Jacquelyn's Ordeal

Jacquelyn felt his arms slip away from her waist and she heard his steps across the tiles as he went over to Yvonne. Jacquelyn looked down and retrieved her small silver chain from among her tools. She deposited it in the drawer, listening to the clinking of the metal as it slid from her fingers. She then stepped away to pick up her stake. She examined it for a long moment, feeling her fingers tightening around it and releasing her grip. She watched as her stake rolled from her fingers. Although she watched her actions, she felt disconnected from them. Jacquelyn's hand sought out the last of her slaying tools from her bodice. She slid the last vial of holy water from its hiding place. She held it up, the moonlight catching on the glass as she gazed at it. Jacquelyn tilted her head slightly, appearing fascinated by it. As she gazed idly at it, the words repeating in her mind to dispose of it. His words and hers mixed together in her mind, as one. Jacquelyn slowly undid the stopper and stared at it for another long moment, drawing it close to her eyes before tipping the holy water from its vial. She felt the cool kiss of the water as it cascaded down her neck quickly followed by the sound of the glass clinking as it fell into the drawer.

Jacquelyn stood there, feeling the cool air wisping across her neck, the soft murmurs of Yvonne as the Viscount entertained himself with her. A sense of pride and satisfaction filled Jacquelyn. She waited patiently, her mind still slow from only recently emerging from the depths of her being. She did not notice time passing until she felt the Viscount step up behind her. His hands slid along her sides and she quivered. They continued across her shoulders and along her arms, before he rested his hands above hers. He took her hands and placed her palms on the table and whispered for her hands to remain there. He ran his fingers through her hair once again, gently gripping and pulling her head up. She watched her reflection, seeing her body moving to his invisible touches. He positioned her, back arched slightly inwards and she was able to see the straps of her corset as well as her stiletto, which hovered menacingly in his grasp.

The blade danced in the air and then hooked underneath the uppermost straps that held her corset. The Viscount leant in close and whispered, "You know I am going to claim you little slayer. You will become My pet. You will serve My every desire. Before I do so, I am going to strip you of your former self. I will cut you free from who you were. You will become My slayer pet and nothing else will exist."

He paused for a moment to let his words sink deeply into her mind. The realisation that he was going to strip away all that she was, all that made her Jacquelyn should have greatly disturbed her. Curiously, she felt no hesitation, nodding meekly, her eyes watching the dancing of her stiletto in his invisible hand.

"Yes, you will become an instrument of My will. Just think about how wonderful it will be to serve Me. You will fulfil your current purpose in a new and far more...pleasurable way." The words rolled off his tongue and made her quiver in desire at the thought.

"You will slay My rivals in My name. You will continue to protect the innocent from...My kind. You can still take joy in the hunt, the thrill of facing down a worthy opponent. Never again will you fear the gaze of another vampire as you continue to slay them" He continued to whisper, his voice tempting and alluring.

"I am going to cut you free of all that restrains you from becoming bound to Me completely." The Viscount slid the tip of the stiletto beneath the upper cords of her corset.

"I free you from your former duties and responsibilities." He brought the stiletto up, cutting through the straps.

Jacquelyn felt a weight lifting from her shoulders. Her corset loosened away from her body a small measure and Jacquelyn was struck with the sense of being free. Her shoulders dropped slightly and she let out a long sigh of relief. "How do you feel now?" He asked her and she could almost hear the grin in his voice.

"Free..." she stated simply, it was the truest way she could describe it.

He slipped the stiletto lower, "Think of all the times you have been afraid. The way fear gripped you, terrified you. How you have felt that desire to hide, to run and flee. Think of the paralysis that held you when your courage failed." Her body tensed up as thoughts of all her fears gripped her. She tried to curl up, but she remained locked in the position the Viscount had posed her.

"I release you from its hold." The Viscount cut away another strap.

The corset dropped a little further away from Jacquelyn's body. As he cut away the strap, she felt such a wave of relief. Her body instantly relaxed more and she felt safe, comforted by his actions. "What do you feel now My little slayer?" He asked, readying for the next strap.

"Unafraid and safe," she breathed softly, feeling grateful for his action. She no longer feared losing herself to his will.

"Recall every moment your inhibitions held you back from what you desired. Think of all the pleasures you have denied yourself. Perhaps it is a soft caress upon your skin, a stolen moment or a guilty indulgence." Jacquelyn's mind was awash with thoughts of all the things she desired and denied herself. Many of them fuelled by lustful thoughts and made her face flush.

