Bloody Roses

The silence was the first thing that Aelia recognized as she started to come to. The faint smell of smoke from the bonfire she was at hours earlier still designated on her skin. The lyric's from her favorite song played over and over in her head. That night he caged her, Bruised and broke her, He struggled closer. Her eyes flutter open briefly, the sight of looking down at a dirt path registered in her mind. Blurry at first, but slowly cleared. Then, blackness took over out of nowhere as the pain in her gut from being on someone's shoulder cut off her air.

The second time Aelia started to wake up, she couldn't help but emit a groan. Her stomach was now quezy from being carried upside down for so long. As she opened her eyes once more, the sight of stone flooring filled her vision. Faint cries of pain and screams of fear echoed down the halls, causing the young girl to wince. "What the hell?" She mumbled as she started to come around more. She tried to look around, but her body just felt heavy and she was being held like a sack of potatoes. "Quiet human." She heard a rough gravely voice speak as she was adjusted on the things shoulder.

"Chain that one to the wall. The Kings might like her." A voice that sounded distant, but, not at the same time filled Aelia's ears. A gruff grumble rumbled through the man holding her's chest as he carried Lia and not so gently dropped her onto the ground.

"Ow, fuck." She mumbled quietly as she landed on her side. Then, not even a moment later, Lia was forced to sit up against a wall. Her wrists both being chained to the wall. Her bright blue eyes looked tiredly ahead of herself as the man stepped away. She barely saw a face before the man stepped away and left her chained to the wall.

--

Sitting high in his throne, Salem sat up straight with his right leg crossed over the other. His arms resting on the armrests and holding onto the edges of the chair with some force. His hazel eyes looked down in amusement as one of his pet humans rested her head against his leg like what a pet dog would do. Bred to be docile, knowing her place since she was a wee little thing.

Slowly, Salem reached out and ran a hand through her dark black hair. Smirking as the girl leaned into his tough. "Nina dear, go eat. Your stomach growling is annoying." He commanded and then shoved the half girl away. A huff followed as the man moved his arm so that he was resting his head on his hand. "Any news on the harvest?" Salem asked as he looked down at a guard that was just coming into the throne room.

"Yes, my King. The search party had arrived and have brought back some fresh wild humans." The guard said, causing the Vampire King to grin. "Excellent," Salem said and sat up straight once more. "I will come and see them then. My pet bores me and I want a new one."

@ katahdin

@ FallenHope95

Alaric, upon hearing the news that new, fresh humans had been brought back during the harvest, went to the throne room where his brother Salem sat, greeting his brother with a smile. "Heard the news, brother?" He asked, glancing at Nina as she left the room.

"They've brought in some new girls from the mainland. Care to take a look?" He grinned, shoving his hands into his pockets. "It's been a while since we've had anything fresh."

---

Alma had also been taken from the bonfire, having gone to look for her friend Aelia when she hadn't returned from looking for sticks to roast marshmallows. Unlike Aelia, however, she hadn't regained consciousness since arriving at the vampire's castle, but she had still been propped up and chained against the wall like her friend.

She would occasionally give out a small moan or wince, obviously in a lot of pain from whatever they had done to her, a little bit of blood dripping from her nose from where it had been broken during her initial struggle, although the struggle hadn't gone in her favor.

@ katahdin
As Aelia sat chained to the wall, more and more of her senses were coming back. A shiver ran down her spine as she started to feel cold. Her short clad legs rested on a stone floor that was as cold as ice. Her back rested against a stone wall, and she was pretty sure the chains on her wrists were creating some kind of ice burn on her wrists.

"Where am I?" She murmured quietly, using all of her energy to lift her head and look around. Her eyebrows furrowed as she tried to make out what was around her in the dim area. A dungeon of some sorts, like one in the medieval era or something. It was only when she looked to her side, that Lia's eyes widened. "A-Alma." Her voice croaked, followed by a dry cough. She needed water, her throat felt like it was dusted with sand.

