BLOODBREEDERS: SEEKING OTHERS
BY: ROBIN RENEE RAY
Bloodbreeders: Seeking Others
By: Robin Renee Ray
Bloodbreeders: Seeking Others is a work of fiction. Characters, names, place, incidents, organizations are a product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously.
By Robin Renee Ray
©Copyright Robin Renee Ray January 2014
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
“Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.”
Bloodbreeders: Seeking Others is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, or places, events or locales is coincidental. These characters are purely of the authors imagination and used fictitiously.
This e-book contains material not suitable for readers 17 and under.
Licensing note: This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only, and may not be resold, or given away to other people. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
Published By: Robin Renee Ray
Copy Edited By: Jeanette Ratajczyk
Cover Art Work By: Rebel Angel Designs
PROLOGUE:
I remember the words of my great grandmother who sat back in her rocker, telling me that my future would change in the blink of an eye. I bet not even she knew the massive impact behind the statement that she had made four years before that so called blink. I told her of my concerns, that I may never find a way to leave the family farm and one day make a life of my own. I cared deeply for my five younger siblings and the parents that raised us with all the love and passion that only a truly gifted parent could. But, at times I felt the woman growing inside of me pretended that things such as love and companionship didn’t matter, especially during those times when I was needed by my family.
A great deal of time has passed since I spoke with my now deceased great grandmother, but her words rang true every time I opened my eyes to darkness. My once innocent hands that were covered with nothing more than the stains from mother earth, has now gripped the life force of those whose flesh was little more than tissue beneath my grasp, knowing their death was well deserved. I found, and in time changed, four young teens who in turn followed me into the very pits of hell where two had fallen into its everlasting hold. As others gathered by my side looking over the rippling waves, all eyes staring back to where our, or should I say ‘my’, greatest revenge took to the sky in a bright glow of fantastic flames, taking down all the torment and misery that had occupied its walls. We watched not only with satisfied triumph in our black hearts, but also with deeply hidden sorrow for those we left behind in the tainted soil. Both emotions rode heavy in the back of our minds.
Many died at the hands of those who chose to follow my plight, but it was I, who took the mistress of the estate by draining her life force with the only weapon that I had left—my fangs. Now it seemed I owned more than her riches. I owned a piece of her thoughts, her power, and a growing desire to kill as well. Parts were not well-received gifts. I learned more each night that I lived in the world of darkness. I see now through the past thoughts of the elders whose lives I have taken, the many ways of the bloodbreeders that I once longed to have known about and now wished for a different form of freedom. I was raised by strong minded people who ruled with resilient spines. I was taught that wrong is wrong no matter the end conclusion, and things that I have suffered and witnessed must and will be changed. Just as Cuba failed to stand against the likes of one young girl from Texas and four young orphans, so shall the rest of the slave trading world. Conviction and determination can move a mountain, and as I lay next to my beautiful little brother, I knew I had both. A new world was coming and a group of misfits had their names written all over it.
CHAPTER ONE
I could feel the ship moving at a slow pace as I woke. I pulled my arm out from under Johnny’s body and began sitting up when I noticed Jacob watching from the chair that was placed in the far corner of the room. I slid to the end of the bed, realizing that this was the first time that Garvin and Tanda weren’t waiting for me to wake. Both still lay curled on their sides, showing no signs of movement. I looked around the room and saw that Tammy was just as still as the others and only Jessie was beginning to move onto her side.
“Her blood grows stronger in you already,” Jacob said leaning back in his chair.
“How early is it?”
“If we were to open those doors we would make a nice pile of ash on the floor.”
“Why are you awake and not Jessie?”
“She moves only because she feels my pull. We are twins in every way. I took the life of an ancient and have since paid the price, just as you will.”
“But, I didn’t. I killed, Yvette.”
“And she carried the life force of one of the oldest of our kind.”
“So, what other things do I have to look forward too?” I asked standing up and stretching out.
“That remains to be seen,” he replied getting to his feet.
“That really helps, Jacob.” I brought my braid around and started the long task of undoing it.
“How could my experience be the same as what you will have, when the two ancients were altogether different individuals?”
“And how will I ever get use to looking at your young face and try to understand the wisdom of the old man behind it?”
“You must look past what your eyes are trying to tell you,” he replied with seriousness.
“I was joking just a little. I think you’re going to have to learn to be just a little bit more like the rest of us and not the four hundred year old warrior that you’ve been trained to be,” I added giving him my best smile.
“Yes, I see how there is much laughter especially when it comes to young Derek. He does say the strangest things.”
“That he does, or he use too,” I snickered. “So tell me, where’s our first stop?”
“We will be stopping on an island called Andros, off the coast of Florida. Williams Island is also one where we will drop supplies off for a friend that we have had for years of our past. It is for a small family that others have persecuted and sent there to die as if they had never existed. The old one found favor in the kind of their breed and chose to let them live with our trade.”
