Monsters Under My Bed Ch 04

Chapter 4

*Content Warning: Blood, kidnapping, violence, non-consent, knife play, threat of rape, cum soiling. *

Authors Note: Full disclosure this chapter contains lots of plot but

NO porn

, if you are here for a quick wank try Chapter 1 😉 I'm including content warnings for the first time because I don't want anyone to be triggered. The scene in question is short but does include non-consensual touching and may be uncomfortable for readers. It was difficult to write but felt necessary to show how evil the villains of the story are. You know your limits, read at your own risk.

Last Tuesday Night

Theo dressed in a dark blue designer suit, with a crisp white button up, and shiny black shoes. His appearance was immaculate and professional, with his sandy locks styled neatly and his face cleanly shaven. He'd be under major scrutiny at tonight's meeting and the drive to the center of the city felt too automatic and short. He blinked his eyes to refocus his mind as it ran in circles mulling over how he'd voice his concerns to the council of elders. He let out a huff of breath, trying to gather his confidence as he stepped out of his car, and walked towards the LEMA offices. It was known by all coexisters-- at least in this district-- as a center for supernatural legal disputes, violation reporting, and employment.

The League as it is known, is a global network, with zoned regions under the control of an appointed council. Their goal was simple, keep non-human society hidden in plain sight, and over thousands of years they had only become more organized. The building that loomed in front of Theo was just a small piece of a major empire, even though it appeared to be just another high-rise office building along the dense city blocks. The inside was just as unassuming as the exterior, with modern décor that appeared more opulent than it was, and minimalist clean lines that pointed towards the human receptionist with mousey brown hair and a pencil tucked behind her ear.

"Hello, welcome to LEMA. How may I help you sir?" She greeted warmly, squaring a small stack of papers, and placing them to the side.

"Hi, I'm Theodore Fischer. I have a meeting with the council." He answered simply, smiling back at her politely.

"Hmm, it appears that the meeting before you is taking longer than expected. I'll let them know you've arrived. Sorry for the inconvenience, please help yourself to anything in the waiting area." She apologized and gestured to her left.

"No trouble at all. Thank you." Theo said, before stepping away towards the poshly decorated space. Plush chairs in bright colors dotted the area, surrounding white round tables. A large abstract painting accented the far wall, where numerous teas, coffees, and baked goods were laid out. Many options were LEMA made and he reached for something to settle his nerves.

I've worked for them for decades. I shouldn't be this nervous.

He grumbled internally, feeling strange as he thought about his role at LEMA, and filled an electric kettle with water.

It's never been like this before... I feel stupid, I've only been with Lani once for a few hours, and yet she has this hold over me.

It wasn't long before the water was boiled, but time seemed to stretch while he was in his head.

I want to keep her safe. Damn that shadow! Whatever its plans are for her can't be good. What if the council doesn't want to get involved at all? What will I do then?

He filled a paper cup to steep a blood teabag. The clear liquid swirling with red, like a strong rooibos, it's color deepening as the minutes ticked by on a nearby clock.

I had to do something. I can't just let her get away.

He thought, growing more uneasy as he waited. He blew at the rim of his paper cup, his emotions churning like a storm.

I want her again. Want to be near her.

The beast voiced, slow and rumbling like a throaty purr, unlike its usual bark. While that was shocking in its own right, stranger still was the lack of opposition with his beast. The phantom scent of Lani's sweat and perfume overcame Theo's senses and he lifted his head to scan the room suddenly, the scent memory as real as if she was standing before him. Theo felt the beast take control for a moment to recall Lani dancing with Stacy at Oasis. A flare of hunger followed, but there was a deeper desire there too, like the beast was just as enamored by Lani as he was. At its core an overwhelming desire to protect Lani clouded his rational thoughts. His body remembered how drunk he had felt from her aura, then the memory flashed forward to Lani cumming around his cock before Theo took back mental control.

Focus! I need to be thinking about what I'm going to say to the council.

He scolded himself, with a pang of guilt, as he lulled the beast back into its cage.

I can't walk away now, not after I begged to talk to the council. Lani is powerful, a dangerous temptation, a lesser man would have faltered.

Theo sipped his drink and tried to organize his thoughts, until the receptionist walked over.

