Bitten – Episode 28

 

Chapter 28

 

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After Ashton shoved me into the back seat of his black SUV, I could talk. Immediately I tried to escape out the door, but child lock was on. Great vampires think alike, I thought sarcastically. That or they all took a course in kidnap.

 

“What are you doing with me?” I demanded as Ashton climbed into the front seat. “Vincent will know I’m missing—”

 

With a loud rev of his engine, Ashton floored it, causing me to lose my balance and fall back into the seat. “Don’t talk,” he ordered. “It distracts me when I drive.”

 

“Let me out!” I cried, moving to one side to bang on the window. “Stop the car! Let me out!”

 

“Hey! Don’t break the windows!” Luca growled, turning in his seat to scowl at me. “Touch them again and I’ll break your wrists. Both of them.”

 

“Luca,” Ashton said in a reprimanding tone. “Stop it. Emily, please don’t bang on my windows.”

 

I stared at the back of his head incredulously. What was he thinking? Please?

 

Asking me to please do something while he was kidnapping me?

 

“See, Luca, saying please always works—”

 

“Let me out!” I cried, resuming my pounding on the windows. Why wasn’t anyone driving around? It wasn’t that late!

 

Luca snorted, twisting in his seat to scowl at me. “Apparently not, Ashton.” “Where are we going?” I demanded, shooting Luca a dirty look. “If I told you that would ruin the surprise,” Ashton responded.

 

Gritting my teeth, I fell back into the leather backseat, bringing my foot up to kick Luca’s seat. After ten seconds of this, Luca bared his fangs at me. Instead of being frightened I scoffed at him. “Do you really think that’s scary?”

 

He narrowed his eyes. “I can make it scary. Come here.”

 

“I don’t think so.”

 

“Too scared?”

 

“I don’t want to catch your ugliness,” I snapped back at him.

 

He jolted forward in his seat, stretching his arm toward my neck. Before he reached me Ashton grabbed his arm, pushing it to the side. “Children, please.”

 

“Can we kill her now?”

 

“No.”

 

“Why not?”

 

Ashton decided to ignore him. “Emily, I heard you’re a blue blood. Is this true? Or did our little spy make it up?”

 

“Who’s your spy?” I countered.

 

He waved me off. “No one you’d know of.”

 

“If you won’t answer me, I won’t answer you.”

 

A quiet chuckle left his lips. “Ah, but I don’t think you’re in the position to be bargaining with me.”

 

Luca smirked. “Speak up, little girl.”

 

 

“No,” I stated, turning my head away from them. “You can’t force me to tell you anything.”

 

“We’ll find out soon enough,” Luca commented, a hard edge to his voice. “Can’t say it’ll be too pleasing of an experience for you.”

 

His words shook me, but only a little. If I showed my fright, they would think they had the upper advantage. For now I had to keep my cool. Maybe a chance of escape would come up. Or Vincent would realize I was gone. I blinked. Even when he did realize I was missing, he wouldn’t know where I was. A groan of annoyance escaped my lips.

 

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“Car sick?” Ashton inquired.

 

I ignored him. Luca glared at me for a few more moments before he turned around and faced forwards again. A sick feeling was beginning to spread through me. Habit had me crossing my arms over my stomach to try to settle it.

 

Apparently the rumor that Ashton knew about my blood was true. Did he kidnap me because he wanted my blood? Was he going to kill me? I couldn’t keep the mental imagines out of my head. Pictures of me lying like a prune on the ground, all the blood drained out… My hand shot up, covering my mouth as I resisted the urge to be sick. That probably was what would happen.

 

Silence settled in the car now, leaving my thoughts to wonder and become more gruesome. I shut my eyes tightly, trying to block them out. Maybe I was being too negative. Maybe they were just going to take me out to dinner…

 

Yeah, and you’re the main course, a dark voice in my head stated.

