Constricted: Beyond the Brothel Walls

by Ryans, Rae

  We were alone; the waiter and light-haired man weren’t there to save me. I stood, grabbing my coat from the hook, and ran for the door. Petre didn’t follow me. I glanced back to double check, and I heard him call my name. Fists pounded on the door, but it refused to budge. Tears ran down my face, and I shook my head as I pulled the door open.

  “Korrigan.”

  Shoes clicked against the sidewalk, and I glanced over my shoulder as I hurried away from the restaurant. Run, my brain screamed, run faster. The icy wind cut right through my dress, and I tossed my coat on to ease the bite. My feet slid on the surface, unaccustomed to wearing dressy shoes, but I pushed myself as hard as I could. I heard him, the clicking sound echoing in my ears, calling me back. Glancing over my shoulder, there was nothing there but a few people out for a stroll, staring at me.

  I should’ve turned, screaming for help, but what if they were monsters too?

  Humans didn’t have sharp teeth; humans didn’t have teeth that extended from their gums either. Petre wasn’t human. I didn’t know where I was headed or what would happen. My lungs burned by the time I reached the end of the street. I stopped, placing a hand on a street sign and using it as a brace as I caught my breath.

  He was not a monster. What did he mean I was not supposed to see? I chewed on my cheek and clenched my cramped stomach. Damn it, I wanted to know.

  Petre could’ve harmed me, or whatever he did with those teeth, on the train. Why bring me to his home and give me everything if he meant to kill me? My heart rate settled, and I turned around. He hadn’t even followed me. My legs shook with each step, and even though my brain screamed to leave, I couldn’t. I reached the restaurant door and took a deep breath. His coat still hung from the hook.

  “Please let me be right, God,” I prayed as I swung the door open, and walked slowly back to our table. Petre’s head lay on top of it; the food pushed to the floor. The bowls were shattered, and the grayish goo spilled on the surface.

  “Petre,” I whispered through my quivering lips. His silver gaze widened as he lifted his head. Pink streaks blinked from his eyes as he smiled again.

  “You came back,” he whispered, but I heard his words.

  I swallowed and nodded. “You’re not a monster, Petre.” He opened his mouth to speak, but with my newfound courage I stopped him. “No, you listen.” My eyes locked with his, and I stepped over the spilled soup, lifting my long dress. “I know the monsters of this world, and you are nothing compared to the demons I’ve faced.”

  “You know about the demons?” If he had meant evil then yes, I knew about the demons. Petre cursed but inched closer to the edge of the booth. His head and shoulders curved downward. “I drink blood; that’s sin.”

  My gaze flickered to our surroundings. Now or never whispered into my ear. Either I faced him, or I ran again, and one of those options ended in death. I sucked in my breath as Petre’s shell cracked away. He reminded me of a small child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Yet he’d stolen out of hunger even though the cookies belonged to another.

  “You know what Jules did to me?”

  “Not at first.” His gaze fell to the floor, and his shoulders slumped. “The marks, I can guess now.”

  His voice mimicked the same little boy. But how had he watched me, as Mellissa said, and not known the truth? My eyes narrowed, and my finger shook at him. “You had no idea he did those things?”

  “Not to children, not to you,” he said. Pain flickered across his face, and I inhaled sharply; I believed him. “I knew Hampshire house as a brothel, but I saw how well he treated you and thought …”

  Laughter rattled my chest. Well, I guess he had treated me better than he had treated the other girls. They thought so too and never let me live it down. I blinked, thinking back to growing up in the house. Uncle Jules wasn’t a stupid man even if disgusting pig became his calling card. His men, the regulars, and the girls had all known the truth, but an outsider wouldn’t have realized how much of a sick bastard he’d been when it came to young girls. “I trust you even though I shouldn’t. Despite your fangs and freaky eyes, I want to stay, but I’m not doing it out of fear.”

  When a girl was too young, he forced her to watch the others. Some had taken pity and allowed me to hide, but most the men enjoyed it. My head swam with the nauseating memories. They even paid extra for it. I knew more about sex, and how it happened, than I’d care to admit. Anything goes within the walls of the whorehouse, and a courtesan wasn’t worth a scrap of food if she couldn’t pleasure a man. Even with all of that in my past, I was willing to try. Death, I didn’t fear that either. No more fear.

