Wolf's Den

by J. R. Mitchell

I was the best suited to deal with him. I knew the old Raif the best. Knew his nuances, his mannerisms, everything about him, some of it still had to be there. The fact that he was there, made me think he wanted to come back. The fact that I was in his clutches twice made me think he wanted me back. However, to date I have only fucked one of the monsters and it was going to stay that way.

  Raif may have been turned, but if he would have let me know before he started to slaughter people, before he got a huge bounty on his head, I may have dealt with it, but ... well lets just say he was on the Reaper's shit list.

  Not once had I ever backed down from a bounty and that night would not be an exception.

  I cleared my throat before I spoke. I started, “What do you really want Raif, because we all know, if you stay, if not me, it will be somebody else. You need to hide, or at least find your own power base, not try to steal another's."

  "Oh what is it he calls you, Sikaoki, you have no idea of my ambitions. I want it all you included and I will have what I want.” He replied with a crazed look.

  I decided to change tactics. There was a time when you broke my heart Raif, now you try to use Ian against me. You decided I wasn't worth much when you ignored me, and it killed me.” He tried to speak, to defend himself but I held up a hand and advanced, the three goons he had on me were shocked and let me go, “All I know is that I need to be kissed and I am trying to forget you. I died the day you didn't come back, and every day after. For the longest time I lived half a life, you took life from me, and now you are trying to punish me as well as Ian for showing me that life does go on. How fucking dare you,” I advanced on him not able to breathe, my tactics had turned me into a woman scorned, not a good thing.

  "I should kill you just for that, not to mention that instead of coming to me, showing me that you loved me still, even though your heart didn't beat, you turned into a monster. How could I love something like you? Ian may be a monster of his own, however; he doesn't slaughter he may have at one point in his life, but it was before I met him and you..."

  As Raif's hand connected with my face in a vicious backhand, I flew backwards and landed against the wall.

  I could see through a red haze. Ian, Nathan, Godwin, all struggling against their captors to try to get to Raif, no doubt to kill him. But it was me that was left unguarded. I shook the haziness from my head and noticed a small pistol under the couch and faking the dizziness; I stumbled to the couch, and sank to my knees.

  Raif's laugh only enraged me further. I reached under the couch to grasp the pistol in my hand while I faked a lurch to my side. I glared up at him seeing red.

  Maybe it would be more fitting for the reaper of vampire kind to see black, however; I saw red. It was not a good thing.

  "Well Raif,” baiting him into more conversation, I stalled, “not only have you broken my heart, you can now be considered a wife beater.” I knew that I was in for a beating, Raif was close to madness, but it was a way for me to keep him talking.

  Much to my surprise, he did not take my bait. Instead, he answered me.

  "At least I am not sleeping with a dead guy, something we swore we would never do, huh, Sikaoki, I am waiting for an answer?"

  "If you would only have come to me, I would have loved you, you left me with nothing.” I even managed to squeeze out a few tears to make my story convincing. I glanced at Ian and he was as immobile as before. I think I had hurt his feelings ... who knew?

  "What is it you want Raif, can we discuss this without all the prying eyes and ears?"

  "What I wanted was you, your love, like it used to be.” Raif responded with a desperate edge in his voice. He took an involuntary step towards me, “you have ruined it Ariana, and you killed my love, just like I did to you."

  "How would you know what I felt, what did you see to convince yourself, answer me this and then we can negotiate.” I responded.

  "I saw you throw yourself at him.” Raif responded, he had lost control and the kick I had expected earlier came now. It took me off guard, not so much that I didn't clench my stomach muscles, but as they say ‘too little to late'.

  Thankfully, I could take a beating. Raif only kicked me once; with my guard and my bond to Ian I took it, but milked it for all it was worth.

  I grunted and it must have been convincing because Raif kneeled and leaned into me, “Why Ariana? Why do you push me into hurting you?"

  I could hear the tears in his voice and knew how hard it was for a vampire to cry; when I glanced into those eyes I had stared into for what seemed like a lifetime, I felt my resolve melt. I wasn't until they brimmed with red blood in unshed tears that I remembered where I was, and whom I was dealing with.

