I was angry.
I was angry at Duncan because he hadn’t mated with me vampire style to assure I’d be considered his.
I was angry at Rufus because he had mated with me so many times since he’d brought me from the cave to his estate that I’d lost count.
I was angry with Elizabeth because she wandered in and out of the room to tend to my needs, yet didn’t believe she could help me escape.
I was angry with Rosalie for not being strong enough to battle and win against a dozen vampire witches by remote.
I was angry with Isabelle for dying.
I was angry with myself for stupidly being the catalyst for all of this by going back in time.
In short, I was just angry.
On top of that, my entire body ached.
I was never as grateful to have Duncan’s vampire blood in me as I was when Rufus bedded me with such fury that I wondered if I’d survive. I’m sure, my body having only recently aborted his previously implanted seed, I would not have survived the trauma of his aggressive and abusive sexual acts had I not had vampire blood to help me heal almost as fast as the wounds were inflicted.
My moment of pleasure was when he sunk his fangs into my femoral artery and spat as if he’d been poisoned. Apparently vampires don’t drink vampire blood.
I smiled for hours after he stormed from the room and ordered Elizabeth to help me clean up.
Elizabeth ordered a bath to be brought to my room and helped me into it. Even with Duncan’s blood to speed up the healing process, my body was a mess. I was bruised both inside and out. If Rufus had impregnated me -and I was fairly sure he had- it would be a wonder if my body retained it after the abuse he’d put it through. Blood oozed from where he’d dug his nails into my flesh while releasing his seed deep into my womb. He’d made it clear that the only reason he hadn’t killed me was because I had the blood of another vampire in my veins. Since I wasn’t yet pregnant, he couldn’t claim me as his wife. If I died, the vampire whose blood I carried would be my protector and we could mate if we chose.
I was fairly certain I was going to end up vampire. I just prayed it was while I still had Duncan’s blood in my veins. I couldn’t remember how long he said it would remain in me. It was apparently still strong enough for Rufus to taste.
As I lay in the bath, I considered drowning myself in the water, but with Elizabeth so close at hand I doubted I’d succeed. She seemed determined to assist her vile brother in keeping me under lock and key.
“I feel betrayed,” I mumbled as I lay back in the copper tub and closed my eyes.
“Forgive me. ‘Tis a difficult thing I do, but I know not what to do. He is my brother and,” she leaned forward and whispered, “he is vampire.”
I opened one eye and looked at her before spitting out, “Really? I hadn’t noticed.”
Ignoring my sarcasm, she continued, “I would help you, but I know not how. Perchance Lord Duncan shall rescue you?”
“Does he know where I am?” I asked hopefully.
“I think not,” she replied wistfully.
“Do you think you could send him word?” I said slowly as I tried to keep my temper in check.
“I dare not. ‘Tis a fool’s errand. There are eyes and ears everywhere,” she whispered.
I sat up so quickly water splashed onto Elizabeth. She jumped back in surprise while I winced from the pain in my groin.
“Please. I beg you. There must be a way to get word to him,” I whispered.
I must have sounded as desperate as I felt because Elizabeth reacted with a vengeance that surprised me.
“Where is the Lady Jane come to us?” she said with gusto. “Where is the woman who successfully passed for Lady Margaret? This lady possesses magic. This lady has the ability to communicate without words. I long for this lady once more.”
Her words hit me like a slap across the face. She was right, of course. I did know magic. I could communicate telepathically. I may not have been schooled in the spells used in those times, but I was schooled in spells. Surely I could find a way to get in touch with Duncan or Rosalie or maybe Isabelle. Whoever it was, surely I could manage one of them.
I grabbed Elizabeth’s hand and kissed it gratefully. I couldn’t even be angry with her for being afraid to try to do something to help me out of this. Vampires were highly alert, sensitive, tricky, and vindictive when crossed. I was also afraid, but I knew that if I didn’t at least try, I’d be trapped into an eternity with the wrong vampire. If I had to become a vampire, then let it be Duncan who changed me. At least I loved him.
Elizabeth helped me out of the tub and settled me into an oversized chair by the fireplace to dry my hair. As she brushed it free of tangles we whispered about possible methods of getting a message past the vampires. It was decided that, even though I was able to communicate telepathically, there were also quite a few vampires in residence who could do the same. Therefore, telepathy wasn’t an option.
We decided that my best bet was to summon Isabelle. I was both surprised and grateful when Elizabeth offered to help. Although terrified, she was also looking for a way to free herself from the bonds her brother had imposed on her. She was afraid of his wrath should she let me kill myself and become a vampire made by Duncan, but, if I escaped, she was sure I’d find a way to help free her as well. Perhaps Isabelle or Rosalie would be able to help her too. I was sure they would.
We felt certain that if I used a few light magic tricks to shield the room long enough to perform the summoning ceremony, we wouldn’t be caught. Timing would be vital if I was going to pull this off. We had to make sure we had enough time to ourselves without Rufus or one of his cronies barging in to check on me, as they seemed so fond of doing.
We couldn’t do anything until the following day. It would be dark soon and Rufus would be returning to once again claim me as his. He knew, as well as I did, that he’d impregnated me. With the number of times he’d driven his seed deep into my womb, it was practically impossible for him not to. His taking me now was strictly for pleasure. His pleasure, not mine.
I had no choice but to endure it. Perhaps if I was a little more cooperative he’d lessen the amount of wounds left on my body. I wasn’t healing as quickly as I had been when first captured. I’m sure all the bloodletting that occurred from the wounds he inflicted was to assist in relieving me of Duncan’s blood. At the rate it was happening, it was only a matter of a few days before I’d be free of Duncan’s blood and he could turn me into his vampire bride.
I wiped away a tear that escaped at the thought of being lost to Duncan forever and took a deep breath. Now wasn’t the time to succumb to despair. I needed to stay focused. I remembered a scene in one of my favorite movies, “The Last of the Mohicans”. When Daniel Day Lewis’s character was abandoning Madeline Stowe’s character at the falls. Knowing full well she’d be captured, he assured her he’d find her and that whatever happened she was to submit and survive.
I kept that scene in mind when Rufus came to me a few hours later. Submitting to him did make it just a little easier on me. Now, I just needed to survive long enough for Duncan to find me and get me out of there.