by J. A. Smith
“Attentions please ! ! ! ” Andre yelled causing a startled yelp to escape me.
“If you will all follow me out to the arena, we can get the night started” he said taking my hand as we stood. The knot felt like a lead weight in my stomach as we walked out into the night to the giant arena. I sat in the velvet chair next to Andre atop the stadium. My body shook with adrenaline as I looked out over the dirt covered arena floor, so many lives had been lost for sport it sickened me.
I watched as a very young man came out of the left cage naked, he was black as ebony and from his thoughts he had done this before; wanting nothing more than to return to his life of solitude, he prayed to a higher being for strength to win the fight and be set free like the Siberian had, though he clearly had no idea I was she. To know I was a beacon of hope to this man made my guilt that much worse, but at least he something to cling to even if it was false.
A tall tan man came out of the right cage, and he had a shaved head, his back was to us so I couldn’t see his face, but I saw all of his muscles in his back as he tensed up. When he turned to face the crowd I felt my heart sink to my toes and all breathe seized in my lungs. It was Quinn. I had all the answers I needed, with a deadly growl I faced Andre.
“What the hell is he doing here?” Andre considered me for a moment but didn’t comment. Amelia and Richard looked at Quinn and then to me. Tears of frustration started to fill my eyes as I knew I couldn’t stop the fight from happening.
“You know this man?” Amelia said nodding toward Quinn.
“Yes” I said still having the growl in my voice starting Amelia enough that her eyes got as round as saucers.
Andre stood up to announce the fight to start which caused me to grab his arm; tears of anger were streamed down my face.
“CHANGE!” Andre yelled looking right at me with nothing but accomplishment on his face. Letting him go I stood as well felling my heart nearly stop as I watched Quinn change into a Bengal tiger.
“Aw I see now why you are so attached to this man” Andre said looking at Quinn. The panther ran and hit Quinn in the side of the face throwing him into the wall. I would have run to help him if an arm of steel hadn’t wrapped around my waist, pulling to me sit on someone’s lap; who I had no idea, I couldn’t pull my eyes away from the fight below. I watched the arena, and watched Quinn get up and leap off the wall hitting the panther in the belly with full force. I took a very deep breath. I wasn’t sure if my heart had started to beat again, but I watched in horror as the panther bit down on Quinn’s hind leg. I let out a growl.
“Lana dont change here my dear, everyone will know” Amelia tried to reason with me. I started to shake uncontrollable. Amelia, Richard and Andre all had to grab me by the shoulder and sit me down, if I was being rational I would have been impressed with the amount of strength I had at the moment.
“Lana remember the challenge last week” Andre said to me in a calm voice.
I gulped. I couldn’t change here, even if I wanted to. Everyone would see who I was and that I was indeed the Siberian tiger the amazon wanted. So I sat there still as could; trying very hard to get a grip on myself. Quinn at the moment was winning and I had to pray he made it out alive.
The fight seemed to go on forever both equally ruthless until finally Quinn threw the panther into the air jumped on him once he landed and broke the panthers neck for a quick death. I let out a huge breath of relief and sat back into the vampire I was currently perched on.
Quinn change back into a man; he looked up at the throne and bowed his head before walking back to his cage, though his thoughts were directed to me personally.
“Traitor” he thought just before he was out of sight. I stood up not paying any attention to Andre, Amelia or Richard and almost in a flashed blur ran out of the arena and into the house. I knew where the basement was and that was where I headed.
I made my way down the steps only to be stopped by a guard.
“Move” I whispered knowing damn well he heard me though he didn’t seem to want to move at all.
“If you don’t move right now, I will move you” I said in almost a growl.
“This shifter belongs to Emily, if you want to see him you are going to have to ask her” he told me, I lost control of my temper. I grabbed the man by his throat and threw him down the long corridor; he hit the wall on the other side crumpling in an unconscious heap. Without further ado I opened the cell that housed Quinn whom was chained to the wall by silver, I could smell it burning his skin even before I entered.
“Oh my god Quinn” I said almost running into the room. He growled at me when I knelt down in front of him.
Quinn looked at me confused as I knelt down at his feet trying my damndest to get his restraints off not caring I was now injuring myself in the process. “Why are you here, did your king tell you to congratulate the winner?”
Quinn asked, I couldn’t get the shackles off so instead I pulled the chains out of the stone wall.
“Quinn I’m not supposed to be down here, and I’m going to be in a lot of trouble for doing this right now” I said grabbing his arm and bringing it over my shoulder in a fireman carry.
