Page 84 of Stalked

“Caleb!” I called. When I reached the top of the field, it wasn’t Caleb. It was a man and two women. One of the women, blonde hair loosened from her coif, was on the ground, backpedaling away from the others. I could hear her weeping and praying to be spared. I hid behind a tree and watched. The two standing were vampires but seemed to be arguing; the male was refusing to feed.

“Kill her, Dorian. Do it,” the woman commanded, but he shook his head.

“Look at her; she’s terrified. Please, don’t make me do this,” Dorian pleaded. “I didn’twantthis!”

He began to help the frightened young woman to her feet, who was shaking profusely. That only infuriated the one giving him orders.

“You’re right, Dorian. I should have never turned someone so useless.” She leaned down and picked up a branch from the ground. I saw her snap the end, creating a sharp point. She then turned to Dorian, who was still helping the girl stand up and had his back turned.

No!

I ran as fast as I could while reaching into the holster around my waist and pulling out my stake. I leaped toward the vampire woman and plunged the weapon into her heart. She exploded into ash in front of me. I turned to the man she called Dorian, whose eyes were wide and terrified. “She was going to kill you,” I said, grabbing him by the hand. I didn’t fear him; yes, he was a vampire, but his kind eyes spoke to me as no other had ever done.

“Mercy, back away from him,” Roland shouted from the opposite end of the clearing.

I looked back at Dorian and whispered, “Run.”

The images wouldn’t stop coming, giving me a vague snapshot of what happened in my past life. I watched as the seasons changed, taking me through an entire year of memories with Dorian. From the moment we met to the night I gave up my life.

I never saw him as the monster everyone claimed he was. I had a duty, but even so, I was attracted to him. An attraction I shouldn’t have allowed to continue, as it would put everyone at risk. But I couldn’t stay away. Through the visions, I saw how much we loved each other. I watched as Caleb tried to break us apart, but I wouldn’t allow it. I understood why he had chosen his father over me, and even though I still cared for Caleb, I loved another man. A man who would love me openly.

The memories faded in my mind, and I no longer felt like a stranger watching stories I had no recollection of. Each memory felt like it belonged to me—as if it had never left. My life played out until a rope snapped my neck.

I felt myself blink and come back into the present. Despite having a year’s worth of memories with Dorian flow through me, only a minute had passed since the redhead’s decapitation. Maurice still had his hand on my shoulder.

I looked up at Dorian, wondering if he even remembered who I was. There was no emotion in his eyes. He wasn’t ripping Maurice’s head off in my honor. Dorian was acting like I was a stranger. He was acting like?—one of them.

Why hadn’t Dorian come for me? Simon had never killed him, like Caleb told me. Caleb had lied?—again. Why hadn’t Dorian come for me after I came back to life? Did he know who I was?

Dorian caught my eye and shook his head discreetly. He adjusted his shirt as if he were uncomfortable with me looking at him now.

Was that expression a warning to not let Maurice know we knew each other?

Dorian had the same face, but his hair was shorter than it was in my memories. He had messy, medium-length hair that stood taller on the top than the sides, but he had the same beautiful light brown eyes from my dreams. Dorian was dressed in all black, and a long red scarf adorned his neck. His eyes met mine again, and his face went still.

Our locked gaze was torn apart as Maurice grabbed my hand and escorted me out of the room. I looked back at the man I once loved and gave him a pleading look.

“Dorian,” I said silently. “If you can hear this, please help me get out of here.”

I wasn’t sure if he could hear my thoughts with the magic bracelet on my wrist, but I hoped he could.

We walked in silence as Maurice led me up a long spiral staircase near the front foyer. It was black marble, carved with various monsters on the handrail. His shoes clicked on the floor, echoing throughout the narrow hallway once we reached the top. The doors we passed were black, with enormous iron knockers on each of them. It looked like we stepped into an old gothic film, and I had no doubt that these decorations were the original furnishings when the place was built.

Maurice stopped at the last room at the end of the hall, pushing open the tall door with his finger. I first saw a gaudy canopy bed with intricately carved posts. They draped a ruby red silk cloth over it, hovering over the metallic blue comforter and way too many throw pillows than needed. I spotted a gray vanity in the corner of the room with a marooned framed vintage mirror. The closet was open; many dresses hung on the racks, and heels lined the walls.

It was apparent they had been planning my arrival for quite some time.

“You’ll sleep in here for now,” he said flatly. “Just because you’re a prisoner doesn’t mean we won’t show you some hospitality.” He turned to me. “However, if you disobey me, you’ll spend the night in a caged dungeon below.” Maurice’s warning made my blood run cold.

With his overly heightened vampire senses, I wondered if he’d be able to hear how fast my heartbeat picked up.

He placed his hand on my cheek again. I really fucking hated it when he touched me. “In time, you’ll submit to me willingly. Until then, I want you to feel at home here, Akasha. However, you’re still my prisoner. I expect you to obey every order I give you, or I’ll be forced to punish you for your disobedience.” He gestured to the bathroom behind me. “You’ll have your own shower, and your closet is filled with clothes your size that Kyoko, my right hand, picked out for you. You’re expected to be presentable when you leave this room. Press the speaker button here if you need anything, and Kyoko will come to your aid.”

I nodded because, at that moment, I was too exhausted to fight. “Maurice?” I said.

His lips curled. “Yes?”

I swallowed. “Are the humans and witches you keep here …allprisoners?”

---