33. Xeraphine

33

Xeraphine

I can't deny I am in a lot of pain.

My healing is slowed, and I'm not exactly sure why. The pain of being bitten at the nape of my neck and the very familiar elixir of Vampire poison sweeping through my body is not the cause.

As I'm moving, I connect with the position I'm in. My arms are strung high, my ankles shackled together as I dangle.

Fucking Belial himself, where am I?

My vision is blurry, I can't even make out properly where I am, but it smells as though I'm in some kind of warehouse. The musty scent of aged wood and dampness in the air makes me think I'm right. A lingering hint of rust and industrial metal are other factors that play into my senses.

I'm not sure if I want to speak, but I'm curious enough to know if my hearing is back.

"Hello?" I do, thankfully, hear my voice. I shift my wrists and pull roughly. The wane of the metal beam I'm hanging on tells me I have some strength, but not enough to break through it.

Suddenly, my brain returns to the moment I was taken, Mister… oh fuck , did he make it? I'm so concerned over that damn cat, I don't register the footsteps approaching me until they are in my line of sight .

The blurry silhouette of a man stops just a few feet in front of me. "Hello to you, too." He sounds familiar, and recent at that. His hand reaches up toward me and I shrug backwards, even if I don't get very far. "What is your name?"

I lick my lips, "What's your mom's name?"

A slithery type of laugh comes from my left, and as I shift, I can see someone sitting in a chair. I'm confused why my vision is fucked up, and even as I squint my eyes to try and get some clarity, it doesn't help.

I shouldn't be surprised, but I am; the punch to my cheek is so hard that it spins me slightly until I slowly return back to the male standing in front of me.

"That's rude…" I quip, leaning up and spitting on him.

"I'm not hesitant to hit a woman, especially if she's a killer."

My head falls back as I laugh, "Oh boy, who'd I hurt this time, hmm?"

I knew the punch to my stomach was coming, so it didn't necessarily hurt, but it still knocks the wind out of me. I'm unsure of what role I'm supposed to be playing here. Was I kidnapped for being Xeraphine or Stephanie? Technically, my name on the lease is Stephanie, so, I'll start there.

"Stephanie," I cough out.

The punch to the nose does take me by surprise, and I hiss through my teeth, "What the fuck?!" I shout.

"Liar." The man rears his fist back, and I stare him down, ready for it. "That's what you wanted everyone else to think, you fucking bit—"

"Stop!" the man sitting shouts.

I smile at the figure in front of me, and he steps back. Running my tongue along my lips to pick up the blood pouring from my nose, I give him a wink.

"Leave us." The metal on concrete makes me wince. I think my ears are still sensitive, which at least helps me determine I've not been out for too long.

The retreating footsteps are coupled with several curse words and grunts before silence caresses my ears. I need to focus on how I'm going to get out of this situation, and I need to do that alone. So, one down, another one to go .

"Name, please." His voice is low, smooth, and measured, carrying a distinctive, sibilant quality. It holds an air of authority and that of disdain. "I don't use my fists."

"Too bad." I grin, "I do like to be fisted."

I've known I was naked since waking up, which didn't play to my advantage with the first guy. This one, I can see his head slightly tilt down toward my cunt, and then back up to my face. "Like what you see? I'm probably a bit dirty and charred, but clean me up and I'm a tasty treat."

An unamused chuckle comes from his throat, "Filthy little mouth you have there… I won't ask again." The feeling of something long, muscular, and with a tapered point slithers around my hips. The moment I feel the scales and coarse texture, I gasp. It's rough and uncomfortable as it rubs against my skin.

As the tip of the tail, from whatever creature this is, slips between my thighs, I begin to wiggle, trying to move my legs to shake it off.

"Name." His tone is more forceful.

"Xeraphine, get that fucking tail away from me," I spit, moving my gaze from him down to the thick appendage that begins to squeeze me. It isn't a snake; no, this is more akin to… Oh fuck. That is why I'm not healing.

My body tenses, and I shake ever so slightly with the revelation. A Shifter, but by the Gods, not just any Shifter.

He's a Komodo Dragon.

"Son of a bitch," I spew my thoughts aloud.

"Suppose that is confirmation enough. Tell me, Xeraphine, do you know why we took you?"

The tip of his tail snakes around my backside, tracing upward to my tailbone. As he advances, I instinctively recoil. Their venom, potent even to my kind, poses a threat. It not only paralyzes, but also disrupts my hemokinesis. They were well aware of who I was, and this just solidifies that fact.

"If you are here… I am guessing it's because of what I am." It's why my vision is blurry.

He steps right in front of me, and I crane my head back to see his face. His features are slightly clearer, but it isn't his face that surprises me; it's the smell. Wood and spruce, like I'm sitting in a cabin. Somewhere I should be safe, but instead, I'm trapped in it.

"Who… are you…?" I ask, my voice shaky .

