“A what?” Jacob shrugged.
“I believe she means, the gala,” Cates laughed, with the others joining in.
“You city folk have so much to learn,” I shook my head and lifted the bottom of my hoop and headed out of the dank area. “Tanda, watch over my husband and I will take care of yours.”
“Not so much as a kiss,” Martin called out.
“You heard him, Cates, that’s an order,” I called back, snickering because I knew Cates would do it. “Love you, sweet pea!”
“Is this your torture? Be gone, you old fool.”
Echoes of Cates’ laughter filled the halls of the house as we made our way into the kitchen. Tanda came back up with instructions on how to lock the sliding door when she went back down. She insisted on making sure our make-up and clothing were in order before we left. While she worked on Tammy and then myself, the boys readied the unmarked coaches for our trip to Angelica’s gala.
Chapter Twenty Seven
I would be lying if I said I was confident on our ride over to the gala, because I could taste my own fear. The beating of my dead heart was locked into the base of my ears. Martin had his own normals that ran his grounds as well as took care of his boats and such. So we had two of them driving our coaches. It seemed the rest were by the coastline and that’s why we hadn’t seen them. They were left to ready his ship in case that he needed to head back out in search of me. Jacob, Derek, Sydney, and I were in one coach while Cates, Garvin, Tammy, and Fala were in the other. I knew Derek and Sydney felt as stupid as I did by the way they kept pulling at the garments they were wearing. As for the others, they didn’t seem to be as bothered. I gave that thought over to them being breeders much longer and forced to do ridiculous things.
“We are almost there,” Jacob said, leaning his head out the coach window.
I tried to put my head through the window, but my wig was too big and I growled. “What can you see? How do you know how close we are?”
“You will give yourself one of those heart attacks if you do not slow down. First, I know the distance. Second, if you could put that thing on your head out of that window you would be able to see the lights at Angelica’s gates.”
“We are so going to have to have one of our talks when this night is over, Jacob,” I complained as I readjusted my wig.
“Are you ready for this?” he asked.
“Not even a little. I’m actually more nervous about this than I was anything we’ve done to date. It’s just so different from anything that we’ve ever done.”
“I know you will not like hearing me say this, but you must refrain from losing your temper, at least until we have time to make our way to the front of the room where Angelica will make her entrance.”
“You know I would never agree with anyone that said something to you that made you have a look like that on your face,” Derek said with a smirk, “but on this one I have to agree with Jacob. And if you don’t stop looking like that, with that crap on your face, I’m gonna lose it by laughing my ass off.”
“Oh, and getting down on your knee was a real show of who was boss…my ass,” I rolled my heavily made-up eyes at the both of them, causing all three, including me, to start snickering. The coach came to a stop and we all became silent. The driver spoke softly to the gatekeeper and we moved slowly through. “What exactly did the normal say?” I whispered.
“Avior ce nuit. In your tongue it would mean, ‘to have this night’. It is the passwords to enter this gala and what was written in the note that came from Inara as she had said it would. Something that also came while you were occupied with other things.”
“I completely forgot that she had given her word about that note. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you, yourself, just said it, you had completely forgotten and I would say due to having far too much on your mind, as it were. Now, if you are finished asking your questions, the doormen are walking out to meet our coach.”
“If you want me to be on my best behavior, then you best stop pushing my buttons.” I closed my mouth and crossed my arms. I got a hard stare from Jacob and uncrossed them and very childishly slapped my white gloved palms down on the thighs of my legs.
“Very good, they come.”
“Strawberry,” I hissed under my breath as Jacob’s coach door opened.
***
Standing in front of those wide, extremely high, double doors and wearing that ridiculous ball gown, made me feel just like I did back in Cuba; not when they first opened the door that I was walked through and introduced as Martin’s whore, but when I stood in front of the room on the stage and shown as a piece of cattle to a group of sick bastards who would pay a price so they could do whatever they pleased. At that very moment, I went from being scared to death to being so pissed that all I wanted to do was kick those doors in and start killing the depraved beings on the other side. The laughter that I could hear was making the rolling waves of blood in my stomach form an eruption just waiting to spew up my throat and out of my mouth.
“I think I may be sick,” I spoke to no one in particular.
Tammy took my hand and squeezed. “Take in a deep breath, you can do this.”
“No, I mean, I think I may really be sick, as in throw-up.”
“She does look a bit green,” Cates said, taking my other hand.
“It is too late. They come to open the doors.” Jacob was saying, as two men in black suits opened the doors wide and my people escorted me in.
The music was loud and nothing that I had ever heard. There were so many breeders that it was hard to see the decoration on the tables that lined the walls and all looked very much like we did. My senses were on overload. I didn’t smell anything but bloodbreeders. Had there been normals anywhere, I wouldn’t have been able to track them with the amount of blood drinkers that filled the large room. I now knew why Martin had been so afraid for us. He was right. There was no way in hell that we were going to fight our way out of this. There was no other choice but to take down the head of the house.
“I should have brought my club,” Sydney whispered, getting as close to me as he could.
