Chapter Text
“Good morning, Princess.” the first vampyr said as he slammed the door to this Hel room shut. “Congratulations, you survived the night.”
“I had no visitors,” Anneliese said, her throat hoarse. She was so thirsty. “Will you let me go now?”
“Just because he hasn’t come yet doesn’t mean he won’t come at all.” The vampyr surveyed her, licking his lips.
“Are you going to keep me here, tied up like this, until he shows up?” Her eyes were swollen, she hadn’t been able to sleep strung up and stretched out like this.
A dark chuckle echoed in the room as the second vampyr entered, shutting the door before Anneliese could see what was on the other side of it.
“Maybe, but first, princess, we are going to feed off of you.”
Anneliese recoiled, struggling against her restraints. “Please,” she begged. “I’ll do anything-”
“And then we will move you into another position.” The first vampyr was behind her now, slowly running his long yellow nails over her bare skin. “We wouldn’t want our food to knock her shoulders out of place, would we?”
The second vampyr moved, they were so fast. Almost as fast as fae.
“How did our princess fare last night,” the second vampyr asked, surveying her. His eyes lingering on her breasts. “A little cold?”
Anneliese tried to growl and nip at him. “Let me go,” she threatened.
“Such bad manners,” He tsked. “Your father would be disappointed.”
“My father would want me to be let go,” Annilese tried to sound threatening but it came out small, defeated.
“Are you going to beg,” the first vampyr asked. His clawed nails stroked down her bare back.
Anneliese lurched forward to get away, but the movement only pressed her front against the other vampyr.
“Desperate now, are we?” He male grinned, licking his lips.
“Please-” Anneliese cried out when two pairs of sharp teeth plunged into her skin, marking her. Drinking her blood. “S-stop,” she begged. Tears pricked at her eyes as their hands grabbed her waist and hips, their nails digging deep into her pale flesh.
The vampyr behind her purred. “I forget how sweet virgin blood tastes.” His hand trailed lower, following the curve of her rear and dipping down her thigh.
“Normally, females get aroused by this,” the second vampyr warned. His eyes narrowed on Anneliese’s tears. “Yet, nothing but fear from you.”
“Let me go,” Anneliese whimpered, body going limp but forced to remain held up.
“First, we’ll drain you until you pass out,” the vampyr behind her explained. “And then we’ll put you in a more compromising position to get that bastard out here.” His claws dug into her hips, drawing blood. The other vampyr…
“Please, stop.” Anneliese was crying as he dropped to his feet. His face so close to the most intimate part of her. “Please-”
His fangs dug into the fat flesh of her thigh while his claws drew blood from the backs of her legs.
Anneliese cried out, begging them to stop. It only made them claw deeper. They were scratching her. Drinking from her. Her breath became tight, and her vision started to go black.
“No,” she tried again. Maybe Luna would show mercy on her. “No, no, no, no, no.”
She must have blacked out because when she came to she was outside. The sun was so blinding that she squeezed her eyes shut.
The vampyr holding her laughed. “Have a good nap?”
She didn’t respond. Her hands were now in her lap, tied tightly together with thick rope that had her skin rubbed raw. The bar spreading her open for all to see had also been replaced with the same rope.
“What are you going to do to me now,” she whispered. Her throat hurt, maybe she had been screaming for help in her sleep.
“This,” the vampyr said as he threw her into the river.
The split second Anneliese had to look at her surroundings had her thinking they were in the Meat Market. She had never been before but the run down buildings and aged docks looked like what the rumors suggested.
“Wait!” She screamed out as her body slammed into the water. Her back screamed in protest. She hadn’t been prepared to take a breath. She had to swim, away from the vampyrs with what little air she did have.
Her feet protested when she tried to separate them. Anneliese cursed the blood suckers before forcing her arms outward and her hands in an up and down motion. Despite the rope she should be able to get away.
The water in the Meat Market was dirty. Trash floated and sunk all around her. The color darker, stained with something Anneliese didn’t want to know about.
Something splashed in the water after her. One of the vampyrs ready for a chase, no doubt. Anneliese didn’t dare look over her shoulder. If she swam far enough she’d end up in the ocean or the Black dock, depending on which direction she was going. Not that she knew that, either. Maybe she could get to the Bone Quarter and ask the Under King for mercy. Surely her father had a reward for anyone who found her.
Anneliese choked. She needed more air. If she didn’t she would drown. She took the risk and looked behind her, nothing but black water. She adjusted herself to swim upwards, but a current forced her back down. She didn’t stand a chance with these ropes holding her limps together.
Something tickled her foot, and that was enough for Anneliese to start swimming again, faster than her arms had ever moved before. She kicked her feet and legs, hoping that was enough to help sustain her and keep the vampyrs away.
Her vision started to dim. If she didn’t get air immediately, she was dead. Anneliese closed her eyes. Just keep going, don’t let him get you.
Anneliese slammed into something hard and solid. She blinked. A male was standing before her. Well, not standing because they were in water, and he was a mermaid…
Forgetting she was a fae, and supposed to be smart, Anneliese screamed for help, taking a mouth full of water. The merman was fast, scoping her into his arms as she started to black out again.
Suddenly there was wind and air and the sun on her face.
“Here, Tharion. Over here.” A male voice demanded. Anneliese felt like her ears were full of water, her lungs were so why not the ears too?
“Medics,” the male carrying her warned. Suddenly she was lifted into another pair of hands.
“Oh my gods,” Anneliese thought she must’ve known that voice.
“She took in a lot of water.”
“Can we get a towel or something to cover her up?”
A mouth was on hers, breathing air into her lungs. Hands were on her body, pushing into her. Oh, fuck-
Anneliese started coughing on the river water stuck in her lungs. Someone rolled her onto her sides as she vomited it all up. A hand patted her back before she laid her head down, content to sleep in her own watery puke. Something dry and warm was placed over her naked body.
“Princess,” a voice she knew called. Who was that? “Annie, are you alright?”
But Anneliese couldn’t speak. She breathed deeply with her mouth, coughing every time she exhaled. She slowly opened her eyes.
“That’s my girl,” Tristan Flynn smiled at her. His hand covered her own, still tied together, his thumb rubbing small circles into her skin.
“We’ll need to examine her more thoroughly,” a male voice said. “She’s covered in bite marks.”
Anneliese’s face must’ve shown her fear. Tristan kept his eyes on her. “It’s okay, Annie.” He cooed. “You’re safe now.” He brought out a knife, slicing the robes away from her hands, quick to rub the tender skin. She moved to get up but failed, her arms felt like jello under her weight.
Flynn moved to gather her in his arms, carefully making sure the blanket covered most of her body. Anneliese nestled her head into his shoulder. He smelt good, safe, and she wanted to remember that forever.
“We’ll be on land soon enough,” Tristan said. “There’s an ambulance waiting for you. Ruhn’s there too.”
Anneliese opened her mouth, but couldn’t speak. Her eyes started to water.
“It’s okay,” Tristan hushed her. “You’re safe now. I won’t let you go again.”
Anneliese closed her eyes and fell asleep in Tristan Flynn’s arms.