“Snap out of it,” Tina said playfully, snapping her fingers in front of my face.

“Huh?” I started out of my trance, looking up at her blankly.

“Let’s go already, unless you wanna stay in the office all weekend like some workaholic. What have you even been working on all day, anyway?” She walked around me for a better view of my screen, and I covered it with my hands.

“Nothing,” I stammered, and she got a devilish glint in her eye before prying my fingers off, a devious grin spreading across her face when she revealed my drawing of Christian.

“Doesn’t look like nothing,” she almost sang, before smugly turning back to the picture. “Who’s this? Your mysterious date?” As she took in more details, her expression turned more toward the curious. “So he’s not an uggo after all. Wonder why you didn’t tell me, hehe. But… why’d you draw him like this?” She scrutinized the picture, largely black and white, save for crude slashes of red, and the gold of his eyes. It was drawn roughly and violently, and an artist of her caliber wouldn’t miss it. “Did he dump you?”

I could only stare at the drawing, at the beckoning golden eyes that seemed to speak through the screen. Three days. Just three days, and I’d be free of this monster. If he keeps his word. Yes, if he keeps his word. But it was like he said: I didn’t have any other options. If he chose not to leave me alone, there was nothing I could do about it. Could I lay a trap for him? Lure him in with sex or blood, and jam a stake into his heart? Or set up some hidden mechanism to do it for me? He was a vampire, with all the speed and strength that came with it; the odds weren’t good.

“Well y’know what? Forget about him.” Tina reached over and turned my graphics tablet off, then pulled me to my feet. “You didn’t need him anyway. Had your fun, broke outta your shell, time to move on. A guy like that was never gonna stick around.” She beamed at me as she snatched my purse up for me and began leading me out of the office. “Tell ya what, we’re gonna go out for drinks, and you’re gonna dance with some other hot stranger and forget all about… What was his name again?”

“Christian,” I replied faintly.

“Yeah, screw Christian! I mean, you already did, but you know what I mean,” she giggled.

Sunset had become the enemy. Imagining being out at night at all had turned into a terrifying prospect. I wasn’t safe in my own home anymore. If I… If I took refuge with Tina for the duration of the bet, perhaps I could get through this. He couldn’t get in, and all I had to do was wait out the three days.

“Actually,” I mumbled, “can I stay with you for a few days? I don’t feel like going out.”

Clearly taken aback, she studied me for a moment before letting her party girl side fade into gentleness. “Yeah. Yeah, of course, Annie. Whatever you need.” She wrapped an arm around my shoulder to give me a side hug as we walked. “You really liked him, huh?”

Not being in the mood to either lie or tell her the truth, I simply didn’t answer, letting her walk us to our cars. We drove back to her place and ordered pizza, then cuddled together in fuzzy blankets and watched some shows. Tried as I might, I couldn’t relax and enjoy myself, nervously just scrolling through nothing on my phone. Tina was still lively and talking at me about each episode, but she was subdued enough to the point that it was obviously intentional. Anxious Annie just went through two breakups back to back, so the kid gloves were on. I managed a small grateful smile, and she beamed and nudged my shoulder with hers before carrying on as usual.

The doorbell rang, and like last night, every hair on my body stood on end. Our pizza was here. We weren’t expecting anything else to be delivered. No, no no no, he couldn’t be here. Was it him? Did he find me? I had to get rid of him before Tina got involved.

“I’ll get it,” I said quickly, but she was already on her feet.

“No, I will. You just stay right there, honey.”

I hurried to untangle myself from the blankets while Tina went to answer the door. Racing after her, I almost barreled straight into the door in order to shut it, but I was too late. On her doorstep stood a rakish ladykiller, wearing another button-down and this time even with a vest. It was a dated look, but he was a vampire, after all. And goddamn did he look good in it. Jesus Christ, Anna, he’s the bad guy. Yet his smile was disarming all my defenses.

“Oh my,” Tina breathed, swallowing and wetting her lips before continuing. “How can I help you, handsome?”

“I’m looking for Anna. Is she here?” he said innocently, before locking eyes with me and smiling tenderly. “Anna.” Don’t fall for the act again.

