"May you come to understand that your open eyes deceive you. What you see is but a fraction of what is. Beyond the veil of this dimension, you will see that you have never arrived. You have never departed. There is no beginning or end to that which is you."

-Teal Scott

_____________________________

Adeline

Boom.

Thump.
Thump.

Boom.

Thump.
Thump.

Boom.

What is that noise? The sound was lingering in my ears, it flutters, stops then continues. It feels like a thousand needles have entered my head, piercing through my skin and settling on my brain.

Forcing my heavy eyelids to function, I try opening my eyes but there thick with dried tears. I sit up which makes the sound in my head slow, only to finally realize it was my heartbeat.

Wait. This is not my room or even my house for that matter, neither does it appear to be a hospital unless it was gothic themed.

It was a room twice the size of my own at home, decorated with antique looking furniture, red paint dripping from the walls making it look more wicked than innocent. A door is directly to my left which is closed and a door to my front also closed. What looks like a wardrobe took up space in the corner, realizing that a light wasn't on I reach over to turn on the bedside lamp.
The bed that I was laying on was soft but firm, plush red blankets, matching the walls, clung to my body.

Narrowing my blue eyes as I look down, yes my very naked body, I lift the covers up to my neck glaring at everything. I want to burn a hole in whoever brought me here and stripped me of my clothing. A light appears under the door just in front of me, I could hear voices on the other side as I leaned slightly forward to better hear them.

"She is healing, Master. As quickly as her new form can take. Please be patient." The voice sounded feminine but had a breathless hissing sound elongating her words. My, my new form, what could she mean by that?

"I want her awake now or else I'll have your head Meeksha!" This time, the voice was male, he sounded distraught and whoever was on the receiving side of his shouting; I felt truly scared for them.

As I listen intently to the voices outside, I couldn't help but recognize one of the voices, definitely not the females but the man who was shouting. I gasp as goosebumps raise across my skin, everything rushes me all at once, flashes of the speeding truck and the sounds of my screams, then I see a face. I start to hyperventilate, trying to catch my breath I inhale and exhale slowly. I died, well I was surely not dead but I should not be here right now. No, not at all, I mean I was hit by a fucking truck, no one could just walk away unscathed from something so severe.

I tore the covers from my body, observing my nakedness, no scratches, no bruises, nothing. I wiggle my toes watching as they move wildly, no broken bones, touching my head I press down forcefully, no tenderness let alone a concussion.

Did I dream the whole thing, am I delusional? Insane? Was I somehow drugged, did these people drug me then kidnap me?

The door started to open, quickly I reach the comforter to cover my body from these strangers entering the room.

Releasing a terrifying shout, I find myself scurrying backward, my back hits the hard edges of the bed frame. A woman or at least I think it was a woman entered first, her skin resembled that of a snake, scaly and somewhat shined a purplish red color. I watch with intense fear as she folds her arms, her long black fingers disappearing in the folds of her red dress. Her steps were silent probably do to the fact she had no shoes on, they matched her nails, curved, black, and sharp.

The creature's face was set in sharp angles, a mouth sat agape with sharp interlocking teeth. Her eyes were green slits as she narrowed them at me, a sharp contrast compared to her skin. She hissed, a snake-like tongue escapes her sharp fangs as I reach for the small stone decoration, it won't do any good against her but it felt good in my hands.

"She is awake, Master." She terrified me, I couldn't hide that fact. I could feel my eyes bugging out of my head as she glares at me. I must be dreaming, that thing is not real, it can't be.

I was breathing heavily, unable to control my whimpers as she glides closer to me. I do what you're not supposed to do in a situation like this, I close my eyes. I gather my legs to my chest and slowly rock back and forth; it's a dream Adeline, wake up.

"What did you do to her?" The sound of the man does not help at all, the closer his voice got the harder I shook. I could hear the snake woman try to protest but he cut her off, "Out now!" His sudden outburst makes me flinch, causing my hands to dig deeper into the small statue.

