Gabriella tried to stoke up her inner fire. She was outraged at how they dared to treat her. Her anger should be bubbling up to consume them. But all her efforts were quashed as easily as she was being held in place. Hatred and anger could gain no purchase against the abject terror that filled her being. She could not fight them off and they were not afraid of recriminations after the event. Such recriminations that, even if they came, would not help her avoid this fate. Since becoming a vampire Gabriella had never known fear like this.
How could Francesca let this happen to her?
Gabriella closed her eyes so that she could avoid the lecherous looks on the faces of her attackers. But doing so opened her mind to imagined images of what they were going to do with her before they were through. With three of them there was an almost infinite number of awful possibilities to run through, and because there were three of them, with the greater stamina gifted to vampires, they could run through all of them and invent new ones she couldn't even begin to imagine.
She willed herself to pass away into unconsciousness. She was desperate for a way to avoid having to go through this, and being unconscious so that she couldn't remember what they did to her seemed like it would be an attractive alternative. Never since being turned had she felt, or actually been, this helpless.
With words of encouragement from his two companions the largest vampire continued to grope her body. Touching her roughly in all the most intimate places.
"I think it's about time we got down to some real business, don't you, Honey?" he leered.
"I do. But don't call me 'Honey'."
The big vampire turned around to face the newcomer and got a good look at his fist just before it rammed into his face.
One of her assailants released her from his grip but before she could squirm free she was held firmly by the last vampire. He kicked her behind her knees to force her into a kneeling position.
While the largest attacker shook his head to clear it the vampire who had just released Gabriella rushed to deal with the newcomer. His long ponytail flapped against his back as he charged the other vampire.
Xavier deftly side-stepped the charge and delivered an elbow to the back as he did so. Taking hold of ponytail by his hair and the back of his shirt he used the others momentum to aim him at the larger vampire. With those two temporarily taken care of Xavier approached Gabriella and the single vampire who continued to hold her. The vampire kept his hold solid while Xavier closed on them. He never prepared to defend himself, trusting in his companions to come to his aid.
"Look out," Gabriella warned Xavier as both the other vampires got to their feet.
Xavier locked his eyes on Gabriella's not turning to face the threat she had warned him of. When the attackers had closed right up he dropped to the floor and swept his legs around dropping both other vampires again.
He pushed himself back to his feet and delivered kicks to both downed vampires. Watching his friends in such a vulnerable position made the vampire holding Gabriella loosen his grip ever so slightly as he debated whether to go to their assistance.
That slight slack was all the give she needed. While Xavier continued pounding on the others she slithered around on her knees so she was no longer being held from behind. Now she and the vampire holding her were face to face. The other vampire dropped to his own knees to avoid being thrown by her but now he was in an even worse place.
Gabriella didn't mind being pressed up so intimately against this one now that she was the one in control. She vamped fully out and stared into his eyes. He must have seen his doom in her gaze because sudden fear washed over him.
She lunged forwards and clamped her mouth over his Adam's apple. She sank her fangs through the flesh and pulled her head backwards. The vampire's throat was ripped out of his neck. She shook her head from side to side severing a large portion that she spat out across the floor.
The vampire, still alive despite the damage she had caused, released her from it's grip. Gabriella stood towering over the bloody thing on the floor. She spat it's blood out of her mouth, vampires couldn't drink the blood of other vampires, and walked up to where the head dangled from a few ruined muscles, flaps of skin and taut tendons.
She put the heel of her boot above his exposed spinal column. Shifting her weight she pushed down and the bones broke with a snap. The body twitched and was still.
Xavier stood over the prone bodies of the other two of her would be rapists. They were badly injured but if they were given the chance they would recover from their injuries, however extensive, but Xavier wasn't going to allow that. He pulled a wickedly curved knife from somewhere on his person. Xavier got behind the smaller of the remaining vampires. With the knife gripped in his right hand he used the left to drag the vampire up by his hair. An instant later he had drawn the knife across the vampire's neck with such fore that he was decapitated with one stroke. After the headless body fell Xavier casually tossed the head aside.
He looked down at the single surviving vampire. It was the largest of the bunch. Xavier beckoned her and Gabriella approached. Xavier handed her the knife and closed her fingers around the cool metal of the hilt. It was heavier than it looked but it fit comfortably in her grip. She hefted the weapon getting the feel of it.
She felt a strange sensation of power. It wasn't just that this was a killing weapon, she had lost count of how many times she had killed. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that she could now take care of the sorry bastard who had been feeling her up earlier on.
She turned the big vampire over with her feet. She stood above him with a leg on either side of his body. She stared at his face, the licentious mask he had worn when he had the control had been replaced by a bleeding, swelled-up eye, and numerous cuts and scrapes all over the rest of his face.
However bad he looked Gabriella would never feel any pity for the beast. She lowered herself down but kept her knees bent in a position so that she stopped short of making any contact. She gripped the knife in both hands holding the point downwards. She brought it down between her legs. She pressed the very tip up against his manhood and gently applied pressure.