  “What do you fear?”

  Nothing, everything, but I shook my head. He’d have to earn that knowledge. “Before tonight, I’d never eaten a mush …”

  Petre said, “Mushroom.” I nodded at his supplied word.

  “I can’t read or write either. Jules forbade learning even for me.”

  He scratched his chin. “It makes sense, from a business standpoint. Korri, he lied to you and the other girls.” He chewed on his lip as his jaw tensed. “How old were you when he touched you?”

  “Fourteen.” Petre slammed his fist into the table. Pieces flew, and I ducked just in time for the white wood to fly by my head. “Forced to watch since I was eight,” I added in a hushed whisper.

  Petre stood and closed the distance between us. I gulped unsure of what he’d do to me and braced myself for the worst. He laced his cold fingers into mine before pulling me against him.

  “I’d never hurt you.” His lips found mine, and my heart settled down. “Ever,” he added, rubbing his nose against mine. “I wanted you to know me better before you saw this side.”

  My hands snaked around his waist. “You said I shouldn’t see it; what did you mean?”

  “Hush, not here.” I nodded, biting my lip. I didn’t want to wait, but I understood that whatever he was wasn’t normal.

  Commotion came from the kitchen. The fact that we were alone altogether was odd, but when I’d returned to the restaurant, even the staff had disappeared. “I’m glad. That’s a big secret to keep.”

  “Well look at the pot calling the kettle black,” he said, laughing softly in my ear. “You have more secrets than I do, gorgeous.”

  His lips moved over my neck, and a shiver ran through my body. A little voice spoke up inside my head. Blood, he wanted nothing more than to drink me dry. No, I screamed back at my thoughts. My heart rate increased, but I closed my eyes. He wouldn’t hurt me. Even if he did, he’d kill me, and that wouldn’t be such a terrible thing. Give me death or give me liberty, someone had once shouted, and I agreed. Death was better than returning to Jules.

  “Why spill all our interesting pieces now?” I teased and watched his lips spread wide, fangs included. My finger traced his mouth, and he stilled. “There’s much I want to ask you.”

  “Happy Birthday,” he said ignoring me, and placed a box in my hand. My eyes stung, and I closed them before the tears fell. Petre bought me a present. Why would he do that if he had wanted to hurt me? He whispered, “But don’t open it yet.” I opened my mouth to thank him as his cold lips consumed mine.

  Chapter Six

  My insides throbbed as my skin vibrated from the intensity of her mouth. Sweet clover honey, nothing had ever tasted so delicious aside from blood. I bet hers would tear my soul apart, shattering me into oblivion. Her hands grasped my lapel, pulling me closer and deepening our connection. My tongue slid across hers as my hands slid down her sides. Korri moaned, and I almost forgot where we were, surrounded by my destruction.

  When I lost her, damn it, I’d wept like a baby at the loss of her in my arms. A dream it’d seemed when the door jingled open. She’d come back to me full of sparks flaring in her eyes. Those tiny fists balled at her sides, but her pixie limbs trembled.

  Monster inside and out, but Korri refused to recognize the devil living within this skin and bone. Need, oh, how I desired to show her what
her acceptance meant to me. Words were not bold enough. My hands cupped her ass. Closer, I’d die without her touching me. Those soft fingers caressed my skin and my scarred cheek. But not yet, not until she was ready to become mine. That thought alone kept me from tearing the dress from her body, and showing her a thing or two about pleasing a woman. I didn’t care about me, just her; I wanted to taste her until she came undone.

  Her scent and touch consumed me, and combined, they overpowered all my senses. Control, I hadn’t lost it in like over three hundred years. But I made her a promise I didn’t know if I could keep.

  She came back; Korri, bless her tender heart, had come to me. Acceptance was the greatest step forward, and perhaps it was our unspoken boundary. I pulled away as voices lingered closer. Tom, a vampire, former French Duc, and my friend, owned the restaurant and co-owned the energy companies with me.

