CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

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           THE BONE IN HER ARM MUST HAVE BEEN BROKEN BY THE SHEER FORCE OF THE GRIP THE VAMPIRE HAD ON IT. Dakota cried out as they burst through the door of his mansion and once he let go of his hold on her she fell to her knees on the marble floor, panic searing through her veins.

Bill watched the scene unfold, silently as he and Russell stopped beside her in the foyer. It was light, mostly white and gold. There was a chandelier as big as Dakota's entire car hanging from the ceiling. It was beautiful, but none of that registered in her mind as the entrance slowly filled itself with a small group of unfamiliar vampires.

"Gentleman," said Russell gleefully, walking a slow circle around the woman as he addressed them. "look what we stumbled upon tonight. Have you ever smelled a human as good as this one?"

Dakota wanted to scream out for help, but she knew that wasn't going to get her anywhere. Realistically there was no where to go without getting killed and all she could do was wait and see what was going to happen, though it didn't look good.

The fear she felt was strong and she was sure Eric could feel it all the way in Shreveport, but she didn't think he'd come after how they'd parted last time. Eric didn't care for her that way, but she knew he didn't want her dead. And a part of her wanted him to show up through the door and whisk her away to safety.

"Darling," The vampire had a thick Greek accent as he stepped forward, hunger evident in his gaze as he looked her over. Russell took a hold of his face and planted a kiss on his lips, grinning. "can I have the first taste?"

Dakota couldn't stop the tears that slid down her cheeks as she turned her gaze to Bill, hopeful as she whispered. "Bill,"

"Bill won't help you, sweetheart."

Dakota's eyes snapped toward the vampire that stepped into the room, eyes wide as she felt herself go numb. Eric leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed as he took in the state she was in with a bored look. Dakota couldn't form words, in a state of shock as his eyes fell on the cut on her chin. The viking looked way too comfortable to be there and she couldn't figure out why, she should be relieved but the way he was looking at her only made her more uncomfortable.

"There you are," said Russell, pleased to see him. "I believe you know this human. I can smell you on her. Is she yours?"

"She is not." said Eric, pushing himself off the wall and he was suddenly in front of her as he grabbed her bicep and pulled her from the floor with a little too much force. "I've had my fun with her, but that's it. I wouldn't let this one go if I were you. I don't know what it is, but I do know it is quite valuable."

"Eric," she managed to whimper. "what are you doing?"

The viking didn't even look her way, he kept his eyes trained on Russell, who's eyes were locked on her neck as he continued, "I have not had the pleasure of tasting it, but all my instincts say it would be quite extraordinary."

"I will never, ever forgive you for this." Dakota promised, staring up at him with as much hatred she could muster in her disheveled state.

"Oh," Eric met her eyes, grinning. "it thinks we're equals."

"But it's wrong, isn't it?" said Russell, challenging the viking beside him with a raise of his brow.

"Indeed," confirmed Eric, sharing a quick laugh with the vampire king of Mississippi.

"What shall we do with her?" mused Russell, cocking his head to the side as he took a strand of hair between his fingers and smelled it. Dakota shied away from him but Eric pulled her straight back. "I don't know if I can ever get this scent from my mind."

"We can do whatever you want, my king."

Russel seemed pleased with that and waved his hands to clear the room. Bill met Dakota's eyes for a fleeting moment before he sped off with the other vampires. Talbot went up the stairs, annoyed he wasn't given the chance to taste her blood. Dakota was terrified, confused and the feel of Eric's hands on her used to make her feel safe, but now all she felt for him was fear.

"Take her to the library for me, will you, Eric?" said Russell, as he began to ascend the grand stairwell on their left. "I want to ask her a few questions after I have tried to repair my marriage."

Dakota watched as the vampire disappeared from their sight before she spun around in Eric's hold to look at his face. "Please," she breathed as he began to pull her away and further into the home. "why are you doing this, Eric?"

Eric only clenched his jaw when she struggled in his grip, he could feel her fear and it made him significantly angry. They rounded a corner and went down a long hallway and Eric came to a halt when she had began to hit him with all her might.