He leans in closer, our noses grazing each other, his red eyes framed by a vibrant yellow hue around the pupil. The slit-shaped of them alter as he delves deeper into my gaze. "Your kind's worst fucking nightmare, Xeraphine. You should have stayed in the ground."

My entire body trembles, then rage consumes my throat as I scream and slam my forehead into his. When he stumbles back, I bend my body and lift my legs, slamming them straight into his chest. When he goes flying back, his tail rips across me, the scales slicing into my skin, making me cry out in pain.

I swing myself up, flipping my legs over my head. My arms lift me until I can hook the back of my knees around the metal bar. He laughs as I shift into a sitting position on the beam. "Oh, you may want to get down. You've got about thirty seconds before that venom makes its way into your bloodstream."

Shit.

"How did you find me?" I ask, not really caring, but needing a means to keep my mind working so I can fight the downstream effects that inevitably will send me tumbling to the ground.

"You got a little sloppy, I must say. If Clay wouldn't have gone missing, that little party trick with the twins may have gone just the way you tried to make it."

I groan, "I didn't even fuck with Clay! Last I saw him—" Oh Gods. The sway of my head nearly makes me tumble, but I shake it off. I am already getting dizzy, and my body is physically fighting to remain upright. "I left him at the club!" I scream, trying to stay conscious.

"Your scent was all over his body, such a filthy little liar you are."

Probably Kairhyse, which… I'm not even angry about, but I'll diagnose that later. The last person they will ever touch is him, along with Sydni. I will survive whatever they throw at me, so, fuck it—I killed Clay.

"Ah, well, you caught me," I sigh exhaustedly. "Fuck that guy." I sway, and grab quickly onto a beam that is just above my head. I'll be out soon, there isn't anything I can do about it. "What's your name, snake?"

The low growl he emits makes me smile, "I am a fucking Dragon, bitch. Watch yourself, or the moment you are asleep, I'm going to fuck you until my venom numbs that cunt of yours. "

Honestly, that may not be the worst idea. At least he'd do it while I was asleep, and in my current situation… I really don't want to feel what they'll do to me.

I wonder if his venom is affecting more than just my abilities and healing because I feel oddly calm.

"So sensitive." My breathing becomes rigid, which is accompanied by my arms beginning to tremble. I can feel my body becoming colder, and I'm starting to shiver. "How did you know it was me?" This would be the last question I'd get out and hopefully, his answer comes quickly enough.

"Lars would recognize your smell anywhere. Boy has been obsessed. The moment he smelled you on Clay, you were done for. You should've just stayed in the ground, Succubus."

At least he finishes the answer before my head falls forward. This isn't good for me; when I wake, I need to figure out how to flush the venom.

Darkness takes over, and the moment I feel weightless, I'm out cold.

The smell of the sea is all that wafts in when the container door opens. It's night, and I swear I haven't felt the sun on my skin in days.

"Help me!" I scream so loud that my ears ring from it bouncing around in the tight metal container. "I'm in here! Please help me! I'm in here!" I keep screaming, repeating the same thing, but no one comes.

It isn't the savior I'm hoping for that appears in front of the door. He quickly flips on the string lights that are my only source of light, and they haven't been on in so long, I quickly close my eyes to the sensitivity of them. My lip trembles as I whimper, "Please… let me go… I'm worth nothing!"

I have no money, no family that would pay a ransom for me; I truly was a nobody. The definition of such a thing.

"I beg of you…" I don't want to be hurt anymore. "I'm an orphan! A Mundane! I work at a fucking food market selling cheap pastries! What did I do?!" I'm rambling, and as the man with the piercing reptilian eyes approaches, I sob .

I'm trying to pull at my restraints, my wrists raw at the action. The pull on my arms is so taut that even when I try to step back, I'm unable to move but a mere inch.

"Please… what did I do to deserve this… haven't I suffered enough?!"

He releases an irritated sigh, "It's not about suffering, Xeraphine." I hate that he smells like the forest. A cabin where I should feel at ease, reading a book and enjoying freedom. Instead, I'm trapped in this endless torment.

"Why then… I am suffering!" My voice cracks, and I drop my head, "Just kill me. I can't take this anymore!"

The grip on my chin is so strong I feel my teeth piercing into my cheek, "Stop fucking talking. Gods, you are so annoying." I clench my teeth together, and as hard as I try to stop crying, I can't. "You're lucky it's just me today. The other four are busy, but, we have to keep trying."

When he releases my chin, a loud scream cracks in my throat. Nearly instantly, his hand is across my face, silencing me—or attempting to. I don't stop screaming, and as he steps back to the container door and shuts it, we are alone. I'm alone.

"Someone help me! In here!"

"So ungrateful for a gentler day." He approaches and spits in his hand, spreading it across his fingers. "Don't fight, okay? I don't want to have to poison you. Your pussy goes numb when I do it, and I'd rather feel you clench around me."

