by Tigris Eden
“Let’s go in there and get this taken care of. I want to go home and be with our daughter.” Her nerves settled; resolution would come, she could feel it. Soon, it would all be over. Draven nodded and pulled her into his side. He kept touching her, over and over every time he got the chance. At the beginning of this trip, he’d been abrupt, standoffish. Now he maintained skin-to-skin contact at what seemed like all times. He kissed the top of her head and pushed open the door. True to his word, everyone she knew from the Unit was there, as well as the secretary. Guess she didn’t want to miss a good interrogation either. There were a few other people she didn’t know, but there was no mistaking a sharp intake of breath from someone as the others saw her walk in holding Draven’s hand.
Then Jes saw her. None other than Draven’s ex-girlfriend. Newly ex. So not the business, Jes thought to herself. Melissa was probably there to start some trouble. She was sitting in the front of the room. Wearing a skimpy-ass outfit and some fuck me boots. Seriously? Women and their insecurities, it always got the best of them. Had them doing things they wouldn’t normally do if they really took the time to think about it. Hadn’t she done the same with Marcus? She wasn’t going to focus on Draven’s ex, it wasn’t her problem. Should she feel bad for Melissa? Hell no! The incident in the cafeteria pressed forward in her mind and she quickly killed the feeling. She wouldn’t feel bad for her. However, Jes wasn’t the type of person to shove hurt into another woman’s face, so she quickly untangled her hand from Draven’s and looked for a placed to sit.
They were inside an observation room. Royce and Ronin were inside with Solon and a conscious Oliver. She spotted Bells in the crowd, and her friend rose to her feet when their eyes met. There was silence as Melissa stared at her. Maybe she under-estimated the other woman’s cool. Her eyes were glowing, and it looked like her mouth was overstuffed with food. Was she actually attempting to change? Right here? Right now? Draven’s arms wrapped tightly around Jes, extricating the breath from her lungs. He let her go immediately when he realized that he was hurting her. His eyes were large and unsure when he saw her rubbing her arms. It wasn’t his fault, and she let him know by placing her hand on his chest. A low snarl slipped between his lips, and for a microsecond, she thought it was for her. She froze; Draven’s hand massaged her shoulder. He raised her head to meet his concerned green gaze.
“Never would I hurt you, Jes. Never,” he said passionately. Melissa let out a growl of her own and that got the attention of everyone in the room. She watched as Melissa forcefully pushed a chair out of her way, heading in their direction. Draven held Jes still, and for the first time in a very long time she didn’t feel the need to bolt. His arms were back around her gently in a show of protection.
“Sit the fuck down, Melissa,” Draven growled. She looked between Jes and Draven. The calculation in her eyes was clear; she’d already planned her next course of action. Melissa’s shoulders slumped, and carefully, she sat back down, body rigid and racked with heavy breathing. She didn’t look defeated, but patient. The rest of the men in the room said nothing but were on guard. All these men were here and ready to protect Jes. Why? They were each tense and ready to spring into action without preamble. Dravaggio cleared his throat, and everyone in the room put their eyes back on the window.
“Now that we’ve got everyone’s fucking attention,” Ronin drawled. “Let’s get this party started.” He looked over at his twin, who stood and nodded in Royce’s direction.
“Brother, if you would be so unkind as to do the honors.” Ronin splayed his hands to encompass everyone on the other side of the glass. “The people want to see us work our magic,” Ronin said with a genuine smile. Jes felt a little uncomfortable. He seemed very happy about the entire process. The smile that covered his face was savagely terrifying, but utterly beautiful.
He looked at everyone on the other side of the window and smiled right at her. There was lust in his eyes. It wasn’t for her. Clearly, he got off on interrogating people. Freaky.
She knew he could read her thoughts, and Ronin grinned even wider, all teeth. “Ah, honey, you’re hot, but you’re not my type.”
