Chapter 45 – Why Am I Here?
“Grief, no matter how you try to cater to its wall, has a way of fading away,”
Kiya
V.C. Andrews
In darkness I arrived and in which I will leave. Waking up alter blacking out shouldn’t include my brain spinning like a toy top, but it did. The last time I blacked out was when I was a slobbering mess in the kitchen, but at least a vampire didn’t kidnap me!
This may be a teenage girl’s wet dream, but it isn’t mine!
Grabbing the reins of consciousness wasn’t too hard because my body wakes from its deep slumber, shifting in what I thought to be a bed. An extremely soft bed, I may add, but it didn’t bring comfort. Instead, memories of what happened previous to the blackout flooded my mind and bathed me in chills.
Cerberus attacked me. Then Osiris kidnapped me after drugging me with wolfsbane. Of all the things to subdue me, it had to be that goddamn plant.
F*cking hell!
Enraged, my eyes shot open to glare at the white ceiling above me. A narrow ray of light sliced through the center from one corner to another; the feeble brightness barely sufficient to illuminate the room. I felt a heavy weight latched around both my wrists along with the sensation of cool metal.
“What the…” Bringing them up to my face, I see the silver arm cuffs with intricate markups embedded into it, glowing softly in violet, Familiar markings. The thickened bonds that once demanded my submission got it again; this time, without effort.
My first kidnapping reminded me how powerless I felt. Connecting to my wolf was a pain and I couldn’t fight. back as I normally world. It restricted my powers.
But is Artemis okay? I haven’t heard from her in a minute. Worried, I opened our mind–link and reached out to her, noting my weakness became hers. Behind my eyelids, I saw my beautiful white wolf slumped on her belly, huffing softly through her nose.
“Art? Are you okay?”
Silence.
“Artemis, can you hear me? I need to know if you’re okay!”
“I’m here. Stop shouting.” She answered weakly. “I’m so tired, Kiki.”
“I am too, but don’t worry. I’m going to get us out of here.”
Every prison has a door, even if I have to make it myself. A burst of determination rushed through me, ready to take on the world. Osiris is not stopping me! If he expected a meek prisoner, he’ll be greatly disappointed. Rising from the bed, my fingers brush against the smooth and plush crimson blanket warming me from the airy chill. A faint scent of cologne lingered in the alt, pleasurable sparks erupting from below my skin.
At least the vampire had the decency to keep me warm. Note the sarcasm.
Chapter 45- Why Am I Here?
I swung my feet off the mattress, pressing them against the cold, smooth floor. My neck still burned from both his mark and the injection, but I pushed through the weakness to walk to the door. Artemis is counting on me, and I’ve overstayed my welcome. On my way, I noticed an absence of weight in my back jean pocket. Feeling it up confirmed my fear, earning an irritated groan from me.
“F*ck!” I growled, pinching the bridge of my nose. My phone! It must’ve fallen out during my tussle with Cerberus! I tried reaching to my friends and family through mind–link, but I’m met with blockades. Either I’m too far away to reach them or they’ve put the blocks themselves; the latter being preposterous.
Looks like I’m on my own with this one.
My mood deflated when I thought about the people I love; my tears prick my eyes. Knowing how worried Mom gets over me, she’s desperately searching for me, tearing through everything and everybody. I constantly thought Mom fussing over me was just a thing mothers do, but I come to learn is that she cares about me. Her love is so powerful that she ripped e away from my mission so I can heal at home with her.
I can’t believe I’m worrying her again! This isn’t fair! I got to be with my family again, only to be ripped away from them by a blood–sucking madman!
“Come on, girl.” I sniffled, catching a few tears with my finger. “Focus. There’s always a way out; I just got to
find it.”
I tried the door, but with no luck. The knob wouldn’t budge, no matter how much I turned it. Osiris locked the door from the outside, trapping me inside. And the man is nowhere to be found in the room. Speaking of which, when I turned around to see what kind of room, I’m in, my words descended into dust.
He has exquisite taste in interior design, as much as I hate to admit.
Pictures of colored landscapes with mountains and trees hung on the red padded walls. Pendant lights and sconces hung from both the ceiling and the wall. Unfamiliar designs carved into the borders of the ceiling. connecting between each angle to give off a refined, royal feel. The bed I was on earlier is draped with both crimson and black sheets, partially spilled onto the floor with an identical table at the foot of the bed, bedecked with foreign omaments. Silk drapes hung from the ceiling at the head of the bed. Polished sets of tables and drawers held lamps, mirrors, and antique black boxes and chairs decorated in the same color scheme accompanied them.
The aesthetic of this room is fit for someone of importance; like a prince or an emperor. I feel out of place simply from the expensive allure.
“I guess the place looks nice…”
“I’ve seen better in magazines.” Artemis huffed.
I strode to the dark drapes on the distant side of the room and yanked them open, sunlight smacking me across the face. My eyes readjusted to the sudden brightness from being in darkness for so long. Out the window, the emergent layer of dense leafy trees lined in rows beneath the horizon, obscuring hints of lush grass. Birds fly above the canopies on their merry way, ignoring my predicament in this strange place. Sharp tips of the mountains poked through the blue sky, the snow blending seamlessly with the clouds.
The area is unfamiliar to me. If I were to break through this window from a four or five–story window, shift and run, I wouldn’t know where to go. I have no idea how close or far I’m from home, anyway.
