DEAD SEED (AKA "Vampires Don't Exist")

EIGHT: Water (TW/CW)

TW/CW: Rape & torture

Several hours later Aralyn awoke to the sound of growling thunder and a cold, hard rain beating against the window. She turned her head slightly where she had noticed a clock hanging on the wall the night before. She saw the hands pointed at ten-thirty. At night or morning? It was still pitch dark in the room, other than the dim light of the chandelier, so it was hard to tell.

She was still in Aimeric's arms but his hold on her wasn't very tight; he must be asleep. His naked flesh was a cool contrast to hers. Turning her head back to face him, she saw he was indeed still asleep. His head lay against her shoulder. Just looking at his face disgusted her. She imagined gouging his eyes out.

Shifting her weight cautiously, she slid out from under the blanket, silently praying her movements wouldn't wake him up. So far so good, the thought crossed her mind that he was faking in order to "catch" her trying to leave. But she was only going to the bathroom; he couldn't be mad at her for that.

She made her way across the floor, stopping at the curtains so she could peek outside. It must have been morning because she could see outside, though the morning was dull and gray with the thick clouds and pouring rain. She wondered why he didn't keep these windows boarded up. The thick curtains must have been enough for him.

Halfway to the bathroom, she hit a weak spot in the floorboards. It creaked loudly. She cringed and looked at the bed, waiting for Aimeric to move. He didn't stir though — perhaps a vampire had to sleep deeply through the day. Aralyn breathed a sigh of relief and continued. When she closed the door, she felt a little relieved. Having the door between them made her feel safe even though she knew he could (and would) come in whenever he wanted.

She relieved herself and then went to the bathtub and began to run the water. She didn't want to take a shower this time — the memory of Aimeric pinning her against the wall made it so she didn't want to step foot in that shower again.

While the water ran, she looked for soap and other things she could use in the bath. She found a bar of soap and some Epsom salt, which she sprinkled in the tub. It would help ease her soreness. When the tub was full, she turned off the water and submerged herself. She grabbed a bar of soap and began scrubbing off the scent of Aimeric once again — that crisp smell of cold skin, the musky scent of the cologne he used, and the metallic scent of blood.

Her mind went to last night as she scrubbed herself clean. Why had she moaned his name? Why had she felt any pleasure at all with that disgusting creature? She felt dirty. Abhorred with herself.

After washing her body for the third time she decided she was clean enough to get out. She took her time drying off, not wanting to go back in the bedroom with him. She secured the towel around her body and combed her hair, then used an old bottle of hand lotion she found under the sink. She lathered it all over her body to relieve it of the dryness the soap had caused. She looked for pimples and tweezed her eyebrows. Every little thing she could do to keep from having to go back out there.

Finally, there was nothing else left to do so she took a deep breath and braced herself as she opened the door to the bedroom. She hoped he was still asleep, but of course he wasn't. He was halfway sitting up in the bed, waiting for her. Lying there naked, his bulging arms crossed over his chest. He looked different. His face was ashen, his eyes looked dull and clouded with darkness. Perhaps from a lack of sleep, or maybe he needed to eat again.

Whatever it was, she didn't care.

"I had hoped you would wait for me and we could bathe together," he said.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly.

"No apology is necessary, just wake me next time." He motioned for her to come to him. She obeyed. He pulled her back on the bed with him, pulling the towel off her. She cringed and tried to cover herself.