  Korri fingered the velvet case as she glanced down and caught her breath. “You shouldn’t have—”

  My finger pressed to her lips as a smile etched into the corners of her eyes. Her heart beat fast, and I loved the frantic rhythm I’d created inside of her body. Korri wanted me; even a newborn vampire could smell its sugary depth as it coated the air. My mouth watered, and my balls required a heavy dose of ice therapy.

  “Angel,” I said, kissing her little freckled nose. “I could give you everything in this world, and it wouldn’t be enough.”

  “What if I don’t want the world?” she whispered. My brow rose, wondering what she did want. I’d find a way, whatever it was, no matter what it took. After all, I found a way to get her.

  “Monsieur, what happened?” the waiter interrupted us. I’d forgotten that I smashed the dishes after she left and the table too. “Mademoiselle?”

  Her cheeks colored, and I whispered for her to sit down and left to deal with him. Korri didn’t know it, but many supernaturals made Arcadia their home after the sundering. I tried to stick with their establishments, because they knew what I was, and they served blood. Tonight, I needed a lot more than usual, but I wouldn’t dare take it from her. But the real reason was my business partner and friend, Tomas. Once a warlock turned vampire, he had the ability to tap into hidden forces that I couldn’t.

  Korrigan’s eyes were on me. Even with my back turned, her gaze hummed over my skin. My weight shifted as parts of me awakened yet again. No use. I loved her, and I didn’t want to deny it anymore. Korrigan deserved a man better than me, and she was more to me than a warm blood bag. More to me than words could ever expressed. How else could I have fallen at just a shadowed glance?

  My brow furrowed, and I shook my head. But I wasn’t sure if it changed my future. She warranted someone who lived and breathed, not a cursed man trying to die. Staying undead wasn’t an option. Demon Spawn grew stronger, and there would come a time where I couldn’t keep my brother in line.

  “Give her to me,” Tomas communicated telepathically. I frowned as he added, “She is special.”

  He’d helped me all night, picked the questions or problems Korri had, and let me know. Tom hadn’t passed everything along, but he dropped enough hints and suggestions into my mind. I owed him for the favor, but she wasn’t payment. Too bad I couldn’t talk back to him directly; he had to listen in on purpose.

  The answer was no.

  “This should cover the damages and our meal,” I said, handing Campbell --the waiter- half my bankroll. There was over two-thousand Arcadian Dollars –the new currency of former Canada. Five hundred of it would’ve footed the cheque and cost of renting out the premises alone.

  “Yes,” he said, taking it from my hand and shoving it into his pocket. He added in French, “Tomas asks that you bring your lady friend by again soon.”

  I needed to remind him of the vampire law if he thought I’d pass Korrigan over without a fight. When I came to Nova Scotia, he was the first vampire I’d met, and he was older than I was by about 200 years. Tom taught me the laws of the supernatural world.

  Campbell, our waiter, was his son in death, as were many of those employed in our collective businesses. Humans didn’t know it. Countless wars, diseases, destruction of empires, and we remained an enigma just like the other preternatural species in the world.

  “I shall ring him in the morning,” I said and offered him my hand. Campbell shook it and bowed.

  He nodded and handed me a small package. “For your mademoiselle from my sire.”

  Muttering my thanks, I turned to find Korri standing right behind me. Her eyes darted toward the kitchen doors. Tom made her uncomfortable, even when he wasn’t nearby, but she was mine. As long as I lived, vampire laws protected her. I swallowed hard as those words registered, and I glanced toward the kitchen. As long as I lived, she was safe unless …

  “You haven’t bitten her,” Tom whispered, and my jaw clenched at his invasion. “I know you’re not screwing her either; she’s not yours yet.”

  “Ready angel?” Her amber eyes met mine, and I watched as her face lit up.

  Yes, angel was the perfect name for her. She handed me my coat, our fingers brushing again. I couldn’t help but to lean in and kiss her sweet lips. The blush radiated the warmth peaking at her cheeks. Hestin had been right. I loved her; but could I love her enough to let her go, and never regret the decision?

  I didn’t have the answer, and I didn’t need to think about losing her tonight.

  “What’s that?” she asked as she took Tom’s box from me. I put on my coat, not that I needed one, but appearances must be kept.

