Vampire King. She'd never heard anything so stupid in her life. And yet, she couldn't quite quench the fear that rose within her - even with the Predator turned on - at hearing his title. King or no, he was obviously someone of authority. She'd gone too far this time. Too fucking far.

"Now tell me, witch, are you with a coven, or acting alone?" Alec mused, inspecting his fingernails. Soph didn't respond, instead she continued to jerk away from the man who held her. "Alone, I think," Alec continued as if he hadn't expected an answer. "Most of the other black witches that we've been hunting leave their victims drained but alive. You've been leaving yours full, but dead." his eyes pinned her where she stood and she finally stopped fighting her captor. "Very dead."

Alec flashed forward, stopping before her. His vampire friends around him moved closer. Soph cursed the way her heart pounded so fearfully. They'd all be able to hear it. They'd all know.

"Now," Alec continued softly. "Being a little loner witch as you are, I'd wager no one will come for you. But to leave you dead..." he took her hand, lifting it to inspect her nails. They were torn and dirty. When had she last even showered? "Would be a shame. We could benefit from each other, you and I. I killed my last bloodbag. Would you like to replace him?"

"No," Soph spat out, unable to hide the derision from her tone. Alec smiled coldly.

"Oh, I think you would, little witch. You see, If you keep me full, I'll keep you full." he brushed his own neck and when he removed his hand, she could see that he'd nicked his skin. Blood welled there, as crimson as his eyes. Watching it trickle down his skin, Soph was suddenly desperately thirsty.

"Me first," she found herself saying. Founders, she was pathetic. She should shove a stake through her own heart. Alec laughed.

"Oh no. I'm not falling for that one. In any case, I wouldn't want to exchange blood with you right now, especially when you've been feeding off other riff raff around town. No, let's start in the bedroom."

His words chilled Soph in a way that nothing else had. Bedroom. He was going to fuck her, and there was nothing she could do about it. Alec seemed to read the fear in her eyes, for he smiled widely and reached out to touch her face.

"She's mine."

The Vampire King's eyes jerked up over her shoulder at the words and Soph slumped in relief. She knew that voice. He'd saved her twice before, and now he was going to do it again. She turned her head in time to see Eli step into the glow of the street lights. She'd never been so happy to see someone in her life. It wasn't until she'd heard his voice that she realised how desperately she wanted to get out of this mess, to go back to the way things were.

"Eli Damiani," Alec sneered. "What do you want with a black witch?"

"She's mine," he repeated, sparing only a glance for Soph. "I claim her. That's how you pathetic primates still work, isn't it?"

"Primates," Alec mused. "You didn't answer my question. What do you want with a witch? Is that what you collect, Damiani? You put pretty little witches in your basement for your feeding and fucking pleasure?"

"Sure," Eli responded sourly. "If that's what you want to believe. Now let her go and we'll leave quietly."

"Leave quietly!" Alec threw back his head and laughed, his vampire groupies mimicking the action. "That's assuming we let you go!" The Vampire King surveyed Soph thoughtfully. He still stood very close. Close enough that she could see the tightness around his eyes and the hard gleam within them. "It is curious," he said softly, though Soph knew all the vampires would be able to hear him. "That Eli Damiani of all people would come into the lion's den for you. What's so special about you, little witch?" he raised his hand once more to touch her face, but this time Eli flashed between them with a snarl. He shoved at the burly guy who had been holding Soph's arm. The man hissed but backed off.

"I'll fight you for her," Alec said calmly. He still hadn't moved and now with Eli between them, the two men were almost chest to chest. Eli groaned.

"Fight me? Come on Alec, do we have to resort to that?"

"Yes," he replied simply. "You're on my turf, as is your girl. If you want her, you'll fight for her."

"Fine," Eli muttered and flung himself at Alec. The Vampire King was ready, sliding aside and reaching out to grab Eli. Soph backed quickly away, unable to follow the blurred motions of the two men. A loud crack sounded and Eli hit the road, groaning and rolling to his side.

"You Possessives are a laughable bunch," Alec observed as Eli pushed back to his feet and rubbed his side. "So chivalrous to the humans. They're just food, you know."

Eli didn't respond. He lunged at Alec and once more the two of them crashed together in a blur of fists and teeth. The other vampires around them watched silently and Soph did the same, though her heart raced and her hands clutched the hem of her shirt in panic. She'd noticed that Eli wasn't using his Predator skills. In fact, his eyes remained stone grey throughout the fight. Alec definitely had an upper hand with speed and strength. Another crack and Eli was once more on the ground. He lay on his back, grimacing. Soph could see a mean cut across his face.

"Slow to heal there, Damiani," Alec mused. The small gash he'd sustained was already closing up. "Not drinking enough blood, hmm? Or perhaps too much daylight? Look at you, all tanned and manicured. It's unnatural."