The vampire underneath her screamed in pain and bucked against her. Writhing and struggling he continued to call out in agony. Xavier dropped to a knee. He used a leg to pin the vampire by his shoulder. With a hand he held the other shoulder down and covered the vampire’s mouth with his other arm.
Gabriella moved the blade in a straight line to a point just to the left of his sternum. She tried to look her attacker in the eye but he had them clenched shut tightly against the pain he was already feeling. Instead she stretched and arched her back to bring her mouth next to his ear.
"Cop a feel of this," she whispered huskily.
Again she applied pressure, leaning in to force the knife through his chest and between the ribs. The large vampire gave one final shudder and never moved again.
Chapter Twenty
Gabriella jumped up off the corpse wrenching the knife out along with her. She turned to point the blade at Xavier. Suspicion burned through her mind.
"What are you doing here? Coincidentally arriving just in time to save me from these morons."
Xavier held his arms out palms open.
"I came to fetch you that," He pointed at the knife she still held on him. "We know that there is dissension growing in the nest. As the Mistress's favourite I believed you could be a likely target for those who wanted to get at her. I thought you could do with some way to protect yourself if anybody tries anything," he said.
"And to protect the Mistress, of course," he added almost as an afterthought.
Xavier tried out a smile on her. "Not that you can't take care of yourself, but people don't always play fair," He looked at the three bodies.
"Point taken. And thanks for the assist."
"No problem. I'd do that for an enemy in your position let alone a friend."
"Are we friends now then?" Gabriella asked.
"There's
no reason we shouldn't be," Xavier answered her.
Gabriella nodded and lowered the weapon. "You can show me how to use this while you escort me to my chambers."
"I thought Francesca didn't want to be disturbed."
"I'm certain she will make an exception for me given what just happened," Gabriella said. "Unless you think she would risk this happening again, without you to rescue me."
"I don't pretend to understand anything she does. Her mind is a total mystery to me, but you know her better than I."
"I'll escort you all the way," he offered.
Gabriella assented and preceded him she was soon heading up the metal stairs to find Francesca. At the doorway to the chambers they were stopped by a pair of vampire guards. But they played their parts well refusing all his orders because they had been specifically instructed by the Mistress not to admit any visitors.
"Get the hell out of my way!" Gabriella thundered in no mood to be turned away.
"We have our orders."
"Screw your orders. I want to see Francesca right now!"
"Sorry, ma'am, we can't allow that."
"Get out of my way or you won't live to regret it! I've had a very bad day!"
A crowd of vampires from throughout the nest had gathered in the main chamber and looked up at the commotion.
They weren't the only ones attracted by the noise. Behind the pair of guards the door to the Mistress's private chambers was opened. Francesca stood there in a thin negligee and glared thunderbolts at Gabriella.
"What is the meaning of this?" she demanded.
"I had to see you," Gabriella said. "I was just-"
Francesca raised a hand to silence her. "I explicitly told you not to disturb me."
"But-" Gabriella began.
Francesca held her hand higher. "There is a time and a place for this discussion but it isn't here and it isn't now with this audience. We will settle this later. For now you will accept my wish for privacy."
Before Gabriella could argue Francesca had retreated back inside her chamber and shut the door in her face. The guards smirked.
Without a single word or expression Gabriella spun one hundred and eighty degrees and stormed down the stairs. The gathered crowd had shown some intelligence and had completely dispersed by the time she had reached the bottom.
Xavier followed quietly in her wake. He made no effort to strike up a conversation or offer physical consolation. She led him into one of the many warren-like corridors where the end had been sealed off.
Once out of the sight of prying eyes she turned to face him and let her tears flow freely. She stepped up to him and gingerly wrapped her arms around him. Xavier returned the gesture and pulled her close.
They stayed like that for fully ten minutes until Gabriella had cried all her tears and stepped back, drying her face on her sleeves.
"I made a mess of your top," she said indicating a damp patch and trying, and failing, to muster a smile, her lower lip trembled with the effort.
"Never mind," Xavier said graciously.
Gabriella stared at the ground for a long time. Finally she looked up into his eyes.
"I don't want to be alone tonight," she said eyes wide and innocent.
Xavier took her hand in his. "You don't have to be."
He led her to his own private quarters. Not as opulent or expansive as those Gabriella shared with Francesca they were suitable for his needs. He led Gabriella inside and locked the door behind her.
The shouting outside subsided and Fulton tried to relax. He wasn't certain why he hadn't chosen to leave when he had had a clear opportunity to do so. Now he had put himself in a precarious situation. He had to try and continue to walk this fine line between the dual sides to him. Any misstep would be his doom, one way or another.
His mind was taken off such deliberations when Francesca returned to the bedroom. She had been to deal with the commotion outside. She stood there in the doorway in a flimsy negligee, even if he had never seen her naked he would have no trouble imagining it with her in that.