  "I am sorry Raif,” I whispered, “What do you want? I will do whatever it is. Let Nathan and my vampires go free.” I pleaded.

  They can go with the rest, but Ian stays with us.” Raif snapped his fingers and it was done. The others were sent to the catacombs with the rest of Ian's kiss. I had no idea what he had done to the lair to make him think that it would be hazardous to their health, or lack there of, but I knew one thing Raif always won.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  As Raif watched the three vampires forced across the room the hidden door opened without a sound. The smell of decaying corpses, blood and something all to rank to describe was overwhelming. It was worse than the smell of bowel, and way too unsavory to comment upon.

  I watched Raif grin and then as the door closed without a sound his smile turned manic as he turned his attention back to Ian and me.

  I still had the small pistol concealed, but I wondered how long I could keep him at arms distance. My fingers itched to pull it out and shoot the no good motherfucker I had once loved more than life itself. How could I have wasted over a year, mourning that piece of shit? I must have shown my anger, because Raif's smile disappeared into a frown. I saw the glint in his eyes, and I knew he was preparing for a fight.

  He stalked towards me, and grabbed my arm in his painful grasp. Raif continued to squeeze until it felt as though the bone would break. A small whimper escaped me and he let me go. Taking a step back, he backhanded me again and sent me back to the floor in a heap. My body would not be able to take much more abuse, and my temper was almost out of control. Ian lunged at him but was stopped short by Raif's goons.

  They quickly subdued Ian, dropping him to the floor. They continued to kick him while he lay helpless, encouraged by Raif. I lost control of my temper and stood to face Raif. I went somewhat unnoticed because his attention was on the beating being dealt to Ian, I pulled the gun, aimed it point blank at Raif's head and pulled the trigger.

  I could see the satisfying smile on Ian's face when I did it. I considered it most unfortunate that it didn't even knock him down. I saw blood spray off Raif's head, and he staggered away from me. As he looked up and into my eyes, I knew I was about to get a beating similar to the one Ian had received. I prayed that I would be able to withstand it.

  I wasn't shoved to the ground or hit, I was grabbed by the arms, and wrestled to the wall. There were small hooks embedded high up on the wall, where the ceiling met it.

  This did not look good. As Raif opened a drawer in Ian's desk and pulled out thick climbing rope, I twisted my head while being forced to walk to the wall to look at Ian.

  He wouldn't meet my eyes, and it pissed me off, what the fuck was he doing with something like this in his office, and how the fuck had I missed it?

  As Raif strapped me up, I heard his rogue vampires’ chuckle at my predicament. I knew it was going to get ugly.

  Raif walked back to the desk and picked something up. I could only catch a glimpse of it from the corner of my eye, and as the bullwhip unfurled itself, I wanted to scream.

  "Now Raif don't get to hasty hon,” I chided trying to get him talking.

  "You fucking tried to blow my head off, how you managed to get that past my guards, you will tell me soon enough my dear Ariana. You know, I had hopes that you would come back to
me, but I can see Ian has enamored you to the point of shoving me out of your heart. What used to be mine, will be again, or it shall be dead."

  "Listen Raif, we can work out a deal here. I can come back to your bed with a few new rules set in place if that is what you want."

  He laughed at me, flicked the whip and caught me somewhat gently between the shoulder blades. It was not enough to break the skin, so I hissed out with the shock of the blow.

  "Motherfucker, if you whip me, you will die by my hand, so you may as well sign your own death warrant. Remember, I took your place as the fucking Reaper, and reap I shall” I screamed with agony as the last word left my mouth, the bullwhip cracked across my back. I could feel the blood trickling between my shoulder blades as I heard the hiss of the worked leather coming at me again.

  I clenched down and tried to let the pain come into me, and melt away. Meditating sometimes had its finer points, and dealing with pain was something that it helped with.

