by Khloe Wren
"We are Nobles. We are here for the protection of the human race from the Vampires. It is our destiny to continue this war until we have won and Vampires are no more. This war is not on a battlefield, and in the open. No. It is all done in secret, behind closed doors so the general population does not have to know about the evil which walks among them.
"We capture their Brides, women with gemstone colored eyes, in order to keep them safe. If they are unclaimed, we hold them until their Vampire can be found and eliminated. If they are claimed, then the only way to keep them alive and safe is to trap their Vampire when we take them."
Toki had no problem mixing a few lies in with his tale. These younger Nobles didn't have the right yet to know that Vampires in fact posed no risk at all to the general population. As he paused for a few moments to take a drink, a younger Guardian spoke up.
"But why are the women violated? The Claimed Brides should be protected in the same way the unclaimed are."
Ahh yes. The new ones sometimes struggled with this side of things.
"What is your name, Guardian?"
"Karl, Sire."
The man, Karl, lowered his gaze and looked like he was trying to fold into himself. Obviously his self-preservation had kicked in. As it should. Toki knew what he'd done in the last months. Losing the Sapphire Bride, then after she'd been found again and taken he was allowed to assist in setting the trap for her Vampire. Somehow he ended up tied up in the back of a van as the rest of the team had been slaughtered by Vampires. They'd lost not only the Sapphire Vampire and Bride, but a number of good men that night. Karl had every reason to fear the consequences of his outburst.
"Not just anyone can be a Noble, Karl. It takes a special mix of genetics. An Elder and a Bride are the only way to achieve it. Also, long ago it was discovered that Nobles are unable to impregnate anyone other than a Vampire's Bride, so we'd die out if we didn't take the Brides as we do. But don't look so worried. I assure you the women are well cared for. We Elders love our brides and look after them well. In time they grow fond of us too. You will understand fully one day, if you are lucky enough to receive your own Bride."
"Yes, Sire."
Toki didn't like the look on the man's face. Karl had cleared his features of all emotion, which was a clear sign he was thinking thoughts he shouldn't be. A glance at the rest of the Guardians showed him his little speech had done the trick and smoothed over their concerns.
Moving back to where the other Elders stood, he made a mental note to keep an eye on Karl. He might need to be further educated. Or be eliminated if it looked like he was going to cause trouble. So far, the police continued to ignore the war between Nobles and Vampires. However, Toki was certain, if they came to learn that women were being held and used sexually, they would soon step in and end their way of life.
~ * ~
Sharon froze as she placed a completed shirt she'd finished sewing into the trolley by her machine. A chill ran up her spine as the workroom door opened.
"All Claimed Brides, follow me."
Somehow she managed to keep the bile down at the sound of that voice which she knew so well. Burke. One of her tormentors. Which meant it was again the eve of the twenty-ninth of February. This would be her seventh leap year. Potentially her fifth pregnancy. She closed her eyes against the agony. So far she'd birthed five sons. Four years ago she had twin boys. She'd been allowed to breast feed them for the first twenty-four hours before Nobles took her babies away. She didn't even know their names, but she would forever remember their sparkling green eyes and their soft downy hair. Her fingers twitched as she remembered stoking their soft skin.
Reluctantly she stood and followed the others out through the door. As she followed the others toward the dorms, she felt Burke's filthy gaze on her. She really hated that man. His touch was vile and his mouth was even worse. She began taking deep breaths and attempted to empty her mind. To get through this night she needed to sever the tie between her mind and body until it was over. She thought of Barret, focused on his face. In her mind, he was as he had been way back in 1985. Neat, short dark hair, passion filled Paraiba Tourmaline eyes. Sharon kept his image clear in her mind, allowing him to take her away from what was about to happen.
