Chapter One

“Alana, come here,” a teenage girl called worriedly. 

 

Looking up from the swing Alana looked towards her babysitter. Seeing the weird expression on her face, she slipped off the swing and ran over. 

 

“Alice?”

 

Instead of responding Alice took her hand and discreetly looked back at the red haired man that was staring adamantly at them. 

 

“The sun is setting, let’s head back okay?”

 

“Okay, but can we get some ice cream first?”

 

A small chuckle escaped from Alice as she replied ‘yes’. Once they walked a safe distance away, Alice peeked over her shoulder. She relaxed when she saw no one behind them. Thankfully, the man wasn’t following them now that they left the small neighborhood park. 

 

On the way back to Alana’s home they stopped by a corner store and got ice cream. By the time they arrived at the home, the sun was completely set leaving the only light source as dim street lights. Alice dug through her purse as she looked for her key ring which included key to Alana’s house. Her eyebrows furrowed the longer she looked without finding them. 

 

Luckily, headlights illuminated the driveway as Alana’s parents arrived home. They quickly stepped out of their car to pick up Alana and embrace her lovingly. 

 

“How was she?”

 

“A little angel, per usual,” Alice explain while winking at Alana who was in the arms of her father. 

 

“I can’t find my keys, so I’m going to back track. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

 

They exchanged goodbyes as Alice walked down the driveway and back towards the corner store. When she didn’t find it there, she headed to the park. Thinking back on it, she was so concerned about the weird man that she may not have noticed if her keys fell out of her purse. She arrived at the park, only to find it dimly lit. Unable to see anything she pulled out her cellphone and used the flashlight on it to scope out the benches. On one of the benches she saw a familiar key lanyard. A breath of relief fluttered out of her as she quickly went to pick it up. 

 

As she reached forward a hand suddenly grasped her hand. From pure surprise she let out a small scream, but quickly stopped when the grip on her hand let go. It wasn’t that she was no longer scared, but instead the hand went to her mouth stopping her from making any noise. The other arm of the unknown person wrapped around her waist making her shiver in disgust. 

 

“Shhh, you’re mine now.”

 

Alice’s only response to the grating male voice was to elbow behind her and try to break free of the man. 

Seeing her resist him so strongly, he grew angry. 

“Stop resisting, you’re mine!”

 

Hearing this, her actions grew more intense. For a second his hands loosened allowing her to start running away. Yet, his arms easily snaked around her bringing her back. 

 

“Oh my love, I'll have to be rough now.” 

 

A quick motion to her neck caused to feel dizzy before black dots gather together. Before she even realized what had happened she laid limply in his arms. 

 

“Sorry, dear. You should have listened,” he flatley said to her unconscious body in his arms.  

 

~~~

 

Inside an unfamiliar room Alice woke feeling sore and battered. Her eyes blinked as they adjusted to the darkness surrounding her. As she started making out shapes a dark figure appeared leaning near her face with a wicked smirk on their face. The man that she hastily remembered taking her came to mind as she stared at the now grinning man. 

 

“You’re awake! Finally, my love.”

 

Alice grimaced as his face got closer and closer to her own. She went to put her arms up to block him only to find them chained to the wall. A small searing pain waved through her after realizing the fact. Unable to understand why a chain would be so painful she disbelievingly looked towards her wrists. 

 

“Silver,” he answered after seeing her so interested in the chains. That wicked smirk she saw earlier resurfaced on his face as he inspected the chains. 

 

“You seemed to like resisting so I wasn’t going to take any chances.”

 

His hot and gross breath warmed her cheek due to the closeness. Trying her best, she recoiled backwards into the wall away from him. A snickering laughter filled the room as the man backed up and watched her in complete interest. His eyes followed her every movement like a predator watched it’s prey. He turned on the light so that he could get a better look of her. 

 

The sudden burst of light hurt her eyes, causing them to tightly sqint shut. Slowly she opened her eyes to find the predator satisfyingly looking her up and down. Hatred filled her pores as she examined the person she would distinctly remember forever.

 

His hair was a crimson red and with eyes that shared the same intense red. His pale skin seemed to have a supernatural glow. Something about him made it clear that he was not human. Even hair dye and red contacts could achieve the aura he was giving off. Reaching for her chin and he held it so she was looking up at him. Alice’s eyes averted away, she having a gut feeling that the last thing she should do was look into his eyes. 

 

“Look at me,” he hissed as his grip on her chin tightened. 

 

Unwillingly her eyes shifted towards his. She gasped at her action, unable to understand why she listened to him. He looked at the girl in his hand and smiled happily. His hand found its way to her cheek before he leaned in and pushed his lips onto hers.

 

Feeling completely revolted she tried to fight him only to feel her wrists and ankles sting in pain as the silver chain dug into her skin. She bit his lip, hoping that it would cause him to stop, but instead he put his hand around her neck and squeezed to warn her. A feeling of hopelessness washed through her body as she realized there was nothing she could do to stop him. 

 

She began losing breath from his grip on her neck and started resisting more violently despite the pain from the chains. His lips pulled back from her own and his eyes blazed in content at the sight of her slumped in hopelessness.

 

Suddenly a low hum of flutters surged through her. The door to the room slammed open and hit the wall with a loud thud. A beautiful smell entered her nose, causing her to instinctively breath in more. It was deep pine scent with small hints of circus. The feeling of safety engulfed her high strung nerves, allowing her to relax her muscles for the first time since she woke up. 

 

Seeing her relax the man released his grip on her neck and moved it back to her chin so that he could move her face to look at him. 

 

“Let go of her.”

 

A deep and husky voice penetrated the room. The crimson haired man clenched his teeth before pushing her away violently. His push caused her head to clash roughly into the wall behind her. She groaned in pain only to feel a wave of concern wash through her. Even her overwhelming pain could not stop her from feeling confused about sensation. 

 

During the time she was groaning, the man who barged in picked up the other with one hand and threw him to the side. He was rendered unconscious immediately. The man then slowly walked up to her and bent down to examine her. He gently took her wrist and carefully broke the chain with a pained expression. It was as if he could not stand the sight of her hurt. One by one, he slowly and carefully broke all of the chains. 

 

After she was free, an urge went through her. Next thing she knew she was hugging him tightly. 

 

“Thank you,” she whispered softly. 

 

Just as she was about to pull back from the hug when he pulled her closer. He took a deep breath into the crane of her neck. For a brief second she was shocked and confused, but instead of asking or pulling away she lightly smiled. 

 

After a few minutes just hugging, he pulled away and stood up. Thinking of the man lying unconscious nearby, she quickly went to stand fell from her legs losing feeling. Before she could hit the ground the man caught her. 

 

“Um… thank you again.”

 

He nodded softly before looping his arms under her and picking her up princess style. 

 

“What’s your name?” 

 

The man shivered at the sound of her voice, it was crystal clear and incredibly beautiful. 

 

“Elias. What is yours?”

 

Alice sighed in relief as he walked out of the room and into the outside. Fresh air welcomed her and she thankfully took it in breath by breath. 

 

“Alice Smith.”

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Publication Date: 11-22-2011

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