Monsters Under My Bed Ch. 04

Chapter 4

*Content Warning: Blood, kidnapping, violence, non-consent, knife play, threat of rape, cum soiling. *

Authors Note: Full disclosure this chapter contains lots of plot but NO porn, if you are here for a quick wank try Chapter 1 ???? I'm including content warnings for the first time because I don't want anyone to be triggered. The scene in question is short but does include non-consensual touching and may be uncomfortable for readers. It was difficult to write but felt necessary to show how evil the villains of the story are. You know your limits, read at your own risk.

Last Tuesday Night

Theo dressed in a dark blue designer suit, with a crisp white button up, and shiny black shoes. His appearance was immaculate and professional, with his sandy locks styled neatly and his face cleanly shaven. He'd be under major scrutiny at tonight's meeting and the drive to the center of the city felt too automatic and short. He blinked his eyes to refocus his mind as it ran in circles mulling over how he'd voice his concerns to the council of elders. He let out a huff of breath, trying to gather his confidence as he stepped out of his car, and walked towards the LEMA offices. It was known by all coexisters-- at least in this district-- as a center for supernatural legal disputes, violation reporting, and employment.

The League as it is known, is a global network, with zoned regions under the control of an appointed council. Their goal was simple, keep non-human society hidden in plain sight, and over thousands of years they had only become more organized. The building that loomed in front of Theo was just a small piece of a major empire, even though it appeared to be just another high-rise office building along the dense city blocks. The inside was just as unassuming as the exterior, with modern décor that appeared more opulent than it was, and minimalist clean lines that pointed towards the human receptionist with mousey brown hair and a pencil tucked behind her ear.

"Hello, welcome to LEMA. How may I help you sir?" She greeted warmly, squaring a small stack of papers, and placing them to the side.

"Hi, I'm Theodore Fischer. I have a meeting with the council." He answered simply, smiling back at her politely.

"Hmm, it appears that the meeting before you is taking longer than expected. I'll let them know you've arrived. Sorry for the inconvenience, please help yourself to anything in the waiting area." She apologized and gestured to her left.

"No trouble at all. Thank you." Theo said, before stepping away towards the poshly decorated space. Plush chairs in bright colors dotted the area, surrounding white round tables. A large abstract painting accented the far wall, where numerous teas, coffees, and baked goods were laid out. Many options were LEMA made and he reached for something to settle his nerves.

I've worked for them for decades. I shouldn't be this nervous. He grumbled internally, feeling strange as he thought about his role at LEMA, and filled an electric kettle with water. It's never been like this before... I feel stupid, I've only been with Lani once for a few hours, and yet she has this hold over me. It wasn't long before the water was boiled, but time seemed to stretch while he was in his head. I want to keep her safe. Damn that shadow! Whatever its plans are for her can't be good. What if the council doesn't want to get involved at all? What will I do then? He filled a paper cup to steep a blood teabag. The clear liquid swirling with red, like a strong rooibos, it's color deepening as the minutes ticked by on a nearby clock. I had to do something. I can't just let her get away. He thought, growing more uneasy as he waited. He blew at the rim of his paper cup, his emotions churning like a storm.

I want her again. Want to be near her. The beast voiced, slow and rumbling like a throaty purr, unlike its usual bark. While that was shocking in its own right, stranger still was the lack of opposition with his beast. The phantom scent of Lani's sweat and perfume overcame Theo's senses and he lifted his head to scan the room suddenly, the scent memory as real as if she was standing before him. Theo felt the beast take control for a moment to recall Lani dancing with Stacy at Oasis. A flare of hunger followed, but there was a deeper desire there too, like the beast was just as enamored by Lani as he was. At its core an overwhelming desire to protect Lani clouded his rational thoughts. His body remembered how drunk he had felt from her aura, then the memory flashed forward to Lani cumming around his cock before Theo took back mental control.

Focus! I need to be thinking about what I'm going to say to the council. He scolded himself, with a pang of guilt, as he lulled the beast back into its cage. I can't walk away now, not after I begged to talk to the council. Lani is powerful, a dangerous temptation, a lesser man would have faltered. Theo sipped his drink and tried to organize his thoughts, until the receptionist walked over.

"The council will see you now, Mr. Fischer." Theo stood, downing the last drops of his drink, and tossed the empty cup into a nearby trashcan. He dusted off his suit, even though it was already spotless, and walked towards the elevator with a polite nod to the receptionist. The shiny call button lit as he pressed the button and when the silver doors opened a muscular man in a tactical vest stood inside.

"Which floor sir?" The security guard asked respectfully as Theo stepped into the elevator.

"Council boardroom." He answered, noting that the guard's heart rate was as slow as his own, and recognized him as another vampire. The elevator closed and lurched upwards at high speeds making Theo's stomach drop slightly. On one of the upper floors, he stepped out and walked confidently towards the dark rich mahogany double doors at the end of a long hallway. He hesitated, taking in a breath with his hand on the ornate brass handle before pulling the door open. Inside, the room was dimly lit, but not dark, with soft carpet that dampened the sound of his footsteps. Large windows looked out onto the city below, bright and twinkling in the night. Three figures sat in highbacked wooden chairs upholstered with crimson velvet, watching him as he stood at the end of the large wooden table.

"Mr. Fischer, please take a seat. Forgive us for your wait." Said the central figure, a male vampire with slicked-back silver hair, and piercing red eyes. Mr. Daugherty wore a tailored black suit with a blood-red silk tie, his voice commanding but smooth. "You've requested this urgent meeting, claiming it is of the utmost importance. We trust you would not do so without cause, explain the situation." He finished, exuding powerful authority over the room.

"I will get straight to the point." Theo said with a carefully measured tone. "This meeting concerns a human woman named Leilani Veron." He paused, looking for the right words. "She's a possible risk to the veil, but is not doing so willingly or maliciously. Her powers are unlike anything I've encountered in my five decades of un-life, the magnetism of her aura was unmatched." The council member to the left, Mr. Vayne raised a thick eyebrow, his unsettling white eyes sparking with interest.

