Chosen (Part I) (2 page)

"
I said get up
."

I raised and took a step forward.

"Closer," he said. "Either you come to me or I'll come to you. Your choice." He lifted the syringe, long needle glistening.

"At least tell me what's in that thing," I demanded.

"A contraceptive." His lips curled to a smirk, eyes narrowed.

“Oh.”
You better not be lying.

As we challenged each other with our gazes, I couldn't help noticing how good-looking he was. That didn't mean I wanted the shot. But I
certainly
didn't want to get pregnant either.

I got closer, rolled up a sleeve and extended my arm.

He grinned and fangs emerged. Freaked out, I stared in the opposite direction as my arm trembled.

Yes. Okay. Textured red walls and no scary fangs in sight.

"This injection doesn't go in your arm," he said. "It goes in your hip right above your ass. Hurry and lower your jeans because I don't have all fucking day. I've got twelve other girls to inject."

"Uh, okay. Hold on." My face warmed. Avoiding his intrusive stare, I turned to unfasten my pants.

He huffed. "Any day now, princess."

"Give me just a second."

Tap tap tap
went his foot. I inched down my jeans.

"Lower than that. I have to see your crack and part of your ass cheek."

"Fine. Alright." Lower and lower I went until my rear showed.

"That's good."

"Fuck you."

"I wouldn't say that if I were you. I'm the one with the needle—and I also have a dick. You're tempting me to use it. I can stab you with both If you wish."

I blinked. "Sorry. Just give me the shot and get it over with."

"Very good." He cleared his throat. "Bend over the bed."

"No. You can give me the shot while I'm standing. I'm not stupid."

"You're right. I just wanna see your ass in the air."

"I told you no. Give me the goddamn shot!"

He chuckled. "You're a shy one. Definitely can tell
you're
a virgin."

Anger flared. "I thought you were in a hurry."

"Oh I am. Sometimes I get a little distracted by hot asses with tasty virgin pussy. Forgive me."

Oh god...

Pinch and stinging as the solution surged in my hip.

"All finished, princess." He extracted the needle and pitched it in a waste basket.

I zipped up, then caught him gazing at me from the doorway.

Now what do you want, freak?

"Damn," he said shaking his head. "I wish I was one of those assholes chosen to pick a virgin. That competition is biased as fuck."

"What do you mean?"

"They didn't tell you how the men are chosen?"

“No.”
But I'm all ears.

"Only the sons of Bouvier Society's elite are eligible." He folded his arms over his chest. "For instance, Ryan Bouvier's father is our leader. He's the one who makes the rules, enforces them, and this year he chose his own son as one of the candidates. There's also Court. His father is Joseph Marseille, d'Eden's most prominent, powerful warlock. Court was also chosen to participate. Should I go on?"

"No. I get it."

"Yeah, we immortals are horny fuckers. Not only do we prefer the taste of virgin blood, we love fucking tight virgin pussy. Bite, taste, pop cherry and fuck like dogs. Now
that's
the way to live. Eternally." He winked.

My jaw dropped, though the freakisms shouldn't shock me anymore.

He smirked. I couldn't tell if he was annoyed by me or charmed.

"So why don't you just sniff out your own virgin? I heard your kind has a talent for it," I said.

"True. Still, it's hard to find an attractive virgin around here. Society minions travel miles and miles in search of beautiful girls to bring back. Good thing this shit happens once a decade and not more often."

A long silence trailed his words. I fidgeted, observed my hands, clothing, feeling his stare the whole time. His remark about 'beautiful girls' was an under-handed compliment and compliments embarrassed me.

"I have to go. I've already dicked off long enough. King Asshole Ansel Bouvier will have my head if I don't give all the injections in time. Birth control isn't something to mess around with—particularly in this society of man whores." He left.

Suddenly tired, drained, I spread out on the sofa.

My talk with no-name-freak was the closest I'd come to decent conversation. Though he was a crude sexist pig, he had a humanistic quality.

Humanistic
. As if part of me believed the vampire BS.

If the immortality thing
was
true I'd never admit it to myself.

I feared the truth.