"The council will see you now, Mr. Fischer." Theo stood, downing the last drops of his drink, and tossed the empty cup into a nearby trashcan. He dusted off his suit, even though it was already spotless, and walked towards the elevator with a polite nod to the receptionist. The shiny call button lit as he pressed the button and when the silver doors opened a muscular man in a tactical vest stood inside.

"Which floor sir?" The security guard asked respectfully as Theo stepped into the elevator.

"Council boardroom." He answered, noting that the guard's heart rate was as slow as his own, and recognized him as another vampire. The elevator closed and lurched upwards at high speeds making Theo's stomach drop slightly. On one of the upper floors, he stepped out and walked confidently towards the dark rich mahogany double doors at the end of a long hallway. He hesitated, taking in a breath with his hand on the ornate brass handle before pulling the door open. Inside, the room was dimly lit, but not dark, with soft carpet that dampened the sound of his footsteps. Large windows looked out onto the city below, bright and twinkling in the night. Three figures sat in highbacked wooden chairs upholstered with crimson velvet, watching him as he stood at the end of the large wooden table.

"Mr. Fischer, please take a seat. Forgive us for your wait." Said the central figure, a male vampire with slicked-back silver hair, and piercing red eyes. Mr. Daugherty wore a tailored black suit with a blood-red silk tie, his voice commanding but smooth. "You've requested this urgent meeting, claiming it is of the utmost importance. We trust you would not do so without cause, explain the situation." He finished, exuding powerful authority over the room.

"I will get straight to the point." Theo said with a carefully measured tone. "This meeting concerns a human woman named Leilani Veron." He paused, looking for the right words. "She's a possible risk to the veil, but is not doing so willingly or maliciously. Her powers are unlike anything I've encountered in my five decades of un-life, the magnetism of her aura was unmatched." The council member to the left, Mr. Vayne raised a thick eyebrow, his unsettling white eyes sparking with interest.

"Powers, you say? Elaborate, and be precise." Mr. Vayne demanded, his voice rife with instant curiosity as he leaned closer. His ears where long and pointed, indicative that he was fae, and he had a mouth that seemed slightly too wide at times when he spoke. Theo nodded, and continued.

"She exhibited raw magical energy, untamed and unstable. It came off of her in waves, and she seems completely unaware of its effect. If left unchecked, she could become a danger to herself and others." There was a brief pause for the information to sink in, but the ebony woman sitting to the right, Ms. Margrave spoke first.

"It's rare for a human to survive what you describe without training. She must be strong if the magic hasn't torn her apart already." Ms. Margrave said in a thoughtful tone, she was impossibly beautiful, wearing a flowing green lace gown with a high collar, her jet-black hair an intricate updo of wrapped braids.

"Yes, she needs guidance. Without it her powers could consume her and potentially others around her, putting the city at risk. I believe our organization can provide that guidance. If we step in now, she could become a powerful ally. If we do nothing, she might be exploited by others." Theo said with an urgency that didn't go completely unnoticed.

"You speak as though you're not already doing the exploiting, Mr. Fischer." Mr. Vayne said coldly, trying to get a rise out of him. "You have a lot to gain from bringing this woman in, do you not?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at Theo.

"My interest is professional." He lied, "She has the potential to be valuable to our organization, that's all." Theo said with restraint, trying to keep his emotions in check under their scrutinizing gazes.

"Is it? I sense that there is more you aren't telling us." Mr. Vayne said, eyeing Theo with an amused smirk.

"I'm here to discuss her potential contribution to the League. My personal feelings are irrelevant." Theo responded, more defensively than he meant to. Instantly regretting his outburst as the tension was cut by Ms. Margrave's icy laugh.

"That is hardly irrelevant. Emotional entanglements compromise judgment. We've seen it before. Let me remind you, Mr. Fischer that loyalty to the League comes before all else. Now clarify your personal feelings." Her wolfish yellow eyes keenly focused on Theo, as if she was testing his resolve.

"Yes ma'am, I understand." He said, refusing to look away, and nodded in agreement. "I'm here to ensure Lani's safety as well as ours as a dutiful member of the League. I did not want my personal feelings to influence your decisions on this matter but my beast has taken a liking to her. I cannot fathom how after one night together, everything has changed for me-- I feel like a man gone mad. I long for her in ways I have never felt for another, and I am afraid." Theo admitted, immediately feeling like he had said too much. Ms. Margrave flashed a look to Mr. Vayne, it was such a small gesture that Theo almost missed it, but some knowledge passed between them.

