Riley Hayes | A Vampire Novel | Book 2

Chapter 11

Archie's taunting laughter echoed through the room as he toyed with me, his movements a cruel mockery of my struggle. I lay crumpled on the floor, the cold, unforgiving tiles pressing against my battered body. My breathing was ragged, each gasp sending sharp pains through my chest. My clothes were torn, smeared with dirt and blood, and the once-bright fabric of my dress was now a dark, grimy mess. My skin was a patchwork of bruises and cuts, and I could feel the dull throb of broken bones beneath my flesh.

My left arm hung limply at my side, a sharp, stabbing pain radiating from it with each movement. I could barely lift it; the bone felt as if it were grinding against itself with every tiny shift. My right leg was twisted at an unnatural angle, the weight of my own body having forced it into a painful, contorted position. A searing pain shot through my leg each time I tried to move, the result of what felt like multiple fractures.

Archie grabbed me by the collar, his grip like iron, and threw me across the room. I crashed to the ground, my body sprawling helplessly against the cold, unforgiving floor. My head smacked hard against the tiles, sending a jarring wave of pain through my skull. My vision swam with dark spots, and I tasted the metallic tang of blood in my mouth. I tried to rise, but my limbs felt like they were made of lead, heavy and unresponsive.

I managed to get to my knees, my hands trembling as I braced myself against the floor. Every movement was a struggle, my battered body protesting each attempt to push through the pain. I looked up, meeting Archie's cold, mocking gaze. He loomed over me, a dark silhouette of menace and malice.

Archie's smile was a cruel curve on his lips. "Ah, look at you," he said, his voice dripping with scorn. "Kneeling before me, broken and defeated. How fitting. I must say, I rather enjoy this position. It suits you."

Archie's cruel smile widened as he reached out, his fingers brushing against my torn and bloodied lip. With deliberate slowness, he collected a drop of my blood and brought it to his mouth. He licked the blood from his finger, his eyes never leaving mine as he savored the taste with a twisted sense of satisfaction. ''So taste so divine, Riley, god... It's a shame to end it, I'd rather keep you locked up and play with you from time to time, like this.''

His words were like daggers, each one twisting deeper into my already raw spirit. My hands were scraped and bloodied, dirt ground into the open wounds. My breathing was shallow, each inhale a struggle against the agony coursing through my chest and limbs. I could feel the sting of various cuts, the deeper ones oozing blood that mixed with sweat and grime.

"Is that what you want?" I forced out through clenched teeth, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in my jaw where he had struck me earlier. "To see me on my knees, begging for mercy?" I paused, ''I will, if it means you spare my children.''

Archie chuckled, a dark, guttural sound. "Begging? Oh, I wouldn't expect you to beg. You're too proud for that. It's more entertaining to watch you struggle, to see you fight and fail."

I tried to push myself up, but my legs felt like lead, and I collapsed back to the ground. The weight of my own body was too much, and I fell back onto my knees. The effort was making my muscles burn, my strength ebbing away with each passing moment. My right side was a throbbing mess of pain where Archie had slammed me against the wall earlier, and my head felt like it was splitting open from the force of his blows.

Archie stepped closer, hunching before me. His shadow seemed to swallow me whole, making theis large room feel small "Do you think you're still capable of stopping me?" he taunted. "Do you believe that this pitiful display will somehow change the outcome? Do you think you bought enough time for them to get far enough away from me?"