--

A snort escaped from Salem as he stood up from his seat and walked down the few steps down from the throne. "You should know the answer to that already, dear brother," Salem said, running his tongue over his fangs and feeling the urge to sink them into something warm and delicious.

As they walked, Salem could smell the fresh blood. "Mm." He mused as they walked down to the holding area where they kept the best humans for the Kings to look at. "Well, well, well. We have some beauties. Don't we, brother?" Salem said as he cast a glance towards his brother as he slowed his walk. He kneeled down in front of the girl that was bleeding and ran a finger over the blood. Then, bringing it to his lips as he licked the blood off. "I want this one." He said, grinning as he licked his lips.

@ FallenHope95

Alaric chuckled as he followed his brother to the holding area, unable to help but lick his lips at the smell of the fresh blood. He nodded in agreement as he looked over the new harvest, grinning as he looked over the various girls that had been pulled aside just for them. "Yes, some of them are quite exceptional." He agreed, eyes following his brother as he approached one of the girls.

"You chose first last time. What if I wanted that one?" Alaric asked rather childishly, frowning a bit at his brother before turning back to the remaining girls, eyes landing on Aelia. "I suppose that I'll take this one, in that case."

---

Alma whimpered a little at the sound of her name, obviously in bad shape. Her head throbbed in pain, her nose was killing her, her entire body ached, and she felt like she might die any minute if she didn't get something to drink. She was barely conscious when the two brothers came into the holding area, although as she heard the unfamiliar voices she forced her eyes open slightly, although her vision was blurry without her glasses, which had been lost somewhere along the way there.

She frowned as Salem knelt before her, wincing as he touched her. She shook her head weakly as he spoke, groaning softly. "N-No.." was all she could manage before coughing weakly, voice hoarse.

@ katahdin
The whimper that came from her friend, broke Aelia's heart. She so desperately wanted to reach out to her friend and hug her. To make the pain that they were both feeling to go away, but she couldn't. Her own body was fighting her to stay awake at the moment and she could barely keep her head held up.

At the sound of voices, Aelia looked ahead of herself. Frowning tiredly as she saw two guys approaching. "N-no." She mumbled quietly, as she heard them talking about something she didn't understand. 'Take, what did he mean by taking?' She wondered before trying to weakly pull on the chains, trying to get away from the men.

--

A chuckle rumbled from Salem as he listened to his brother. He turned his head and couldn't help himself from grinning. "You're always so indecisive if I don't make the first pick. That's why." Salem said, chuckling as he stood up and patted his brother on the shoulder a few times. The sound echoing from the pat making it sound like it was harder then it was meant to be.

"Take this one to one of my pets rooms. I'll let her sleep for a while more before I play with her," Salem instructed a guard as he leaned forward and wiped some more of her blood onto his hand again. "I'm going to want this to feed on once she's fully awake. Make sure that nose isn't destroyed for good while you're at it." He finished instructing as he stood straight, licking his hand as the blood stained his fingers. "Mm, sweet as honey."

(Room doesn't actually have pictures in it. Only a blanket and pillow on the bed.)

@ FallenHope95

Alaric rolled his eyes slightly at his brother's statement, turning back to Aelia, eyes studying her carefully before turning to address one of the guards. "Bring her to one of my pet rooms and give her a change of clothes and some food. I want her well rested before I get to play with her." He explained, watching as one of the guards unshackled Aelia and lifted her up over their shoulder once more, carrying her off as the King had instructed.

He turned back to Salem, watching him for a moment before gesturing toward the door. "Shall we discuss the upcoming meetings we have?" He asked, knowing that now that they could return to the mainland, all of the generals and nobility on the island wanted to discuss strategies and plans with the Kings.

---

Alma winced again as he touched her again, turning her head away with a groan. She frowned as she watched Aelia get carried off by another strange man, worried about what was going to happen to them in this strange and terrible place. She groaned as she was unshackled and thrown over someone's shoulder like Aelia, soon passing out again from the pain, her body weak from whatever they had done to her when they had brought her to the island.

