i'm back, baby

episode 17; the dragon

Kill the monster before you become one.

Stephani fell to the ground, screaming as Madison sunk her teeth so far into her throat, trying desperately to cut through her entire head. The vamp's nails sunk into her skin like a wolves- you would even think she was a werewolf. Stephani was a screaming mess, flailing her arms everywhere and struggling to get her hands free. That's all she needed was a free hand to win this fight. And she needed to do it before her head rolled onto the floor. Madison pulled back, almost suffocated by the amount of delicious blood that was gushing out of her neck. Witch's and wizard's blood was the best out of all beings. Next were vampires and lastly humans. Oh, the irony.

And when the all powerful other breed pulled back, she even choked on some of the blood, her eyes closing for a second as she had not had any time to prepare for this or even take in a deep breath prior since she was so rushed and pressured. And the second she hesitated, Stephani used it to her advantage and got both hands free forcing Madison to go flying back and into the steel chair, snapping the steel shut around her wrists and ankles. Madison was too taken aback at first, before Stephani teleported to her and stuffed vervain down her throat which spawned out of thin air, getting blood all over her hand as Madison's mouth dissolved.

Once Madison was weakened by the vervain enough that she wouldn't be able to escape, Stephani stepped back in a panting rage, allowing Madison to see the damage she had done.

Half of her throat was ripped out, her neck bone protruding and veins visibly pulsing. Veins sprouted underneath her eyes again, but the burning sensation in her mouth quickly dissipated them.

Her eyes were wide in surprise at herself. She looked to the others, blood smothered all over her face and dripping off her chin. Erica was gagging and extremely close to throwing up, Ethan was shaking and his mouth was gaping open and Sarah had covered her eyes, sneaking a peek every now and then. Rory was staring straight ahead, giving Madison a thumbs up and a smile when she looked at him, blood dripping down his arm from the cut.

Benny was unable to look away. He just couldn't. At least they knew now that she cared about them and was willing to risk her life for them. That meant a lot, at least to Benny. The others just wish she had spared them that disgustingly graphic scene- except Rory, of course.

She looked back to Stephani, her heart beating a million times a minute. Her heart beat had a heartbeat. The red head's hair matched her body and she walked by the table, grabbing the drill off the floor. Her eyes wide and bulging, her face deformed from the bottom, looking almost as if it was melted. She walked closer to Madison, "I knew it! I knew that you'd be too weak for this kind of life. Maybe that cure will be a good thing for you. You're not ruthless enough to be a vampire."

"Wait the cure? Mads, you were going to... become a human again?" Benny asked, still trying to avoid Stephani. Madison just looked at him, shaking, not knowing what to do or how to respond. She quickly turned back to the bleeding woman. "How'd you know I was going to do that?" she asked quietly. "Because I know you, Madison."

The gory vampire thought back to when Stephani said that before killing her parents and taking her away to ruin her life. She grew furious.

"Fuck you! You don't know anything!" her voice was raspy and stained with hatred. Tears were pressing against the surface of her eyes.

"I don't know anything?" she asked getting closer and kneeling down in front of her, slowly raising the drill above Madison's thigh. "I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING?" She took a panting breath and said in a much calmer voice still laced with venom, "Well I know one thing," she turned the drill on. "This is gonna hurt. Real, real bad."

She slowly drilled into Madison's thigh, eventually carving through all of the fat and muscle and to her bone. Oh how the vampire screamed and screamed, moving her legs and shaking as much as physically possible. The others watches in pure disgust and fright, feeling remorse for what the brunette was going through and that she put herself through it for them.

"Oh is that a tear I see? Well let's fix that real quick." Stephani put it in even deeper, moving it around to create lines and strokes of wounds. All the tears Madison wanted to shed were sucked back in and she could only focus on how much physical pain she was in.

The harrowing screams emitting from the young vampire's throat shook the cavern and sent shivers through the bodies of the other victims. They all watched, Sarah with tears streaming down her face and Erica with sorrow. Benny had tears pricking at his eyes and was screaming at her to stop. Everyone was- pleading and begging with all their might to stop torturing the girl who risked her life for them, knowing the immense pain she would be put through if her idiotic plan failed.

Stephani howled at them to shut the fuck up and they quickly obeyed. She finally pulled the drill out of Madison's thigh earning one final yelp and a gasp for breath and shaky voice, "Please, Steph." Her head was limp and falling over, her eyes floating closed. So Stephani held her chin up to look at her.

"You're so pathetic, Madison. No wonder your parents hated you. No wonder why they abused you, no wonder why Benny will never love you, or anyone else for that matter. You're worthless, you're nothing. The one chance I gave you to make a difference and make your existence worth something, you fucked it up! You ruined it, just like you do with everything else."

She backed up, releasing the girl's chin. "So here I am, giving you one more chance. To serve me eternally and become my slave." Madison laughed hysterically. Each giggle getting more and more sufficient. Stephani huffed.

"Yeah, I'd rather be dead," she replied through painful chuckles, coughing now and then. Stephani had grabbed a large lengthy knife and was walking over to Madison. "Well I can make that happen." She impaled Madison in the chest, puncturing her heart.

Madison lurched forward, blood pouring out of her mouth more and more with every pinch and extension of pressure applied. "You like that? Does that feel good, huh?" Stephani yelled at her, "This is your fault! ALL OF IT IS YOUR FAULT!" It was visibly obvious to the others she was continuing to pierce her heart and was getting closer to entirely running the blade through it.

"STOP!"

Everyone turned towards the voice that was vibrating with fright and terror as to what this would lead to. Benny was quivering. He stuttered, "Please- Take me instead. Just- leave her alone, let her go."

"Benny what are you doing?" Ethan yelled at him.

"Take me too."

Sarah straightened up and wiped her tears on her shoulder. "SARAH!" Ethan hollered. In the midst of all this ruckus, a certain blonde wasn't entirely paying attention. Instead, she was looking to the hole in the wall that was made by Madison throwing her. There was something behind it. A knife.

And she could reach it.

"Benny, Sarah no," Madison choked, blood still pooling out of her mouth. Stephani removed the knife, allowing Madison to release a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She gasped repeatedly for air and continued to spit out blood.

"Oh, this is interesting, don't you think, Maddie?" She stepped closer and knelt in front of Benny. "Are you sure young wizard?" Benny swallowed. "Y-yes?" She laughed, her exposed muscles in her throat throbbing profusely. He winced. "And you, fledgling?" she looked to Sarah.

"Madison doesn't deserve this."

Madison smiled as best as she could out of pain. She looked to all of them, Ethan was panicking as Sarah was trying her best to be brave and Rory was just staring blankly at the ground, not moving or saying a word. He almost looked dead with how pale he appeared in the torch lit light of the cave. Then, she saw Erica.

She found it, she thought. Holy shit the dumb blonde figured it out.

Erica met eyes with Madison and smirked slightly and subtly as to not draw suspicion. Madison mouthed a few words to her and Erica nodded softly.

There was only one thing left to do now.

The princess had to slay the dragon.