My Demon's Realm

Jade Ribbon pt 2

I let out a startled grunt as I'm pinned to the wall by a stranger in a blue masquerade mask, his charcoal black eyes seeming... hungry... his arm pressed diagonally into my chest. Well, this is... interesting. I try not to flinch as he gets way too close. I'm not particularly a fan of strangers pulling me aside for what I can only assume is a makeout session. I really hope that's what this is... I mean, I've heard from Estella that sometimes the customers here confuse humans for werewolves...? However the fuck that makes sense, I don't have a clue- aren't werewolves like, huge, furry monsters?  He licks his lips,

"Seleena told me there was fresh blood here, but you look... familiar," his voice is a breathless whisper. My eyes widen as I look up at him, noticing the fangs, confirmation- he is a vampire, but what does he want? A shiver runs down my spine, he doesn't quite seem hungry in the exact way I thought. My eyes widen,

"V-vam-vampire?" I manage to stutter out. He nods slowly, running his tongue over his fangs,

"Mmmhmm, snack. How did you know?" I, looking back, want so bad to roll my eyes at this fucking line. Cheesy garbage. His breath reaches further into my face, "you could only guess what I have planned for you," his free hand traces along my flank, his arm now pressing into my neck, "oh, you look so... delicious when you're scared. Your blood must be exquisite, my dear snack." Barf.

I must've blinked... I don't know what happened next, how I got into that dark, dingey, copper-smelling basement... or- cave...? Whatever the fuck. I came too slowly, my fingers feeling how much freedom of movement they have -not much- my shoulders straining to lift my knees off the ground, already aching. An eerie chuckle from the shadows,

"Look at my little snack, dangling from his wrists, like the piece of meat he is," Jesus, that voice- and that taunting- sounds familiar, "confused, is he?" I nod and a warm yellow light fills the room... it's not much to see, just some slanted floors with a drain in the center, some dressers in the corner and... the grinning vampire way to close for comfort. I flinch and let out a surprised squeak as I realize his presence... Star.

I think I should let you know... Star and I have a long history. I can't believe he's here, in the fae realm- all of our previous encounters were on earth. This can't be happening right now. He lets out a giggle as he speaks,

"I forget that my prey doesn't have night vision, please excuse the oversight," he steps more into the light, "I would indeed appreciate you having the knowledge that it is in fact, me. I'm sure you're less than thrilled about that fact, though." I give a little nod, watching as he starts pacing around me- his arms folded in front of him, hands holding his elbows. He pauses to look in my eyes, inquizitive, "I know you don't have many positive things to say, but could you say something, love? It's been years, yes?" I swallow hard.

All I can think of is all the torture Star put me through, mind racing with all the pain I need to avoid this go-round. The way he tricked me into thinking I was better off with him, that he was the lesser of two evils... not even that he was good, even he knew that he couldn't swing that. Actually, there were several times when he even admitted that he was manipulative and 'torturous', as he called it. I take a deep inhale and look up at him again,

"I don't wanna be in here, Star... please?" the words left my mouth without consent- I don't like begging, or even coming close to begging... but you never know what you're gonna do when your life, or your blood is on the line. Star fucking rolls his eyes,

"I am aware, love. Maybe you could say something pertaining to our history, yes?" I gave him a look that I hope means, 'are you crazy'. He lets out a groan and starts pacing around me again, "so tense, aren't we? Why don't we... revisit how it used to be? Remember the tea? Would you like to repeat that?" God, no, not the tea. That shit made me so miserable, he made it with some sort of red, mystery plant that he grew in his greenhouse.