Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ A Matter Of Choice ❯ Desperate Measures ( Chapter 49 )

Desperate Measures

 

Demetriov watched Tegan leave. He just couldn't keep waiting. She was there in front of him every night and it was maddening. He wanted her so much, but while open hostilities had ended these past months had been hell as she had barely noticed him. He had hoped that after their time in the gardens things would start to shift between them and they just hadn't. Okay, maybe they had, but it was so slow and so slight. She was never around him and he'd never had a chance to add to the foundations he had laid down that night. This wasn't how he had planned it. Things were supposed to be at a point where he could start subtly pushing his way in. He knew that it was not a simple situation but there was one major obstacle: Torin.

 

While they were happy together Tegan was getting exactly what she wanted. While she was with Torin she would never come to him. She never even noticed him, was barely in his presence these days, she and Torin inseparable. He felt the jealousy that had been growing for so long rising up inside him. He felt it worst when he heard them making love. He well remembered the pleasure of Torin's body when they had been lovers, and knew how skilled a lover he was. He almost found himself longing for that again. But Tegan, that was where his real desire lay. As he heard her cry out he longed to be the one enticing those cries from her pretty throat. There was only one thing for it; it was time to force things to how he wanted them to be. Torin was about to find out just how far he was willing to go to have the things he wanted.

 

* * * * *

 

Torin entered the mansion not thinking of anything particular. He walked into the hallway momentarily disconcerted though he did not know why. The feeling passed and he headed upstairs to his room. He wanted to change before Tegan returned. He had the smell of his victim on him and knowing how fragile Tegan still was, he was doing his utmost to avoid trouble. Although it had been six months since that incident he occasionally caught a glimpse of that haunted look in her eyes. He was so preoccupied that he didn't notice the figure waiting for him behind the door. He was aware too late of the attack from behind. The pain blossomed red behind his eyes as the blow connected with his skull. The world went black.

 

* * * * *

 

Torin woke in the dark with a banging headache to find himself tied to a chair; not too much of a problem. Once his head cleared it would only take a couple of minutes to be free, even if it meant the destruction of the chair. The questions formed in his mind, where was he, why was he here, and who had brought him here? The answer came in a flash of pain as someone struck him hard across the face. A light came on suddenly, the sudden brightness hurting his eyes. The blow had made him dizzy and it was an effort to lift his head, but lift it he did. A figure was coming into view but he already had an idea who this might be, there were very few who could hit that hard. Also, this had happened to him once before, the night Demetriov had taken Tegan and begun her change. Sure enough, as his vision cleared it was Demetriov who came into view. Torin spat, blood tinged saliva hitting the floor.

 

“So have you developed a taste for domination and come to seduce me into becoming your slave?” Torin spat the words. “Or do you have another purpose in mind?”

 

He was stalling, quietly testing the ropes that bound him. To be honest he didn't want to know the answer to that question, mainly because he had a nasty feeling it would be something he didn't want to hear. Look at where he was for fuck's sake. This was extremely worrying that Demetriov would do this to him. Demetriov looked down on Torin, at his handsome features, straining at his bonds. The image suddenly had him remembering those early years when Torin had seduced him and the old desire flared momentarily. He wondered for a moment what it would be like to make love to him again.

 

“And would you really take me back?” He asked candidly, a little curious as to the suggestion Torin had planted in his mind.

 

Torin blinked in disbelief, had he seriously just asked that? To say this was surreal was an understatement.

 

“We had some good times, but you fucked me around too much. Besides, I would never give up Tegan in favour of you.”

 

“And why should you?” Demetriov hissed nastily, starting to show his true feelings about the two. “After all your luscious lover has been nothing but faithful and desperately in love with you hasn't she?” he spat.

 

“So this is about Tegan.” Probably stating the obvious, but never mind, who knew what Demetriov was thinking.

 

Demetriov sighed, catching a hold of himself and his emotions, and allowed Torin the time to think. He watched him as he realised that this wasn't about him and Demetriov at all, but more about Demetriov and Tegan's relationship, or rather lack of it. As the realisation sunk in Torin's eyes grew hard and angry.

 

“You knew this day would come. I told you as much when you first bedded her.”

 

“You will never have her!” Torin spat.

 

With that Demetriov struck him again, this blow harder than the last. Coloured spots invaded his vision. Torin shook his head, trying to clear his head, tasting blood in his mouth once more.

