Forsaken Blood

- RAVENOUS -

Kane forcefully guided Layla back toward the ancient door.

She whimpered and he hissed at her, "You're lucky to still be alive, shut up if you want to live."

Layla didn't know what to say or do so she helplessly followed him down the hallway and back toward the grand sitting room. Voices drifted to her from up ahead and it sounded like hundreds of people were gathered in conversation. Her heart fluttered at the hope of rescue but as she turned into the room there was only the dark haired woman and three others. They were gathered in a circle, and Layla could feel the tension building around them. 

I could have sworn I heard a bigger group of people...

"Finally you brought us dinner Kane," said the dark haired woman.

"She is not to be touched Anastasia. Dimitry's orders," Kane replied.

Anastasia hissed at him and in the flash of an eye she had vaulted across the room and had sunk her teeth deep in Layla's neck. Layla shrieked in pain as the fangs pierced through her soft flesh and felt her life force being bled out, she became the prey of some blood-hungry savage beast.

Layla screamed and Kane grabbed Anastasia by the neck, he threw her into the wall at least twenty feet away. Her head cracked in a sickening sound, as she crumpled against the solid stone wall. It did nothing but anger her more and she slowly stood back up with glowing eyes of rage.

"Her blood...." Anastasia shrieked in shock, as she wiped the crimson stream from her lips.

Kane's eyes bore down on her and he spoke through gritted teeth, "if you dare to defy me again, Anastasia, you will be as good as dust."

The other three vampires hissed and bared their fangs. Layla noted how animosity ran thick in the group, but Kane didn't care to give them a second glance. They must have been some lower rank vampires whose questionable loyalty didn't faze him.

Layla's body jolted as Kane grabbed her arm and pulled her like some old rag doll. He picked up the pace and dragged her back toward the holding rooms.

"Thank you," Layla whispered.

"Don't thank me," Kane roared. "Your presence here is creating an uproar. I should have killed you myself."

...but he didn't... Why am I still alive?...

She was wise enough to know that it was no time for questions and allowed Kane to take her peacefully to her cell.

He led her down to the end of the hallway where all of the doors looked the same. but this time he took her to the third to last one. He opened the old door with a creak and threw her to the ground inside. She crashed down to her knees and before she had the chance to look up the door was locking behind her.

She found her feet and shuffled on her good ankle to the single size bed to rest. The room was a little nicer than her initial holding cell, and even had a toilet and a wash bowl. She crashed onto the bed and couldn't keep her eyes open. Her neck throbbed from the bite and it felt like her energy had been drained. A dreamless sleep took her as her exhausted mind and body let go.

Layla woke the next day to find a single red apple sitting in front of the door. She was famished and nothing but the stalk and seeds were left after she had her way with it. It wasn't enough but that was all there was.

It was quiet, a little too quiet as if no one were around. Laying there in bed she felt her neck with her hand, two bumps protruded from where she was attacked reminding her of the sinful reality.

Time had no meaning in this place, there were no clocks or windows to show her the passing day. Hours felt like days and days turned into lifetimes. Suddenly, loud screeches passed up and down the hallway outside. Layla's heart began to pound and her body shook in fear. She threw herself to the floor and scrambled underneath the bed. She held herself tight in the fetal position in an attempt to comfort herself.

The wooden door flung open and a groping hand clawed at her hidden body. It gripped her tight and nails dug into her skin as she was dragged from under the bed. It was Anastasia.

"You dare think you can come here and cause problems for Kane and I you pathetic little bitch?" Anastasia wailed.

She ripped Layla off the ground and held her in the air. Her claw-like hand gripped around Layla's neck so that her feet dangled in the air. Layla felt as if her trachea was about to be crushed, and fought desperately to free herself. She swiped at Anastasia's hands and kicked out wildly in hopes that she might connect with the vampire's body but it was no use. Anastasia laughed at her weak efforts and let Layla drop into a heap on the floor.

"Dimitry wants you alive... so you will live." She said licking her lips, "but I'm hungry and I'm in the mood for bitch tonight!"

The vampire launched her full weight on top of Layla's body and sank her fangs into the girls carotid artery. Layla flailed her arms and tried to scream for help but it was only a matter of seconds before her strength dissipated. Her body so weakened that her shrieks grew fainter and fainter. Anastasia pulled her fangs away from Layla's pale skin and smiled wickedly down at her, and let some of her own vampiric blood drizzle into Layla's mouth.

"It will keep you alive," Anastasia whispered. "So we can come back and feed anytime."

Anastasia left Layla half dead on the floor and walked out the room with the click of the lock. Layla couldn't move, her body felt like it had been beaten and broken. It seemed like she had been crying for days before she had the strength to crawl to her bed.

***

A week had passed and Layla's life was hanging by a thread. Nothing made sense to her anymore, she didn't have the strength to even try. Anastasia and her crew paid her visits every now and then to get their fix. The ordeal always left her weakened, bloodless and limp. She was hardly able to open her eyes and had lost all hope in being rescued. She was at a point of welcoming death when she passed out again.

When she next woke, she found herself laying on a black silk bedspread in a room lit by a lambent fire. There was an antique hall stand against the wall by the door and a silver tray full of food on top of it. The aroma of warm croissants, muffins and freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air and filled Layla with a primordial lust. Her hunger was agonizing and she stumbled to the food like a moth to a flame. She tripped over her own feet and smashed into the table. The tray and food came crashing down around her and she grasped at the muffins in ravenous hunger and stuffed her mouth.

She choked on the food and swallowed as much as she could until her stomach twisted and wanted to gag it all backup. She looked around in a daze and desperately wanted to find a way out, but her body was too weak, her mind couldn't think straight. She stumbled back to bed and let the warm fire thaw out her body until even her bones felt normal again. She stretched her body out and the tight muscles sent spasms of release down her arms and legs. But as she started to come back to life, the large mahogany bedroom door clicked open.

She cowered in fear as the door swung inward and a man came marching in. She threw her hands up in front of herself in fear of another bloody attack and began to sob as he neared.

"Layla, it's me..." he murmured.

She screamed out, she didn't know who it was, he must have been another vampire looking to thrive off her own life force. He edged his way closer to the bed.

"Layla, it's me, Marco," the soft voice said.

He sat down on the bed with her and she suddenly recognized his eyes. She cried out in hope and he wrapped his arms around her.

"Marco, oh God, please help me." She begged with pleading eyes.