"No? Well, you see, I'll get you pregnant. Maybe not every time but still, you'll eventually birth my sons. Then they'll be taken away to be raised by Lower Level Nobles. So, your sons will be the ones that hunt and capture Vampires when they're grown. The irony is so lovely, isn't it?"
His free hand pushed her shirt up from where it had fallen back into place and began to knead her breasts that were still pushed out of her bra. Toki removed whatever he did to paralyze her with agony, moments before he tugged her nipple until she gasped in pain once again.
"Hmm, yes, I think me and you are going to have some fun together. Often."
Even with the constant physical pain gone, Sharon was numb. No way could she block out the things Toki was telling her. She'd be forced to birth children that would be stolen from her. Just like Darcy, she wouldn't be able to watch them grow. Taking advantage of her distraction and shock, Toki retied her to the tree before he returned her bra and shirt to their correct positions. Through her blurry gaze, she watched as he went to Barret with thick iron shackles that he'd collected from near where she was tied up, to clamp on his ankles and wrists. Then he pulled out a face mask and buckled the leather and metal device around his jaw. Sharon did nothing to stem the flow of tears as she saw the same white panel-van from earlier come toward them across the grass. This was it, no more chances to escape. She and Barret were well and truly caught. Her mind ran rampant with questions as she stared at Barret lying helpless on the ground.
How in the hell am I going to survive this? Do I really want to? How is Barret going to cope being starved and locked up? Will we ever be able to break free?
Chapter Four
28
th
February 2012
Toki stood with his back against the far wall of the large ball room at the Nobles' Portsea Compound. He swirled the brandy in the crystal glass he held before lifting it to his lips. All the Elders were here, sipping their expensive alcohol as they waited for the Head Noble to arrive to start the proceedings. In a few short hours, Toki would have his Sharon beneath him again. A grin spread across his face. Unlike the others, he wasn't completely strung out with sexual frustration. He hadn't waited four years to touch his Bride like they had. No, he'd been more cunning than that and had arranged it so he was present for all her blood donations. Once a month he got to glory in his woman's body.
Claude nudging him, brought him from his thoughts of what the night and following day would bring. He turned to the other Elder with a raised brow.
"Listen to them. The new Guardians are stirring up trouble as per usual."
Toki turned to face the group of younger men in the center of the room. The Lower Level Nobles were not here. They hadn't earned the right to have access to the knowledge or privilege to prepare the brides for the Elders. The young men before him were Guardian Nobles, a middle tier between the lower and Elder levels. Some had been a Guardian for years, and he could see they were attempting to answer the queries the new ones had.
"How many new Guardians do we have since last time?"
"Not sure, Toki. Not many. You want to take over and explain things? Because that Guardian speaking now is not helping."
Claude was right, the man currently attempting to explain why Nobles kidnapped Vampires and their Brides to the newer Guardians, was stumbling over his words and seemed to be having trouble recalling why he was here. With a nod of his head, Toki moved forward to take over.
"It would seem many of you have forgotten why we are here."
His loud, clear voice silenced the room.
"We are Nobles. We are here for the protection of the human race from the Vampires. It is our destiny to continue this war until we have won and Vampires are no more. This war is not on a battlefield, and in the open. No. It is all done in secret, behind closed doors so the general population does not have to know about the evil which walks among them.
"We capture their Brides, women with gemstone colored eyes, in order to keep them safe. If they are unclaimed, we hold them until their Vampire can be found and eliminated. If they are claimed, then the only way to keep them alive and safe is to trap their Vampire when we take them."
Toki had no problem mixing a few lies in with his tale. These younger Nobles didn't have the right yet to know that Vampires in fact posed no risk at all to the general population. As he paused for a few moments to take a drink, a younger Guardian spoke up.
"But why are the women violated? The Claimed Brides should be protected in the same way the unclaimed are."
Ahh yes. The new ones sometimes struggled with this side of things.
"What is your name, Guardian?"
"Karl, Sire."
