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Captive

Part One: Flee

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I fled farther and faster than any normal mortal, with my unwanted lords pursuing me. They knew I had no desire to be caught, and even though I knew I would eventually be caught, I still fled. Even with the punishment that was sure to follow, I still ran, for these few precious moments of freedom in which I could hear my heart throbbing in my head, and feel the oxygen fill my lungs with each breath. This is what made the punishment afterward so worth it. And now with the odor of blood so near, I knew that my precious moments of freedom were numbered.

They came up alongside me hissing like wild cats, I gave them a hiss of my own and leapt across a nearby stream, with the more intense hissing that followed I could tell they had been hit with the spray that had succeeded my jump. I felt one of the bastard's claws pierce my ankle as he fell, taking me down with him...upon him. I could feel his icy glare through my closed lids, and could feel his undead heart beat beneath my own, but I dare not move, for movement at this time certainly meant death. However, I did think, I thought about which one of the low ranking bastards I had landed upon though, my thoughts did not last long for I was jarred from them by my being shook and a cruel chuckle.

"You really think me so low child?" He had read my thoughts! I opened my eyes slowly and looked directly into those of my master's. My eyes widened and I struggled to get off from my unwilling perch atop him. He gave me a mocking smile, knowing what I wished to do, and doing just the opposite. Instead of letting me get up as I should he pulled me closer, far closer than what was deemed decent. I shot him a glower in return, and he slapped it off my face. My face stung as he gripped it roughly between his talons, forcing my eyes open once again.

"Answer me." I knew he wasn't demanding an answer from me, though it appeared to be so to the gathering of my master's clan surrounding us. I shot him a look of defiance, and his eyes took on that of a look of amusement, begging me to answer. And answer him I did, though far from what he had been expecting. I looked him straight into his cat's eyes and stared into them unblinking.

"My master Raziel, I find you not low, but a dictating bastard." The crowd around us hushed and waited for what was sure to be my demise at my master's hands. But it never came, instead a long loud howl of laughter sounded throughout the night, as I received a slap on the back. My master leapt up from his position, letting me tumble to the ground, getting dust upon my already filthy clothes. Though the smile that had graced my features after his laugh soon faded, as did his, for he looked into my eyes the way I had so recently done to him.

"Though make no mistake dear Lorna, there will be punishment for what you have done." He laughed again, at my look of shock. "Clearly, you knew it was coming. Did you actually believe that you would get away unscathed for that remark?" He motioned to the vampires standing on either side of me, and they held me down, while tying bonds upon my hands. I knew though that with the current festival going on, the exact one that had allowed my escape, would allow me time to prepare for my punishment. By the look in his eyes, I knew I would need that time.

Make no mistake that my Lord Raziel was indeed a fair man, he only gave what was dealt to him. I have crossed him so many a time that this has been beaten into my head, though not literally I assure you. He was far from as arrogant as Lord Dumah. But for once I was afraid of him, never had he acted so blithe when I had crossed him. He had always been silent, cold and hard, never laughing and amused. So what had I done to change that this time, or was he just becoming fickle in his moods? I questioned and pondered these thoughts until my mind was just as tired as my body, exhausted from my momentary freedom.

I shook my head in confusion as my lord entered the cell in which I had been locked up in since I had been bound like a hog. I hadn't heard him enter which could only mean he was truly displeased with me. Lord Raziel never hid, especially from an enslaved mortal like me. I finally noticed his appearance in the cell when I felt his breath upon my neck. I turned my head to see him sitting beside me, an amused look upon his face. I sighed in exhaustion as he stood back up a familiar looking whip in his clawed hand.

"Humor me girl, why do you flee at every chance you get?" He asked the question in quiet curiosity. He asked it every time I had tried to escape, never getting an answer. His face looked almost grave now, as if it hurt him to punish me like this. He obviously thought that I wasn't planning on answering him, like all of the other times, he was wrong. Just as the whip started to descend, I let my emotions fly, and answered the question.

"My lord, I flee because I hunger for the same freedom you already have. I am not content slaving away until the day that I die. I only wish to be allowed to not carry the burden of being a slave upon my soul. You brand us so, not allowing us to live the way every living being should be allowed, you oppress us yes, you know it. We may be your source of life, but why capture us all? For dominance, an empire, a legacy of sorts? it is tyranny my lord and I only wish to be free of it's reigns. As I am sure others do as well, it seems I am the only one willing to risk punishment over something as sweet as freedom." I swallowed hard and looked down, I had just made a fool of myself. Everyone thought these thoughts yes, but they never voiced them. My lord looked me over, and gave a hint of a smile before smothering it in the cold stare I was used to during these times.

"Child you dream. Your enslavement has become mandatory to the empire's well being. Are you saying that we should just release you? And what about the rest should we release them too? You are next to free here! You can do what you wish so long as your duties have been fulfilled. But you want it all don't you?" He gave me an uncustomary smirk before circling around me. I realized then that this was what he wanted to hear, he wanted to hear my thoughts and opinions. I thought then that the vampires must truly be bored with their unlives if they were stooping this low for entertainment. However, that wasn't about to stop me from sharing my opinion with him.

"My lord even when I serve you I still bear the title as slave, and just as you treat me well, that does not mean that every vampire will." He nodded slowly setting the whip down and walking to my side. With a single swipe he slashed through the ropes that bound me and helped me to my feet. I looked at him with question in my eyes, but he merely touched my shoulder and guided me out of the cell.

"Lorna, child if you wish to be free then someday you may have it, but only after you learn your lesson." And with that I received a single slash from the whip. It was light not even harmful, but it was enough to let me know that I should never call him a dictating bastard again.

Notes Thus Far:

This is going to be a multiple part story, but it was started on the notion that it would help cure my writer's block. ;) Though I appreciate and still want all the reviews I can get for this story.

Disclaimer: I only own the character's, places, and the plot I create. Everything else is owned by their respective owners.