@ katahdin
Hearing the voices speaking, Aelia breathed in a shaky breath as she squeezed her eyes closed. "N-no..." She mumbled as she tried to move farther back against the wall. Although, it was futile as the guard didn't have to do anything as he unchained her and threw her over his shoulder once more like a sack of potatoes. "Al...ma...." Aelia mumbled as she watched the mans legs as he carried her away.

It was like a blink of the eye. One moment, they were in some cold dungeon place and the next she was being dropped onto an uncomfortable bed. Her mind was still wheeling, that she didn't even realize that a girl had replaced the guard. Helping her change out of her sand and dirt covered top and into a colored tank top and white shorts. Then, she passed out once more before she realized there was a small plate of food on the bedside table.

--

A satisfied smirk appeared on Salem's lips as he stepped to the side a little. His dark eyes watching as the guards grabbed the girls once more and carried them away. His eyes roaming their unmarked bodies and licking his lips. He could not wait to sink his fangs into every inch of his new pets skin. To hear her scream in pain and terror as he drank his fill of her precious life source.

Slowly, he shifted his eyes to Alaric as he heard his brother speak. A bored look appearing on his face as he was reminded of his Kingly duties. "If we must." He sighed and motioned for Alaric to take the lead into the meeting room. "Better to get our discussions out of the way, right?" He mumbled, glanced in the direction of the girls once more, longing to start his fun, before turning to follow his brother.

@ FallenHope95

Alaric chuckled at his brother's reluctance to discuss buisness, knowing that he had never really enjoyed the buisness end of things, but would rather be off playing with his new toy. "Your new pet looks to be in bad shape, Salem. It's probably best to keep you away from her for at least a little while, lest you end up killing her before you get to have any real fun." He pointed out.

"As for the discussions, I think it best that we come up with our own plan, so as not to just be told what to do by those awful generals who think they know best."

---

Alma was taken to her room and dumped on the bed just like Aelia, a girl coming in to change her into a simple t shirt and cotton shorts. A doctor then came in to tend to her nose, setting the break and giving her some medication to help with the pain before leaving.

The poor girl came to a few hours later, groaning softly as she sat up, quickly grabbing the glass of water that had been left for her when she spotted it, guzzling the cool liquid down as it soothed her aching throat.

@ katahdin
A small groan escaped from Aelia as she started to come around. Her dark blue eyes staring blankly at the wall for a few moments before she bolted up. "Alma!" She called out, looking around in a panic. Then, she gasped as she looked down at what she was wearing. "What the hell?" She muttered as she grabbed the end of the tank top and looked at the white shorts. "The fuck?" She muttered as she threw the blanket that was covering her legs off and flung her legs over the edge of the bed.

Lia's eyes looked around for a moment before quickly grabbing the glass of water on the bedside table. She guzzled it down, but still held onto it as she stood. Her legs wobbled a little bit, but they supported her. "Where am I?" She mumbled as she walked to the window on the right side of the room. Her mouth dropping as she saw nothing but darkness.

--

"With our ability to head to the mainland, it doesn't really matter if I kill her. We can always fetch more." A dark smirk appeared on Salem's face as he grinned towards his brother. Knowing that the spell keeping them on the island was lifted, meant that they got new feeding grounds and could replenish all of the things that they were severely lacking in the past couple hundred years.
Then, he snorted and rolled his eyes at the mention of being the ones to create the plans. "Yeah, because god forbid we let that idiot Novak decide," Salem grumbled. Thinking of the General who preferred to kill then to preserve things for the future. Sure, Salem was the same way, he loved bathing in others pain, but. Killing every human that disobeyed wasn't really his cup of tea. There was only so much blood going around after all. "Let's plan some things."