"Powers, you say? Elaborate, and be precise." Mr. Vayne demanded, his voice rife with instant curiosity as he leaned closer. His ears where long and pointed, indicative that he was fae, and he had a mouth that seemed slightly too wide at times when he spoke. Theo nodded, and continued.

"She exhibited raw magical energy, untamed and unstable. It came off of her in waves, and she seems completely unaware of its effect. If left unchecked, she could become a danger to herself and others." There was a brief pause for the information to sink in, but the ebony woman sitting to the right, Ms. Margrave spoke first.

"It's rare for a human to survive what you describe without training. She must be strong if the magic hasn't torn her apart already." Ms. Margrave said in a thoughtful tone, she was impossibly beautiful, wearing a flowing green lace gown with a high collar, her jet-black hair an intricate updo of wrapped braids.

"Yes, she needs guidance. Without it her powers could consume her and potentially others around her, putting the city at risk. I believe our organization can provide that guidance. If we step in now, she could become a powerful ally. If we do nothing, she might be exploited by others." Theo said with an urgency that didn't go completely unnoticed.

"You speak as though you're not already doing the exploiting, Mr. Fischer." Mr. Vayne said coldly, trying to get a rise out of him. "You have a lot to gain from bringing this woman in, do you not?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at Theo.

"My interest is professional." He lied, "She has the potential to be valuable to our organization, that's all." Theo said with restraint, trying to keep his emotions in check under their scrutinizing gazes.

"Is it? I sense that there is more you aren't telling us." Mr. Vayne said, eyeing Theo with an amused smirk.

"I'm here to discuss her potential contribution to the League. My personal feelings are irrelevant." Theo responded, more defensively than he meant to. Instantly regretting his outburst as the tension was cut by Ms. Margrave's icy laugh.

"That is hardly irrelevant. Emotional entanglements compromise judgment. We've seen it before. Let me remind you, Mr. Fischer that loyalty to the League comes before all else. Now clarify your personal feelings." Her wolfish yellow eyes keenly focused on Theo, as if she was testing his resolve.

"Yes ma'am, I understand." He said, refusing to look away, and nodded in agreement. "I'm here to ensure Lani's safety as well as ours as a dutiful member of the League. I did not want my personal feelings to influence your decisions on this matter but my beast has taken a liking to her. I cannot fathom how after one night together, everything has changed for me-- I feel like a man gone mad. I long for her in ways I have never felt for another, and I am afraid." Theo admitted, immediately feeling like he had said too much. Ms. Margrave flashed a look to Mr. Vayne, it was such a small gesture that Theo almost missed it, but some knowledge passed between them.

"Very well, I feel confident in his honesty now. May we proceed to a short deliberation head councilman Daugherty?" Mr. Vayne said, relaxing back into his highbacked chair.

"Yes." He rumbled in reply. To Theo it looked as if Mr. Daugherty was holding in a laugh or a burp as he turned toward the other council members. Then it was suddenly silent. The lack of sound spread across the room as Theo sat there, the space too quiet now as he waited for them to be finished. The hum of the electronics, and city traffic noise had faded into nothing. The sound of Theo's hand rubbing across his pants was loud in his ears now, like he was inside a glass box. A faint shimmer appeared before his eyes and he realized that they had muffled his hearing with magic. It seemed like an eternity in the quiet, and just when he was beginning to enjoy it, the bubble of magic around him popped. Background sound flooded back in all at once and the world seemed loud again. Theo focused on Mr. Daugherty who spoke first.

"Thank you for your patience. Leilani's powers intrigue us, but this organization is not a charity. If this woman is as extraordinary as you claim, she is not merely a candidate but a valuable asset whose skills will pay off any debt obtained from LEMA Wellness. She will need to submit to a physical examination and arcane test to further gauge her abilities for job placement." Mr. Daugherty said, leaning back in his chair with his hands steepled in front of him.

"The council also agrees that it is vital to obtain her allegiance and bind her to LEMA by blood." Theo clenched his jaw; he knew that was code for transforming a human. He tried desperately to level his tone before speaking again.

"She doesn't need to be turned in order to control her magic." He said, as calmly as he could.

"Naïve boy. Humans are fleeting, fragile, and unreliable things. Have you even considered what your beast would do if you lost her?" Ms. Margrave said coldly. "If she is to join our ranks, she must be bound by blood and law. That is our way, the only way we can offer her protection." Her golden eyes watching him closely, like a wolf from the tree line. Primal and as keenly intelligent as she was beautiful.

"And the law is quite clear. Your beast has chosen a mate for you. Congratulations." Mr. Vayne added in a monotone voice. "A marriage is the best and quickest way to ensure her eternal compliance and loyalty." Mr. Vayne said with another wide smirk, enjoying Theo's discomfort even though he was trying his best to hide it from his face.

"Do you object to such a commitment to this woman, Mr. Fischer?" Mr. Daugherty questioned, sitting back, relaxed. "A mate can be quite the blessing."

"Marriage? To me?" Theo questioned rhetorically. "Doesn't that seem a little hasty?" He asked. He wanted Lani, craved her like a new drug, but he hadn't thought about turning her into a creature like himself. It was too soon, too fast, and it made his stomach sink like it had in the elevator, but ten times worse.

"You are well within your rights to deny, but now that this possible asset and threat has been brought to our attention, we cannot turn a blind eye." Mr. Vayne interjected.

"Either marry her yourself or we will assign another to bring her in. My clan is always looking for strong females. If she survives the transformation, she would begin her training." Ms. Margrave said, her own machinations turning in her head now. The other council members nodded silently and waited for Theo's answer.

It felt dishonorable to make this massive choice for Lani, especially with only one night of passion together. It was crazy to do something like this, in the 21st Century, but the beast urged him to accept Lani as his eternal partner. The council members were looking for his answer soon or they'd make their own plans for her. It wasn't fair how Lani's life seemed like just another trivial matter to them. It cheapened the original appeal he'd felt to bringing her into the fold.

"I'll do it!... but I need time. Asking for her hand in marriage now would make any woman turn and run. We haven't even gone on a first date yet and I won't coerce her unknowingly. I will give her the choice to join us." Theo tried to bargain.

