Page 126 of Chasing the Red Queen

“I’ll be gentle,” he said with a quirk of his face, “for a while,” he laughed, taking steps toward her.

“Don’t come any closer, she trembled, weak in the knees. “You’re a sadistic, cold-blooded murderer . You killed Becky and all those other girls.”

“They were just treats, blood and sex to keep me alive, but you…hmmm, so young and ripe.” He stopped midstride and twisted his head almost to his shoulder. He shuddered and as his demeanor shifted, he appeared to be fighting an internal battle. He clenched his fists into weapons of steel, his body shaking. “Shut the fuck up you cock sucker, you had your time with her, this is mine. No!” he wailed, “forget it,” he grumbled as if talking to something or someone. “I won’t damage the merchandise.” He shook his head violently. “Just watch and learn, faggot,” he growled as he turned back, a vile evilness leaching from his eyes.

“Stay away from me!” Donja screeched, her voice wavering. “Zaroc! I know you can hear me. Come back…please!”

“He can’t help you, hell he can’t even help himself. Now get over here and get on your knees before I forget that we need you alive.”

“No, I belong to Torin. He marked me!”

His face twisted in anger.

“Help me, somebody help!” she screamed, her voice reverberating. She glanced around, searching for a weapon, anything.

Suddenly he flashed toward her, his body a blur. He seized her as a scream rippled her lips. He spun, wind whipping her hair as he flashed to, and slammed her to the wall. She felt the impact, the breath all but knocked from her lungs. She flailed her arms, beating his massive chest as his eyes flipped to a gold, blinding light. She saw his fangs and then with her gut churning she gasped for air, which was all she could do as he shackled her to the wall, shoving her up with her feet dangling. He sank his fangs deep in her neck. Her eyes widened, the pain supreme. She gripped his shoulders as he fed upon her like a rabid dog. He relinquished his bite, then with bloody lips found her own and kissed her, long and hard, his emboldened hands roaming her body. She tried to scream as she beat him with her fists, but the fight was over, her stamina gone, swallowed by his greedy lips. He ran his hands under her dress and ripped her panties from her body. She screamed, and he stuffed them into her mouth, growling like a beast. He grasped the neckline of her dress and with power not of this world, ripped it, the fiber cutting into her shoulders as he reduced it to yellow threads.

He moaned his delight, the more skin he saw, the more he wanted. He ripped her bra from her chest, using his teeth. He bit her shoulder and she tried to fight, but it was useless. She felt blood trickling over her breasts and down her stomach which sent him into a frenzy, licking and sucking. He seized her waist, lifting her higher, hungry lips on her belly slurping up every drop. Suddenly as if he was struck by lightning, he released her, his eyes wide as he streaked backward and slammed into the table. His face contorted.

Donja hit the floor on her side, her head whacking the baseboard so hard that she saw stars. She scrambled to her feet, then stumbled and fell. She was weak, so weak. Bleeding from her head and shoulder she rolled over, the room spinning. Terrified, she crawled on hands and knees for the door. Midway across the room, with his howls which bordered on agony, forcing her to glance back, she focused on him as best she could, tears streaking her cheeks.

“No!” he wailed, gripping his head, muscles bulging. He spun, crouched at the knee then turned facing her, wiping his bloody lips with the back of his hand. He shook his head violently, locks flying. “No!” He roared so loud that she cowered, hands over her ears. She scooted backward, her nape prickled, goose bumps dancing as his body began to flicker, evanescing between Scarface and Zaroc.

From the hallway, someone kicked the locked door and it shattered. Donja raised a hand to shield her face, splinters flying.

“What’s wrong?” Garret yelled, wide eyed as he rushed to Zaroc and gripped him tightly.

“She’s pregnant!” Zaroc sputtered wildly, spit flying from his lips. “Scarface tasted her blood. It has hCG!” He flailed his arms, Garret trying to contain him.

“That can’t be.” Garret groaned. “Mancini didn’t petition the Council.”

Donja sat up in a near convulsive state, arms crossed over her exposed breasts.

Garret met her gaze then dropped his eyes to her stomach with an impenetrable stare. “Pregnant,” he whispered as he raised his eyes to meet her own. His lips trembled. “You bitch! You’re fucking pregnant!”

Donja’s stomach lurched. “Pregnant?” she stuttered, the very word sucking the air from her lungs.

Garret pulled Zaroc close, an arm across his shoulder. “It’s okay, son. Mancini will pay, of that you can be damn sure. He’ll pay with his life for defiling her!”

“That won’t help me!” Zaroc whimpered.

“Garret smoothed Zaroc’s hair and pulled him tight. “I’m going to take care of this, son, you’ll…”

“How?” Zaroc screamed, pulling back and staring into his eyes. “I’m losing this battle!”

“The boy,” Garret snarled. “We’ll snatch him, drain her blood and infuse it with his. Once Torin’s antigens are diminished, she won’t be able to sustain the embryo. She’ll abort naturally and then…you can have your way with her.”

“I don’t have time for that,” Zaroc whined, tears streaking his face. “He’s killing me, father, eating me from the inside out!”

Donja crawled toward the door unnoticed.

No, not Frankie…no!

Just past the shattered door jamb, she saw six-inch black heels. She stopped and slowly raised her head. It was Zaroc’s mother, a hand to her hip. “Going somewhere,” she whispered.

Donja covered her face and her tears fell. She felt the woman’s hand come to rest, gently on her arm.

“Come, she whispered, “let’s get you up and get you back to your room.”

---