"Yes, Master." Her retreating footsteps made me relax a little but I didn't open my eyes. If it was him then he was the one who put me here.

Pinching myself hard, I began to cry, why couldn't I wake up from this nightmare.

The footsteps of the stranger halted just beside the bed, I could feel the heat rising off his body. It was a strange heat, like when ice gets too cold and you feel the slow ache of a burn. A dip in the bed causes me to stop breathing altogether. I pinched myself again, harder.

"Stop doing that you're going to hurt yourself, my healer has taken care of all your wounds, I don't want her to have to come back and fix you again." The last of his words sounded like a threat, something to get me to stop but what he doesn't know is I was already beyond terrified, nothing he could do right now could change that.

I want a better look of his face to verify he was the one from the accident, the one who put me here, so I glance past my hair only I see his hand move toward me. When his hand touches my bare back I stiffen under his hot touch, I lifted my head, shooting glares at the man touching me.

"Hello, Adeline Winters." His hypnotic eyes capture mine. "You know you're quite lovely, with all your glowering. It's impressive really, sweetheart."

He was the same one who appeared when I was dying, my suspicions were correct. That face, beautiful yet haunting, who seemed all voided of emotion as he tortured me even as I was already in pain. I didn't see the small stubble on his chiseled jaw line, nor the way his midnight eyes seemed to contain unseen stars. The dark crown of his wildly mussed hair didn't seem to fit with his white, crisp, collared button up shirt. The long sleeves barely contained his muscled arms, which was unimportant, his taunt white shirt stretched out down to his wide chest, also unimportant.

He raised a brow in question as I met his eyes, "Like what you see sweetheart. I can show you more if you want." I started to panic as he began to slowly unbutton his shirt.

I watch as his fingers undid the buttons on his shirt, too smooth for a human's touch, "Stop! Just stop, who are you and where the hell am I?" He had something about him that didn't seem human and it screamed at me to run, to get far away as possible but I could go nowhere so I had to get answers. Not a strip tease.

He lifted his hands in mock surrender, "Oh, so formal, you get right to the point don't you," He purred, his eyes danced over my face, down my bare back, it sent shivers down my spine.

In one swift movement, he grasps my neck, squeezing it with his large hand. He pulls me back harshly that only insights an animalistic growl to form in my throat. I cover my mouth with trembling hands, bewildered at the sound; what the hell was that?

"There she is, I love the way your eyes spark." His husky voice vibrated within my bones, they tormented me as I tried to find an explanation for his colorful words.

"Let me go," I said, it was nothing but an empty threat. "Or what, sweetheart. I'm open to all forms of torture." He smirks, finding this all to be so very amusing. He had the nerve.

He let me go but stayed close to me on the bed. Reaching up, I massaged my neck not enjoying this one bit.

"Aren't you going to explain yourself? Answer any of my questions. I'm so lost, I died today." I pursue him for answers, I needed them just so I could make sense to all of this and not think I was crazy. Although I was counting on it.

"Well you technically died a week ago but who's counting." He said, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. "As for-"

"A week ago, but there's absolutely no way that's possible." He takes ahold of my chin sharply in his hand, discontinuing me from speaking. "Don't interrupt me, Adeline, I was kindly going to answer your questions. Do you want to know or not."

I glowered, I didn't like him touching me, but I needed to know, so I nodded my head? Letting go of my chin he continued, "Now where was I, yes well I saved you from dying," I opened my mouth to say what he said was ridiculous. "ah no don't speak I'm not finished yet my pet."

My skin prickled at his use of a nickname, pet, I wanted nothing more than to bash his head in with the small statue I was still holding in one hand and make a run for it.

"You now belong to me, I can call upon you when I need your services. You will come to be obedient, no objections and as for your eyes glowing, well sweetheart you're my own personal newborn succubus."

••••••••••••••

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-Ash

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