Hi!

Things are getting out of hand! The head vamp and Anna are in the middle of another stand-off, only it's a little different this time. Where do you think is this one headed? Let me know ;-)

Lara

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Chapter 21 

Sounds and visual perception returned with the slow retreat of numbness. My pulse quickened. Drops from a leaking faucet; liquid that was thicker than water.

One of Alexander's hands was fisted in my hair, the other flat on my back. A wall of muscle pressed to my front. Cool steel. Unmoving. My hands were buried in his black shirt, the pristine fabric crumpled and wet where I gripped it. I was still gripping it.

I blinked, fought for air. Stilled. Tried to claw myself out of that dark place of infinity where everything and nothing made sense. Thoughts returned. Slowly, oh so slowly. He didn't take much blood, at least I didn't think so. I didn't feel faint or weak-kneed, like last time he-

The hand on my back moved up, slid over my back. Slowly. Gently. Cold fingers curling around the back of my neck. His tongue flicked out, darted right to that vulnerable spot where his fangs had punctured my neck.

A cool liquid touch on heated, flushed skin. Showers of hot and cold forced goose bumps all over my body. I shivered violently, dug my fingers further into the fabric of his shirt for support. Tried to breathe and couldn't.

It almost felt like a caress. Real. It made me want go right back into that dark space where I was free. Where I didn't have to think about what should make me feel uncomfortable, because it simply didn't matter. It made me want to lean into him and not give a damn that this wasn't what it felt like, that it wasn't real. To not care if he was doing all of this just to lure me into submission. To not give a damn that this man had a hand in my forced dismissal.

The thought hit and settled, knocked sense into me like a brick wall hurtling towards me full force. I was not that kind of woman. I would never be that kind of human being.

He got into my head. The bond was messing with me in the worst way possible. A make-shift set of beliefs and thoughts that were made of deceit and lies – backed up by the power of the grave. Amplified by blood.

My breathing was quickened, chest rising and falling in a rhythm I was unfamiliar with. The blood rush felt like a drug in my system. I couldn't seem to stop shivering.

See Anna fall for it, just like the rest of the blood junkies.

I pushed against him, a tower of stone that wouldn't move an inch. His head was beside mine, close, oh so close. Cool, disturbed air danced over my exposed neck with each breath the head vampire took.

"Let go of me!" I exploded into action, a working machine of fists and shoves.

He held me, unmoving, just long enough to let me know he could. He did it without saying anything. There wasn't an ounce of feeling or emotion coming off him. I raised my eyes to meet his. Mistake. Big time.

His eyes had shifted into the deepest aquamarine blue I had ever seen on him. I was wrong about one thing. I hadn't felt anything, but I saw it. Something lurked behind those eyes, an emotion deep and dark just like the shadows in the furthest corners of the Crimson District. And I was afraid to find out just which one.

Once he released me I backed away, putting enough distance between us to give me the illusion of safety. Not that it made me feel safer. He kept staring at me and it took all I had to hold his gaze. To not give in and look away.

All this time I'd been telling myself he couldn't control me, couldn't get to me – not with his words, and not with the blood bond. I lied to myself. He got to me. For a moment there I believed in this illusion. I believed that he really cared for me. For a moment I wanted it to be real, didn't care if it was or not. I should have cared.

The head vampire was a master at this game and had been for what amounted to centuries. He had a point to make. Alexander could take a walk inside my mind and turn it inside out, make me feel and believe things that weren't even remotely close to what was real. The head vampire shoved it down my throat. He made his point. He could make me believe and feel anything he wanted. I got that now.

I brought my hand to my neck, giving him a cold look. "Never try to bite me without my consent again, Alexander."

He smiled, crossing his arms in front of him. The smile spoke volumes of retaliation and promised blood.

"And you will never allow someone else the privilege of having your blood, little witch." He said it with the calmness and precision of a surgeon putting a scalpel to his patient's neck.

"You think I liked being a walking blood bag?" I exploded. "You think I wanted someone to bite me?"

The smile vanished. "Yes, in fact, I do. Seeing as the bite marks are neat and the skin is not very bruised, I can tell that you did not resist when the vampire bit you. Who was it? Was it Fabrice himself?" The name fell from his lips, drops of poisonous venom dripping from deadly, canine teeth.

I went still, didn't move.

His eyes darkened. "It was him."

