That evening, in the dead of night, Tristan appeared, escorting a single Griffin. He seemed slightly nervous, and I wondered just how much danger he was putting himself in to help us."Are you sure this is okay?" Elias asked as he took the creature's reigns from him. "Won't they notice one is missing?""I have a plan." Tristan smirked."Okay," Elias murmured, holding out a hand. "Thank you for all your help, my friend.""Anytime." Tristan beamed. "Just try to stay out of trouble, got it?""Sure." Elias chuckled.I could feel tears beginning to prick at my eyes from the warm send-off between the two men. I couldn't explain it, but to see Elias having someone on the other side that has his back made me feel a little more at peace with the fact I could leave him at any moment."I'll see you when I see you, then." Tristan announced taking a step back. "Hopefully next time will be under better circumstances.""We can only hope." Elias agreed.With that, he turned and grabbed my waist. A sma
"VALERIE, YOU ARE FIRED!" My direct supervisor, Kevin, yelled, slamming a termination letter down on the table between us."What are you talking about?" I demanded, unable to believe what I was hearing. "Repeat that."Why would I be getting fired? I had worked with the company for two years now, had never been written up, and had never broken a rule. Why would I be fired?Unless.....No, no way. There was absolutely no way this disgusting pig was firing me because I turned him down. He couldn't be, right?"What grounds?" I asked Kevin, slowly narrowing my eyes."Your performance has gone down the drain, Valerie." Kevin said, smirking.My performance had gone down the drain. Right, this had nothing to do with my performance, and no amount of times he said that would change that fact."Give me an example." I said, slamming my hands on the table. "Where has my performance gone down?"If he wanted to claim that was it, then he would need to prove it to me; otherwise, I would happily go ab
Pressure against my arms and torso was the first thing I noticed when my consciousness began to come forth once more. From the feel of it, someone was lying on top of me, and moving wasn't an option. Try as I might, the person's grip was too strong and wouldn't budge in the slightest.Opening my eyes, I looked up to find a man hovering above me. Not any man, but an attractive man with snow white skin that showed blue veins beneath it. His handsome face was surrounded by dark hair with white streaks through it, and his eyes glowed a crimson red.His mouth, which was smirking, was open just enough to reveal two sharp canines that looked ready to rip into my flesh any minute.Eyes widening, I felt my heart rate kick up as I realized just how dangerous this man was."You finally woke up." His cold voice laughed, sending a shiver through me. "I thought you were dead.""What's going on?" I asked slowly as the last bit of rationale faded from my mind. "What are you doing? Let me go!"Beginnin
A dull ache began in the spot where the man had inserted his teeth, and it grew gradually by every minute until it had become a searing agonizing pain that clawed at my mind and at my body. Whimpering, I tried to free myself, only to be held steady."You aren't going anywhere." Came the man's voice from all around as the pain intensified.Letting out a scream, I felt myself become completely overcome by what could only be described as burning. It felt like I was being burned alive before it all stopped, and I was left floating in a dark abyss.Looking around, I tried to figure out exactly where I was. There seemed to be no signs of life and no light to be found. I couldn't even see my hand as I lifted it directly in front of my face. If I didn't know any better, I would think that I had died and this was what came after.As I tried to figure out what exactly was going on, a small shuffling and then a grunt drew my attention. Whirling, I tried to find the cause of the noise but came up
"By slave, do you mean this?" I asked as I slowly began to lift my shirt. "You want me to be your sex slave?""Is there a problem?" The man asked, smirking. "You said you would become my servant if I let you live; I am giving you a chance.""That isn't the type I was talking about!" I insisted, narrowing my gaze.Sure, I wanted to live, but I didn't want to become some whore in the process.Standing, the man made his way to me, stopping only an inch away before reaching up and grabbing my chin so he could force me to make eye contact with him."My patience is limited, woman." He growled. "Will you be my slave, or do you want me to kill you?"Did I want to be his slave, or did I want to die? The answer was pretty damn obvious, I wanted to live, even if it meant giving up my dignity.Taking a deep breath, I braced myself. Even though I didn't agree with this method of living, I also wasn't ready to die, at least not until I got my memories back. Even after I didn't, but for now I could
Moans erupted from my lips as the man began trailing his fingers along my clit, coming dangerously close to my core, then stopping and moving up again. It shook me to my core just how much I was actually allowing him to do to me, but it felt so damn good.As he pushed himself against me, I could feel his erection rubbing against my leg as pants of pleasure escaped him; it seemed he was enjoying this as much as I was."Woman..." He growled, pulling away to gaze into my eyes. "What is this?""Hhhmmmm...." I murmured, unable to even think straight. "What is what?"He seemed perplexed as he continued to study me, like I was some strange creature he had never encountered before.Even with blood smearing his lips, he looked absolutely enthralling, and my need for him to fuck me grew stronger."What do you mean?" I whispered as my body screamed for more. "I don't understand."Smiling, he leaned down and pressed his lips against mine while his fingers continued to move until one slipped insid
