She had been kept out for an amount of time she didn't know. Only aware due to the brief flashes of white and pain before she was out again. But she had started to come to once more, lying on his enormous bed. He had been with her, though he seemed to have been satisfied for the time being.
Something must have caught his attention, as she heard the heavy footfalls of his boots as he swept from the room, closing the door securely behind him.
She couldn't hear him once he reached the end of the hallway, and she looked around the room for the first time. It was massive, with dark walls and an almost black ceiling. There was a large black wardrobe, and to her other side was an area that had been screened off with a tub behind it.
Letting out a slow breath, she ran her fingers down over her stomach and frowned as she felt the first hint of swelling. At least he was going to leave her alone once he saw, and she retreated into herself as the door began to open, knowing he had come back. She did her best to prepare herself for the pain of her brain being fried again, but that didn't come. Did he not realise she was alert?
His hands were on her arm and they were surprisingly gentle and soft, considering his hands had been rough like stone. But she shrugged it off, not caring enough.
She had given herself over to a fantasy and was happily remembering stabbing Vincent in the thigh when a gentle voice caught her attention and she shrugged it off too, almost smiling at the sound of his roar of pain before her mind flicked to dancing in Winter with Dirdos, that feeling of being beautiful and serene. It had been a magical moment, and she let the feelings of peace and happiness wash over her as she replayed it, the way Winter moved with her in the dance, wanting her to be happy as only a child could.
Something tapped her face, and her imagined world popped like a soap bubble. She immediately tried to pull it back up around her, she didn't want to be aware of what he was doing to her; she didn't want anything to break her peace, but the face she saw was not the face of the lightning king. It was a face that was both hard as granite and soft as silk, dark eyes that were soft and intelligent and lips that tilted down just slightly at the corners. Hair that was growing too long and starting to curl at the ends, black and soft. She knew it would smell like sandalwood; he had taken to it ever since she had used it in his hair, and the thought had made her intensely happy.
He tapped her cheek gently with his fingertips and she stared at him, greedily taking him in. He was much better in this fantasy, drinking in every detail of his pale face even as he spoke. She couldn't hear what he was saying, but she didn't need to. He was upset about something, and his eyes left her, his head turning to speak to someone else.
He was frowning when he looked back at her, and she saw her fingers touching his cheek, pale and scarred from where her magic had been drained to not be able to heal the scars from her burns.
He felt incredibly real, and she marvelled at the ability of her own mind, the perfect recreation of one of the only two men she cherished more than anyone. One she would kill for without hesitation and would do anything to protect.
Kai closed his eyes as her fingers brushed his skin, his face anguished as he pressed his cheek into her hand, warm and soft against her scars. His arm went around her back and she was fascinated by the warmth of the jacket he pulled over her shoulders, his eyes dropping as he fed her unresisting arms through the sleeves and buttoned it up before he pulled her up onto his lap and then stood.
The world moved around her, but she barely noticed. Her eyes locked on his face and her fingers stroking the fabric of his shirt. He was so warm and real, his shirt amazingly textured.
This was by far the best fantasy she had experienced so far, and she took full advantage, resting her head against his shoulder and staring up at his profile.
He was such a handsome man, with a strong jaw and straight nose, too skinny, but it worked for him. He had cheekbones that any person would envy, and naturally sculpted eyebrows that were drawn down in anger.
She didn't remember when she had seen him like that before, his face dark with anger and yelling at someone while she was cradled in his arms, his jacket keeping her safe. But she had to assume it had happened at some point, and she wasn't about to try to ruin it by thinking too hard.
He looked down at her and his anger faded at her expression, knowing her lips were parted and eyes were wide as she stared at him, but she couldn't control the memory, she could only experience it again and revel in it while it was playing.
A new face appeared in her vision, another handsome male with dark hair and pale violet eyes. He was talking to Kai and looking down at her. Kai only shook his head.
Versalis' hand touched her cheek, and she wondered at the warmth of him, the incredible detail of his skin on hers.
