50: 50 Mouse in the Trap (AVOT)

50 Mouse in the Trap (AVOT)

In a frenzy of desperation, Daisy found herself climbing the grand staircase. Anywhere would do; she simply needed to get away. She clung to the hopeful thought of finding an open door leading to a balcony or a window upstairs. But when she arrived at the top of the staircase, the chilling sight of a pair of glowing red eyes in the darkness caused a scream to rip through her throat, echoing down the corridor.0

Instinct propelled her to spin on her heels and sprint in the opposite direction. She found another staircase leading downward, and, though she felt like she was running in circles, the diversion might just be what she needed.

She had to find an escape route. The main entrance, perhaps, or... a sudden thought struck her. She recalled leaving the door to the terrace ajar in Rhain's chambers. Without wasting another moment, she bolted towards it, the knife clutched securely in her hand. She burst through the chamber doors, the frigid wind howling from the direction of the open terrace. She was on the right path. She had to get out.

A fleeting moment of relief washed over her. She sprinted towards the terrace door, but just as she reached it, it slammed shut in her face. A low, dark chuckle echoed from behind her, freezing her blood. He was in the room with her.

Overwhelmed by panic, Daisy didn't care to look behind her and tried to yank the door open, but the rapid footfalls behind her told her she was too late. His icy grip locked around her wrists, pressing her against the cold glass with his body. "Oh... a knife," he noted, his chilling breath tickling her ear, raising goosebumps all over her skin.

Daisy thrashed in his grip. "Let me go!" she demanded. But he was stronger than she remembered, his strength almost superhuman, entirely out of the ordinary.

His grip around her wrists tightened further, making her feel as though they were delicate flower petals being crushed under his iron grasp. The sharp chill of his breath against her neck was colder than the biting wind outside, his nose brushing against her in an almost intimate way. "And spoil all the fun?"

She fought harder, refusing to relinquish the knife. His laughter, deep and unsettling, echoed in her ear. Her heart pounded wildly, like a frenzied drum. Every cell in her body screamed at her to run.

"Daisy, Daisy," he cooed, his lips hovering against her ear, causing her to shudder. "Why so frightened? We're just playing a game."

A game? No, this was her worst nightmare come to life.

Daisy's eyes widened as she saw his reflection in the glass. His once vibrant eyes now glowed a blood-red, the edges sharp and predatory. His canines morphed into glistening fangs, shimmering ominously in the dark room.

"You chose the perfect place," he said, his voice as cold as the winter wind outside. "I do so enjoy the idea of catching you in my own chambers."

"Why are you doing this?" Daisy stammered.

"Doing what?" he challenged, his blood-red eyes never leaving her.

"This… " She didn't even know how to describe the terror coursing through her veins. "What will you do to me?"

"You should be asking what I am not going to do to you, Daisy," he taunted.

She tried to wrench herself free from his grasp, but her struggles were fruitless.

"Mhmm…. You smell perfect," he murmured, nuzzling into her hair. She stiffened, fear turning her limbs to ice.

"Wait!" she cried out.

He paused.

Summoning her courage, Daisy forced herself to relax in his iron grip. "Why the rush? I thought you enjoyed the chase."

His laughter was low and rumbled against her back, causing her to shudder. "The chase," he repeated, as though savoring the word.

Purposefully, she let the knife slip from her fingers, clattering to the ground. "Yes. You're a thrill-seeker. You love the anticipation."

"You know me so well, dear wife," he purred, his icy fingers trailing down her arms. She tried her best to remain calm, to not react too quickly, to not betray her intention of escaping.

"I do. You like to play. Don't you?" 

"Indeed. Mostly with you," his lips brushed her ear..

Slowly, cautiously, she leaned back against him, and surprisingly, he let her. "You want me to be your prey?"

"Very much," he admitted in a low husk.

Daisy turned within his hold, putting on a show of a naive, flirtatious smile. She dared to meet his crimson eyes, her own twinkling with a soft glow in the flickering candlelight. Her hand fluttered up his chest, over his shoulder, and then to his jawline, her fingers tracing the sharp lines of his face.

"You've caught me, Rhain," she murmured, her fingertips gently caressing his cheek, her gaze steady on his. She fought the urge to flinch as his elongated fangs peeked from behind his lips. "But what if I tried to escape again?"

"You wouldn't get far. I will always catch you," he declared, pulling her so close she could feel the cold radiating from his body.

Daisy forced herself not to shudder, choosing instead to lean into his chilling embrace. She coiled her arms around his neck, her voice a seductive whisper against his ear, "I promise not to make it easy this time."

"Well, I would prefer that," he replied with a low, menacing husk, his eyes gleaming in the candlelight.

"Mhmm.." Daisy replied nonchalantly, leaning in to brush her lips against his. As their mouths met, she felt the cold, sharp points of his fangs grazing her lips. A jolt of fear rushed down her spine.

In a reflex to his fangs, she shoved him back. He fell onto the bed with a thud, an amused expression painted across his face. Daisy's mind raced, from one corner of her eye she could see the door leading to freedom, and from the other corner, the silver pin on her nightstand. 

She knew her best bet was to keep him distracted, so she continued her act. Straddling him on the bed, she pushed him further back into the soft mattress. She claimed his lips again, despite her apprehension. 

Her hand stealthily made its way to the nightstand, her fingers fumbling blindly in search of the silver pin. However, the object of her desire seemed to evade her grasp. She stretched further, panic creeping up her spine when her fingers failed to make contact with the silver weapon.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp, cold sensation trace a path up her throat. She pulled back from the kiss, gasping in surprise. 

"Were you looking for this?" Rhain asked,  his blood-red eyes gleaming dangerously as he kept the tip pressed against her skin. 

Daisy's heart plummeted into her stomach at his words. Instinctively, she slapped his hand away, attempting to scramble off him. But he maneuvered her with ease, pinning her beneath him, his powerful thighs effectively trapping her. He chuckled, a low and menacing sound that echoed around the room. 

"Oh, Daisy, a commendable effort. You do have some skills but…" His voice tapered off as he leaned closer, his cold breath dancing on her skin while he held the pin threateningly beneath her chin. "I've lived for centuries. I've seen more than you could imagine."

"Oh, how impressive, old man!" She retorted, her voice a venomous hiss. Anger surged within her, overpowering her fear. She slapped his hand away again, the sharp edge of the pin grazing her skin as it flew off his hand. "It's truly remarkable that you still relish in a game of hide and seek like a child."

His laughter rang through the room. "I've always been a child at heart, Daisy, and you," he murmured, his cold finger pressing against her lips, "You have become my favorite toy."

A flush of indignation colored her cheeks as she bristled at his words. Without a second thought, she opened her mouth and sank her teeth into his finger as hard as she could. But there was no reaction. He didn't flinch, nor did he bleed.

"Ouch," he said, his voice dripping with insincere pain. "A wife that bites. I was under the impression that I was the only one fond of biting in this relationship."

In a defiant act, she grabbed his arm and bit down harder. It was an exercise in futility. She wasn't causing him pain; instead, she was only hurting herself. Releasing his finger, the earlier fear began to seep back in. He was not human, he couldn't even bleed.

He simply watched her, amusement dancing in his predatory eyes. He glanced at his undamaged finger, then back at her, his smile taking on a more sinister note. "Is it my turn now?"

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