Her skin crawled at the thought and she wanted to scream, to rail at the heavens, to call for help. But it was too late. Her voice let out only the barest of whispers and Vlad, as he glared down upon her, knew it. The smile upon his wicked lips, the light of anticipation in his eyes, told her he enjoyed her suffering, her ultimate fate.

He was a monster. A mortal who envisioned himself as something more. Who was this sicko who licked at blood, who pretended to be a vampire, who taught a class at the college all the while preying upon his students? There was no doubt that he adored Elizabeth, who almost seemed to be his mistress. Almost.

“You’re like a dog on a leash,” Kristi said to him. “She uses you.”

“As I use her,” he replied, irritated. He reached down toward her neck and Kristi expected him to try and choke her. Instead one finger locked on the gold chain and he ripped it from her neck. “This belongs to me,” he said, clasping the vial of blood in his hand much as he’d held a piece of chalk during his boring lectures. He slid a glance at Elizabeth. “We’ll have to save a few drops for one more.” His lips curled into an evil smile, revealing his needle-sharp teeth.

“You’re such a fake,” Kristi said, feeling dizzy, hardly able to concentrate. As Vlad leaned forward again, she spat in his face, the spittle dripping into the tub.

“What! No!” Elizabeth nearly freaked. “The water can’t be tainted!”

Effortlessly, he scooped up the floating spittle and snarled, “It’s fine.”

“But—”

“Shhh. I said it’s fine,” he said more sternly, and Elizabeth, though irritated, quieted.

Light-headed, Kristi spat again. This time the globule landed on Elizabeth’s leg.

The woman screamed, and Vlad showed his teeth once more. “I’ll rip out your fuckin’ throat,” he warned, eyes blazing.

Good! Get it over with! But the words didn’t form, with Kristi’s strength seeping away. Vlad saw her weakness and he gloated over her, his smile triumphant, his wicked, fraudulent fangs glistening in the candlelight. “She is ours,” he said, so loudly his voice echoed in the underground chamber.

Kristi opened her mouth to argue, to scream, but only a small sound escaped.

It was too late.

She saw her own skin leeching of color, knew she was shivering despite the warm bath, felt herself slipping out of consciousness. Darkness closed and in a way it would be a welcome relief from this torment.

No help was coming.

She couldn’t fight.

Her blood flowed, coloring the water a darker hue.

She was, she knew, dying, slipping away.

She would never see Jay again.

Never argue with her father.

All was lost….