“You didn’t have anywhere to put it. I want you to stick as close to your maker as you can tonight. Keep him safe, Sydney. I’m depending on you,” I grabbed his hand and leaned in to his ear. “I need that from you for the rest of Garvin’s life.”
He stepped back and smiled, showing a beautiful set of fangs then kissed me on the cheek saying ‘thank you’, and went happily back to his maker. Garvin glanced over at me and mouthed the words thank you. I simply winked back. Cates came up behind me putting his hand on my shoulder and his nub on Tammy’s. Jacob stepped up beside Tammy and Derek stepped in closer to my left side. We started making our way down through the middle of the crowd of demented breeders.
Jacob had explained that some owners brought their favorite slaves to these events, using Bernard and Alex as examples. That’s when I understood why there would be so many when I had heard so much about there being few heads, and even fewer ancients. It made sense about the ancients, with so many like Yvette, trying to knock them off for a power base. Now, here I was, doing the same thing; Different reasons, same form of tactics. However, I’m more than sure that few, if any, before me had much care of whom they put in harm’s way.
Growls of some sort of a beast reverberated through the room and none of the party goers seemed to take notice…other than our group. It rang out again, only this time louder and it was apparent there was more than one. I reached back and touched the human flesh of Fala’s arm wishing he were in his other form. And I wanted nothing more than to ask him what it was that I was hearing. As if reading my mind, he slid in between Derek and Cates.
“I believe they are cats,” he spoke as he leaned down and pretended to kiss my hand. “Like the ones from the collapsed village.”
As he stepped back my head popped up and I went on my toes. I had to see where the sound was coming from. Jacob bu
mped Tammy and she pulled down on my hand. I gave Jacob my famous ‘kiss my ass’ look and walked a little faster. The crowd pressed in around us and I pushed back. I could feel eyes on me as I made my way in and around the gaudy ball gowns and bowing men, but then I saw the two thrones on a stage. There were two women sitting on the thrones, and both held a leash that was attached to a black, diamond adorned collar that encircled the necks of two beautiful black cats.
“Hold your calm, Renee,” Jacob moved Tammy and took my arm. “I fear we have been tricked and now stand in their trap.”
“Yeah, well, we expected that. What I want to know is, are those cats the boys we met the night we saved Martin?”
I could feel Fala breathe on the back of my neck as he came in closer behind me and the warmer it grew, the more I knew that I had my answer. Those two large, black cats were Luther and Lane, and they did not like being bound by the neck and held by chains. It was a bit shocking seeing the twins hold a leash in their hands but I was well aware that the sister’s came from the same sick line. Maybe I was hoping Inara would be showing a little restraint knowing that we would be here and that we did unspeakable things to those who committed acts of unnamable mention. I knew we were no better when it came to our method of stopping this crazed madness but we were getting our point across and that was all that mattered.
“I thank you all for coming to our annual Moon Gala,” Angelica said, as she stood handing the leash of her black cat over to a male dressed much like my boys, then lightly brushed her hands together. “This is a very special night indeed. I have just been given word that our very esteemed guests have arrived. And I, more than any of you, would like to welcome them into my home with a full round of applause.” At that point the entire room erupted with clapping and all that stood, pressing in around our group spread out, leaving us standing in the middle of a ten foot circle.
Bernard walked into the room from behind the thrones with a slight limp and Inara smiled as she got to her feet. She too, handed off the leash she held only this black cat was hissing and swiping out at the young man who took it. It was then that I saw droplets of blood dripping from its collar, and my blood began to boil.
“We just came for our friends,” I yelled out. “We don’t much like it when they’re treated badly.”
“Are you blind, little bloodbreeder? Or are you just too stupid to see how truly defeated that you are?” Inara said, stepping up beside her sister.
“Good to know Alex was never on the top of your list, Inara. We killed him before we came here,” I snorted. “We knew you were going to stab us in the back. You didn’t really think that we came this far by believing blood suckers like you…did you?”
The whole room fell silent as the sisters looked at each other. Derek threw his head back and burst out laughing. “She believed it…that ignorant bitch believed that she had one over on us. Just how stupid do these things get around here?”
“Now, young one, have I not taught you to respect your elders? They do not know the ways of the modern world,” Cates said, patting Derek on the back.
“Yes, they still believe in the old ways of tears and trickery. But, they did not plan on such a young breeder as our Lady Renee, taking down not one, but two ancients in but one night.” Jacob walked up close to the stage where the sisters stood back by their thrones. “My Ladies, you have misjudged this night and you and many others will die if you do not comply.” Jacob snapped his fingers and we all pulled our blades; my and Tammy’s display not being as smooth as the others. It was harder getting the hilt out of my pocket this time than it had been every time I had practiced.
“He lies, they are few to our many,” Inara hissed. “They would not kill my son. Martin said they were good to their word.”
“He and anyone else would say anything on a torture bed!” I yelled. “And how do you know we didn’t kill your son? Did you go look? Is he there? What did your men say when they came back from our home?” I was guessing with my questions. I had no idea if they had been waiting for us to leave, or if they believed anything we were saying, for that matter. They had the jump on us and we were just trying to talk our way into a semi-fair fight.
