Chapter 48: .•20•.

Nicholas held the screeching human in his strong hold as she started to thrash and buck, unfortunately only managing to hurt herself and nothing else.

She scraped her skin on the unforgiving forest floor, the scent of her intoxicating blood permeating the air. Making his throat tickle and his dick grow hard.

He sat back and took a hold of her arms, forcefully raising her to stand on her knees. Her back plastered against his front. Butt pressing against his dick so tauntingly. He wrapped an arm over her body, holding her immobilized in his embrace whilst his other hand buried in her mane of caramel curls, forcing her to tilt her head to the side with a firm tug. Baring her supple neck to him.

She started to cry even harder, body trembling in his arms. Convulsing with every sob that wracked throughout her.

"Please, don't kill me..."

He ignored her. Taking no notice of those desperate pleas. Her tears and whimpers. Her scent was too strong. That sweet aroma so potent. It overwhelmed his senses, overriding those strong negative feelings pouring out of her.

"Please...please don't send me to that creature..."

But he wanted to. Oh, how badly he wanted to.

He wanted to tear into her throat. Bask in that sinfully delicious nectar that flowed through her veins. Make her suffer. For Addie.

"Please...I will do anything you want, I swear..." her voice was so weak now, sounding so defeated.

He skimmed his nose against her neck and deeply inhaled, growing even more mad with lust. Want. Need. Hunger.

"Please..."

Do it. Do it. Do it. His vampiric senses screamed at him. For Addie. For her peace.

"Please!" The girl mewled, breaking into another sob in his hold.

He let his tongue out and licked her skin, eliciting another one of those wanton little moans of hers. It sent an impulse straight into his cock. Making it twitch in his pants.

Fuck.

He still wanted her so much. Even now. Even in moments such as this one. Even after seeing his beloved's face again after so many decades of suffering. Her desperate screams as she burned with the flames of Hell.

He let out an angered and despondent growl, pushing the girl away from his body. Making her land on her hands and knees on the forest floor. A frightened and equally pained whimper escaping her.

He did not mind her. Swiftly raising himself up to his feet. He then walked closer and grabbed her arm, forcing her to stand. Completely ignoring her weak and exhausted state as he started to walk back to his home, unceremoniously dragging her after him.

.••.

The girl stumbled and tripped as she struggled to keep up with his long strides. His quick and determined steps. He'd been dragging her like this for a while now. But she did not dare utter a single word to him, let alone complain. She couldn't. She was so afraid. Maybe he had decided to spare her life. Maybe not. Who knew? Maybe he was dragging her back to the manor so that he could torture her there, or god only knows what else. She had no idea what he had in store for her. But she didn't let herself think about it too much either. She was alive, for now, and that was all that mattered. He hadn't killed her. Yet. So maybe there was still a chance. For her to escape.

They finally reached that wretched front door, the girl softly sighing with relief. She was so exhausted, besides being scared for her life. And so incredibly famished. She needed something to put in her belly. At least a small drop of water.

Nicholas pushed past that door and stepped inside, hauling Diana after him with a firm tug. It hurt so much. She was so sure that she already had so many bruises on her body. But she didn't even flinch, choosing to obediently follow him.

He abruptly stopped and whirled around to face her, the girl's breath hitching in her throat as soon as she looked up and met those blood-red eyes of his.

"Try to run again. See what happens," he spat between gritted teeth, those frightening eyes of his peering down at her with nothing but disdain. He held her upper arm in his hand. Clutching it so painfully tight. She couldn't help but whimper in pain. And suddenly, she found herself thrown over the marble flooring, her knee and hipbone hurting so much from the impact.

She placed both hands on the cold floor, her limbs shaky and unsteady as she sat there for a moment, watching him leave. Hands shoved in his dress pants' pockets as he elegantly climbed up the stairs, without a single care in the world.

A single tear trailed down Diana's cheek, showcasing what she felt inside. Pain. Fear. Hopelessness. But she didn't allow herself to shed any more. That was not the time nor place. So she dragged in a breath and then braced herself for the upcoming effort, shakily raising herself up to her feet. She was weakened. Sluggish, even. She desperately needed some nourishment and some rest. At least a little bit. So she made her way to the kitchen, set on trying to prepare herself something to eat or at least find a little piece of something.

She lifelessly dragged her body there, her gaze droopy and tired. She needed rest and she needed it now.