Chapter 14 The Signs

Anna Marie

She stiffened her knees to prevent the nausea of fear coursing through her veins.

The car brought her to an abandoned housing on 8th Avenue. She had only heard of this place in the news. This was the most dangerous part of Harlem. A lot of gang activities went on in this part of the city.

Rie got out of the car slowly and it drove away, leaving her alone. The phone was doing its job in her back pocket so she was positive help will arrive soon.

The street was so dark and no people milled about. Odd.

She gasped when a hulk of a man moved out of the shadows. Shit! Now her suspicions proved correct, why the voice sounded so familiar over the phone.

"You came, Anna Marie." He nodded in approval and he eyed her with intensity. There was a cruel twist on his lips she was glimpsing for the first time.

This was his true identity. Her instinct had always been right.

She had grown used to his lecherous advances and she had handled them just fine. But this evil side of him... She didn't know how to deal with it.

"Where is Indali, Zach?" Her voice quaked, however, she squared her shoulders. She wouldn't be bullied by the likes of him.

"Ah, the Dragon King's sister. She is in good hands. She tasted good but she is too skinny for my taste." He licked his lips in a blatant display of lust and smirked cruelly.

Her hands balled into fists. All her protective instinct came to the fore. It didn't register how muscular and tall he was. She wanted to do him some damage. Even kill him. "You've touched her."

Not a question. She had a feeling he did.

-Remember all your defense classes.-

She relaxed her stance and waited for the perfect opportunity. Alexandria and Sofia had taught her and her sisters well.

"Nah, nothing too damaging, Rie. Since you're here, I will let her go. Come." She refused to take his outstretched hand. He growled impatiently and grab her arm none too gently. She gasped in pain.

She gritted her teeth. Not wanting to give him the satisfaction of letting him know how much his touch was hurting her. His nails dug deeper and pierced her skin. She could feel blood trickling down her arm. "Get used to my touch. You are mine."

He brushed his lips on her temple. She twisted her body to move a few inches away from him. She felt like puking.

"You are disgusting." She hissed and spit on his face.

She would die first before he could get the chance to claim her body. His teeth gleamed at her outburst.

Zachary half dragged and half carried her inside the abandoned house.

It was too dark. She blinked several times to adjust her vision. There was a painful whimper from the huddled figure on the floor.

The sight before her made her sagged on her knees. He pushed her away from him with a snarl and she crawled to Indali's almost naked body. She was barely breathing in a fatal position.

Bruises, cuts, and blood covered every inch of her skin. She embraced her gently. "Indali," she whispered hoarsely. "Wake up, sis. I'm here."

With haste, she removed her jacket and covered the poor girl's shivering form. Indali whimpered and burrowed closer to her warmth.

"What the fuck did you do to her?!" She growled to their abductor.

He chuckled, crouching down so his face was in level with hers. "It doesn't matter, Rie. She will live. Let's go!" He growled.

Zachary dragged her by her hair. She kicked and punched -- it didn't do any damage. He was too strong. She maneuvered her body so she stood in front of him and knee him hard on his balls then headbutt his jaw.

Ouch! That fucking hurt. However, it gave her the leverage she needed because he let her go and fell on his knees, groaning in pain.

Supernatural men didn't have balls of steel.

Maybe it was the adrenaline shit coursing through her veins. Not stopping to think, she hefted Indali's injured body in her arms to run out of the house. His screams and shouts of outrage reverberated in the night.

"Help! Help us!!!" She began to call out when they reached the lawn.

A massive hand grabbed her hair and it made her lose her balance. She dropped her precious cargo. "No!" Indali's body fell from her arms with a thud.

"Not so fast, bitch!" Zach backhanded her and she fell hard. Her cheeks were throbbing in pain and there was a metallic taste of blood in her mouth. His balled fist hit her chest and her stomach several times until she couldn't move. She was positive he had broken a rib.

Rie groaned in agony, trying to twist away despite the pain.

"Stop," she pleaded. Her eyes shut tightly. -Lucas. Goddess, help us. Please.-

"Too late, slut! I tried to be nice to you but you choose to be with the Dragon asshole. I'll take you both! But I need to fuck you first. I've waited long enough!"

"Over my dead body, asshole!" She spat and tried to kick him.

He threw back his head and laughed cruelly. "I don't have a problem fucking you half dead, Rie. Your sous chef Cee loved it."

Her blood ran cold. He was the one.

He took her friend. He raped her and killed her.

Uncaring of her wounds, she got up suddenly and attacked him like a rabid dog. She kicked and scratched every part of his body she could reach and she kept on screaming in rage.

She knew she was no match for him. Zachary was a trained warrior. With inhuman strength, he had her pinned on the grass. Subdued. Her chest heaving from anger. "Alexander will be the least of your worry. My mate will fucking burn you alive!"

Her wrists were pinned above her head and with one hand and he forcefully spread her legs with his knee so he could settle in between. Fear gripped over her. This was not happening to her again. Not ever.

How to get out of his hold. Be smart. Think, Anna Marie! Maybe if she will stay pliant...

Zachary bit and licked her throat. She needed him closer to her face.

There was a nauseating sensation at the back of her throat but she held it in. Goosebumps raised on her pores and she was trying to control the urge to retch.

When he adjusted his body to grind down on her it presented an opportunity. She bit down his ear with all she got and shook her head from side to side until the flesh was torn from his head. She gagged at the taste of his blood and she spat it out.

He howled in pain. Rie scrambled as far away from him as possible.

"I would have wanted to make it good for you, Rie. Now, you will suffer!" He roared in uncontrolled fury.

Zachary had murder and lust in his eyes revealing the truth of his promise.

And she believed him. She didn't think she will come out of this nightmare alive.

-Lucas. Where are you?-

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