The Vampire Prince | Book One ✔ (Needs Editing)

Pray | Chapter 22

I sat alone in the dark for hours, maybe even a full day. I lost track of time while I emotionally tore myself apart.

Not long after I cried to myself once again, I noticed Christian emerge from the dark stair case. I wiped my face and turned so I didn't face him. I couldn't face him; how could I face anyone after what Julian did to me?

"Stark wanted me to check up on you." He stated. I sat silently and scrapped my nails against the wall.

"Please leave." I muttered.

"Actually, I can't." He sighed.

I felt my lips quiver and my eyes begin to fill woth tears. I took a deeo breath and slammed my fist against the rough, cement wall.

"Leave me alone!" I shouted.

He didn't leave, he stood in silence while I fought my tears. Vampires are evil, cruel beings that don't deserve to live in such a happy, carefree way.

"Thank you for doing this for us; for Stark." Christian mumbled.

I went silent as tears spilled down my cheeks. I kept my face hidden so he couldn't see how weak I was; how fragile I truly was.

"Leave." I demanded once more and with that he vanished into thin air. Once he was gone I let out my sobs as loud as I possibly could, my heart throbbed. I wanted to die; I wanted to escape from this hell called reality.

I covered my mouth to muffle my childish cries but I already sensed someone near by. A presence that I wasn't yet ready to face.

"Time to come out." Julian unlocked the cell. I didn't move; I couldn't. The sound of his voice made me freeze in place-- made me remember the pain he gave me.

"Leave me alone!" I desperately cried. I felt him standing directly behind me. He planted his hand on my shoulder and I flinched away and slapped his hand; the echo of the contact bounced off the walls.

"Get out now." Julian demanded but I couldn't. I wouldn't obey him any longer-- I wished for death.

"I won't!" I yelled. He grabbed my arm and forced me to my feet. I gasped and shoved his hand away.

I ran past him, up the stairs, all the way to the bedroom and locked myself inside. I turned on the shower and stepped inside without stripping. I sat under the runninv water and brought my knees to my chest.

"This is my house; don't think you can hide from me." Julian entered the bathroom and closed the door behind him. I noticed Christian standing in the bedroom cleaning the rest of Karla's blood.

"Stay away." I begged. Julian crouched and gazed at me.

"Or what?" He taunted. I glared and bit my lip.

"Or I'll just have to kill you--" I began but he interrupted.

"Oh?" He raised a brow, "how do you intend to do that?"

I went silent while thinking of a perfect plan; one where I can kill him and run free from the vampires.

I raised my eyes to the falling water and sighed.

"You'll find out sooner or later." I spat. He chuckled and reached for me.

I froze and whimpered afraid of what he was going to do. He brought his lips to my ear and he licked my flesh.

"I did that so you'd obey me, not because I wanted to." He murmered. I shivered and moved further away from him.

"You did that because you're a monster." I hissed.

I struck a nerve. Julian took a deep breath and clenched his hands into fists.

"If I wanted to; I would have done it when you were ready. I've never forced a woman into sex but I had to break you-- you just weren't going to obey me unless you had a reason to be afraid of me." He carrassed my face in his hands and smiled.

"You're sick. You raped me! you took away my innocence just so you could control me?! Just so I had a reason to be scared?!" I cried. Julian sighed and planted a kiss on my forhead.

"Exactly; I'm glad you understand--" He began.

"Understand?! Julian! You took something so important from me! You took the one thing that made me want to live!" I shouted, "I wanted to experience love! Real love! You hurt me more than you could have by killing me."

"It's fine. It wasn't anything special you know? It meant nothing and let me tell you something; you won't have a real love. Only me." He chuckled.

"Just kill me." I blurted.

He hesitated for a moment and frowned.

"Don't say unnecessary--"

"Kill me." I insisted. He heaved a sigh and stood.

"Get dressed and come to the dining room." He ignored me and stormed out of the bathroom. I noticed Christian glance my way as the door slammed shut.

Hesitantly I turn off the water and grab the ckesn clothes Julian must have left me. I sighed and quickly changed; I looked at my relfection in the mirror and averted my gaze.

I hated who I was. Hated my image. I opened the bathroom door and tried to hurry past Christian but he caught my arm.

"Stark wants to know how you're holding up." He spoke quietly. I gkanced away and pulled my arm back-- I didn't want anything to do with him.

I hurried out of the room and stormed to the kitchen with a rage that devoured me.

"Why the hell are you doing this to me?!" I demanded. Julian sat silently drinking a cup of blood with a sly smile.

"Why? Because I'm a monster; one with no remorse-- you of all people should know that." He chuckled.

"That doesn't mean that you couldn't have changed!" I shouted. Julian sighed and shot me a glare.

"Be quiet, sit down and enjoy your meal." He demanded. I let out a growl of frusteration and sat down across the table from him. I glanced at the food and felt sick, I wasn't hungry not even in the slightest.

I met his gaze and licked my dry lips.

"What if I'm not hungry?" I asked.

"Still, eat. You didn't eat the other day so you need to otherwise you'll become ill." He scolded. I took a deep breath, picked up the fork and shoved the food into my mouth without hesitation.

He was right; I would get sick if I don't eat. I was already feeling slightly ill from not eating the other night but I refused to admit it to the monster that ruined me.