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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
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THE VICTIMS CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The expression on Liberty's face changed when Aric took the collar and leash off the ground."I'm sorry about this," he continued, putting it around her neck and fastening it, "but pets without collars are food for anyone who wants them."'Even when we get back to Spokane, you need to make sure you have this on when you're not in my room or presence,' he explained, ensuring that the leather band wasn't pulled too tightly. 'Even when we get back to Spokane, you must ensure you have this on when you're not in my room or presence.Liberty gave a reassuring nod, attempting to calm her racing heart.It wasn't that she was truly afraid of Aric because he had done nothing to make her feel that way; on the contrary, she had no reason to be afraid of him. Her anxiety was triggered whenever she considered the possibility of leaving the protected environment of the lodge.After leaving and arriving back in Spokane, everyone could tell that she had not made it.People would find out, and eventual
THE VICTIMS CHAPTER NINETEEN
When Aric's icy hand came down on my knee, I was startled and couldn't help but jump backward.After observing my response, he apologized, saying, "I'm sorry, I didn't want to startle you." You just looked unhappy."She sighed and wiped a tear from her pale face before saying, "I'm OK."Aric removed his hand and said, "You know," before adding, "you're a terrible liar."Liberty sniffed as she looked at him and apologized, saying, "I'm sorry, I was thinking about my mom." The past few days have been consumed by her concern for my well-being. I only wished there was a way to get the message across to her."When we get to town," he added, immediately taking his eyes off the road to gaze at her, "I will arrange for you to give her word that you are safe if you like." He continued by saying that he would do this for her if they reached their destination."Really?" I inquired, well aware of how my expression brightened.He nodded in agreement and turned his attention back to the road before
THE VICTIMS CHAPTER TWENTY
Aric whispered, "I'm sorry," and drew me into the darkness, holding her face in his hands. "I was helpless to stop it.With a swish of his hand, he cleared his hair from his face and said, "You know who I am; you know the position I hold. You can't talk to me like that in front of others."Liberty, fighting back the tears, was silent."Is that what you mean?"He let go of her face with a hiss and shook her by the shoulders.She shook with anxiety and said, "Yes."Aric groaned, grabbed her arm, and dragged her to his car, saying, "Fine."Aric opened the door and waited anxiously for her to enter; once she did, he slammed the door and leaned against it, attempting to calm himself.A knot formed in his chest despite his understanding that he had been forced to punish her for publicly criticizing him in such a public forum.Aric whipped out his phone and typed a hasty text before jogging over to his vehicle and slipping the key inside.Aric started his car and drove out of the parking lot
THE VICTIMS CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
This was the first time I'd ever spoken before my turn; even I understood that dogs and slaves weren't supposed to do that; f*ck, we learned that in kindergarten.I'd tried to flee after jumping out of Aric's car, but I had no clue where to go. My house would be the first place they'd go, and my mother would be questioned even if she didn't know where I was.Even if I had eluded Aric, another vampire would have found me, and I would have been lucky to be brought to him because I was in the heart of a city ruled by vampires.I noticed the yearning in his eyes when he finally caught me.I recalled the day my father took me to view the ancient clock tower and told me stories of Spokane before the takeover as we crossed the river.The city formerly housed 20,000 people from all walks of life, had a vibrant economy and was quite secure despite its higher than average crime rate.Even though I knew these were only the things his parents had taught him, seeing contented families lounging in
THE VICTIMS CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
Aric was relieved to be back in his own house, where he could relax and stop worrying about being seen as "the heir."He left Liberty in the hallway and headed down the second level to his lodgings. When he opened the door, he found Henry, his best buddy, arranging some clothes in the boxes. .He called out to Henry, letting go of Liberty so he could give his pal a big hug, "I'm delighted to see you've come through as usual."Henry wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Well, you're lucky that your new pet and Josephine wear the same size. Otherwise, you would have been out of luck."Aric groaned, his expression sad, "Ah, Josephine." "How are you doing, my broken engagement?"She's passing through men like a racing hooker, his friend sighed.He then joked, "If I went through guys half as rapidly as my sister does, I would need more than vampiric immunity to keep the venereal diseases away."He made Aric chuckle, and Aric enjoyed being with his longest friend.He shook his head a
THE VICTIMS CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Right after our food was brought to the table, Aric made me try on every single item of clothing his buddy had left behind.Embarrassed, I took off everything but my underpants and accepted the shirts and pants he offered.Some of them he said were completely out of the question and threw away as soon as I removed them, while others he seemed pleased with, demanding that I twist and turn so he could examine me from every angle.He continued, clearly intent on exhausting himself and the entire library before he allowed me to take a break.Except for trips to the restroom, I spent the entirety of that time standing in the center of the room, removing and reapplying to clothe until my muscles cramped and hurt.At last, we were finished, and I was permitted to keep on the final ensemble, a cozy red sweater with jeans.I tried hard not to react negatively as I saw him reach for me.He sighed and dragged me to his bed, where he sat me down, so I was facing him.Ultimately, he ran his finger
