Page 63 of For Love & Torture
Chapter 28
Isabel
Left alone, still strapped to this damn stone Bart put me on, I lay here and look at the fire. I’m helpless here. He’s left me alone for hours it seems. I have no idea of the reality of time in this place.
I have the distinct feeling I’m in another realm or dimension. If I didn’t know better, I’d say this could only be a dream, but things feel too real. The cold steel bites at my ankles and wrists as the metal holds me to the stone altar.
Bart’s told me I’m a sacrifice. My blood will be set free with his bite and will be given to his master as a gift for his eternal life. I asked him why he wants to do this to me. He told me he saw me in a dream. I am the one his master wants to drink the life out of.
Closing my eyes, I’ve found it impossible to cry. Most of the time I’m completely calm, all the while realizing I should be anything but that. But it happens just the same.
The sound of clicking and clacking comes from one dark corner, and I see Bart’s pale face come out of the shadows. His hair is freely flowing to his shoulders in dark waves. His eyes look black, and his lips are red. A dark cloak surrounds him as he makes his way to me. “Hungry, my pet?”
“No.”
“Thirsty?”
“No.” Perhaps if I don’t eat or drink anything, I might die right here before he has the chance to drain me of my life’s blood.
His hand moves and I see silver move through the air. A pointed blade moves swiftly, and I see a trail of red along his palm. He places his hand over my mouth, making me drink his blood. “You will be nourished one way or another, Isabel.”
I can’t bite him to make him stop as he’s pressed his hand against my teeth, and I can’t move either. The hot blood from his palm trickles down my throat, and I have no choice but to swallow. As I do, I feel its effects on me.
My head grows light. My will weakens, and a hunger comes over me. Sucking at the cut on his hand, I make more flow out of him and down my throat. My stomach feels full once more when he moves his hand away, and I look at it, finding the cut has healed.
“What are you, Bart Mason?”
His eyes dance as he smiles at me. His incisors aren’t pointed, and he looks normal, except for those dark-as-sin eyes of his. “I am nothing more than what my master allows me to be. That’s all you need to know.”
“You called yourself immortal. How old are you?”
“I’m thirty. I only became immortal a few years ago. After he made me this way. I was a lost soul when he found me and took me under his wing. And that’s why I give him anything he asks of me. Your blood is what he’s asking for at the moment. He craves it, I’m afraid. He gets that, and I get to have you forever.” He leans over and presses his lips to mine.
I hold my mouth closed, not allowing his tongue inside. When he pulls back, I can see he’s none too pleased. “I belong to another man. And I don’t see how you think you get me forever if you give your master all of my blood. I do need that to live, you know. Or have you gone mad?”
His lips brush against my ear as he whispers, “You will be the same as me once your blood is gone. I will fill your body with my blood, making you mine in every way.”
“God, you don’t actually think that, do you? You’re going to kill me, and your blood will not bring me back to life. I’ll be dead, and all you’ll have is a dead body to deal with. You don’t know if our blood types are even the same. Don’t be an idiot who follows the ideas of crazy people. Think, Bart. For the love of God, think.” I pull at the metal that holds me down, throwing my head from side to side.
“You’ll see. You’ll find out. And when my blood runs through your veins everything will change. You’ll need me, want me.” He steps back and seemingly disappears. “But first you must wait.”
“Please, stop making me wait. I can’t take it. Please,” I beg him. I just want this torture over with. I can’t take it anymore.
He makes a growl then laughs. “You want it now. Imagine how much more you will want it if you have to wait.”
He makes no sense, and I finally begin to cry as I feel myself growing weaker. My eyes close and I’m falling asleep as I hear his footsteps leaving me alone again.
My eye spring open as I feel the freezing cold envelop me. There’s no fire in the fireplace. It’s pitch black. “Who’s there?”
I hear a snapping sound followed by another and suddenly I’m set free. I feel something take my hand, pulling me to get up. I get up, and my feet hit the cold hard floor.
I have no idea where I’m being taken or who’s taking me. But I’m afraid for my life. Is this it? Is this how I die?
I hear the sound of a door opening just in front of me then I’m pulled through it. I can feel the wood of the door frame, and then we keep walking. “Who are you?”
I get no answer, only a slight tug on my hand. Another door opens, and I feel soft material all around me. Suddenly I’m stepping on something that feels like shoes. Another door opens, and I can finally start to see a little bit.
There are windows, and the full moon lights up the room. It’s a bedroom.