“I’m sorry, what exactly are you doing here?” Tina interrupted, positioning herself between me and him. Bless her heart, I didn’t deserve her. Here I was, using her apartment as a hideout, possibly putting her in danger, and she was still protecting me.

“Anna texted me to come over,” he responded, holding up his phone indicatively. With that, Tina turned to me with a sardonic smile. She thought I’d begged Christian to get back together with me, and invited him here. I shook my head urgently, but she rolled her eyes with a chuckle and turned back to him. I walked around Tina and used my hands to maneuver her to the side, which earned me another knowing look.

“I never said that you should come over,” I muttered, which was true. I had to be as cryptic as possible, to fit Tina’s narrative while still addressing the matter at hand with Christian. I was afraid of what he would do if I went full panic mode.

“It sounded like you needed me,” he said softly, and I felt Tina melt next to me. It almost worked on me too. He knew all the lines, and I had to remind myself to stay focused and not fall for his manipulation.

“Well I don’t. It’s girls’ night,” I announced.

“Not necessarily,” Tina objected. “I can make myself scarce if you two…”

“No need. I can do girls’ night,” Christian said with a smile. “That is, if you don’t mind. Is that pizza I smell?”

With a beckoning wave, Tina said the unthinkable. “It is indeed. Come on in, make yourself at home.”

I whirled to face her in terror, but it was too late. She was already heading back to the couch, turned away from the biggest mistake of her life. I heard the single footstep of Christian stepping over the threshold, like crashing thunder rocking the skies and shaking the earth, rooting me to the spot as I struggled to breathe. Then his arms wrapped around my waist from behind and he kissed my temple.

“It’s good to see you again,” he whispered, his sweet words dashed with sinister intent.

What have I done?

“There’s still a few slices, if you want,” Tina declared, waving vaguely at the pizza boxes. She spotted the two of us together at the door and patted her lips in admonishment before turning away with a smirk.

Christian closed the door and ushered me back to the living room. “Thanks, I appreciate it. Argh, where are my manners?” He held his hand out to Tina. “Christian Báthory. Pleasure to meet you.”

Clearly taken with his polite demeanor, she hopped her brows and bit her lip, daintily placing her hand in his. “Ooh, Báthory, huh? Like Countess Báthory?”

He gave her fingers a light kiss and grinned. “Yes. Exactly like that.”

“Fancy,” she purred. “Tina Stanley. Not all of us can have such cool names. Can we, Miss Belmont?” She bumped my hip with hers, but I wasn’t in any mood for conversation.

“So what are we watching, girlfriends?” he asked, turning our attention to the TV. He was going along with the girls’ night premise, but the double entendre definitely tickled Tina. She was starting to look flushed, nibbling a fingernail as we sat. She and I were back to huddling together on the couch, while Christian settled into the beanbag, the only other seating available.

“We’re in the middle of a romcom series,” Tina replied.

“Ooh, I love drama,” Christian almost gushed, biting into a slice of pizza.

“One sec, Tina and I are gonna get drinks,” I blurted, quickly getting to my feet and waving at her behind my back for her to follow.

She shot Christian an apologetic look before rising as well. “Is beer okay, Christian?”

“That sounds lovely, sweetie,” he replied, making her blush. Stretched cheese dangled from his chin, lending a goofy and relatable tone to his playboy veneer. I could already tell, Tina was falling head over heels for him, and I had to get her out of here before he revealed his true colors.

Grabbing her wrist and almost yanking her to the kitchen, I rounded on her with what I hoped was a fitting mix of calmness and urgency. “Tina, we need him to leave.”

“So you’re not getting back together?” she asked mildly, opening the fridge to retrieve some beers. “You were only together for… how long?”

“Two days,” I huffed. “But that’s not the point, he’s–”

“Two days,” she echoed. “Then you’re not allowed to get jealous if you don’t want him anymore.” She closed the fridge door and set the cans on the counter, quirking her lips. “What’s going on, Annie?”

“We’re not together. He’s a vampire,” I hissed.

She chuckled once, leaning back against the counter. “Seeing how he’s dressed, I see why you’d say that now. So fancy, gives serious daddy vibes.” It was only at this point that I remembered Christian could hear everything we were saying with his enhanced hearing. I looked over my shoulder at him, but he was innocently working on his pizza. “If you’re still together, then I’ll keep my paws off. Girl code. But if you’re not interested, I do wanna try him out. And like I said, I wouldn’t mind even sharing him.” She giggled a bit. “A guy like him’s probably had a threesome before, right?”