The man, Karl, lowered his gaze and looked like he was trying to fold into himself. Obviously his self-preservation had kicked in. As it should. Toki knew what he'd done in the last months. Losing the Sapphire Bride, then after she'd been found again and taken he was allowed to assist in setting the trap for her Vampire. Somehow he ended up tied up in the back of a van as the rest of the team had been slaughtered by Vampires. They'd lost not only the Sapphire Vampire and Bride, but a number of good men that night. Karl had every reason to fear the consequences of his outburst.
"Not just anyone can be a Noble, Karl. It takes a special mix of genetics. An Elder and a Bride are the only way to achieve it. Also, long ago it was discovered that Nobles are unable to impregnate anyone other than a Vampire's Bride, so we'd die out if we didn't take the Brides as we do. But don't look so worried. I assure you the women are well cared for. We Elders love our brides and look after them well. In time they grow fond of us too. You will understand fully one day, if you are lucky enough to receive your own Bride."
"Yes, Sire."
Toki didn't like the look on the man's face. Karl had cleared his features of all emotion, which was a clear sign he was thinking thoughts he shouldn't be. A glance at the rest of the Guardians showed him his little speech had done the trick and smoothed over their concerns.
Moving back to where the other Elders stood, he made a mental note to keep an eye on Karl. He might need to be further educated. Or be eliminated if it looked like he was going to cause trouble. So far, the police continued to ignore the war between Nobles and Vampires. However, Toki was certain, if they came to learn that women were being held and used sexually, they would soon step in and end their way of life.
~ * ~
Sharon froze as she placed a completed shirt she'd finished sewing into the trolley by her machine. A chill ran up her spine as the workroom door opened.
"All Claimed Brides, follow me."
Somehow she managed to keep the bile down at the sound of that voice which she knew so well. Burke. One of her tormentors. Which meant it was again the eve of the twenty-ninth of February. This would be her seventh leap year. Potentially her fifth pregnancy. She closed her eyes against the agony. So far she'd birthed five sons. Four years ago she had twin boys. She'd been allowed to breast feed them for the first twenty-four hours before Nobles took her babies away. She didn't even know their names, but she would forever remember their sparkling green eyes and their soft downy hair. Her fingers twitched as she remembered stoking their soft skin.
Reluctantly she stood and followed the others out through the door. As she followed the others toward the dorms, she felt Burke's filthy gaze on her. She really hated that man. His touch was vile and his mouth was even worse. She began taking deep breaths and attempted to empty her mind. To get through this night she needed to sever the tie between her mind and body until it was over. She thought of Barret, focused on his face. In her mind, he was as he had been way back in 1985. Neat, short dark hair, passion filled Paraiba Tourmaline eyes. Sharon kept his image clear in her mind, allowing him to take her away from what was about to happen.
Tears blurred her vision as she held her head high and entered the dorm room. She clenched her jaw. No matter how tempting it was to lash out against these Lower Level Nobles, she knew it wasn't worth it. Burke was a sadistic bastard and would slap her down. If, like she did the first time, she kept fighting, Toki would be called in early and he'd use his pain-hold to paralyze her so she could be restrained. As her clothes were stripped from her and replaced with a thin white robe, she held perfectly still and focused on the other Noble helping Burke. Suddenly another image flared to life, Darcy. Her precious daughter, Darcy. Sharon's heart began to ache anew.
Sharon had been so shocked when Darcy had been brought into the workroom all those weeks ago. Getting to meet her daughter again felt like a reward from above for all she'd endured. The fact Darcy had been an unclaimed bride meant she was safe from being raped, which was a massive blessing. Sharon wasn't sure she could have handled Darcy having to suffer like that. It would have surely been enough to send Sharon over the edge into insanity. But shortly after her arrival, she was taken by her Guardian Noble and had not returned since. Sharon hoped her daughter was free, and her Vampire had managed to rescue her but she doubted it. Death was the much more likely option, and it broke her heart.
