No longer close to delirium from hunger and thirst, Merle starts to actually get bored.
So bored that she's almost pleased when the repulsive male vampire arrives. He's carrying a tray that holds a jug of water, a bowl of soup, an apple and a bar of chocolate. Merle's heart twists. Food that isn't toast! Instantly she feels almost desperate for the food on that tray, but at the same time slightly sick with the idea of what she might have to do to get it.
The vampire smiles. 'Cole has been a little more specific about what you are to receive for nutrition.'
Merle nods. Darius Cole. Here she is in Darius Cole's castle and after four days she still doesn't even know what he looks like. 'So he isn't ever going to come and see me himself? Not at all.'
'Darius Cole saw no one for months at a time. He didn't need food or water. When they did give him blood they just pushed it through that hatch there.' He points to the door where a much smaller hatch is set into the bottom. Merle had thoroughly examined it a couple of days ago while searching for any weaknesses her prison might have. She'd found none. 'They were scared of him. His powers to manipulate were legendary.'
'Is that how he finally escaped? How he took over this castle?'
'You ask such strange questions. What you should be doing is asking me what you have to do to earn this food.'
Merle swallows, looking back at the food. Her salvia glands tingle. 'What do I have to do?'
'You have to answer my questions.' The vampire smiles unpleasantly and comes and sits down on the bench next to her. Merle moves away from him a little, her chains clanking and clattering. They're making her wrists sore and achy. The vampire leans still closer – making her attempts to move away from him futile. He whispers, 'Does the idea of Darius Cole keeping you a prisoner here excite you?'
Merle swallows hard. She's been thinking about Darius Cole all her life. Thinking about scenarios exactly like this. Thinking about him. Obsessing. Wondering if he ever, even once, thought about her. But this imprisonment, the reality of this, well she can safely say this isn't exciting at all. 'I can't imagine anything less exciting. Being here on my own, hungry, thirsty, in the dark ...'
The vampire smiles and everything horrible about him seems to increase several times over. 'Not the reality of it, the idea of it. Why do you think he wanted you?'
'To hurt my parents.'
'He could have imprisoned them?'
'This is worse for them, much worse.'
The vampire cocks his head at her. 'OK, let me put things another way, Miss Cobalt, did the idea of Darius Cole, a notorious dangerous vampire, your parent's nemesis, wanting you to come and spend time with him in his castle excite you? Did it arouse you?' He raises his eyebrows like he's her co-conspirator. 'Did you think he planned to desecrate you?'
And, oh, God, that's the question. The one she's been torturing herself with since they got the letter. Was part of her thrilled by the idea of this? Not the reality. The idea. Her nightmare wanting her. She knew she couldn't hide feelings this strong. Not from a vampire. The blood rises to her face. She tries again to move away but there's nowhere to go except off the bench onto the floor. There's only one escape route.
Merle turns to look the vampire right in the eye, holds his gaze while the blood rushes in her ears and her cheeks grow hotter and hotter and she swallows hard and says, 'Yes.'
The vampire stands up. 'And now you are disappointed that he hasn't.'
Merle gets up too. 'No, I ...'
'That wasn't a question.'