Bloodbreeders: Seeking Others

by Robin Renee Ray,

  “Do you know that because you’ve seen it, or do you believe it because you were told that?”

  He stopped walking and looked at me. “I was told, of course. In all my years I have never seen any try, now that you bring the point up.”

  “So, you were told by your maker what he wanted you to know,” I said resuming our walk.

  “I now know what you mean by understanding a new world. I think I may be very young indeed to your thinking. I still would not suggest you trying to make peace with the likes of the moon people. They eat their guests first and ask questions later.”

  “That’s when Chin was in charge. Do you think they know that he’s not anymore?”

  “That Chin is no more? I do. I think the news of your coming rode the wind faster than your Shyanna can fly.”

  “We’re not safe here anymore,” I said as we started back to our beautiful home.

  “I agree. Many will come in aid of their master’s to try and stop us before we reach them.”

  “So, where will we go?”

  “We have a place in Maine, which is private to our people alone. It is small and has only two normals that care for it when we are not there, but it is safe.”

  “Where is this Maine?”

  “You did not go to school, back in your Texas?”

  “Well, yes. I just didn’t pay a whole lot of attention when it came to this sort of thing. You know, states and such.”

  “Maine is at the top of the states and cold I might add, at this time of year.”

  “All I care about is that the girls and Johnny are safe.”

  “You know we cannot take them with us when you choose to take down another master that you think is doing things in a bad way,” he added as his steps picked up.

  “It’s more than that and you damn well know it,” I said showing how much he just pissed me off. “I’m not going in this blind, even though you seem to think that I’m always jumping the gun here.”

  “No, I never said that.”

  “You didn’t have to, Jacob. If there are others out there being treated the way that all the rest of us have been, then you can bet your bottom dollar that I’m going to do something about it.”

  “What do you mean, bottom dollar?” he stopped and tilted his head to the side.

  “It’s just a figure of speech, but it means that you can bet all that you have on something if you feel strongly about what you mean.”

  “I see. So, let me ask you a question. Will we travel to the top of the states in one journey, or will you ask about other places that we can correct on our way?”

  “I like using the word ‘correct’ much better,” I smiled. “I personally want to hit them all, and then go around the world until there are no more slave traders out there.”

  “You have a universe of dreams to fill, I’m afraid. We have lived among the normals for centuries, never being found out for our true nature. Oh, there have been those who claimed to know what we are and even sought us out, only to become a hot meal for their troubles. What I am getting at is, having to leave your little ones, as well as my sister, on the ship where others may find them when we are not on board, a risk that I myself am not willing to take.”

  “Then what do you suggest that we do with them? I’m not leaving them here, not now, but I will hit the other places, even if I have to do it by myself.”

  “Why are you so strong minded about this quest that you have placed on yourself?”

  “Just knowing that someone is being sexually abused, or severally beaten, not to mention all of the other things that we both know a slave is put through, makes me sick to my stomach. Ashley and Bo didn’t die in vain, Jacob. This will continue in their names, for the sake of all who need our help.”

  “Excuse me,” Cates said walking out to us. He was clean and changed into his maroon silk pants that were very much like Jacob’s. “The others are clean and fed. They all wait in the grand room. It seems they wish to talk to you both.”

  I looked at Jacob, who simply raised one brow, then turned to follow Cates into the open foyer. I watched as the gate-like doors closed, wondering how, as I looked up at the ledge of the wall that surrounded our home. That’s when I knew there was no magic being used, but two men turning a big wheel, as the doors slowly closed. I let a small giggle out, thinking how silly I was to believe that they had been opening and closing on their own, and ran to catch up with the others. We found all the rest comfortably sitting around at the back of the great room, the same room that I’d killed Rebecca in. Johnny and Shyanna both came at me. Johnny, running full out getting caught by Jacob, and Shyanna flying up as soon as Johnny’s feet left the floor.

  “Renee, watch this,” Derek said and took out an apple. “Shya, go get the ball and I’ll give you this nice juicy apple.”

  She hopped once then sprang into the air and out the door she went, coming back minutes later with the ball that she and Johnny had been playing with. She handed it to him and he gave her the apple, which she tore into, making ‘yummy’ sounds all the way down to the last bite. Jessie got up and grabbed another apple from the bowl on the center of the table.

  “Can you find me a stone from the water’s edge? A pretty one?” Shyanna looked around then chirped as she flew back out the door.

  We waited a good thirty minutes, talking about the pleasure of being home and getting to take a hot bath. Cates had closed the doors after Shyanna left, not wanting to have the workers hear what we were talking about. When I asked what the big deal was, he walked up and whispered that we would not have room to take them all, and if they felt that the moon people would attack, it might cause a panic.

  I was about to argue with the ‘not enough room’ when Shyanna started banging on the door, crying her bird-like cry. Cates opened it and she half hopped, and half flew in, spinning around to look up at the giant who let her in. She made her way to Jessie and handed her a sea shell. “Pretty…me’s bite sweet?” Jessie smiled down at her and handed her the apple. I think we were all waiting for her to eat, but instead she hopped over to Derek and gave it to him. He thanked her, and then looked at me. Very slowly he raised the apple to his mouth, getting a ‘don’t do it’ from half of us in the room.

