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CHAPTER 6 - the throng

People Brandon had not seen in years pulled at him from all sides, all searching for the same empty embrace. aunties and uncles. old school friends and enemys. people he cared nothing about. a throbbing migrane hit is head like a ton of bricks and his vision became blurred. he span around to look for jacqueline but the crowds blocked his view.

"im sorry, mother, but i have to go find jacqueline. i seem to have lost sight of her." he muttered pulling away.

"oh but you haven't shook hands with your second cousin in law, lord Elridge yet" she shouted after him, "jacqueline will be fine, i sent george to look after her."

Brandons quickened pace became a sprint as he heard these words and he dashed through the crowds asking everyone he saw if they had seen George and Jacqueline. a few had but it took a long time to track down their route trough the party. his search led him through the dance floor and up into a corridor. the corridor was usually empty, but he could see a frantic dark figure that he knew at once to be his brother.

"where is she? what have you done with her?" Brandon shouted, pushing George into the corridor wall.

george turned a bright shade of red. "i dunno! i kissed her, and she ran off!" it took brandon a moment to digest this.

he suddenly punched george in the stomach. "where did she go!?" he shouted.

"i didnt see!" george was frightened for his life until brandon threw him down and ran down the stairs.


The tall man walked toward jacqueline with a long stride. he sat down in a large chair he didnt fill in front of the fire. "may i ask you a question?" the mans voice was deep and soothing and she nodded softly. "why have i not seen you before? i know everyone that comes here now, but not you. oh no not you."

He wandered languidly around to where she stood, blowing smoke from a long cigarette holder at her. She froze to the spot, unable to move her body even an inch. He walked close behind her breathing in deeply to take in the smell of her hair and body. The strange man then slowly brushed the hair from her neck and straigtened it down her back. Jacqueline was unable to speak and she wondered frantically wether he had put a spell on her.

"you are a beautiful speciman of the female" He whispered gently while licking her kneck and placing his hand over her chest.

She gasped, but still couldnt move. She felt the mans hand loosening the corset closing on her back. His hand slipped into the front of her dress. Tingling ran up her spine and she broke into a cold sweat. She wanted to go home and lay in brandons bed again.


Brandon wandered around, opening doors and shutting them again, having no luck in finding jacqueline. he found an empty room and sat down in a chair, trying to think.

He knew this mansion like the back of his hand. He had grown up here. Hiding from his abusive day after day, Brandon had explored every room and every nook and cranney. Where could she be? There was only one place he hadn't checked and he swallowed heavily as he thought about it.


Jacqueline closed her eyes and prayed for the strength to move. To leave. To lash out. To do anything to get away from him. But still her body remained as rigid as the moment she had entered. Suddenly the man swirled a glass of blood red wine, seemingly out of nowhere, and pushed it to her lips.

"you seem nervous my dear. drink this and relax." He waved a gloved hand in front of her eyes and clicked his fingers. As the liquid touched her lips and trickled down her throat she could feel her entire body relaxing. Her arms and legs were becoming heavy and her mind light. She found her self giggling and turned her head to look at her host. He looked at her with a charming smile and gently said "Now isnt that better? Come lie down with me. "

Jacqueline found her body moving without her permission. Or maybe she was moving herself. Her head was spinning too much to tell. It swooned as she laughed. All the while the strange mature man stared at her with softly mysterious eyes. His gentle smile was truly wicked and she laid down on a large day bed with red embroidered pillows that smelled of cologne. she continued laughing but tried to stop long enough to speak.

"What are you doing?" Her voice was slightly slurred in its words.

The man laid beside her, taking her hand and kissing it softly. Before Jacqueline knew what was happening, the kisses had traveled up her arm and to her neck and upper chest. "im just enjoying the party, my darling." he smirked at her and she felt as though she was spinning around and dancing.


Brandon hurried through corridors and down stairs, hoping he had just missed her somewhere else.


jacqueline felt the curve of her kneck become wet as she writhed on the bed, stuck somewhere between earth, heaven and hell. She felt a hot prickling sensation and let out a large groan as she repeated, "What are you doing? What are you doing? "

No answer came. Her heart, which had been beating fast and furious, was now a slow regular beat that she could no longer feel. She was struggling to stay conscious. She thought of brandon kissing her and giggled, "Oh Brandon, you are a bad boy" she giggled as if dreaming on the large red bedspread.

She reached a feeble hand up and playfully touched the mysterious mans cheek. It was wet too. Dripping, in fact. She held her hand up to the soft candle light and tried to focus her eyes. Her hand felt warm and sticky, just like her kneck. Warm sticky and red.

"I think i might be bleeding Brandon. I think i might need some help"

She hugged the man with one arm, rubbing his back and giggling. The mans hands traced all over her but she could barely feel them. Jacquelines head became too light and she felt very faint. "Brandon, why are you doing this? You're hurting me... and scaring me..." her voice trailed off into fits of giggling as the man drank more and more of her blood.


Brandon raced down hallways and more sets of stairs, trying to reorient himself so he could find the only place she could be. "Oh Jacqueline, please let me have missed you in some other room..." He muttered through throngs of people, grabbing at him to say hello and shake hands.

Brandon ran down a cramped hallway and down into a secluded part of the manor. He counted the doors as he sped past them, turning and twisting through the maze. He suddenly stopped and inspected a door he had just passed. It was made of old oak and had grand gold engravings across the handle. He turned the handle but the door would not open. It must be locked from the inside, he murmed to himself. This was definitely the room he was looking for but if she wasnt inside he would be in deep trouble for entering uninvited. He gulped as he realised he had no choice but to enter.

Brandon stepped back, rubbing his temples aggressively, and stood against the wall across from it. He took one or two running steps and kicked the door down. The lock broke and it swung open into rows of wine racks. If Jacqueline was here, she would be up a level in the space, in the living area. The walls were thick, and it appeared his entry had gone unnoticed as of yet. He crept along the wall, trying to move silently through the wine bottles. Soon hed found the stairs, and a solid wood door at the top of them.

Brandon climbed the stairs cautiously and slowly opened the door. He was lucky this one was not locked. He stepped into the room, but jacqueline wasnt here either. he noticed the large curtain on one wall though, and remembered it was there only to separate the space. Laughter and voices could be heard just beyond the curtain, and knew he knew too soon that it was jacqueline and him. He was the one who destroyed the woman brandon had loved so dearly. Her name was Emily, and she was beautiful, with long jet black locks. Brandon had witnessed her fate, and never wanted to see anything like it again.

He stepped forward and slowly drew back the curtain.

END CAPTER 6

**BY JUDO MASTERS AND MNM27**