 

I shooed it away. They weren’t going to eat me. Vampires didn’t eat humans; they only drank their blood. And when it came to my blood, they’d probably pour it into tiny vials and keep it stored for future use.

 

“Emily?”

 

My head snapped up, my gaze landing on Ashton’s through the rearview mirror.

 

“What?” I snapped before I could stop myself. So much for keeping silent.

 

“Do you know where we are?”

 

 

I glanced out the car window. We were whizzing by a dark forest, the tall trees blurring together. The sight felt familiar, but I couldn’t quite place my finger on where I’d seen it before. It kind of reminded me of the trip I’d taken to Vermont with my family a few years back, but we were definitely not in Vermont.

 

“Do you seriously not know where we are?” Luca questioned, a smirk playing around his lips. “You’re stupid, aren’t you?”

 

I glowered at him. “No, I’m not. Sorry I don’t recognize a blurry mass of trees, Blondy!”

 

He rolled his eyes. “Good one. You’re blonde too.” “You know what—”

 

“Right around the corner is Rutherford manor,” Ashton informed me, his eyes piercing mine through the windshield mirror again.

 

Realization swept over me. That’s why it looked familiar! Even though I’d only traveled this path a few times, I’d been able to commit the inky forest to memory. What were we doing here though? Why would he be bringing me to the manor? Was he trying to get himself killed? Who in the right mind would bring the girl they kidnapped to a house full of the vampires they’d kidnapped her from? Well, in a way. Technically Ashton hadn’t kidnapped me from anyone, but Vincent was supposed to be watching me so…

 

“If you’re thinking we’re going to the manor, you’re wrong,” Luca informed me, rolling his eyes. “Believe it or not, we’re smarter than that.”

 

“Where are we going then?”

 

“To a campsite,” Ashton told me. “My makeshift campsite, rather. I would bring you to my house, but I’m afraid once the Rutherfords catch onto your disappearance they’ll come hunting for you and my house would be the most obvious place.”

 

I frowned, biting my lip. It was nearly impossible for anyone to be found in the woods at night. What if they were planning to kill me? I was definitely a goner. And then it’d take a while for the police to scavenge the area for my dried up remains…

 

I shook my head. No. No depressing thoughts. Maybe they were just dragging me out here to scare me, or something.

 

“Luca, call Jared to see where he is.”

 

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“Why do I have to call him—”

 

“Do it.”

 

Luca growled quietly, but didn’t protest again. I knew why, too. Ashton’s tone had scared even me, and I wasn’t talking to him. After a second Luca whipped out his cell phone, putting it to his ear. My hand went to my pocket absentmindedly, checking if I had my cell phone. Satisfied when I felt it there, I relaxed back into my seat.

 

Then I shot back up. I still had my cell phone! That meant I could call Vincent! Or Joel! Or anyone who could help me! Luca and Ashton noticed my sudden change in stance and glanced at me. I smiled sheepishly at them, trying to keep my face straight as possible. After a moment Luca sighed, looking away, but Ashton still frowned at me.

 

“Where are you?” Luca barked into his phone. “You’re supposed to meet us here. We drove slowly!”

 

Drove slowly? Is that what they thought

 

slowly was?

 

“Luca, calm down.”

 

Luca grunted. “Fine. Get here quickly. I don’t care about that. You can kill him if you have to.”

 

My eyes widened. Kill? Who were they killing?

 

“He can’t kill anyone,” Ashton said in a hard tone. “Luca, give me the phone.”

 

“He already hung up,” Luca responded, snapping his phone shut. “And why does it matter if he kills a cop? They’re pigs anyway… Literally.”

 

“It matters because he’ll be killed for killing a human,” Ashton snapped at him. “Think a little bit, Luca.”

 

An awkward silence settled into the car again and I returned my focus out the window. For a bad guy, Ashton sure did look out for his friends. If Jared was his

 

 

friend. Maybe he was his follower. My hand rested on top of my pocket that held my phone. How was I supposed to use it without being noticed? Would I even get a chance? Nobody was on speed dial, so I would have to look up a contact. That would take at least five seconds. Would that be too long? Unless Vincent was on my recent calls list. Then I could just hit the call button twice… That would give me enough time.