My head whipped back to her. He was already driving her crazy, much like he’d done with me. “I’m not having a threesome with you,” I said, bewildered, before squeezing my eyes shut. She was getting me off topic. But what did it matter? She’d already invited him in. There was nothing to protect her from him anymore, and I couldn’t even protect myself.

“Lucky for you, I won’t take offense to that,” she laughed, pulling me back to the conversation. “So then do you want him or not?”

“It’s… complicated,” I groaned. I needed to talk to him now, and hopefully negotiate… something, anything.

“Fine, fine. I’ll let you work it out. But I’m still allowed to flirt, right? Just a little harmless back-and-forth, nothing serious?”

“You ladies need help?” Christian called, and Tina grabbed the cans and winked at me before rejoining him.

True to her word, the two of them started a light conversation laced with subtle flirts. A glance over my shoulder revealed that their expressions and body language were saying a lot more. I let out a shaky breath, shutting my eyes and turning my head up. If I knew how to pray, now was exactly when I would’ve done so. Only divine intervention and my sheer determination would save us now.

“Christian, I know you can hear me,” I whispered. “I need to talk to you. Don’t make a scene in front of Tina. Please.”

“Well, it’s getting late,” Christian sighed. “You should probably head to bed, huh?”

I turned, and Tina was gazing adoringly into his eyes. “Yeah, that’s not a bad idea. All these long nights partying, my mom says it’s wreaking havoc on my health. But honestly, she’s probably right, I should get some beauty sleep or I’m gonna age like milk.” They shared a laugh, and she sashayed to her bedroom door, turning back to wink at us. “Don’t stay up too late yourselves, you two. And try to keep it down!” she giggled.

With that, she went inside, leaving me alone with the vampire. He raised a confident eyebrow at me before tipping his head to indicate for me to join him. Mustering up my courage, I approached and sat down in the middle of the couch, not meeting his eyes.

“Well? Go ahead. She’s asleep, so no need to whisper anymore.” He popped open one of the beers and took a long drag from it.

“How can you be sure? She could be listening through the door,” I murmured.

He sighed in satisfaction from his beverage, then tapped close to his eye with a finger. “Compulsion. She won’t be waking up ’til sunrise at the earliest. So speak, pet.” He unbuttoned his vest and let it hang open, going back to his pizza.

“What’s it gonna take for you to leave her alone?” I bit out. “Is there anything that will persuade you?” It came out a lot more aggressive than I intended, and I couldn’t tell which of us was more surprised. He seemed more amused, however.

“Nothing,” he replied, meticulously cleaning his fingers with a paper napkin. “There is nothing that can stop me from having her. Don’t forget what I am, pet. I take whatever I want. Blood. Sex. Anything. And on that note…”

He rose to his feet, unbuttoning his shirt as he headed for Tina’s bedroom. In an instant, I had darted in front of him, earning myself a condescending smirk from him. “If you so much as touch her, I’ll–”

“You’ll what, pet? Did you bring your precious silver steak knife with you?” he sneered. My heart was pounding out of my chest, and surely he could hear it. He pushed past me and threw Tina’s door open. She was sound asleep on her bed, wearing nothing but a pair of panties, the blankets tossed aside in the heat.

“You’re a cheat,” I growled, and he gave me a gloating smirk.

“Excuse me?”

“We had a deal. A bet. You’re trying to make me submit so you’ll leave Tina alone.” I glared at him accusingly, but was only met with a gleeful grin.

“I’m not making you do anything. I’m abiding by the rules. I’m not compelling you, and I’m not threatening your person in any way. What happens between Tina and I is none of your concern. And if you’ll recall, the whole bet was solely for your benefit in the first place. I stood to gain nothing. It’s yours to lose.” He gestured to the front door. “I’m a man of my word. In three days’ time, I’ll have failed to make you submit to me, and you’ll never have to worry about me again. So go.”

