The Captive Series 1-5 Page 3

  Max stepped forward. She shook her head at him, terrified of what would happen if he tried to stand up for her. This whole mess was her fault, and Aria had to accept the consequences, no matter how dire they may be. The wolf moved away from her as she stiffly made her way down the stairs.

  The prince followed her movements; he stepped back as she stopped before him. Her reflection stared back at her from the dark lens of his glasses. It relieved her that she didn’t look terrified, even though she was a trembling mess of confusion on the inside.

  He was large, powerful, overbearing, and despite her intense hatred for him and all his kind, she couldn’t help but acknowledge he was also magnificently handsome.

  Why would he choose her?

  He remained unmoving, his gaze focused on her for a poignant moment. Then, he abruptly turned away, leaving her bewildered and motionless. She didn’t know what to do, what was going on, what was expected of her. Her gaze slid helplessly back toward Max. His jaw was locked; disbelief and astonishment were evident on his face. He turned toward her, his bright blue eyes fearful.

  ‘I’ll find you,’ he mouthed silently.

  Aria would like to believe him, but she didn’t see how she could escape the powerful monster who owned her now. How could she escape the palace?

  Maybe, if she’d gone to one of the homes in the town she would have a chance, but she couldn’t begin to fathom a way out of that monstrous place. She shuddered, her fingers dug harder into her elbows. The wolf slipped past her and plodded after his master.

  “This way.”

  Aria jumped at the forceful command, but her feet felt as if they were stuck in mud. The two vampires who accompanied the prince came toward her, their hands outstretched.

  Aria stepped back, frightened by their massive size and callous eyes. The prince turned back, his dark eyebrows furrowing together over the top of his glasses as his full mouth pinched sternly.

  His men seemed to sense his sudden irritation as their hands fell limply back to their sides. Aria gawked at the prince, startled to realize he appeared truly irritated by the idea of them touching her.

  “Move,” one of the vamps commanded gruffly.

  The prince didn’t turn back around as he strolled down the street. The wolf and the three of them trailed behind.

  Chapter Three

  Aria couldn’t get her mouth to close for more than a few seconds at a time. Everything was so astonishing and strange. She had never seen anything like this, had never imagined it could even exist. And now she stood smack dab in the middle of it, being openly stared at and whispered about as she was ushered into the vast, rambling entry hall of the massive palace.

  She’d heard stories about the palace’s exquisite beauty and intricate designs. She’d always assumed they were just that, stories. She’d never dreamed such a breathtaking, opulent place could exist, let alone that she would be walking through it.

  Everything was sparkly and bright, huge and wonderful. There wasn’t a speck of dirt or dust anywhere; she didn’t even see a smudge or footprint on the floor.

  She glanced at the rounded roof far over her head; her mouth parted even more as she took in the astonishing artwork on the domed ceiling. She’d never seen anything like the beauty in the colors and detail of the designs above her. She’d never even seen a painting before.

  Daniel loved to sketch when he wasn’t busy hunting for food, planning attack strategies, or fighting for his life. He created amazing things with the charcoal they scavenged from the caves, but his creations had no color, and they were nowhere near as large and spectacular as this.

  Dropping her head, she hurried across the white, sparkly floor. She was ashamed she found anything amazing and beautiful here, embarrassed of the awe filling her, but she couldn’t help it. It was so different from her woods, so different from the life she knew and loved. There were even designs within the floor, swirling streams of gold and silver fluidly entwined together.

  “Braith!”

  Aria’s head snapped up; she tore her attention away from the floor to the woman striding purposely toward them. Dressed lavishly, the woman’s golden hair was pulled back in a braid that emphasized her beautiful features.

  Aria stopped, unable to move or breathe as she stared in disbelief at the stunning woman. A woman who had never known hunger or fear, or been made to dress in dirty rags, a woman who stared at her with open animosity.

  “What is this?” she demanded coldly.

  “It’s a blood slave, Natasha,” the prince replied dryly.

  The woman blinked in surprise, her gaze raked disdainfully over Aria. Though Aria wanted to shrink from the woman’s scathing look, she managed to throw her shoulders back, narrow her eyes, and hold the woman’s gaze. The prince didn’t look at Aria but simply stared at the woman.

  “I can see that, Braith. What are you doing with her?”

  Aria stared defiantly at him as he turned to survey her from head to toe and back again. She refused to let them see the anxiety coiling through her. She couldn’t forget that all this beauty was home to some of the worst evil the world had ever known, and at the moment, she was in the middle of it.

  “What is normally done with a blood slave, Natasha?” he inquired, his deep voice rumbling out of him. “I thought you would be happy I finally decided to take one.”

  Am I the first slave he’s ever taken? Aria wondered.

  But no, that couldn’t be possible; these creatures loved their blood slaves. They loved to torture, use, and abuse people until there was nothing left of them. It was what she’d always been told, so it had to be true. Didn’t it?

  “You could have cleaned her up first. She’s a mess, Braith; I cannot believe you brought her into our home like this. I could smell her from a mile away, and she probably has lice.”