"Of course, the old ways are gone. No more of our children will be lost and wandering. Time, Mr. Fischer is something we have plenty of, but our patience will eventually ware thin. Secure her hand. You are dismissed." Mr. Daugherty said, with a firm finality. Theo could only nod again and stood from his seat with a small bow of respect. He left the boardroom in a blur, but when he stepped out of the elevator on the ground floor, he was surprise to see Max leaning against the receptionist desk.

"Hey Theo. How'd it go?" Max asked, seeing the heaviness of whatever decision the council had made weighing on his friend. "I'll catch you later doll, hit me up anytime." Max winked to the receptionist, sliding the pencil and paper with his phone number scrawled on it towards her.

"They told me to marry her." Theo said simply, his eyes going hazy as he automatically headed for the exit.

"Have a good evening gentleman." The receptionist called out, cheeks blushed pink as she gently tucked Max's phone number into her purse, and watched them step through the glass doors into the cool night.

"Tell me I get to be your best man." Max joked, trying to lighten the mood, slapping a hand on Theo's back.

"That's banking on if she'll even say yes." He scoffed, uncertainty filling his mind.

"So, you don't mind being tied down to one person forever then?" Max asked, a slight smirk on his face. "Must be one hell of a woman to ensnare a player like you." He gibed, as they walked to the parking garage.

"You have no idea." Theo replied, forcing out a laugh. "It's not about me. It's about what's right for her." He tried to reason, but it felt like a weak argument, even to himself.

"Well, the council doesn't approve of sentimentality like that. They are all business and bottom lines. We both know that." Max reminded. "What's really got your goat then?"

"We didn't get a choice of this life; it happened to us. I don't like it, I don't want to feel like the monster that did this to me, to you, and as much as I hate it, I can't stand the thought of it being some random schmuck being tied to her forever." The weight of what he had to do now pressed on his shoulders.

"You coming to Oasis tonight?" Max asked, changing the subjects as he leaned against his car and pulled Theo out of his spiraling thoughts.

"Nah, I have to read up on the documents you gave me on Lani. Thanks again, for being my private investigator and my friend. You didn't have to meet me here, but you did." He thrust his fist out for a friendly bump.

"It was nothing really, you're a brother to me." Max said, clasping Theo's shoulder. "Good luck on your date tomorrow. Don't worry so much." He added with a wink.

"See you later Max. Don't get into too much trouble." Theo warned.

"Me? Trouble? Never. Last time I checked it was you that liked to play with fire." He laughed, sliding into his car, and drove away. Theo chuckled, as he walked back to his own car.

Maybe I shouldn't have told the council about Lani. He thought, doubt settling over him as he drove in silence. He stared out the windshield, feeling an ache in his chest he hadn't felt for centuries. I can't disobey them, but if I turn her... Will I ever forgive myself?

#

A throbbing ache pulsed from the back of Lani's head to behind her eyes, the pain tearing her from sleep. Disoriented, she heard the loud hum of an engine and could smell gasoline. An itchy hood covered her face, making it impossible to see, but she didn't need sight to feel that her wrists were bound. With her body restricted, she felt suffocated in the hood as memories of being grabbed flooded her mind, making her heart pound wildly.

They hurt Theo. He tried to stop them... She thought gravely, fighting the tears filling her eyes as she tested the restraints. Her hands were bound tightly behind her back with rope, and her left shoulder was sore from laying on the cold, grooved metal beneath her. The bindings getting tighter if she pulled at them. The pain in her head surged uncomfortably as the vehicle passed a dip in the road, she almost cried out in pain but she heard the muted voices of her captors in the front and she froze. They spoke in low tones, possibly arguing but the road noise made it impossible for Lani to hear exactly what they were saying. She didn't know how long it had been and it was difficult to think with her head pounding. Every new bump in the road aggravating the ache as she tried to think of a way out of her situation.

Where are they taking me? She worried, feeling the panic start to set in. She lost track of time, unsure if it had been minutes or hours. With her legs bare and exposed, she could do nothing but shiver against the cool metal as she disassociated, her mind blocking out the dark truth of her situation. She'd worn fresh panties and Theo's shirt to bed; the scent of his cologne was the only thing keeping her grounded. That was until the vehicle slowed and the road changed from smooth pavement to gravel.

The engine cut off and left the space feeling too quiet and empty. Lani's heart began to beat frantically in her ears as she heard the vehicle doors creak open and slam shut. The sounds outside were muffled, but the ominous crunch of unhurried footsteps, and muted voices made her blood run cold with fear. The back doors screeched open, and she felt rough hands drag her out. Lani winced and cried out in pain as her bindings cut into her raw wrists.

"Who are you people? What do you want from me?" Lani cried out, her voice hoarse and choked with tears. A dark masculine laugh rang out, seemingly enjoying her fear and pain.

"You'll find out soon enough." The male voice grumbled as he continued to yank her forward, the air smelling damp and moldy as they progressed. Lani's bare feet clumsily stepped into mud and leaves until the ground turned to rough stone beneath her. She flinched when a heavy steel door slammed shut behind her, the sound reverberating through the unknown place, seemingly sealing her fate.

Pushed into a creaky wooden chair, her bindings were fastened to it, and kept her restrained. When the hood was finally pulled off, her eyes took a moment to adjust to the light. The walls sagged with decay and disrepair; exposed pipes jaggedly protruded the graffiti covered walls. Lani's captors remained in their dark robes and masks, their identities and features obscured, but she could feel their gazes upon her.

"Please. Just let me go. I won't tell anyone - I don't even know who you are." Lani begged, her voice raw and vulnerable.

"Save it. We know who you are, and what you can do. You aren't going anywhere!" Barked the shorter feminine voiced one. The tears Lani had been holding back slid down her cheeks at her helplessness and confusion.

"What I can do? What are you talking about? I'm just an artist." Lani sobbed, bowing her head in defeat. A rough grip on her chin forced her to look up, the hands that held her were wrapped in singed cloth up to the elbows. This close she could see his tattered robe, its crimson color hinted beneath black scorch marks. A dark pool of blood soaked into his left sleeve and staining the cloth around his arm.