He took another step, shedding his shirt, and I ran to stand between him and the bed again. “I won’t let you lay a finger on her.” One hand was on his chest, the other was balled into a fist. I knew I was no match for him; the only reason he’d stopped was because he was entertaining me. All I could do was clutch onto the barest strand of control I thought I had left.

“And who are you to deny me? You heard her. She wants this.” Thirst flashed in his expression, a predatory desire for flesh under his fangs and around his cock.

“Wait! I’ll…” I looked back at my best friend, asleep and defenseless, about to be raped and drained. He was here because of me. I swallowed a sob and turned back to him. “I’ll submit to you, if you promise to leave her alone.”

“Not interested,” he grunted, pushing against my hand with another half-step.

I flung my fists at him, and he caught both by the wrist effortlessly before throwing me to the ground like a doll. As quick as I could, I got back up and stood before him once more, desperate and panicking. “Please. Take me instead.” I knew in my heart that all he wanted was to break me, to make me voluntarily give myself to him. I just didn’t realize how painful it would be. “Please. I’m begging you.”

“How can you call it begging when you’re not even on your knees?” he sneered. He looked down his nose at me, his countenance now full of disgust and contempt.

At last, my tears began to fall as I dropped to my knees, weakly clutching at his legs. “Please, I’m begging you,” I whispered. “Take me instead. I’ll… I’ll be yours forever. Just leave her alone.”

He reached down and gently cupped my face, raising my chin to look at him. “I’m not sure if you know… how much men love sad eyes,” he murmured. His lip curled into a victorious sneer, the face of a fiend. “I win. Mine forever… pet.”

He yanked me to my feet and spun me around, rending my clothes apart right down the middle with shocking ease. My t-shirt was shredded into tatters, discarded onto the floor while my leggings were ripped off my hips and left hanging off my knees. He shoved me toward the bed, and I was sent straight onto Tina’s sleeping body. I checked on her, but she was sleeping like the dead. Pushing up onto all fours, I saw Christian step out of his trousers and climbing onto the mattress behind me. With the flick of a finger, my panties snapped at the crotch, and he forced his giant cock into my exposed sex.

I felt my hymen tear, the third time in as many days. Sobbing again, I stayed on all fours as he took me from behind while I was face to face with my friend. Tears splattered onto her cheeks. Grabbing me by the neck, he pulled me upright, and my nails dug into his hand while he hissed into my ear.

“As much as I love using blood as lube, I want even your body to forsake you. So get wet for me, pet.” His gilded eyes pierced through my soul, and I felt my will surrender to his.

Getting wet would make this hurt less. No! I can’t give in, can’t feel pleasure from submitting to him. But this is the threesome Tina wanted. Isn’t that hot? I cried out in anguish as my body betrayed me, coating his shaft in lust so that he could fuck me better. An orgasm crested in me from out of nowhere, and he threw me forward onto Tina as I came on his manhood. I wrapped my arms around her, arms gripping onto her body, pussy gripping onto his cock.

He tipped my chin up to the side, just enough that I could see his golden eyes at the corner of my vision. “You did all this for her, pet. You must love her a great deal. So kiss her. Show her how much you love her.”

He dropped my chin, leaving my head on the pillow next to hers while she slept. He’s right. I guess I’d really give anything for her. I already have. I caressed her face before putting my lips to hers, desperately kissing her as I relinquished my future. I felt him unleash his seed in me, and aftershocks overtook my body. My mind was melting in grief and pleasure, and I pushed my tongue into her mouth, passionately making out with her while he finished inside me. Sighing in satisfaction, he buried his fingers in my hair and held me to Tina, relishing the sight of this sapphic experience.

“That’s a good girl,” he crooned, and my pussy clenched around him. Fuck. Was he rewiring my mind already? It was the compulsion, I told myself. “Now get up. On your knees, against the wall.”

Best just to do as he says. Maybe he’ll make me cum again. No, please. I had nothing left, besides this meager resistance. But my body belonged to him now. Still quivering from the orgasm, I pulled myself to my knees using the headboard before pressing my cheek up against the wall, arms splayed upward on either side with my rear out for him. He grunted in approval, then gave my ass a spank. My pussy clenched, sending a mix of his jism and my virginal blood spurting out onto Tina’s face. Her lips were still parted from our kiss, and a great deal of the sinful mixture made it into her mouth. She frowned and closed her mouth, swirling the thick fluids around before swallowing, then let her jaw hang open as if waiting for more.