 

Ashton suddenly veered right, sending me off balance. I rectified myself, noticing we weren’t traveling on the dirt road anymore. Now we were speeding through the forest. It became incredibly bumpy, so I clung to the door handle for support. After about five minutes of this, we reached a small clearing that was lit up by the moon. The trees cast sketch shadows around it as they waved in the gentle wind. My heart was starting to beat faster at the ominous scene.

 

“Luca, get Emily out of the car,” Ashton ordered, bringing the car to an abrupt halt.

 

I watched as Luca nodded, climbing out of the passenger’s door and coming around to mine. As he opened it, I scooted to the other side. This didn’t amuse him. “Get over here before I force you out by your hair.”

 

After sending him the harshest glare I could conjure, I slowly slid back toward him. He grabbed my arm, yanking me out the rest of the way before slamming the door behind me. With disregard to my stumbling feet, he brought me over to Ashton, who was leaning against the hood of his car. He studied me for a few minutes. “If Luca lets you go, will you run away?”

 

“No,” I promised easily. Even if I did try to run, one of the two would catch me and break my legs or something.

 

Seeming satisfied with my response, he ordered Luca to let me go. Doing as I promised I stayed in the spot I was in, shooting Luca a dirty look. Didn’t he know not to manhandle a girl roughly?

 

The wind whipped my hair into my face and I brushed it back, too afraid to let my eyesight be blinded for too long. Luca shifted on his feet uncomfortable. “Are you going to do it or not, Ashton?”

 

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“Patience, Luca,” Ashton said, gazing thoughtfully at me. I refocused my attention to the dirt on the ground.

 

“I want to taste her blood,” Luca stated, bringing a cool hand to my face and resting it on my cheek.

 

I jerked my head away from him. “Don’t touch me.”

 

Ashton yawned, looking awfully bored. “Let her be, Luca. All in due time. For now though, I just want to speak to her.”

 

“About what?” I asked.

 

“A few things. First of all, I heard you’re the Rutherford’s new play thing.”

 

“I’m not a play thing,” I snapped.

 

He smiled. “They certainly have taken an interest you. Why else would they protect you so strongly?”

 

I shrugged nonchalantly. “My blood, maybe? Except instead of wanting to take my blood, they’re happy just letting me live my normal human life.”

 

“What a waste,” Ashton sighed wistfully. “Your blood is far too precious to go to waste.”

 

“It’s not going to waste when I’m living my life!”

 

Luca spoke up now. “Wait, we don’t even know if she’s a Blue Blood yet. We should test it.”

 

Ashton chuckled. “You just want to taste her blood, Luca.” “Maybe,” he responded with a smirk. “Very well. Cut yourself then.”

 

My whole body tensed when Luca produced a switchblade from nowhere. A sharp one, too. In one clean, swift action he cut down his wrist, following his vein. Blood immediately began to pour from his arm. Ashton turned to me. I locked gazes with him. His was calm, amused. Mine was scared, frantic.

 

Now was the time to panic.

 

Going against my early promise, I slid to the other side of the car, running around to the back of it. Ashton smirked, walking slowly toward me. My hand shot into

 

 

my pocket and I prayed that Vincent was the first person on my recent calls list. I hit the call button twice and waited.

 

“Come here,” Ashton cooed, holding out his hand. “We just need a sample. Luca, go from the other side.”

 

Luca nodded, advancing on me. “Yeah. I don’t want to bleed out, girl. Get over here.”

 

“No!” I protested, swallowing nervously. Had someone picked up yet? Or did it go to voicemail? “Why would you bring me by the Rutherford Manor to do this? Why not in the mall parking lot, Ashton?”

 

He cocked his head to the side. “Does the scenery really matter?”