My body trembles.

"Just kill me… Just kill me… Please, just kill me."

I'm not sure how long I've been out, not that it matters honestly. I wasn't even sure how long I have been gone for; it could have been hours or days. Something tells me I wouldn't be gone for weeks without causing at least a little commotion. I can't imagine Kairhyse would just roll over and let them take me without at least making some sort of noise.

Though, I could be wrong. He said he'd chase me, but really, am I worth all the trouble? I hope I am… To him, I think I am.

I attempt to shift in the comfortable bed I'm lying in, surprised that I'm not restrained, yet unfortunately, I'm immobile. My eyes are barely capable of opening, yet they stop at half-mast. There are black sheets that grace me, but I know I'm not home, or with Kai, and this had all been a bad dream.

My ability to swallow is challenging. I'm keenly aware of a bitter taste, accompanied by the acridness of a toxic protein. I suspect it's the venom, which troubles me greatly, especially if I can taste it.

"Ah, you're awake."

A deep husky voice is behind me, and as much as I want to turn and look, I'm physically unable to. I can smell something metallic, and I wonder if I'm bleeding. There is also a lingering smell of disinfectants and latex. I'm attempting to catch any scent from this person, but it's impossible unless he comes closer, and truthfully, I'd prefer he didn't.

"You are beautiful while sleeping, though, I do wish I didn't have to keep you so drugged up you can't move."

I move my lips before trying to speak, and I'm thankful that I can, "Fuck you." Perfect, I can hear myself. "I promise I'm more fun when I can move."

"Oh, I know."

I do hate he confirms that.

"Let me guess…" I try to shift, but again I'm unable. Yeah, I'm definitely paralyzed, which means they've given me a lot of that venom. "Lars?"

"Oh no, not quite. Unfortunate for him, great for me." His voice lowers, and it sounds as if he is walking away from me.

I do my best to look over my shoulder at him, but to no avail.

"Just us two, which is nice, because I didn't get much alone time during our first encounter." Although I can't feel it, I know tremors are coursing through me. Two in the same place, truthfully I should be thankful, but I'm not in the right position to be thanking anyone. "It'll just be us, for now."

As he finally emerges into view, an immediate sense of regret washes over me. Blood and citrus assail my senses, a chilling reminder of the man who had been dragging me. The largest of them and physically, the most brutal.

His chest alone is the size of my entire torso, and as he circles the bed and comes to the other side, I lose his head in my vision.

Vayl above, I' m so fucked.

I watch him grab hold of the arm that is crammed under me, and drag me onto my back right below him. The sound of metal clinking against the floor makes me shift my gaze to my left. I trail the tube that is in my arm up to an IV system. The bag is filled with a yellow substance.

"It's saliva mixed with saline. You can guess whose saliva it is," he chuckles just as the bed dips beside me. A tight grip on my chin pulls me to look up at him. "Open that pretty little mouth. I'm not concerned of you chomping down—" His wide smile stretches his cheeks, but the sinister undertone behind it sends a shiver down my spine. "You can barely speak."

"Nope." I press my lips into a fine line, cocking an eyebrow in defiance.

"Let's not fight, hm?" He moves and straddles over my waist. When I look down, not to my surprise, but I am naked. "It's not like you have much of a choice at this point, why not just accept it? When they get here to take you back to your crypt—" My eyes round, coming back to look at him. "Oh, yeah, you're going back into the ground, cutie. So when they come to collect you, you can have a long sleep then. For now…"

I can hear my teeth chattering in my head, "Why…"

He licks his lips, his hand enveloping my entire jaw. His imposing presence, accentuated by his dark skin and muscular build, fills me with intimidation, and I have the humility to acknowledge it. Every vein in his arm, tracing up to his chest and along his neck, is starkly visible. His deep, black eyes bore into me as if he could devour me whole.

"Well, I don't know," I don't need to see his aura to know he is telling the truth. His index finger brushes down my lips, and he pulls open my mouth from my bottom teeth. "It's insignificant, really. We've got a while together, maybe a few weeks, so let's just make the most of it until you go back under."

His nails extend and I can see the fur lining his knuckles and down his arm. "You remember me, don't you?" My eyes close, and I think of riding in Kairhyse's car down the countryside. I drown out the sound of my flesh being torn apart, and the pain that accompanies his first swipe.

"I never took you as a pop fan... I imagined you being the heavy metal, head banging type person. "

"Little demon, this music isn't for me. You don't think I couldn't hear your choice in music? Stalking you is more than just me watching that tight ass trying to fit into a pair of jeans. I have to know everything about my prey."

"Such a fucking weirdo…"

I'll be alright.

I have to be. I can't leave Sydni, she needs me. Mister won't survive without me… and I… I don't know if I'll survive again without him…

Kai… I do like him. Even if he is a weirdo…

I will be alright.