Page 38 of Deadmen's Captive

"Stop," I managed to choke out.

"No," he whispered, his voice husky. "You are mine now. And I will do to you what I choose… Persephone.”

His grip tightened on me, and I couldn't deny the pooling warmth between my thighs even amid my confusion. The air in the room felt heavy, electric, as if everyone in attendance was holding their breath. His fingers trailed along my skin, igniting a flame I couldn't put out. I couldn’t take my eyes away from the seas of masked faces watching intently as this man caressed me.

“I'm not Persephone,” I tried again.

“But tonight, you are,” he whispered back, his masked face inches away from mine. His warm breath ghosted over my skin, inciting a shiver that travelled down my spine. I could feel his thumb drawing lazy circles over my nipple, sending jolts of pleasure zipping through me.

I couldn't breathe.

The sense of danger was palpable now, thick in the air like sweet poison. Every instinct in me screamed to run, but his touch was mesmerising and I was frozen in his arms.

“Time to go, Persephone. Time to leave the land of the living and join me in the world of the dead.”

"Wha—"

In one fluid motion, his other hand produced a cloth from somewhere within the folds of his robe. Before I could react, the cloth covered my nose and mouth. A sickly sweet scent filled my nostrils, clogging my senses. My limbs grew heavy, the grand ballroom tilting into obscurity. The last thing I registered was the sound of my own muffled scream, then the world slipped away completely, leaving me adrift in an endless night.

Chapter Seventeen

UNKNOWN

No, no, no! Tonight was my chance. Tonight was supposed to be our night, Paige. I even made sure your date was taken care of. I can't believe you still agreed to go with him after my warning. I told you it would be a bad idea, Paige. I warned you there would be consequences. But who knew the billionaire playboy drives that powerful machine like a grandma. Cutting the brake lines should have meant he ended up smashed into a wall, not dancing with you like that, and then he disappeared and they arrived.

I should have known. I'd seen them about campus, seen one following you, but I would never have thought you'd be the girl they'd pick. You are so different to the other girls they choose. You're real, and pure, and they can't have you. I need to find you, Paige. I need to save you. Where did they take you?

Chapter Eighteen

PAIGE

My eyelids fluttered open and a wave of nausea washed over me. I tried to open my mouth and take a deep breath, but I found I couldn’t. The world was spinning and voices came from all around me. Head pounding, I tried to focus on the ceiling above me—distant, painted with gods and monsters. I tried to speak, but only a muffled sound came out. With a flash of panic, I realised I was gagged. I couldn't speak, and I couldn't scream. I looked around me, my eyes widening as my vision cleared and I took in my new situation.

I was no longer in Blackvellyn Hall. This room was dark, its black marble Greek style columns disappearing into darkness near the roof. The floor was black marble too, polished and cold beneath my bare feet. Long tables lined the halls, with benches that ran their length filled with figures clad in long black robes. Reapers ate and drank and laughed, masks discarded. I sat between the two long tables, my wrists bound behind me, the gag concealed beneath the mask I had worn to the ball.

"Please..." I tried again, words lost behind the gag. Useless. A couple of Reapers looked my way, but no one reacted to my sound. The air was heavy, charged. I felt it, a current of unease that made my stomach churn. I shivered, the drug still coursing through me, making me weak, dizzy. I tried again.

"Help me."

More turned to look, but no one moved, and a hush fell gradually over the hall, each turning to look at me. I felt naked under their stares. My cheeks heated and I looked ahead, trying to ignore them. Before me, wide black steps rose up to bear three black carved wooden chairs. Well, thrones really. The central one was bigger and more ornate, and my eyes were instantly drawn to the man sitting upright in it who slowly rose to his feet, his eyes fixed on me. Silence fell across the hall at his movement and I shivered.

A mask covered his face, but his eyes bore into mine, their intensity making my heart pound in fear. This man emanated power and command. He was tall, his body radiating strength beneath the black cloak he wore. Slowly, he descended the steps, each step echoing through the silence that had fallen over the hall.

"I see our guest has finally awakened." His voice was deep and sent a chill down my spine. Panic rose within me as I realised who he was. The man who had danced with me, who’d touched me. The man who had drugged me. Fear settled on me like ice in my veins as he moved closer.

"Welcome," he called out across the hall in a tone that echoed off the stone walls. His voice was smooth like velvet but sent shivers down my spine. He paused, relishing in the power he held over this room full of men, before continuing. "Today, we add a new member to our celebrated club. As per club tradition, your DeathKnights have found their Persephone for this year. Her identity will remain concealed, and any attempt to discover it shall be punishable by the three of us. Any disrespect of her shall be punishable, and any attempt to claim what's ours shall meet with strong retribution. This woman belongs to me.”

My mouth went dry at his words. What the hell was going on? Kate had warned me about the Reapers being dangerous, but this… kidnapping someone, was beyond anything I could have imagined. I wished I'd taken her seriously. I'd never have agreed to dance with him. Even David was feeling like the better option now. My head spun as the man moved towards me, leaning down to face me. My breath caught at how close he was, but the attraction from before was now simply a growing fear of what he was going to do to me.

"Welcome to the Underworld, Persephone," he said, voice dripping with dark amusement. "I am Hades, and these," he gestured to the men behind him. "Are my DeathKnights. You have been taken from the world of the living and brought here to my kingdom of death, and here you shall remain at our service.”

I tried to plead with him, but the gag muffled my cries. The Reapers watched, their silence unnerving. Not a single whisper broke the tension that hung in the air like a shroud. I struggled against the bindings, but it was useless.

Panic spread like wildfire in my body, and I bit down hard on the gag. The taste of leather filled my mouth. Tears welled up in my eyes. The man - Hades - straightened, and outstretched his arm towards me, presenting me to the room.

"The trials of Persephone begins now," he announced, his voice resonating throughout the hall. A cheer erupted from the crowd, their voices echoing in the vast room as they raised their glasses. I whimpered in fear, my heart racing.

Hades turned back to the thrones and gestured for two men standing beside them to come forward. They obeyed without question, descending down the steps with a predatory grace that only made me more afraid to stand beside him. Hades reached up and removed his mask revealing devilishly handsome features hardened by authority and power. His dark eyes bore into mine, a silent warning in their depths. Cheekbones to die for and dark hair cut short at the sides and longer on top. My heart flipped at his dark beauty and suddenly I found myself wishing I was back in his arms on the dancefloor.

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