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I know this side of him. It's the one thatdemandsblood to flow. And yet, it's not just that.

He comes closer, lifting his hand in the air and inspecting the specks of blood. The fire is screeching behind him, the flecks of light illuminating his features and making him seem exactly like Mother Superior had said—a demon.

A demon from the depths of Hell, stepping on hallowed ground and wrecking all kinds of destruction. And there's nothing that can stop him.

His eyes snap to mine, and his smile intensifies. Only one word crosses his lips, and I know I'm in trouble.

"Run," the gentle sound escapes him, but I know what awaits me is anything but gentle.

37

SISI

My feet move back slowly, my eyes on him as I watch his every move.

But so does he. A predator on the prowl, there is nothing escaping him, my every step eliciting a reaction from him.

It's in the way his dimple becomes more emphasized, his smile more forced.

"Run," he repeats and I don't linger, backing away and running at full speed.

Skittering through the main yard, I head toward the cemetery, remembering the mausoleum that had been my true home in this place for years on end.

I feel him on my tail, yet I don't feel threatened—not truly. With his speed, he could have caught up with me already before now. He could have tackled and pinned me down in the mud, his big body on top of mine.

My breath catches, debatable if from running or from the running wetness down the inside of my thighs.

I run along the tombs, jumping over a small cross I hadn't seen and almost falling. Regaining my balance in a split of a second, I sneak a glance behind, seeing the shape of his form in the night, the way his outline promises my destruction.

I don't stop as I finally make it to the mausoleum, wrenching the door open and entering inside, hoping this will serve as a haven.

But it only takes for that thought to form for me to realize that there's no escaping him. My hands go down my legs as I feel for the knives still sheathed on my body, holding on to the hope that they might save me some time.

I barely take a few steps inside when the door is ripped from its hinges, Vlad's hands on either side of it as he easily throws it to the side.

A low tremor starts from my lips, going down my body and settling deep in my lower belly.

"Vlad." His name on my lips elicits a smug smile from him as he prowls inside, his steps heavy and assured. I keep backing away and he keeps advancing, his eyes dead set on mine, his tongue licking his lips at the promise of blood.

More blood.

One move and he has me by the throat, my body flush to his as he moves his nose up and down my neck, breathing me in.

"Mine," he growls into my ear, his hold on my neck tightening. My arms are flailing around as I try to get him off me, but he doesn't even give me the chance, pushing me backwards until my spine hits the marble coffin that should still house Cressida's remains.

"Vlad," I breathe out, my hands meeting his shoulders as I push with all the strength I can muster. He doesn't even budge. If anything, my struggles seem to only excite him further as he twists me around.

His hand on my nape, he pushes me on the coffin, my back to his front as he grinds his erection into me.

I barely realize what's happening as he grabs one knife, cutting my latex suit from my body. Starting from my neck anddown until he reaches my legs, he all but tears it apart, the cold air hitting my bare flesh and making me gasp.

"Vlad, please," I try to reason with him once more, but he doesn't react to my words.

No, there's only his harsh breathing as he trails the knife over my bare skin, placing enough pressure on the blade, so that I feel it denting my skin, but not enough to cut into it.

Knowing the window of time to be limited before he does something even worse, I stop fighting him. I let him believe I've already submitted to him, letting him do whatever he wants to my body.

Then, just as he trails the blade lower, between my ass cheeks, I move, my hand on the hilt of my knife.