Darkness Chapter 5: No!

**Nelly**

I am at the back of the raiding party when a sudden feeling of unease washes over me. I sense that we are being watched. Quickly, I pull back and signal to Tara and Brandon. "Something doesn't feel right. I believe we are being watched," I whisper urgently.

Tara inquires, "From which direction?"

I gesture towards the tree line with my eyes and reply, "Over there."

Brandon steps forward and declares, "I will gather a small group to stay back and keep watch. Nel, be cautious. Watch your six."

"Thank you, Brandon," I say gratefully as he embraces me before joining Tara. I continue scanning the trees for any signs of danger.

Suddenly, a vampire charges towards me out of nowhere. "Let's go, bloodsucker!" I shout defiantly. Before he even emerges from the trees, I swiftly draw my gun and aim it at him. With a single shot, he collapses to the ground and disintegrates into ash. As I survey my surroundings, I feel a sharp prick in my neck. "Fuck!" I scream in shock and pain.

I yank the dart from my neck and stagger towards the nearest shed. Seeking refuge, I know it will provide me with a tactical advantage to take a shot before succumbing to unconsciousness. My vision blurs, my limbs grow heavy. I press my back against the shed's wall, struggling to keep my gun aloft before it slips from my grasp.

And then, I hear him... fucking Vincent. "Hello, my pet," he purrs.

"I...I'm not...a...pet!" I manage to stammer.

I feel his hot breath on my neck as he whispers, "Oh, my sweet Nelly...you belong to me now." Darkness envelops me.

**Vincent**

As I saunter down to where she clumsily stumbled, I round the corner to find her propped against the shed. Her face was still concealed, her weapon casually discarded between her legs. "Well, well, well, look who we have here, my dear pet," I taunt.

Nelly mutters defiantly, "I...I am not a pet!"

"Oh, my precious Nelly, you belong to me now," I declare as I effortlessly lift her limp body. Alec approaches, offering to take Nelly off my hands, but I'm not quite ready to part ways just yet. Surveying the aftermath of the raid, I notice two of Nelly’s companions standing nearby, looking worse for wear.

One of the girls, in a desperate attempt to save her friend, pleads with tears in her eyes, "No! Let her go, please!" Her companion's silent but deadly glare speaks volumes, making it clear that he's itching to take me out.

As we make our way back to the cars for transport, I keep Nelly close, ensuring no one gets any funny ideas. Alec inquires about our next move, to which I casually reply, "Throw them in the cells for now, hands off. This one's coming with me to my quarters. And make sure the other one disappears." Alec nods in agreement, promising to take care of the unwanted guest. Oh, the joys of being in charge.

I gaze down at the stunning creature in my arms, gently removing the scarf that obscured her face. Finally, her full beauty is revealed to me. "Alec, when we return, I demand absolute privacy," I assert.

Alec nods obediently. "Of course," he replies with a mischievous grin.

Upon our arrival, I carefully carried her to my room and lay her on the bed. Brushing her hair away from her face, I find myself captivated by her presence. She begins to stir, her eyes fluttering open. "Hello, pet," I greet her.

"Where am I?" she questions, confusion evident in her voice.

"In my humble abode, my dear. Resting comfortably in my bed," I respond with a smirk.

"No! No!" she exclaims, attempting to rise but ultimately falling back onto the bed. Undeterred, she tries again, using the wall for support. I can't help but chuckle at her tenacity. Oh, she's going to be quite entertaining. "What have you done to me?" she demands, her tone laced with sarcasm.

"Oh, so that little concoction your parents whipped up to knock us out was just a fun little experiment, huh?" I quip. Her body stiffens, and she slowly pivots to face me, still propped up against the wall. "Oh, I know exactly who you are. You offed Victor. He was practically family to me. We were tight for years before you did him in." As memories of my vampire life trickle back to me, I can't help but wonder why I ever thought I was human. The mystery still eludes me, but I'll crack it one day.

"Well, he did try to take a bite out of my friend. If he had just kept his trap shut, maybe I wouldn't have had to do the deed... or maybe he still would have. The jury's still out," she retorts with a hint of sass.

"You find this amusing?" I question.

Nelly lets out a giggle. "Oh, absolutely."

I stride over to where she's leaning against the wall, staring me down. "What's so hilarious about becoming my new little pet?"

Nelly smirks, "It's funny because you actually think I'll submit to you."

I stand mere inches away from her, staring into her defiant eyes. Oh, what a delightful challenge she will be. I pull her close to me, feeling her resistance, until suddenly I feel a sharp pain in my stomach. She had stabbed me, the sneaky little bitch. As she stumbles out of the room, the drugs still clouding her mind, I remove the knife and watch her collapse just outside my door.

I casually pick her up and toss her back onto my bed, securing her with handcuffs. Examining the wound on my stomach, I see it's already healing. "Well, there goes another shirt. I liked that one too," I mutter sarcastically. "But I'll let you have that one, my dear pet."