Fables/Fairytales Fan Fiction / Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Demonic ❯ Alone in Hell ( Chapter 12 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Alone in Hell

By: Roxria

~*~*~*~*~*~

Fear.

Kairi could feel it pulsing through her body like a second heartbeat, each and every moment distorting illusions of what her short-ended future was going to be like. It had long since numbed her hands and ankles, but then again, that could have been the cold metal cuffs that demon had attached to her wrists not long ago. They kept her arms pinned firmly above her head, strapped to whatever cement fixture was behind her.

It was hard to tell without proper use of her vision.

The man who had taken her from Daemon's chamber had not been appreciative of her struggling, especially when her leg had swung back and connected with his knee.

Kairi had found herself slammed against the ground so hard that her ribs almost snapped under the pressure. His hand had been so tightly around her throat that finger mark bruises had actually appeared across her flesh. All she could do was whimper as he dragged a clawed finger roughly across the skin just above both of her eyes in warning, snarling about how next time he wouldn't hesitate to claw out those precious `baby blues'.

The wounds hadn't closed since then. Blood continued to seep over her eyes, sticking to her eyelashes and running in front of her iris' in rivers. When she opened her eyes the only thing she could see was crimson blurs, and even then she could only keep them open for a few moments before the blood caused her eyelids to fall protectively.

Now she was alone.

In the dark.

Afraid.

Kairi could not stop her stomach from turning nauseously, feeling as if her heart had hit her stomach. Constant struggling had done nothing more then rub her skin raw, and raise her fear factor to an all time high. Her head lolled back as her body fought to regain the strength that kept her standing.

Damon.

Kairi pulled against the restrains again, eyes clenching shut as she tried to force her hands through the metal contraptions that held her hostage. She could taste the copper on her lips as the crimson streams made it down her cheeks, cringing at the thought of what must have looked like bloody tears. She tried to wipe away blood on the expanse of her arm, but only managed to smudge the liquid across her face. Her eyes remained locked shut, `Please Damon, please help me.' She prayed that her mate could hear her like she had done so many times before.

Crimson eyes kept flashing in her mind. It was those eyes that were burned so clearly into her memory; those feral orbs that had locked with hers only a moment before that man had forced her to come here. Kairi had never seen Damon look so infuriated; so absolutely enraged… and yet there was something beyond those eyes that had blazed almost as intensely. It had only stayed on her sharp features for a moment, but that didn't erase the fact -

Damon had looked so… stricken; like she had been sucker punched in the gut by her best friend.

It crossed Kairi's mind that this was the only point in all of her time being in this realm that Damon wasn't the one in control. That all-powerful persona had been cracked revealing only the slightest sliver of anxiety; almost vulnerability… and that word just didn't suit her mate at all.

The raven-haired temptress was strong, seductive, and untouchable by most standards…

Maybe that's why it hurt so much.

To see trouble in eyes that were usually so dominant and unfaltering… especially when those eyes belonged to that of her lover; it was a pain like she had never felt before.

Her gut wrenched in sickness, sticky heat reminding her that whatever bug she had contracted was not yet gone. Taking a deep breath, she tried to maneuver herself forcefully out of her position once again. Her wrists screamed in protest, but she bit her lip harshly and pushed through the pain; she had to get out of here… she had to.

Kairi let out a strangled cry of frustration as her arms gave out, body falling back against the wall. Her head lolled back as she weakly tugged on her bonds, cursing mentally as she found them to be just as tight as ever. Flaxen hair fell in front of her eyes, shadowing her face.

“Thinking of leaving so soon?”

Kairi felt her heart stop beating at the introduction of the masculine voice. Even if she could have opened her eyes at this point, she wouldn't have; because she knew… she knew that if anyone showed up before Damon did that her life became threatened by way of terminal extinction. And if her prior captor had given her any useful information, it was that the end came in form of a sadistic killer known as `Valon'. A cold chill steeled her down to the bone marrow; she couldn't hear him.

Not a breath, a movement, or even a footstep…

She had lost where he was already. Not even daring to make a move while in this position, she let the silence grow until she was sure he must have been able to hear the nervous pounding of her heart.

“What's your name?”

Kairi couldn't stop the startled jump that took hold of her form as the question was whispered against her ear. Her mouth went completely dry, words refusing to form despite her better judgment. Slender digits clenched around the metal of her restraints.