THE VICTIMS CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
When Aric returned from hunting and saw the stack of papers on his desk, he swore at the heavens.After only a week, the pile of work on his desk threatened to topple over.Taking a seat, he mentally played Eeny-Meeny-Miny-Moe to decide which stack to attack first.He chose the stack on the left and prayed for the energy to go through the long day managing his family's business empire.Even though Aric understood his father could delegate much of the work—allotments for slaves, control over outlying areas of the city, demands extra blood allowances from the Carthage Faction—he still felt compelled to keep his son pinned down beneath its weight.Aric sat back, drinking from an empty cup. He considered getting more, but he wasn't that thirsty.Aric decided to take care of one more file before leaving for the day, but his heart sank as soon as he opened it.He had to read it repeatedly before comprehending what he was seeing.After reading that his father had renewed his engagement with
THE VICTIMS CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
My heart sank as I heard the shouts reverberate through the house. I immediately abandoned the shirt I was folding and sprinted to the door to assist the injured party.I tried to get out, but I'd forgotten I was trapped, so I cut my forehead open on the wooden door.More screams followed the initial ones, and they were suddenly silenced each time they were repeated. All of the dying cries were dreadful.When I put my ear to the door, I could hear the commotion of numerous individuals passing in the corridor. Distant, hushed voices trying to talk over one other.I banged my fist against the door and yelled, "Hello?" hoping to get a response. "Hello?"Those on the other side of the gap didn't even bother to halt before continuing their escape. Only after they had already left did I hear the distant banging of doors.The voice of someone calling, "Come out, come out, wherever you are!!!" caught my attention. It sounded like Aric, but it wasn't Aric.Outside, I could hear the approaching
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THE VICTIMS CHAPTER NINETY FOUR
The following morning, Liberty's mother came. She was saddened by the little details she knew about her daughter's ordeals, but overjoyed to learn that she was still alive. She embraced her daughter and her new husband, albeit with some reluctance.The newlywed couple's private apartment, located in a brand-new structure that Aric had selected as his seat of power, served as the setting for the day's festivities honoring them.The tower of suffering built by his father was going to be dismantled and lowered to the ground since this was already in the planning stages.Henry was given permission to transform Alfie, and a ceremony was arranged for them not long after his love awoke into his new existence not long after the ceremony was held for them.Two days after their hasty wedding ceremony, an announcement was made publically declaring the new Lord and Lady of the Northwest Territory. This notification was sent out by the law.Even though many of the lesser lords agreed with Lady Lea
THE VICTIMS CHAPTER NINETY THREE
When Aric's mother glanced at her son, completely disregarding my presence in the room, I couldn't help but nibble the inside of my lip nervously.Aric began by giving my hand a firm squeeze before rising to his knees and bending over his mother. "Mother," he said, "You did come to me earlier and tell me that Liberty was concerned that I might become like my father, did you not?""Well," Lady Leanor started, no indication that she was ashamed or trying to be deceptive, "sure I did since that's what she said."Aric continued, his tone becoming increasingly agitated as he vented his frustration, "You also insinuated that she had merely been using me until she could find someone with more authority to go on to.""What?"Emily inquired as she abruptly jerked herself upright, interrupting the conversation as her eyes swept over her mother, her brother, and me."Because she did," Leanor yelled at me while directing her murderous glare in my direction. "She leaped at the chance to abandon y
THE VICTIMS CHAPTER NINETY TWO
Aric took Liberty in his arms and led the way back to the chamber that he had staked a claim as their own.After temporarily leaving her to make arrangements for her mother's arrival, he returned to find Liberty standing naked under the stream of hot water coming from the showerhead.When he saw the scars that disfigured the previously smooth surface of her back, he couldn't believe that he had ever had any reason to distrust her.He undressed and joined her, then let his fingertips run over the scars his father had left in her flesh.While his arms were wrapped around her waist, he whispered into her ear, "For each and every one of these, I guarantee you a million wonderful moments."Liberty let out a contented sigh as she lay her back against his chest. She cherished the sensation of his strong arms surrounding her and protecting her at that very moment."Well," she continued with an invisible smile that suggested she was being playful, "you have eternity to do the work."Aric renew
THE VICTIMS CHAPTER NINETY ONE