  Dislike shot through Aria, her hands fisted at her sides as she glared at the blonde woman. She may not be at her cleanest right now, but she most certainly did not have lice.

  “I will take care of it immediately,” the prince said.

  Aria’s glare turned toward the prince. There it was, that awful “it” word again. She was most certainly more than an “it,” but she wasn’t in here, she wasn’t in this place. She was fairly certain she might never be more than an “it” again. The realization infuriated her, and more than anything she itched to show them exactly what she was capable of, and it was far more than being an “it.”

  “I should hope so,” the woman retorted.

  The woman brushed hastily by them, leaving Aria glaring after her and fuming over the conversation. A subtle nudge from the wolf alerted her they were moving once more. She hurried forward, eager to catch up with the prince, suddenly terrified he would leave her alone in this place.

  A place she wasn’t welcome in at all, a place that didn’t seem nearly as magnificent as it had two minutes ago. How could she have forgotten, even for a moment, where she was, and every horrible thing this place represented?

  She didn’t care to think about the fact that the only thing making her feel safe in this strange world was the creature who now believed he owned her. It was far too disturbing a thought, and she didn’t understand why she would feel that way.

  He’d done nothing to earn her trust, and she knew beauty was only skin deep, but she found she had a tentative belief her fate wouldn’t be any worse with the prince than with the ugly little creature who first claimed her.

  Aria’s hand trailed across the ornate, shiny wood of the railing as they moved leisurely up the massive staircase. They had stairs in the caves, where she spent a fair amount of her life, and she had spent time in abandoned houses, but none of those stairs were anywhere near as elaborate or large as these were.

  “Gather some female servants.” The prince barked the command over his shoulder as they reached the balcony running around the second floor.

  One of the men broke away, heading in the opposite direction down the long hallway before disappearing
down another set of stairs. Despite her intentions not to be impressed by the things she saw anymore, she couldn’t stop the amazement sparking to life within her again as she viewed the hall.

  She didn’t know what she wanted to look at more, the beautiful works of art lining the wall on her left, or the fantastic room to the right. She had just walked through the grand foyer, but it was more stunning from up here. The thousands of pieces of glass in the chandelier reflected a multitude of bright colors from the mural above it and onto the floor.

  The open balcony ended abruptly as walls enclosed them once more. Aria was trapped within this world of decadence, greed, brutality, and death. Max planned to rescue her but she didn’t hold out much hope for it, just as she didn’t hold out much hope she would find her own escape.

  She couldn’t even remember how to get out of this vast place, never mind try to escape from it or get away from the monsters living within it.

  For the first time, genuine concern for her life took hold. She’d been too stunned, too upset and confused to grasp the reality of her situation. It was sinking in now, and it wasn’t good. Her heart raced in her chest and pounded against her ribs.

  She folded her hands before her as she tried to remain as docile and inconspicuous as possible. Not like it would do her much good, she didn’t hold out hope they would forget she was there, but they didn’t need to know she was more dangerous than they suspected.

  They didn’t know who she was, she reminded herself. She wouldn’t be punished because of that at least, and maybe one day she’d get the chance to use it to her advantage.

  Her thin build would also help her appear weak. She itched for her bow, but the two brutes who took her down had stripped it from her. She still had her speed, and her deftness; they couldn’t take those from her.

  If she remained docile, then maybe they would let their guard down around her, and she would get an opportunity to escape. It was a slim hope, but it was the only one she had to cling to. What she didn’t like to think about was what would happen to her in the meantime.

  The guard with the prince stopped before a door, swung it open, and stepped back to allow the prince entrance. Aria hesitated within the hall, her hands folded before her as she stared into the darkened room. The prince didn’t turn on a light as he disappeared into the shadows with the wolf trailing him.

  The remaining guard stared unkindly at her, his dark eyes burrowing into her. Then with his cold voice, he murmured. “Go.”

  Aria prickled at the command. She had the urge to turn and run down the hall. It didn’t matter if she didn’t know how to get out of here, she didn’t care anymore. She couldn’t just walk into that darkened room and give herself over to a fate worse than death.

  Aria backed up a step as the man started toward her. Panic tore through her; she felt like a cornered animal as she came up against the wall. A large hand came at her; Aria instinctively knew if it touched her, she would lose control of whatever composure she had left.

  “I have made it clear no one is to touch her.”

  The threatening words growled from the doorway of the dark room, caused the hair on Aria’s neck to rise. Her gaze traveled toward the prince. He had returned to the open door and was leaning against the frame, but the tension in his body belied his casual posture.

  “If I have to tell you again, I will kill you,” he stated.

  Aria’s mouth dropped, her heart flipped crazily, she could feel the powerful beat of her pulse fluttering rapidly in her neck. She didn’t know what to make of this whole, awful, bizarre situation.

  The man stared at the prince as if he had sprouted another head. His gaze darted to his outstretched hand before he dropped it to his side and stepped away from her. She didn’t blame him; she wouldn’t want to be anywhere close to her either after that threat.

  “Come inside.” The prince ordered.

