You Rejected Me. Remember?

Sighing, “what do you want to talk about?” She asked. She didn’t have the guts to look into Draven’s pale face. He looked like a dead, yet alive person. His white face and red lips gave her the creeps.

“My name is Draven. I’m the prince of this kingdom,” he paused. “Can I untie you? Promise me you won’t try to escape. Even if you do, remember, I can capture you. We have supernatural speed,” he warned.

Monica didn’t like the tone of his voice. She forced a smile nonetheless and nodded in affirmation. She wasn’t going to try and run while he was watching, anyway.

Satisfied with the response, Draven untied her, thinking that his efforts were paying off. She quickly sat up and massaged her wrists to relieve the pain in them.

Now what? She wondered as she looked at the bruises that were slowly fading away. She smiled. Her healing powers were now better than they used to be. Perhaps she would soon be able to shift.

“Would you like to look around?” Draven’s question interrupted her thoughts. Her frown deepened. Yet she nodded as she knew it would help her plan her escape. Draven stood up and gestured for her to follow him. He took her out of the private chamber and towards the grand room. Her eyes darted all over the place and realised that intimidating guards stood at each exit and that all the doors and windows were tightly closed shut. She bit her l*p. It would be hard to escape a place that was crawling with vampires.

Monica followed him down a flight of stairs. “We can’t go outside right now, because the sun is out,” Draven mumbled, making her snap her head in his direction. “All the doors are locked to prevent the sunlight from entering this place.” He looked at her. “I know this castle doesn’t look nice. But this is just a temporary one. We will go to the real vampire castle soon,” he paused, studying her demeanour.

“When you become my bride,” he whispered.

Monica shuddered uncomfortably. However, she hid her uneasiness and forced a smile.

“Not as long as I’m alive….” She heard her wolf in her mind. She couldn’t agree more. If she was going to marry or mate with anyone, it would be Cade, her mate. She avoided looking in Draven’s direction, however, she knew that he was standing close to her. She could feel his gaze on her, and it added to her discomfort. In her distress, she scanned the surroundings until her eyes fell on a large door that was closed shut.

“Is that the kitchen?” She said, wanting to distract the vampire and stepped towards the door. However, before she could reach it, Draven blocked her path, startling her. Gasping, she stepped back.

“How…?” She was stunned. Draven had stepped in front of her within a blink of an eye.

Grinning, “I told you we have unnatural speed,” he said. “And that’s not the kitchen. Don’t go in there. You can move around the palace. Go wherever you want, within the place. But don’t go there,” he told her.

Her curiosity increased as she glanced at the huge door.

“I wonder if he is hiding something in there,” Asena mumbled. Monica chose not to say anything. She was itching to know what was behind that door. Perhaps it could lead to her freedom. She squinted at the door and then glanced at Draven. Maybe she could try to check it out when he goes to sleep.

“Ok,” she whispered and his lips stretched in a smile.

“That’s more like it.” He muttered. “Now, let’s go back to the room. I will send some girls to doll you up for tonight. Until then, you can rest. I’ll make sure they make your food too,” he cupped her cheeks, making her go rigid.

“I want you to be happy here,” he mumbled.

Stiffened, Monica stood frozen on her step. She gulped. The closeness between her and him was stressful for her. Sucking in a breath, she took a step back and forced a smile. Her restless heart kept pumping hysterically in her chest.

“Let’s go back?” He softly whispered.

Avoiding his eyes, she nodded and followed him back. She was thankful that he left her alone in the room and left. As soon as he closed the door behind him, she let out a breath of relief and leaned against the wall.

“Asena?” She called her wolf.

“Yes, girl.”

“Do you think that door might lead us out?” She asked.

“Maybe. He sure was hiding something. We should check it out,” Asena mumbled.

“Now?”

“No. Wait a bit. That vamp must be still around. We have to wait for him to fall asleep. I’m sure he will soon, it’s daytime already.”

Monica trusted her wolf and waited. The girls Draven had said would come to attend her soon arrived. They brought her food and new clothes and told her that they were there to prepare her for an event that was scheduled to be held during the night. She didn’t object when a young girl among them started to do her makeup. She had to play along if she were to trick them and find a way to escape.

She stared at her reflection as she worked on her. Although she didn’t mind the full black gown, she didn’t like the dark makeup. Dark eyes, and black lips. She detested it.

“You look fabulous! The prince will adore you!” She exclaimed, making Monica look at her. Her lips parted when she noticed the marks on her wrists. They looked as though they were punctured with something sharp.

Sighing, “where is he now?” She asked.

“He is catching up on his sleep at the moment.” The girl mumbled and pursed her full red lips. Monica studied her face. She was young and attractive. Monica couldn’t help but notice marks on her neck. They were exactly like the puncture marks on her wrists.