"I free you from restricting yourself. I free you from denying your most inner desires!" He pulled the stiletto up quickly and it sliced through the third strap.

Jacquelyn gasped as she was released from denial. Her body gave a small shudder as warm arousal took hold and ignited quickly into an inferno. Her eyes fluttered as a long, low moan caught in her throat. She craved the sensation of touch. She ached for satisfaction. She could feel the warm wetness of herself and did not deny it.

The Viscount continued a wide grin on his face. "Now, My little pet, We will relieve you of free will. No longer will you need to worry over decisions that have consequences. You will not have menacing decisions of dire situations to make you anxious. I give you freedom from these. I will give you freedom from choices and thinking. I will take all responsibility for you."

He cut away the second to last strap and the corset hung loosely from the final strap. Jacquelyn could feel herself almost free of its constraints on her body. It paralleled the freedom she felt within her mind. She no longer had to stress and weigh up her decisions. She no longer feared choices and consequences. It all became so clear. She only needed to listen and obey His will. It was perfectly simple. It was so beautiful to her.

She could see down her back, almost completely bare and exposed. Only one last symbol of her old self remained. Jacquelyn needed to be freed and she yearned for it, she craved it. She was so aroused, so completely caught up in the idea of being nothing else but His. She wanted to be completely His and nothing more. She moaned at the thought of the final step of her submission. Jacquelyn longed for the bite that would bind her truly to him.

"What does My pet feel now?" He whispered in her ear.

His voice sent shivers throughout her body and she felt a cool tingle on her neck. "i...feel...so free...relaxed and safe...i just want to...listen and...do as you ask..." She whispered. Her voice little more than a breathless pant of desire.

"Excellent My pet. Now I will release you from being everything that holds you back from your destiny. I will free you to be My pet. Nothing more and nothing less. I will bind you to My will and claim you!" He pulled her back, standing her upright and the blood rushed away from her head.

Her heart raced and he tilted her head. The Viscount pressed against her body. Jacquelyn closed her eyes, focusing all her thoughts on his touch, his words. She wanted nothing more than to be claimed. She felt him lean in, felt his cool breath as he opened his mouth. She felt the tingle on her neck as his breath touched her skin. Feeling his teeth press against her skin pushed her against the very edge of release. Release from being Jacquelyn. Release from having free will and consequences. Release from all that she was. Release from the physical arousals and desires she had long denied herself. He pressed his lips to her neck. Her blood pulsed strongly through her veins. He drew up the stiletto through the final strap. Bearing his teeth he hissed into her ear, "And now I claim you!" And he clamped down on her neck. Jacquelyn felt the sharp pang as he bit, followed by an ecstasy that overwhelmed her. She cried out.

PART VI -THE STRINGS ARE CUT

The Viscount suddenly recoiled and shrieked as though his very flesh was being torn from his body. The sound ripped asunder the dreamy fantasies he has painstakingly instilled in her mind. The last traces of holy water on her neck burnt his lips and mouth. Jacquelyn shook her head rapidly, trying to dispel the last of his hold over her mind. She ripped opened the drawer and grabbed the stake, spinning on her heel to face down the vampire. The bite stung sharply and she desperately fought down the pain.

The Viscount was overcome with the scorching burn from the holy water. In his agony, he turned away from her, gripping his face. Jacquelyn unleashed all the fury she had suppressed. She clenched the stake tight and raised it high above her head. Using her free hand, she grabbed his hair and yanked back. The vampire arched backwards and toppled to the floor, still clutching at his face. Jacquelyn saw her opportunity and took full advantage. She brought down the stake with all the force she could muster, driving it into his chest.

He let out a soul searing cry that made even had Jacquelyn taken aback. She watched as he clutched at the stake that was partly embedded in his chest. Needing more force, she frantically searched for something to drive it in. Jacquelyn spied the table and grabbed it, fighting the urge to become lost in her reflection as she glanced briefly at the mirrored wall. She raised the table and spun it, levelling the flat surface with his chest. She looked into his eyes, watching as the realisation dawned upon him. She took a little perverse satisfaction from that look as she brought the table down with all the force her tired body allowed.

Jacquelyn heard the thunk as the table connected with the stake and saw his body shudder. Jacquelyn collapsed to the ground, her strength failing her as exhaustion took hold. She felt the pangs of pain from the bite on her neck and pressed her hand weakly to the wounds. She looked over towards Yvonne, remembering that she existed. "Yvonne..." she called out weakly, "are you alright?"

