Tears streaked down my cheeks as the fabric was yanked from my head, revealing the grim visage of Dr. Montgomery, as he swiftly bound my ankles together. Beside him stood a towering figure, muscular and imposing, undoubtedly Jeffrey, who callously shoved a wad of fabric into my mouth.
I recoiled, my tongue pushing against the intrusive gag, but Jeffrey’s firm grip only forced the fabric deeper into my mouth. Panic surged within me as I choked, my attempts to scream muffled.
I thrashed and kicked violently, my movements wild and erratic as I rolled away from my captors. But Dr. Montgomery was relentless, his grip on my ankles unyielding as he dragged me mercilessly across the floor into the hallway.
He dragged me down the stairs, my arms useless, held by the tight bindings, my head striking against each step with a sickening force. A sharp pain blossomed around my eyes and warm blood ran across my face, as a gash opened on my eyelid.
“Do you reckon he will make his appearance, sir?” Jeffrey’s voice echoed in the grand foyer. As he swung open the front door, sunlight flooded the room, and I blinked rapidly from the blinding sun, trying to clear the blood from my eyes.
“Certainly, we have his stolen bride,” Dr. Montgomery sneered, his grip on my ankles tightening as he continued to drag me across the marble floor.
Dread coiled in the pit of my stomach, a sickening realization dawning upon me. I was nothing more than a pawn in their twisted game, a bargaining chip to lure Draven into their trap.
Desperation clawed at me as I struggled against the bindings, but the effort only left me feeling lightheaded, my head throbbing mercilessly from the violent descent down the stairs
They dragged me out into the blinding daylight, the harsh rays burning my eyes as I squinted, adjusting to the brightness. With a hollowthud, Jeffrey closed the massive doors of the mansion behind us, sealing me off from the safety I had known.
My gaze fell upon a carriage stationed a few yards away and, in that moment, a surge of frustration and helplessness washed over me. I desired for the strength to overpower these two men and tear every limb from their bodies piece by piece.
“Lift her by her arms, and I shall take hold of her legs,” Dr. Montgomery ordered Jeffrey. Just as they were about to grab me, the front doors of the mansion burst open with a violent force.
Draven stormed in, an angel of death.
He emerged into the sunlight and as I tried to call out to him, my voice was muffled by the gag in my mouth, and I could only watch in horror as he charged toward Dr. Montgomery with a ferocity I had never witnessed before.
Draven seized Dr. Montgomery and dragged him into the shadows of the mansion. “I warned you never to touch my wife again!” His voice thundered, raw with anger and fury. He sank his fangs into Dr. Montgomery’s neck, blood spraying in all directions as the man let out a visceral scream. Draven gripped the sides of his head and twisted. A sickening sound of bones breaking filled the air. I closed my eyes, unable to bear the gruesome sight, but I reopened them when Draven’s own screams pierced the air.
Jeffrey stood behind him, a large wooden stake plunged into Draven’s back, driving him once again outside into the blinding sunlight. My heart twisted with helplessness as I watched Draven’s skin blister and sizzle under the sun’s rays. Bound on the ground, I could do nothing but witness his suffering.
In a desperate act, Draven turned and plunged his hand into Jeffrey’s chest. I stared in horror as he ripped Jeffrey’s heart from his body. Then his body fell to the floor, motionless next to Dr. Montgomery’s.
Tears welled in my eyes as I remained bound. Draven turned and looked at me his face barely recognizable under the charred skin. He fell to the ground, his dark blood welling from beneath the wooden stake. I was unable to help Draven, and I knew Imalda and the other housekeepers probably were hiding, unwilling to interfere.
Desperately, I turned my gaze to Dr. Montgomery’s lifeless body and the gruesome sight of his half-ripped-off head lying on the ground. My heart pounded with fear and adrenaline as I noticed a knife tucked into his belt. I crawled toward it, struggling to grasp the hilt. I managed to secure the knife and sawed through my restraints, feeling a surge of relief as my hands and legs were freed. With trembling fingers, I removed the gag from my mouth, gasping for air.
Draven had taken a life to protect mine. The weight of his actions hung heavy in the air, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the lifeless form beside me.
Crawling toward Draven, every movement filled with urgency and dread, I reached his side. His body bore burns, searing his flesh, and the stake was still embedded in his back. With trembling hands, I grasped the wooden stake and pulled it out, wincing at the sight of more dark blood oozing from the wound.
Rolling Draven over, I felt my heart sink at the sight of his lifeless form. His face appeared even more drained of life than before. Dark veins snaked along his neck, a stark contrast against his ghostly complexion. I reached out and gently touched his cheek.
“Draven?” I pleaded, my voice choked with emotion. “Please, Draven, wake up.”
My eyes fell on his skin, blistered and swollen from the sunlight. Knowing that every moment counted, I summoned all my strength and determination. Gathering Draven’s arms, I pulled him with all my might, dragging him into the mansion.
I managed to haul Draven a few feet inside before my strength gave out. I reached out and pulled the heavy doors shut, enveloping us once again in the protective darkness of our home.
My plea grew frantic as I shook him, desperation clawing at my chest. “Draven, wake up, please! You cannot die! You cannot leave me as well,” I choked out, tears blurring my vision. But he remained unresponsive.
Refusing to accept his fate, I clenched the knife tightly, steeling myself against the pain. With a deep breath, I sliced a gash in my palm, wincing as crimson liquid pooled. Pressing my hand against his mouth, I watched as my blood flowed into him.
After a moment his lips closed around my hand, and he began to drink, each swallow flowed life into him. I watched as his burnt skin slowly began to mend.
His eyes fluttered open, pale blue orbs meeting mine, and I felt a rush of relief flood through me. Yet, his thirst seemed insatiable, his gaze held an intensity that I could not look away from.
“That is enough,” I whispered, attempting to pull my hand away, but he held on with an iron grip, his hunger consuming him. “Draven, stop.” The edges of panic creeped into my voice as I felt my strength waning with each passing moment. “You are going to kill me,” I whispered.
His eyes widened in realization, and with a final, desperate pull, he released my hand, his mouth stained with my blood.