The sound of a door opening broke me from my reverie as Elias returned from wherever he had disappeared. Looking over, I found him watching me while sipping on a glass of wine."Are you still in my bed because you wish for more women?" He asked, eyes flashing.Even though I didn't want to admit it, the way this man was looking at me made just below my belly button tug in a not-so-unfavorable way. I couldn't be sure, but it seemed that whatever he had done to me earlier had left quite an impression on my body."Who am I to decide what you can and can't do?" I asked, trying to keep the flush from forming on my face."Smart." Elias said as a smirk formed on his face.Of course I was smart; I didn't have a death wish. "Thank you.""Since you seem to enjoy lying in my bed, shall I show you what it means to be a proper slave?" Elias asked now, making his way towards me.Again, my mind screamed that I shouldn't be getting hot and bothered by this man; however, my traitorous body was beginning
"Is everything okay on the outside?" I asked, trying my hardest to keep the dirty thoughts that were beginning to roam through my head at bay. "It wasn't that serious?"Elias frowned. "Didn't I already tell you that it wasn't any of your concern?"I nodded. "However, I have to live here, and I would rather not have to worry about being killed just yet.""You really think the enemy would be able to make it past the gates with their lives?" Elias asked, his gaze darkening. "Are you doubting my men's ability?"When he put it like that, it did sound like that was what I was doing; however, I just wanted to live, and that was it. Hell, I had gone as far as becoming this ridiculous vampire's slave in order to do so."Of course I'm not." I said trying to look pitiful. "I'm just afraid.""If you are to be afraid, you should be afraid of me." Elias said, flashing a smile. "I am capable of so much worse than those damned holy knights are.""So sorry," I said. "I will not doubt you ever again." T
That evening, in the dead of night, Tristan appeared, escorting a single Griffin. He seemed slightly nervous, and I wondered just how much danger he was putting himself in to help us."Are you sure this is okay?" Elias asked as he took the creature's reigns from him. "Won't they notice one is missing?""I have a plan." Tristan smirked."Okay," Elias murmured, holding out a hand. "Thank you for all your help, my friend.""Anytime." Tristan beamed. "Just try to stay out of trouble, got it?""Sure." Elias chuckled.I could feel tears beginning to prick at my eyes from the warm send-off between the two men. I couldn't explain it, but to see Elias having someone on the other side that has his back made me feel a little more at peace with the fact I could leave him at any moment."I'll see you when I see you, then." Tristan announced taking a step back. "Hopefully next time will be under better circumstances.""We can only hope." Elias agreed.With that, he turned and grabbed my waist. A sma
For the next few days, Elias and I laid low in the cabin that Tristan provided for us. Each morning, he would bring us food and a change of clothes and then disappear for the rest of the day, leaving us to our own devices. It was a good time for us to grow closer—much closer. It was also a good time for me to tell him a bit more about my past than I now remembered, starting from when I was born to the time I was murdered.I knew that it pained Elias to hear these things, but he listened quietly and didn't ask many questions. Likewise, he told me more about his past, like the time before the curse. Back when he was a happy young boy, the king wasn't so strict and smiled more. It looked like we were a pair of ruined souls that somehow managed to find each other despite the difference in universes and time."You awake?" Elias murmured on the morning of the third day.I was, but I was still thinking about everything, including the fact that I hadn't told him that I was slowly dying. As tim
"Listen." I said, slowly sucking in a breath. "I know maybe this sounds ridiculous, and honestly, it could be highly offensive towards you.""Offensive?" Elias repeated, lifting a brow. "What exactly is going through that head of yours?""I can't help but wonder if it is me that you care for or my blood." I said quietly, feeling the blood begin to rush to my face.There, I expressed my biggest worry. It was now out in the universe, and I couldn't take it back. I could only hope that I wasn't ruining the moment entirely, but before we proceeded, I had to know.Lifting my eyes, I met Elias' unreadable gaze and found myself wishing that I could read his thoughts. I wanted to know what he thought. I wanted to know how he felt about what I had just confessed to him."You think..." He said slowly, clearly trying to get his thoughts together. "That I would possibly mistake my feelings for you for an addiction to your blood?"Flinching, I realized just how bad what I had said sounded. Of cours