"Very well, I feel confident in his honesty now. May we proceed to a short deliberation head councilman Daugherty?" Mr. Vayne said, relaxing back into his highbacked chair.

"Yes." He rumbled in reply. To Theo it looked as if Mr. Daugherty was holding in a laugh or a burp as he turned toward the other council members. Then it was suddenly silent. The lack of sound spread across the room as Theo sat there, the space too quiet now as he waited for them to be finished. The hum of the electronics, and city traffic noise had faded into nothing. The sound of Theo's hand rubbing across his pants was loud in his ears now, like he was inside a glass box. A faint shimmer appeared before his eyes and he realized that they had muffled his hearing with magic. It seemed like an eternity in the quiet, and just when he was beginning to enjoy it, the bubble of magic around him popped. Background sound flooded back in all at once and the world seemed loud again. Theo focused on Mr. Daugherty who spoke first.

"Thank you for your patience. Leilani's powers intrigue us, but this organization is not a charity. If this woman is as extraordinary as you claim, she is not merely a candidate but a valuable asset whose skills will pay off any debt obtained from LEMA Wellness. She will need to submit to a physical examination and arcane test to further gauge her abilities for job placement." Mr. Daugherty said, leaning back in his chair with his hands steepled in front of him.

"The council also agrees that it is vital to obtain her allegiance and bind her to LEMA by blood." Theo clenched his jaw; he knew that was code for transforming a human. He tried desperately to level his tone before speaking again.

"She doesn't need to be turned in order to control her magic." He said, as calmly as he could.

"Naïve boy. Humans are fleeting, fragile, and unreliable things. Have you even considered what your beast would do if you lost her?" Ms. Margrave said coldly. "If she is to join our ranks, she must be bound by blood and law. That is our way, the only way we can offer her protection." Her golden eyes watching him closely, like a wolf from the tree line. Primal and as keenly intelligent as she was beautiful.

"And the law is quite clear. Your beast has chosen a mate for you. Congratulations." Mr. Vayne added in a monotone voice. "A marriage is the best and quickest way to ensure her eternal compliance and loyalty." Mr. Vayne said with another wide smirk, enjoying Theo's discomfort even though he was trying his best to hide it from his face.

"Do you object to such a commitment to this woman, Mr. Fischer?" Mr. Daugherty questioned, sitting back, relaxed. "A mate can be quite the blessing."

"Marriage? To me?" Theo questioned rhetorically. "Doesn't that seem a little hasty?" He asked. He wanted Lani, craved her like a new drug, but he hadn't thought about turning her into a creature like himself. It was too soon, too fast, and it made his stomach sink like it had in the elevator, but ten times worse.

"You are well within your rights to deny, but now that this possible asset and threat has been brought to our attention, we cannot turn a blind eye." Mr. Vayne interjected.

"Either marry her yourself or we will assign another to bring her in. My clan is always looking for strong females. If she survives the transformation, she would begin her training." Ms. Margrave said, her own machinations turning in her head now. The other council members nodded silently and waited for Theo's answer.

It felt dishonorable to make this massive choice for Lani, especially with only one night of passion together. It was crazy to do something like this, in the 21

st

Century, but the beast urged him to accept Lani as his eternal partner. The council members were looking for his answer soon or they'd make their own plans for her. It wasn't fair how Lani's life seemed like just another trivial matter to them. It cheapened the original appeal he'd felt to bringing her into the fold.

"I'll do it!...but I need time. Asking for her hand in marriage now would make any woman turn and run. We haven't even gone on a first date yet and I won't coerce her unknowingly. I will give her the choice to join us." Theo tried to bargain.

"Of course, the old ways are gone. No more of our children will be lost and wandering. Time, Mr. Fischer is something we have plenty of, but our patience will eventually ware thin. Secure her hand. You are dismissed." Mr. Daugherty said, with a firm finality. Theo could only nod again and stood from his seat with a small bow of respect. He left the boardroom in a blur, but when he stepped out of the elevator on the ground floor, he was surprise to see Max leaning against the receptionist desk.

