Captivated

Angelina

The club was in full swing by the time I got there. Because I knew the doormen pretty well, they let me jump the queue. Abyss had three floors, all playing different types of rock music. I headed for the top floor. Tonight, I knew it would be music by bands such as Rammstein, Korn, and Nine Inch Nails. A few shots of Jägermeister and some heavy metal beats should help to soothe my soul.

I knocked back five shots, one after the other. The sting and warmth of the alcohol as it flooded my body helped to numb the pain. After two more, I was ready to cut loose on the dancefloor. Closer by Nine Inch Nails was playing. Perfect. I shimmied through the crowd until I reached the middle of the dancers and let myself become lost in the beats.

Someone grabbed me by the waist and turned me around. Some freak who thought because I was gyrating on the dancefloor, he could touch me without permission. I slapped his hands away and headed off to get another drink. Getting into a fight was not what I’d gone there for. This time, I ordered a double vodka and tonic. Then I headed over to some seats on the other side of the dancefloor.

My scalp began to prickle, and I wondered if my mates had discovered me. I did a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree sweep on the place. I couldn’t see them. What I did see brought a chill to my heart. Across the other side, and heading slowly towards my position, was Viktor in his human form. He wasn’t alone, either. There were four others with him. Shit, I was in deep trouble.

Glancing around at the other patrons in the club, I noticed they were all carrying on as normal and hadn’t even seen Viktor and his familiars as they pushed their way towards me. I stood and drank my drink in one go. I should have been drunk, but my adrenaline was chasing around my body at warp speed.

“Ah, Angelina. So good to see you again,” he purred as he stood directly in front of me, his familiars circling me.

Great. Just fucking great. Now I was surrounded. I did the only thing I could.

“Salvatore. Luca. I’m in The Abyss… and I’m not alone.”

“Thank God, bella. You had us scared half to death. What do you mean you’re not alone?”

Salvatore sounded relieved, but I could feel his frustration at my actions beating at me, along with Luca’s.

“Viktor is here, and he has familiars with him.”

Luca swore loudly in my head. “We will be there in two minutes.”

I looked around at all the people on the dancefloor, the ones lounging at the bar, and the bar staff. None of them appeared to be able to see me or the demons. What the hell? Maybe it was me. Perhaps the drink had finally kicked in, leaving me numb and hallucinating.

“Oh, don’t worry. The humans can’t see us. I’ve taken care of that.” He’d witnessed my confused frown and raised his hands dramatically skywards. I guess the asshole must have used black magic. “If you’re talking to the De Laurentis brothers, they won’t reach you in time, you know.”

“What makes you think I can’t take you on without them? I am going to kill you and enjoy every minute.”

He laughed. The sound was mocking. “Oh, such brave words. But you’re not even mated, are you? How do you think you can ever hope to defeat me? You’ll die begging me to end your life… like Cassie. Hmm, she was sweet. I enjoyed fucking her.”

That was it. I was so angry now that my fear had gone. Something happened to me then. There was a burning sensation in my gums, and I felt two fangs descend. Glancing down at my hands, I was shocked to see my nails had also grown. Without conscious thought, I knew what I had to do. I extended my hands and sliced my nails down either side of his face. Viktor emitted a bloodcurdling scream.

Using his shock as my cue, I pushed past him and headed for the bar. I jumped up and over it at a speed I never thought possible. Even in my five-inch heels, I managed not to stumble. I searched for the pot of salt I knew would be there for when bartenders fixed tequila shots. It was eerie to be weaving in and out of the bar staff without them having any knowledge of my presence.

A loud growl came from the other side of the bar. It was even loud enough to drown out the music. Viktor was perched on the bar, with his familiars on either side of him. They looked like giant vultures ready to kill. Taking off the lid of the salt, I chucked it over him, which brought on more loud screams and curses from him.

He wiped at his face, which was now smoking. He roared loudly. “Get that fucking bitch. Don’t let her go. Use force if you need to.”

Using my strange preternatural force, I quite literally flew over the other side of the bar and headed for the exit. Claws tore at my skin and tried to bring me down. The pain was excruciating, but I couldn’t focus on that. I’d almost made the exit when I was rugby tackled to the floor. Pain ripped through me as something sank its fangs into my leg. I kicked and fought as hard as I could, using my newfound fangs and speed. There were too many of them. He’d obviously called for reinforcements.

“Need a little help there, Angelina?”

My gaze latched onto two men. Thank God! Antoine and another man I didn’t know. Karl, I think he may have been called.

“Um, yeah.”

“Viktor!” Suddenly the music stopped, and I saw Luca directly behind the other two Hybrids.

I’d never seen such rage in an expression before. Close to him was Salvatore, who was as furious as his brother. It may be wrong to say it, but at that moment, I’d never seen anything sexier. Even with the pain in my legs, I couldn’t help but be turned on by their lengthened fangs, nostrils flaring, eyes burning with the need to kill.

The familiars loosened their hold on me once they realised they were going to die. They whimpered and attempted to scurry away back to their master. I sat up and watched the four Hybrids move with unnatural speed, tearing all of the creatures limb from limb. They said words over the dismembered body parts, which instantly vanished. All the while, Viktor stood and watched the scene. My anger got the better of me and as the Hybrids fought, I moved back to where he stood.

His eyes fixed on me. Anger. Lust. Death. That was what I saw. The bright blue was now replaced with blood-red. I went to lunge for him when someone caught hold of me, and I instantly rose from the floor. Luca.

“Put me down. I want to kill him for what he’s done,” I wailed as I struggled to break free of his grasp.

Viktor vanished without another word, and I relaxed into Luca’s arms, totally exhausted and raw from all the experiences of the past day. He didn’t say anything to me. No words of comfort. No calming caresses. I trembled with fear. What punishment would I receive for this? Salvatore, along with Antoine and Karl, checked the rest of the club for any other demons or familiars. Still Luca hadn’t spoken, not even via telepathy.

“All clear,” Antoine called out.

“Thanks, guys.” Salvatore indicated that Luca should come down from the ceiling.

I tried to struggle free of his arms. “You are going nowhere,” he growled.

I sagged against him, letting out a small whimper. His bare chest smelled so good, but even that couldn’t calm me. His heart was beating so fast, and I could sense his and Salvatore’s fear. This was all my fault.

“See you soon, Angelina. Take care.” Antoine smiled softly and headed for the entrance with Karl, who hadn’t uttered a word.

Luca practically dragged me out of the club. Salvatore walked a little way ahead of us, talking to Antoine.

“Treat her gently, Sal. I know what she did was wrong, but she’s had a fucking bad day,” I heard Antoine say.

They took to the skies, leaving me alone with my mates. I peered up at Sal. So many emotions clouded his expression, and I couldn’t work out what he was feeling. He looked at Luca.

“Let’s get her home.”

I wanted to cry. Not only from the pain of my injuries, but the way they were reacting to me. Salvatore flew on ahead, as if he didn’t want to be anywhere near me. Closing my eyes, I wondered what this meant for our relationship now.