The Midnight Foxxx

Chapter 8

VIXEN

It’s cold and dark as I open my eyes. My skin feels sticky and gross, layers of sweat and Goddess knows what else clinging to me. Everything hurts, my back aches, thighs and arms are sore, and between my legs throbs. I have no idea what time it is, or what day for that matter, and there's no clock on the wall to tell me. Taking in my surroundings, the room is trashed. Wrappers, alcohol bottles, and the clothes I had been wearing litter the floor. An empty pill bottle lies discarded on the nightstand and I frown before throwing it angrily across the room. I try to stand, but the room starts to spin, and my legs begin to shake under my weight. After taking a couple steps my knees buckle, and crumple to the floor with a loud thud. The door handle jingles and starts to turn. I hold my breath and close my eyes, too scared to know who has entered.

"Hey," Brax calls to me softly. I exhale in relief but don't turn to face him.

"Vix, look at me," he tries again, but I shake my head. The vampire kneels beside me, throwing a blanket over my shoulder. It's immediately pulled closer, desperate for its warmth.

"I'm gunna pick you up, okay?" his voice is soft. I nod and get lifted off the floor with ease, then carried out of the room bridal style. Brax pulls the blanket up more to shield my face from prying eyes just as quiet chattering reaches my ears. I curl into the large chest cradling me, wanting to be anywhere but here. As we climb the stairs, strong arms hold me tighter, minimizing any uncomfortable jostling. Once we pass through the unmistakable creak of my bedroom door, I relax in the privacy. The vampire sets me down by the tub in my personal bathroom and turns on the faucet, the rush of running water filling the silence.

"Can you stand?" he asks gently. I shakily get to my feet, legs weak and unstable. The movement turns my stomach, causing a rush of nausea and quickly kneel by the toilet. Quaking hands grip the porcelain bowl as what little contents in my stomach is vacated. A large hand pulls tangled hair out of my face while a second rubs my back.

"You ok?" he murmurs. I can only manage a nod.

"Silas over did it this time with the Love Haze," Brax sighs.

"There was an entire empty bottle of it on the nightstand when I woke up," I rasp, throat sore from the retching.

"He could of over-dosed you," his face falls into a deep frown and I shrug.

"He knew exactly how much to give me. He wouldn't risk losing one of his assets," I sigh. The vampire pulls my long hair up into a messy bun before helping me to my feet. He helps me over to the bath and lowers me in. The intense heat burns briefly before soothing aching limbs, pulling a relieved sigh from my lips.

"Better?" he asks. I hum in approval. The contrasting cold of his hands startles me when they start scrubbing away at the layers of grime. He apologizes softly and continues. Strong fingers dig into tense muscles, the pain making me grit my teeth before relaxing as the knots are massaged out.

“How long?” I finally ask. Brax’s fingers pause momentarily.

“About five days,” he answers, and his fingers continue their ministrations.

“f**k,” I breathe, “think that’s the longest punishment yet.” I laugh half-heartedly, trying to lighten the mood.

“This is serious Vix. You could have dehydrated if I hadn’t been sneaking in to give you water,” his tone is dark.

"He wouldn't let me die," my knees are pulled to my chest and roll my eyes. Water is unexpectedly dumped over my head, causing me to yelp. Before I can complain, shampoo is being poured over my hair and long digits begin massaging my scalp. The pleasant sensation has me melting into his hands, only to be startled again when more water is poured over my head.

"You're such a d**k," I tease, a slight giggle to my voice.

"Mmh, yes. I'm cleaning you up, helping you with a bath, and I'M the d**k," his smile is audible. Conditioner is lathered through the long strands and then Brax is back to kneading out the knotted muscles in my back.

"So I have some good news and some bad news," the vampire breaks the silence. I hum in acknowledgement for him to continue, "That last target you had? He came to the club a couple nights ago. While you were still drugged," I turn to look at him quizzically. "His alpha was with him and paid off his debt when I refused to let him in."

"Okay, that's good. I don't have to worry about him anymore. So what's the bad news?" anxiety flutters in my stomach. Cold fingers stop their massaging and amber eyes look into mine.

"He immediately racked up a bill again and left without paying. Silas is beyond pissed," Brax's voice is filled with irritation.

"You've GOT to be kidding me," I groan, "What the hell is he evening doing to accumulate that much debt? He can't possibly be drinking that much." Amber eyes darken and look away.

"What aren't you telling me?" When he finally meets my gaze again there's a fire of rage and hate in his normally kind, warm eyes.

"He requested your," he pauses, choosing his words carefully, "services. Several hours worth while you were out of it." The new information makes my skin crawl. Not that I'm unaccustomed to being whored out by Silas, but something about having s*x with someone I was asked with executing feels... wrong. I hug my knees to my chest.

"Of course he did," I mutter, "Goddess, this is fucked." Brax hums in agreement as he pours water over my hair to rinse out the conditioner.

Deemed clean enough, the vampire drains the tubs and wraps my long hair into a towel, then my body. He helps me out of the bathroom and sits me down on the bed between his legs, my back to his chest. The towel crowning my head is removed before a brush is gently run through the long black locks. Ordinarily, I'd make a fuss at being babied, but there's just no energy left in my body, and instead lean into the brush strokes.

"He wants you to go after Wilder Bishop again," Brax says softly.

"I figured as much," I sigh.

"He's giving you a week this time, and you aren't allowed back until then," he explains.

“And if I don’t get it done within a week?” I’m almost too scared to even know what Silas would do to me then.

“I think it’s better if you don’t know,” large arms wrap around me, pulling me into a hug. I lean into it, tangling my fingers with his.

“How the f**k am I going to pull this off?” The question is asked so quietly, but I know Brax heard me.

He inhales deeply, gathering his thoughts, “Pack members rarely go anywhere alone. It’ll be hard to catch him on his own. Not only that, you'll have to have a concealment spell active at all times, meaning your magic usage will have to be moderated constantly."

"You know my magic conservation is s**t," I groan.

"Time to get better at it," Brax teases as a cold cheek is rested on the top of my head. "Please be careful," he murmurs.

"No promises," I laugh half-heartedly and get hugged tighter.

"I'm serious," cool breath tickles my scalp.

We sit there for a while, bathing in the comfort of each other's company. Friends since the beginning, looking out for each other. Both of us stuck in servitude to a psychopathic warlock til the end of time, but at least we have each other.