Ronin looked at Bells and his smile grew wider. Bells bristled in her chair and averted her eyes in the opposite direction. What was that all about? Jes could see the vein at the side of Royce’s forehead tick in frustration. Jes looked at the two men strapped to their chairs, hands and feet manacled. Solon gave the brothers the evil eye. She saw the utter look of defeat on Oliver’s face. Or was that calm? He didn’t argue or struggle, just looked straight ahead. He knew what was going to happen to him, as did everyone on the other side of the window. He’d worked with these men, they’d trusted him, and now he was a traitor. That couldn’t bode well for him in the least.
Ronin walked over and stood in front of Oliver’s chair. He braced his hands on the back of the chair’s headrest then bent his head low, got all up in the other man’s breathing space and sniffed.
“I know you know the drill, Oliver, you piece of shit,” Ronin spat. “But in all fairness, I promised the good people a show. Captain gave me the go-ahead to get sadistic on your ass.” Ronin looked over his shoulder to the observation window and grinned.
“Royce and I have ways of making a bastard talk, but we save the special treatment for the traitors, so if you have a weak stomach I suggest you bounce.”
No one moved. Ronin shrugged his shoulders and turned back to Oliver. Can’t be that bad, Jes thought. She watched closely as Ronin’s already large body grew larger. There were audible gasps and low murmurs from their side of the window. She heard things like “I didn’t know the bastard could do that,” and the collective, “What the fuck!” Didn’t they know what Ronin was? Or had they thought what she had assumed? That he was some sort of shifter. She’d wanted his brother in a way that was feral, primal, after she’d been given his blood. The primitive part of her brain had tuned into him at a single-minded level.
“That’s right, doll,” Royce said into her mind. Ronin turned to look at her through the window and winked. Everyone still stared at him. He now looked like the incredible hulk times ten, minus the green. His hands were tipped with claws, and there wasn’t any fur. Oliver tried to sit farther back in the chair, but his head banged against the headrest, cracking the wood. Ronin spoke, his voice was deeper, mouth stuffed full of extra teeth he didn’t have before.
“You go nowhere,” he said, and it was as if dark threads of silk wrapped around her throat and gently pulled. His voice was soothing. Jes looked to the other women in the room. She wasn’t the only one affected by Ronin’s voice. His hand shot out to Oliver’s neck, choking him. He bent forward until he and his captive were face to face. He took a couple of deep breaths. Was he trying to inhale the other man? She chanced a look over to Solon who sat still. He didn’t seem afraid, it was like he didn’t really care either way, but he still looked on, expectant.
“I smell fresh, mouthwatering food.” A moan slipped from Ronin’s mouth as he got closer. He was all animal. Royce walked over to his brother and placed a hand on his back. “What did I tell you? We always play with our food.” Royce slapped Oliver hard across his face. It was so unlike him to be so serious. But knowing what she knew now about Royce, she should have expected it.
“Why were you at the cottage where Jesminda’s daughter was being kept?” Royce asked lazily. He took his hand off his brother’s back and casually leaned against the wall, then lit one of his red cigarettes and waited.
“I was checking out the house, it looked suspicious,” Oliver quipped.
“Wrong,” Ronin said. He took his clawed hand to Oliver’s cheek and tore open the skin. He wasn’t nice in his actions. He hooked his fingertip and pulled. The blood was thick, congealed. It didn’t drip down Oliver’s face, but slowly oozed. Oliver was still in service to the Royal House but he didn’t look like a healthy House member. His blood should have been a bright red not black.
“Again I ask, why you were at
the cottage?” Royce said on a bored sigh. He put his cigarette out on the wall and walked over to glare at Oliver.
“Whoever is blocking his thoughts is doing a pretty good job.” Royce walked around the inside of the room. He passed by Solon and kicked the back of his chair and grinned. Solon took the shot, unmoving. The two brothers were having way too much fun.
“Won’t matter when I get inside there.” Ronin roughly jabbed his finger into Oliver’s forehead.
Oliver whimpered but didn’t answer. So Ronin scored his nail down his chest. It opened up, the sound of skin giving way as his nail slid down the other man’s chest made Jes feel weak. It was a sick, wet-zipper sound that left Oliver’s insides on display. She’d never seen anything like it. He was empty on the inside, his organs missing; there wasn’t even a beating heart. All he had was a skeletal structure underneath. All Regs and Royals had insides. Right? Everyone in the room looked between each other. There were murmurs and grunts. The others obviously hadn’t seen anything like that either.
