34

Ari allowed Trix to lead her to the left from her room. They went deep into the nest. There were no candles to light the way, only Trix's candle dimmly light their path. Ari knew that it was not for Trix as their night vision was far better than a humans'.
After a few twist and turns through windowless halls Trix brought Ari to an entrance. A massive curved wooden door with a metal ring as its door handle faced her. Etching of dragons and women had been carved into it. It truly was a beautiful picture. The details from the blades of grass to the various depths for the clouds were stunning. A flicker of red caught her attention and she noticed in the dragons eyes were two rather large rubies. Trix knocked gently but the sound that came from her sounded as though she had beat it with a battering ram. The door opened by large man. He did not even look at Ari as she entered the room. The dim canlde light was washed away by this massive fireplace in the far back of the room. Dragons had been sculpted to stand on either side of the obsidiean marbled fireplace. A oak table that could sit 6 sat not far from the fire place. Dragons had been carved on top of it, but Ari noticed beneith, holding up the heavy center were women, and men. Human in their appearance. Their faces carved in faithful submission. Two glasses sat atop the table along with some fruits and meats waiting for them. Drax greeted Ari with a warm smile. He had been wearing a emerald green silk robe, with matching green pants. From what he allowed to show there was no under shirt. Ari watched his movements, his gestures, his facial experssions. She was well aware what he was capable of and she would not be fooled again.
Drax extended his hands and lead her to the little table. "Please come." he breathed deep," forgive me but you smell lovely my dear. Did you enjoy the herbs?"
"Yes thank you. They have helped me to relax some." she said in a small voice.
"Here let us enjoy some food and talk. Get to know one another." he girnned showing his fangs. He looked as though he was a cat pleased with its self for luring the mouse into the corner. Ari had to keep reminding herself to stay calm, *do not allow your heart to race. Think nothing!* Trying to keep your mind blank and remain calm while you are int he presence of one of the most deadly preditors AND to look for an escape plan is in no way an easy task. He had excused Trix and the man to leave us alone as he lead her to the table.
Drax held out the chair and pushed Ari to the table before taking his seat. Before her sat a stainless white plate, with gold trimming. A fork and a butter knife had been set for her ontop of a gold trimmed napkin. Grapes, apples, figs, and starwberries adorned a golden dish. Various cheeses and crackers had been neatly placed on another. A nother large dish held what appeared to be cubes of meat, mushrooms, and onions in a gravy. It truly smelt wonderful.
Ari smiled sweetly, "This looks amazing."
"It taste just as wonderful." he assured her. He put some food on his plate and began to take bites. Ari looked a little confused. "I did not think your kind ate, well human food?"
"We do not *need* it. For the younger ones they can not endulge theirselves for many years. But the mature ones we can " he paused turning the piece of meat over on the fork. Inspecting it as if there may have been an inperfection on it. Ari took the precious few seconds and slipped the butter knife under her sleeve resting her forearm on the table, never looking away from Drax. "Induldge ourselves more freely." he finished as he put the food in his mouth. Pleasure shimmered across his face as the flavors played on his tounge.
Ari put a few fruits on her plate. Taking small bites and taking longer times to chew them. She feared they may have been poisoned or she was eating rotted food as she was well aware of his abilities to use glam.
"What is your plan for me?" she asked.
"My dear, you know I have searched, you know what I desire." he said sweetly yet sternly.
"Yes, you have said these things but what if I do not agree to your plan?" A sick grin crossed his face. "I would like that you can see the kind master I am. I was once a man yes, and with that I still desire the vary thing most males do. I wish to court you, and win you over." chills went down her spin and her stomach lurched. *Keep calm.* she reminded herself.
"And if your attempts fail?" she asked calmly. She knew she was playing with fire now. He dropped his fork making a clattering sound shatter the rather still atmosphere."The other alternatives will not be as **kind**" his voice low and menacing. A knock at the door brought Drax's attention away from Ari for a moment. A flash of anger came over him.
While he was distracted Ari felt something slithering at her feet and looked down to find that snakes surrounded her. Their tounges flashing out at her. One was beginning to wrap around her ankle. She forced herself to remain still and not to show fear. *It's not real. It's not real.* She looked at Drax and faked her best poker face. "Try again." she said coldly.
Drax flung the table between them acorss the room and grabbed her hair forcing her to look into his eyes.
"Girl you forget who you are messing with." he hissed. His features faulting now. Air could see the appearance he had been displayng was failing. HIs skin turned pale, his teeth were pointed. Even his fine silk robe began to shift to rags. "I can force you to do as i wish child. i did not want that to begin with but have not dissilussion I will get what I want in the end. Regardless if the dogs are at the door!" He bellowed.
*Mika!* her heart gasped. She began kicking and trying to break free from him. But it was useless he barely even appeared to be effected from her efforts much like moss to a statue.
He brought the other free hand to his mouth and pulled a long black slithering thing from his mouth. Fear gripped Ari she knew what was coming and she was to be damned if she was going to let him. She drew the knife she had stashed away and drove it as hard as she could into his eye. He dropped her at once and hollowed in outraged pain. Black blood began to pour form his wound. She backed away and watched a transformation take place. His body dropped the fascade of a proper man and morphed now into this large bat like creature. Massive black wings sprouted from his back. Claw like points crested each top and bottom of the wings. HIs body covered in a blue black like fur. He stood on two long slender legs that bent and pointed toward his back instead of like humans whose knees face forward. His feet turned into three toed claws. His head morphed revealing a monster, large bat like ears sprouted. His nose fade into two slits, his tounge became that of a snakes, and his eyes {er the one not currently occupied with a knife} were like black marbles yet red would flash around the rims. His skin now paper thin showed blue or dark veins. His roars made every cell in Ari's body shake. The creature brought his long fingered claws to his face and pulled the offending knife from his socket and flung it to the ground.
Ari could hear the war going on somewhere in the compound now. She knew they had breached the front door. *I can't take this thing myself. I just need to hold on till Mika gets here.* she thought as she grabbed a broken piece of one of the chairs. It was long and sterdy- *It'll do for a club* she surmised. Drax lunged at her and she swung-*Missed.* Drax back handed her sending her realing through the air. She tasted metalic. She knew her lip had been busted and her head was swiming.
She shook the stars out of her eyes and stood backup. Drax came at her again this time striking her in a downward motion so she crashed directly below him. *Fuck he's gonna kick my ass!*
She grabbed her chairleg and used it to help herself get back up. Drax causally came over and kicked her stomach causing her to flop back down to the cold floor.
"Yeld to me girl and it will go away." he hissed bending down ontop of her.
'Fuck you!" she snapped back. Something hard laid under her. It was thin and pressed against hr back. She grabbed for it and found it was the butter knife she had used before. She jabbed it into his side again and again but Drax appeared that it was nothing more than a bug bite. He sliced at her this time. A long section from her collar bone down to the crest of her chst. A deep gash opened up. She felt the tearing of the flesh and his claws tore through her. She felt the muscle pull away. And then the warm liquid begin to cover her. Drax dug his fingers into her wound and pull them back out to lick. His long snake like tounge wrapping around his fingers. His eyes rolling to the back of his head in pleasure. She refused to scream out and give him more to enjoy, so she called her only salvation, "Mika".