near me. It sounded as if they were to my left near the curtain doorway. Settled into a metal chair.
“I need to tell you my story.” Her voice wasn’t one I usually heard. Especially in the tone she was presenting. Anastasia wasn’t the person I expected to sit in this chilly room with me.
“Before Amelia, Tony and I were a couple. Our parents set us up right after he was turned into a vampire. I agreed since he was unbelievably handsome and was so kind as well. He would open doors for me, drive me places, we travelled for almost two years around the world. Every person we fed on, he let me go ahead first. As you know, he is a true gentleman. At least, he was.”
Her chair adjusted, I could tell she was still sitting in it and still in the same spot.
“After a few months time, it seemed he grew annoyed and displeased of me. I didn’t know what I had done to him that made him practically turn off his feelings for me. Maybe it was his transition into being a vampire. He only knew me and our relationship from the very beginning. Didn’t let the evil side of being a vampire deepen into his heart. Maybe all the books he would keep reading from the Saltzman Mansion. I can’t even count how many books and journals he’s read. It seemed as if he was going to a library and grabbing whatever was on the shelf. I didn’t think anything into his hobby, until his demeanor changed.
“One day, he just stopped talking to me all together. The last book I remember seeing with him was on written by his grandmother, Victoria. When he started that reading that book, he starting acting completely different to me. He was short with me and became irritable to anything I did. His temper was quick to release. As if he wasn’t himself anymore. Once I presume he finished, that was the moment he no longer spoke to me and I hadn’t seen him for over twenty years. Leaving me incredible heart broke and utterly confused.”
“I assume you’ve met again after that. Since he dated Amelia.”
“You’re correct. I would see him during holidays and special occasions after 20 years of being gone. As if he got the courage to come back home. He never said a word to me and would distance himself from me at all costs. Even when I tried to talk about what had happened, he would leave the party or gathering immediately. We dated almost thirty years ago and it still hurts how it ended. Amelia and Tony started dating just this past year. Our parents were desperate for one of us to be married to him. I wanted it more than any of my sisters. Yet Tony wanted me the least. I never met a man such as him. He takes after his father in many ways, even Andrew was such a gracious man with incredible manners. Marionette is a very lucky lady.” She paused and I could hear her adjust the chair again. Behind the metal chair rubbing against the floor, I could hear her holding back a cry.
“That gentle, gracious man had disappeared. It was hard to see Amelia go through almost the same exact thing. Though her experience was shortened and less painful. She didn’t get to know him the way I did. Her pain is pitiful and almost annoying. She’s always been dramatic and overly sensitive. Unable to grasp anyone else’s demise or sorrow.”
“Did you ever talk about this with your sisters?”
“You’re kidding right? The two most selfish people on this earth listening to my life experience?” Anastasia laughed out. “Funny. They wouldn’t ever listen to what I have to say. Even if they tried. Being the older sister as well, I’m used to having to protect them. Be the stronger of the bunch. My duty was to keep those feelings hidden.”
“So, then happened with Amelia and Tony?” I asked.
“Tony left. Just like she said. I can imagine he read another book and made him deeper and deeper into insanity. Amelia said his last book was called, Hanson. Written by his grandfather, Anxillion.”
My last name? What would Anxillion write about that included my last name?
“What was it about?” I asked in curiosity.
“Not too sure, I was going to ask you the same thing.” Her voice was back. The scary voice that seemed almost haunting. Terrorizing. “Care to elaborate what the book could be about?”
“I seriously have no idea.” My voice shook. I felt caught of guard. The somber conversation all of a sudden becoming threatening. Being notified by a book that I was probably more confused about than she was.
As quick as lightning, her body flew off the chair and right next to me. Her hand pressing against my neck, preventing me from being able to breath. My hands and arms being strapped down made me feel so incredibly helpless.
“If you don’t tell me the truth. I will cut you open and have you my way. So I will ask again. What, was in that book?” She demanded from me information I had no idea of. Her threatening voice couldn’t help me push information I didn’t know.
She lessened her grip to only let me speak.
“I don’t know but maybe we can work together to figure it out. The book could be at the mansion right now.” Her grip was back around my neck. Gasping for air.
“Don’t you think we’ve already thought about that? Book isn’t anywhere to be found. Anxillion wouldn’t even say word about it himself. So his lack of cooperation ended his life.”
Her hand let go of my neck completely, which in turn made me take a huge gasp of air. I didn’t even know what it could have been about and the fact that Anxillion kept it too himself must mean it’s something important. Yet, I don’t even understand what exactly it could be.
“When I come back tomorrow morning. You better have a list of clues on what that book could be about.”
I could hear her go through the curtains. Leaving me cold and alone in the dark. With a dead wish waiting for me if I don’t figure it out. There was no way I was going to get a chance of resting now. Since I didn’t even know what it could be able.