Tears blurred her vision as she held her head high and entered the dorm room. She clenched her jaw. No matter how tempting it was to lash out against these Lower Level Nobles, she knew it wasn't worth it. Burke was a sadistic bastard and would slap her down. If, like she did the first time, she kept fighting, Toki would be called in early and he'd use his pain-hold to paralyze her so she could be restrained. As her clothes were stripped from her and replaced with a thin white robe, she held perfectly still and focused on the other Noble helping Burke. Suddenly another image flared to life, Darcy. Her precious daughter, Darcy. Sharon's heart began to ache anew.
Sharon had been so shocked when Darcy had been brought into the workroom all those weeks ago. Getting to meet her daughter again felt like a reward from above for all she'd endured. The fact Darcy had been an unclaimed bride meant she was safe from being raped, which was a massive blessing. Sharon wasn't sure she could have handled Darcy having to suffer like that. It would have surely been enough to send Sharon over the edge into insanity. But shortly after her arrival, she was taken by her Guardian Noble and had not returned since. Sharon hoped her daughter was free, and her Vampire had managed to rescue her but she doubted it. Death was the much more likely option, and it broke her heart.
The Noble assisting Burke was Karl, Darcy's guardian, and seeing him brought thoughts of her daughter to the forefront of her mind. He'd know the outcome of Darcy's fate. Sharon wondered if he'd answer her if she dared to ask. Inwardly she shook her head. No, she wouldn't ask. So far, she and Darcy had not been linked as mother and daughter and if Darcy had escaped, the Nobles would use Sharon to trap her daughter.
Karl's touch was gentle, almost hesitant and she watched him closely. He was frowning and did not look happy. A quick glance lower revealed he was not aroused. Strange. Normally both Burke and his 'helper' got very touchy-feely with her for this part of the evening.
She forced herself to lay on the bedding platform and hold still as she was tied down. Closing her eyes as Burke slid a needle into the vein in her elbow, she focused on the fact Barret would be receiving the blood they took. Oh, how she wished it was Barret's fangs sinking into her flesh. They'd only had a few hours together all those years ago, but the memories from that short time had kept her going. Kept her sane and hoping—praying—for a chance to escape. Not just for them, but for all the other captives held here too.
Clammy, warm knuckles ran down her cheek and she jerked away from the contact. So different from Barret's cool touch it instantly pulled her from her imagined fantasy. Bile again rose in her throat as he ran his hands over her body. Firstly above the robe, before he parted it to expose her breasts, and he went in for a grope.
Oh bloody hell, not again. Please, won't someone, anyone, stop this cruelty?
"Is that really necessary?"
Karl's tone spoke of his revulsion at Burke's actions. Maybe this time wouldn't be so bad. Maybe Karl would be enough to stop Burke...
"I have been her Guardian for the past ten years. This moment, every four years, is the only chance I get to feel the body that fills my dreams. So long as I don't put my dick near her pussy, the Elders don't care what I do."
She shuddered in the restraints. Nope, there was no stopping Burke. At least it appeared Karl wouldn't be joining him in the violations. A small mercy she was thankful for.
"Whatever floats your boat, man. Personally, I prefer my women to be willing."
If only all Nobles had the same belief as Karl, how different things would be. Although, considering Nobles descended from Vikings, it was little wonder how they treated women. Burke tweaked her nipples and closed her gown as she swallowed down more bile. She really shouldn't eat for a full day before this, but they had no calendars. No way of knowing when the twenty-ninth
would come around.
"Way to be a killjoy. For that, you can deliver the blood."
"Where do I take it? I've never done the blood run before."
With an efficiency that comes with practice, Burke slid the needle free of her arm causing only a slight sting. After placing a Band Aid over the small wound, he applied pressure for a few moments to ensure the blood flow ceased. Oh, how she wished she could feel Barret at her throat again. The sweet thrill that ran through her as she felt him draw blood from her vein… Nothing had ever felt so good.
"There is a trolley out in the hall. Wait until all the others bring their bags out then take the trolley down to the dungeons. The Vamps are due their weekly rations today."
