26. Found you.

**Kieran**

Her heart pounds against her ribcage at such speed, I can hear it. I wonder how Octavius would react if the fucker knew I went behind his back and took Ocean to the Arena. I don't intend to fuck her right away, but I do enjoy the game. I might enjoy the game more than the prize that comes afterwards, but that's not as important.

"W-what kind of bet?" Ocean stutters. Her question brings a smile to my lips- she's on the hook; I managed to catch her attention, and it's all I needed.

I clear my throat. "I'll give you a decent head start, and you run. If I find you within ten minutes, which is way less time I give any of my toys, you'll do something for me," I don't want to reveal all my cards from the start. Leaving some secrets and suspense always pays off as so much better outcomes.

"What if I win?" Ocean suddenly asks, and if I could, I'd laugh out in happiness. She doesn't seem interested in the details I skipped; she'd rather know if there is any gain for her if she wins. Too bad she doesn't know that I created this game- I will make her believe that she's winning and crush her dreams right before my time ends.

"If you win, I offer you a choice." My statement might leave her confused, but that's the exact reaction I'm going for. Ocean has to learn that life isn't only about black and white- she's far too naive for her age, even after the torment she had to endure. And if not otherwise, I'll teach her those lessons using trickery.

"A choice?" She repeats my words, slightly confused. If I were a spider, I'd applaud myself for getting this woman caught in my web. So far, everything's going according to plan.

I let go of her and step aside. Ocean quickly spins to face me right when I explain what I meant, "A choice to stay or leave."

Her eyes lit up for a second, but then she raises an eyebrow. She's suspicious- that's progress. "And if I leave, someone else will buy me, right?" She brings her hand up to her chin as if she's thinking about the possibilities.

I shake my head. "No, not at all. If you leave, you leave as a free human." It would be too unfair on my part if I didn't add details about some particular things, so I give her the most basic information, "But then, you'll have to act fast and get out of the city in a matter of minutes. Many creeps are looming around the corner, waiting to snatch their prey." It's a fair warning. If Ocean took the risk and walked down the streets of the Invictus, she'd be fucked. Any low-rank vampire could suck her dry, and no one would have the right to punish the guilty one.

After she hears me out, Ocean doesn't take too much time to think about the risk she'd take when she extends her hand for me. "It's worth it. I'm in!"

"Wonderful," I chuckle. "Do you want to change into something more comfortable, or are you good to go?" I take her hand and shake it, basically making a deal, not a bet, but who cares anymore? I've never been as fair to anyone as I am to her. No one else has ever gotten the luxury of such a head start, let alone an opportunity to change into comfortable clothing during a bet.

"I'm good." She shrugs and scans the surroundings. I know, for sure, that the day she watched the Arena performance, she didn't have enough time to check the whole playground. Octavius kept her busy, so Ocean has little to no idea about all those hiding spots she could use to her advantage. I wonder if she even noticed the waterfall and caves.

"Perfect. Ready, bunny?"

Ocean lets out a deep breath and whispers, "As ready as ever."

"Your time starts now," I don't get to finish as Ocean takes off. I watch her disappear into the woods right when the horn goes off, indicating that her head start has started.

If it were anyone else, I'd follow the movement or sounds to locate my prey faster, but I don't need to bother with Ocean. Her scent will give her out sooner than she thinks.

I'm used to chasing vampire women, not humans. And when I think about them- each has something different about them. The main thing is the heartbeat. Humans are alive; blood circulates through their veins, and I could hear it from miles. Ocean forgot that I'm a predator, one of the finest nature had made. Besides, I've been hunting to survive decades before Ocean was born or caught.

Minutes drag like the whole damn eternity as I keep glancing at the huge stadium clock above my head. Only two minutes passed, and I'm already bored beyond any limits.

My eyes focus on the direction where Ocean ran, and I'm mentally reminding myself of the setting of Arena. Depending on which direction she chooses as she gets deeper- there are pretty much five locations she might end up at. She can try to hide near the cliff, tree lines, cave, the decorative grass, and technically the fifth place won't give her much cover- it's an open field. When I first started working on the design of this Arena, I wanted to make it unique, so there are quite a few places that don't remind me of an actual forest.

Another minute passes, and I slowly start thinking of a game plan. Instead of following her scent, I'll run to the areas Ocean could hide, check them, and look nearby just in case she's not there. If I don't find her fast enough, I'll follow the heartbeat. No matter how quiet she is or how good she is at playing hide and seek- Ocean's a scared bunny, hiding from the big bad wolf. I'll find her.