When Aric looked down into my eyes, he muttered, "I know you worry, and I promise that with you by my side, I can cope with everything."I drew his lips back to mine and whispered the words, "I love you."I needed to feel him against me now more than ever. As I reached up, I fumbled around frantically, trying to undo the buttons on his shirt, and I was almost in tears since it felt like such a challenge.At long last, I could get it out of the way and get a feel for the velvety smoothness of his chest beneath my palms.Aric's hands were fumbling at the hem of my own shirt, pushing it up and over my head as I heaved a sigh of relief.After he freed his lips from the cloth, he kissed a path down my chin, going agonizingly down my neck and finally latching on to my nipple after pressing the cup of my bra down.I couldn't help but sigh in contentment as I ran my hands through his thick hair and gently cradled his head in my arms.I murmured, "Aric," with a longing for buildup buried deep
THE VICTIMS CHAPTER NINETY
Aric's determination was almost shaken when he saw the agony in Liberty's eyes, but he managed to keep it together.If his mother's statement was accurate, he has been led to believe that she lied to him during their relationship. She has exploited her body to win his love and ensure her own future success.It seemed as though the evidence had been staring him in the face the whole time, didn't it?Because he had more authority, she ended up being his father's plaything, but as soon as that strategy backfired, she instantly found a way to get back into his bed.Aric muttered an expletive under his breath as he watched the woman who had once been his darling struggle to stand."Aric," she pleaded, tears streaming down her stunning face, "Aric, please, let me explain."While he had her by the shoulders and was choking her, he spat, "My mother explained enough." "You are more than a deceitful person who took advantage of me.""I never once exploited you," Liberty said under her breath as
THE VICTIMS CHAPTER EIGHTY NINE
Before I can continue, I need a few moments to collect my thoughts and proceed.I was finally allowed to talk to Lady Leanor when I told her that Lord Lothaire had brought me here and that he had made me one of his slaves."Did he cause you any pain?"Aric's mother questioned with sadness and anxiety on her face.I could not stop the tears from falling as I said, "Yes, ma'am," but "in ways, I wish I could forget."Lady Leanor groaned as she took another sip from her cup and remarked, "He was a dreadful beast."I nodded in agreement as I wiped my cheeks and said, "Yes, he was."When I looked up, I sniffed and said, "You know, I always wondered how a guy as violent as your father could have a kid as great as Aric, and I think I know the answer.""He had you," I said as I stood up and maneuvered my way across the cramped room to embrace the other woman. "Thank you."She was perplexed as she questioned, "For what?"I conveyed it to her while gazing down at her and saying, "for your compas
THE VICTIMS CHAPTER EIGHTY EIGHT
Liberty followed Lady Leanor into a cozy sitting area close to the office where Aric was working.Leanor stayed standing as she gazed down on the younger woman who had been chosen as the companion for her son and gestured for her to sit down."Are you hungry?"she enquired, noticing that she was beginning to feel hungry.Liberty said gently, "No, thank you," while wriggling uneasily under the inspection of the more experienced vampire.After nodding, Lady Leanor walked to the other side of the room and picked a blood bag out for herself. After ripping it apart, she transferred the blood-red liquid into a nearby cup before returning to her seat across from Liberty.Leanor couldn't help but emit a tiny giggle at the other woman's puzzled expression.Her voice was filled with mirth as she remarked, "I despise the taste those plastic bags leave behind in my mouth." "Call me old school, but if it's not coming directly from the vein, I prefer to drink it out of a cup," you can say that abou
THE VICTIMS CHAPTER EIGHTY SEVEN
"My mum!" I said, startled to realize that since I had sent her the little letter, I hadn't given her a second thought.As I whirled around to face Aric in a state of terror, I could hardly get the words out.I choked out the words, "I have to get to her!" "I don't want her to learn from anybody else about what happened to me.I pleaded with him, "Please, Aric," as tears filled my eyes.He reached out to wipe the tears from my face as he said, "Of course, my darling. We can board the plane and be there in forty-five minutes."When I heard the word "plane," the recollection of the last time I had been on a plane with Lord Lothaire caused my legs' knees to weaken.When I started shivering because of the recollection, Aric grabbed me about the waist and held me close while he seemed to understand that he had made a mistake.Despite Januarius's gift of peace, the recollection horrified me. All the atrocities I'd been forced to endure at Lothaire's hands rushed through my mind as though th
THE VICTIMS CHAPTER EIGHTY SIX
Aric's dispute with his mother continued until he discovered that Liberty was no longer in the area.As he looked around the room, he noticed that she was nowhere to be found at that point."Mother," he replied, holding out his hand to prevent her from offering yet another scathing response, "I am going to marry her regardless of what you think. I love her!""Love is not enough," Leanor said angrily in her response.A voice came behind them and said, "Love is enough."As Aric turned around, he noticed Liberty standing in the doorway, her chin lifted proudly over her chest.As she proceeded, she moved closer to Aric and intertwined her hand with his as she stood next to him. "Januarius informed me that our love was extraordinary," she said. "If he believes in us, then what gives you the right to doubt us?""I know you think you..." Leanor paused, staring at Liberty with a suspicious expression on her face. "I know you think you..." "Did you say Januarius talked to you?"Liberty said, "