“I told you they would kill him if you betrayed them,” Bernard cried out and was backhanded by Angelica.
“Get out of my sight you fool,” she demanded, pointing at the area behind them. “Leave…now!”
Bernard looked out at us and I gave him a little wink and shook my head slightly. I saw a small smile cross his face and a fast sharp nod before he turned and rushed out. I had no idea what my little black leather wearing boy was going to do, but I knew he was angry with his twin mistresses and we needed some help.
“So, tell me, what do you have in mind?” Angelica asked, laughing and waving her hand toward the crowd, getting little reaction. They, too, had heard of our coming and the things we left in our wake.
Things could have gone smooth at that point and I was going to step back and let Jacob take control. But I saw something that took my anger over the boiling point and right into molten lava. Angelica was wearing my ring. As Jacob was stepping back to us I was taking my own steps up to the stage. He grabbed my arm. “What are you doing?” I could see his eyes looking around at the many eyes of the crowd watching us.
“She’s wearing my ring,” I spat each word as my eyes squinted into glares of hatred. “And I’m fixing to go get it back.”
“We have a chance to show superiority in front of the people we want to change, and you wish to start a battle?”
“Yep, now let me go.”
“This is not a good idea.”
“Well, the way she got my ring wasn’t a very good idea. We came here to stop that sort of shit and that is exactly what I am fixing to do. Either join me or get the hell out of my way.”
“I’m with you. And you heard her, Jacob, let her go. She gave you a direct order.” Derek looked from Jacob to me and raised his sword and bumped hilts with mine. “Let’s kick their ass, what do you say?”
“Fine, but we go in as one,” Jacob smiled at me. “As you have always said, we are one. No leader, but a whole.”
Chapter Twenty Eight
The proverbial ball had fallen, so to speak, and I was about to kick the shit out of it. Most of the crowd was clearing out and only the ones that the twins held power over, stayed. Once the room held fewer people, another stage came into view. It had to be Lord Cheree. He had two young males sitting on the floor, each one holding his extremely large legs as if afraid. There were two other beings standing behind his throne with flesh hanging in rotted patches from their bodies. Neither had eyes and both carried the form of the walking dead.
“He truly is a sick bastard, isn’t he?” I looked back to see most of my people looking at the beings behind Lord Cheree and not one of us wanted to have an encounter with them.
“You can deal with him later. Right now we have more pressing matters,” Jacob said as ten men dressed in some sort of armor came in behind us. “Ready yourself!”
“You will die this night and the elders will give me reign over anything I choose,” Angelica proclaimed then clapped once.
No one had a chance to respond, all ten men came rushing at us with blades swinging. Jacob, Cates, and Derek took the first three down with ease, as Garvin and Sydney fought three back into a corner. Tammy and I fought back to back while two of the armor wearing breeders sliced their blades wildly at us. The dress I was wearing was taking blow after blow, saving my flesh, but it was also hindering me from moving with the speed that I needed to save my own life.
“Tammy I have to get out of this thing.”
“Same here.” Then she yelled out in pain.
Cates was there in seconds, killing the breeder with one sharp slice to the back of his neck. Tammy spun around and planted her blade under the left arm pit of the one who was trying to reach deeper than my flesh. That’s when I began ripping at the huge skirt. I pulled with everything I had and it woul
d not budge. “Son-of-a-bitch!” I couldn’t lift the thing up to get the hoop undergarment out and was fixing to die for my efforts.
“Renee, watch out!” Sydney yelled.
I turned in time to see his blade spinning through the air at the back of an armor wearing breeder that was coming down at my back with his blade. I closed my eyes waiting for the sharp sting and felt his body crash into mine instead. His weight was ridiculous and I could not move him no matter what I tried. I was sprawled out on my stomach, pulling on the floor as if it had handles, trying to free myself from the solid form that pinned me down. He hadn’t changed at all, meaning he must have been a very new breeder.
“Cates!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.
The body rolled off of me and Sydney smiled reaching out his hand. “I’m not the big man, but I’ll do in a pinch.”
“You sure will,” I said, getting to my feet. “Now help me get this damn thing off!”
“Are you sure?”
“Just cut the damn thing. Do you really think I wanna die in this?” I turned around and Sydney did as I had ordered and cut the whole back of the dress from my mid back to the top of my legs. I grabbed the top, right before my breasts were exposed to the entire room.
“Maybe I didn’t mean the top. Mind if a lady asked for your shirt?”
He quickly took off his jacket and threw it to the floor and pulled his button up shirt over his head and handed it to me. While I put it on, he grabbed his blade. I looked over and saw Cates cutting Tammy’s skirt from the bottom up and shook my head wondering why we hadn’t thought about that. He then turned her and sliced up the other side and yanked her hoop undergarment off.
Jacob and Derek had dropped the last two as Fala slung his query across the floor. He had shifted sometime during the commotion. My eyes found the stage where the twins had been but the only thing there was their thrones. Lord Cheree was doing his best to get around his throne, with the two young males clinging to the garment that he wore. It seemed he couldn’t control the walking dead as much as he had thought and they wouldn’t move out of his way.
Bloodbreeders: Lies Beneath London Page 26