  “My stomach has felt different ever since we drank that green stuff, which by the way, stayed down. Maybe it made it so we could eat?” No one said a word after that, even though Jacob and Cates, along with a few others, knew that Derek was fixing to make himself sick again, just like he did when he drank the tea.

  Derek teasingly put the apple in his mouth and bit down, spitting out the piece shortly after, claiming that it tasted sour and burnt his tongue. I was beginning to get a better picture of our taste buds. Salty, copper tasting blood was like sweet nectar, while real food according to Derek, was the complete opposite. I myself had no desire to put solid food in my mouth. I had tried the water in my first week in this life, and with the pain of it coming back up I doubted I would ever have the desire to try anything else as long as I lived in the world of darkness. Brandon pushed Derek, and then rubbed the top of his head.

  “I think we need to make arrangements to leave as soon as the sun sets tomorrow night. The workers can have the ship ready before we wake,” Jacob said sitting down in one of the four large chairs behind the table.

  “We all go?” Jessie asked her brother.

  “Renee wants to take you and the other young ones to our home in Maine,” Jacob explained leaning his head back and closing his eyes.

  “I can fight. I do not wish to stay in Maine, if the rest of you will be elsewhere,” she replied, turning to me as they all seemed to do.

  “Jessie, we are going into places that have turned my mind to mush with unbelievable things, things that should have never existed. I can’t have Johnny in that sort of danger and Tanda can’t care for him, not by herself. I need you to protect them for me,” I said leaning back on the table so I could look her in the eye.

  “What do you expect o
f me if something should happen and you do not return?” she asked in a voice low enough that Johnny wouldn’t hear.

  “I’ll leave the choice in watching over him up to you. I want you to do whatever you think is best for you all, not what anyone else wants. I know you’ll find a way to keep him safe,” I whispered back giving her a light hug.

  “I will watch over him. He calls me, Auntie,” Tanda smiled turning back to watch him play. “Jessie has been teaching me how to defend myself. I will keep him safe.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

  Tears filled my eyes and crashed over my lashes before I even realized it was happening. I shook my head lightly and wiped my cheek. “That was the bravest thing that I’ve ever heard, sweetie, but who’s going to look after you?” She looked over at Garvin, who in turn looked at Brandon. It was a game of eye tag. Jessie apparently didn’t want to be left in Maine, and Tanda and Johnny had to have someone else stay with them. Staying on the ship was out of the question, and I let it be known when Derek asked. I rolled my eyes and turned around facing away from the table. The thought of them being attacked while they slept, or worse, having the ship sink as they lay in their dead sleep, knowing nothing until they woke at the bottom of the black water…if they woke at all, was more than I could handle.

  Jacob and Cates sat back and let all of us discuss what we should do in the way of caring for Johnny’s needs. Everyone in the room knew that there would be no keeping Shyanna on board, or in Maine. If she didn’t get loose she would, in a state of manic fear of being left, fight and kill those who merely wanted to help her. Unless something else happened when she took the lives that she did. It was just another small thing about her that I would never know.

  Derek and Brandon let it be known that they would never leave my side and the only way that they would stay, is if I were the one to be chosen to stay and care for Johnny. I laughed out loud when Derek added the last. I wouldn’t even be in the equation. I was in search of more than just those in need of our help. I was trying to find my maker along the way, without making my intention known. He could be anywhere along our path, it was more than likely the very path that he had taken.

  I would have to wait to get back on the ship to look at the maps that Jacob had showed us when he was comparing them to the ones Tabor gave him. I remembered seeing the rolled out map, and seeing the state of Georgia before we left, Williams Bay. We were a long way from reaching the top of the states, and Jacob hadn’t even mentioned another estate, or ill minded master, since we removed Cortez. I agreed to have them get the ship in order, but I told them to stock plenty of food and drink for several normals. I wasn’t leaving the weakest behind to be slaughtered. The rest of Jacob’s men could defend the place, and more than likely would be victorious in their attempts, but I wasn’t going to take a chance with the handful of normals that Chin had under him.

  “How many non-breeders are here?” I asked looking right at Jessie.

  “Seven. Three males and four females. All of them are up in age and would not do well if we had to fight. To not retreat would be their assured death.” Jessie defended those she seemed very fond of.

  “That’s the very reason that I don’t want to leave them here.” I stood and stretched my back. “It’s getting late, and we better get down for the day.” I walked to the door.

  “Renee,” Jessie called out, walking swiftly to catch up. “I would be honored to watch over your brother and Tanda. I just find myself wanting to be close to my brother when he’s away. Now, I find myself feeling that same pull to you.”

  “That’s because we’re a family, Jessie.” I kissed her on the forehead. “I wanted to be back with all of you so bad that I felt the pain behind it.”