Chapter 45 – Why Am I Help?
“This is some bulls-!”
“Hiss!”
My heart stopped. Goddess, please tell me there is not a snake beside me. If there is, I will lose my shit.
Slowly, I turn my head to where the hideous noise came from. Next to me is a cushioned table sitting between the two draped windows with an antique black box in the center. But it wasn’t the only thing black; it was the only thing that wasn’t moving. A big black serpent, the size of a boa constrictor, uncoiled itself around its possession, staring me down with its beady scarlet eyes, sizing me up.
I, an adult woman, am glaring down a snake that might kill me. As if it sensed my discomfort, it stuck its forked tongue out at me.
Suddenly, the damn thing hissed again, wiggling toward me. I jumped back immediately, putting my fists up. “Back the f*ck up, snake! Wolves eat your kind, remember?”
It didn’t listen, like nature didn’t matter. Wiggling, its broad body slithered to the ground, stalking up toward me with the gaze of a ravenous predator, seeking for a place to pierce its fangs into my skin. Normally, I’m not afraid of snakes, but thanks to a certain someone, I’ve grown distasteful of them.
So what did I do? I had to show it, I’m the bigger predator here, right?
I punted the piece of shit like a football; its long body hitting the window with a loud thud.
Touchdown!
However, the realization soon settled in that I’ve assaulted a vicious snake big enough to snap my throat, sealed in a room with no way out.
Yep. This is not one of my best moments. Judging by its increased hissing, I pissed it off.
My brilliant idea was to run back to the door, but I ended up rushing into a wall. A wall full of hard muscle underneath my fingertips. Large, chilly hands clutched my shoulders, stilling me with the powerful sparks of an unwanted bond shooting straight to my core. My eyes looked up to meet menacing crimson and an irritating smirk.
“Your bravery is commendable, but please, don’t hurt my snake. Pepi has feelings too, you know?”
Infuriated, I smacked Osiris across his handsome face. His head jerked back a little, unfazed by my sudden violence. Instead, he simply blinked and looked back with a quizzical look. “That was surprising. Can’t say I didn’t expect that.”
“You. Kidnapped. Me!” I shouted. “What the hell is the matter with you?!”
“A lot of things.”
“Was that supposed to be a joke?”
“It made me laugh.” He grins.
“Take me back home or I’ll make you!”
I’ll make you!”
305
“Ah, what are you proposing?” Osiris asked, wiggling his colorless eyebrows. “If what you give is good enough, I might consider.” His snake, Pepi, slithered to his owner and wrapped his thick body around his arm, resting its head on his shoulder. “Aww, are you hurt, sweetheart?”
I don’t know what disgusted me more; Osiris or the fact he’s comforting his pet reptile like a child. “Hey! We aren’t done talking!”
“I believe you are.” The vampire replied casually, ignoring the heat of my anger. “If you want to know the reason why I brought you here, calm down.”
“You never tell a woman to calm down! It gives you the opposite of what you’re looking for!”
Okay, be I’m acting tough, but this beast stole me from my family and caused our van to crash! He almost got us killed. I could’ve lost my family and friends today, so f*ck staying calm! Osiris eyed me from head to toe before walking over to the table where Pepi was earlier.
“What are you going to do with me?” I demanded, crossing my arms. Since I’m forced to stay there, I’ve made it a mission to be irritating enough for him to let me go. “Drain me of my blood? Chop me into pieces? Sell me to a s*x trafficking ring?”
“No, but tempting, no, and definitely not. Don’t compare me to those despicable humans.” Something flashes in my view from his hands until he balled it into his fist, “I need you to listen. There is a reason I do the things I do. It could help you get out of here.”
“You’re lying.”
“I am, so sit on the bed and put on your listening ears‘ as children like to say.” He chuckled mockingly.
Osiris is the type of man who’d infuriate women to the point they commit murder. It’s me; I’m that woman. I didn’t want to listen to what bullshit excuses he had for f*cking up my life, but it’s not like I have a choice. I’m trapped in his domain.
Huffing, I sit my ass on his bed, crossing my legs. “Fine, but keep that snake on a leech. Any funny business and Pepi becomes my wolf’s dinner.”
“No, he won’t.”
“Shh!”
Osiris‘ back faces me, nursing a mysterious object in his hand. His white hair curtains his face, concealing his face from my view. Before long, he turned to me, holding up the item for me to see. A vintage necklace haloed by the sunlight. The golden, jeweled pendant is attached to a silver chain gently swinging in the still air. The vampire gazes at the gemstone fondly, like he’s remembering something precious to him.
“Do you know why I hate Zircon Moon so much?” He asks me, averting his eyes to me. “Just as they ruined your life, they ruined mine. Because of the actions of a selfish tyrant, I lost the first person I ever loved. This,” He shakes the necklace. “Is all I have left of her, because Titan Prince took her away from me.”
Osiris walks over and sets the necklace at my side before walking to the window. He’s a dark being, but the bright light illuminated the sadness on his face. Cautiously, I cradled the necklace in my hands, feeling the sensation of death linger around it.
“Titan Prince?” That man and Neron have the same surname. Could they be related? The name is unfamiliar
Chapter
to me, but I figured it was best if I just shut up and listen to Osiris‘ backstory, whatever it may be.
“Let’s begin with a history lesson, shall we?”