Dedicated to @WretchedBlues cuz, she's the type to want to be chained. ;)

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'Anger is not enough to want to destroy ourselves, for it lies on the surface of our hearts.'

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What happens when you drive a wooden stake through the heart of a vampire? They die, of course. I have never heard of anyone surviving from a stake in the heart, regardless of creed. You'd be lucky to get that close to a vampire, though. Silver is too soft of a metal to even pierce their skin. Fortunately for us, their blood reacts very negatively to titanium.

"Yes, fortunate for you, my dear, but not at this moment." Valentine, using his power to hear thoughts, clicks his tongue and circles around me. I can't see his face clearly, my vision is blurred and he is cloaked in darkness. We are in a dim and decaying cell with only a single lightbulb hanging from the ceiling.

"How about another question." He turns his back and lifts a syringe from a medical tray. "What happens to poison when injected with antiserum?"

I attempt to reach for his neck, but the heavy steel chains around my wrists stop me from doing so. I growl at him, "Release me, or so help me, I will use your head as a mantelpiece."

"Ah, well, that doesn't really answer my question, does it?" He replies with indifference.

"What more do you want from me?" I ask with anger.

"I want your blood, dear Saphira, just like every other vampire out there. Since Augustine has not agreed to meet, I will take matters into my own hands, starting with you."

"You and your brother are alike, motives and behavior, you're both selfish creatures." I am begging for my life, yes, and I have to.

"I have a question for you, Valentine, how is it that you are no longer King?" I shoot the question at him like an arrow. I hope it stings.

Valentine swallows hard and looks away.

"Did you lose someone dear to you?" I taunt, "I bet she was beautiful, she would have made a wonderful Queen."

He is quiet but his face remains feral. I continue my impolite and judgemental teasing in an attempt to ruffle his feathers. Everyone has a weakness and I think I just found his. "Did you watch her die, Valentine?"

"Quiet, Princess, or I will cut your throat and bleed you dry." His tone is dark and I lean back onto the cold stone wall.

A vicious smile spreads across my face and I wink at him. Valentine only narrows his eyes but he continues to work on the small dilapidated table with various medical instruments and torture devices. The familiar sound of his boots clicking on the stone is all I heard before he closes the wooden door across the room.

He removes his overcoat and unbuttons the top three collars of this shirt, giving me a perfect view of a dark chain necklace that hung on his muscled chest. He rolls his sleeves up and I eye him as he sits on the chair and pulls out my gun. He inspects it for bullets and he gives me a cryptic look.

"How -" I begin to say.

"What did I say about keeping your mouth shut," he interjects. He pulls the barrel on the gun back and then points it directly at me. I don't move from my spot. This has happened so many a time that I am completely used to it.

"I don't give a damn about what you say, release me now, vampire."

"Pardon me, Saphira, but I cannot do that. I can't have a child of Datura run around in Numidia."

My eyes widen. "What did you just say?" I can't be in Numidia, I am forbidden. Besides humans, it is impossible for a non-vampire to step foot beyond the veil. It is the same with the other Kingdoms - you must have permission to go through if you wish to enter. I only permitted to enter three of those kingdoms and Numidia is not one of them. The vampires, though, have no regard for me, considering I've killed over a dozen of their kind.

"I believe I said it quite clearly."

I shake the chains again. "I'm sorry, but my ears are impervious to bullshit. Tell me where I am now or I inject the antiserum myself!"

Valentine gives me a cocky smirk. "Now, why would you do that?"

I scream once more and rattle the chains, attempting to pull them off the wall. "Why not just kill me?"

He leans in closer until I could smell the musky fragrance of his cologne on his neck, and something sweet. "Because your blood is the key to my salvation." His breath tickles my ears. Valentine doesn't move from his place and he inhales my scent. "Mouth-watering isn't it, the blood that runs deep, don't you agree?"

I gulp hard and glance away. I hold my breath but realize it is doing nothing to help. My breathing turns ragged and a hiss escapes from my mouth as if I am one of them.

Valentine rips his wrist open with his fangs and a succulent aroma fills the air. I close my eyes tightly trying to control the fire that is now rising from my throat. "Get away from me."

The cruel vampire laughs and I watch as he licks the open wound and it heals. I breathe in deeply and try to inhale as much fresh air as I could.