* * * *

T
he next morning after devouring breakfast, I lounged on the sofa.

Click
went the door. So-called Master Ryan Bouvier shuffled into the room. He wore a buttoned-up dress shirt and slacks.

Ryan's stylish outfit enhanced his masculine beauty. But I didn't find him too attractive because his personality
sucked
.

Reluctantly I slipped from the sofa to join him.

Ryan's arm held a girl snugly at his side. Deep chestnut hair tumbled to her breasts. Big blue eyes peered at me, seemed as terrified as I'd once been.

Her slender legs trembled beneath a red halter dress.

"I'd like you to meet Ashley. She's our thirteenth and final victim—er virgin." Ryan displayed a shit-eating grin.

And those
fangs
. Those goddamn fangs! I wanted to take a pair of pliers and yank them out. Defang every one of these freaks.

"Hi Ashley. I'm Tatum." I forced a smile. She didn't return it.

"H—hi," she said.

Filled with compassion, I wanted to gather her in my arms, hug her till she felt safe.

Hug her until
I
felt safe.

Thank god. Thank god those evil things gave me a friend.

Misery loves company.

* * * *

T
ime to meet the candidates.

Thirteen robed individuals filed through the suite. Each one paused, observed me as I stood and waited like a pre-devoured slab of meat. A sex slave as the grand prize of a perverse contest.

Anxiety knotted my stomach during this process. Thirteen pairs of mesmerizing eyes studied me from head to toe, back to front. They sized me up to see if I was a suitable specimen to breed with; produce offspring worthy of continuing their freaky bloodline.

It wouldn't happen. I planned to run off at some point and take Ashley with me. They couldn't watch us twenty-four/seven.

Once they finished with me, the freak squad drifted to the other side of the room.

They began to size up my poor roommate.

* * * *

C
ourt was one of a handful who didn't resemble a California surfer. His jet black hair and dark looks reminded me of Johnny Depp. Court had elevated cheekbones and sea-green eyes which clashed attractively with his olive skin tone.

So yeah, he was cute. But I didn't know much about his personality.

I felt sorry for Ashley and hoped Court would treat her okay. Ashley seemed even more innocent than I. Maybe the most innocent girl out of all thirteen.

I also felt sorry for myself. The one who chose me was the very last guy I wanted.

I loathed him.

Ashley kept her head low as she perched on her bed. Tanned legs dangled over the round edge.

She hadn't said much since her arrival. Maybe I could coax her out of her shell.

I stepped up to her and crouched on the floor. Her bare feet hovered inches from me, toes curling and uncurling, tips painted scarlet.

She sniffled. Chestnut hair hid her face.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

She slowly nodded. That was her only movement besides curling her toes.

Brief silence.

"It's really not so bad here. Sometimes it's actually... nice. They pamper you like this is a spa or fancy hotel. You'll get used to it after a few days. I did." I desperately wanted her to feel comfortable, because I knew how scared I was when I first arrived. I didn't want her to go through this crap alone.

Not like I had to.

And I'd never mention any of the bad stuff. She didn't need to know, though I supposed they'd informed her about the eventual 'deflowering'. That was horrible enough.

Ashley released a shaky, anxious breath. "I was practically raised in church." She still didn't look up or meet my gaze. "My parents were Bible thumpers... that's what my friends called them. Every other day Mom reminded me how sinful sex was, unless you were married.
Every other day
since I was twelve. She made me ashamed and... no one has ever seen me naked. No one." Her toes scrunched so tightly the blood pooled under the skin. It hurt my own toes to see hers.

"I'm still a virgin because I'm shy around boys. Or I used to be," I said.

"Really?"

"Sure. I could never just walk up to some boy and ask him out. It scared the shit out of me, and I couldn't stand the thought of it."

Ashley giggled very briefly. She raised her head. Misty blue-green eyes held mine.

"Do you know anything at all about Court? Is he nice? Please tell me he's not a jerk."

What could I say? "I really don't know him, so I can't tell you if he's a dick. We can only hope these guys will treat us with respect." I shook my head, not holding out for much hope.

Then I smiled. "At least he's cute."