“C'mon now, don't be shy” the male spoke in reply to her silence, tone velvety smooth as if trying to invite her into answering.

Kairi refused his invite blatantly, turning her head towards the ground and pursing her lips shut. She knew he was close; she knew because his voice was so persistent against the shell of her ear.

He looked at her fingers which where so tightly drawn around the metal restraining her wrists, before carefully slipping his finger under her chin and slanting it up. He tisked, “It's not very polite to shun the person who is talking to you, you know. Especially when you're bound to the wall with no way of knowing how dangerous that person may be.” His tongue clicked against the top of his mouth, “But then again, I could always tell you how dangerous I am and maybe you still wouldn't answer.”

Kairi snapped her head away from his touch almost as quickly as it came.

“But you must like danger, no?”

Her eyes tightened at the question, but she still remained silent.

“Having a mate like Damon means you must find some appeal in danger; either that or you're a closet masochist” he said, sliding his fingers a little further up her face, “You don't really look like the ladder to me, but you never know; I could be wrong.”

Kairi flinched when his fingers traced the bleeding patterns above her eyes, circling them with what must have been morbid curiosity. She wanted to tell him to stop touching her; to leave her alone; but common sense was rallying the domineering side of her brain. Since he knew about her being Damon's mate… it was better that way for now. Her head shirked sharply when she felt warm fingers drag slowly through her hair, a sound of protest quickly stifled as they continued to touch probingly.

“Am I wrong?”

Her body flinched, his mouth so close to her ear that she could feel his soft breath every time he exhaled. With her insides in a furling knot, she knew that his game was having the desired effect. She tried to forcefully calm down her heart so that she could hear a coherent thought instead of her thundering pulse, but it didn't work. Blood just rushed even faster.

“So you really are this shy… I thought that might have just been a rumor” came the low masculine voice, “So many of them tend to fly around, it's hard to know which ones to believe.” He let his fingers rest on the back of her neck, stroking the skin rhythmically.

Kairi tried to shirk away from the touch, but his hands were firmly adhered.

“But so far I can't say I'm too disappointed” he said, his voice suddenly reforming to a slightly different tone. His alternate hand moved to cup her cheek, thumb stroking the crimson skin inquisitively, “But there is one rumor I heard that I would like to check for myself…”

The touch was like acid; it burned everywhere that it touched without remorse, making her skin sting as if it had been infected. She turned her face down, but it was quickly brought back up. Darkness was her only visual, something she was thankful for considering how much this man intimidated her.

“I heard that Damon's mortal mate” he continued, “has the most electric blue eyes; eyes that almost betray her mortality. They say it's how you brought her to her knees.”

Kairi whimpered when he pressed the pads of his fingers against her bleeding cuts, flames licking her skin she tried to get away. She strained against her bindings as the pain flared through her body, her legs suddenly unfrozen and willing to work. She was about to kick the elder man away from her, but was instantly stopped when her ankles were ensnared and forced back down to their original position.

“I close your wounds, and you try and kick me?” he cooed against her skin, “For shame, kid, I thought for sure that human upbringing would have taught you some manners.”

Mentally, Kairi was screaming in frustration. She just couldn't get away from him! Everything that she was trying failed, and there were only so many things her body was going to allow itself to do. The calming tone of his voice was only furthering the erosion of her rationality.

Lean digits swiped across her eyes gently, smudging blood away from them until it was no longer present. He took his time dragging his fingers alone her lash line, clawed fingers teasing the fluttering skin in amusement, “Will you show me now?”

The bound female pressed her lips tightly together when he dragged his thumb over them.

“C'mon, you owe me after that kick” he reminded, taking perceived interest in the canine prints that bruised her slender neck, “and given the circumstances, I think I'm being pretty lenient considering what most would want in my position.”

Kairi bit into her lip harshly, trying to find a good enough argument to persuade herself out of doing anything that he wanted… but she couldn't find one. She hated herself for even contemplating the idea, but in actuality, it seemed like the only thing she could do in this limited position. Doing what he asked… was the only way she might survive long enough to see Damon again.

Too bad her body was on a strike against her mental reasoning, refusing to unclench her eyes from their recent position.

“Open your eyes, kid” he said softly.

“Kairi.”

The voice was so soft he almost missed it, “Say that again.”

