19
Monroe
Yesterday, I felt like my life was a nightmare. Today, it’s still a dream but not a bad one anymore. Alaric showed me a new side of him today, one I didn’t think could possibly exist. He’s trying to take care of Grams and me. I’m still having a hard time trusting that he doesn't have ulterior motives, but I can’t think of any reason he would have to coerce me into doing anything.
He’s proven time and time again that he has the means and the lack of morals to take what he wants. He doesn't have to care, yet he does. He went out of his way to make sure my grams is comfortable and her housing is paid for. That’s all I ever wanted.
“Thank you for doing this. Paying for my grandma’s place.”
“That was the deal, wasn’t it? You do what I want. I give you money.”
“Yeah, but I feel like it’s more than that now. I mean, I hope so at least since you are adamant about marrying me tomorrow.”
“Yes, it’s more than that now, but I need you to understand that I still have needs. I still crave things you are not going to like.”
“I know, but as long as you take care of my grams, I’ll let you do whatever you want to me. If you want to drug me again, I’m okay with it. I just… I don’t want someone else to touch me.”
“You know I would cut someone's hand off for touching you.”
The image of Alaris cutting off that man’s hand the other night pops into my head. For normal people, that would sound like an idle threat, but I know Alaric is dead serious.
“You let other people watch,” I whisper, regretting that I said it at all immediately.
“Watching and touching are two different things… Besides, it was that or you killing someone for the family.”
“I could never kill someone.”
“I know,” Alaric says, just as he pulls into his garage. I was so lost in the conversation I didn't even realize we were here. He cuts off the engine, and we both get out of the car.
“Do you want to do it tonight?” I ask when we are inside the house.
“Maybe I already put something in your tea earlier.” Alaric smirks.
“Did you?” A mixture of fear and excitement builds in my lower abdomen.
“No. But I have been thinking about it,” he admits. “Actually, I’ve been thinking about trying something new.”
“New? Like what?”
A sinister smile spreads across Alaric’s face, and like the predator he is, he stalks around me. I’m a deer caught in the headlights, frozen in place, while Alaric moves behind me to help me out of my jacket. The small hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and my entire body is on high alert, warning me of the imminent danger. Yet I’m still just standing here like an idiot.
Alaric steps closer until his chest is pressing up against my back, and I can feel his hard cock rubbing against my ass. He swipes my hair away from my shoulder, exposing my neck and letting me feel his minty breath on my cheek when he talks.
“You know I like the part when you don’t know when it’s coming. I love controlling that, controlling when and how… controllingyou.”
I’m still trying to digest what he is saying when I feel it. The sharp prick of a needle entering my neck. I suck in a quick breath as the pain cuts through me, then quickly dissipates. Before I can even think about fighting or running away, my legs give out, and my body is held up by a thick arm around my middle.
“Www…” I start, but my tongue stops working halfway through the word. My whole body simply gives out, and I’m picked up off the ground and carried through the house.
I’m waiting for my mind to go as well, for the darkness to drag me under, but my mind stays awake and alert.What the hell?I start to panic, pushing my limbs to move, working my lungs up for a scream, but nothing happens. It’s almost like I’m… paralyzed.
“You’re fine, Monroe. Don’t be scared,” Alaric assures me, but right now, his words mean nothing to me. I’m fucking paralyzed. I can feel, I can think, but I can’t move. This is not what is supposed to happen. Maybe he gave me the wrong drug. Perhaps he is killing me without knowing, or he changed his mind, and he is killing me.
Alaric carries me to the bedroom, gently puts me down on the bed, and props the pillow under my head so I’m comfortable and can see him. Sitting down next to me, he starts unbuttoning his shirt.
“I gave you a special kind of sedative. It paralyzes your body without making you go to sleep or numbing you up. You’ll be awake, and you’ll be able to feel. You just won’t be able to move or talk,” he explains while undressing himself slowly. “It will only last for about an hour.”
A tiny bit of panic recedes. At least I know the drug is working the way it’s supposed to, and I won’t be paralyzed forever.