A Vampire Saved My Life! GREAT! - But at what cost? ~1~

"Four weeks." Her child would be born in four weeks. Matic's child would be born… He would never get to even hold his own child. Natasha drew in a shaky breath and beat back the tears.

"How are we doing today, my pet?" Matic couldn't have opened his eyes even if he had wanted to. He hung from the rafters, his arms long ago dislocated, blood still streaming down from his open wounds. She walked to the gate and opened it. She sauntered to him, allowing her hand to rake across his stomach. Just the touch of one of her slender fingers could bring blood to the surface; if she placed even just a little pressure she could break bones. Her touch was so painful, he welcomed silver. "I said… how are we doing today, pet?" She pushed her index finger into his side, and Matic couldn't keep the shriek from his lips as his rib broke. She took her hand away, still poised, waiting to hear the answer she had broken into him.

"We are doing as you please, mistress." Matic whispered out.

"Wonderful! You may sleep for another hour… I'll wake you when its time for your training." She said and sat in the steal chair in the corner, watching as his breath was shaky and labored. What she called training was really torture. She would cause him pain, pushing his tolerance, pushing his limits till he would black out from the pain. Any thing she asked of him, he readily did, afraid of the punishment if he didn't comply. It was easier to comply.

The hour felt like one minuet. Matic woke to lips pressed softly against his.

"Natasha?" He whispered out.

"No, my pet… but how I wish I were." Matic weekly opened his eyes to see his mistress before him. "How did you sleep?"

"As you pleased, mistress."

"Hum… good." She leaned her hand toward his flesh, but he spoke right before her hand touched his skin.

"How many weeks have I been here?"

"Around four… Why do you ask that question, every few days, you ask… why?" She stared into his dazed eyes. "Is it because of her?... Natasha?" Matic didn't answer. He hated the way Natasha's name sounded off of her lips. "When you sleep you call out for her. You scream her name sometimes… who is she?" Matic just let his weak head fall. There was silence as she just stared at his form. "You know the cost of not answering your mistress Matic… I would like an answer." Matic inwardly shivered as he remembered the pain she had put him through. However he didn't even make a whisper in an effort to answer her. He didn't care how much pain she put him through, he would rather die than tell this woman in front of him about Natasha. He would rather go through the worst pain she could dish out then reveille he had an unborn child at home. As long as he kept his mouth shut they would stay safe. The woman extended her arms above her head, and reached as far as she could up his arms. She pushed all the way down. Matic screamed as each inch of bone she crossed over snapped and shattered inside his flesh. When she reached his ribs she stopped. Matic gasped for breath as he let tears of pain and anguish roll down his face.

"Why do you want to know the months Matic… just tell me that and all this will go away." Matic's jaw clenched shut, he wouldn't say a word.

His mistress glared at his defiance then pushed her hands against his sides, she slowly allowed each rib to break as she glided her touch over his skin. He blacked out after the fourth rib. She stopped and walked to the chair, watching as he swung slightly in his chains, waiting for him to gain consciousness. After half an hour she heard his mumbled words.

"Three more weeks… Natasha… our baby…" Dena sat up strait at the undeniable words leaving his mouth… He had child coming. He would rather go through a new level of pain just to keep them safe. "Natasha…" He whimpered. This man didn't belong here… he belonged with his family. Mark had said he killed Jasper. Jasper was after his wife… he killed protecting her… everything he did was for her. Dena looked at her captor in new eyes. She envied this woman, she was loved above life its self. Dena let her thoughts twirl as she watched Matic. Lexton had made her, and tortured her, teaching her how to torture others. She had tortured Jasper and Mark many times, both men weren't even close to the equal of Matic. They cried and begged for her to stop, Matic just took it, allowed her to torture him with dignity. She had never met any one like him. He was so strong, so determined to have his way… usually it only took a day to break a man… for Matic it was four months in and he was still fighting. He was exquisite! But he had a family… a wife. Dena considered defying her orders. It would be easy. Mark wasn't her true master… he was killed, by who she didn't know. But who ever did kill him, she belonged to them now, not Mark. Mark could never have killed Lexton, he was too powerful. It would have to be some one powerful, someone with determination and strength. Some one who knew how to use the full extent of his power.

Dena's mind switched back to Matic, still hanging from the rafters. He would need at least a week to heal… if she didn't change her mind. She watched as his blood dripped to the floor, slightly echoing.

"Natasha…" He called out again.

She would think on it.