I pace back and forth until the clock finally hits the five-minute mark. Just five more minutes, and I can leave the spot I'm stuck in to hunt down that vixen. Oh, the ideas that flood my mind are as vicious as they are entertaining. I'm dying to see Ocean's face the moment I find her and voice all of those ideas, and to make it far more exciting- I'll let her choose. I'll make her choose whichever scenario seems the best for her. If my heart still functionated like hers, I'm sure the excitement could be heard from miles away.

I look up and count down the seconds. "Five, four, three, two, one," I whisper, and as soon as the horn goes off for the second time, I let out a ferocious growl to warn her.

"Ready or not, here I come, bunny," I scream at the top of my lungs. It's for my entertainment and Ocean to enjoy the whole experience of excitement and fear mixing. One of these days, she'll understand just how goddamn good my game is.

I break through the obstacles in my way like there's no tomorrow. I've never bothered to run as fast, but I can't let my love for the chase ruin my chances- I can toy around with Ocean any day, but today, I must win.

The first place I check is the caves, and she's not there. I glance at the Arena clock and see that I'm only a minute in, doing great so far. Then, I turn towards my closest goal and take off. It's more to check the possibilities than the belief that Ocean could be there. I check the rows of decorative grass, and though there are quite a few places she could fit, Ocean's not there either.

It couldn't be that she went for the open fields, could it? I mean, she's a smart girl, so I should expect the unexpected from her. Yet, as big as the possibility might be, I run towards the cliff- no sign of her. My eyes dart to the clock once again, I wasted three minutes, and at this point, I'm getting irritated.

"The fields or tree lines?" I whisper to myself, kicking the rock in my way. "Fuck it, let's leave the fields as a last resort," I hiss and take off towards the tree lines.

Unfortunately for me, there are way too many places Ocean could choose as her hideout in this area, so I decide to use my senses. I inhale the scent surrounding me, and the one thing I didn't want to believe is the one she went for; her scent lingers around the area of those fields. "Smart bunny, very smart bunny," I chuckle as I force my hands into the pockets of my jeans and strode towards her location.

I have more than five minutes to find her, so I don't bother to run around anymore. Besides, that was the part of my initial plan- to make her think that she's winning. Ever so slowly, I reach the fields and look up again- two minutes remaining. Though this seems like the perfect moment to creep up on her, I lean against the tree and watch the numbers change. As the clock hits one minute mark, I move from the spot.

I noticed Ocean even before I reached that tree, so I can waste as much time as I want to. As I step closer, I hear her whisper, "Ten, nine.."

Before she can keep whispering the numbers, I clear my throat. "I hate to burst your bubble, bunny," I take the last step towards her and place my hand on her shoulder. "Found you." Just when the words barely roll off my tongue, the sound of the horn fills the Arena, indicating that the game is over.

"Fuck!" Ocean hisses under her breath. "I was so darn close. But let me guess, this whole thing was your idea from the get-go, wasn't it? To make me think that I stand a chance against you?" Ocean throws her hair over her shoulder and shakes her head. Funny enough, she doesn't seem that surprised or upset. I know she wants the taste of actual freedom, but she has no idea how to survive out there, so that might be the reason why she's somewhat relieved about losing this game. Perhaps she's not ready to stay on her own just now.

"You know me so well," I laugh as I offer her my hand. Ocean gladly takes it and gets back to her feet as she whispers a thank you.

Hand in hand, we walk away from the fields and only when we reach the forest does she speak up again. "So, you won, so I assume you'd want your prize. What is it that you want me to do for you? Please don't tell me it's accounting or anything about the numbers- I'm terrible at those. I could cook, but that's not anything you need, so I wonder what it is." Ocean keeps mumbling her guesses until I stop her in her tracks.

"Relax, I'll give you another choice. I thought that I could get my prize in my bedroom, but we can sort it out in the Arena as well. Up to you, bunny." A wide grin spreads across my lips. Watching her so confused, so damn vulnerable, and all under my control turns me on so bad, my cock threatens to burst through my zipper at any given moment. There is something about women that look like true prey, a gift given by nature, that turns me on beyond any limits. I want to take her, use her, and keep her all to myself. When it comes to Ocean, I'm as selfish as ever, and even a part of me doesn't want to share whatever she can offer.

"Another choice?" She groans out the question.

"Well, if it makes it easier for you, give me a number from one to ten. One being the weakest and most modest thing I want you to do, and ten being the worst." I take a step closer to her, and Ocean instinctively takes one back. Bit by bit, she backs up until her back hits the tree, and there's nowhere she could run anymore. Now, the situation's under my control; even if she takes upon the luxury of choice, I'm still the only one who holds power. I fucking love it!

"O-one," she stutters as her gaze focuses on her feet.

I grab her chin and force Ocean to meet my eyes as I whisper, "Touch yourself. Right here, right now, touch yourself for me, bunny."