three days ago.
I couldn't breathe. I tried to run, only to realize that I couldn't even take a single step. I just remained standing in the unfamiliar and unlit place with my hands firmly clenched. Above me was a light that slightly lit up the desolated place. I could feel my nails digging into my flesh as my veins rose to the surface of my skin. Just then, I caught a glimpse of a pair of radiant, ruby-like eyes from afar. Gloomy. Dread. Belligerence. Those words were not even the specific discourse that my mind had given them.
"Elora..." A deep voice purred.
My eyes automatically lifted. That silken voice. I attempted to take a step back as his arms made contact with the light overhead, illuminating his pale skin. He has claws that are sharp and almost lethal. He took another step, and he flaunted his bare foot against the rays of light until his figure became distinct.
His lips slowly curled into a devilish smile.
"I won't obstruct until I hear you beg for mercy." I instantly froze and ran out of words to say. I felt like the blood in my face was wholly exhausting as his constitution trapped me in frazzle. The man who lives and haunts me in my nightmare was now standing a few inches away from me.
He's topless, with black jeans covering his lower body. Well-defined. Brawn. He has dark, straight hair with a few strands hanging against his forehead. His lips, along with his fangs, which were precisely pointed and sharp, were tainted by thick red liquor-blood, I assumed. His halo exhibits imperilment, especially those red eyes that were staring into mine. There's not even a trace of benignancy—even a vague trace of it.
It'll be impossible for me to think this way,. but only one precise thing has crossed my mind. He's the predator, and I'm his prey.
My eyes widened when he suddenly disappeared into thin air, and in mere seconds, I found him standing behind me.
I can feel his cool, mint-like breath fluttering against my bare neck. In this exact moment, I wished I could move, took a step, and ran off. But this isn't a dream where everything is under my control. This is a nightmare, and it bequeaths torment knowing that he reigns over me.
With his nose tip touching my neck as if appraising my scent, my hands trembled. I shuddered when I felt his cold hand on my head and shoulder, slightly slanting it to give way for his mouth to lean towards my neck. Every tinge of his makes a shiver run down my spine, with a few hairs on the surface of my skin standing up by his plutonian.
Cold sweats started to escape, and they slowly dripped down my face as I felt his breath getting closer and closer.
"Fuck you," I muttered.
Even in my dreams, I'm still haunted by my worst fears. and it's him. Always been.
He chuckled—a pernicious, sexy one.
"Your detrimental mouth never failed to amuse me, Elora." His belligerence was now freaking the hell out of me. Tracing into the very deep corner of my brain, where all my emotions were heaped, led to my mere reflexes.
"But I despise those who bestow their recalcitrance on me." I could feel his pointed claws trailing against my skin, and I restrained myself from wailing in spite of the nipping pain.
"And you're one of them."
"For fuck's sake. Quit being vile and be specific, goddamn it!" I abruptly spat on him. Eclectic sentiments were now enveloping me and transmitting through my reflexes. I have no control over myself now, as his presence intimidates me.
"Ah, feisty."
"Cut the crap already!"
"If I were you, quit living in contradictions and play along. You have no escape from me, Elora."
I was taken aback. What does he mean? With my quivering voice, I spoke. "Why is that?"
I heard him smirk.
"Because you're mine now."
I winced when his mouth touched the surface of my bare neck. I let out a piercing scream when the two sharp things thrust themselves into my flesh. Feeling the pungency of the digging pain, I fainted.
I opened my eyes. With abysmal and uneven breathing, I got seated on the bed. I raised my hands, ran my hands through my hair, and sighed frustratingly. After a few seconds, my palm landed against my chest. Feeling the anxiety and relief, I closed my eyes. It was just a dream.
When I came down, I glanced at my surroundings, only to be taken aback. Where am I? The room has exquisite white walls and ceilings, with a crystal chandelier hanging in the very center beneath the ceiling. The curtains that hang and cover the window were slightly drawn, making sun rays pass through the window and illuminating the beige-colored tiles resplendently.
I had to blink to process everything. My head appraisingly paused for a brief moment but constantly went spinning as my gaze slowly landed on my body, which was devoid of any clothes, exposing every lineament of my body. My lips parted, and my mind went haywire. There seemed to be a hefty pressure on me that constricts my breathing. I slowly took off the white blanket that was covering my body with trembling hands. I instantly gasped, was shocked, and my eyes widened when I saw a dried red liquid substance against the garment and staining the pure white bedsheet, just like how it stained my chastity, my purity that I always reserve. But now it was gone, and it made me definitely lunatic.
You're mine now.
The words that he aforementioned in my dream were now engraved in my mind, invariably carved and unable to be annihilated. a brief and concise word with only one meaning that defines possession, attribute, and plunder. and how it made me baffled with bewilderment, agitation, and perturbed sentiment. And lastly, how he said those words directly to me, with an inevitably determined constitution. It was me he was talking about.
I wailed when I felt a sharp pain on the side of my neck, as if it were being corroded with a pitch-black degree of ardor. Trailing the side of my neck, I felt like a thick liquid substance tainted my fingers. No, tell me that I'm still in my nightmare.
But I was wrong. This is the reality. Seeing my stained fingers, I knew I was not dreaming. My consciousness was awake. And I couldn't accept it, as it made me fall into my downcast—an infinite chasm—an immeasurable and unpredictable misery. leading me into a different and voluminous degree of my vehemence.
I tried so hard to mantle my mouth to prevent myself from squealing. But still, I failed. My mere reflexes, aware of the situation right now, overwhelmed me with the urge to scream when I saw a muscular man lying next to me. And before I could even do some restraint, a loud, piercing scream already escaped from my mouth.
