Seduce Me ~ The Path To Forgiveness

Path One, Step Thirteen: Omission Is Just Another Word For Lying

I thrash against my bindings, my scream unrelenting as I'm pulled towards the ground below. The tendrils release me as my feet touch down on the grass and I back away from them quickly as they slink into the ground.

"Are you alright?" Eriks voice calls and I turn to him, instinctively taking a step back as his haunting golden eyes lock with mine. A hurt expression crosses his face at my reaction before twisting into pain as he falls to his knees.

"So glad you could make it Uzaeris." My monster chuckles as he drops from the balcony, landing gracefully several feet away, with an amused smirk.

"You." Erik snarls at my former captor and it becomes immediately clear that they are well acquainted. "What did you tell her?" Despite his demanding tone I can see the worry in his eyes as his gaze flicks nervously to me.

"Simply the truth, my lord." The last two words are a sneer and he watches Erik for a moment before his amused gaze slides to me.

"So, my pet, is this proof enough or do you require more?" He patiently awaits my answer but my thoughts are at an impasse. The golden, glowing proof of his true race is staring me in the face yet I cannot accept that he is a monster as my mind tries to come up with some rational explanation.

"_______, I.." Erik starts but is abruptly cut off by a wet thud followed by his pained gasp as a thin knife embeds itself in his chest. He grips the handle and yanks the blade out with a groan, dropping it soundlessly to the grass, and in lieu of the torrent of blood I had been expecting a violet light seeps out as the wound seals itself.

"You're holding up much better than I had anticipated, my lord. Have you been feeding?" The question is taunting as my monster looks pointedly at me and I barely stifle my horrified sob as realization strikes. The familiar euphoric sensation during our first kiss mixed with his refusal to open his eyes, to look at me.

"Y... you enthralled me." I stammer, bile rising in my throat at the memory.

"Please, I can explain! I.." He doesn't try to deny my claim but his frantic defense stops as he clutches his chest in pain, keeling forward. I watch, mortified, as inky lines the color of fresh blood paint creeping designs over his exposed skin and matching horns curl around the sides of his head, their wickedly sharp tips almost grazing his jawline.

"Yet clearly not enough. Tired already my young lord? Shall we stop with this silliness and return home then?" His voice is sickly sweet as he steps forward and offers Erik his hand. I watch the exchange silently, hoping that in the face of a more important acquisition my monster will forget me long enough for me to attempt an escape, even as Eriks gaze turns to me. He searches my eyes, a contemplative look on his face, before turning back to the other demon.

"I will, if you let her go. She can't be that important to my father." He bargains and I find myself a little surprised, touched, that despite the situation he still seemed to value my life.

"More important then you realize." My monster replies as he studies my face with a frown before grinning widely back at Erik. "Besides, why would I do that? You're clearly in no state to fight me."

His words are true, it looks as though Erik is struggling just to remain on his knees, and fear shoots through me as I realize that there is no escape. I bolt quickly towards the hedge maze, having nothing to lose, and just when it seems that I may have a chance the world around me is cast into darkness forcing me to slow to a crawl. Several minutes pass, my eyes straining to adjust as I fumble through the leafy corridor, before a hand clamps down on my wrist and the world comes blindingly into focus. Eriks glowing eyes lock with mine, a small smile playing on his lips as he wraps his hand around my waist, and I feel the enthrallment creeping in as my body melts against him.

"Please, don't." I whisper in a pathetic attempt of resistance but my treasonous fingers tangle in his hair and run along his chest.

"Shhhh, it's alright princess." He purrs, pressing his lips to mine and the effect is instant as my knees give way beneath me. I feel as though I'm drowning in a whirlpool, my emotions draining from me and dizzy streaks blurring my vision, and I welcome the darkness at its center.

I'm awoken by a familiar pain pressing against the sensitive skin of my wrists. I open my eyes slowly but all I can see is darkness. I can smell the metallic stench of fresh blood, overwhelmingly strong, and I feel bile rise in my throat. I try to stand in an attempt to relieve the biting pressure on my wrists but my feet don't reach the ground as I kick uselessly against the wall. I can feel my heart racing as panic begins to set in and I do my best to calm down. I tell myself it's only a dream, filled with a haunting sense of déjà vu, but it feels so real. I'm left hanging here for some time in an eerie silence only broken by my occasional sobs and the sound of clinking chains as I struggle feebly against them even though I know it's useless. My darkest fears are confirmed as I hear the tell tale creak of an iron door open. I hear his footsteps as he enters accompanied by the sound of something large dragging behind him. I hear a grunt and the snap of manacles pinning whatever, whoever, he dragged into my cell to the wall across from me.

"Welcome home, my pet." My monster purrs as his footsteps draw closer.

"Let her go." A familiar voice demands, too weak to sound threatening.

I remain silent, once my mind could have been swayed but now I'm filled with nothing but hatred at the knowledge of how easily he used me and yet was still unable to defeat our captor.

"Nothing to say, my pet? And here I was being generous and bringing you a gift! I at least deserve a thank you, don't you think?"

A sharp slap startles me out of my silence, a pain I was once so used to I would barely have felt now as brutal as the crack of a whip, as I gasp and sway from the impact. Across from me Erik growls, pulling against his chains, and I consider opening my mouth to tell him that it's useless when my attention is drawn back to my monster.

"Don't you think?" He enunciates, his tone thick with irritation.

"Thank you, master." I mumble, the shame I once felt at those words replaced by a sense of emptiness.

"Good girl!" He mocks as he removes my blindfold allowing me to look around the all too familiar room, unchanging aside from a few newer crimson stains on the floors. He steps aside and my gaze falls to Erik, his worried eyes still glowing the deceptive bright gold I've come to despise. Like in my dream he's strung up across from me and covered in bruises, the worst being the deep purple splotch that's spread along the side of his face, and some dark part of my mind relishes knowing that he has suffered as well. I watch him in unbroken silence for several minutes, my mind blank and my face passive, until my monster cuts in with a frown.

"No begging, no pleading? Have you broken, my pet?" He asks sounding almost disappointed, though wasn't that his goal?

"Ah, perhaps if I..." He trails off as his fingers glide over the various blades lined up on the table nearby, carefully selecting one before turning back to me. He swiftly unhooks my shackles and I brace myself for the sudden weight as my legs threaten to collapse. He runs the blade gently along my cheek but I don't flinch away, I know the knife is not ment for me. He takes a step back, looking intrigued by my lack of reaction, and presents me the hilt of the blade. I take it without encouragement and my monster moves to stand behind me.

"Does my father know you're doing this?" Erik asks but his eyes are devoid of any hope of freedom, how quickly he's accepted this fate.

"Of course, disobedient children need to be punished." My monster smiles back as he leans over my shoulder, his breath warm against my ear as the chaotic blaze of his enthrallment engulfs me.

"He's lied to you, don't you think he deserves to be punished?" He pushes me forward though I need little provocation as I slowly make my way to him, anger and resentment swirling around in my mind as my grip tightens on the knife. I press the tip of the blade to his jaw as I reach him, the steel drawing rivulets of blood as I trace along the demonic crimson lines that cover his neck.

"I'm so sorry." He sobs, his voice cracking in sorrow, but my face splits into a wide grin as crazed laughter pours from my lips. My free hand caresses his neck lovingly as I lean closer to press my forehead against his.

"You will be."