Everything happened in a blur. I was aware of it all, and yet, I wasn't. It was almost like everything was happening to another person, and yet it was me. I felt Derek's strong arms beneath me, carrying me. I heard his conversation with Vivienne before they both decided to take me to see Corrine the witch at the Sanctuary. I saw the agitation on Derek's face, the intoxicating scent of his natural musk filling my nostrils as I snuggled against him. I was conscious of it all, and yet at the same time, I was stuck in a memory, still reliving every sickening sensation it induced.
I was lured to sleep by an enchanting melody and awakened from it by a horrific nightmare.
His hand was clamped over my mouth and his full weight was rested on top of me, constricting my breathing. I felt his free hand hike up my thigh and when I flinched, he chuckled vehemently, amused by my weakness.
"I will have you someday, Sofia," he whispered against my ear. "You will bring me so much pleasure and once I'm done with you, I will have a taste of your sweet, sweet blood."
His hand hiked up my waist and slipped beneath my back. Blinding pain unlike anything I'd ever experienced before assaulted me when his claws came out, digging against the skin on my back.
My screams were muffled by his palm over my mouth when he scratched through my flesh with his nails. My back was on fire with searing agony as tears began to stream down my face.
His lips pressed against my neck, my jaw, my cheek, each blood-curdling word coming out of his lips dripping with spite and the intent to make me feel that he had power over me.
"But don't worry, my fragile little twig. I've had my fill for the night. I just wanted to warn you about what's ahead of you, remind you who found you…and who really owns you."
Still keeping his hand over my mouth, Lucas lifted himself up on the bed, so that he was kneeling over me, straddling my hips as he looked down at me, a manic smile on his face.
"Don't get too comfortable with my brother, Sofia, because no matter what he may think, you're mine. And should you get any bright ideas about telling Derek about this little rendezvous of ours, consider this a stern warning."
He used his free hand to retrieve something from his jacket's pocket. It was a lock of brown hair. My eyes grew wide with horror imagining what the object implied. He began tracing the ends of the strands of hair over my jaw line.
"I have a gift waiting for you at the bathroom. Before you scream for help, I suggest you check it out… unless of course you want more of my gifts waiting for you."
With that, he left, leaving the lock of hair behind. Trembling, I grabbed the item and got off the bed.
I slowly walked toward the bathroom, dreading to find out what gift he could possibly think of giving me. There were no words to describe what I felt when I opened the bathroom door and found Gwen's lifeless body there. The sensations and emotions that rushed through me at that moment were more than I could handle. My throat felt so dry, I couldn't even scream. I just retreated to a corner, terrified, realizing that no matter how beautiful the Blood Shade was on the outside, it was only a mask to hide its darkness. I'd fooled myself into believing that I was safe, but that was the biggest lie I'd told myself in years.