 

“Never say never Torin.” He crouched in front of Torin until they were at the same height. “Let me tell you how this is going to be. You have two choices.”

 

“Choices!” Torin was incredulous.

 

“Yes. You see, I have no chance of developing a relationship of any kind with her, while you are around satisfying her every need.”

 

“You have no chance anyway.”

 

Demetriov struck him again in reply. Torin groaned in pain, he had forgotten just how strong Demetriov had become over the years. That one had cracked the bones in his cheek, and he knew Demetriov was not using his full strength yet.

 

“Oh but I do. I am not saying that she will fall into my arms instantly, but things can develop given the chance. So here is the nature of your choice Torin.”

 

“Why do I get the feeling that I am not going to like this?”

 

Demetriov sniggered nastily. “Quite simply, you can end your little love affair…”

 

“What!”

 

“I don't care how you do it, but you will do it without mentioning this little tête-à-tête.”

 

“Never!” Another blow, this one cracking his jaw.

 

“What did I say about never say never? You will or we come to the other option, which involves Tegan being exactly where you are now. I will capture her, I will bring her here and then I will put her through every kind of hell until either I break her and make her mine, or she dies! And you know how hard it is to kill a vampire, just how much punishment she would be able to take. Adam can be quite useful for ideas.”

 

“You wouldn't!”

 

Torin was in shock. He could not believe that Demetriov would ever harm Tegan to get what he wanted. Then he wanted to slap himself. Look at the brutal games he had played with her, the beatings he had given her, toying with her till he was ready to take her and make her his. Of course he was not beyond such things, he had already started down this road with her.

 

“Wouldn't I?” He sneered. “Think Torin, I made this promise to her years ago, and you know I am a man of my word. You know damn well that I would. Think on how far I have gone already.”

 

“You bastard! I'd stop you before you laid a finger on her,” he hissed, though a nasty little voice in the back of his mind was whispering nastily that said promise was all bravado and he lacked the strength to back it up.

 

“And how do you propose to do that. Look how easily I brought you here. It would be quite simple just to leave you locked in here. There is a similar room next door. You would be able to hear everything.”

 

By now Torin was furious, even desperate, and Demetriov could hear the chair creaking, weakening under Torin's struggles. He struck him again, blood flying from his mouth. Torin sagged, his struggling at an end for the moment as the pain blinded him.

 

“You claim to love her, and yet you would do this.” He ground out, shaking his head to clear his vision. “You know how fragile she is at the moment. I can't in all conscience do something that could hurt her.”

 

“Yes, she is fragile. It should make it so much easier to break her, as long as the stubborn streak doesn't resurface.”

 

“You bastard!” Torin was regaining his strength as his body healed. “I'll kill you first.”

 

“Try it Torin and you will be locked in here where you can hear her scream.”

 

Torin roared in frustration.

 

“It really is simple. If you love her, and I know that you do, you will let her go. Just give me my shot and no harm will come to her. Otherwise, you know what I will do. I'll leave you to think on it.”

 

He walked away Torin roaring as he turned out the light once more, the metal door slamming behind him.

 

* * * * *

 

When Demetriov returned an hour later Torin was in the corner, the chair in pieces. The worst of his immediate rage spent. Smears of blood on his face and his clothes showed he had wept in his rage and frustration. But he looked defeated, broken; evidently he had chosen.

 

“You are a shit!”

 

“You've made your decision then?”

 

“You leave me no choice. I know you well enough to know that you don't make an idle threat.”

 

Torin hated how hollow his voice sounded in his own ears, how weak and fragile it made him seem.

 

“Then it is settled.” Demetriov said sternly. “Just be sure that if you let her know anything of what has passed between us tonight, I will make you watch as I break her.” He warned, utterly serious in his threat.

 

“I can understand you hurting me, but why hurt her, she is happy.” Torin tried desperately to understand, to change Demetriov's way of thinking.

 

“I made her a promise. I need her.” He said quietly.

 

The light in his eyes belied his obsession with her, and this was what he had been afraid of when Demetriov had tried to snatch Tegan five years ago, that he would become so obsessed with her as to see nothing else.

 

“At what price? What if she never comes to you? What will you do then?” He was almost frightened of the answer, but he had to try to reason with him.

 

“Leave me to deal with that, if it ever happens.”

 

With that Demetriov left, leaving the door open. Torin hung his head. He had no idea how he was going to do this, but he loved her too much to allow him to hurt her. He was in for a long night.