I was about to ask what type of ‘breed’ he was talking about when a knock pounded on the heavy doors. Jacob walked to the door and listened to the message through the security of its thickness, then returned to let me know that Andros Island was in view. He also told me that it was a place of ‘neutral ground’, where no slaves were to be sold or held. It was only a place for loading supplies and taking a small rest from the open ocean. My mind kept reflecting back to the family that lived alone on the small island that we would be dropping supplies on as soon as we were finished here.
Everyone stayed on the ship except for Jacob, Garvin, and myself. Sydney, Derek, and Brandon, had given Sydney’s boat to Jacob’s normals, and were told to sail it back to the Georgia estate, where they were to wait out in the open waters until we arrived. We were met at the dock by a man driving a wagon. He was so heavily cloaked that it was hard to see much more than his hands. He sat silently, never uttering a word. Garvin and I followed Jacob’s move, going along, hoping he knew what he was doing. We came around a bend in the road after riding for a good hour, stopping in front of a two story house with its paint peeling. It looked more like it should be condemned than a place where we were going to meet those who knew and kept our little secret.
“Have you been here before?” I whispered.
“Many times,” he replied smiling back at me, and then jumped down from the wagon.
“Master Jacob. It is so good to see you,” said a little man who barely came up to his waist. “Please, invite your friends inside.”
“This is my good friend Garvin, and this is our new master, Lady Renee,” Jacob replied going to one knee.
The little man made an inaudible ‘awe’ type of sound, then practically fell to his round belly. Grunts and moans came from different areas around the home, as more sounds filled the night air from the grounds behind us. “Jacob?” I said in a nervous tone, much higher than a normal whisper. From where I was sitting on the wagons seat, I could now see the many faces lit up by the torch lights that were spread throughout the moss filled yard. My eyes were drawn to focus on arms that had no hands, and some that had only nubs for fingers. As I looked up from the badly mangled hands I saw the eyes of a once beautiful woman whose face now held the horrid scars of leprosy. Parts of her skin would be flawless, while the other side would be jagged and eaten away by the disease, leaving her with deep, dark, harsh tissue in its wake.
“We have heard that things were going to make change,” the little man said getting to his wrapped knees. His lower legs being completely gone, something I had just noticed. “I am Tabor, and these are my people.”
The whispering sounds soon turned into more faces, but none were that of normal looking men and women. I now knew why these people held our secret so well. Who would they tell and who would come close enough to listen? It was a group of disfigured people, a leper colony. “Come, you must tell us the truth of this matter. The others were in far too much of a hurry to leave.” He reached out with what may have been his hand, holding it up to me. I took it, letting him help me down from the wagon. As we walked up to the home Jacob leaned over and whispered, that not even the bravest of his kind had ever had the courage to take an offered hand upon their first meeting.
“My wife will get you a warm drink while we sit by the fire. I am told that Chin must be dead, for his ship was overtaken and that Cuba fell to the likes of a demon that has not yet been fully described,” Tabor said pausing to look up at me. “I gather that by you sitting here with young Jacob that the first part is true. But, as for a “demon”, tis a lie, the rest must be, for only an angle could do as I have heard.”
“I’m no angel, Tabor. But, Cuba has been shut down,” I replied.
“Then a beauty of a demon you are.”
“Leave her be old man,” his wife added, bring in three cups of warm, red liquid.
“Would have to be blind she would, to take a liking to anything such as yourself.” Then she smiled back at me with a face that had no nose. “He’s always a flirting with you pretty little lassies.”
“Thank you,” I said taking the glass that she offered, smiling back at her.
“Yeah, and she’s always reminding me of me faults. Who but an old hag would have me?” Then he wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her on the cheek.
“Oh, be to your business, you silly fool.”
“Thank you kindly for the drink, ma’am,” Garvin added as she left the room.
We gladly drank the gift of the warm red fluid that she had given us, as we listened as Tabor told us the tale that came from the ship that had stopped the night before. He said that the master had been so shook up, that he insisted that Tabor be taken to his ship where he could make his trade for supplies. While doing so, the master told him a twisted tale of a demon who had sliced the throats of his top men and threw them over the cliff’s side. All the while holding up a large flame so that he could see her, drenched in blood as her long hair blew in the wind.
“I had a red dress on,” I laughed.
“Not to be rude, but I believe he was a bit aroused as he spoke of your flawless figure.”
“Excuse me?”
“I believe by the time the story has completed its journey, you may not even recognize yourself,” Jacob smiled, then looked quickly back at his cup.
“Didn’t we stop here to talk about something else?”