"I will do precisely as you ask, anyway, it's not the time for you to turn into a full vampire just yet."

"My blood won't cope, I'll be dead before I turn into a lousy rat on wings."

"I won't allow you to die, we haven't played yet." He chuckles and leaves the room with a loud bang from the wooden door closing. "What you're feeling is just from the venom from my bite, think of what will happen when you get a taste of my blood."

From my anger, I squeeze my fist tightly and a ring forms around my wrist. "Valentine!"

It's not possible for me to become a vampire. My blood has a fatal effect on their kind meaning my body would kill itself before I can even sprout fangs. I can't be a vampire, I need to drink his blood first - and bite and venom from a vampire isn't enough to turn someone into their kind. An exchange of blood needs to happen to be able to do so.

I use my hands to feel my body for anything I could use to either pick this lock or call someone who can. Of course, the bloodsucker removed my weapons and my mobile phone. One thing he didn't remove was a thin piece of metal I had in my boot in the event that I am required to unlock something.

You're a dead vampire, Valentine, I vow in my mind. I skillfully unlock the cuffs around my wrists and ankles and stretch my limbs.

Quietly, I slip out of the cell and into the dungeon. All are empty and riddled with dirt and grime, perfectly fitting for a prisoner.

As I approach the main door, I hear muffled sounds and voices coming from above. The distinct sound of Valentine's voice does not stall me from entering a vacant domed room. It was all stone, weathered and old.

"Damn these doors, how much more does he have," I say under my breath as I face three doors with equal distance in between - four walls, four doors.

Very smart, Valentine, but you cannot fool me. I must be in the heart of his oasis. I creep, slowly, to the door opposite me and twist the knob. Luck must be on my side today because I picked the right door because it appears to be an entrance to my captor's colossal home.

I pause and narrow my eyes. It can't be that easy, can it? Why the hell would he keep me captive when he knows of my skills? Why would keep these doors unlocked for me?

If it is not clichè enough already, the door creaks and the floor groans a horrible sound that can have been heard beyond the thick walls. I pull back but a figure emerges from the shadow and he looks right at me.

"Lydia, I thought I told you to keep the door locked?" He raises his voice.

A few steps forward and a young woman, who I presume to be Lydia, walks in. "I did lock the door, Sir."

"Not the main door, Lydia, the dungeons," the man says as he meagerly pinches the bridge of his nose. Has he already seen me?

Lydia, a petite, young and pretty woman, looks to me with wide eyes and gasps at her mistake. "Should I alert Sir Valentine?"

"No, you may go back to your errands," he eyes me and dismisses her with a flick of his hand.

Lydia gives a slight bow and exits the room, probably punishing herself mentally. Should I attack? No, my standards are higher than that. I'm here to take down one lousy vampire. I only kill those that have been asked of me, the rest can just walk freely and enjoy their time on earth.

I watch closely as the finely dressed man takes small steps towards me. The ambiance tells me he means no harm. "It's no wonder Valentine keeps you captive, your beauty is quite...extraordinary, my dear." Should I be surprised? Flattered, maybe. "Then again," he utters and stops about a foot away. "Valentine always had cryptic motives when it came to women."

"So I've heard," I give a reply but remain cautious. "But this is one woman he can never keep."

He smiles slightly but seems wound a little too tight. "Come, join me for tea,"

"Is that what you call it these days?" I cross my arms and hesitate to follow. Maybe, he can give me the information I need.

The man leads me onto a veranda under the shadow of the moon and stars. His golden hair is slicked back and his cool, blue eyes are perfectly balanced with his pale skin. "Would you prefer me to say blood?"

My nerves start dancing, similar to the feeling you get seconds before you cry. "Tea will do."

We sit opposite each other, around an ancient tea table with two goblets laying on the surface. The aroma smells good, but I know that the contents are no good to me. This is a very frustrating element that constantly disrupts my concentration. Valentine must have him convinced that I, too, will become a vampire.

"I don't believe I've introduced myself properly," the man spoke with the goblet just centimeters away from his lips. "My name is Astor."

I nod. "Saphira."

I stay rather collected but my mind is aware of every detail in my sight. The Gothic manor overlooks a sea of trees, surrounded by moonlight. I've only been in Numidia once before, it was the first time I was introduced to the way they actually lived. Like any other state or country, Numidia is a large Kingdom that has a mix of the ancient and the modern. The Kingdom even has a bustling metropolitan city where the newer and more lively vampires reside.