One side of her mouth curved upward as her face softened. "Yeah. He
is
cute."

I nodded.

"So we have to be positive about it. Try to make the best of it, I guess."

"There's no other choice." My enthusiasm faded. "The best way to get through this is to focus on the good things. If we get scared, we'll remind each other not to think of anything bad. Remember to focus on the good. And—if anything bad does happen, try to pretend it's all a dream. Pretend you're outside your body. Convince yourself. Tell yourself it's not actually happening. You can trick your mind if you work hard enough."

"I'll try."

"Me too." We regarded each other in thick silence. I extended my hand to hers.

Our resolution was solidified.

However, following my own advice wouldn't be
quite
so easy.

* * * *

"L
et the games begin," Ryan hissed in my ear.

And my nightmare begins.

No point in pretending to be asleep since Ryan wasn't stupid. But for some reason, at the moment my eyes refused to open.

The mattress creaked as he shifted, making me tense from neck to toes. His icy breath chilled my skin and created goose bumps.

"Sleeping beauty, oh sleeping beauty," he whispered, sounding certifiably nuts.

He planted a hard kiss on my cheek. Another hard, wet kiss on the opposite.

Still I didn't budge. Mattress creaked again. His legs enclosed mine and pressed inward so I couldn't move. He seized my wrists with one hand, lifted them above my head, stretching my arms taut until they ached.

His heavy body pushed down, cruelly trapping me beneath him.

"Sleeping beauty," he said. "Open your eyes, princess. I know you're awake. Your prince—er master wants to see your pretty green eyes." He put his lips to my eyelid, kissed, then softly kissed the other.

Ryan groaned either in frustration or arousal. "Open up, my sweet. I've chosen you, so you must obey. Obey your master."

"Go to hell." I kept my eyes shut.

"Your cute petulance turns me on even more. But from now on, refer to me as Master Ryan or suffer a swift punishment."

I imagined drifting outside myself, but it didn't help one bit. My terror was too real.

"Call me Master, princess."

"Go to hell, Master Ryan." I braced for a reaction.

"Mmm. Say that again." He thrust his hips into me; his clothed, rigid cock rubbed and stung the tender flesh between my thighs.

"G—go to hell, Master Ryan."

He squirmed, grinding himself against my pussy in painful repetition. "
Again
," he commanded. "Say it again."

"Go to hell. M—master Ryan."
Christ, he's getting weirder and weirder.

"Again!"

I did. His boner lengthened and probed me through my panties.

Heart raced
so fast
I thought I'd die.

I ventured a glimpse; then wished I hadn't. With pupils shrunk to tiny points, Ryan's huge, glaring eyes scared me. Horrified me.

Damp, pouty, hungry lips devoured mine as his hand eased up my nightie, found and roughly pinched a nipple.

Ouch, goddammit!

I whimpered, steeling myself for further misery while he squirmed, gyrated.

He raised slightly, moaned and
zzzip
went his jeans.

Oh shit.

Our lips crushed, moulded together in a wild series of sloppy kisses. He fondled, groped my breasts and groaned as his hand slipped across my curves.

He raised upright and jerked my panties down; his nails raked my outer thighs.

I gasped as Ryan yanked the waistband of his boxers, and his cock sprang forth. I wasn't ready... despite the unexpected sexual thrill that rushed to my belly and made me wet.

He dropped to continue his 'affectionate' assault. His type of kissing, grinding, fondling and affection was
supposed
to be shared between lovers; the one receiving his hateful love should
want
it, not wish to run away from it.

I stiffened my lips but Ryan's mouth easily pried them open. Inward shot his slimy tongue, massaging and forging ahead despite my objection. Further stinging as sharp, unnatural teeth prodded my tongue. Blood's metallic taste flooded my mouth.

Soon his cock would be inside me.
No no no.

Ryan's thighs got between mine and spread my legs apart. "Oh baby." He noisily sighed. "I'm gonna fuck you good.
Fuck your tight little sweet-tasting pussy.
"

My body continually betrayed me by preparing for his entry; even as I struggled, twisted in a futile attempt to gain control.