Burke's voice caused the image of Barret to once again drain away from her vision. She felt a cold sweat break out across her flesh. Weekly rations. Not only did Claimed Brides get 'bred' every four years, but each month they were hooked up to donate blood to their Vampires. Sharon didn't know if the others had to endure what she did. Toki seemed to think as he was named after the original Noble, he had more rights. Which included getting her alone and to himself as often as possible and those monthly sessions were his favorite.
Burke sighed contentedly as he peeled her robe wide open.
"Alone at last, beautiful."
Great. Sharon could do nothing to prevent the tears that ran down her face and landed in her ears.
So it begins, once again...
~ * ~
Hearing the scrape of the entrance door opening, Barret swallowed against his dry throat. He was so thirsty. The hunger for food had passed a very long time ago, but his thirst for Sharon's blood would only cease when his life did. A small squeak of a wheel indicated it was feeding time. Barret was never sure if he'd get a small taste of his Bride or a harsh hosing down with cold water when that door opened. Not that he felt much these days; his body barely functioned. All he had was his mind. Thoughts and memories that haunted him and broke his heart, because no matter how bad this felt for him, he knew his Sharon had it so much worse. That bastard Noble had made sure he knew what lay in store for her.
He slowly turned his head as he smelled his Sharon's blood and heard the bag being hooked up to the machine. Holding his breath, he put all his effort into lifting his arm to reach for the tube, which would gift him with her divine taste. Oh, how he missed his precious Bride. They'd had such a short time together, but every moment was entrenched into his memory. He pressed the tube into his mouth and heard the machine come to life. His fangs throbbed as the thick liquid hit his tongue.
"Your Bride needs you. Now."
Nobles never spoke to any of the Vampires. Barret frowned in confusion, even as he continued to drink what had to be more than his usual ration. As his body began to come alive with a buzz, he drank faster, uncertain this Noble wouldn't change his mind and turn off the machine. He grew more curious as the man moved around the room and appeared to give each Vampire a full bag of blood. Four times their usual allocation. Once the man finished, he headed to the exit.
"Wait."
Damn his voice was hoarse. He hadn't used it for who knew how long. He'd stopped yelling out for Sharon soon after he'd been put down here. It did nothing but upset the other Vampires, who had enough to bear without him adding to their torment. The man came back to his cell.
"Yes?"
Barret licked his rapidly healing cracked lips before he spoke.
"Why are you helping? What has happened to my Sharon?"
"I am a Noble by birth, not choice. I swear to you, I never knew what they did to your brides. Now I do, and I refuse to stand idly by while they are abused and raped. You need to stop it and rescue them as soon as possible. The brides are with their guardians, who have permission to do whatever they wish, so long as they don't have actual intercourse. Then, at midnight, they'll be forced to be with the Elder Nobles."
So, the added power wasn't only from the extra blood but from it being the eve of his Bride's fertile day. A deep growl left his throat at the thought of another touching what was his. He welcomed the ache in his bones, the pull of his muscles as they regenerated. As his strength returned, he moved to sit on the cot he'd spent, however many years he'd been here, on. The air current in the room against his back felt so good.
"Can you get out on your own? If I trigger the release, they will know and you'll all be drugged before you can leave the dungeon."
"Give us five minutes, for the blood to soak into our systems. Then we'll break out just fine." Barret was grateful for this sole Noble with a conscience and bowed his head in gratitude. "Thank you for your help."
Barret took several deep breaths as his body continued to heal and regenerate. Once his vision was clear and the aches in his body were only dull, he stood. Walking to the door, he looked around the large room, counting the cells with closed doors. Including himself, there were twenty. So many.
"Are you all ready? We need to work together to do this and save our Brides."
He got a chorus of variations of 'hell yeah' in response.
"Let's do this then. On the count of three. One, two, three."
The room exploded with noise as all twenty of them ripped the barred doors free and rushed from their cells. The others seemed happy to have him lead them, so Barret went for the main door and quickly snapped it free from its hinges. With a roar, a Vampire behind him flew past and into the security station where a couple of guards sat. Briefly shocked at the bloodshed, Barret stood frozen. He'd never seen such violence in his life.