"Better than having to eat on the street like a gutter rat." Eli once more tried to get up. This time, Alec kept him down with a kick in the gut. Eli grunted and fell back again. Alec put a black-booted foot on Eli's chest and Soph saw his eyes glow crimson as he applied pressure.

"Someone get me a stake," he ordered.

"No," Soph whispered, taking half a step forward. Alec held up a hand to stop her.

"He lost, little witch. You're mine now."

Another vampire flashed forward with a polished timber stake and handed it to Alec. The Vampire King spun it thoughtfully in his hand. "Eli Damiani," he said quietly, a slight smile on his face. "What a bittersweet moment this is."

Soph watched, paralysed with fear. She had to do something. Eli had come to save her, and now he was going to die.

You're a witch, a small voice reminded her. It was one that she hadn't heard for some time, but it sparked something within her. You're a witch. Cast a spell, you idiot!

Soph snapped both her hands up. Funnelling her own energy into them, she whispered the chant of a warding spell. That the laws of magic told her she needed a crystal for this spell didn't even cross her mind. Her amulet flashed red hot against her skin and a rippling force radiated from her palms.

Alec was flung away from Eli and hit the edge of the gutter hard enough to crack the cement. His vampire cronies staggered back as well, hissing at her.

Soph kept her hands up. The ward was invisible save for a waver in the air when she moved. She took a step towards Eli and it moved with her, keeping her at its center. Eli was cringing - no doubt feeling the effects of the ward as well - as Soph crouched down beside him.

"Can you run?" she whispered. He gave a single jerk of his head in assent. She looked up at Alec, who had gotten to his feet. His vampires crowded around him and they all watched her wearily.

"Now," She pushed the ward as she released it. It billowed out, knocking the vampires back again. She didn't need to pull Eli up; he flashed to his feet and shoved her ahead of him. Soph switched the Predator back on - she hadn't realised that she'd let it lapse - and she ran as fast as she could. Eli ran beside her and she could hear his breath hiss through his teeth.

Streets flashed past in a blur as they took a winding route. Soph could hear others behind them, giving chase. It pricked her fear again. Eli didn't stop, leading them in circles as they carefully, but quickly, made their way out of Gryphook. Their pursuers eventually dropped back as they reached the edge of the city. And thank fuck for that. Soph could feel her strength failing and a headache clouding her mind.

Eli seemed to decide that they were no longer in danger, for he slowed a little, but didn't stop until they'd reached Soph's apartment. The lounge room was dark when they staggered in, and Soph collapsed down the wall with a groan, absolutely spent. The withdrawals were beginning; already she could feel the trembling in her weakened limbs. Eli leaned over the back of the couch for a moment, drawing long, painful breaths.

"That would have been easier if you'd used your damned magic to start with," he said eventually, though Soph couldn't hear any malice in his words. She pulled her knees up to her chest and pressed her forehead to them. What was she going to do now? Could she somehow get Eli to leave so she could get back out to Gryphook to find another vampire for blood? It would be dangerous, but surely Alec's people wouldn't be expecting her to return on the same night...

She groaned, realising where her thoughts had taken her. She was well and truly wretched. She'd just been saved from a sure life as the whore of the Vampire King, and all she could think about was getting another hit. She lifted her head and almost jumped out of her skin. Eli was crouched down before her, watching her with a solemn expression. She hadn't even heard him move.

"I shouldn't have left that night," he said. She frowned. What was he talking about? "The night you first drank the blood," he elaborated. "I shouldn't have left you here alone. I thought... I thought you'd go through the withdrawals and come out the other side, and if you didn't, I thought you'd call me first for blood. I never in a thousand years expected you to hunt your own prey."

"I don't have your phone number." It was the weakest fucking excuse she'd ever made. The man worked across the damned road from her! She could have contacted him if she really wanted to. She licked her lips, thirst pushing itself to the forefront of her mind. "Can I have some blood now?" she begged weakly.

Eli shook his head. "No."

Soph saw red. Hadn't he just fucking told her he expected her to call him for blood? Was he going to hold it over her bloody head now? She tried to struggle up, but his hand slammed into her shoulder, pinning it back against the wall and holding her in place.

"I'm going to get you through the withdrawals, Soph," he told her earnestly. "It's my fault those witches gave you blood to begin with, so I'll fix this."

Soph glared at him for a long moment, but his gaze didn't waver and eventually she looked away. All the fight went out of her. This was what she wanted, wasn't it? This was her way out. Tension ebbed away as his promise sank in, but she didn't feel entirely at ease.

You won't survive without blood, a small, traitorous part of her mind told her. And if you don't get it, I'm going to kill you.