7 - A Deal with the devil

SOFIA 

Inside my cell, I carved a line next to the one I’d drawn yesterday.

It was currently day two.

My stomach growled loudly indicating that I needed to put some food inside my system ASAP.

Vampires, especially those who starve or don’t get enough blood in their system, slowly grow weak and die, but not before going on a rampage filled with blood-lust so potent, you would rather take a stake to your heart.

If I didn’t get to feed, I would go into a similar state where I wouldn’t be someone, but something.

The thought brought chills to my body.

When I was done with the shower, we were taken into the lunch cafeteria which looked equally depressing.

It smelled of sweat, urine, stale food, and basically your worst nightmare. Tables were crammed with different creatures. The whole place looked nasty. I didn’t want to be here much less eat but it’s not like I had any other choice.

They all turned when they saw me walk inside.

There was a huge crowd near the food counters. Each inmate had a palate for different types of food.

The group of ghouls on my right were feasting on the flesh of a dead human. I watched one of the members gnawing at a sliced arm, his friend was chewing on a heart. The table was messy, looking like the insides of a butcher shop. Their eyes were inhumane, there was no spark of life in it, total darkness.

I looked away. It was too much even for me.

Yes, I loved human blood more than anything else but I would never kill anybody.

There was a crowd near the counter, male creatures punching each other to grab their lunches. It was like a competition of some kind. And the worst part, there wasn’t a single female creature there.

I waited until the counter had cleared. I didn’t want to be caught up in that.

My hands shook as I picked up a tray and made my way to the counter where a skinny man was working. Slapping disgusting looking slabs of meat into plates.

When I approached the counter, he appraised me before saying, “Food is over. You were a minute too slow.”

“But I just got here. I haven’t eaten anything since yesterday.”

“Doesn’t matter.” He said, looking bored, “once the supply is over, it’s over, lady. Come back tomorrow.”

I will grow weaker if I don’t feed.

“You don’t understand! I need blood. A squirrel will do.”

He let out a laugh and poked at his co-worker, “did you just hear what she said? A squirrel! What’s next? A seven-course meal?” He was growing impatient, “in case you didn’t realize, inmate, this is a prison and you’re not a fucking Princess.”

“I need a little blood. A tiny amount would do...please.”

He looked at his kitchen co-worker who shrugged and handed him something. The man placed a porcelain half cup of blood in front of me.

“This is all I’ve got.”

With shaky hands, I picked it up and downed it. There was the metallic taste of animal blood.

Instantly, I felt a little better. It definitely wasn’t enough, but I could sustain for another day.

“Thank you.” I placed the empty cup back on the counter.

His eyes were filled with sympathy, like wanted to say something but were holding back.

I turned around to leave when he said, “You won’t survive here much longer. You’re weak.”

I ignored him and kept walking.

*~*

It wasn’t easy to find a place to sit alone, not with the leery gazes of the predators fixated on me. I wasn’t allowed to go back to my cell until the lunchtime was over.

I kept my head down but secretly, I did a slow scan of my surroundings just to make sure I wasn’t going to be attacked by a prisoner.

I saw Celeste. She sat at a far table with a male creature who looked like he could split ten creatures open. He was giving me the serious Alpha vibes, but he wasn’t a Werewolf. The greyscales on his body told me he was a Dragon.

Why was Celeste with a Dragon?

Then I noticed him putting some food onto her plate, whispering something into his ear. She looked up at him, smiling, and began eating it.

They looked like a couple on a honeymoon.

Did that mean she signed the Prison Protection?

Celeste seemed like a very smart creature to me, so why had she willingly agreed to be someone’s slave?

Splat!

A dead rabbit dropped onto the table.

I screamed and jumped to my feet making the inmates around me laugh hysterically.

I stared at the dead rabbit.

I’d been so caught up with everything that was going on around me that I hadn’t noticed the male creature occupying the bench.

The first thing that got my attention was the horns jutting out from both sides of his head. He had dark silky hair, the color of a Raven, and eyes pitch black. He was handsome beyond words, in fact, I think they must have taken a look at him and invented the word ‘Gorgeous’. The jaw was sculpted and his lips were full, kissable, and promising sin.

He was undoubtedly a demon.

What the fuck was he doing at my table?

“Who are you?” I asked.

He gave me one of his lovely smiles, any other female would have dropped to her knees and worshiped him, but I knew how demons worked. They used their charms to get whatever they wanted, but inside they were as black as a void.

“I’m Brax. An incubus.”

“Okayy…and what are you doing here?”

He pointed at the dead rabbit. “I thought you must be hungry. Half a cup of blood isn’t going to do you any good. I brought you a meal. I’d hate to see a beautiful vampire like yourself shrivel up and die in a place like this. There aren’t many smart ladies here such as yourself. I on the other hand have made it my mission to become their savior.”

Save it, Pretty boy.

I wanted to say but I kept my mouth shut.

He was laying it on pretty thick which made me even more suspicious.

“Your name is Sofia, isn’t it?”

“You got that right.”

He was all smiles again, “Have a seat. Let’s talk.”

“I don’t want the rabbit. I’m fine.”

He placed his hand over mine, his nails were long and if he thought he was being subtle with all the charming talk, his horns were a dead giveaway.

“It’s a gift. Please enjoy.”

I stared at the dead animal. It was fresh, there was no doubt about it but I wasn’t going to give in to temptation. Brax probably planned to bait me with food and then trap me in some shady business.

“If you have nothing else to say then I’m going to ask you to leave.”

“There were rumors that there was a feisty female vampire but I thought they were exaggerating.” He laughed.

“I’m more than just feisty. They haven’t even heard of the crimes I have committed for which I’ve been sentenced to prison, if they did, none of them would be crawling around me like dirty little gutter bugs.”

He chuckled, but his smile was faltering. In place of it was now a smirk, “Pray tell, Sofia, do you perhaps hate males?”

“What makes you think that?”

“I have a gift of finding out information about people if I’m intrigued enough.”

“You know what I’m intrigued about?”

He grinned, “what?”

“…To see what you would look like if I pulled out your horns. I bet you would look just as handsome. Wanna try?”

He grimaced, “I’ll get straight to the point.”

“That would be better.”

“I would like to offer you my protection services in exchange for being my cellmate.”

“Not interested.”

The smile was slowly faltering. “Think about it. Sex is a weapon for me and once you experience being in my bed, you wouldn’t want out of it.”

I yawned, “thank you, next.”

“I’m professional in love-making.”

Dear Vampire Lord, would this guy ever give up?!

“I’m professional in breaking necks, and well, sometimes teeth.”

I wondered how he slept at night with those horns. Bet he could never turn on his side. Must be depressing to just sleep in a straight position.

He laughed, “You’re funny, Sofia.”

“That’s a first but I’ll take it.” I gave him a smile.

“I promise to protect you. I’m a demon after all,” he showcased a set of white teeth. “These creatures are all beneath me. Clothes, food, luxuries wouldn’t be a problem. Eventually, I’ll even help you get out of here.”

He’s deceiving you.

The voice in my head was so loud, I thought I heard it right next to me until my eyes found the man sitting at a distance across from me.

Undoubtedly, it was the Alpha.

He held my gaze for ten burning seconds before I had to look away.

“I’m sure there’s a bigger price that I will pay for getting out of here.”

Brax’s eyes blazed. “A few years of your life.”