"It is a necessity. Despite the general opinion of Vampires, I've never met one who liked killing and violence. And I lived for three hundred years before being caught. Just focus on your Bride and what she's going through right now."
Barret turned toward the older Vampire with deep Amethyst-colored irises and clamped a hand on his shoulder.
"Thank you. You're right. We need to focus, to think of nothing but saving our Brides. What is your name?"
"Riley, yours?"
"Barret. Okay, let's keep going. Unfortunately we're going to have to rely on our instincts to find our Brides."
They headed into a maze of dimly lit passageways. Barret forced all other thoughts besides escape from his mind as he led the others. He came to a stairway topped with a large steel door that was securely bolted. The lock looked strange to him. He'd never seen anything like it. He turned to look at the Vampires. Choosing the one with the newest looking clothes, and the least facial hair he called him forward.
"Have you seen anything like this?"
"Sure have. Lucky for us I'm actually an expert in this stuff, been studying it for years. You all might want to stand back. These locks have an emergency escape system built in. If I can hack into it, I should be able to get the hinges and lock to blow. It's crazy how many people get these things installed without realizing most thieves have studied them and know how to get around them."
"We'll just give you some room then."
Barret moved down the stairs with the others, not wanting to get caught in any blast. How much had the outside world changed? How long had he been held? A huge bang brought his internal thoughts to a halt a few minutes later. He watched as the door disappeared and they heard it clatter to the ground. Again, the others allowed him to lead and he carefully stepped through into the room beyond. He looked around and froze as he saw a group of Vampires and women. Brides, maybe?
"Barret?"
A woman at the front of the group was gasping and staring at him. He frowned in confusion.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Darcy. Sharon's Darcy. We're here to rescue you all."
Was he asleep and dreaming? Was his Sharon's daughter standing before him, leading the charge to rescue them? Blocking out all the others, he moved forward in a rush. Tears blurred his vision but he didn't slow. He cupped her sweet face in his palms and stared into pools of Sapphire blue.
"My Sharon's Darcy? Her little girl?"
He held his breath as he waited for a response.
"Yes."
On pure instinct he pulled her into him, embracing her in a firm hug. A vicious sounding growl had his gaze flicking up. What he saw was a pissed off Vampire with eyes the exact same color as Darcy's. She was a Bride and her Vampire had found her. With his heart a little lighter at finding Darcy, he released her as the big Vampire spoke with a thick accent.
"We can do the reunion later. We must get moving."
~ * ~
Sharon had been in her 'happy place.' Detaching her mind from her body, she spent her time with Barret. Feeling him caress her face, kiss her lips with passion. It had taken her some time to master this technique but it was the best way for her to cope. Both Toki and Burke refused to allow her to close her eyes, so she stared up at the ceiling as she focused inward on what her imagination was doing. But for the last few minutes, it wasn't working like it normally did. Something was pulling her to remain alert and it was annoying her. She didn't want to feel Burke's mouth and hands on her, not for one second.
A blaring siren had the bastard jerking from her and rushing to the door. Her heart froze in her chest as he opened the way and the noise of fighting rushed into the sound-proofed room. Were they rescuers or here to inflict worse torture on her? Burke rushed back in with eyes wide as he cursed a blue streak. Slamming and bolting the door, he stood and watched through the small window at whatever was going on out there.
Sharon forced air into her lungs and tried to stay calm. Damn, but she wished she wasn't lying naked and tied down. Whoever was about to come through that door would have her at their mercy to do whatever they wanted. She closed her eyes and started to pray. Please God, I've suffered enough. Please let this be a rescue party, not something worse. Please.
An ear-piercing screech had her lids opening in time to see the door being ripped from its hinges. Then, like an avenging angel, Barret appeared. He looked rough, with long matted hair and beard, his clothes barely hung together. From the scraps that were left she could tell he hadn't changed since his capture all those years ago. Suddenly overwhelmed with more emotions than she could count, she began to cry. Relief it was over, anguish for what Barret had suffered, and fear for what was waiting for them once they left here, just to name just a few.