 

“Don’t come closer,” I warned, taking a step back away from him. Right into something hard. A gasp escaped my lips and I twisted around to see Luca towering over me. He easily pushed me into the trunk of Ashton’s car, pinning me into place. The phone fell from my hands.

 

“A little sample,” he promised, bringing his lips to my neck. “I bet you’re used to it, aren’t you?”

 

“No,” I pleaded, trying to shove him away. “Don’t kill me.”

 

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“We’re not going to kill you, Emily,” Ashton told me smoothly.

 

I shook my head, trying to put Luca off. “Stop it, please! I promise you I’m a Blue Blood! I promise! You don’t have to try it out!”

 

Luca’s moist breath on my neck was starting to make me dizzy. It was giving me memories from when Joel had attacked me. It was making me remember the pain.

 

“Do it quickly,” Ashton told Luca. “You don’t want to lose too much blood.”

 

“Wait!” I begged, pounding on Luca’s shoulder. “Just wait! Please! Don’t do it! Please!”

 

Luca’s canines brushed against my neck. “I bet you’ll taste sweet.”

 

“No wait, ugh!” I groaned as I felt his fangs pierce my skin, just hard enough to break the skin. “Please,” I tried again, whispering now.

 

“Sorry, Babe,” Luca responded, sinking his teeth in the rest of the way.

 

A familiar burning spread through my system instantly. A sharp scream tore through my throat before Ashton quickly covered my mouth, quieting me down. “It’ll be over soon,” he told me in a soothing voice.

 

My feeble attempts at pushing Luca away ceased. Like a rag doll, I flipped back against the trunk, letting Luca suck my blood. Nausea washed over me as the sucking sound Luca was making met my ears. Wasn’t this supposed to be a brisk action? Why was he taking so long? If he drank too much, I would pass out like usual. I couldn’t afford to pass out when these guys were around.

 

“Luca,” Ashton said in firm voice. “Enough.”

 

Luca moaned in protest, his teeth still in me.

 

My breath started coming in short rasps. He was drinking too much!

 

“Luca!” Ashton tried again. “Your wound is healed. Enough.”

 

Luca still didn’t pull away. Why wasn’t he listening to Ashton? If he kept this up, he was going to kill me! My eyelids fluttered as wave after wave of dizziness crashed into me.

 

“ Luca! ” Ashton growled.

 

Before my mind could process what was happening, Luca was across the field, wiping blood off his face. My knees collapsed and I plummeted to the ground. Within seconds Ashton had me back on my feet, holding me against the trunk again so I couldn’t fall. “No,” I said weakly, trying to push him away. “I… I’m ane—”

 

“Anemic, I know,” he stated, clenching his jaw. “It comes with the Blue Blood. Shit. Luca, do you see what you’ve done?”

 

Luca appeared at his side, a smug smile on his face. “She looks fine to me. Tastes pretty fine too.”

 

I didn’t even have the energy to glare at him. “Are you going to kill me now?”

 

“No,” Ashton said, frowning. “Why would we waste your blood like that?”

 

“Then what…?”

 

“If we keep you alive, you’ll keep producing the blood. Why we kill you?”

 

Horror spread through me. “You’re going to harvest me?” I asked, appalled.

 

He chuckled. “Something like that.”

 

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“What makes you think I won’t kill myself?”

 

“Well, that’s where I threaten you a bit.”

 

It took a lot of effort to give him a flat look. The world was already starting to spin. I couldn’t pass out here! “W-what do you mean?”

 

He suddenly pressed against me harder, cutting off my breath. “Either you come with us, or we kill your precious vampire.”

 

“My…?” My eyes widened in realization. They couldn’t know how I felt about Vincent! Nobody knew but Vincent, and he only knew about the silly crush. Not the deeper feelings I was harboring for him!

 

“That’s right. If we kill Sebastian, not only will I have you, but I’ll also have the throne. Sounds like a good deal, right?”