  Aria glanced around the hall. Running was still a tempting thought, but she couldn’t disgrace herself in such a way, and she was pretty sure being tackled by a member of the royal family would be pretty disgraceful.

  The prince had told the man not to touch her again, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t come after her, and she had a feeling if the prince had to chase her down, it wouldn’t end well. She gathered her rapidly diminishing courage as she stepped uncertainly toward the darkened room.

  The prince stepped away from the door, blending within the shadows again for a moment before light flooded the room. Aria was unable to suppress her astonishment. Without thinking, she gradually moved forward, drawn by the beauty and splendor of the lavish room. She took in the artwork and stunning hand-carved furniture.

  She tried to look everywhere at the same time, to see it all, but there was far too much to take in at once. Large bay windows, with a cushioned seat, overlooked the most picturesque gardens she’d ever seen. Flowers bloomed and spilled everywhere, ornamental trees were scattered throughout, and it all flowed forth in an endless wave of color.

  She loved her woods, savored her time within the dark interior and massive trees, but what they lacked in color, this garden made up for in spades.

  The paintings within the room were all of landscapes, scenic mountains, and rivers with animals and sunsets so realistic she felt like she was looking at the actual place. Handsome lamps, colorful and clear vases were spread throughout the room. The three sofas within looked inviting, and their deep green color reminded her of the ivy she loved in the groves of the forest.

  Aria took a few more steps forward, unable to close her mouth as she tried to absorb as much of the beauty as she could. She found herself more than a little overwhelmed and wholly enthralled by the splendor surrounding her.

  For a moment, she didn’t know worry or starvation; all she knew was beauty, peace, and a sensation of amazement so profound she could barely breathe.

  The soft click of the door drew her attention back to the prince and the harsh reality of her life now. Beautiful things may surround her, but the vilest creatures roaming the earth also surrounded her, and one of their leaders was fixedly watching her.

  He remained by the door, his hands enfolded over the head of his cane. The wraparound glasses hid his eyes, but she could feel them on her as his full mouth pursed and his eyebrows drew together.

  Aria blinked at him in surprise, only then realizing tears rolled down her cheeks. Worried he would think her tears were because she was afraid, she wiped them hastily away.

  Straightening her shoulders, she defiantly met his gaze. His forehead furrowed in consternation as his head turned unhurriedly around the room. Aria frowned at him, unable to understand the strange expression on his face, or what caused it.

  A faint knock on the door drew both of their attention behind him. The prince opened it and stepped back to allow three women into the room. Aria’s nostrils flared as she took in the women. They were all human, she could tell by the drab servant’s clothing they wore, and she hated them even more for it.

  These were the people who abandoned their kind; who had given themselves over to the vampires in exchange for not having to fight or stand up for themselves. These were the people who would rat out their fellow human beings in a heartbeat if it meant furthering themselves.

  Most human traitors were amongst the servant class, but a few had risen to higher and more valuable positions on the deaths staining their souls. Aria glared at the women, her hands fisting and un-fisting as she fought the urge to punch them.

  These types of people caused her mother’s death. They had infiltrated the camp, garnered trust, and turned them all over. Her mother was murdered during the resulting raid.

  Aria clenched her jaw as she struggled not to launch herself at one of these women as they pulled the door closed behind them.

  “You sent for us, milord,” the tall blonde said. Her eyelashes fluttered obnoxiously at the prince as she all but offered him her vein.

  He nodded toward Aria. “I would like her cleaned up.”


  Aria bristled as she turned her animosity on the prince. She was not a dog for Christ sake; she was perfectly capable of bathing and cleaning herself. She most certainly didn’t need the help of these “women.”

  Three sets of eyes slid toward her; curiosity radiated from them as they fully noticed her presence amongst them. The blonde eyed her with open abhorrence, the redhead seemed utterly indifferent, but the pity in the small brunette’s eyes truly incensed Aria. She didn’t want any pity.

  She turned away, unable to look at them any longer. They repulsed her more than she repulsed them.

  “Of course,” the blonde purred.

  “I will have clothes sent up for her at once,” the prince said.

  Aria tore her arm away when someone touched her elbow. “Don’t touch me!” she snarled, feeling no remorse when the redhead shrank away from her.

  The three women eyed her warily, apparently trying to decide if she would be a danger to them, something that might be a possibility.

  “You will allow them to clean you,” the prince ordered.

  “I can clean myself!” Aria snapped.

  The women gasped, shrinking farther away from her as she deliberately, and loudly, defied their leader. She didn’t care; she was frightened and outraged and more than a little tired of being treated like something worse than an animal. She was entirely at the mercy of the vampire standing across from her, staring at her as if she were something he’d never seen before.

  She supposed he wasn’t used to being defied, and she also supposed such defiance often resulted in severe consequences, but she would prefer punishment rather than this humiliating experience. Just an hour ago, she’d been hoping for death; now she found she was probably on the verge of it.

  The prince stepped toward her, using his massive size to try and intimidate her. Aria clenched her jaw as she glared at those thick glasses. She hated that he wore them. She wanted to see his eyes when she told him to screw off.