“M-my name” she whispered, forcing her eyes to flutter open, “I-It's Kairi.” It took her a moment to readjust to the lighting of the room, everything appearing to be a flourish of dark green. Or that's what she thought. After a few seconds of blinking her eyes, she shot back against the wall when she realized she was mere centimeters away from stunning ivy eyes. Her heart leapt into her throat; had he always been this close?

He only proceeded to get closer, staring straight into her eyes with fierce intensity.

Kairi didn't have any choice but to look straight back, not even enough room between them to turn her face away. The intimidation that she had once felt was now sky- rocketing as she was able to see her captor face-to-face. She had to fight tooth and nail against her knee jerk reaction to slam her eyes back shut.

The man in front of her was daunting by any standards. He was at least three inches taller then her, sharp jade eyes rimmed with crimson lines that gave the illusion that he was bleeding from his irises. There incredible intensity was backed by a vindictive smirk that didn't fade, sharp teeth forming a grin that would put a madman to shame. He blinked from beneath shaggy black and blond locks, letting his thumb drag softly over her eye and against her cheek, “Incredible…”

The younger cringed as his warm breath fled across her lips. She instantly turned her eyes to the ground as a flush painted her skin from the close proximity. Inwardly, she cursed the higher power that had given her all these distinct features that demons seemed to enjoy so much.

The demon allowed for his body to get closer, drawing exceedingly close to the mortal's body, “Especially for a human girl. You seem to have a physical pull around you, Kairi… it makes people want to be close to you”. He hummed against her ear in thought, “It shows, especially when you become the mate of someone like Damon.”

Azure eyes widened when he closed the gap between their bodies, pushing himself against her body firmly. She jumped rashly, but it didn't help. Being pinned between him and the wall with no use of her appendages… she couldn't do anything but struggle.

He leaned in close to her neck, “But I'm willing to bet you don't like people getting close to you. You're much too jumpy to be one of those practiced mortals…” His teeth grazed over her skin, “All I have to do is look into those eyes to know how much of an innocent you still are. And that's some statement considering the sexual mutilation Damon puts her partners through.”

The pinned girl squirmed, “L-let me go…”

“I'm hurt, Kairi. You don't even know me and yet you want to leave so soon. You're not being a very gracious guest,” the greened eyed demon cooed mockingly. He trailed slow kisses down the base of her neck, “But then, I haven't introduced myself either so that makes me an ungracious host.”

Her struggling intensified as his touches became more intimate.

“My name is Valon” he whispered against her ivory skin, running his hands down from her shoulders to hips as to trace every curvaceous expanse, “You would do well to remember it for future use; although, your future many be short lived depending on how good you are during your time here.”

Kairi's heart leapt into her throat, temporarily even stopping a breath from passing her lips. Fear raced through her body like a flashflood - this was Valon; the Valon that was going to kill her for even associating with Damon. Blue eyes clenched shut as his lips ghosted across her collar.

Valon looked up with a soft smile, “So you've heard my name before.” He brushed flaxen hair out of her closed eyes, “Tell me what you know of me.”

It took a moment for the question to even register fully in her mind, fear causing the rush of blood to pound frantically in her ears. Her eyes drifted open as his breath seeped across her cheek. Even the way he exhaled seemed to be some passive warning, demanding that she answer his questions with eyes alert. She shivered, “I- I don't know a lot… just that y-you're on the Council of Elders…”

Her eyes caught sight of two spike-like protrusions that had grown from his shoulder blades, and she forced her eyes to avert somewhere else. She ended up catching gazes with her captor, lured into green eyes that were still violating her comfort zone.

Valon chuckled, “You're stuttering, Kairi… do I make you nervous?”

She knew he was toying with her. Every one of her nerves was standing on end, a reaction invoked at his very presence. She jerked away from his touch when he went to stroke her face again. Azure eyes turned up to meet his slightly harder then they had originally been. Her eyes, although she willed them not to, betrayed what her innocent nature refused to question.

“You have good reason to be, I'm sure. I doubt what you've heard about the nature of your… position… hasn't been reassuring in the least.” He shook his head, “Though what could you possibly have done about it? I'm sure you didn't even want to be with her in the first place, and she brings you to this place that mortals can't escape from. All in all, Damon brought this upon herself.”

Kairi's eyes rose defiantly.

“She's grown so fond of you, Kairi. Being as intelligent as you are, you must have realized that you are not meant for her; that there can be nothing more then quick lust between a demoness of Damon's standard and yourself” Valon told her, “If her fascination had ended after she had taken you, there wouldn't be a problem… but now you are a liability.”