"Stop it." he hissed, baring his fangs in attempt to get her to stop.

"Let me go." she cried, eyes red and puffy. "Please, Eric. I'm scared. Please tell me you are just doing this for the kings benefit?"

"I don't think anyone plays the king of Mississippi and gets away with it." he answered before he began to walk again, pulling her with him. "I certainly have no intentions of trying."

Dakota let herself be pulled, knowing it was useless to run away if she got the change. This mansion was crawling with vampires and she wasn't going to get far. Whatever she had done to Russell and Bill before, she couldn't feel it now. She hadn't even know how it happened. This was the third time and she still had no idea what it was.

"What are you doing here, Eric?" she sniffed. "What is going to happen to me?"

"I need to think." he remarked, and that was the truth. "Please don't take this the wrong way, but shut up."

"Please, I am begging yo-"

Dakota couldn't finish her sentence as Eric clamped his hand over her mouth, which caused her to fall into his side, squashed against his ribs as he led her down another corridor in the mansion. This house was bigger than any house she had ever seen, and she was sure to get lost in it.

"Thank you." he muttered.

Once they were in the library, Eric let go of his hold on her and began pacing the room. Dakota stood beside the closed door, glancing around the room cautiously. It was filled to the bring with hundreds of books and it smelled old. There were no windows and the only way out was through the door, but there was no way to go.

"I can't believe it was all a lie." she muttered, letting herself sit in one of the leather chairs in defeat. "Everything you said to me was crap. All of it. You never cared about me. You only cared about what I could do. I don't understand how I didn't see it. I'm so stupid."

"I need you to stop talking." he closed his eyes in frustration.

"Why?" she shot at him. "I will be dead in a moment anyway."

Dakota let out a shriek when his face appeared in front of her own, his hands gripped the leather armrests with a force that almost made the wood within crack, as he trapped her between the chair and himself. Their noses were touching and his fangs almost brushed over her lips.

"You are not going to die." he snarled, eyes boring into her own. "I will die before I let anything happen to you. I will get you out of here but you need to trust me. Russell is three thousand years old and not easily fooled. Whatever you think I think of you, is wrong."

Dakota was breathing quickly, heart thundering deep within her chest as Eric closed his eyes tightly. His words hit her hard and all she wanted was to reach out and wrap her arms around him, to feel safe. His hand moved from the armrest to the back of her head and he moved his fingers through her hair, angling her head upward so his lips could brush over her own.

"Just do what they ask of you." he advised. "Can you do that?"

"Yes." she nodded, leaning into his touch ever so slightly.

As quick as the moment was, it had also gone and Eric now stood on the other side of the room. The door opened and in stepped Russell. The viking shot him a beaming smile, which was out of character for him.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting, a husband's work is never done." he said, rebuckling his belt before turning to Eric. "Leave us."

Eric nodded, smile still on his face and his eyes moved to Dakota for a brief moment. "As you wish."

The door locked behind him and Dakota swallowed her nerves as she kept her gaze on the vampire king of Mississippi. He turned on his heel to face her, hands clasped behind his back as his eyes bore holes into her own.

"Now, tell me what you are."

"I'm a waitress."

"Yes, and I am Marie from Romania." He was annoyed, and that was not good. "I am a patient man, Miss Elkins. One can afford to be when one is immortal. But my patience is not without limits"

Russel walked around the room, picking up a book here and there before stoking on the fireplace. Dakota didn't want to admit it but the add of the warmth of the fire felt good against her freezing skin.

"I love a good fire." he declared, taking out the metal poke before touching it briefly in the palm of his hand. His skin sizzled at the touch but he didn't seem to feel it. "There's something primal about it. Always makes things more dramatic." He moved to the chair opposite of her and sat down. "Now, it's time for you to answer some questions, Miss Elkins."

"Fine," she agreed, putting on a brave face. "I have some questions for you, too."