@ FallenHope95

A few hours passed before Alaric finally made his way to where his new pet was being held, thanking the guard which unlocked the door for him before moving into the room and taking a seat on the single chair in the corner, his eyes watching Aelia hungrily. Unlike his brother, he didn't like to play as much with his pets, preferring to feed when necessary and otherwise keep them happy, especially now that they could be useful for their plans on the mainland.

---

Alma ate the food that had been left for her as well, thankful when another glass of water was brought to her, although the women and guards that came in never spoke or answered any of the questions she asked. Where am I? Who are you? What's going on? Who was that man? Eventually she just began to pace the room in distress, trying to figure out a way to escape, although she soon grew tired and settled for sitting on the bed.

@ katahdin
The sound of the door opening caused Aelia to jump. Her body instantly becoming more rigid as she turned around. Her back pressed against the wall as she held the glass in her hand. Dark blue eyes narrowed slightly as the sight of a man sitting in a chair in the room appeared before her.

Aelia remained silent for a moment, studying him for a moment before she decided to speak up. "Who the fuck are you?" Okay, she should have watched her language. Acting like a tough girl wasn't going to help her out in this sort of situation.

--

Salem whistled as he walked down the hall in his neck of the castle. A playful, yet dark toon echoing down the hall as he moved. He was excited to visit his new little pet. As Salem got to the door, he brushed the guard away and opened the door and leaned against the door frame, his dark eyes taking in the girl.

"Hey." He said, running his tongue over his lips. He loved teasing his pets. Sure, he allowed them to have a certain amount of free reign of his part of the castle, but he still wanted them under his control. So, if this little wild human obeyed him, then she'll fit in with the place quite quickly.

@ FallenHope95

Alaric smirked as he watched her, the smirk turning into a grin as she spoke to him, fangs glinting in the dim light. "Now now, that's no way to address a King." He reprimanded softly, leaning back in the chair as he crossed one of his legs over the other, studying her closely.

"Do you find your room comfortable?" He asked. He liked to let his pets decide what they wanted in their rooms to some extent, wanting them to feel comfortable living in his half of the palace, although he still had the right to say no to certain things.

---

Alma frowned as she heard the whistling in the distance, pulling her legs up onto the bed and hugging her knees to her chest as she waited nervously for whoever it was to come, as it sounded like they were getting closer. She squinted a little as Salem moved into the doorway, his figure blurry due to her poor vision, although she recognized his voice from earlier.

"Who.. Who are you?" She asked hesitantly after a long while of silence, doing her best to glare at the unfamliar figure.

@ katahdin
Watching this guys reaction was really unsettling to Aelia. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she thought she noticed a little shine in his mouth but brushed the idea away. Then, her eyes narrowed as she looked at the guy like he was an idiot. "In what world would a creep like you be a King?" Lia asked as she arched an eyebrow at him.

Then, she scuffed and rolled her eyes at his question. "It's just peachy." She mused as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Now, who the fuck are you and why am I here?" She asked, standing tall so that she could act like she has no fear.

--

"Oh, I hear that question a lot." Salem mused as he stood up straight and walked fully into the room. Closing the door behind himself as he wanted to make sure they had some privacy. Plus, he didn't want her running, as that'll be troublesome. "I go by many things, love." Salem mused as he licked over his fangs.

"For you, you can just call me Master, or My King. Both will do." Salem said as he walked over to her and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Does my little pet have a name? Or shall I make one up for you?"

@ FallenHope95

Alaric laughed, shaking his head. "In this world." He stated, correcting her with a grin. "My name is King Alaric. I rule on this island with my brother. And now you're mine." He stated, watching her closely. "Now, do you need anything? More food, water, clothes? And what should I call you? Or should I give you one?"

---

Alma frowned, swatting his hand away as she shook her head. "I won't call you that, that's insane." She stated, scooting away from him as she tried to get away from him.

@ katahdin
"This, this is just insane." Aelia murmured as she slowly shook her head. Her eyes closed as she slowly shook her head, not sure how to wrap her mind around what the hell was going on. "This is some kind of joke, right? There's gotta be some kind of hidden camera somewhere, right?" Aelia asked, not wanting to believe that this dude is a king.

