The voice practically screamed.
D A N G E R, remember
It echoed as a different video began to play. This time part of my own. My eyes rolled into the back of my head as it played out. This time, torturingly slow. He pinned me against the wall, the alcohol on his breath as he forcefully grabbed my chin making me look at him, the smell of bourbon stung my nose. Making me nauseated.
"Why? Why can't you be beautiful like the other girls, hmm?"
Tears threatened to fall, he knew that hurt me the most. What I was most insecure about. I wasn't the prettiest woman. Not the curvyest either. I was never good enough. My hands began to shake as I knew what I had to say, "I'm sorry. I'll try harder."
My skin went cold as he shoved his hand down the front of my pants. The tribal tattoo on his forearm showing. My body stiffened. Please I thought, not again. I don't want to. I thought as he breathed on my neck, "You'll do I guess. Till I'm satisfied at least. What will you do, leave me?" He laughed as he grabbed my hair, slaming my head into the wall.
I cried out in pain, "no! No baby, there is no one better than you."
He smiled pleased with my whimper. "Damn right."
In reality my eyes really did roll back and my body slumped. Astarion panicked and caught me before I hit the ground. As soon as his skin touched mine the tadpoles connected us. He saw what I was seeing. Felt what I felt. Astarion blinked it away as he looked down at my unconscious body.
"What the hells?" He shook me gently. "Come now, wake up and explain what the fuck I just saw." He laughed nervously. I didn't wake up. A tear slid down my face, he shook me harder while gently smacking my cheek, "(F/N), wakey wakey!"
My eyes fluttered open, Astaraion looked like he was about to cry. "What's wrong? You look sad."
He laughed as he shook his head, "You're worried about me? After you passed out and infected me with...whatever that was."
I stiffened, my heart felt like it stopped as I got an ache in my chest. I pushed him away as I scooted back, "y-you saw that?" He nodded as he just stayed where he was, knelt on the floor. Looking at me sadly. My head pounded, I grabbed it trying to relieve the pain somehow.
"Easy darling. You're okay." He reached out for me but I smacked his hand away, he recoiled surprised, and sad.
"No! You don't understand! He's still out there somewhere!" I looked up at him, "I don't know where he is but if he finds me..." I cover my mouth with shaking hands as I realized what I was saying. Of course he knew. He's the only one who would know. Would understand.
"You see, I was a slave myself. I had a tormentor as well. Except mine was immortal. And I was forced to obey every command no matter how much I despised it." He stood up slowly, confidently, and stretched a hand out to me, "no more, for either of us. We're a team now."
I slowly reached out and grabbed his hand. He gently pulled me up to my feet. "I'll have your back, if you have mine." I almost whispered as we stared into eachothers eyes.
He smiled his cheeky smile of being impressed and pleased, "of course darling."
My heart fluttered making me nervously step back, "we should head back. And stop calling me that. You'll give me the wrong idea while your drunk."
He laughed as we walked back, "always a spitfire aren't you?"
I conjured a flame in my hand again "I am now." I smirked and shook it away.
We got back to camp where Gale sighed in relief. "There you are!"
Lay'zel hissed, "enough time has been wasted. We must sleep now for we chase our lead at dawn."
"Yes ma'am." I saluted her as everyone went to their area, I wish I had a tent of my own for hiding myself better. Sleep didn't come easy to me that night. His face haunting me. Astarion's flirtatious words sewing themselves into my head. "Don't be stupid, he's not falling for you. Look at him. He's not picking me." I whisper to myself.
I dressed early and had my stuff packed up before the sun rose. Lay'zel led the way when everyone was ready, a long road ahead of us. Hours had passed as we walked, stirring up conversations and getting to know eachother a little better. Thankfully they kept the topic off of me since Gale having an actual goddess of an ex was very interesting to learn about.
Eventually we saw a stone bridge that led to a town. "Finally, our lead should be somewhere in this town." Lay'zel smiled.
"Let's split up, well cover more ground that way." Shadowheart tossed her ponytail back and took off in one direction.
"Sounds good. Let's meet at the Inn by morning to re group." Lay'zel also took off on the hunt for her lead.
"Someone's ready to get rid of these tadpoles." Astarion joked.
"That makes one of us." I said as I shrugged.
"So, where will you two go in town?" Gale asked.
"To find some fun." I shrug as I begin my trip into the crowd. I enjoyed the festival as I learned about where we were. Just east of an abandoned, goblin filled town. And south of a fortified human filled town that had a renowned healer. The sun began to set so I got a room at the Inn. A small room with a small bed but I didn't care. The lack of sleep last night made me exhausted today. And the festival was just what I needed to clear my mind. I curled up unther the blankets, happy it was better than my bed roll.
As with every night I had more nightmares, the beatings I used to get at his hand. Mostly for no reason. Without reason I felt a presence in my room, on my bed. My eyes shot open to Astarion leaning over me, his mouth open just hovering over my neck. He leaned back looking panicked.
"Shit." Was all he could muster.
I grabbed the dagger from my holster on my hip, "what do you think you're doing?"
"Why do you sleep with a knife?" I just stared at him as I raised an eyebrow at him. "Right, mistrusting, abusive ex. And I'm sure some daddy issues mixed in."
I stood out of my bed, the blanket uncovering my body as I had slept in just my bra and underwear that night. "Astarion!" I said sternly.
"Oh alright. I'm a vampire, well, a vampire spawn to be precise."
"So you thought to never mention it?" I put blade back up.
"Well, best case you say no, worst case, you try to stab a stake through my ribs."
"Hells Astarion. You should know by now you can trust me. When was the last time you feed?"
"You are surprisingly calm about this....but I normally feed on animals. I had a boar a few days ago, but if we're to get these parasites removed I'm gonna need more strength. I'll just need a little of your blood." He smiled sweetly.
"Just...stop keeping secrets from me. Okay?"
He paused for a second, "are you sure?" I gave him a look, "of course! You have my word, now, just relax. We'll make ourselves comfortable. You won't even notice."
I laid down on the bed as he draped himself over me. My cheeks burned in a deep blush at the position. Him so close to me. He leaned over slowly, his breath ticking my neck before the sting of his teeth in me. Heat spread throughout my neck as a wave of pleasure coursed through my veins. My breath hitched as I could feel myself coming undone in more ways than one. His other hand caressed the back of my neck, gently lifting it allowing him better access as he drank more. My fingertips and toes began to turn Icy.
"Astarion" I whimpered. He didn't stop. I took a shaky deep breath, "Astarion, please" I cried out.
Be backed off quickly, licking his lips, "apologies! You just taste so devine." He looked me up and down making me blush again. "You should sleep now."
"What about you?" I pretty much whispered.
"While you were, amazing, I need more to be full. I'll see you in the morning, don't worry." He smiled at me as he left the room confidently. Happy. Locking the door behind him as I quickly fell asleep.
I woke the next morning feeling a little woozy. I stretched and dressed. Gathering my things before heading to get breakfast. The group already sitting together at a table as I joined. We ate together as we shared our info.