21. Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-One
Victoria
I wake with a groan, my head throbbing and my body aching. As I blink my eyes open, I find myself back in my cell, laying on the thin blanket on the floor. Confusion washes over me as I try to piece together what happened. The last thing I remember clearly is showering after Elijah treated my head wound. Everything after that’s a hazy blur.
Sitting up slowly, wincing as my muscles protest. Blinking, I notice I’m dressed in clean clothes - a simple t-shirt and a pair of shorts. But how had I gotten back here? And why can't I remember? I don’t remember taking a shower or anything. As I shift, a sharp pain shot through my shoulder. Frowning, I pull aside the collar of my shirt to find a fresh bite mark, angry and red against my pale skin.
“What the fuck?” I mutter, looking at the bite mark. I have no recollection on how this got here. I still had the bite mark from Jasper…but this one is new. Before I get to think about it more, the door opens and in walks Elijah.
“Awake finally I see. How was your nap?” He shut the door behind him, a grin on his face as I push myself to stand up. I don’t like when they look down at me. I would rather be standing in case I need to move too.
“Fine?” I answer slowly, a frown on my face. I’m a bit lost but I put the thoughts at the back of my mind. I could think about it again when I’m alone.
“No nausea or anything? You had a reaction to the anesthesia I gave you.” Elijah tells me as a look comes to his eyes, I frown but don’t like how he said reaction.
“Nothing bad happened but you took a nap. I let you sleep it off.” He tells me and a red flag pops up in my head in warning. I’m not sure why but I’ll hold onto it for later. I must revisit it.
“Okay…,” I mutter lowly, not saying anything else as I’m unsure of what else to say to this man. He is giving me a look that’s making me wonder what might have happened.
I watch as Elijah moves his hand to my head, pushing the hair out of the way, “The stitches are looking good. Try not to let any of the other girls get that close again.”
I glare at him, my lips curling at the ends in a mocking smile, “Yes, I’m going to let one of them take another vase to my head.”
Elijah laughs, and it sends shivers down my spine as I blink at him. He brushes my hair out of my face once again, making me tilt my head to the side. I can see he wants to ask me something but is holding back. I wonder why, so far none of these guys have held back talking to me.
“Is there something wrong?” I ask, curiosity getting the best of me. Green eyes look down at me as he shakes his head, letting his hand fall to his side.
“No, nothing. Is the pain manageable or do you want something to dull it?” He inquires, looking me over, his eyes landing on where the bite mark is before going back to my face. I narrow my eyes but keep my silence about it.
“No thanks, I rather not take anything again…my head is a bit fuzzy, but I will survive,” I tell him. I shift back so I can be a few feet away from him. I’m biting my lip trying to keep my questions at bay. I want to ask so many things, but is it a good idea? Could I possibly anger him?
“Darling, I can hear the questions in your head from here. Go ahead and ask.” There’s amusement in his voice as he looks at me with a raised eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest.
I hesitate, weighing my words carefully. There are so many things I want to ask, but I don't want to push either. Finally, I decide to start with something relatively safe.
"How long was I asleep?" I ask, watching his face closely for any reaction.
Elijah's lips curve into a small smirk. "About four hours. The anesthesia hit you harder than expected. I had thought you would only be out an hour or so…."
I frown, still feeling like I’m missing pieces. "And nothing happened while I was out? Just...sleeping?"
His eyes flash with something I can't quite read before his expression smoothes out. "Nothing you need to concern yourself with, darling. You're safe and unharmed."
The evasive answer makes my skin prickle with unease. I decide to push a little further. "Then how did I get this?" I ask, gesturing to the fresh mark on my skin.
Elijah's eyes darken as they focus on the bite mark. "Ah, that. A little...side effect of the anesthesia. You became quite...amorous in your drugged state. I'm afraid I got a bit carried away."
He saw my look shift before he started again, “I gave you a bit of a love bite. I couldn't resist.”
I stare at him in disbelief and growing horror, “What else did you do?” I don’t know if I fully want to know but at the same time I need to know.