Maybe he was like a Death Walker, only still partially alive?
“Who’s your master?” Royce asked then.
“I can’t!” Oliver yelled. “He’ll kill me.” He tried to struggle in the chair but couldn’t. Ronin moved to the side and Jes was able to get a better look at his insides. Ronin slinked back into the corner of the room, the shadows swallowing him whole. She knew he was there, could see his silver eyes glinting in the darkness, staring at Oliver.
“It would have been perfect,” Oliver suddenly spat. “But that bitch had to go and ruin everything.” He was staring at her. The corners of his mouth tilted as much as he could, and he tried to smile.
“I’m not interested in perfection,” Royce said quietly. There was menace behind his voice; deadly, determined. Serious Royce was scary.
“Fuck you!” Oliver screamed. “I’ve sworn fealty to something much bigger than all of us put together, and when it comes time to collect his dues, you all will suffer.”
“Who did you swear fealty to, Ollie. Please enlighten us with your tale. Promise me you didn’t do it for a box of candy, or,” Royce feigned shock, “you did it for the ass, right? Your woman didn’t want you so you traded sides for ass? Am I right?” he asked.
Royce was lazy in his movements, and his gait looked relaxed, but she could tell he’d be ready to attack at a moment’s notice. He walked from the wall and then back over to Oliver.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ll be the next in line to rule House Deadcrest, I will be in charge! War is coming, and I will command hundreds of thousands of devoted Vampiri.” Oliver tried to yell but the words came out all wrong. His jaw was slashed to the point the skin wasn’t connected, making it hard to speak.
“Ah, now we’re starting to go places. The Doc did tell us we’d get far.” Royce stopped in his tracks and faced the window. He was a performer, an attention grabber. Ronin, still in the corner hugged by the shadows, said nothing.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today, to bear witness to an asshat. That’s right, a real asshat. This idiot of all idiots swore fealty to a moron because only a moron would promise fucktard over here, Dagas’ throne.” Royce paced the length of the glass as he spoke. Jes wanted to laugh at his theatrics but thought better of it.
“The Red Sun, I’ve given him my daughter as a blood sacrifice. There is power you can’t even fathom, Royce. More than you or this mixed breed sitting next to me. I know all your secrets! All of them!” Oliver shouted. He was belligerent now. His skin having healed as much as it could, it made his voice sound more coherent. But now he was twisting and turning, trying to get free. He only made the entire ordeal messy. Black ooze was dropping out of his body’s cavity in chunks. Horror at its finest!
Royce didn’t budge, there was a slight falter to his step, anyone else would mistaken it for swagger. She knew there was something more. In a dark, smoky voice, Royce looked to Oliver and said. “What do you know, Oliver?”
“You’re a Blue Blood.”
“Go on.”
“Your race is supposed to be a myth. Feral, they called your kind, uncontrollable. Your kind were blood slaves to the Gods.”
“Hmm, did you hear that Ronin?” Royce asked. “Uncontrollable,” he repeated with a dead, even tone.
There was dark laughter in the corner, and then Ronin stepped into the light. “I believe that’s what they said about us back in the day. Although, I was never a slave to anyone, and neither was my brother.” Ronin looked normal again, but he didn’t look any calmer. He walked over to Oliver and pulled him back by the hair on his head, stretching the other man’s neck. She could see the definition of the vampiri’s veins, and more black ooze fell from his gut.
“Yeah, you may know what we are, but I bet you didn’t figure on me doing this,” Ronin said calmly.
There was a moment of silence as everyone waited. Then Ronin brought his hand up, and with his claw, scalped Oliver. He actually scalped him! It had happened so fast. One minute Oliver had his hair still attached to his scalp, the next minute, gray matter with veins oozing black blood appeared. Brains, she was staring at Oliver’s brain. For the moment, he was still alive. His eyes held surprise and confusion. His body convulsed, expelling more of the black blood that now lay on the floor.