"I don't need anything but to go home. My parents are probably worried I'm not home right now." Lia sighed and ran a hand through her hair, not believing this sort of mess that she got herself into. "Lia, You can call me Lia." She said, sighing once more as she looked at the guy. "Can I go home now?"

--

A deep chuckle escaped from Salem as he watched the girl with amusement. It's been a while since he got his hands on such a feisty little human girl. "Ah, such a characteristic's been bred out for too long." He mused out loud and moved his hand away when she swatted, only to bring it back and grab a fist full of hair at the back of her head.

"You will call me either of those, or I'll rip your hair from your skull." Salem murmured darkly before he let her go and crossed his arms over his chest. "Now, tell me your name." He commanded, using his manipulation power to get her to agree to his command.

@ FallenHope95

Alaric shook his head. "No, there's no camera. This is your home now, Lia. You better get used to it." He stated standing to move over to her, stroking her hair gently. "Now, would you like anything?" He asked, looking down at her with a little grin.

---

Alma shrieked when he grabbed a fistful of her hair, grabbing at his hand to try and pull her away from him. "L-Let me go!" She cried. "Y-You're a jerk!" She cried out, glaring up at him, although her eyes were having a hard time focusing on his face without her glasses. "A-Alma.." She murmured finally, frowning as she was forced to say it.

@ katahdin
Slowly, Aelia started to shake her head no. Not wanting to hear this sort of thing from this man. "N-no! Just stop it!" She stuttered out, using the back of her hand to try and knock his hand away from her hair. "L-leave me alone! Or, or I'll scream!"

"I just want to go home!" Lia raised her hands and pressed them to his chest as she tried to push him away from her. "N-now get away from me. you freak!"

--

The sound of her scream was like music to his ears. Salem loved it and he wanted to hear more, but now was not the time for that. Now, he needed to learn a little bit about his new little pet. He grinned as he finally got a name for his little pet. "Alma..." He tested her name on his lips.

"Alma, come to me." He commanded as he took a step back and held his hands out for her to take so that he could pull her to his chest. "Tell me about yourself." He used his mind control power that he and his brother both possessed and did his best to not be overbearing. He didn't want a lap dog as a pet. He wanted her to still be a little while.

@ FallenHope95

Alaric frowned, glaring slightly as she pushed him away, using his mind powers to calm her down, wanting her not to freak out too much considering the trauma she'd gone through recently. "You're fine. Calm down." He soothed her, reaching out to continue to stroke her hair once she'd calmed down enough.

"Now, you're from the mainland. What's it like there?" He asked, cold eyes studying her curiously.

---

Alma shuddered as he said her name, finding it unsettling. She frowned as he continued to speak, wondering why she felt compelled to answer him and move to him, squirming a little in his arms as he pulled her into his chest.

"I... I-I can't see..." She murmured, frowning as she shook her head a little, trying to clear her mind, get his voice out of her head.

@ katahdin
Her heart thudded wildly in her chest as she freaked out. Lia wanted nothing more than to run out of this room and try to escape, but. Then, everything wasn't as scary. She felt calmer, she could breathe a little bit better as well.

Aelia blinked a little confused at Alaric as she let him touch her hair, not sure why she wasn't so nervous anymore. "Boring." Was the first thing that escaped from her lips. "The town I live in is really small, everyone knows everyone. It's quiet, very laid back." She told him.

--

Alma's words were not what Salem expected and he looked down at her with narrowed eyes. "Were you wearing glasses or contacts before you came here?" He asked, wrapping his arms around her as he held her to him.

Her scent radiated from her and into his nostrils, causing his fangs to ache. "We'll find you something." He murmured as he used his mind power to calm her as he leaned down and buried his face into her shoulder as he breathed in her blood. Did he want to feed now, or wait a little longer?