Disclaimer: Laurell K. Hamilton and the Berkley Publishing Group do not authorize this author. All characters that you recognize belong to Laurell K. Hamilton except for the ones created by the people in this group. This is solely for entertainment purposes.
Rating: R just to be on the safe side
				Newfound Desires
Water. What I wouldn't give to feel that sweet liquid slide down my parched throat. It was a feeling that I quickly began to miss. Any substance would do.
In fact I've had hydrochloric acid and been grateful to get it. The first sign of trouble was the immediate lack of oxygen. The burning was the next thing to garner my undivided attention. Next came the terrible nausea; vomiting up my internal organs was the worst.
Blood had fallen from my body like rain that day and how my tormentors had laughed at my misfortune. Tears had long since been burned out of me. Tremors shook my body as my stomach clenched over and over again trying in vain to void my system of the invader.
The glass just appeared out of nowhere. The longer I stared the more solid it became. It should be harmless, right? Wrong! Light glinted off the crystal surface casting beautiful, if muted, rainbows over the floor. You could see the condensation collecting and rolling down the side. Like one of Pavlov's dogs my mouth watered as I stared at the colorless liquid displayed so temptingly in front of me.
I'd been burned one too many times to just accept that this was what it appeared. There had to be something sinister in the glass, something that would lend a new meaning to the word hell.
My fingernails bit into the palms of my hands. The scent of fresh blood did nothing to arouse anything remotely primitive within me. Pain could sometimes be used to my advantage, like now.
It would do no good to turn my back on it. When I moved so did the glass always tempting me with what could lay inside. If only I were stronger. If I was then I wouldn't fall for this...again!
One step, then another brought me even with the container. My hand floated next to the glass. I could feel how cool it was. My imagination took over from there. It would slide down smoothly, quenching this unending thirst.
Grasping the glass I squeezed my eyes shut. My tongue darted out to wet dry, cracked lips. If only I could believe it was merely water contained so innocently within this vessel.
My eyes shot wide. This was different from all the times before. A subtle difference to be sure, but one I easily detected. There was a faint whiff of lilacs, and the cool taste of death.
Cautiously I lifted it to my parched lips. It was sweet, cool, and refreshing. With a great deal of reluctance I lowered the glass. I knew that to take too much too soon would be foolish in the extreme. With deliberate motions I raised and lowered the glass. No matter how much I drank the water never ran dry.
I held the glass tightly afraid that if I let go it would vanish back to wherever it had come from and leave me languishing away again. Looking down at the drink I blinked slowly wondering if I were dreaming. It wasn't likely but your mind will do strange things to save you from pain.
It wasn't that it was any less real. The content had changed from crystal clear water to the unmistakable cherry red color of fresh blood. A careful swallow revealed a subtle blend of tastes, one that the donor left behind. It carried worry, anger, and that someone was very, *very* determined.
A flicker in my peripheral vision brought my eyes sharply in that direction. I glimpsed nothing more then blond hair and bright blue eyes. If I could have cried I would have. Maggie!
After months or maybe it was years it was hard to tell down here, I finally had reason to be strong. She was looking. I set the glass down and the instant my fingers released the cup it vanished leaving only smoke tendrils in its place.
Nothing they did to me could make the slightest difference now. The laughter came bubbling up from my throat. They couldn't break me now. By all that was holy and unholy I was getting out of here!