 

* * * * *

 

Torin walked up the steps to the front door with a heavy heart; he was about to do the hardest thing he had ever done. The sky was becoming alarmingly light behind him. He had contemplated allowing the sun to burn him up instead of doing this, but knew that Tegan would need someone to watch over her if it all came crashing down. It was better for her that he was nearby just in case. She was at the top of the stairs as he entered the hall, rushing down to meet him as soon as she saw him. She threw herself onto him, wrapping her arms around him.

 

“Thank God! I was so worried about you, where on earth were you?”

 

“It doesn't matter.” He replied flatly.

 

Suddenly she noticed how stiff he was, how he hadn't returned the hold. He grasped her arms, removing himself from her embrace. She stood stunned as he walked away and up the stairs. It took her a moment to be able to follow him and found that he had entered his room. He stood with his back to the open door, leaning against his desk. It was with trepidation that she stepped inside. He flinched as she placed a hand on his shoulder.

 

“Don't!” He barked.

 

“What's wrong?” She asked, almost terrified of his reply.

 

“It's over Tegan.” Tegan was as much shocked by the anger in his voice as the actual words.

 

“What!”

 

She couldn't believe he was saying this. When they had woken up together tonight he had been smiling, loving, affectionate. What the hell had caused this?

 

“We cannot do this anymore!”

 

“Torin, what are you saying? Whatever the reason we can sort this out.”

 

She was close to panicking, not understanding, desperate to, wondering what she had done to cause this sudden turn of events.

 

“No we can't!”

 

Tegan yelped as he spun to face her, his face a picture of the anger that consumed him. Seeing her fear calmed him a little.

 

“I'm sorry Tegan. It has been amazing, but our time is over.”

 

Tegan waited for the explanation, but none came, and she shook her head in disbelief.

 

“So that's it?” It was her turn to be angry, feeling it rise in the pit of her stomach. “Just sorry? We've never had a single fight, never had any issues of any kind and out of the blue I get I'm sorry!” She was incredulous.

 

Torin turned his head away, shame burning in him. He longed to tell her it was a mistake, tell her everything that had happened, to take her away from Demetriov and run to the ends of the earth. He knew that he could do no such thing, Demetriov would be watching like a hawk and it would be impossible. He would only risk Demetriov hurting her.

 

“What's the matter with you? I love you and I know you love me. Isn't that enough?”

 

“Not anymore.”

 

“What the hell do you mean by that?” She had come right up to him now.

 

“It just isn't okay!” He stated flatly turning around.

 

“Don't turn your back on me!” Her hand pulled at his shoulder.

 

“Don't touch me!” He whirled round and hit her before he knew what he was doing, just desperate to get her away from him.

 

Blood flew from her mouth, Tegan reeling, stepping back. The whole side of her face throbbed with pain. Torin was mortified; he had never intended to hurt her in this way, but had acted solely in instinct, his anger taking over. He wasn't ready when she dived for him the kick landed squarely in the centre of his chest, sending him backwards over the desk. He tasted blood as his head cracked against the floor. He waited for more blows to come but it seemed that Tegan was as mortified at hitting him as he had been moments before. He lifted his head to see Tegan on her knees, head in her hands sobbing uncontrollably. He had to fight the urge to rush over to her and take her in his arms and soothe her. He stood up battered and bruised, his heart aching far more than his body, crossing slowly to her and placing a hand tentatively on her shoulder. She shrugged it away.

 

“Why?” Came her choked sob.

 

“I… I wish I could tell you but I can't.”

 

Tegan rose and he hung his head, hurting more than she would ever know.

 

“I never thought I would say this, but you are a coward!”

 

With that she stormed out. Torin winced as the door to her room slammed behind her. His heart was pounding, aching for her, but it couldn't be. He was aware of the sun rising, making him tired. He leaned back on his desk and sighed, close to tears himself. Movement registered at the corner of his vision, causing to look up. Demetriov was stood in the corridor, the sight of him enough to make the anger rise inside him once more. Demetriov smiled at him, evidently pleased. It was too much and Torin slammed the door shut, letting out a roar of frustration.

 

He couldn't bear it, and yet he must. He had to be here for her. If Demetriov hurt her, he had to be here to rescue her. It was that thought that stayed with him as he began to fall into a tortured sleep. One day he would take her away. The last thing that registered with him as sleep eventually claimed him was an emotion; hate.