The Noble assisting Burke was Karl, Darcy's guardian, and seeing him brought thoughts of her daughter to the forefront of her mind. He'd know the outcome of Darcy's fate. Sharon wondered if he'd answer her if she dared to ask. Inwardly she shook her head. No, she wouldn't ask. So far, she and Darcy had not been linked as mother and daughter and if Darcy had escaped, the Nobles would use Sharon to trap her daughter.
Karl's touch was gentle, almost hesitant and she watched him closely. He was frowning and did not look happy. A quick glance lower revealed he was not aroused.
Strange
. Normally both Burke and his 'helper' got very touchy-feely with her for this part of the evening.
She forced herself to lay on the bedding platform and hold still as she was tied down. Closing her eyes as Burke slid a needle into the vein in her elbow, she focused on the fact Barret would be receiving the blood they took. Oh, how she wished it was Barret's fangs sinking into her flesh. They'd only had a few hours together all those years ago, but the memories from that short time had kept her going. Kept her sane and hoping—praying—for a chance to escape. Not just for them, but for all the other captives held here too.
Clammy, warm knuckles ran down her cheek and she jerked away from the contact. So different from Barret's cool touch it instantly pulled her from her imagined fantasy. Bile again rose in her throat as he ran his hands over her body. Firstly above the robe, before he parted it to expose her breasts, and he went in for a grope.
Oh bloody hell, not again. Please, won't someone, anyone, stop this cruelty?
"Is that really necessary?"
Karl's tone spoke of his revulsion at Burke's actions. Maybe this time wouldn't be so bad. Maybe Karl would be enough to stop Burke...
"I have been her Guardian for the past ten years. This moment, every four years, is the only chance I get to feel the body that fills my dreams. So long as I don't put my dick near her pussy, the Elders don't care what I do."
She shuddered in the restraints. Nope, there was no stopping Burke. At least it appeared Karl wouldn't be joining him in the violations. A small mercy she was thankful for.
"Whatever floats your boat, man. Personally, I prefer my women to be willing."
If only all Nobles had the same belief as Karl, how different things would be. Although, considering Nobles descended from Vikings, it was little wonder how they treated women. Burke tweaked her nipples and closed her gown as she swallowed down more bile. She really shouldn't eat for a full day before this, but they had no calendars. No way of knowing when the twenty-ninth would come around.
"Way to be a killjoy. For that, you can deliver the blood."
"Where do I take it? I've never done the blood run before."
With an efficiency that comes with practice, Burke slid the needle free of her arm causing only a slight sting. After placing a Band Aid over the small wound, he applied pressure for a few moments to ensure the blood flow ceased. Oh, how she wished she could feel Barret at her throat again. The sweet thrill that ran through her as she felt him draw blood from her vein… Nothing had ever felt so good.
"There is a trolley out in the hall. Wait until all the others bring their bags out then take the trolley down to the dungeons. The Vamps are due their weekly rations today."
Burke's voice caused the image of Barret to once again drain away from her vision. She felt a cold sweat break out across her flesh. Weekly rations. Not only did Claimed Brides get 'bred' every four years, but each month they were hooked up to donate blood to their Vampires. Sharon didn't know if the others had to endure what she did. Toki seemed to think as he was named after the original Noble, he had more rights. Which included getting her alone and to himself as often as possible and those monthly sessions were his favorite.
Burke sighed contentedly as he peeled her robe wide open.
"Alone at last, beautiful."
Great
. Sharon could do nothing to prevent the tears that ran down her face and landed in her ears.
So it begins, once again...
~ * ~
Hearing the scrape of the entrance door opening, Barret swallowed against his dry throat. He was so thirsty. The hunger for food had passed a very long time ago, but his thirst for Sharon's blood would only cease when his life did. A small squeak of a wheel indicated it was feeding time. Barret was never sure if he'd get a small taste of his Bride or a harsh hosing down with cold water when that door opened. Not that he felt much these days; his body barely functioned. All he had was his mind. Thoughts and memories that haunted him and broke his heart, because no matter how bad this felt for him, he knew his Sharon had it so much worse. That bastard Noble had made sure he knew what lay in store for her.