“What the hell!” Dravaggio and all the men were up on their feet headed towards the glass window. She couldn’t see because the men were blocking her view where she was sitting. There was a sickening slurping sound. The inside of her stomach dropped. Ronin couldn’t be actually drinking that thick blood could he? Draven never left her side, and pushed her face into his shoulder. She didn’t resist. She didn’t want to see it, could only imagine what was happening. That alone was bad enough. Royce calmed the others and told them to wait. The men were now sitting in the front row when she finally looked up again, and she would have screamed if it weren’t for the bile clogging her throat.
Oliver was dead and his brain was missing. She looked further up and Ronin was licking black blood from his fingers and wiping his mouth on his shirt. He looked to his brother and nodded.
Royce turned to the group on her side of the window. “We have Marcus’s location and the location of the other vampiri. Let’s put something together fast and shake the spot.”
# # #
Draven looked at Solon. He was still strapped to the chair. Calm, like the man sitting next to him, only he didn’t have his head literally handed to him. He didn’t look the least bit worried about the outcome of his life, and Draven didn’t know if it was because the man knew they weren’t going to do him in, or if what he’d said back at the hotel was true. The nasty scene in front of him gnawed at his stomach. He’d seen a lot of things in his life. Never thought a day would rise or set with Ronin eating someone’s brain. That shit was fucked up. What he’d done to Oliver was gruesome and wrong. Royce wasn’t even the least bit jarred by his brother’s actions, just the opposite. He was smiling as Ronin grabbed a new shirt off the back of the chair in the corner, buttoned it up, and was ready to head out.
Blood still stained his lips. He’d eaten a piece of Oliver’s brain, the cerebrum, the part of the brain that retained memories. Then he’d tossed the rest. Draven’s body swayed as he’d watched in horror. The entire time, Royce was as calm as can be. He didn’t waste any time, but he had a funny feeling there was more to this than just getting information of out the man. He wasn’t about to speculate either, as long as the twins were on his side, he was golden.
“I can’t believe he just did that,” Jes whispered at his side. He was glad he’d shielded her from the worst part. Gods, she’d really have issues with men because of Ronin’s violent display. Marcus’s location was the outcome he’d wanted. He needed to make plans to secure his family. A small part of him wanted to rescue the vampiri, but his mind was consumed with thoughts of his family. Royce knew it, and made sure he pressed the correct question button. Jes needed to
rest. She could stay here or go back to his parents’ and wait for the mission to be complete.
“Fuck,” Dietrich breathed. “I’m a bad motherfucker, and I mean I’m pretty fucked up in the head sometimes, but I want some of what the twins got going between them. That shit right there was beast.” He pounded Gabe on the back who looked over his shoulder with a troubled look on his face and continued walking. Gabe usually had jokes, but tonight, he seemed calm, almost worried. Dravaggio gave everyone two hours to rest up. A meeting in the war room would happen only after Gabe scouted their location. Dude was the best scout and surveillance whiz out there.
Melissa was at the end of the hall, her fury beat at Draven’s body, and his skin stung from the emotional assault. The rest of the team slowed their pace. Fucking gossip whores the whole lot of them! They wanted to see the drama unfold. Watch Melissa go into her bitch fit. He only wanted to get him and Jes back to the room he kept here. They needed to talk.
Melissa’s face scrunched at the brows. Her gaze was on his left hand where he’d wrapped it around Jes’s waist to guide her back towards the elevators.
“You know,” Melissa began. She cocked her head to the side and took a disgruntled sniff in the air, her posture stiff. Her eyes narrowed and turned a turbulent storm grey, glazed with hatred.
“You fucking marked her, Draven?” she hissed. Her voice was coma inducing. How did he ever stand their fights? Her tone bled his ears and turned his skin cold.
“I could have overlooked your blasé attitude for a quick roll in the hay, but marking another female after we’ve been together for over seven years?” Lie number one, Draven thought to himself. He felt Jes stiffen in his arms because yeah, she wasn’t stupid. She was doing the quick math in her head, which granted, wasn’t hard at all. Five plus two equaled seven, and his daughter was five, which meant if she was in mind to believe the shit Melissa was piping, then she would think he was scum and that she was just a side fling.
