Chapter1: In A Stranger's Bed

[Valerie’s POV]

Pressure against my arms and torso was the first thing I noticed when my consciousness began to come forth once more. From the feel of it, someone was lying on top of me, and moving wasn't an option. Try as I might, the person's grip was too strong and wouldn't budge in the slightest.

Opening my eyes, I looked up to find a man hovering above me. Not any man, but an attractive man with snow white skin that showed blue veins beneath it. His handsome face was surrounded by dark hair with white streaks through it, and his eyes glowed a crimson red.

His mouth, which was smirking, was open just enough to reveal two sharp canines that looked ready to rip into my flesh any minute.

Eyes widening, I felt my heart rate kick up as I realized just how dangerous this man was.

"You finally woke up." His cold voice laughed, sending a shiver through me. "I thought you were dead."

"What's going on?" I asked slowly as the last bit of rationale faded from my mind. "What are you doing? Let me go!"

Beginning to wriggle, I tried to break free again, but the man was strong—too strong. Keeping his firm grip, he watched me with a curious expression.

"Let me go!" I snapped as his grip tightened, sending pain shooting through my arms.

"Not until you tell me why you are in my bed." The man said leaning in closer, so his ice-cold breath caressed my skin. "No woman, especially a human, has ever touched this bed."

Why was I in his bed? Good question: why was I here and thinking about it? Who was I? Why couldn't I remember anything past waking up where I was?

"What did you do to me?" I yelled, beginning to struggle more as panic washed through me. "Why can't I remember anything?"

Getting up, the man narrowed his gaze at me as anger flashed in his red eyes.

"What do you mean you can't remember anything? Don't try to save yourself with lies." He hissed, frowning.

"I'M NOT LYING!" I screamed, fully overcome with fear. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?"

Why couldn't I even remember my name? And where the hell was I? Why was I in some strange man's bed? My heart, which had begun to pound, plummeted to my feet as my panic began to turn to fear.

"Stop yelling." The man growled, placing a hand over my mouth. "Do you want to wake up the entire castle?"

Castle? Did he just say castle? Were we currently in a castle? Then what did that make this dude?

"Mmmph, mmmph." Not even a single word could escape from my mouth past this man's hand, and that only made my fear bubble over.

Grabbing hold of his wrist, I began trying to pry it away as breathing began to become difficult. If he continued to do this, there was a chance I was going to pass out or die altogether.

"Will you yell again if I remove my hand?" He asked as I continued to try to fight him off.

"Mmmmph." I tried in an attempt to say no, but not succeeding due to his hold on me.

Narrowing his gaze at me, the man removed his hold over my mouth, allowing me to begin sucking in deep lungfuls of air.

Remaining silent, he watched me repeat this act over and over as if I were some type of strange creature that he couldn't understand.

"Now tell me who you are." The man demanded fixing his red gaze on me. "And don't you dare try to claim that you don't remember."

"I told you I don't know!" I snapped, beginning to get frustrated. "You can ask a million times, and the answer will remain the same!"

"I'm warning you." The man's voice had developed a hint of warning. "If you keep up this act, then I will have no choice but to kill you."

"THEN KILL ME!" I yelled defiantly. "I'VE TOLD YOU I DON'T KNOW, AND THAT MEANS I DON'T KNOW!"

"SHUT UP!"

Lunging forward, the man grabbed me by my neck, slamming me against the bed. His red gaze, which flashed with warning, had turned completely black as he let out a low growl.

"I warned you to not play games." He said, tightening his hold on my throat. "I have no patience for games, especially from humans like you."

"This... isn't...." I tried, but my windpipe was crushed by the now very angry man hovering over me. "A... game."

Getting the words out was damn near impossible, but I wasn't about to let him make me out to be a liar when I was telling the truth.

Not satisfied with my words, he began to dig his long nails into my flesh, causing a gasp to escape me.

"Are you perhaps a spy sent by the holy knights?" He asked, leaning in closer. "Or maybe you are a rogue who wants to kill me and usurp the throne."

What the hell was this fella talking about? I had no idea what these holy knights he spoke of were, and I had no desire to have any thrones. I didn't know why this guy was so paranoid, but somewhere in my heart, I couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

"Can't you even argue?" He hissed. "Does this mean I was spot on?"

Lifting a hand, I pointed to his, which was still wrapped tightly around my throat, as a way to show him why I couldn't speak.

"Can't...." I puffed as I felt my mind begin to drift again from lack of oxygen.

Letting go, he stepped back and watched as I sat up, breathing deeply. I didn't know if I should be grateful he spared me or not, but I wasn't about to tell him thank you.

"I've got a way to make you talk since you refuse to be obedient." He said, pulling me towards him. "If I discover you are lying to me, you won't like the consequences."

"What ways...." I began only to stop mid-sentence as the man's mouth landed on my neck.

At first, I couldn't quite comprehend what he was doing, at least not until I felt two sharp pricks as his teeth pushed through the delicate skin beneath it.

"No...." I gasped as they moved in even deeper. "Let...."

I wasn't able to finish my sentence as I felt a tug at my consciousness as I was being pulled into darkness.