"Now, now, darling. Don't jump to conclusions," Elijah says, his tone placating. "I didn’t bed you if that is what you’re wondering. I may have gotten a taste of you…but I did nothing but that.”
I lick my lips at his words, a shiver when he said taste. I feel numb, I’m trying to get ‘what could have happened’ out of my head.
“So, you didn’t….” I trail off, still not liking that he went that far without my consent. He’d drugged me and I don’t think I would have let him touch me otherwise…. or at least I don’t think I would have.
“I didn’t fuck you if that’s what you are getting at,” Elijah tells be flatly, making me flush at his crass choice of words. I hadn’t expected it to come out of his mouth, he usually spoke so properly.
I was silent for a second, “…good,” I mutter, eyes burning with anger. I don’t like that it happened, I feel violated. I also could tell from the look on his face, that whatever I said could be warped.
I’m silent for a long moment, trying to process everything Elijah’s just told me. My mind races, cycling through anger, fear, and confusion. Finally, I take a deep breath and meet his gaze.
"I don't appreciate you taking advantage of me while I was drugged," I say, my voice low and controlled despite the rage simmering beneath the surface. "Consent matters, even if you don't go 'all the way' . What you did is still a violation."
Elijah's eyes flash dangerously. "Careful, darling. You're in no position to be making accusations or demands."
"It's not an accusation, it's a fact," I shoot back, refusing to back down. "You drugged me and then took liberties with my body while I was incapacitated. That's not okay."
He stepped closer, looming over me. His hand cupping my cheek, “I think you quite enjoyed it…but I won’t try it again. Would my word make you feel better?”
I pause at this, not expecting him to say anything like that. I may have enjoyed it in the moment, but under drugs, I could technically enjoy anything he did to me with the right drug. Did I want to try to fight him on this, or save it for another day?
“That is the best I am going to get in this situation…isn’t it?” I ask him softly, as he makes me look him in the eyes. He gives me a cold smile before letting me go.
“Don’t worry. I won’t do anything too forward again until there is a ring on your finger…. Though, once that happens, I won’t make any promises.” He has a hungry glint in his eyes as he looks me over. I feel like he can see through what I’m wearing, making me want to cover myself. I refrain but I think he knows by the twitch of his lips.
“I don’t like the sound of that either, but I don’t think I’ll get a better deal, will I?” I ask him, I know by the grin on his face I’m right.
Elijah's eyes gleam with dark amusement. "You're learning quickly, darling. No, you won't get a better deal than that. But I'll honor my word - no more... liberties will happen…. for now."
He leans down, his voice almost a hushed whisper, “But I can promise you this - once you're officially ours, you'll be begging for our touch."
I scoff, wanting to bare my teeth in anger at him, "I highly doubt that."
He chuckles, his eyes dark with raw hunger, reaching out to brush a strand of hair behind my ear. I stand still, wanting to flinch away from his touch. "We'll see. You may surprise yourself."
I glare at him, opening my mouth to argue further, but he holds up a hand to silence me. I snap my mouth shut, eyeing him wearily.
“Things may be different when you are officially ours.” I’m forced to suppress a shudder at his words. The idea of being ‘officially theirs’ makes my skin crawl. But I know arguing further will be pointless and potentially dangerous. I need to pick my battles carefully.
I manage to once again suppress a shudder at the predatory hunger in his gaze, and the possessive tone he spoke in. "Fine," I say curtly, wanting this conversation to be over. "Is there anything else you need, or can I be alone now?"
He chuckles, reaching out to brush a strand of hair behind my ear. This time I flinch away from his touch. "Always so eager to dismiss me," he murmurs. "But no, there's nothing else at the moment. Rest up, darling.”
With that ominous warning, he turns and leaves the cell, the door clanging shut behind him. I let out a shaky breath once I’m alone. Letting my mind wonder to what has happened, I feel drained and sink to the floor, curling my body into itself.
Hoping that this nightmare is almost over.