Evaline | L. Lioncourt ✔

[18] Hunting Ground

His fist collided with the table so hard that if he had been an average human, his knuckles would have gotten badly bruised or even bled. The display in front of him was too much to put up with. Fire burned him from the inside almost reminding him of the flames that had licked away at his flesh years ago.

At one of the tables set in the darkened corner of the tavern, five men were being served by none other than Evaline but the difference was that the drinks had been forgotten while they had chosen to dine on the poor tavern maid for that night. But much to his shock, she was complying without protest, almost akin to a helpless little doll who had accepted her horrid fate of being ripped and destructed.

Unable to handle the show, he got up walking straight to the table, his jaw clenching in rage. He had memorized the features of all five of its occupants and the fire inside him indicated that none of them would survive long enough to see the sunlight of the next day.

His fingers closed around Eva's wrist, pulling her away from the men. Her blue eyes seemed dazed and she made no attempt to break free from his hold as he dragged her away, ignoring the protests ensuing from that table.

He had pushed her against the wall in a darkened corner of the tavern, his grey eyes ablaze as he took in her condition. Her hair were teased into messy ringlets framing her face while her white blouse was unbuttoned, the lace of her camisole peeking through.

"Evaline, what the hell was that?" Lestat's voice was reduced to a low growl, the rage and fury inside him getting harder to suppress, "do you take pleasure in tormenting me as such?"

Her lips parted as if to speak but no words came out instead her blue eyes stared up at him blankly as if failing to recognize him.

Then much to his surprise, she clutched at the collar of his jacket, pulling him towards her and crashed her lips on his passionately. The next moment he was the one being pinned to the wooden wall and it had all happened so fast that for a second he blanked out completely.

But as his senses awakened from the sudden shock, he recognized the bitter taste of liquor in her mouth and realized that she had been heavily drunk at the moment. She had no control over her actions and realizing that, he felt guilty for his rough behavior towards her.

Her hands trailed up to his shoulders and then to his neck, finger reaching up to caress his face. And despite the fact that he was melting under her touch, he tried to gently push her away from him, knowing that if he did not do so he would end up hurting her. 

So he resisted against the temptation and kept his mouth shut tight, refusing access to her and shortly afterwards she let go of him, stumbling backwards with a rather hurt look in her eyes.

It tore him to see her thus but he could not take advantage of her situation. So even if he desired her touch and her kisses that intoxicated him, he had to put a leash on himself.

But he had to take her in his arms to steady her because she could not even stand straight. And as he held her close, he realized that she was feverish, her skin was burning with an intense heat as compared to the usual warmth.

He lifted her in his arms with her head nestled in his neck as he carried her to the back of the tavern. His eyes were searching for Theresa because he wanted to know who had driven Eva to such a state but he could not see her anywhere.

His eyes flickered towards that table once again and a surge of anger coursed through his empty veins but he suppressed it knowing that the time was not far when he would get to deal with them.

But Evaline was his first priority at the moment so he retreated to the back, pushing open the door to the tavern maids' room. He placed her down in the nearest bed cautiously.

Her eyes were not closed yet and she held on to his wrist as if begging him to stay.

"No Eva, not now," he mumbled, his hand gently stroking her head, "you have to rest. While I must find who did this to you."

Her grip on his wrist tightened and though she wanted to say something, it seemed as if she was having difficulty in speaking. 

He bent down close to her, gently disentangling her fingers from his wrist, "Eva..."

"I am... Sorry. I... I do not know what... How..."

Her voice was no louder than a hoarse whisper and yet tears threatened to well up in her eyes and her features depicted pain that tore him apart from the inside. "I am the one who should apologize. I was terrible towards you even though it was not your fault."

His finger gently wiped the tears from her cheek and he bent down to place a soft, gentle kiss on her forehead. Her hands cupped his face again but he pulled apart, fearing that she would kiss him again and he would not be able to resist any longer. 

"Rest, chérie. I will send Miss Theresa in as soon as I find her."

"You will not... Find her here. She will... Return by... Dawn."

He understood the meaning behind her words, "pray do tell Evaline, who made you drink so much liquor then?"

"I do not know... Do not remember..."

His eyes narrowed slightly as a thoughtful expression took over his features, "I will find out myself then." He knew a tavern maid was lurking by the door, eavesdropping on the two and he had decided to turn the tables and use her as a source of information instead.

"I am right here, just close your eyes. No one is going to hurt you, I will not allow it," his voice was a soft whisper but he himself edged towards the door stealthily, making sure not to let the eavesdropper suspect his motives.

And then when he was considerably closer to the door and could see the faint form of the woman standing in the shadows outside, his hand reached out grabbing her firmly as he pulled her inside and pinned her to the wall. He had stifled her cries for help and her eyes had gone wide from fear of being caught out.

"If you dare raise your voice or do anything suspicious, I will snap your neck," his grip on her throat tightened as he growled threateningly though his voice was not raised enough for anyone else to hear. 

He intensified his gaze and penetrated into her mind, learning that she had been there on Rob's orders and it was her who had laced Eva's drink heavily with alcohol. He also realized that it was not the first time Eva had had to go through such treatment and his eyes flashed in anger.

"Please, please forgive me," the tavern maid spoke up when he retrieved his hand allowing her to speak but his gaze was threatening, warning her not to raise her voice even a fraction more, "I had no choice but to do as he said."

"And those five men outside, who are they?"

"They are gentlemen from the neighboring district. Rob has to cater to their needs due to their status. But pray have mercy, Sir, let me go."

"And you do it each time Miss Theresa is sent out because otherwise she prevents you from misusing Evaline, is that not so?"

Her eyes were frantic as she implored, "yes... Yes. But have mercy on me, I promise I will not breath a word of this to anyone. I will not dare tell Rob, you can do whatever you please with him but... Pray let me go."

He released her at last when he was certain that she had not lied to him and watched her exit the room hastily. The maid had been frightened out of her wits and that was exactly what he wanted her to be so that she would think twice before undertaking such a task under Rob's orders.

His grey eyes flickered back towards Evaline who had drifted off to an uncomfortable sleep for her features were still tensed and tears stained her face. He checked her forehead and found it burning hot with fever. 

But there was nothing he could do for her at the moment. He had to leave because his prey was waiting to be struck down for their sins.

And as he stepped out, his features were set in a menacing glare. New Orleans was his hunting ground again and five men were fated to succumb to a tortuous death at his hands. 

But after those five, there was a sixth who he wished to deal with much more ruthlessly as compared to the others who were fated to fall to their demise that night.

***