"Heh, oh, honey." he chuckled, throwing his head back in amusement. "There's a fine line between feisty and delusional. You're not really in any position to bargain."

"You don't know that."

"Oh," he grinned. "now it's getting interesting."

"I'll answer one of your questions and you'll answer one of mine?"

"Heh," he mocked, as he played along. "who goes first?"

"Are you the king of all vampires?" wondered Dakota, wanting to know how much time she could win by doing this. Morning would come soon enough and she felt a bit better knowing the sun would be on her side.

"Heavens no, my dear girl." he laughed, though he seemed pleased with her question, flattered almost. "I am merely the king of Mississippi."

"Do you have a crown?"

"I have several." he nodded, leaning forwards in his seat. "That's two questions. My turn. What are you? You're definitely not human."

"My parents were human." Dakota informed, hands resting in her lap.

"How do you know?" he demanded, crossing his legs as he cocked his head at her. "And how do you know they were your real parents, for that matter?"

Dakota let out a long breath, lying wasn't an option. If he really was three thousands years old as Eric said, he would know. Hell, all vampires could tell lies by the heartbeat of a human. "My grandfather was like me."

"Which is?" he was interested now.

"I can hear people's thoughts." she confessed, frowning. "And shifters, werewolves. Not vampires."

"How dreadful that must be." Russell prodded, resting his elbows on his knees. "I mean, who cares what anyone else is thinking?"

"My turn." she tried and Russell let out a bored sigh. "Am I going to live?"

The vampire stared at her, eyes stopping at her neck before meeting her eyes once more. "That depends," he shrugged, smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "if you prove to be valuable as Eric said, I might let you live. If not ... i'm sure my husband would love a taste." Dakota didn't get the chance as he continued, "My turn. What are you besides a telepath? And what on earth makes that light shoot out of your hands?"

Dakota kept her mouth shut, lips trembling.

"Oh, don't make me force it out of you." he tutted, rolling his eyes.

"I don't know." she promised. "I never even knew I could do it until recently and I don't know what I am. Maybe i'm an alien. All I know is that it's something big, so if I were you I wouldn't hurt me."

"Are there other powers?" he ignored her.

"My turn." she shook her head, trying to keep her tears in.

Russell shot up from his chair with vampire speed, stopping in front of her as he screamed something in German. Dakota leaned as far back into her chair as she could, holding her breath. His fangs were on display. "Are there other powers?"

"I once touched someone's face and he started burning, that's all."

"Well," the king chuckled, moving to walk around the room to grab a book from one of the shelves. "no wonder the queen is so fascinated by you."

"There's a queen?"

"Oh, sweetheart." he mocked, amused by her lack of knowledge. "You really don't know anything at all, do you?"

Russell dropped the book onto the desk in the corner of the room and sped toward her, taking her wrist in his cold hand. His grip was tight, but bearable as he pulled her from the room. Dakota's panic spiked once again, feeling clueless as to what was going to happen. The vampire dragged her down the hallway and she recognised the car sized chandelier in the foyer.

"Where are you taking me?" she cried. "Get your hands off me!"

"Carlo!" called Russell, and a vampire dressed in black appeared in front of them. The king pushed her toward him and the guard took a hold of her. "Take this. And have Timothy bring the car around."

"Let me go!" Dakota demanded, struggling in his grip.

The blond could see Eric sitting beside Talbot in the room right of the foyer, playing cards. He didn't meet her eyes and it hurt, but she knew he was pretending and that brought her a tad of comfort. Carlo pulled her up the stairs, harshly and she was sure to get multiple bruises from the sheer force of it.

"I will kill you!" she screamed as they reached the top, and the vampire pulled her down another corridor. He adjusted his grip, letting go of her wrists and grabbing the back of her neck to push her in front of him. "Get your creepy hands off me! I have powers, I will use them!"

Dakota screamed as he pushed her inside a room, hard enough to make her fall to the red carpeted floor. The door slammed shut behind her and Dakota rushed to open the curtains, but there were no windows. With a defeated cry she let herself fall onto the bed, trapped.