“Are you a vampire too?” She asked. Smiling, the girl nodded.

“What is your name?” She asked. The young female vampire seemed to be nice.

“Celeste,” the girl’s smile brightened.

“What are those marks?” Monica couldn’t stop herself from expressing her curiosity. She noticed how her eyes bulged at the question. She gulped while Monica stared at her through the mirror.

“Uh… that’s nothing….umm I mean… I …those are little accidents….” She stammered and started to hurriedly gather her make-up brushes.

“I…I must leave…” she stuttered as she hastened to leave the room.

Monica stared at her retreating back until she exited the room. There was something bizarre about her.

“That was weird,” Asena mumbled, and Monica couldn’t agree more. “Anyway, now is our chance. Let’s go and check what Draven is hiding.”

“Yes, we should,” Monica walked towards the exit. After opening the door, she looked across the corridor to make sure that Draven wasn’t around.

“Come on,” Asena urged.

Ignoring her anxious heart, Monica walked along the path and down the staircase that led to the closed door. After looking around and making sure that no one was watching her, she held the doorknob. Her heart hammered in her chest.

What if a murderous monster is hiding behind this door.

She wondered.

“Stop it! We will never find our way out if we hesitate. Open it!” Asena demanded.

Gulping, and biting her inner cheeks, she turned the doorknob and pushed it open. The sight she saw made her eyes bulge out of her eye sockets. She froze at the entrance. This was without a doubt the most b***d-curdling scene she had ever seen in her life.

She saw females being tied up, all barely clothed. Some were locked up in cages. Some of them were tied to poles with fresh wounds on their bodies dripping with b***d while a couple of them lay on the ground, motionless. Those who were conscious grunted in agony. Her brain needed a moment to register what she was seeing.

“Good gracious!” Asena exclaimed. The women inside the chamber were undoubtedly tortured.

“What is this?” Asena gasped. Monica was too terrified to say anything. Whatever this place was, she wanted to leave. Without saying a word, she stepped back to turn around and run. She ran away from the room of harrows. She didn’t know where she was going, all she knew was she wanted to leave. However, instead of finding an unguarded exit, she ran into another female, who fell onto the ground after colliding with her.

“Ooof… I’m sorry….” a familiar voice said.

Monica’s eyes darted towards the girl who had just run into her.

“Celeste?” Monica exclaimed.

“Ma’am,” Celeste quickly stood up, and lowered her gaze, adjusting the collar of her shirt as though she was trying to hide something. Monica wanted to ask a lot of questions. But she pointed towards the half open door, her face contorted in concern.

“Celeste…. What room is that?” She asked.

Frowning, Celeste gazed from Monica to the door.

“Ma’am….I ….I can’t tell….” She stammered. “Ma’am, please spare me. I don’t want to be punished. Please ma’am…”

To Monica’s shock, Celeste kneeled in front of her and started to beg. As she did, Monica saw the fresh puncture marks on the crook of the young vampire’s neck.

“I think Celeste is being fed on….maybe she is their slave?” Asena guessed and Monica’s lips parted.

“Like I was…..” Monica gasped through their link. She couldn’t help but see herself in Celeste. Helpless, and bullied. She was about to bend down and pick the trembling vampire girl up when she heard a familiar male voice.

“What is happening? Did Celeste bother you, princess?” Draven’s voice was cold and unfriendly. Monica looked in the direction of the voice and then at Celeste. She was so scared that she didn’t dare to look up.

“Poor thing…” Asena whispered.

Shaking her head, “no. Celeste has done an excellent job in serving me. I am very satisfied with her work,” Monica replied to Draven. She wanted to save Celeste from punishment.

“Good to hear. I just woke up from my slumber. If I come to know that she made you unhappy, I will punish her,” Draven casually responded. Monica felt her fury skyrocket. Clenching her fists and gritting her teeth, she glared at Draven.

“If there is anyone who needs to be punished, it’s you….” She growled. She was furious. He was worse than she thought he was.

Chuckling, Draven raised an eyebrow. He found it amusing when women growl at him. He thought it was funny since he always thought that women were weaker than him. What could a feisty little creature do against him?

He gestured to Celeste to leave and she quickly obliged. Monica gave a sympathetic glance to the female vampire who hurriedly walked away. She wanted to help the poor girl. She was trying so hard to do her best, but still was being punished.

“I thought you were ready for tonight?” Draven smirked at Monica. She sneered in response. She couldn’t care less what event was waiting for them during the night. She wasn’t going to submit to this maniac.

Chuckling, he looked around. When he noticed that the forbidden door was partly opened, his amusement quickly vanished.

“Who opened that door?” His voice was low and menacing.

Glaring at him with a critical squint, Monica sneered.

“I did! What are you going to do about that?” She hissed and Draven’s eyes suddenly turned red.

“s**t!” Asena cursed.