I felt a shiver rush through me at Elias' sweet words and tender touch. It was definitely going to take a lot for me to get used to him being like this."I think I will go find a healer." Tristan said slowly, drawing my attention to him."You don't have to." I said, quickly blushing ferociously. "I'm really okay."I was okay, truly. However, I wasn't going to be okay. I had almost forgotten what I had been told about slowly dying. That meant that eventually I would start to show signs of the end, and I wasn't sure how Elias would take it."What's wrong?" The man in question asked, immediately catching on to my discomfort. "Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?""I'm fine." I assured him, plastering on a fake smile. "I just want to be able to go back to Allsbrook."For now, I simply wanted to go back to the place that had become my home and spend the rest of the time I had left with Elias. I didn't want to have to worry about a major battle or about having to kill someone."Soon," Elias s
The room around me grew quiet as my words sank in. We were in for quite a fight with the fake Vladimier. I knew from experience how nasty and terrifying he could be when he wanted something. What the hell was he even planning?"Tell me how the original curse was cast." Elias spoke, causing shock to roll through my body. "That way, we know what we are up against.""A life." I whispered, shivering. "In order to cast the curse, a life must be sacrificed.""A life?" He hissed, seeming unable to quite believe what he had just heard. "If that's the case, then who..."The rest of his question never managed to escape, as realization began to show in his eyes, followed by a horror that left me feeling happy and sad at the same time."You're saying..." He managed as his face paled. "That bastard."I could feel Elias' aura beginning to seep off of him as his anger at Vladimier's method of cursing his land sank in."You need to calm down." I murmured, reaching out a hand and touching his arm. "We'
Elias held me while I cried, not speaking a single word. Instead, he just made comforting noises while his hand rubbed soothing circles against my back. I knew that I didn't deserve this kindness that he was giving me, but I couldn't bring myself to try to pull away from it. After days of being with Vladimier and dealing with conflicting emotions at all times, it was just too wonderful to be in the arms of the man that I truly loved."I know you're upset, and now isn't the time to be asking this," Elias began, finally breaking his silence. "You mentioned that you were used to cast the curse."Tensing I began to realize exactly what it was that he wanted to know. He wanted to know if there was a way to break the curse since I knew how to cast it. Of course, I knew how to break the curse, but there was only one way to do it. To break the curse, I would have to repeat what happened to cast it."There is a way to lift it." I responded slowly while sitting up enough to wipe tears from my fa
"Why do you look like you're a criminal up for execution?"Elias' voice was calm as he spoke, but there was a hint of unease in it as well. It was like he was expecting the worst but hoping for the best. That made two of us, I guess, but it made what I had to say that much harder."Maybe I am." I responded bitterly.I knew he was trying to lighten the mood with his words, but he had no idea what I had discovered. Honestly, I wasn't even sure if he would look at me the same again once I revealed it to him."What could you have done so wrong for that?" He countered, stepping forward and reaching out a hand.Instinctively, I found myself flinching away from his touch. As I was now, I didn't think that I deserved to be treated like that by him. Not when I was solely responsible for how much he and his people had suffered."You don't understand." I whispered as tears pricked at my eyes. "Elias, I've remembered everything. From my time before meeting you and before that even.""You've rememb
"Elias..." I hissed as I watched the group of wendigos that were beginning to make their way towards us. "What should we do?"Behind me, I could hear him moving, but I didn't dare turn my attention away from the trouble that was fast approaching. One wrong move and I could become monster chow, and I wasn't about to let that happen so easily."When I say move, you move." Elias finally responded close to my ear, sending a shiver through me.Tensing, I nodded, knowing that he must have a plan in place. At least, that was what I hoped."Ready..." He murmured, "Set... GO!"As the word left his lips, I could feel a hand wrapping around my wrist and tugging. With wide eyes, I found myself being pulled in the opposite direction of the wendigos while they began to chase."This is your plan?" I demanded, managing to not fall on my face despite the roots that were threatening to trip me. "You aren't going to attempt to fight them?""Are you really going to sit here and fuss about escaping?" Elias
"Good bye." I murmured as my body began to fall toward the earth. "I'm sorry we couldn't meet one more time, Elias," I continued, feeling regret that I wouldn't see his face before I died. However, before I could fall into misery, I felt an odd tug at my consciousness.Confused, I tried to allow whatever was happening to happen. Slowly, flashes of the past appeared one by one. Each showing Vladimier with a crazed look on his face, pulling at chains that I could only assume were attached to my wrists at the time."You belong to me!" He hissed as his hand shot out and connected with my cheek. "HOW DARE YOU ATTEMPT TO KILL YOURSELF?""I don't want to be part of your plan!" I heard my voice speak as fear clutched at my heart."You don't have a choice." Vladimier snapped, turning and leaving.Finding myself alone in a cell with whip marks across my arms and legs, I finally realized what was going on here. This was another memory of my time with Vladimier. Only this was the one that showed h