Azure eyes turned stony, “I'm not sorry.”

Valon turned his eyes up to meet hers, slightly surprised when she didn't avert her gaze.

“You sound --” Kairi whispered on, “like you're looking for an apology for what we've done. And I'm not going to give you one.” She bit into her cheek, remembering back to the time she had asked Damon that very same question that Valon was telling her now. She had wanted to know if it was wrong to be with Damon… the question seemed ridiculous as she thought about it. Even now, staring down the man destined to end her life, she knew she wouldn't trade her time with Damon for anything…

That precious time had been her life…

Funny how she didn't recognize that till now: how over all this time she had been changing. The barriers that she built so protectively around herself had slowly broken down only to be rebuilt into something better… something that could only be described as divine intervention.

Kairi took a breath before her eyes turned away from his meekly, “I'm not sorry.”

Valon chuckled, “You don't beg, you don't repent, you don't plead… perhaps you are different from other mortals.” He turned her face back so their eyes would meet, “But you are mortal none-the-less. That enough is certain.”

Kairi tried to press her body through the wall as the elder man closed the distance between their bodies so they were pressed flush against each other. She couldn't help the inner anxiety that flooded into her eyes as their gazes met, her eyes held captive by blood rimmed eyes.

His canines peaked from his mouth as a grin split his lips, “You're very loyal to your mate, aren't you, blue-eyes?” He presses his forehead against hers, “The only scent that I can smell on you is Damon's. You haven't been shared with anyone.” He licked his lips, “You're still green, kid. Damon's barely used you enough to make you experienced.”

The youth grimaced as his slender digits ran across her cheek.

Valon shifted and traced his tongue around the shell of her ear, “How much do you think it would take for me to make you un-loyal?”

Blue eyes sharpened fearfully at the comment, “W-what?”

The demon laughed at her naivety, watching the panic that immediately flooded through her anxiety-ridden eyes, “You're loyalty to Damon, blue-eyes. How much effort do you think it would take on my part to make you crack? To turn your body against you?” He brushed his canines across her pulse point, “How much would it take to make you moan out a name that isn't your mate's?”

Kairi struggled hard as Valon pressed a clawed finger against the siding of her shirt, and even harder when she heard the initial `pop' as his nail sunk through the fabric. She exhaled sharply when his chest presses firmly against her own.

Valon tilted his head with a seductive grin, “I don't think it would be too hard, do you? Especially--” He started to split the fabric along her shirts, “since you've never been with a man before.”

As the fabric of her shirt was cleanly torn down her side, an involuntary shudder running through her frame as his claws skimmed over her skin. She turned her head away sharply when Valon's lips came within centimeters of her own, turning just in time for his mouth to collide with her cheek instead.

That didn't stop him from proceeding, talented tongue licking her cheek before trailing down to her throat, “Mm, I thought kissing was one of those acts that little mortal girls liked to do?”

Even through the fear, Kairi managed to glare at him: partially because he was right.

Yes, she knew it was naïve of her to believe that a kiss on the lips meant anything in a place like this. But it did mean something to her. She had her first kiss with Damon, given that it hadn't been under the best of terms the first time, but it was still a first kiss. Some part of her rejected having someone else other then her mate so something that she thought of as so intimate.

Damon was her first kiss… and Kairi wanted her to be her last kiss as well.

Valon brought himself back up from her neck, smiling at the look that she was trying unsuccessfully to make venomous. “Such a harsh look, blue-eyes, I was only trying to be accommodating. You look so distraught for someone who is about to have their first go with a man.”

White hair fell in front of her eyes as she tried to hide them from the demon. She winced at the hand that started to pull away at her shirt, her arms helplessly floundering attempt to break through the chains that strapped her position.

“Oh, don't struggle, Kairi, you won't be going anywhere” Valon reminded, “Although, you could be let free from this bindings if you made a little deal with me…”

The mortal whimpered when his lips brushed across the side of her mouth without warning, instantly causing her to swivel her head to the side in avoidance. She flinched when the material of her shirt was slid off her body, leaving her upper body clothed by only her bra. All she wanted to do was avoid his playful gaze, but he wasn't allowing for it.

“C'mon now, don't be stubborn” he breathed against her ear, “no matter how much you want to avoid talking to me, you want to be let down more. You want the leverage.”