"Stop lying you filthy bitch!" He shouted, his hand on her face growing noticeably warmer as he held her more firmly. His eyes burned like embers beneath the black mask, the light shifting behind them unnaturally.

"Enough!" The other figure yelled, annoyed at her partners lack of restraint. The man grumbled and reluctantly released his grip on her. Behind blurry green eyes, Lani focused her attention on the other figure.

She stopped him from hurting me. Lani thought, as she watched the female kidnapper. She was more graceful in every way, her movements measured, her robe a pristine black, and embroidered with fine golden thread.

"We should just knock her out again." The man said, leaning on the wall with his arms crossed, talking as if Lani wasn't even there.

"And risk overdoing it? Don't be so reckless, she's no good to us brain damaged or dead." The woman said harshly to her accomplice as she stepped closer to him.

That's good. They need me alive... but for what? Lani thought, her eyes darting around the room, but landing back on the robed figures.

"Show me your wound." She commanded with exasperation, pulling back her black hood to reveal shimmering silver hair. Her male companion untied his robe, and dropped it to the ground without a care. Lani saw clearly the four long gashes along his shoulder and chest, his undershirt torn and stained with blood. His face remained hidden as he pulled a knife from his pocket and cut the garment. Tearing open the center of his shirt and peeling back the sticky layer silently. The woman stepped closer and gripped his wounded shoulder tightly, her loose strands of silver hair moving as if in a sudden breeze.

"Fuck!" The man shouted in pain, until a dull light emanated from his companion's hand. When she pulled away, he was still bloody, but his flesh was whole again and marred with scarring. Tied to the chair, Lani watched in awe at the miracle that was performed but remained silent, averting her gaze when they looked at her. There was a small dilapidated love seat that the woman eventually sat on with obvious hesitation but she seemed exhausted. Time stretched on, the cool night chilled Lani to the bone and she couldn't stop her teeth from chattering.

I'm going to die here. She lamented internally, exhausted from crying, head still pounding with a possible concussion. Her sinuses and eyes were puffy, but the tears just wouldn't stop.

"Quit your sniveling whore!" The man roared in frustration; his red robes tied around his figure again.

"I... Why are you doing this?" Lani asked, her voice wavering with fear.

"Why are you doing this?" He mocked with a snicker, closing the distance between them again.

"You've got the wrong person. My family doesn't have a lot of money." She cried, trying to reason with the captor.

"Oh, I highly doubt that. Leilani Veron. You are twenty-six years old, born September 22nd 1999 to Raymond and Hellen Veron, big sister to Joseph Veron." Lani gulped.

How does he know all this about me? She thought, shocked that he had personal information about her family.

"What are you going to do to me?" Lani cried out, her voice cracking under the weight of her fear. More tears streaked down her flushed cheeks, dripping from her chin down her neck, and soaking into the fabric of Theo's shirt.

"Wouldn't you like to know." He sneered again, his voice curling with venom. He gripped her arm painfully hard as he leaned in, his breath hot and rancid. "Now, shut the fuck up before I do it for you." The malice in his voice and the unnatural fire behind his eyes sent a fresh wave of panic through her.

#

The last three nights Emil checked in on Lani, everything was quiet. She had slept peacefully, tucked into her soft sheets, and it was easy to feel like life was normal again. It wasn't. He felt different now, his heart ached at the sight of her, his chest tightened like he was locked in the coils of an invisible snake. Every night, he'd shoved the pain down, ignored the part of himself that wanted her, and kept his mind focused on what really mattered.

He'd apologized to his mother and swore her to secrecy, not wanting to get his father involved. Xarissa had agreed, but only if he made an effort to take care of himself and spend time with the family. He didn't waste the extra time he had in the Other. He trained and continued his research, kept body and mind honed like a blade. Emil knew it was just a matter of time before danger would come, he made sure he was ready, or so he had thought.

On the fourth night, when Emil entered Lani's room his throat tightened. It was eerily silent; he could smell sex and blood. He was already in his shadow form and slithered out from his portal under the bed. Lani's bedroom looked mostly put together, nothing was broken or smashed, but there was a smattering of blood by the doorway carpet. One obvious suspect laid atop the disheveled sheets.

Theodore! Someone's gotten to him first. They must also have Lani. Emil thought, his shock blazing into anger. The vampire was frozen in torpor before him, wooden stake protruding out of his chest. I could end it right here. He thought, feeling his sigil thrumming within the vampire. Emil took a few deep breaths that sounded more like animalistic growls before speaking.

"You swore you wouldn't betray me, Theodore. You swore to stay away from her... and now Lani is gone!" Emil boomed. He knew from research that vampires in torpor could hear around themselves but were immobilized.

Fuck, I'm so royally fucked. Theo thought, recognizing that voice. He already felt as good as dead with the stake in his chest, unable to move or fight. He'll kill me.

"I should end you for what you've done. I know you can feel it, my mark in you. Your un-life in my hands." Emil snarled, his voice dark with his anger, his heartbreak, and his worry. The sigil pulsed with magic threateningly as he strengthened his connection to it. "You're lucky, I'm not letting you off the hook that easily." He said while pulling the stake from Theo's chest. Emil hoped his mother was right, that he wouldn't end up with a knife in his back for this choice. Theo could only gasp as the hole over his heart began to slowly heal the layers of ruined tissue and bone, so Emil continued.

"Did you really think you could get away with it and I wouldn't know?" Emil spat, his anger and jealousy flaring again, leaving the room in a long pause while Theo still struggled to bring air into his lungs. Emil looked down at the vampire in nothing but boxers, could smell Lani's scent lingering on the sheets.

He couldn't have forced himself here, not into her home. Who am I to get in the way of her affections? No, I can't stop her from loving him, but I won't let him hurt her.

A small voice thought amongst his anger, reminding him that Lani had seen something in this vampire. He had no right to stop her, even if it made him jealous.

I have every right to do what it takes to keep her safe. He reasoned silently, waiting for Theo's response.