I got off the bed in a rush. I also pulled the blanket to coat my bare body, turned my back against him, took a step forward, and was about to run towards the door when I felt a gust of wind suddenly come rushing towards me. In a single second, I found myself facing him, staring directly into his bloody eyes and devilish grin.
And in one swift move, he dashed towards me, and the next thing I knew, I was lying on the cozy bed, and above me was him, seizing both of my wrists that were emplaced near the headboard of the bed with an exaggerating pressure I can't even subdue. My chest, along with my heart, was racing with palpitations. I can't name the specific discourse to the sentiments that were enveloping me since it all transmits through my reflexes miscellaneously.
Our faces were inches apart, and the ambience that was surrounding us secreted suffocation as he stared directly into my eyes with his breath, brushing every inch of my face that was covered in cold sweats.
"Going, somewhere?" I gasped when I felt our nose tips make contact with each other. With his two hands trapping me in, I knew there was no way out.
I feigned a mocking smile. "Yeah, and I don't see why it concerns you." I coated my trepidation with a note of sarcasm.
His deep sea-colored eyes suddenly beamed with a more radiant, ruby-like flicker of light. With one swift move, his lips already rushed towards my neck as he slightly slanted it. Two sharp things thrust themselves into my flesh. Feeling the pungency of the digging pain, my fists clenched to endure the searing torment.
Sensing my emaciation, the two sharp and pointed things that were sinking beneath the surface of my bare neck retracted. My clenched fists loosened as my whole body went limp. With my breath uneven, I gazed at the guy in front of me only to see his aggravating smile.
"That's what you get for being recalcitrant."
---
I was pulled back to reality when a finger made its way to my chin, tilting my face upward. Then, I saw Matteus's arched eyebrows, alluding to the fact that he was waiting for my answer. His proclaiming vexation was visible in my eyes, as if the blame was on me for my long-standing chimera.
"So, how about now?" He asked me as he leaned closer to me. I winced when our lips nearly touched. He let out a chuckle, amused. "Still want to oppose and get executed?"
"Fine, I-I'll...." Staring directly into his alluring eyes, unwanted feelings were now transmitting through every fiber of my body and reflexes—I never wanted this. But with no choice, I had to be submissive. I never knew what was going to happen to me in their empire, for I am a sinner who broke the rules of the Mortals and Vampires Accord. The wrath that awaits me will remain clueless, and who knows what execution that the Caesars will commit to me?
Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes. I wasn't anticipating this to happen—my normal life as a teenager will soon be over. The conclusion I'd be taking will make everything vanish, and I'll be involved in a world that is uncanny for me. But despite my reluctance, I have to do this—for the sake of everything.
"I'll be your mistress." I stammered.
A formidable smile slowly made its way onto his thin lips. His mouth parted, unveiling those two sharp, pointed fangs.
His brown eyes suddenly lit up with a radiant, ruby-like light.
"Say it again, my mistress."
My eyebrows arched above me. "I'll only say it once—" My teeth gritted as I felt my back collide against the wall, causing the picture frame that hangs on the wall to fall out and shatter due to the impact.
"Please, just stop it! Damn you!" I screamed as he slowly lifted me up, sliding my back against the wall as he did that. With his one hand gripping and circulating hard on my neck, my breathing was stifled.
"You're one heck of a valiant woman. And it makes you sexier when you beg. Now, I want you to say it again." He solemnly said it, and gloom was obscuring his whole tone. This is one of his essential and sublime features—his baroque and jeopardizing complex that is taking away my placidity and confining me with disquietude.
I gasped as I bit my lower lip. "Forfeiting is not my will but yours, my lord. Thereby, vague rights are not the ones that I hold to disregard our accordance. By the mastery you hold upon me, I hereby declare that I'll be your mistress, Lord Matteus." I nearly choked on my own saliva, but I managed to speak despite my gasping.
A smile of satisfaction stained his lips. He slowly put me down and let go of his grip around my neck. My legs gave up, and I collided against the floor, kneeling in front of him as my palms served as support. I tilted my head upward, gasping and fuming with rage as I saw his playful grin, as if he were enjoying my contempt. Damn you, Matteus. You motherfucking scumbag.
"That's all for today. See you tomorrow, Milove." He teasingly smiled.
I brashly shook his hands off when he tilted my chin upward, attempting to seal my lips with his. I shot him with a hideous stare, causing him to take a step backward and slightly raise his two hands.
"Elora? What's happening? Why do I keep hearing some clamor inside?" My eyes widened as my gaze immediately turned to the door beside me when I heard Bree's concerned tone of voice. She can't find out.
But before I could stand up and lock the door that remained unsealed, she opened it. And it popped out of his worried face when she caught sight of me.
"Hey, what happened? You looked deranged."
She walked towards me, rushing, and held both of my wrists firmly as she stood me up. I saw her gaze roam around, inspecting the prospect inside my room. I also did the same and was dumbstruck for a minute when I realized that Matteus wasn't here anymore. My inhalations are shaky as I do so. What a relief!
"Sorry." I mumbled after a few seconds of hesitation, pointing out our last conversation earlier, which had been irking my serene conscience. And the possibility that Matteus did something to her pierced my remote pitch of frailty.
She smiled and caressed my cheek. "It's okay. Remember that I'm here for you, always." I felt a pair of arms envelope my hips; she was hugging me. At this time, I wanted to cry and tell her everything. However, if she knew, I would put her life at risk.
"Why are you here this early?"
"It's my day off." I replied, pointing out my night job.
We parted from our embrace and stared at each other, scrutinizing. Until her gaze landed on my neck. It was only a brief glance, but it caught my eye. Shit.
"So, you now have his mark."
"What?"
For a moment, fright crossed her eyes. But she promptly enshrouded it with a faint smile.
"Be safe."