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“A fighter. Does that surprise you?” he asks.
I shrug. Instead of saying what’s on my mind, I say, “What about Ruby Vixen? I respond to that name as well.” Hearing me call myself Ruby opens an invisible wound inside me. A dozen memories flit through my head about my life at the Aris Hotel. Ruby has gotten me through Hell and back. Maybe that’s why I mention it. If Ruby got me through Hell before, Ruby can do it again.
“That won’t do. You’re supposed to be a new Blood Princess performer and not the stolen possession of Alexander Aris. From now on, you’re going to be Violent Violet. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?” The vampire, Cooper, smirks with his words.
I tighten my jaw. “I hate it.”
“Good. Maybe you won’t fall into the act of living that persona then. Some of the other donors and vampires tend to...never mind. I’m sure you’ll find out.” He finally drops his hand from my face, but the cool sensation of his fingers lingers.
“Tell me. What does that mean?” I need answers. I didn’t know how badly I needed them until this moment. Lawrence had mentioned a performance, except it doesn’t sound anything like what Alexander has set up.
Jerking me around, Cooper locks his hand across my chest and forces me forward. I try to fight him again, but it’s as if my strength vanishes. “That’s something you can ask our master. He’s coming right now.”
I stiffen as the door clinks and rattles, and the lock slides open with a screech. Cooper walks with me, practically pushing me to keep moving. He jerks me to a stop when he thinks we’re close enough, and his body molds against mine. I twitch my fingers, considering trying to punch him in the cock. I can feel his hard-on pressing against me. Damn horny and hungry vampires. All they ever want is to suck and be sucked. I’d call him out if my heart didn’t pick up in erratic beats.
Fear courses through me as the door cracks open, and Lawrence peeks his head in with a smile wicked enough to stab through me. I tremble at the sight of him. I shouldn’t be so afraid of a vampire after everything I’ve been through, yet here I am on the verge of tears. There is something monstrous about him. I can’t put my finger on it, but my human fear rationale classifies him as the bigger predator, even though Cooper attacked me.
“Did you get a good enough taste, Hayley? It looks as if you’ve already gotten stronger.” Lawrence drinks me in from my dirty feet to my bloody face. Cocking his head to the side, he studies the way Cooper grips me from behind but reverts his attention quickly back to me. “That’s very pleasing for me to see.”
His words snap the fear right out of me, and I manage to throw myself forward and out of Cooper’s hold. Lawrence growls and whips his arms up, but all he can do is brace himself for my attack. We hit the concrete floor outside the room, and I link my fingers through his graying hair, pinning him in place. He doesn’t try to fight me. All he does is smile.
It pisses me off.
“It would be in your best interest to get her off of me.” Lawrence doesn’t talk to me, keeping his voice even in tone. “If she bites, you will end up in the herd together. But you would like that, wouldn’t you? I see you’ve encouraged her to drink from you several times.”
“I wouldn’t have had to if you hadn’t starved me before tossing her in the room. She couldn’t get up. It was the only way to ensure her good health. I drank a lot. I couldn’t help myself.” Cool fingers latch under my arms, and Cooper drags me off Lawrence. He restrains me against his chest and returns to the room with me.
“It was important. You know dhampirs need to be threatened a bit to really get them motivated. This one in particular has been sheltered and doesn’t know her own capabilities. It’s up to us to push her. What better way than to put her in a situation where neither of you was in control.” Lawrence dusts off his tailored suit and straightens his back. “If you have a problem with my method—”
“I don’t,” Cooper says, cutting off Lawrence’s oncoming threat. “I was only explaining the circumstances.”
Turning his attention to me, Lawrence steps closer and narrows his eyes. “What about you, my dear? Did you enjoy the taste you got? Do you understand what I was talking about on the ride here?”
My stomach twists with his words, and I don’t respond.
“Answer his questions, Hayley,” Cooper whispers so quietly that I don’t think Lawrence heard him. I’m not even sure I should be able to hear him now. Something’s different. I can hear more than his whisper. I hear his heart beating.
I slowly shake my head, silencing the noise buzzing around me. “I don’t understand any of this.”
Lawrence huffs a breath in annoyance, and I tense and prepare for him to smack me for speaking the truth. He doesn’t. How am I supposed to wrap my mind around the fact that I’m not who I thought I was my entire life? How am I supposed to understand that he supposedly bit me with his venom to prove I’m not a normal donor? If I was, I would’ve transformed. Or died.
Stepping back, Cooper puts another foot of space between me and Lawrence. I expect Lawrence to snap at him, but all he does is tighten his fingers into fists and continues to glower.
“She will understand soon. I will teach her,” Cooper says, his chiseled body flush against my back. “I just need time.”
Lawrence doesn’t respond right away, staring at the two of us as if he can read our minds. My breathing quickens under his scrutiny. I want so badly to yell at him, but I know better. I’m lucky he hasn’t already beaten the shit out of me. If I ever went after Alexander like this, I’d get the paddle.
“How much exactly? What is your assessment of her?” Lawrence asks, keeping his eyes trained on me. Without having to ask, I know he now regards me as a threat. Something about it satisfies me on a deep-seated level.
“With enough training, she will be an excellent fit as a headliner for the Fright Fights.” Cooper breathes a cool breath against my ear.
“I asked you how long.” Lawrence leans in the doorway, his frame seemingly bigger within the small entrance to the disgusting cell.
I can’t help darting my eyes to look at the weird, twisted room behind him with the stacked beds filled with donors and vampires, taking it in again. The herd. That’s what they both called it.
“A couple of weeks if you really want something spectacular.” Pushing me forward, Cooper finally releases his grip on me. “Things like this take work. We have to break the habits instilled in her by Alex.”
“I want her in a show within the week. Even if it’s just the opening act.” Lawrence flares his nostrils with his words as if hearing Alexander’s name sets him off. “We don’t need it to be spectacular. We don’t even need a full house. All it will take is a couple of people, and word will get out. We will be able to get this fucking hellhole in shape.”