Kairi pressed her voice to pass through her lips, “W-what do you want?”

He nuzzled his forehead against her shoulder affectionately; kissing along the strap that was there to draw more shivers from the tense mortal, “A taste of your free will.” He slid his tongue over his lips as he tilted her face back to meet his.

“What do you mean?” she whispered back in a voice that was almost inaudible.

Valon dragged a fingers over her lips, “You know what I mean, blue-eyes, you're smarter then that.” He leaned forward till his lips were only an inch away from hers, “I want to be able to kiss you without having you pull away, Kairi. And I don't want any of those pretty teeth biting off more then they can chew.”

Kairi clenched her eyes shut, pursing her mouth shut as her mind raced for an answer of what to do. Mentally, she was screaming. There mere thought of willfully doing anything to appease Valon, even if it would get her free, was enough to make her stomach turn. She knew that his deals were aimed to hit on her human mentality, but if she didn't, she wouldn't even have a chance to get free from his touch. She reminded herself, and her shaking hands, that having some control was better than having none at all.

“Do we have a deal?”

Her fingers turned white as they clenched against the metal bindings, barely finding the strength to nod her head.

“What was that, Kairi?” Valon asked, turning her head up to look into conflicted eyes, “you'll have to speak louder.”

Azure eyes turned up wearily, “W-we have a… a deal.” As soon as she said the words she felt pains pile-drive her stomach, her body rejecting her decision to agree anything this demon had to offer. It was due to this pain that she wasn't ready when Valon released her arms and legs, numb limbs instantly causing her to collapse.

Valon caught her instantly, arms wrapping around her waist as she fell forward from her previous wall position.

Kairi wrapped her arms around his chest unconsciously as she fell, trying desperately to alleviate the spots that had formed in front of her eyes. As soon as she realized where her hands were, she instantly tried to scramble onto her own two feet. When his arms didn't move from around her waist, she found herself only able to stabilize; not move away. When she went to pull her hands away from his chest, they were kept in place by his own hands.

Ivy eyes sparkled in amusement, “Keep those right there.”

She turned away when his lips came closer to hers.

Valon gave a mock pout, “Play nice, Kairi, we did make a deal. I fulfilled my part, and now it's your turn. Unless maybe--” He ran his hands against her sides, “you like being pinned up against that wall?”

Kairi winced at the accusation, resentfully turning back to face the taller demon. Her hands instantly fled down to where his was, placing her own over his as to stop them from moving any further. When his lips touched against her chin she resisted the urge to pull away, her stomach flipping in another violent reaction.

“Relax.”

Her eyes closed instantly, “Don't.”

“Don't what?”

Her eyes widened; had she said that out loud? Blue eyes dilated quickly, but she hid them behind flaxen locks instantly. A flush instantly settled over her cheeks as she tried to calm down her frazzled nerves. Her mind and body were functioning on completely different plains; each pulling her in a different direction. She wanted to put distance between them, along with a concrete wall, but he wasn't allowing it.

Valon grinned, “Don't what, blue-eyes? Tell you to relax? Or kiss you?”

Kairi took a step back at the feral grin only for her back to hit the wall. She looked up wearily at the demon man who quickly closed the space between them. Cerulean eyes widened when his warm lips suddenly captured her own before she even had time to prepare.

He took advantage of her surprise, biting her lip softly until they both parted from the shock. He smirked as his tongue brushes against her teeth, knowing that her body must have been killing itself from trying not to bite him. He slid his palm down to the very edge of her jeans, causing the youth to shirk in surprise. It allowed him to make the kiss even deeper.

Kairi clenched onto his hands tightly, especially when his lips started to sting her own noticeably.

It wasn't a normal sting either.

It felt like her lips were becoming enflamed, as if she had just run a branch of poison ivy against them. When she tried to pull back, he only pushed forward as to keep them continuously connected.

Valon pressed against her so that she wouldn't move, his hands clasping around hers as to keep them pinned firmly by her sides.

Kairi whimpered from the pain, the fire spreading from her lips to her body, coiling around her arms and legs till she thought was going to keel from the ache. Her fingers twitched as the sensation traveled to every corner of her being, spreading like possessed wildfire. She went to go and bite down on her own lip, but her teeth instantly grazed Valon's and she pulled back instantly.

The deal. That stupid, stupid, deal.