  The third crack swung me into the wall. I could hear Ian struggling in the background. He was growling, it was a dangerous sound, and I feared he would shape shift if Raif did not stop my punishment soon.

  My breath was labored and I was sweating. I had only received three lashes, and already I felt exhausted. It wasn't until I heard Raif cuss, that I realized I was healing, and doing it fast.

  "Oh Ian you are quite the trickster; you have bonded with her twice, twice more and she would have been yours forever. I think I must change this situation. Although, while you lend her your strength you are weakening yourself and she is a glutton for punishment. How is that eye healing by the way?"

  "Raif, Raif, you have no idea what Sikaoki is capable of, and you and I both underestimated her. Why don't you just kill her, and make me watch, that way I will have died twice after you have finished with me?” Ian spat out, trying to buy time.

  "You don't get it do you Ian? I want her. She is rightfully mine and you, my so called friend had to step in and turn her against me."

  "Why don't you ask her about that? Maybe it was the fact that you never called home that turned her against you."

  "Liar, she was waiting for me, I know her she loved me, you seduced her and that is why we are where we are today!” Raif was becoming hysterical again. I was beginning to think that he was mad from the turn into shape shifting vampire, with that conclusion, I began to laugh.

  I laughed hysterically, wanting to sound just as mad as Raif had turned out to be. However, when I spoke it came out as cruel.

  "Is that all you got you coward?” I laughed again in a manic way, “Raif I can't count the number of men I fucked after you left me,” I paused letting it sink in. “Hell I can't remember most of their names, and I don't want to. Is it really Ian's fault that you decided to come back while I was having fun playing with him? I can almost guarantee I would have already gone on to somebody else, if you hadn't forced us to join forces against you."

  Yeah I know cruel, heartless, a total cheap shot, and somewhat true; but what-the-fuck-ever, the asshole was whipping me.

  I heard the snarl of his cat just before I felt the crack of the whip against my back. It was endless; over and over, Raif whipped me. Sweat and blood mingled together and I felt as though my back was in shreds. I screamed on a long endless ear shattering breath. Before I lost consciousness, all I could hear was my scream and Ian fighting for all he was worth.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  When I woke we were in a different room, in fact, we were behind the stage. I had been stripped naked and chained to a chair with my legs spread wide. I was facing the red curtain, and was feeling quite uncomfortable. It felt as though my back was on fire. I assumed that Ian couldn't lend me any more healing power because he was busy trying to heal himself.

  I could just make out the form of Ian on all fours naked as well, with a blindfold and a dog collar on. Attached to the collar was a thick chain that attached to the wall.

  "Ian can you hear me? I could really use a drink.” I said with a sarcastic laugh.

  "I could really use a drink as well Sikaoki, I have to wonder at who Raif plans to entertain with us as the main attraction, this could get really messy Ariana,” he warned. “His kiss is not so impressive that he would go to these lengths, and I feel a greater presence near. If he has invited a conclave member to show that I am not strong enough to hold my territory then he will get it without a fight."

  "What do you mean conclave member, Ian what the fuck is going on?” I demanded feeling the fire in my back add fuel to my anger and confusion.

  "I do not have time to explain all, however, we must escape. I am being drained by too many vampires right now to change. My kiss is battling in the lair, and you are hurt. I don't have enough strength to keep us from feeling too much pain. Raif has covered all my resources by keeping my people too busy to come to our rescue. It is up to the two of us to show that we are strong enough to hold this city."

  "Tell me what you want me to do, and I will do it.” I said with desperation trying to free my wrists.

  "Calm down first, then work your wrists, you need to sweat, and in order to sweat you have to do something to get your blood going.” Ian said a he crawled towards me; the chain on his collar was just long enough for him to get his head between my legs.

  I let out a strangled cry as I felt his tongue snake up my thigh. Almost reaching my cookie, I tried to clamp my legs together. Unable to do so only made me want more. I could feel my juices begin to flow as Ian inhaled my scent. I struggled in my restraints and felt the chains slip a little down my hands.

  "God Ian its working,” I ground out, trying to force my crotch into his face.

