--It’s in Your Blood - Chapter 4--

*Content warning. This chapter is where things get really questionable. Non-consensual sex is at the forefront, mixed with injury and blood. Moreover, the act is done by a feral beast. There’s also a violent dream sequence. The story, as a whole, contains themes of self-harm. If you have a history of self-harm, consider whether or not you’ll be triggered by its depiction. As always, you’ll be notified of the content at the start of each chapter.*

Sleep wasn’t easy to come by after I finally returned to my shack. While I considered the possibility of getting a hotel room, I realized that I still had to live and I wasn’t taking on any patients while I dealt with whatever had happened to me. I didn’t have the disposable income, my mother was too far out of reach, and I had no other friends that I felt comfortable asking for accommodations. I just had to try and get used to my home again.

The earlier argument still stung, and my mind was quick to believe the finality of the situation. Colin ejected me. Called me Daisy’s fucktoy. It hurt and the only way I could convince myself to shut my eyes was to remind myself that couples fight all the time. Sometimes we say things we don’t mean. I could only hope this was one of those cases.

As it turns out, sleep wasn’t the best idea anyway, as I was once again thrown into a nightmare. This one had me running through a forest at night. I didn’t know what was chasing me, but I knew I had to get away. I could see no light and barely make out where I was going. I could only tell where I was by the feeling of the underbrush on my legs.

I don’t remember how long I ran with that intense feeling of fear, but it only heightened when I felt the pain in my calf. Something bit me, tearing my flesh and yanking my leg out from under me. I fell hard and immediately became aware of the things circling me in the dark.

I rolled over, and kicked at whatever had my leg, intent on defending myself, but I knew it was already too late. Even if I could free myself, it had already torn my leg, and I wouldn’t be able to run anymore. That wouldn’t stop me from going down fighting, as I thrashed about.

It didn’t dissuade my waiting attackers, as I felt their fangs dig into my shoulder and tear at my abdomen. I screamed, still thrashing but growing weaker, hearing the sounds of my flesh ripping and feeling the horrible pain wash over me. Before long, I couldn’t move. What little I had left in me grew weary from fighting.

That’s when I became aware of a figure looming over me. It was animalistic, bestial, but with a strange awareness behind its crimson eyes. My other attackers seemed to have abruptly disappeared, leaving my mangled body with whatever monster looked down at me. It lowered itself down towards my neck, slowly and carefully. It let its breath brush against my skin until finally it sank its teeth into me.

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That’s exactly how I woke up; a sharp pain. I almost didn’t believe it at first -- felt that I was still dreaming -- but there was something biting my neck. 

I sat up quickly, batting my hand against it. Unlike the things in my dream, it came loose immediately, flung across the room and onto the floor. I pressed a hand against my neck, feeling the warm wetness of my blood as it streamed into my white fur. I barely had a chance to see what had bit me before it had fled out the window, looking back for just a moment, flashing its red eyes at me. It was some strange, quadrupedal thing covered in fur. No bigger than a feral house cat. The sound of its steps caught my attention. Hard and firm, like it was wearing shoes.

I threw off the covers and climbed from bed. I quickly threw a gown over my body, an already worn one that I didn’t care if I got blood on. I then took a moment to view the wound in the mirror; two puncture marks. Strangely, they weren’t near my artery. Not a vampire, I guessed. It probably only bit my neck because it was exposed.

I placed two of my fingers, one on each wound, and concentrated. With a jerk, I pulled my hand away, drawing a quick spurt of blood that instantly formed a dagger, blade and handle of crimson. Blood magic wasn’t only for healing, as much as it was easier to pretend it was.

I stepped into my shoes and dashed in the direction that the thing had fled, gripping the dagger. What was I doing? All I knew is that if I killed it, I could sleep safely and get on with my life. Somehow I knew that was the thing that escaped my body. It came from my blood, it must need more. At least I had never heard of anything else sneaking into people’s homes and biting them while they slept.

As I ran through the woods with only a vague idea of where I was headed, I began to realize how much the scene resembled the nightmare I had just awoken from. The thought instantly slowed my pace as I sought to convince myself this had no relation. It was just a dream. Sure, I was in the darkness of the woods, but I knew the area and I wasn’t running from something. I was secure. I was armed. Injured, but armed.

Doubt continued to creep in, soon replaced by fear. What was I thinking? Running into the woods in the middle of the night. Even if that thing was long gone, other nocturnal threats roamed the woods.

I turned back, but immediately paused. Perched atop a branch in a tree not far from me was that thing. It was bigger, something closer to the size of a feral wolf, but I could tell by its crimson eyes, flashing in the dim light, that it was the same beast that had bit me. I had no time to contemplate its transformation before it leapt from the branch. I thrust out with my dagger to protect myself, relieved to feel it plunge into the thing’s chest as its weight bowled me over.

I tumbled onto the ground, landing flat on my stomach. Before I could even struggle to my feet, fear again gripped me. The dagger was lobbed by my head, clattering against a stone. It had pulled it out. Did that mean it didn’t even affect it?

Before I had the chance to even reach out for the dagger, I felt its weight against me. It placed its paw on my arm, pinning it to the ground. Its paw, fully prehensile like a hand.

With a gasp, I tried to fight my way free, but soon found my other arm pinned. I kicked, but was rewarded with a firm stomp on the back of my thigh. Pain surged, fear that it had broken under the force. Tears streamed from my eyes, as I felt at the mercy of a beast I couldn’t even recognize.

I froze as I felt its hot breath against my neck. I knew what it wanted. I thought I did. Instead, I felt what could only be its tail against my butt. It lifted my gown up, revealing my… Oh, no. It couldn’t…

I felt its weight press down on me, the feeling of something firm feeling at my underside. No, this wasn’t happening. I struggled harder, but its grip was firm and unmoving. Its claws, on the other hand, sunk into the flesh of my arms, crimson again flowing into my white fur. Tears streamed down my face, running across my muzzle until I could taste them against my lips.

I gritted my teeth as I could feel it pushing into me. I tried clenching my legs together, but it merely separated them again with a hard kick.

Again, I clenched my jaw as I felt the thing enter me, penetrating my womanhood, simply taking me. There was no fighting back. It was stronger, it had me in a vulnerable position, and I was afraid. I didn’t have the willpower to struggle, I merely girded myself for what was to come.

It pulled back and thrusted itself further in again. I felt like throwing up.

Then, everything changed. A warmth spread across my body, a euphoria seized my chest. The fear was still there, but every nerve in my body tingled with pleasure. I cried out against the act, wishing it would end. The ecstasy that was overcoming me was as unwelcome as the thing violating me. The pleasure was an insult, I did not ask for it.

Indeed, even as the pain was replaced by pleasure, the tears streamed more freely. The terror of the situation clawed at my skull as my mind and body were defiled. I didn’t want this, even as a moan of pleasure escaped my lips, even as my body crawled with euphoria, this wasn’t right.

The thing’s thrusting grew to a fierce pounding as it grew more aggressive. To my horror, my own ecstasy only grew, my cries replaced by moans.

Then it was over. As it sunk its fangs into my neck and it drank of my blood, I could only feel relief as I knew it would be over soon.

Another hard thrust, and I could feel its warmth fill me. It was the last thing I felt before consciousness slipped away.