He took her hand in his and pressed his lips against her palm, her eyes following the movement of the jacket as it slid up her arm and her fantasy shattered at the sight of gold markings on her skin.
It was impossible for it to be a memory; she had only had those for a few weeks, and no situation had arisen where they would be like that had happened recently.
Her mind instantly rejected the idea, and she blinked, her peace and tranquillity exploding into the horrible realisation that they had found her in that place.
The moment she realised what was happening, her breathing hitched and her lungs began to ache as she struggled to get enough air, her eyes flicking between the two of them and then around the room, to the bed.
"Shit…" Versalis snarled, and he grabbed her face, forcing her to look at him. "Etani, focus on my face."
She couldn't focus on him, only on the reality of her situation, the feel of her body bruised and aching, the knowledge that they had pulled her out of the bed, the humiliation at what they would have seen and known had been going on, and above all else, the knowledge that he had been successful in his plans for her.
"Dirdos!" Versalis yelled, her fingers clenching Kai's shirt as she looked up at him, the terrible realisation that he actually had her, and it wasn't just a dream.
She screamed when Kai surrendered her to Dirdos, her arms stretching for him, and his face was pale as he snatched her back, her arms clenching around his neck and refusing to let him go.
She knew she was hurting him, but she couldn't stop, she couldn't let anyone else touch her.
He clutched her to him, looking up at Dirdos over her shoulder, and the dragon moved around behind Kai, his face as white as Kai's and crimson eyes alarmed.
"Etani, it's okay, it's just me," he said, but she wasn't listening.
Her head was beginning to spin as she gasped for air, her chest on fire to join other areas of her body that were throbbing with pain.
Dirdos lifted his hand, and she looked down at it, terrified and dangerously close to passing out. But when the flame did nothing for her, they pulled at her, trying to get her to release Kai.
Her scream was terrible and terrified as she tried to get back to him, thrashing and biting the arms that held onto her and then someone slapped her and her head rang, seeing double for a second.
Her head fell back against someone's shoulder and she looked up at the ceiling as someone sobbed. Though it wasn't her, she had fallen silent after the blow had landed, her body still and aching.
The smell of Versalis was strong around her and she took in slow, deep breaths of his scent, and her body was greedily taking in the oxygen.
Lifting her head slowly, she saw it was Kai who was sobbing and Dirdos was trembling slightly as he lowered his hand.
He had been the one to try to knock her head off, but it had worked.
As soon as they saw her face, Kai was on her, ripping her from Versalis and crushing her against him. But Versalis had gone still, his arms wrapped around her and his fingers pressed lightly against her abdomen.
Dirdos looked over her shoulder at the vampire, his fingers slowly tracing down and then, up again before leaving her, Dirdos looking down and then to Kai, who was trying hard to keep himself calm.
She was sure she heard Uzo, but she couldn't see him amidst the crowd, seemingly left behind to try to calm the masses.
"Kai…" she whimpered, and he choked on his breath at the broken sound of her voice.
"We've got you," Dirdos said gently, his hand tracing down over her hair.
The door opened and Daemon came in, his face a bruised mass of meat and blood. But he was healing at a remarkable rate. They watched it in progress as she clung to Kai, a little jealous at how quick the process was for him compared to her own.
His eyes met hers and she watched in fascination as he worked to remain calm, fury and anguish fighting against the calm.
Daemon's eyes moved from her to Versalis behind her, and he frowned, the two communicating and she didn't like that they were doing so behind her back, but she could figure it out by the way his eyes dropped to her stomach and his jaw clenched to keep his mouth locked shut.
"Let's get out of here, this place is disgusting," Dirdos said.
She didn't really care where they were so long as she didn't have to let go of Kai, turning to bury her face in the side of his neck and breathe in the spicy scent of vampire. He didn't try to get her to let go of him to get a better grip. Instead, he slid his arm up under her knees and the other went around the small of her back to lift her up off the ground.