Chapter Text
My throat burned with pain as I woke up. Coughing, I opened my eyes to see I was in a plain room with white walls.
Confused as to where I was. I pushed myself off the comfortable bed with the blood-red comforter. I look to my left to see two doors a few feet apart. I took my chances and opened the door on the far right side.
The door swung open with a gentle push of my hand. There was a bathtub, a toilet, and a sink with a mirror above it. I went over to the sink, turning the cool water on. Cupping my hands under the water, I brought the water to my mouth. I quickly drank it.
I dropped my hands to my side when I glanced at myself in the mirror. I was horrified at what I saw.
Red eyes.
"No, no, no, no, this isn't real. It can't be.!" I shouted, angrily. I got so angry that I punched the mirror. Causing it to break, I've should've been faster. I thought.
"I need to get out of here, and back to court. Back to Lissa." I whispered under my breath. Then I thought crossed my mind. The bond.
It's broken.
I left the bathroom in a hurry, running to the other door to make a quick exit. Just to be stopped in my tracks as the door opens swiftly. There stood the white-haired Strigoi.
"Well, well, well, where do you think you're going.?" He said this as he shoved me farther into the room.
"You're one of us now. Just like Dimitri was, but you, Rosemarie." He paused, circling me. "You are going to be so much more powerful than he ever was. And do you know why.?" He asked, his voice cold and emotionless.
I stayed quiet for a moment.
Trying to come up with an escape plan. But the only thing I could come up with was to just go with it. Pretend that I have any care about what he has to say.
"No, why.?" I asked sarcastically, giving him the cold shoulder. And pushing past him to sit at the end of the bed. He rolled his red eyes at me.
"Because your shadow kissed. And that does things to one's soul. This," he said, pointing down at me. "It only happened once before, and no, we are not talking about Shadow-kissed Anna. We are talking about someone, whom no one knows. You can do things you know other Strigoi can."
This caught my attention. "What do you mean.?" I asked. "Well, for instance. You don't necessarily have to drink blood. Like early in the bathroom, you-"
I cut him off at this. "How do you know about that.? You weren't even in here when..." That's when it hit me—there must be cameras. But in the bathroom, really.? That's just fucked up, even for Strigoi.
At my realization, that stupid smirk made its way back onto his face. I wish I had my stake. He would be dead in a heartbeat.
He looked up at the clock that hung between both doors. "Well, look at the time. I have some business to attend to, but after. I'll be back. And we'll discuss why we chose you, besides being Shadow kissed. There was another reason."
After that, he finally left. Now's my chance to escape. Part of me wanted to stay to know why they chose me. But the majority of me wanted to get the hell outta here.
As the door closed behind the Strigoi, I had to think quickly. Getting a closer look at the room. I saw a small air vent, but upon closer inspection, I wasn’t sure if it had any actual significance for a chance of escape. There had to be something. Anything.
Looking around, desperately searching for anything I could use as a weapon. Yet coming up empty-handed.
Frustrated, I sat on the end of the bed. Taking a deep breath to calm myself, there had to be a way out.
My thoughts were interrupted by the door opening. I looked up and my eyes met that of the white-haired Strigoi’s. Closing the door behind him, he had that same sly smile on his face.
“I hope you didn’t miss me too much.” His tone was sarcastic.
He leaned against the wall next to the door, arms crossed, just looking at me.
He was studying me.
After a beat of silence, he pushed himself off the wall slowly making his way over. I felt the bed dip as he sat down next to me.
He was far too close for comfort.
The smell of blood lingered in his breath. I could almost taste it in the air. It made me nauseous.
He shifted his weight, angling his body towards mine. Grabbing my chin, he gently lifted it. Our red-ringed eyes met each others.
A look of curiosity crossed his face.
“You’re really pretty. You know that don’t you.?” He said in a hushed voice, still holding my chin.
I tried to jerk away, but his grip only tightened.
“Don’t. Fight. It.” He growled through clenched teeth.
His hand moved from my chin to my neck, his cold fingers tracing lightly down the side of my throat. Seeming to be in deep thought, as if he was contemplating something.
I decided now would be as good a time as any to attack.
Without thinking, I lunged forward, trying to strike him. But he was quicker, catching my wrist before I could make contact.
He held my wrist in a vice grip, far tighter than before. “That wasn’t very nice.” He murmured, voice deceptively sweet. He got to his feet within seconds, pulling me along with him.
He spun me around, pulling my back flush against his front. Wrapping one of his arms around my waist, pinning my arms to my sides. He leaned in his mouth right next to my ear.
“I’m trying to be nice. You don’t want me to be mean, do you.?” His breath on my skin sent chills down my spine. I could feel his teeth graze my ear, making me want to scream.
Pulling my head forward, I swung it back as fast as I could. Causing him to stumble back, turning towards him I charged full force at him.
Hand stretched out.
Aiming straight for his chest, my fingers digging in. He let out a painful gasp. So I pushed further, I could feel his heart in the palm of my hand.
Grasping with all my strength I pulled, his heart coming along with it.
The strigoi let out an undignified scream of pain, falling to the ground as I clutched his heart in my hands.
I had killed him.
Without any weapons, just my bare hands. I could feel my body begin to tremble. I couldn’t tell if it was from fear of what I’d done or was it the adrenaline that ran through my veins.