Yvonne remained on her knees, seemingly oblivious to what had transpired. Jacquelyn could see her lips moving and she knew what words were being whispering.

The gamble had been successful. The very last shard of her resistance had played its hand and won. Jacquelyn tried to stand, but her legs were weak and gave way. She crawled over to Yvonne, each movement felt draining. She could hear Yvonne's soft voice, chanting away and she did her best to not focus on the phrases. She could feel herself wanting to join with her sister...the word stuck in her mind. His influence was still there. Jacquelyn reached out and touched Yvonne's shoulder, "Yvonne, can you hear me?"

She did not respond, her gaze remain transfixed on empty space. Jacquelyn shook her and barked at her, "Yvonne! Snap out of it!"

The handmaiden blinked for a moment and looked at Jacquelyn, her gaze slowly focused upon her. Yvonne looked at Jacquelyn for a moment and her eyes went wide as the realisation struck her. The handmaiden broke down and wept. She slumped against Jacquelyn. "I am so sorry sis.." she caught herself mid word and corrected, "milady, I had no choice...He forced me to do so many things. I was puppet." She sobbed into Jacquelyn's shoulder.

Jacquelyn tried to push out with her legs to crawl closer to Yvonne. She held her neck and whispers to the handmaiden, "Yvonne..." she started before she was cut off.

"I know milady, but I have done so many terrible deeds in his name. Can you ever forgive me milady?" She sobbed and begged of Jacquelyn.

Jacquelyn felt almost heart broken for Yvonne as she cried. Although she wanted to comfort her, she was exhausted and injured. "I do not know how I will live with the shame of my actions, milady, I..." Yvonne began and this time Jacquelyn cut her off.

"Yvonne...I am wounded. Please, help me..." Jacquelyn implored.

Yvonne suddenly noticed the blood that had begun to seep between Jacquelyn's fingers and gasped. She quickly dashed off to retrieve something for Jacquelyn's wounds. Jacquelyn closed her eyes and tried to block out the pain as she held her neck. She could hear her heart beating inside her head. The scenes of her gambit played out in her mind, over and over.

Yvonne skittered back after a short time and quickly pressed something against Jacquelyn's neck. Jacquelyn winched as held the material to her neck. She looked to Yvonne somewhat questioningly when she opened her eyes and realised what the handmaiden had brought to her. It was her discarded ball dress. Yvonne flushed a little, but said nothing. Although the Viscount had bitten Jacquelyn, thankfully the wounds were not deep. She closed her eyes once again as she tried to relax. She was almost completely spent. Her body twitched involuntarily, which annoyed her. Adrenalin still pulsed through her veins and her muscles were tense.

"Yvonne, do you think I can return this dress to the tailor who made it?" Jacquelyn joked as she forced her eyes open.

"I very much doubt I will be wearing it against after this slaying."

There was a long pause as the pair sat quietly in the hall. Eventually Yvonne placed her hand gently on Jacquelyn's shoulder. "Milady, the Viscount was the rival the journal spoke of...Lady Il'ldais traded me as cattle to strike a deal with him. She was always the real threat here, hiding behind the facades of others to throw off suspicion... I am sorry milady. I was compelled to lie to you to avoid you learning the truth." Jacquelyn's heart dropped and dread swept over her, she looked at Yvonne in disbelief.

"No...she cannot be the vampire. It makes no sense..." Jacquelyn started before a sharp pain from the bite interrupted. She gathered her thoughts for a moment and suddenly little realisations began to dawn upon her. The unbinding ritual involves relatively few items that would be harmful to a vampire. And the Lady Il'ldais did not show her eyes after the ritual, nor did she touch the silver cross. Jacquelyn cursed at leaving such a valuable protection with the Lady now. Her mind raced as she tried to make sense of everything. She believed she was finished, but now was thrown back into the fray. "What of the physician? Is he a vampire as well?" Jacquelyn asked Yvonne, hoping with all her being that she did not have two vampires to contend against.

Yvonne shook her head. "No, he is a physician of some renown and has been attempting to treat the Lady of her sleeping illness. He has been almost driven to his wits end by the lack of progress he was making with the Lady, which is why he is so exhausted and protective of her. I do not know however, if he is her thrall."

