Honeybee

Severed Ties

With a groan, Aria's eyelids fluttered open. A pounding ache came from the back of her head with each beat of her heart. She looked around as her breath came out in white puffs in the cold air. Surrounding her was nothing but snow covered trees that opened into the clearing she was stationed in. Her body registered the bone crushing grasp of the rope that was fastened around her. She struggled against it as her eyes would scan the thick dark woods for any sign of life. The more she wiggled the tighter the rope seemed to become.

"Struggling is useless," a voice called from the shadows.

Aria's brown orbs darted towards the shadowed area where the voice originated from. "Show yourself!" She commanded in the strongest voice she could muster.

A low chuckle emitted from the shadows as a figure stepped forward. The man came forward the moonlight highlighting his slight and short build. His clothes were simply black in color yet they could barely pass for this century's fashion sense. He stood at 5'3 just slightly taller than Aria. His eyes were a dark burgundy with a film over them that rivaled his coven mates. His dark brown hair was swept back and out of his face. Aria could feel the mixture of anger, vengeance, and pain that swirled inside him.

"Where am I?" Aria asked confidently. She always hated in books when the hero would ask the villain that question but now it seemed like a very logical question.

"In the middle of nowhere," Stefan replied as he checked the ropes.

Aria rolled her eyes, already annoyed by the male vampire. "And where exactly is that?"

"Romania."

Aria fell into silence as her mind raced. Romania was a different country far from her family and from Alec. They couldn't get to her fast enough if Stefan and Vladimir decided to harm her. She was alone and knew it. Silently she prayed that her aunt and uncle were already on the way and Alec somehow managed to get here too. She was terrified but tried her best to conceal it.

"I see she has woken up," another voice called out as the other approached.

Stefan smiled over his shoulder to his even paler counterpart, "Of course."

"Then the games begin."

Vladimir smiled wickedly as he eyed Aria. Countless ideas ran through his head as he tried to figure out the best way to weaken Alec not only physically but mentally as well. He was well aware that the high ranked guard could feel whatever his mate felt through their bond and desired to use that to his advantage. He ran his hand through her soft honey blonde curls as he decided against breaking each of her bones and decided on something more painful.

Aria could sense the malicious intent bubbling to the surface in the white haired vampire and the growing delight in his companions. Deep down inside she knew this wasn't going to end well for her.

Vladimir had stopped circling her as a predator would do it's prey. He stood in front of her forcing her head back to star at him. "Stefan," Vladimir called out, "doesn't she have such a beautiful face?"

Stefan nodded in agreement, "She does indeed."

Vladimir nodded as he reached into his pocket, "It would be such a shame for something to happen to it."

Aria heard the faint click of a pocketknife before the sting of something slicing on her left cheek. The paper like cut stung as blood began to form along the slice. Vladimir licked his thumb before slowly dragging it along the cut sending what Aria could only describe as lava moving across her face. She squirmed trying to pull her head away only to slam it into the post she was tied to. Vladimir smirked as he sliced her other cheek repeating the process.