Chapter 2: Punishment
Two sets of hands grabbed me from under the arms and dragged me out of bed without regard to the half awake person they were moving.
Their nails dug into my pale skin leaving ugly red marks as they took me down dark hallways and into the room where I would receive my punishment.
My legs laid uselessly on the floor, numb from the quick journey.
I made no attempt to escape. I knew if I did they would punish Sebastian and I didn’t want that.
I didn’t love him; I didn’t even know him but I couldn’t let anyone get hurt because of me.
I won’t allow it.
Finally after what seemed like hours but was probably minutes we stopped at two big black pull doors. The black doors had words carved into them:
If you are corrupt the pain will remain forever. If you are good the pain will only last a while. You. Are. Worthy. Anneliese. Do not forget the goodness in your heart. The darkness never wins, remember that and keep that sacred. Only darkness can be punished for the sins it has committed.
They pulled the doors open and dragged me in, not caring to be delicate.
They set me on a box and tied my hands and feet as far apart as they could. With my hands and feet outstretched, I hung there awkwardly. My head drooping uncomfortably.
I tried picking my head up but it used too much energy at the time especially after I just woke up.
Hundreds of vampires sat before me, staring with open eyes.
Some indiscreetly turned to whisper amongst each other. And vampires suck at whispering.
“That’s the girl that sacrificed herself for our prince."
"She was turned and still sacrificed herself for one of us."
"What is she doing? I thought humans hated us."
I laughed to myself. If only they knew.
The woman from my room came out of a door holding the weapon of my punishment.
"This fledgling has decided to take the punishment for Sebastian . . . " She motioned towards Sebastian and the two men holding him. "She has earned the fire whip for herself. With the name of Reminiscence and the power given to me by my predecessors and as coven leader, I shall begin my judgment."
I noticed the long metal whip as Reminiscence raised it above her head. Flames erupted over the metallic surface.
Some of the crowd began cheering and the others watched silently.
I squinted my eyes but never saw the match in her hand. She went behind me and whispered an apology into my ear and then began striking me over and over again.
The pain searing through my back was unbearable but I gritted teeth. I gasped but did not allow myself to scream.
The thick metal lashes were hot against my back and hurt every time she pulled them off my skin. Every lunge, every fling left me closer and closer to unconsciousness.
Silent tears ran down my face. Through my tears I could see the crowd was torn, looking at me with sympathy.
Squeamish vampires looked away or hid their face behind a shoulder. But some, the angry ones, were looking at me with disdain, thrill even.
In the corner on my eye I could see Sebastian struggling to break free of the guards grip.
After the fifth time the whip struck me I emitted an ear piercing scream that left my throat raw.
Ray came from out of the crowd and tried to help me escape my bonds but to no avail, guards came to seize him and they grabbed him by the wrist and flipped him over their shoulder and slammed him to the ground.
A few strokes of the whip and my punishment was fulfilled.
The excruciating pain had not lessened but increased, when they slashed my bonds and I fell helplessly to the floor in a jumble of limbs.
Ray and Sebastian twisted out of the guards’ grips and running towards me, "Don't you dare touch her one more time, you filthy animals. Do you enjoy seeing her pain? I will enjoy watching you scream in the torture room later!“ They said in a scary unison.
They got to me and Ray held my head in his hands while Sebastian yelled in my ear.
“Anneliese . . . Stay with us, don’t fall asleep . . . I’m sorry . . . I’m so sorry.”
Despite his pleas, I could not take the poison any longer and passed out.
YOU ARE READING
Bloodshed (Rewritten)
Vampire(Any and all photos are not mine and were found on the internet !!) Anneliese died that one night in the snow. Her silver hair was stained red and her brown eyes were lifeless due to one shot by a gun. She was a sacrifice. Sebastian saved her but on...