Jacquelyn remained silent, weighing up the options in her mind to decide her next course of action. She was exhausted and injured, nearly having lost herself to the Viscount had taken a toll on her mental fortitude and she was at her limits. However, the Lady Il'ldais was now aware of her and being in a place of such wealth and power, Jacquelyn would likely find herself quickly hunted should she escape the manor tonight.

Jacquelyn looked to Yvonne and saw the look of hope in her eyes, the expectations that Jacquelyn would end her nightmare and make the world safe. Jacquelyn sighed for just a moment as she knew what she must do. She tried to muster her will to rise to her feet again. "Yvonne, please find me some travelling clothes. I hardly enjoyed slaying this vampire while half naked, so I am not keen on performing more slayings in this...minimal attire."

She watched as Yvonne gave her weak smile and hurried off down the passageway. Jacquelyn gritted her teeth and willed herself to rise up, focusing all her strength into standing. Slowly, she rose to her feet. She was unsteady, not having fully recovered from her exertions. Jacquelyn propped herself against the wall, feeling the cool surface pressed against her bare back. It felt so nice, so refreshing to her. She let her eyes close again, as her other senses focused. The cool feeling of the wall against her hot skin was most prominent in her mind. Her neck ached in dull throbs as her heartbeat slowed. She breathed in and listened cautiously but there was only the sound of her breathing. The night was still and silent now. Jacquelyn wrinkled her nose as she caught the soft scents of arousal, blood and sweat on her body. She remained resting with her eyes closed for a few more moments before Yvonne returned.

Jacquelyn heard Yvonne's steps across the tiled floor and forced her eyes open to see what she had managed to find. "Here, sister...milady, some travelling clothes. They may be a little tight." Yvonne lowered her gaze, a little colour coming to her cheeks.

Jacquelyn looked at Yvonne and smiled a little, "It is okay, Yvonne. Even I still feel those compulsions he gave me."

She propped herself up and winced a little, "Could you retrieve my stiletto, I need to make a bandage for this wound."

Yvonne nodded and quickly fetched it. Jacquelyn noticed that she was a little nervous approaching the Viscount's body. Yvonne returned, knelt down and eyed Jacquelyn carefully. Jacquelyn was a little puzzled and watched cautiously as the handmaiden cut away at the sleeve of the dress, making long ribbons from the material. She gathered up the strands she cut and brought them up to Jacquelyn's neck. Jacquelyn moved her hand and let Yvonne wrap the stands firmly around her neck, weaving it around to secure each loop. Jacquelyn felt the material wrapped around her neck, it was firm enough for her to be aware of it, but not to constrict her breathing detrimentally.

She gave Yvonne a smile in thanks when the handmaiden leant back. "Thank you, Yvonne. Do you think you can tie the straps on my back? I don't want to run around and risk...falling out of these clothes when I put them on." Jacquelyn quipped as she shakily rose to her feet.

She let her fingers gently run along her neck, feeling the velvet material against her skin. It felt strange to have something around her neck. Suddenly, she felt a dull ache from the bite and furrowed her brow. Inwardly, she noticed that it felt like she was wearing a collar or choker. She could even feel little beads along the material that Yvonne had chosen. It was oddly comforting in a way. "Yvonne, are these beads on the material?" She decided to ask out of curiosity.

Yvonne nodded mutely. Her eyes were busily surveying what could be done to keep Jacquelyn's modesty mostly intact. Jacquelyn watched their reflections. Yvonne was behind her, binding the ends of the straps once more.

An odd thought crept into Jacquelyn's mind. She thought about how nice it would be to have her as a servant. She thought about having Yvonne at her feet, head bowed down. Jacquelyn could feel the wound of her neck throbbing as her mind wandered through scenes of using the pretty young handmaiden. Jacquelyn envisaged Yvonne kneeling naked, her eyes closed as she softly panted. Jacquelyn was leaning in close to her, her own body exposed. Jacquelyn gaze moved upwards from the ground, following along the girl's curves. Her gaze meandered across Yvonne's chest and along the curves of her breasts. Yvonne quivered and let out a soft gasp, causing her hair to tumble from her shoulders and over her chest, only partly obscuring the sight of her pointed nipples. Jacquelyn moved in closer, the heat growing inside her. Her eyes were drawn to Yvonne's lips, soft and parted. Jacquelyn reached out and gently cupped the handmaiden's chin. Another soft little half moan escapes those delicious lips. Jacquelyn moved in, her nose just brushing past Yvonne's. Jacquelyn's lips were about to touch.