The Cannibal Bride *WattyAwards2024

21)The Cannibal Prince

"Gasoline" by Halsey
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Control.
Such a small and simple word, yet Alyssa could tell it meant a lot to this deranged family. They not only needed it; they craved it.
Alyssa realized that was what sipping blood from the cup was all about. It had nothing to do with Mrs. Fallon simply enjoying a cup of blood occasionally as one would enjoy a nice tea in the afternoon. She and her family weren't supernatural creatures; blood wasn't beneficial to their livelihood. Mrs. Fallon's actions were clearly meant to show that she now had complete and utter control over Alyssa's life. It was all an act of show, where the meaning behind her actions were quite simple.
I can make you do whatever I want whenever I want you to do it.

All it took was threatening Cassi and Alyssa quickly drowned down the cup of fresh blood as if it were her morning coffee. She did not care whose it was or whether the person who provided it was still alive. It was drink, or Cassi hurt because of her. Alyssa simply chose. The blood residue of salty copper left over in her mouth was utterly disgusting, but she barely noticed.
If Alyssa wasn't certain Mrs. Fallon would have her lick up all traces of her own vomit, she would have expelled the contents of her stomach all over the floor and on the lush, thick bedspread. For hours Alyssa merely watched the splattered droplets that had gotten on the comforter.
By the time Ian arrived back in the room later that evening, Alyssa didn't raise her head to acknowledge his presence. Out of every person she had encountered thus far in this nightmare, she hated him most. "Something wrong, sweetling?"

Alyssa couldn't help the low bark of laughter that passed her red stained lips. Then she started to laugh louder. It started deep within her and wracked her body with heavy shakes. It was a laughter that was too hard to contain. By the time Ian came over and unlocked her wrists, she was still laughing near maniacally.
"I-I'm handcuffed to a bed by a wealthy cannibal. M-my sister is locked away in a basement somewhere, and I learned a teenage boy's body is stuffed in the freezer awaiting defrost..." Alyssa snickered, her eyes welling with tears over how hard she was laughing.
None of this was funny. There was nothing humorous about her horrendous situation. Laughter was simply a better outlet than rolling in a ball and sobbing. It was a neater coping mechanism.

Ian took the wrist of Alyssa's that was handcuffed, gently rubbing the pad of his thumb over the chafed skin. "That looks like it's starting to hurt," he muttered. He leaned in to examine her face. "Why are your lips red?"
"The bitch you call grandma made me drink blood," she said, wincing as she realized she had used a profanity to describe the old hag. She didn't dare look Ian in the eyes. The elders of this deranged family were strict on not using profanity. She flinched automatically while expecting a hit from Ian, only to find it didn't come. He instead wrapped an arm around her waist to pull her up.
"Son of a..." Alyssa gasped, falling back onto the bed. The mere touch of his hand on her side felt like a hot iron pressing against her skin. It was from the belt whips. Her entire left side hurt horribly. She didn't realize tears had stained her eyes until Ian quickly came over to lift her shirt up.
Ian's brows raised as he watched the bruising. "I take it you misbehaved."
"If misbehaving consists of not wanting to drink blood, color me misbehaved," Alyssa said through gritted teeth. Strangely enough, the pain felt worse hours after being hit that it did when she first received the whips.
"You have to learn obedience," Ian explained casually as he closely examined the fresh wounds. The belt left bright red welts that patterned around Alyssa's now bruising skin. Light hues of blue and black decorated her ivory complexion, leaving her no doubt the bruises would be much more profound in the morning.
Ian continued speaking, but Alyssa wasn't listening. He next provided her a change of clothes and motioned for her to use the bathroom, but she could only watch him in silence as she struggled to understand something important. She couldn't deny it even to herself, Ian was incredibly good looking. He was handsome, educated, and beyond charming. If Ian Harris could get any girl he wanted based on his looks and predator-like persona, why did he want her?

"Why me?" Alyssa finally asked. Ian's appeal for her couldn't be coincidental. It couldn't be simply a random stroke of coincidence that Ben wanted Cassi and Ian just happened to want her elder sister. If the family had been doing this for a long time, that meant Ian could have had his pick out of any girl. His family could have made any woman disappear and made it look like a runaway. Taking Alyssa wasn't only stupid, but risky as hell.
Ian merely watched her, his expression blank. "You could've taken any girl," Alyssa said softly, not even knowing why she was talking so quietly. "You could've kidnapped anyone and made it look like she just disappeared, and yet you chose me. Why?"
"Why does there need to be a reason?"
"Because I find it bullshit that you truly like me," she countered in a harsh whisper. "Why? Why is it you chose me? Why do you even like me?"
"I don't like you, I love you."
The words stunned Alyssa. He answered if the matter were quite simple.
That single word made her skin tingle in an unpleasant way. The cannibal prince loved her. She couldn't help her brows from raising. "Do you know how insane that sounds?"
"In a way," he answered nonchalantly. "Honestly, I could care less how insane it sounds. Love in general holds insanity, doesn't it? Look at you and your sister-"

"Don't you fucking dare be ignorant enough to compare yourself to Cassi-"
"I'm explaining love," Ian interjected coldly. "You have willingly thrown yourself into a lion's den, and for what? The love of a sister who hasn't bothered asking about you? That's insane." He smirked upon seeing the utter look of confusion Alyssa held. "Has my grandmother not informed you?" He challenged quietly. "While you've been bugging me every night begging for updates on your precious sister, she hasn't even bothered asking about you-"
"Stop lying, I'm not buying it!" Alyssa hissed, accidentally clenching her stomach. The one action was enough to cause her stomach to ache in pain. She groaned in discomfort.
Ian's brows raised in surprise. "That's adorable. You think I'm lying."
"Oh...Silly me...How could I possibly feel the cannibalistic monster is a liar?"