+ 1.6: Trapped!

The Next Day

Azaria had suffered a mild concussion from the blow Davrin had dealt. As a result she had passed out on the bed while thinking over the situation she had landed herself in. She woke the next day feeling somewhat better, except for the apprehension that had taken hold of her.

She hadn’t forgotten the words he’d threatened her with: “You’re not going anywhere.” It sent a bone-chilling shiver down her spine. And in that instant a bout of nausea had washed over her. She bolted for the bathroom.

Jeeves walked in to hear the retching going on in the en-suite bathroom. Poor girl doesn’t know what’s been done to her. He thought as he cleaned up a pile of dirty clothing before heading out and locking her in once again.

The sun was setting over the city and Davrin had woken from his own slumber. He was sure the girl would be famished by now and ordered Jeeves to prepare dinner. He’d be up shortly to join her – a rather odd gesture.

There came a knock on Azaria’s bedroom door.

Jeeves: “The master would like you to join him for dinner tonight.”

Azaria: “I’m not interested.”

There was a click of the lock.

The butler unlocked the door and left without saying anything further.

Davrin was reciting one of Mozart’s symphonies when Jeeves appeared.

 “She has declined.” Jeeves announced

“She’ll come around.” Davrin replied confidently.

Sure enough, hunger pangs had gotten the better of Azaria and she ambled down to the dining room. He was waiting for her at the head of the table.

Davrin: “I believe you said no.” He grinned

Azaria: “I changed my mind.”

Davrin: “You must have questions.” He probed

She looked at him. She had hundreds of questions but she feared that the answers would be anything but pleasant to hear.

Davrin: “I can’t imagine how you must feel over missing out on several months of your life.”
Azaria: “Excuse me?”

Davrin: “Have you not looked at the date?”

She hadn’t. Azaria had taken it for granted that she had only spent two nights in this horrible place.

Davrin: “Well? Don’t you want to know what’s happened?"

Truth was she did. But would she believe it? Would she be able to comprehend and accept that she had been a mindless being for the past couple of months without any recollection of her actions?

Davrin began to tell her the story anyway...

 Back at Aquarius – Several Months Ago

“We were sitting at the bar and you were rambling on and on about your family. I couldn’t wait for you to shut up! Do you remember what you said?”

“Vaguely.” Azaria replied stiffly as she recalled the scene.

Azaria: “They don’t understand me you know? Heads buried so far into their binder files and money that they can’t see any other way to live.”

Davrin nodded as the girl slurred on about her seemingly miserable life.

She continued: “My mother thinks I’m going to fall flat on my face. And my father! Do you know what he told me?”

Davrin shook his head.

“That old snooty coot said I shouldn’t come back home until I’ve proved them wrong. Those were his last words. Well I’ll prove them wrong all right!”

Davrin nodded again and clucked his tongue in sympathy. “Parents can be so obstinate and inconsiderate.” He cooed deceitfully.

“Inside, my patience was slowly wearing thin. Why was it taking Jeeves so long to cut the power supply?! I thought as I pushed your drink closer toward you, encouraging you to down the last few sips. It wouldn’t be long until you blacked out from the drug I’d slipped in it. Then I’d be able to carry out my plan. I figured who would miss you since you were away from home and your family had very nearly disowned you. Of course there were your friends. But I went back later to take care of them.”

“I waited for you to come round after the drug wore off. I watched you sway lightly in rhythm with the gentle breeze and laughed manically to myself. Everything was going as planned.”

Davrin sighed nostalgically as he remembered the scene. However, he didn’t expect Azaria to.

“When you had begun to wonder where you were, I approached. I knew you wouldn’t flee at the sight of a familiar face.”

He looked deep into her eyes. They were brown. He hadn’t noticed until now.

“Big brown doe eyes that could capture a man’s heart easily: except for mine. I’m no ordinary man swayed easily by feminine charms. If anyone was going to do any charming, it was going to be me.”

“You will look deep into my eyes. You will enter a trance-like-state. In this state you will have eyes for no one but me. You will love me unconditionally and you will give in to my whims. Only when you hear your name will you be freed.”

“I was hypnotising you to fall in love with me. And I thought: Oh well who’s going to wake her from the trance if she’s going to be locked up in my mansion. I was sorely mistaken.” He spat the words out bitterly.

“You can’t make someone love you!” Azaria protested.

“But you did... until last night.” He looked away. And for a fleeting moment Azaria thought she had seen disappointment etched on his face.

“Anyway,” He continued “After that I bit you. I suppose that my greed for fresh blood got the better of me and I couldn’t stop myself.”

They both recalled his fangs sinking into her flesh, the blood being sucked out of her and the euphoria and weakness that took over.

“So you’re really a...” She couldn’t say the word now as a lump of fear lodged itself in her throat.

“Duh! You know, you’re not as smart as I thought you were.”

Azaria felt insulted but concealed the expression. If she got too angry with him he may abandon the conversation and she’d never know what happened after that.

Azaria’s heart was racing at phenomenal speeds. She had become weak and disorientated. 

“It took a while but eventually you collapsed on the grass. I was waiting.” Davrin explained.

Davrin had brought the girl back to the mansion. He’d found his victim at last. He carried her over the threshold and upstairs to the dummy bedrooms. Jeeves had already returned home from sabotaging the power supply at Aquarius and was waiting to greet his master.

“I’ve already made her room up sir. If you don’t mind I’ll retire for the night?”

“I’ve got it from here, Jeeves.”

“And that my dear child, concludes tonight’s story time.” It was getting to the early hours and Davrin needed to retreat to his coffin in the basement.

“Hang on... I remember freaking out in the forest after realising what you were. It was in my dream. Well I thought it was a dream... before I supposedly collapsed... I knew what you were... I must have been in my senses to realise that! So your spell didn’t really work instantly did it?”

He scoffed. “You’d be blown away if you knew what I could do with my mind.” He wiggled his eyebrows menacingly. “I can make you envision things that didn’t really happen.”

“So how do I know that what you’re telling me really happened?” She asked indignantly. “How do I know what I’ve really been here for months? How do I know that this isn’t another one of your mind tricks?”

He stared at her blankly for a moment. Then he uttered the words that could have brought on a severe heart attack. “Because you can’t become preggers overnight you silly!”

Authors note: Hope it wasn't confusing :O
Also I tried to spacce this out neatly but for some reason it didn't go as planned so if it appears all wonky to you I'm really sorry.