“Yes, but you should know that from this point on, every port you make will know that you are coming and will not be so eager to see you. I will give Jacob a list of ports used by my people so that you can have safe passage to fresh supplies, but I bid you go far around those of your kind.”
“I think she has a different plan…” Jacob started to say.
“I can explain this and then you, Tabor, can tell this to anyone who comes your way. I plan on paying a visit to every place that keeps my kind as slaves and hurts them in anyway. Then I’m going to kill the sick son-of-a-bitch without hesitation. We’ll take that list to keep those from knowing where we are, but you and everyone else can rest assured that we are coming. Live or die, we are coming.” Then I slammed my half empty cup down in front of him, splattering blood over his chest and face.
“You’ll not need that anger here, love. I will give my hand to any who stands up for those in need. I will be your eyes and ears. I will have my people ready your supplies and not to forget the needs of, William’s Island.”
“They will be grateful, as am I, but we will only take what is needed for, Alden,” Jacob said, standing as Tabor began to leave the room.
“I will gather what is necessary.” Then he left the room.
“Why don’t they just ship supplies over there themselves? It’s not that far,” I asked not bothering with holding back my tone.
“Once you see, you’ll know.”
“You mean, like not telling me why this place was neutral ground.”
“Some thing’s are best seen with one’s own eyes, Renee. It is better believed.”
“Now you have me worried about this, William’s Island. What could be stranger than what I’ve already seen?”
“You will see soon enough,” he replied then left, ending the conversation.
“Looks like we’ll be finding out the hard way,” I said smiling back at Garvin.
“Maybe we could bring the others, so that they can experience a bit of the world as I have.”
I burst out laughing and within seconds Garvin had joined in. I had almost forgotten that he had lived out his fifty years of being a bloodbreeder in the dungeons owned by a very nasty master, and that everything that he was seeing was for the first time. He, like me, was learning about life as it was thrown at us. We were both willing to take on the fight of stopping the madness that had gone on with those that were unfortunate enough to fall into this world of darkness. Not to mention, those that we had found along the way, but it didn’t stop the shock of the unexpected. All seemed more than willing, regardless of what the night may bring.
We were followed out by people that had to be moved out of the way by those who had more left of their limbs. It was as if the disease was eating away at their very bones, and maybe it was. I had never seen such a thing, but they seemed to be a happy group, not one ashamed of or afraid of our kind. It was later when we were back on our small boat and headed back to the ship that Jacob told us why they had no concerns about our kind. He said that not even the strongest of our people would dare touch those with such disorders, and most rarely even darkened the island unless they were in great need. Chin, on the other hand had been dear friends with the occupants, especially, Tabor. He told us that when Tabor was a younger man with both of his legs still intact and had just taken the island as his own, Chin’s ship had been damaged by a massive storm and water had taken the bottom levels. It was Tabor, and his wife that took Chin and Jacob, along with several of the other bloodbreeders, into the basement of their home and cared for them as Tabor’s men worked for days on Chin’s ship. The favor turned into many years of friendship and trading.
I had asked why Tabor showed no anger for the death of his so called friend and Jacob merely looked at me and said it was a simple means of taking care of ones necessities. We now sat
with the goods that the leper men placed on our boat for us to take to the other island. There were baskets of fruit and bags of grain, which could have been anything from rice to wheat―I never asked. The chickens lay still as the three tiny piglets squealed every time the waves rocked the boat. I was a bit confused as to why we actually stopped, because there wasn’t any form of supplies that we could use that we didn’t already have on our ship. There was plenty for those that would need such things, like what we now carried on our much overloaded boat.
“Jacob? Is there any reason that we couldn’t have shared our goods with those on this other island? We do have a great deal,” I said turning the best I could in the cramped area.
“Yes, a very good reason. I would not have been able to retrieve these,” he replied and pulled out several letters wrapped in a single white ribbon.
“Oh, I see.”
“They are a branch of their family. Things are different as I have said and you shall see, but the love of the heart remains.” Then he replaced the letters back into his shirt. “They are a proud people and will take no charity. This is why I do not offer them our provision.”
“How would they know?” Garvin asked.
“Smell my friend. Just as we know our kind, they will know the scent on the things we bring.”
“Hum, it does make sense,” Garvin responded rubbing his jaw.
“Most look as we do, but others will shock you even more than the ones your eyes have graced…we are here,” Jacob said holding his hand in the air.
I had been so engulfed in the things that we were talking about that I hadn’t even noticed that he and Garvin had taken us all the way back to the ship. Jacob was reaching for the pole that Brandon was leaning over the side of the ship with, so that he could pull us to the side of our floating home. One by one we handed the things up to Brandon, who in turn handed them to, who at that time I could only assume was, Derek. As soon as my head came up and over the edge I was proven correct. He was actually picking up one of the baby piglets, bringing a huge smile to my face.
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