Valon separated from her slowly, pointed teeth forming into a sadistic grin, “I thought I felt those teeth of yours, Kairi. You weren't trying to break our deal were you?”

She shook her head, her fingers pressing unconsciously harder into his as the stinging sensation continued to assault her senses. Her vision doubled, temporarily causing her to lose her footing.

Valon held her up by her wrists as she fell, only her knees allowed to rest on the floor while the rest of her hung limply. He licked his hips as she turned her pained gaze up towards him.

“W-what did y-you do?” she stuttered weakly through the throbbing pain that had lolled into her mind. She tried weakly to yank her hands free of his grasp, his very fingers feeling like they were searing prints into her skin. When she felt him slide his own interlocking fingers into hers, she shirked to avoid the burning feeling that would undoubtedly start to spread.

“Stop struggling, don't move.”

Kairi whimpered when her muscles suddenly cramped, a cry echoing from her lips as her body suddenly froze against her will. Tears stung her eyes as she tried to get her limbs to move, but found them grounded in place obstinately. Even as the burning slowly started to fade, she still couldn't will her body to move.

“Stand tall, blue-eyes.”

Her legs pushed herself up to stand, her eyes now fearful as she started to comprehend what exactly Valon's kiss had done to her. She tried to pull her arms up to put distance between them, desperate to be able to control her own actions, but her pursuit died when only the tips of her fingers would move.

Valon chuckled against her throat, “Damon reads minds, I control their bodies…” he touched her shoulder, “…with a kiss.”

Kairi felt the air change around Valon instantly. It was sadistic, cruel, and undoubtedly darker then it had been.

Even now, looking so content and giddy, his green eyes bled with the appeal of total control. He locked gazes with her, “You look so afraid now…” He pressed a slow kiss to her lips once more, “I wonder what kind of scenarios your frantic little mind is coming up with… you seem like a creative girl. I bet you've come up with some doozies.”

She would have turned away if his power wasn't still creeping through her veins like a permanent drug.

“Or maybe you've figured out that this is how your life ends…”

Her pulse instantly quickened as her mind sped through possibilities of how to get out of here; of how to gain any form of distance from the man who was cruelly playing with her mind. But there was nothing. There was nothing because, no matter how hard she tried, she could not will her body to move away from his. A hiss left her lips when he bit down harshly on her neck, but she was unable to pull away.

Valon leaned up, “Kiss me, Kairi.”

Blue eyes turned up defiantly, but her body unconsciously moved closer to his. She whimpered when she tried to stop herself, only to be met by a fiery pain that rocketed up her spine, “N-no…”
Her knuckles turned white they were gripping the seams of his shirt so hard. Her eyes clenched shut tightly when her body forced past her mental denial, her feet arcing so that she could get to his taller level. Closing her eyes was the only thing she could do to stop the tears from falling as her lips pressed against his-own softly.

He smirked when she pulled away just as quickly; it was true that he never specified how long the kiss had to be.

Kairi looked as if she had just been bitten. She was frustrated that here body refused to listen to her brain's impulses despite being fully aware. Even more, she was frightened at the prospect of what Valon had planned for this newly founded control.

“Soft and sweet. Just like you” he whispered against the shell of her ear. He smiled softly, “Come now, Kairi, don't give me that look. It was just an innocent little kiss. I thought you might like something soft to remember before you die.”

It was then that Kairi became aware of Valon's hand that was wrapped so tightly around her own, digits entangled in what she thought to be a taunting manner. But now that she could focus, she realized that he had something in his hand that he had forced into her own.

And whatever it was cut into her skin sharply, palms instantly split and seeping blood through her clenched fingers.

Valon let go of hers hands and took a half step back to observe the damage he had done. He brushed flaxen strands out of her eyes in feigned affection, “I've never been one for getting my hands dirty, Kairi. Why would I when I can just force other people to do it for me?” He smiled cruelly, “And mortals tend to be so messy when they die… I find it's easier just to let them do it themselves. Then my hands don't have to get dirty.”

Kairi's heart was thundering so hard with fear that it was a wonder it didn't speed right out of her chest. Her shoulders rattled as silver streams continued to flow from her eyes, crimson soaked hands now positive in what they held.

Serrated edges, smooth metal center, silver shine under the crimson blanket of blood…

It was a razor's edge.