"You don't give a damn about me. Why would it matter?" I said. "Oh wait, I get it. Someone else used your toy, someone you have a hate-on at that. And that's something you can't stomach."

"Drinking from the vein allows us to gain insight into a human's mind. Sometimes more than just glimpses or bits and pieces – if done neatly," Alexander said. "Fabrice is old enough to do that, little witch, and you were foolish enough to offer yourself to him. You were endangering not only yourself, but me. I will and cannot allow that."

As if he had a right to put a claim on my blood. On me! As if I had a real choice back then.

"Fuck you, Alexander. You're right, it won't happen again. I won't let anyone have my blood, least of all you. How about that?"

He started walking towards me in slow measured steps, closing the small distance, the figurative ground I'd covered.

"In fact, I will make sure that it will not happen again, little witch. You will swear loyalty to me and you will do so in front of all the covens."

My eyes widened. My world narrowed down, walls closing in around me. A violent spasm worked its way down my arms and hands right into my fingertips. An itch I couldn't scratch, something that hung at the edge of my consciousness and wanted outside, badly. I buried my nails in my palms, forced myself not to back away and stood my ground.

"You can't do that. Not so shortly after me leaving the TF3," I said. My voice sounded surprisingly calm. Too calm for the blood boiling in my stomach.

"You better believe I can do that and much more, little witch. Remember where your boundaries are. Disobedience. Disloyalty. It is not something I will tolerate. Remember our contract. Remember that there is only one other option to this."

Death. That was what he was talking about. I stared at him for a long moment. There was something underneath that motionlessness, that deadness I once believed to be the sole sovereign inside of the head vampire. There was color and a stirring in his eyes I had no name for. What was it? Anger?

He came to a halt before me. His nostrils flared and he was so close, I could feel the air brush my face. "You say you did not want to be bitten by Fabrice. You say I bit you without your consent. But tell me one thing, little witch. Did it feel good when he bit you? Did he make you feel the things you felt when I drank from you?"

The ground gave way and fell out from underneath my feet, only to send me tumbling down a dark, narrow tunnel that knew no ends and boundaries. And then, right in the middle of it, I heard the sounds of a version of La Cucaracha I was very familiar with.

I froze. I always turned my cellphone off when I went to Alexander. At least I didn't use to. I didn't need any distractions or potential alert listeners just waiting to figure out where I was spending my nights lately. With all the incredible you-know-what going on with Brown, I forgot. I simply forgot.

It said something about the state of my mind that it didn't even occur to me to just reject the call, or better: direct it to voice mail.

"Take it." Alexander's voice smacked right into my head, bursting through and into my system only to wreak havoc in there. It was so soft, it bordered on a nonexistent whisper.

I shook my head, stepped away, and turned around. Reluctantly I pressed the pickup button.

"Marrok is looking for you." I blinked. It was Blaze, my furry partner and soon to be ex.

"What?"

"I said, Marrok is looking for you. Told me to pass the message," he said.

I frowned. "Who told you and what does he want?"

"It doesn't matter who, and hell if I know." I heard him sigh over the phone. "You owe him a favor, Anna. What did you think? That he's simply going to forget about it? He wants an audience with you, and I have no idea what he wants it for. He strictly told me that he wants you to come alone. Without me."

I cursed, pressing the phone to my ear. It was then that I became aware of the presence behind me. Alexander. Dammit. Thanks to his über-vamp senses he probably heard every single word of the conversation. I'd be damned if I gave him any more information about me or Blaze for that matter.

"Blaze-"

"Listen, Anna, I think it's best if you go to him. Get it over with and see what he wants." There was a slight pause, almost as if he was hesitating. "Fuck Marrok, I'll come with you."

"No you won't," I said firmly, fighting the urge to turn around and look at the looming shadow behind my back. "You heard what Marrok said the last time. Besides, I already have backup. Gotta go now. Bye Blaze."

I hung up before he could reveal anything else – things Alexander had no business knowing.I was afraid to turn around and, afraid of what I was going to find there once I did.

"Marrok."

I spun around, registering a tang of bitterness in his voice. Alexander was looking at me with the biting sharpness and intellect of the most cunning strategist hell ever employed.

"You have been holding out on me, little witch." The corners of his mouth lifted into a cold, penetrating smile. "I believe it is time you make amends."