  Ian strained against his chain leash to get closer to me, while I tried to cradle his head in between my legs. I was covered in sweat and the sting it was creating in my back only furthered my excitement. As I wrestled with my passion, anger, pain and restraints, I felt my left hand bust open as the chain gave way and I was free.

  I reached down and cradled Ian's head with my hands, then bent over to kiss him. He captured one of my exposed nipples in his mouth and sucked away. I could feel his fangs pressing against my skin as he sucked harder with his mouth. I wanted to cum, as my numb slick fingers fiddled with the collar around his neck. I kept losing my train of thought when Ian abruptly crawled away from me. Not saying a word, I soon found out why. I could see the red curtain begin to rise. I sat back pushing my arms behind me to try and conceal the fact that I had gotten them loose. I waited for the curtain to rise enough to expose my nudity to whoever was watching.

  I knew the instant my cookie was exposed to on looking eyes, as the cat calls came immediately. My vision bled to a red haze. I grew hot under the scrutiny, however, my anger was fast becoming hard for me to control. I wanted to jump up and kill somebody but I forced myself to think in a rational manner.

  I heard Raif speak to the audience. What he had to say was not flattering, apparently we were the main attraction and both of us were up for grabs, men or women, Ian was not allowed to watch but I was, and I was to start off the show.

  Raif invited a very old feeling vampire on stage, and I heard Ian cuss under his breath. I could feel the power stretch out to me, as he walked onto the stage to examine first me, and then walked to Ian and sank down to his level.

  "So we meet again Ian. It has been a long time. Know that I will enjoy taking this little bonded human from you, as you took mine from me.” The stranger then kissed Ian on the mouth and with a laugh kneeled in front of me. Faster than I thought possible he had moved from there to here, and it frightened me a little.

  He inhaled along my arm, and I clenched my fist to keep from slapping him in the face. It was too soon, I needed to wait until the time was right. Raif was the one I wanted, this vampire, who seemed to be Ian's maker, was in my way. Stronger than Raif and Ian both, I wondered if I could take him, but he was not on my shit list—yet.

  "Want a taste?” I asked watching him look into my
crotch, “Not sure if Raif told you, but I climax with ease, no effort at all. It could be enjoyable if you were to take a quick lick.” I smiled at him as I watched his eyes grow large at my boldness. He smiled back, but instead of bending down, he reached down with his hand and felt between my lower lips. When he brought his fingers back up they were covered in my juices and he licked each one clean.

  Before I knew what happened he slapped me hard, I grasped the back of the chair with my hands to keep my secret contained, while blood trickled out of my mouth.

  "You know nothing of me! I am far more interested in hurting Ian than pleasuring you. I will leave that up to Raif, he has made it quite clear that he still wants you for himself. I am just here to ensure that you and Ian are not capable of hanging onto your territory.” Turning from me he next addressed Raif, “You my boy, get on with the show."

  Raif nodded his agreement and walked on stage to where I sat, while the other vampire walked to Ian, he removed the blindfold and let Ian watch as Raif straddled my legs, and forced me to kiss him.

  "Sorry, Ariana, but I can not let him have you.” Without any other comment, Raif bit my neck. I screamed in agony. As I felt Ian being forced out of my mind, I desperately tried to hang on to any sense of him, I couldn't. The last thing to fade was his scent.

  As his scent slipped from me, the pain in my back doubled, and I screamed once again with hurt. I was near unconsciousness when I heard Ian speak to me, not in the familiar tones as before when we were bonded, but as he did the first few times. We no longer had that special something, and without his bond protecting me, I could be turned into the undead.

  Now Ariana now is the time. FIGHT BACK! Ian roared into my head as he used all his strength to rise up and battle his maker.

  His shout shocked me back to my old self. I grabbed Raif by the hair to pull him away from my neck, I reached back with one hand. I centered all my force and will into the punch, I imagined my punch ending on the other side of his head. As my hand connected with his throat, I felt the sick pop of bone, and then the gushing of blood as my fingers poked through his skin.