The Sanguine Mistress

III

Only the gentle kiss of death awaits those embraced by the spider's web

A dimly room , lit with just a few candles, within this room, along the wall are wooden barrels stacked from the floor to the ceiling with the help of metal racks. the room was rather large, five wide support columns help maintain the stability of the room. It was here where the candles were mounted. lastly hanging from the ceiling, by a thick set of chains, four men hung by their hands, unconscious, their head slump, facing the wood floor. wearing little more than briefs, they were toned, muscular, droplets of their blood slowly fell from the wounds on their necks. One man was phasing in and out of consciousness, his vision blurry and unfocused before finally coming to moments later. His pupil enlarged, adjusting to the lack of light. He flails his arms madly, in an attempt to free himself. No use, the chain refused to relinquish him. He continued, yanking and rattling the chains, he yelled in frustration.

The man catches his breath, folding his palm, aligning his finger. squeezing his hand through the the cuff, he felt the bones in his hands compressed. On the verge of snapping until.

Pop. his left hand was free, at the price of his thumb dislocating. More pressure now surging on his right shoulder, the chain shakes unable to support the weight without the additional chain. it snaps. dropping him onto the floor. His neck ached, the man pressed on his neck with his free hand, the other was used to carry loose chain. he grunts in pain before standing on his feet.

As he stood, he heard something. Footsteps, humming. Someone is near. He panics, quickly seeking refuge behind one of the stack of barrels. The sound of a wooden door creaking lingers in his ears. Light floods through the cracks. From the corner of his eye, he saw a woman, she wore a black and red silk lingerie, a thin slightly transparent fishnet dress over the lingerie.

"Oh my, what have we here", she gazes upon the one set of chains, one was broken. Missing the other half. Both missing its captive. "They just don't make restraints like they used to anymore.", she sighs, mildly annoyed from the sight of the broken chain, half of it dangling inches above her hand. She turns around, both hands placed on her hip, she reluctantly calls out to him, "alright then, you can come out now".

"You know you can't escape, why make it hard on yourself?", she questioned him. The man's heartbeat, muffled under his hand. He clenched his teeth, not a sound, his lips moved to those words, just his lips. he didn't even want to ponder what may happen if she finds him, let alone reveal himself to her. He remained behind those barrels. Calm yourself, she hasn't a clue where you are. He thinks to himself. You can use her voice to her pinpoint her position, find another spot to hide, she can't stay in this room forever. And neither should you.

"I hope you don't think you can just stay hidden forever darling", she scolds, "I'm going to find you, no matter what you try. So you might as well come out. I'll promise I'll be gentle with you if you cooperate", she extend both her arms to her side, welcoming him to her embrace. Aside from her voice, the room was void of sound. Her arms plop to her side, her head hung in disapproval of his decision.

"Fine", she grunted, "I'll flush you out. Oh Caramel", she yells out. For a moment the room was quiet, so much so that a slight ringing can be heard, the man behind the barrels slowly peeked his head through a small gap, in between the barrels.

Eyes, not a singular pair, a dozen eyes, each staring at him. They swarmed him. The man attempted swat them away, but they were relentless. Scratching him, biting him. In panic, he fled from his hiding place. He's pacing to the door, before a blur flashed virtually through him. The woman blocked his path, her fingers wrapped tightly around his neck, fingers digging into his flesh. Blood began to leak from his wound.

"So stubborn. So Defiant. What do you hope to accomplish?", she questions. The man struggled to breathe, his throat compressed by her grip. The man struck at her forearm, struck at her face, anywhere in reach of his flailing. She stood unfazed, more annoyed than in anything else. She flung him across the room. His back collided with the wall. He lifts his head only to see her towering him. He quickly guards his throat with his hands. Her foot pinning him against the wall, and with a snap of her fingers, a legion of bats swarm him, latching onto him with their fangs. Sucking the life from his eyes. She removes her foot from his chest, allowing his body to fall on the ground.