  “I don’t know; seems you have an admirer,” I teased. “Maybe I should throw myself into a jealous rage.” My brows rose, and she laughed, filling the air with her music as we stepped into the crisp night. “Where to my angel?”

  “Home,” she said. “Would you believe that I’ve never watched a movie?”

  My mouth dropped wondering what fantasy she’d lived in. Right, Uncle Jules ran a tight operation and didn’t let those girls have any fun. “I plan to remedy that.”

  She laughed again. “He didn’t let us watch television either.”

  No, Jules wouldn’t have any girls if that were the case. He lied to them and kept them uneducated and barely fed. The cold, cruel world would eat them alive, and that devil made sure the girls knew it. But I found myself torn between the truth and letting her believe the lie. That was a lot for a young girl to understand and on top of what she learned tonight. How would she react if she knew the whole brothel operation was a lie? That Jules and his clients had molested and raped her and the girls. That most of them weren’t human, but demonic or controlled by demons. Would it make a difference, or was I better off keeping the truth and sparing her the pain? The uniforms, the hair, the slavery was all a lie.

  “Come here,” I said, crooking my finger. “I have another surprise then.” Taking her packages, I secured them in the bio-car. We walked down the gas lit sidewalk, basking in the warm glow radiating from the crackled glass balls of fire. Korrigan pointed out the different shops even though most had already closed for the evening. Her eyes widened as we approached a bakery, and I knocked on the window when I noticed a man emptying the cases.

  He came to the door. “We’re closed, sorry folks.”

  “No, you’re open just for us,” I said, using my vampire coercion and flashing a wad of cash. Mind control wasn’t total control, but few humans turned down money. Vampires could introduce persuasion, but we couldn’t force all humans to do things like forget unless they wanted to. I’d tell Korri the truth if that were the case, and if she freaked out, I would’ve wiped it all away.

  The man nodded and let us in. “Petre …” I shushed her and dragged her into the store. “It smells wonderful in here.”

  The man thanked her for the praise and gave her samples of his various baked goods. By the time we left, she’d allowed me to purchase a box of cookies for her and special treats for the staff since the man would’ve tossed them out otherwise. Korri even picked out a lemon tart j
ust for Mellissa after I told her they were her favorite. She wanted to thank her for all she’d done for her. We waved good-bye to the baker; I tipped him well, and we stepped back out into the frigid air.

  I winked and said, “All right angel, let’s get you home before you fly away from me.”

  She planted a kiss on my cheek. “I’m not going anywhere.” My hand rubbed where her lips had been as I watched her stroll ahead. “Come on,” she said, turning around and spreading her arms. I chuckled and ran to her side. “Ah, no fair, cheater.”

  “What?”

  She placed her hands on her hips. “Are you kidding me? You’re not even out of breath.”

  “Tricks of the trade, angel.” I shrugged, flashing my fanged grin. “You’ll see that I’m different.”

  Her hands cupped my face as Korri gazed into my eyes. I didn’t need to breathe, yet my lungs ached for breath. “Different,” she said, repeating my statement. “You are, unlike any human. It makes sense that you aren’t one.”

  She curled up next to me on the ride home, falling asleep within moments of starting the bio-car. Her words had touched me and gave me more to prepare for once I left. The longer I drew out our relationship, the harder it would be to leave. She hadn’t witnessed the blood lust yet. I gripped the steering wheel until my pale knuckles cracked. Would she still accept me after I lost control?

  The driveway laid in darkness as I pulled in. A light flickered on in the foyer even though I didn’t require it for sight. Korri’s chest rose and fell as she slumbered soundly. Once upon a time, I’d held innocence too. My brother ruined me when he killed the young girl. I’d paid for his crimes, but to break the curse, I had to break the angel too.

  Demon Spawn snorted from the snow banked meadow. His hooves crunched beneath the snow, melting it into steam. The resources and power it took to restrain him grew each year. Warlocks and witches worked together to bind the demon from growing stronger. To the humans he was just a horse, but preternaturals knew better. The exuberant energy poured off him like a dense fog, but it was the smoke from his hooves cooling in the snow.