"I had nothing to do with her being taken. I swear!" Theo protested, his voice raspy but clear.

"You expect me to believe that? That you don't have some ulterior motive for getting close to her?" Emil's voice seethed with anger. He didn't want to believe that Theo was just a bystander, that everything that was happening wasn't his fault because if it wasn't then it meant Emil had failed in protecting Lani-- he couldn't accept that.

"My reason for being here is between Lani and I." Theo asserted, trying to get his hand to squeeze closed, but it felt numb. "The kidnappers left me to die, staked, and defenseless against the coming sun. Whoever they are, they're more dangerous to Lani than I am right now." Theo defended, the hole in his chest shrinking in size until it was completely healed over.

"Are you a good man Theodore? Or have you been playing her like you played me?" Emil questioned, his words cutting deep as Theo regained control of his body.

"I try my best. I didn't drink from her either, if that's what you think." Theo defended, feeling the scorn radiating off of the shadow's void-like face.

"I pray for your sake you are being honest now." Emil said darkly. "Or I might change my mind about sparing you." He punctuated the threat with another glower.

This guy really cares about her. Theo thought, thankful to be freed and stared squarely at the shadows menacing red eyes, roiling with emotion, mostly anger but there was a sense of desperation too.

"If you're so innocent, tell me what you know. Now!" Emil commanded impatiently, pulling away with a swish of shadow like a ghost.

"There were two, definitely human, faces were covered with masks. I slashed at the tall one, but the smaller one got the jump on me. I wasn't expecting the stake." Theo recalled with a shiver. The attackers had been calculated and knew to bring a weapon that could take him out.

"Which means they've been watching her, and you." Emil guessed, leaning down to inspect the blood. With a wave of his hand and a whispered incantation, the half-dry blood pulled away from the carpet, and began to levitate into small orbs. Emil drew a vial from thin air and filled the container. "I can use this to find the one you hit." He explained.

"Someone probably tipped them off after experiencing her magic. Lani doesn't seem to know what she is." Theo said, eyeing the shadow suspiciously.

"She's just a mortal." Emil said skeptically, looking for the truth in Theo's eyes.

"No offense bro, but she was dishing out magical energy all night. She's powerful, but unaware. She flares my beast, I had to do everything I could to stay in control, she's near irresistible. That kind of allure could be dangerous. I was worried she'd set off other coexisters in the city if she doesn't get her magic under control." Theo explained, a little bite in his voice now that the shadow seemed to be completely untrusting of anything he said.

"I don't know what you're talking about and we don't have the time. Get dressed, we're going after her." Emil said, "We need to get Lani back before anything else happens to her." That was something Theo and the shadow could agree upon at least. Lani had worn his shirt to bed, so Theo found an oversized t-shirt on a hanger in the closet, and was dressed in a few blinks using his inhuman speed. When he looked down at himself, he saw the graphic tee had the band name Cellar Darling in a cryptic font on the front.

"So, what do I call you?" Theo asked, unsure of how to address his begrudging savior.

"Right." Emil turned to Theo, his height overshadowing the vampire by almost a foot. "The name's Emil." They both reached to shake the others hand, and Emil pulled Theo in close. "You haven't earned my trust just yet, if you betray me again, I will kill you, Theodore. No more second chances." He said, no malice or anger, just calculated risk in his glowing red eyes.

"Good to see you've mellowed out. I understand, and its Theo, please." He requested. "Where do we start?" He asked, watching Emil tie a string around the now corked vial of blood. Emil focused on the vial, chanting something Theo didn't understand, until it began to glow in his shadowy hand.

"This will point the way. Try to keep up, Theo." Emil finally answered, handing the vial to the vampire and stepping out of the room. He watched as Emil glided over to the kitchen and dished out a hefty scoop of food for Alister. The black cat scampered out of his hiding spot and rubbed his head against the shadow while purring loudly.

"Don't worry bud, I'll get her back." Emil said quietly, stroking the cat gently. Theo heard the quiet exchange with his exceptional hearing and cleared his throat.

"We'll get her back." He clarified, his icy blue eyes locking with Emil's fiery red ones.

"Let's go, there's only a few hours before sunrise." Emil said, and the guardian and the vampire set out in search of Lani, both silently hoping she wasn't hurt, or worse.

#

Lani tried her best to silence the shaky sobs hitched in her throat, the discomfort of her capture multiplying with every minute. The splintered wood chair beneath was digging into her thighs, her muscles were burning from the strain of the tight bindings cutting into her wrists and pulling her arms back. Her fingers tingled from lack of circulation and exhaustion weighed heavy on her body. Fear kept her teetering on the edge of consciousness and she fought to keep her eyes open, but the night's horrors dragged her under like a relentless tide. The sleep - if it could even be called that - was a dreamless void that stopped the pain at least, until a harsh voice yanked her back into wakefulness before she could feel any semblance of rest.

"You're sure the ritual will work?" The male captor's voice asked skeptically. Lani's breath quickened; she had barely registered the words before the sharp female voice responded.

"It has to. The boss wouldn't go through all this trouble if it didn't. Go get the supplies from the van." She commanded, ending the conversation.

Ritual? Lani repeated in her mind, the word sending a spike of renewed fear through her veins. She heard footsteps retreating, boots scuffing against the concrete floor. Lani tried to keep her breath even, but every nerve in her body screamed to run, to fight, to do something. She cracked her swollen eyes open in search of something useful to aid in her escape. The room was little more than a rundown storage space, shelves lined with mismatched crates and tattered tarps. There could be something useful in them but she couldn't find a way to free herself by the time the footsteps returned. Lani pretended to be asleep as the male captor stepped back into the room. HHHhe muttered under his breath and hoisted a crate to another room in the crumbling building. Lani swallowed hard, her mind racing, and her body aching. Her head still pounded, but something else stirred beneath the pain - a strange flicker of pressure in her chest. The feeling was fleeting, barely noticeable, but it sent a shiver up her spine. The footsteps returned, and stopped in front of her. Lani felt it before she saw it - a shift in the musty air, the weight of attention settling upon her. His eyes almost burned against her skin and she realized she wasn't fooling him, so she tilted her head up with anger in her eyes.

