Chapter 10

I’m forced awake when the door slams open, the Nati vampire entering with a big smile on his face and a box in his hands. I slowly sit up, the pain in my back is slightly better, but I decide to be cautious anyway.

“I’ve brought something for you.” Mihai says, placing the box onto the bed beside me.

I stare at the box like touching it would give me leprosy, “No, thanks, I’m good.” i say, trying to politely decline.

The Nati vampire frowns, “Open it.”

I shake my head, “I don’t want to.”

I'm not opening that god damn box, knowing my luck it’ll be the decapitated heads of my father and brothers.

“I suggest you open it, little hunter, i only have so much patience.” He warns, his eyes flashing a deep crimson red.

Fuck, then i guess i have no choice.

Anxiety spirals through my mind like a tidal wave, I am really hoping that it isn’t anything gruesome. It's not that i can’t handle it, it’s more that if it is someone i care about, I can’t kick his ass for it. Not in the state I am in.

My body hurts too much to go up against a Nati vampire.

I slowly untie the ribbon, biding as much time as possible, but i know that eventually I’ll have to open it. Whether i like it or not.

I pull of the lid, holding my breath, but rather than a dead body stuffed inside the box, there is a dress, a luxury red gown with a pair of black kitten heels.

I frown, so confused as i turn to look at Dimirti, “What is this for?” i ask.

He smiles, pulling out the thick laced gown, “You are going to wear it to a very important dinner that i have tonight, three other lords are coming here, and I’m going to show them that you are mine.”

“There’s just one small problem with that plan, Nati.” I say coldly, crossing my arms. “I do NOT belong to you, not now, not ever.”

Mihai's smile grows wider, more feral. “You can either wear the dress i have bought for you, or go in your underwear, your other clothes have been destroyed.”

Anger courses through my veins like a thunder clap, “I’ll wear the dress, but I’m not sure what you expect of me at dinner, I am not your plaything.”

Who the fuck does he think he is? I’m not some toy he can do what he wishes with. I'm a person, a very dangerous person to him and his kind if i ever find a weapon.

Vampires are strong, but they can be killed, just like anyone else.

He wraps his hand around my throat so fast that i barely have a chance to react, let alone stop him. My breath catches and i begin to cough as he tightens his grip on me.

“Listen to me very carefully, little hunter.” He says, his fangs pressing against his bottom lip as he growls at me. “When i tell you to do something, you do it straight away, do you understand me?”

I nod my head, chocking out a sharp, “Yes.”

Mihai is possibly the most terrifying vampire I've ever met, even for a Nati he is unbelievably strong.

He releases me, “Good, now hold out your wrist.”

 I hesitate for a fraction of a second before i hold out my hand to him, I don’t normally give up so easily, not with anyone. But he scares me. He really scares me.

He could snap me like a twig in three seconds and all I'd be able to do is accept my fate.

“Stay still.” He says, his voice softer now. “It’ll only hurt more if you move.”

What is he going to do to me?

He pulls something else out from the box, a small stamp with the letter M on one side. He presses it against his chest, and I'm almost positive i can see it heating up. I've heard about Nati vampires having special powers, but I've never seen if for myself before. Fire. His power is fire.

Oh, fuck, he isn’t going to brand me, is he?!

I try to pull my arm away from him, but he holds onto me tightly, his eyes never leaving my own.

“Don’t do it.” I say, panic in my voice.

He can’t do this to me, I'll never be accepted back into my family with a vampire brand on my skin. I'll be disowned. Shamed.

“It’ll only hurt for a moment.” He says, slowly pulling the metal stamp away from his chest. “You might want to take a deep breath.”

I try to pull away again, hitting him as hard as i can with my free arm, right in the centre of his jaw, but he doesn’t move an inch, he doesn’t flinch, or react to my attack.

“Please don't." I plead, i know that I've stooped low enough to beg, and that it makes me weak, and a failure, but I'd much rather die than be branded.

He looks up at me, the metal brand so close to my skin that i can feel the heat radiating from it, and yet, he doesn’t say a word, he just smiles and then i scream.

He presses the brand into my skin and holds it there as i scream louder than i ever have before, the stench of burning flesh filling my every sense. I cry and kick and punch, trying to get him to remove it, but he sits perfectly still, pressing the burning metal into my skin as though i am barely inflicting him any pain.

I am a broken, sobbing mess when he finally removes the brand, taking some of my charred flesh with it, and leaving behind a single initial that’ll tie me to this Nati for the rest of my life.

He places the scorching metal onto the table beside him and reaches into his back pocket, my first instinct to move back on the bed, and stumble off the other side, cradling my arm to my chest as though it would protect me.