Bloodless Dreams

Chapter Five: Exposer

Evangeline

It is a calm uneventful day here in my lavish prison surrounded by the same men who are overbearing and overattentive prison guards. I am sitting in the den area reading the book I found in Harland’s room. It is a lovely story with the most amazing love story. You know the kind where the woman is saved, and they love each other living happily ever after. A love story any woman would love to have. 

“Brother, we have the Oracle coming this evening to present the human with a gift. I have a gown laid out for her. Get her to wear it.” 

“Why me?” 

“Because I need to help Frasier unload the groceries.” 

I had sunk down into the sofa preying they would not see me. If I can stay under their radar, I may sneak out of the house and off the property before they find me and drag me back here. Do not get me wrong I enjoy being close to Harland but the feelings that seem to grow and blossom when I am close to him make me scared. Knowing he is in danger; they are all in danger with me being here only gives me one course. I need to escape for their safety. I stuck my head up to see Viktor and Deacon going separate ways. I followed Deacon to the kitchen, watching him and Frasier unload groceries. When they went into the walk-in fridge, I made my move, running to the open door to find myself running across the cold snow-covered grass. I did it. Now I need to find a place to hide for the night until I can find someone who can help me. 

I got to the wall I climbed before and beginning making my accent, at the top, I throw myself over landing on the frozen ground. It hurt. Overcoming the pain shooting through my side, I got up and started running again. Soon I found myself in a clearing with a large lake lying in front of me. It is absolutely beautiful. I took a moment to myself and sat down by the edge, looking over the water. I watched the birds diving in and the fish jumping up in an elegant dance. 

“The King will be so pleased with me.” 

I jumped to my feet and turned around, facing a man that did not look quite like a man. His skin a pale sickly color, his hair jet black, and his eyes sunken in. I can smell him, a strong vinegar scent it is making my stomach turn. 

“Do not try running little human. I will catch you and I will not do so kindly.” 

I started backing up, running into something behind me. I turned slowly to see the same sickly pale white skin. The man grabbed my arms and began dragging me away with the first man following, laughing the whole way. We went into the woods and then into a small cabin. The only thing inside of the cabin is a brightly lit control panel. He dragged me to the middle of the room and typed something, triggering an elevator under us. We started our descent down into the darkness. 

“We will bring her straight to King Avden. He is will be pleased to finally have her.”

“What do you think our reward will be?”

“I hope to be one of his chosen.”

“Same.”

I listened to the men talking and rolled my eyes. Lovely yet another monster wanting to stake some kind of claim on me. There is only one monster I would ever allow to claim me is Harland. The elevator stopped moving, and a door slid open. The room is white, to white like a hospital white. It makes me want to puke. The man dragged me through the hallways and into another room covered in black-and-white marble walls. 

“Why have you bothered me?” 

“We found her my King.” 

I heard the man at the desk take a sharp breath as he stood up and turned around to face us. This man is uglier than the two who brought me here. They all look similar like they are family. Everything but this man’s eyes. His eyes are a glowing yellow color. Very unattractive. A sick, toothy smile spread across his face while his eyes traveled down across my body. I yanked my arm from the man holding onto me and crossed my arms, giving their King an unimpressed look. 

“The tales of human women are true. Your beauty knows no bounds.” 

“Save it.” 

“Excuse me?” He said with a confused look. 

“I do not want your compliments.” 

“What do you want, human?” 

“For you to let me go.” 

“And where would you go?” 

“To Harland.” 

He scoffed and flew around the desk backhanding me across the face knocking me to the ground. It hurt a lot, but I will not show him the pain, I will not feed into his ego. I laughed and spit the blood to the ground before standing up to face him again. His sunken yellow eyes grew angry. I smiled at him as I wiped my face. 

“You will not say his name again.” 

“Harland will find me,” I said taking a step closer to him. “And he will kill you for taking me.” 

“I look forward to that day. I will kill their King and your Harland in front of you.” 

“I would love to see you try.” 

He hit me across the face again and then turned away. I stood up when the two men grabbed my arms restraining me in place. 

“Lock her in her room.” 

“Yes, my lord.” 

The men turned me around and dragged me down the hall, throwing me into an empty room. The door is slammed and locked, leaving me alone. I looked around the room thankful it looks nothing like the hallways or the King's office. The room is covered in wooden panels, there is an enormous fireplace and in the middle against the wall is a big four-post bed. To the left of the door is a washroom and then a closet. I went and sat down on the bed staring out of the window regretting my escape. I left a good prison and replaced it with one that smells of vinegar. 

*        *       *       *

Harland

“Brother, have you seen Evangeline?” Viktor asked me. 

“I last saw her in the den reading.” 

“She is no longer there.” 

“What do you mean?” I said standing up. 

“We have searched the compound inside and out she is gone.” 

My heart dropped, and I ran out of the house into the yard. I stood still for smelling the air for her scent. Begging my beast counterpart to aid me in finding her. After a moment, I located her scent trail and followed it. I can feel my brothers running after me. They knew to stay silent. The trail ended at the lake's edge. But there is something wrong, there is a faint sour smell. My eyes widened, and I looked to my brothers. 

“Croten.” I growled. 

“We will find her brother. Can you follow their trail?” Phaeron asked me. 

“Yes, but I will need his help.” 

They all nodded and took a step back, giving me space, I need to transform. To let the beast, take control. He is just as angry and driven as I am. We will find her. We must. 

*        *       *       *

Evangeline

He came to my door, without knocking he entered the room he deemed as mine and shut the door locking it. 

“What do you want from me?” 

“I want you to carry my children. I want you to give birth to my pure blood Croten children who will rule this world when I pass.” 

“I will never carry your offspring.” 

“But you will. If you choose not to, I will beat you in submission.” 

“Pain does not scare me. You do not scare me.” 

“You will learn women.” 

He went to the door and opened it. He leaned down to one of the men standing outside of the room and whispered something to him. The guard entered my room and grabbed me, dragging me out of the room and down the hall into another one. This room looked like a hospital room. There are chains hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the room and other objects hanging from the walls. This is his torcher room. This is where he plans on trying to reform me. The guard took me into the middle of the room and secured the cuffs to my hands. He left me hanging there and left the room, shutting the lights off as he closed the door. 

My shoulders burn, my hands are numb, my legs feel like jello. I have been hanging here for some time now and I want it to stop. Deep down inside, I already know the chances of all this going away are not likely. It is just the beginning. The only relief I find is in the few memories I have of Harland and our time spent together. I will forever regret running from him and his brothers.