"Let's go princess, your royal suite awaits." He chuckled darkly behind his scorched mask and licked his lips. He pulled the knife from beneath his robe and ran the edge against her soft cheek slowly. Lani froze, afraid to move as the sharp blade grazed down to the sensitive flesh of her neck. Goosebumps covered her arms as she squeezed her eyes closed, unable to face her tormentor as he continued running his knife against her exposed skin for his own sick pleasure. Eventually the blade left her thigh, and she felt her arms finally release from their bindings. Pulling her arms around herself, she felt the strain in her muscles and joints lessen, and rubbed at her wrists.

Lani screamed when his spindly hand yanked painfully hard on her hair, pulling her to another room, this one lit by many red candles. He shoved Lani to kneel, and she saw the cryptic runes drawn on the ground around a platform covered in a black sheet. Her stomach dropped, waiting for the right moment to run as he lessened his grip in her hair. All hopes of escape died in her heart as he strode over and sealed the heavy door.

He can't kill me. They said they need me alive. Lani thought, biting her tongue painfully hard as she kneeled before him. I'll just have to endure whatever happens, then get out. She kept her eyes downcast, seeing his scuffed black boots stop in front of her.

"Strip." He ordered. When Lani was hesitant to comply, he added, "Or I can cut the clothes off of you instead." He chuckled with amusement as she fumbled with the buttons of Theo's shirt hurriedly. When all the buttons were undone, she felt shame fill her. Lani didn't want him to see more than he already could, she didn't want this, but she knew if she didn't, he would only make her suffer more.

I'll kill him. She fumed internally, as she slid the shirt from her shoulders until gravity took it to the ground. The cold air hardened her nipples naturally but to Lani it felt like her body was betraying her, giving this creep the wrong idea about how she was feeling. The captor walked around her appraisingly, his steps slow as he gazed down at her with lust. He bent down and gripped onto her breasts roughly, his hands grew hot the longer they groped and Lani bit her lip to stifle the moan that he pulled from her.

I hate him! I'll bite his dick off! She thought, trying to hold onto her anger, disgust creeping up her spine as he focused on pinching her hardened nipples. Lani fought against her body, but felt her folds slicken with arousal.

This piece of shit could never get me wet. She silently screamed, squeezing her eyes closed, trying to pull her mind from her body as his hands traveled lower into the waistband of her panties. His rough fingers scraped across her clit, slid through her wetness, and then retreated.

"On your feet!" The man barked, probably for the second time; his voice sounding distant. He gripped into Lani's hair and pulled her up. She felt his erection rubbing against her back. Lani whimpered in fear as she felt the cool steel of the knife slide against her hip and slice her panties enough that they slipped from her legs.

"After the ritual, you will be my whore and all your holes will belong to me." He snarled in Lani's ear and she swallowed the bile that splashed the back of her throat. Lani felt like she was out of her body, the strange pain tightened in her chest again as the cruel man forced her to lay on the sheet covered crates, then restrained her hands and feet until she could barely thrash, with her legs spread wide and fully exposed.

I won't beg; he's probably into that. Lani fought internally, but her body just laid there, unable to resist. To her surprise he didn't touch her again, but to her horror he did touch himself. He unzipped his pants and began fisting his cock, she could hear the steady beat of his strokes as he chased his release in no time flat. Hot cum splashed against Lani's chest, pooling between her breasts and slid down her ribs and stomach. He zipped his pants up and left her like that, tied up, exposed, and with his cum drying on her skin.

#

The blood vial acted like a pendulum under Emil's spell, shifting direction subtly with the attacker's location as they navigated through the city. Emil spread his shadow over Theo so he could run his full speed without being seen. After a few minutes they were going towards the wooded areas outside of the city.

"The main highway leads this way." Theo said, but Emil only grumbled in response. They sped through the woods next to the freeway, following the blood vial for twenty minutes in silence.

"You still think I'm the villain in this, don't you?" Theo questioned, "After everything I've done to show you otherwise." He finished, jumping over a few fallen trees, feeling the stress of finding his kidnapped lover. Admittedly it felt good to stretch his legs and use his powerful immortal body. He just wished it was under better circumstances and with better company.

"What you've done is lie and endanger Lani." Emil spat, feeling his anger rise again. He'd been trying to ignore Lani's scent on Theo, but he had to stick close to keep them hidden from mortal eyes. It made his jealousy spike, knowing that the vampire had been intimate with Lani twice now.

It doesn't matter who she beds. Emil tried to remind himself, knowing the resentment he felt towards Theo was from the hidden desire he had for Lani.

"I care about her too damn it. You think you're the only one who wants to keep her safe?" Theo questioned, stopping to catch his breath for a moment.

"You don't 'care' about her. You want to own her." Emil couldn't accept the truth, his mind wouldn't let him, and Theo let out a bitter laugh.

He wants her for himself. The beast roared, frustrated at having to work with the shadow that had defeated him before.

"Don't pretend to know what I want. What about you? Playing the knight in shadow armor?" Theo accused, striding smoothly in the direction of the pendulum.

"I'm doing my job! I've sworn an oath to protect her, and no one will stand in my way, not even you." Emil snarled, making Theo go quiet again. The pendulum swung right and they silently changed direction together, skirting the wooded areas around a small industrial port town. As they got closer to the razor-wire fences, the blood vial pointed more directly, hovering almost straight ahead against gravity. Pointing towards a decaying storehouse, its walls cracked and covered in graffiti.

"They're in there." Emil said, a glimmer of hope in his voice.

"You know, if this doesn't work out - if we don't get to her in time..." Theo tried to say.

"We will!" Emil said firmly. Unfurling his shadow from the vampire as they made their final approach to the building where he hoped Lani was being held.

"But what if we don't? You've thought about it, haven't you? What they might do to her?" Theo's anxiety was peeking, unsure of what lie before them.

"You can still turn your back on Lani if you want. I'm going to save her with or without you." Emil said, approaching the storehouse in search of an entrance.

You can't run from this! The beast barked inside his head, rousing within him, preparing for a fight.