It took a tremendous force of will, that Fulton doubted he would have the energy to perform again, to tear his eyes away from her. It showed him that all his decisions to take control of his life meant nothing when he could be so dominated by her. As long as he was with her his life was not his own to command. He understood now how she could control such a large nest, it took a better man than he was to be able to resist her.
When she spoke his eyes were drawn inexorably back to her. She was simply irresistible. It was day so he couldn't leave now anyway so he might as well enjoy himself. Tonight, tonight he would see if he could muster the strength of will to do what he thought he must.
Before he knew it tonight was upon him. Francesca had left him in the care of the rest of the nest while she went to take care of some private business. He half-thought about leaving before she returned but decided that would be a bit suspicious. Besides he wanted to see her again before he left, he owed her an explanation. At least those were the reasons for staying that he told himself. He didn't want to think that maybe he stayed because he just never wanted to leave.
In his current state of mind Fulton couldn't be sure how he could bear to be away from Francesca but he felt that he must. If he remained with her much longer he could easily slip and tumble over the edge.
"Like you're not over the edge already," Fulton said aloud.
The vampire nearest him gave him a funny look.
"Something wrong?" Fulton asked.
"With you perhaps."
Fulton stepped closer to him. He opened his eyes wide and stared at the other vampire. He brought both his hands up to the side of his head with his fingers splayed outwards. He stared intently at the other vampire then suddenly shook his arms outwards grinned and turned away.
"Nutter," The other vampire muttered.
Xavier was supremely happy. In his bed beside him Gabriella lay naked curled up to him. She truly was a skilled lover. He had never properly appreciated her when he had been ordered to join her and Francesca. Now he understood why Francesca kept her around. She may not be good for anything else but when she was that good at that it hardly mattered.
His mind was fully made up now concerning her. When he assumed control of the nest he would keep her around as his personal servant. She might even be willing to be his given Francesca's recent behaviour towards her. But a part of him hoped she wouldn't, enslaving her to his will would be such a thrill.
He would keep her to himself though, at least until the novelty wore off. Then it might be fun to watch his followers force themselves on her. He had been sorely tempted to let the three vampires he had duped into attacking her take it further and just watch. But he kept to his plan, kept his focus on his little coup d'état.
Such thoughts had made him ready for another go and he was moving into position when somebody knocked on his door. Even before she spoke he knew who it would be. Only one person would dare to disturb him.
"Xavier! Open this door at once."
Francesca.
Gabriella bolted awake and looked from Xavier to the door.
"I don't want her to find me here," she whispered.
"Open this damned door."
"There are other rooms back there," he said as he got out of the bed. "Hide in one of them."
Gabriella fled, naked, into one of his other rooms. No sooner had she closed the door behind her before she opened it again and ran back out.
"What?"
By way of reply she grabbed the clothes he had stripped her of earlier in the day and took them to hide with her.
Xavier jumped into a pair of jogging trousers and opened the door.
"Took you long enough." Francesca pushed past him.
"Something is going on with Fulton. I sense he is reluctant to join the nest. In any case I have decided he is probably unsuitable for the role I had intended for him."
Xavier nodded, he guessed she had been grooming the young upsta
rt to take his place. "As you wish. Does this mean Gabriella will be forgiven for her earlier behaviour? She only-"
"I will deal with her as I see fit," Francesca interrupted him. "But spending so much time with Fulton has awakened some of my other desires."
She sauntered over to him and put her hand on the front of his trousers. "I might want you more than her for now."
"I will serve in any way you want. But before you dismiss her you . . ." Xavier faded off at the look she gave him.
"Don't think I will deign to make decisions based on your say so."
With that she left. Xavier replaced the smile he wore with an expression of concern. He walked over and went to Gabriella.
"I'm sure she only said those things in the heat of the moment," he told her.
"I'm not." Gabriella answered fighting back tears. Her lower lip trembled uncontrollably until he kissed her.
"So, have you decided whether you are going to join my nest?" Francesca asked.
She was sat on the back of Fulton's motorcycle. In a twenty-four hour opening supermarket car park. The blood from her most recent kill stained her chin and the front of her blouse. Fulton absentmindedly wiped gore from his own face before answering.
He knew what he should say. It shouldn't be a flat out refusal, something about wanting to see a bit more of the world before settling down would go down better. He didn't want to admit that he was a coward, that he was afraid he was murdering a part of himself with every human life he took. What he wanted to say was: 'Yes, I want to stay with you.'
"Yes, it would be an honour to join your nest," he said.
Damn.
Francesca gave him a funny look. "You sure you want to settle down already?"
"I want to be with you," Fulton answered honestly, even though his brain told him to say he needed one last trip.
Francesca must have been able to see his inner conflict because she smiled and motioned for him to move closer.
"I'll still be here when you return," she said. "If you're worried that I will think that you think any less of me because you need a last taste of freedom don't be. I understand that there are instincts that can't be satisfied cooped up in a large group. There is a reason that some of the legends about us call us the lonely ones. Sometimes we just need to get out on our own. I understand that you have wandered solitary for the last few years. Are you sure you don't need one last solitary adventure?"
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