As if to oblige, Christian shuffled up behind me and slid back inside. “Wait–” I gasped, but he was already pounding into me, filling the air with wet smacks of pleasure. I moaned pathetically, fingers clawing at the drywall. Coital bliss had already defeated me, at least for tonight. It seemed this would be a dance we would perform every night: me trying to resist how good he felt inside me, and losing every time. He was right. In the end, he would always get what he wanted.

His tongue drew circles on my neck, and I wondered if he would bite me again. My tits had found a home in hands, and he tweaked my nipples in time with his thrusts. “How does it feel to be used, pet?” he crooned into my ear. Too late, I realized his voice was hypnotic as well. Perhaps not laced with his vampiric powers, but pleasing and dominating to a woman all the same.

Don’t say it. Don’t say it. Don’t say–

“Fuck me harder,” I slurred. “Fill me with more cum.”

He chuckled, pleased with the fragments I’d shattered into. “As the lady wishes.” With a grunt, he gave one last hard thrust before flooding my womb with a second load. I groaned into the wall, my eyes rolling back as my thighs quivered with ecstasy. As much as I hated him, I couldn’t deny that his seed felt good inside me. Ooh, and he was a vampire, so he couldn’t knock me up. That meant he could fuck me raw as much as he wanted. How delightful.

With one vicious motion, he ripped his manhood out of me, and the sudden vacancy didn’t leave me time to clench shut. More of our bloodstained cum poured out of me and into Tina’s mouth, and she swallowed it all obediently.

“God,” I breathed, trying to suppress the depraved pleasure I was feeling as I watched Tina drink it all. My knees buckled and I sat on her chest, using my arms to prop up against the headboard while I caught my breath, staring down at her.

“Enjoying yourself, pet?” he asked, his voice caressing my mind sensually.

“Yeah,” I panted with a grin, biting my lip lustfully before catching myself. “No!”

I rolled over and weakly tried to kick him in the groin, but he caught me by the ankle and pulled me toward him until I was lying neatly on top of Tina. “You mortals are all the same,” he chided, contempt entering his voice. “Always hiding behind each other. Like vermin.” He moved as if to mount me again, but reached over and opened one of Tina’s eyes, his irises glittering gold. “Tina, darling, be a dear and spread Anna open for me while I fuck her.”

Before I could react, Tina’s hands had parted my legs and carefully spread my sex, presenting my pinkness to our tormentor. “Tina!” I yelped, my ankles dangling helplessly in the air, the remains of my leggings hanging down to either side.

“She can’t hear you, she’s asleep.” Christian grinned down at me, a sick satisfied expression that would become a common sight. “I love having women help me hold them down,” he sighed happily, rubbing his member along my slick and creamy wetness.

I turned away and used my arm to cover my eyes, gasping helplessly when he entered me yet again. He rumbled approvingly, cupping my waist with one hand and one of my tits with the other, massaging both while he fucked me slow. With Tina spreading me open, it felt like he was going deeper than before. He thrusted down at me, and I felt the squish of Tina’s breasts against my back as I was rocked back and forth.

“You can’t hide from me, pet. And you can’t run. You wanted to know why I haven’t killed you yet.” His fingers brushed against my throat, and it looked like he was considering whether to bite me tonight. “It’s because you’re a fighter. Fighters are my favorite.” He licked his lips at that. “So keep fighting me, pet, for as long as you can. It’s the only choice you have left.”

He wrapped his fingers around my throat and began effortlessly choking me. It’s not as good as when he bites me, but it’s not bad. Oh no. I couldn’t let him fuck me, or else I’d break like this every time. He was still talking about me fighting back, but I’d already lost. I was his.

My master came in me one more time, and I climaxed with him, writhing in forced rapture. This pleasure he brought me was a prison, and I was too high on it to try to escape. Everything was becoming a blur. I only recalled tasting his blood again, and whispered words fading into the night.

“Don’t let me down, Anna.”

I wouldn’t. I’d resist him, as much as I could, every step of the way. And one day… One day, I’d get my freedom back.