I know. Theo resigned, following swiftly behind Emil's shadow before he got too far ahead.

#

Shadows danced against the jagged walls, their flickering forms cast by the circle of red candles surrounding Lani, she smelled faint acrid incense, and could feel the cool chains weighing down her limbs as she laid upon the makeshift altar. When the door opened again, both kidnappers entered and locked the metal door behind them. They began to chant in low, guttural tones, their hands raised, fingers curling like grasping claws towards the strange sigils drawn around Lani. Her heart raced, tears cascaded down her cheeks, the pain in her chest growing with every verse they chanted. Then -

A deafening crash shattered the ritual's cadence, something had pounded heavily on the metal door and it rattled on its hinges. The metal warped and exploded inward as another heavy hit clawed through the steel like it was paper. Emil slipped through the thin slits like smoke, his inky form wrapping around the room and snuffing out the candles in one swift motion. He could feel the magic being disrupted, but the ritual was not quite broken yet. His red eyes honed in on the larger figure and he moved like a black cloud of vapor, wrapping the man in tendrils of black so that he dropped the knife in his hand.

Before Lani heard the knife clatter to the ground, Theo stepped through the hole in the door, moving like a blur, his fangs bared, blue irises locked with the other kidnapper. The cultist barely had time to react before Theo pounced, and slammed her into the concrete floor.

KILL HER! The beast roared, BATHE IN HER BLOOD! END IT! Theo tried to remain focused, using his supernatural strength to hold the lithe woman in place while he battled with his bloodlust above her. She staked us Theodore, she stole our Lani, she deserves to die. The beast gnashed its teeth, and Theo tried to resist but felt his jaw complete the motion, and his fangs tore at the woman's neck. Her fear filled blood tasted sour on his tongue, but the beast continued to drink. He barely heard the woman's pitiful cry as it weakened in her throat, his venom soothing her body into euphoria. After a moment he forgot why he was even there. Blood and vengeance, the only things on his mind.

Emil's crimson irises locked onto Theo, the vampire had gone mad with rage and bloodlust before his very eyes and he worried that he wouldn't stop with Lani tied up as she was. He focused his magic and arcane sigils of his own flared to life in the air around him. The force of his magic sent Theo and the two cultists sprawling, their bodies crashing against the wall.

Lani's heart pounded in her ears as she struggled against her bindings. She couldn't see after the candles had been blown out, but heard a commotion. The chains around her limbs felt like they were pulling something from her, like she was being torn apart from the inside, increasing the pressure that constricted her chest. Theo got up from the ground, shaken from his bloodlust, but he still had a frantic look in his eyes as he focused on Lani as a chilling scream tore through her throat.

Emil saw it before he felt it, his eyes trained to see magic. His breath hitched at the sight of her, the raw power that crackled around Lani wasn't something he'd ever felt from her before. The girl he had sworn to protect, the one he had watched grow up, was glowing from within with wild magic.

Do I even know anything about this woman? He questioned silently, as he watched Theo lunge for her, at first, he moved to intercept but he saw the desperation on Theo's face instead of hunger.

"Lani- stay with me Lani! I'm gonna get you out of here." Theo didn't know what was going on, he wasn't a magic user, but he knew Lani was suffering. He slashed at the chains with his claws but they proved stronger than the metal door.

"Back away from her!" Bellowed Emil as the sigils on the floor flared- then shattered- as Lani threw her head back and continued to scream. It wasn't just sound this time-- it was power, rippling outward in a shockwave that sent everything in the room flying away from her. Emil barely managed to throw up a shield spell before the energy slammed into him, the walls cracked, and the air trembled in the wake of Lani's power. When the world finally stilled, Theo was at her side, his arms around her. He was shaking- whether from fear or guilt, he wasn't sure. The chains that had bound her lay melted in a pile of molten metal, and the cut on his forehead from impacting the wall was slowly closing as he spoke in a soft voice.

"I'm here," He cooed, brushing damp hair from her face. "I've got you kitten."

"Theo?" Lani questioned in a croaked whisper, feeling for him in the darkness.

"Cute. But maybe save the heart-to-heart for after the escape?" Emil rumbled in his deep echoing voice, his shadow form tingling with the force of what he had just felt. He cast a sleep spell over the two cultists, ensuring they didn't wake up and attack the trio as they made their hasty escape. Emil's protective instincts screamed at him to take Lani far away, to shield her from whatever was awakening inside her. Something deep in his heart whispered that it was already too late, she had to know what was going on or she'd never be safe again.

Lani trembled in Theo's arms, her breath still uneven, eyes wide and unfocused, still unable to see in the dark. He pulled away slowly and stripped the oversized shirt from his torso and dressed her like a doll. With her bare skin covered the best he could manage; he found his own shirt stuffed into a corner and buttoned it in a blink. He hoisted her onto his back with his arms supporting her legs and Lani melted against his spine, her head resting against him peacefully.

Emil turned to the ruined chamber, to the shattered ritual circle, and the battered cultists on the floor. He wasn't sure if they had just stopped something terrible or if something had already begun. There was no time to dwell on it as they ran back into the woods. Many miles from the abandoned building Lani awoke again, the soft rush of wind whipping her hair back, smooth confident strides carrying her, Theo's cologne wafting into her senses.

"Theo?" She croaked again, her mouth dry and sore. She felt his strides slow and the trees around them focused into view. Lani had sudden vertigo, the pounding in her head returned and her stomach churned. "Put me down." She requested urgently. Even though Theo helped her to the ground slowly, her knees buckled under her and she threw up at the base of a tree.

"It's about time we stopped anyway." Emil said, his shadows curling tightly around to form a solid body again.

I've been too careless. It's too dangerous to travel without a way to stay unseen by mortal eyes. He thought, feeling the steady draw on his magic reserves as he watched Theo kneel beside Lani. He held her hair with one hand while the other stroked her back soothingly. She continued to retch, too tired to care that they saw her in such a low state.