 

Sebastian? They wanted to kill Sebastian? “No!” I protested, my voice coming out more loudly than I expected. “You can’t kill him! No!”

 

Ashton chuckled. “Then you’ll come with us?” “No!”

 

“Did you not hear him?” Luca growled, closing in on him. “You have no other choices.”

 

“I… I…” My mind was reeling. And not just from the dizziness due to lack of blood. What was I supposed to say? What was I supposed to do? Give my life for a vampire who I’ve only known for two months? But it was Sebastian… But I couldn’t give up my life. I had a family!

 

But so did Sebastian. Vincent, Fiona, the King, the Queen… He had more family than I did. Could I really live with his death on my hands? Ashton wasn’t going to kill me. He just needed my blood… But there was no way I could deal with getting the blood sucked out of me all the time.

 

 

If they tried to kill Sebastian, wouldn’t his family protect him? They also had to have guards, or something. It would be difficult to kill him.

 

But how could I choose myself over him? Why were they trying to make me make such a painful decision? It wasn’t in my nature to pick someone else over myself! Especially if that meant death for the other person! Especially if it’s Sebastian… Sebastian who was so kind to me in my time of need. How could I thrust that upon him?

 

It was becoming a struggle to keep my eyes open. All I wanted to do at the moment was sleep. I needed to go to the hospital. My blood was dangerously low. It was all Luca’s fault…

 

“Well, Emily?”

 

Grinding my teeth, I forced a glare at Ashton. “You can’t make me decide right now. I need more time.”

 

He pursed his lips. “Hmm…”

 

“Let’s just kill her,” Luca suggested. “We’ll take her blood and keep it just for ourselves. Sell some of it, too.”

 

“We’re not killing her,” Ashton said harshly. “We need her blood. Besides, remember that other thing?”

 

Luca stayed silent. “Oh,” he said after a moment, his eyes widening. “That’s right.”

 

“What other thing?” I asked, trying to stare at Ashton. As usual, there was about three of him spinning around me. My body was just about to pass out.

 

“One week,” he told me, holding up his finger.

 

One week since you looked at me, threw your hands in the air, and said you’re crazy. I smiled. That was a good song…

 

“Emily?”

 

I snapped myself out of my thoughts and did my best to stare at all three Ashtons. “What? A week?”

 

 

“One week to decide what you’re going to do. I’ll come back next Friday. We’ll meet at the abandoned school, okay? If you’re not there, trust me when I say I’ll hunt you down. Hide if you want. I’ll find you.”

 

One week… One week to think of a plan to stop his crazy ideas. One week to decide to ruin my life, or Sebastian’s. It seemed like such a tiny amount of time. Christmas was coming up, too. One family would be missing their child…

 

“I think she understands. Let’s go, Luca.”

 

“What about her?”

 

“I think she’s about to take a nap.”

 

Ashton stepped away and I immediately fell to the ground, unable to support myself. It took all I had to roll over onto my back. “Wait, take me back,” I begged, staring at him with wide eyes.

 

He smiled down at me. “Why would I do that? I’m not your friend. Try to be safe, Emily.”

 

“Wait!” I called, my voice hoarse and painful.

 

There was the sound of his car doors slamming and the revving of the engine. For one terrifying moment I thought he was going to back over me, but the car shot off in the other direction. My eyes followed the tailgates for a moment before fluttering shut. They were seriously leaving me in the woods. Alone. At night.

 

Tears started welling up in my eyes, but I was too tired to cry. The cold was beginning to creep over me. I could feel myself slipping in and out of consciousness. Where was Vincent? Why didn’t he come to save me? The corners of my lips twitched in amusement. What was I thinking? He didn’t need to come save me. This was my fault.

 

The sound of a coyote howling filled the air and I tensed in fear. I was lying about the whole animal thing! I didn’t want to be eaten! My muscles protested as I curled myself into a ball, ready to let sleep take over me. Maybe if I was still alive in the morning I could help myself.

 

Being anemic sucks.