Kairi shook as he took her blade-wielding hand and placed against her forearm teasingly. Her fingers were shaking, each doused in blood but refusing to move away from where Valon put them. The lithe body rattled in absolute fear.

Valon presses his lips against her neck, sucking gingerly on the set of canine prints that Damon had left until the skin was darkly bruised. He allowed her to feel the smirk that spread over his lips, “Are you scared, blue-eyes?” He could feel her pulse beating at erratic rates, blood pounding beneath the skin, “Are you scared to die?”

“P-please, please don't” she whispered desperately, her mind crying out for Damon helplessly. She blinked her eyes rapidly as tears torched her skin relentlessly. With the cold blade pressed against her arm threateningly, she could only think one thing:

This was it. She was going to die.

Valon was going to make her slit her own wrists to sate the will of every demon who didn't want her to be with Damon. He was going to bleed her out before Damon could come… she wasn't going to be saved.

The demon stroked her cheek softly, “You're such a sweet kid, Kairi.” He kissed her ear affectionately, “And because you are the mate of one of our dearest companions, I will repay that sweetness. Don't be afraid, I'll make it quick.” Valon stood straight and took a step back, taking in the sight of the petrified youth one more time. He smiled, showing of rows of perfect sharp teeth, “Move the blade down to your wrist, Kairi.”

She whimpered as her hand slid down to her wrist, serrated edges nicking the skin of her forearm as she went. In her mind, she screamed so loudly that it actually caused her ears to pop in alarm. The crimson track that had been smeared down her arm stopped as her hand did, blade poised for the perfect horizontal cut. Her shoulders shook as she realized the futility of pleading… Valon had no heart to appeal to.

Valon crossed his arms over his chest.

She could tell. She could tell this was going to be the order that ended it. It occurred to her, through the fear, that she should repent while she was still able to… but she couldn't find the strength to even muster a mental `I'm sorry'. Before she died, she was content in knowing that she hadn't done anything that she regretted during her allotted time…

“In ten seconds, Kairi, I want to slice your wrist along the blue vein. Do it fast and deep. No mistakes.”

His voice was so eerily calm, and yet it was laced with satisfaction; the satisfaction of knowing that he had won.

Even if Damon had walked through the doors right now, there was nothing she could do to stop the mortal youth from taking her own life. The order had been placed, and there was no stopping it now. There was no force strong enough on this plane to halt the actions that had been so sadistically placed.

“Goodbye, Kairi.”

Azure eyes dilated at the sudden pain, jagged edges sinking into her skin fluidly and without remorse. It took her a moment to register the rippling fire that she could now associate with death… Her fingers fell from the blade as it finished ripping through her wrist, the metal dropping onto the tiled ground with delivered grace.

Kairi fell onto her knees as her vision doubled from the pain. She looked down to see the crimson puddle she had fallen into, eyes slowly starting to turn colors into blobs of black and gray that would soon become unreadable. Clutching her bleeding skin with the last of her strength, she started her decent to the ground. When she hit it, she could no longer feel it.

All she could feel was the life that was slowly pumping out of her body and onto the marbled floor. She couldn't tell if the pain or the blood loss was causing her inevitable fall into darkness; and she found it odd how at this time she remembered Damon telling her not to be afraid of something as simple a the dark. Kairi coughed, blood sputtering past her lips and against the floor. Whether she was falling into unconsciousness or death, she didn't know - the ladder would be the end result no matter what.

Azure eyes tried to stay open, to hang on to one last piece of hope that Damon would come, but her body rejected the notion. She tried to hang onto the pain because as long as it was there she wasn't dead. As long as she could feel…

Everything was growing dark now.

Kairi whimpered as her mate ran through her mind. What she would give to touch Damon one more time… to say the things that she had always been too shy to say. Her quietness seemed to become some sort of mortal curse as she thought back to times where she had never said enough. But now even the memories were starting to fade into twilight flashes.

Blood stained lips parted in effort to say her final words. Her throat was dry and parched, and they seemed to get stuck as the last of her water fled down her cheeks as tears. She in took a sharp breath as she spoke to whatever god would deliver her last message:

“D-Damon… L-love… y-you…”

One breath, one phrase, one pronouncement… before azure eyes closed for the very last time.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ray: *Starts to cry* “That was the saddest chapter I ever had to write!”

Roxy: *Also starts to cry* “Me too!”

Ray: “Why!?!? It's not FAIR!”

Roxy: *Comforts Ray*

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