"Drink this, it's clean water." Emil said pulling a canteen from a small portal. Lani didn't bother looking up and accepted the drink willingly. She poured the cool liquid into her mouth and tried to swish the bile taste out. She spat, wiped her mouth, and took a long slow sip.

"Who are you any--" Lani's question died in her throat as she looked up at the 'man' who had handed her the canteen. A sliver of moonlight cast enough light to see his dark visage amongst the surrounding darkness. He was huge, larger than six feet, with pitch black skin that trailed off into shadows, and glowing red eyes. It was his eyes that made a shiver run down her spine. Emil saw the fear cross her face, how horrified she was of him.

Who wouldn't be after being kidnapped. He thought, clearing his throat.

"I'm Emil. I mean you no harm. You can consider me like an old friend. A protector." He said, being as honest as he could without frightening the woman further.

Laws be damned. He silently affirmed, wishing it was under better circumstances that he should reveal himself and the supernatural world to her.

"How long have you known Theo?" She asked, taking another sip of water. Emil chuckled, outstretching his hand to help her up to move away from the pungent pile of bile.

No lie could match the truth, not with her. We haven't the time right now, I need to get her somewhere safe. Emil thought, and glanced down at his watch.

"No, you misunderstand. I am an old friend of yours. I have been your guardian for most of your life." Emil answered honestly again. Theo clenched his teeth and held his tongue, he wanted answers as much as Lani did, so he trailed behind them silently.

"But I don't remember meeting anyone like you before." Lani said through a sleepy yawn, handing him the nearly empty canteen back. She blinked repeatedly when she saw that with the wave of his hand the object vanished into thin air. Lani thought she might be dreaming, that everything felt unreal next to this strange shadow man that couldn't possibly be real, that those people hadn't actually kidnapped her. But the soreness in her muscles felt too real, and the dew-covered grass and dirt beneath her feet couldn't be faked.

"Until now, you have not needed much of me, but know that no harm will come to you in my care. Whatever you require, I am at your command." Only now did Lani notice the horns protruding from his head as he bowed to her like she was some kind of sovereign queen.

"Okay... Turn around. I need to piss like you wouldn't believe." She said casually, and headed for a different tree to relieve herself behind. It was difficult with two men in the woods nearby, but the pressure in Lani's bladder was too great to ignore. Emil's dark face warmed with unnoticeable embarrassment, as he turned to walk a few paces away. He hadn't given much thought about how long she'd been restrained or what she had endured tonight.

All things considered; she's dealing with this rather well. He mused, before turning his attention back to Theo who was glaring daggers at him.

"We need a place to take shelter, the sun will be up soon, and I think it would upset Lani to see you burned into a pile of ash." Emil said in a serious whisper.

"Well, it's a good thing I'm not running us in a random direction. I'm headed towards a safehouse I've used before. We can't take Lani back to her place or mine." Theo said, obviously having thought about where they were going. When Lani returned, she wrapped her arms around Theo's midsection, pressing her face into his strong back muscles.

"You okay Lani?" Theo asked softly, turning around to press her against his front and wrap his arms around her soothingly. Lani felt the sudden rush of too many emotions, that question felt impossible to answer. She had endured abuse like never before, and it hadn't fully set in. Lani had questions she didn't even know how to ask, about the kidnappers, and about how she was rescued.

"I don't know. I feel like I don't know anything anymore. I'm... I'm just glad you are okay and they didn't kill me." She said slowly, in a quiet solemn voice. Lani's body trembled in Theo's grasp, a small sob leaving her before hot tears ran down her dirty face.

"I'm so sorry Kitten, I never thought our night would end up like this." He said, wiping the tears from her cheeks, and placing a soft chaste kiss on her lips. "We have to keep moving, we aren't safe yet." She nodded, as he knelt so she could climb onto his back again. Once in a secure position, Theo set off at a breakneck pace that set his inhuman muscles ablaze.

The sun is coming! The beast reminded him needlessly every few minutes, its natural instincts knowing the danger the sun posed. Lani couldn't believe her eyes again. The trees passed them with such an incredible speed that their surroundings blurred past like they were in a car. She wanted to keep watching but her stomach churned again, so she dared not risk throwing up on Theo's back. Resigned to closing her eyes, more questions stirred in her hazy mind. Lani felt the wind rush through her hair, enjoying the coolness but after a few minutes, exhaustion and Theo's steady gate put her to sleep again.

The sky had slowly brightened to bluer tones as they moved through the woods, it was only twenty minutes to sunrise when Theo pressed the code on the safehouse door, hoping it hadn't been changed since he'd been there last. He was thankful for the tall trees surrounding the house or else he may have been burned by stray bands of dawn light, and to his relief the keypad shone green and unlocked. Emil rushed forward in his shadow form to make a sweep of the safehouse to ensure there wasn't anyone else there. When he was sure the place was safe, he dropped his shadow form. He had never held the form long enough for it to make him feel weak but after many hours he felt that more energy had been sapped from him than he expected.

I've used a lot of magic this night. I'll need to be more cautious. He thought, as he returned to the others. Theo laid Lani gently on the couch and caressed her face softly to try and wake her but she batted his hand away. He sighed, and reached for a knit throw and tucked her in warmly before sliding in beside her.

"I'm beat." Theo whispered with a little yawn, turning to see how Emil's appearance had changed drastically, but his eyes remained familiar. "Watch over her while I rest." He requested; the exhaustion evident in his voice. Emil wanted to say something scathing but he didn't have the energy for it, too much had happened tonight.

"On my life, she will rest safely. We move again tomorrow night." He whispered stoically, taking a seat on the other couch.

"Where? I haven't planned that far ahead yet." Theo asked sleepily, wrapping an arm around Lani's hip.

"To the only place I can be sure she will be safe. There is much both of you don't know, but you are weary. Rest now, we will discuss this later." Emil said, staring down at Theo with a look that showed his own fatigue.

*Author's Note*

Sorry this took forever to post darling, being a senior in Uni doesn't help with keeping with a consistent upload schedule. Anyway, thank you so much for reading! Hopefully the next chapter will come early instead of extremely overdue, look forward to more hot erotica as Lani figures out who and what she is as she dives down the rabbit hole.