"Hey Theo. How'd it go?" Max asked, seeing the heaviness of whatever decision the council had made weighing on his friend. "I'll catch you later doll, hit me up anytime." Max winked to the receptionist, sliding the pencil and paper with his phone number scrawled on it towards her.

"They told me to marry her." Theo said simply, his eyes going hazy as he automatically headed for the exit.

"Have a good evening gentleman." The receptionist called out, cheeks blushed pink as she gently tucked Max's phone number into her purse, and watched them step through the glass doors into the cool night.

"Tell me I get to be your best man." Max joked, trying to lighten the mood, slapping a hand on Theo's back.

"That's banking on if she'll even say yes." He scoffed, uncertainty filling his mind.

"So, you don't mind being tied down to one person forever then?" Max asked, a slight smirk on his face. "Must be one hell of a woman to ensnare a player like you." He gibed, as they walked to the parking garage.

"You have no idea." Theo replied, forcing out a laugh. "It's not about me. It's about what's right for her." He tried to reason, but it felt like a weak argument, even to himself.

"Well, the council doesn't approve of sentimentality like that. They are all business and bottom lines. We both know that." Max reminded. "What's really got your goat then?"

"We didn't get a choice of this life; it happened to us. I don't like it, I don't want to feel like the monster that did this to me, to you, and as much as I hate it, I can't stand the thought of it being some random schmuck being tied to her forever." The weight of what he had to do now pressed on his shoulders.

"You coming to Oasis tonight?" Max asked, changing the subjects as he leaned against his car and pulled Theo out of his spiraling thoughts.

"Nah, I have to read up on the documents you gave me on Lani. Thanks again, for being my private investigator and my friend. You didn't have to meet me here, but you did." He thrust his fist out for a friendly bump.

"It was nothing really, you're a brother to me." Max said, clasping Theo's shoulder. "Good luck on your date tomorrow. Don't worry so much." He added with a wink.

"See you later Max. Don't get into too much trouble." Theo warned.

"Me? Trouble? Never. Last time I checked it was you that liked to play with fire." He laughed, sliding into his car, and drove away. Theo chuckled, as he walked back to his own car.

Maybe I shouldn't have told the council about Lani.

He thought, doubt settling over him as he drove in silence. He stared out the windshield, feeling an ache in his chest he hadn't felt for centuries.

I can't disobey them, but if I turn her... Will I ever forgive myself?

#

A throbbing ache pulsed from the back of Lani's head to behind her eyes, the pain tearing her from sleep. Disoriented, she heard the loud hum of an engine and could smell gasoline. An itchy hood covered her face, making it impossible to see, but she didn't need sight to feel that her wrists were bound. With her body restricted, she felt suffocated in the hood as memories of being grabbed flooded her mind, making her heart pound wildly.

They hurt Theo. He tried to stop them...

She thought gravely, fighting the tears filling her eyes as she tested the restraints. Her hands were bound tightly behind her back with rope, and her left shoulder was sore from laying on the cold, grooved metal beneath her. The bindings getting tighter if she pulled at them. The pain in her head surged uncomfortably as the vehicle passed a dip in the road, she almost cried out in pain but she heard the muted voices of her captors in the front and she froze. They spoke in low tones, possibly arguing but the road noise made it impossible for Lani to hear exactly what they were saying. She didn't know how long it had been and it was difficult to think with her head pounding. Every new bump in the road aggravating the ache as she tried to think of a way out of her situation.

Where are they taking me?

She worried, feeling the panic start to set in. She lost track of time, unsure if it had been minutes or hours. With her legs bare and exposed, she could do nothing but shiver against the cool metal as she disassociated, her mind blocking out the dark truth of her situation. She'd worn fresh panties and Theo's shirt to bed; the scent of his cologne was the only thing keeping her grounded. That was until the vehicle slowed and the road changed from smooth pavement to gravel.

The engine cut off and left the space feeling too quiet and empty. Lani's heart began to beat frantically in her ears as she heard the vehicle doors creak open and slam shut. The sounds outside were muffled, but the ominous crunch of unhurried footsteps, and muted voices made her blood run cold with fear. The back doors screeched open, and she felt rough hands drag her out. Lani winced and cried out in pain as her bindings cut into her raw wrists.