The vampires have quite a history and it's one the humans are always so curious about. I never knew why they were so fascinated with these creatures - they are simply predators looking for blood to drink and hearts to devour.

"Tell me, Saphira, why would Valentine keep you chained in a dungeon?" He interrupts my train of thought.

"I don't know, Astor, why would he?"

He chuckles. "I don't suppose it has to do with being the most wanted assassin in the underworld, does it?"

I sneer at the irony of his words. "Not likely."

"Indeed, but I am sure it has to do with his brother." He leans over as if to tell a secret.

I lean closer to him until I could smell the blood on his lips. "That's classified."

"Let me guess if you tell me you'd have to kill me."

I retract and lean back on the chair, crossing a leg over the other. "How right you are."

Both silent, but not less cautious, his eyes don't leave mine. I am now vaguely aware that he is reading my mind, or attempting to. Vampire's like to think they can read minds but truth is, they are just very experienced in reading body language.

"Troubled? Why don't you have a drink and relax?"

I grimace as he gestures to the goblet in front of me. "I'd rather have blood pass through my veins than my lips."

"Resistance will only make your lust impregnable."

"Of course, it will," I comment in disbelief.

Astor sets down his goblet and presses his fingertips together. "The last person I met that resisted to the first crave ended up neck-high in corpses. Now, I'm not saying the same would happen to you, but some things just can't be defied."

"I'm not a vampire," I answer dryly. "And I'll never become one."

With a satisfied smirk, the vampire leans back in his chair and crosses his legs. A silence falls between us - it's quiet, eerily quiet. When that happens it usually means something bad is about to occur.

As if on cue, I hear a clatter of silverware and porcelain inside the manor accompanied by angry shouts. Valentine must have checked the dungeons and realized his prisoner was no longer chained like an animal.

"Is he always like this?" I ask Astor.

He smacks his lips. "This is nothing."

"What the hell is she doing out of the damn dungeons, Astor!" An angry Valentine stomps over and accuses the calm vampire.

"Calm your wits, Valentine, I just wanted a harmless chat with her."

"Oh, and I suppose she came willingly, couldn't you have done that in her cell?"

Astor doesn't answer and turns his head to me. It's obvious that chaining me is not really necessary.

"It's true, I did," I interject.

Astor blinks at me and smiles. It's too early to tell, but Astor is showing that he can be trusted, that he is the kind of vampire that understands others easily. "Sit down, Valentine, you're going to develop a blood clot."

"Highly unlikely," he argues. "I'm taking her." Valentine points to me and I give him a nasty scowl.

"By all means." Astor chuckles and takes another sip of his blood.

I recoil away from Valentine as he lunges for my arm. His hand curls tightly around my arm and he forcefully pulls me out of my chair. With all my strength, I pull back and attempt to yank my arms from him.

"You are not putting me in that cell," I warn.

"Yes, I am, whether you like it or not."

Astor butts in. "Let her have her freedom, Valentine, besides, we're still within the borders of Numidia. She wouldn't be foolish enough to escape the manor."

Valentine's jaw tightens and he narrows his eyes at his friend. "It's not escaping I'm afraid of, it's what she would do within the manor."

Valentine pulls me away before Astor could interrupt and takes me three flights up the stairs. It took some time since every step was accompanied by an attempt to maim him or escape. He is quite strong and he's using all of his strength to keep me glued to him.

"You should listen to your friend more often," I break the silence between the two of us as we walk down a very long corridor.

"Then I'd be dead by now, won't I?"

I keep my head held high. "It's all a matter of perspective."

We arrive at a room on the far side of the manor. Most likely a room close to his to ensure my captivity. "You'll stay here for now. It would be wise for you to stay in your room, especially during your first crave."

The room is spacious and luxurious. Dark and gothic, the ambiance makes me feel at home, but the rest, foreign. He must be an idiot for thinking he can keep me in a room and expect me to stay like a loyal puppy. It's also not a wise choice since I can slit his throat anytime and drive a stake in his heart. There must be a reason why he is doing all of this. Why else would you turn an assassin into a vampire?

"For the last time, I am not turning into a vampire."

He halts for a brief moment before closing the door. "We'll just have to see, now, don't we?"

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