  “Please, promise me that you will not leave us there long. I want to be with you when you cross the ocean to find him.”

  I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into the open foyer.

  “How did you know that’s what I was doing?”

  “What other reason would you have for going so far north? You could have chosen any number of directions to find those of our kind who are being mistreated.”

  “I could have chosen to go north, because we were already on this side of the states.”

  “Doubtful. But, the worst are on the coastal shores, it is better for an easy escape.”

  “Does that go for all of the things out there?”

  “You are changing the subject,” she smiled.

  “Okay,” I said peeking back into the room. “I am looking for him.”

  “And he was headed to London?” she nodded.

  “Yeah, and I don’t have a clue how he went.”

  “You need to talk to my brother, so the two of you can make a good plan.”

  “Tomorrow night, right now I just wanna to get comfortable,” I said, then started to turn. “Jessie, I would really appreciate you not mentioning this to anyone, if you don’t mind.”

  “Your secret is safe with me.” She turned and went back into the room, like my wanting to find Martin was no big deal.

  How many of them knew my plan? I laughed to myself as Shyanna, Johnny, and I, made our way back to our sleeping quarters. Tammy was helped in a few minutes later by Cates, then soon after followed Jessie. She looked at me and grinned, then walked over and crawled in bed beside Tanda. I was lying on top of the covers on my side and Shyanna was on the floor next to me, covered with her blanket and holding her pillow on the wrong side of her head. All the males stayed in their own area, which I was assuming was similar to ours. Our bed was big enough for all of us, but Tammy chose to sleep on the chaise lounge with her leg propped up. It wasn’t long before I was the only one awake in the room. I sat up and walked into the dressing room, I think more to be alone than anything. I sat down in the corner and pulled my knees up, laying my head down on them and thought about everything…then nothing.

  ***

  I woke sitting in the same position, only now I had a blue wool shawl over me. I looked around and there he was, Jacob, leaning against the door jam. I pushed my legs out and felt the stiffness in my bones. He wasn’t in our area when the sun came up and as far as I knew he would burn just like the rest of us. The men’s area was through another door in the open air foyer and the light would easily fill it. “How’d you get over here?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

  “The tunnels, of course.”

  “Oh, of course, like I knew that,” I sarcastically replied getting up.

  “You never asked.”

  “I thought this place was to open for our kind. I should have known it would have some spooky tunnels with all the creepy crawlers that live in them.”

  “You speak too soon, as usual,” he replied walking straight at me, and then all of the sudden brought his hand up and hit a hook on the wall by my head.

  The panel slid back and a well-lit tunnel appeared. The dressing room that we stood in was something that I would have never thought to have a secret door in it. Clothes hung on display rods, along with vanities with jewelry from all over the world gracing the opposite wall. There were two private changing rooms, and one bathing room. The long table in between the two changing rooms was more like a cushioned bench than it was a table, and sat closer to the floor. The cool air that drifted out of the sage and lavender smelling tunnel was unexpected to say the least.

  I was utterly shocked at sight of the tunnel, which was more like a hall. The walls were wooden slates that shined with a fresh polish and the floor was tile, with throw rugs every few feet. The ceiling was the only thing that gave its true appearance away. Its high arched curves and chiseled frame, showed the hard work of those who created it, but not one cobweb was in sight. Jacob was right, I had spoken too soon.

  “Where do they lead to?”

  “They go to the outer reaches of our land. They also let you move freely about in the confinement of the estate.”

  “You don’t worry about something accidentally stumbling across the ones
on, what did you call it? The outer something?”

  “Only those who know the combination can open them from the outside. That is if they were to ever find one.”

  “Then Johnny and the girls might be safe here after all,” I said turning. “Do they lock from the inside?”

  “Better, you can go down one level and close it off to trap any who may be unlucky enough to follow. Chin has made this into a place to match his home in China. The earth may be blackened with fire, but those who took shelter in one of these would remain alive.”

  “I wanna know about other traders up the coast.”

  “Come, sit and we will talk until the others wake.” Then he turned and walked out of the tunnel.

  He first told me that there would be places best left alone, and I returned a statement of ‘not likely going to happen’. He didn’t seem to get my meaning of not wanting to have a group that we missed coming up our backs, when we could have put the fear into them in the first place. He, on the other hand, thought that there were a few places that given the chance, would tear us apart. We talked about a place close to, Havelock, North Carolina. It was hard to listen to him tell about the master of that trading ring, because he was a man that chose men. Jacob added that the only women we would find anywhere near there would be a dead one.

  “So, not only does this man have a liking for men, he has a hatred for women to the point that he kills them?”

  “He is the sickest of our kind, Renee. The men he buys do not always want the favors of a man,” he said, nodding very slow.

  “You mean he rapes them?” I replied, swallowing the lump that had crept up in my throat.

  “He, as well as those, who play his games.”

  “What else do you know about him?”

  “Little I’m afraid. Chin traveled far around the likes of him and those in the state of New York.”

  “They do the same thing there?”

  “They do everything there.”