I got him out of the door and up the stairs, but Andre and Richard where there waiting for me. They saw me caring Quinn and their eyes began to turn red with anger.
“NO”! I said growling at them. Then Emily came down stairs with a big smile on her face. “Well Lana what are you doing with my shifter”? Emily asked in a happy voice.
“I am taking him out of here” I said watching her every step. I knew that if she came any closer to me or Quinn I would kill and think about my actions later.
“He is mine Lana, you know the rules better than anyone” she told me standing next to Andre, who looked ready to explode.
“How much do you want for him?” I asked still glaring at Emily.
“Money cannot buy him from me” she stated with a tilt of her head watching me closely. I took a deep breath and looked at her making my decision before really thinking it through.
“Take me instead” I was giving her what she had wanted for years. I heard Richard gasp. “You would take his place?” Emily asked not certain she had heard me right. “If you free him to live his life and leave the rest of my family alone, than Yes.” I said striating my spin, I would endure just about anything to have those I love safe from all of this. I gently placed him on his feet the chains hit the floor with a loud thud like a death drum being beaten.
“You can’t do this” Quinn said as he grabbed by arms to balance himself. I gave him a gentle smile, memorizing his face for all time. I brought my hand up to cup his cheek, I knew now that I did love him but in this case love couldn’t save everyone. Bringing my hand down I washed away all of my emotions, I could see Quinn would fight for me; and most likely die in the process by our enemies.
“You are just a regular tiger Quinn, you aren’t the freak of nature that I am. Plus Emily has been waiting to have me since I killed her mate when Amber died.” I could tell he still wanted to argue the point, but the clapping of Emily’s hands had us both jumping; turning to glare at the now happy vampire I ignored Quinn’s pleas to reconsider.
“I want to make sure Quinn gets home safely” I addressed to Andre who hadn’t said a word, though from the look his was giving me; he was anything but pleased. A growl was my response before Andre turned on his heels and stormed out of the room. Richard stayed.
“You have given yourself freely to Emily, Lana. It is she whom you must address. You know the rules” Richard stated.
Gritting my teeth I bowed my head, repeating my question to my new master, times like these I wished I could read vampire minds. Emily stayed silent while I stayed in in my bowed position, I was asking a lot from her and was surprised when she answered me.
“I somehow doubt you would go to these
extremes for all of your family to end up dead, so make sure you are here tomorrow before I wake” I knew it wasn’t an empty threat, no other vampire but Emily knew who my family was.
“I understand” I responded relieved.
“Wonderful my pet” she said as she passed me, gently sliding her hand over my shoulder as she left the room. Richard was still here looking at me as though I was already dead. With a shake of his head he too left, which gave me nothing else to do but walk out to the still waiting limo. I put Quinn in the seat and scooted him over to the other window.
The ride was a silent one which gave me time to think about what I had just done; I would have to survive being Emily’s pet for a year, no way would Richard or Andre for that matter let me stay with her longer than was necessary.
Quinn had passed out almost as soon as we entered the limo, fighting was exhausting business for those that were not used to it. Once we stopped at my house I brought him inside and laid him down in the guest bedroom. I went to my own room to hung up my dress and get my suitcases out. I knew Emily wouldn’t be buying me clothes, so I would have to bring my own.
It was about eight a.m. when Quinn came stumbling into the kitchen. I had been sitting at the table drinking my coffee staring off into space. Quinn came over to me and grabbed me by the shoulders.
“Lana what have you done?” he shouted causing my ears to ring from the high pitch. I just looked at him Blankley.
“You wouldn’t have survived the things they would have you fight” I said in monotone.
“Neither can you; we need to get out of here now!” he yelled. I didn’t move.
“Quinn, Emily wasn’t giving me an empty threat last night. If I want this over with so that I never have to worry about my family being captured again I have to do finish this.” He was silent for a few seconds while watching me, worry evident on his face.
“I need you here with me” Quinn said kneeling down to the floor. He took both of my hands in one of his and looked up at me.
“You have a girlfriend Quinn who has a beautiful little boy” I said standing up removing my hands from his.
“Please leave” I said with a voided tone.
“Why are you acting like this? Why are you acting like you haven’t just condemned yourself to death?” I took a shuddering breathe trying to find patience,
“I won’t die, though I am sure Emily will make it so that I wish I could” I whispered as I got out the phone book to call the cab company to come and get Quinn since it seemed he wasn’t going to be leaving unless I had him transportation.
“Why did you trade yourself for me?”
I didn’t answer him as I called for his ride to pick him up, giving them my credit card number to pay for the fare as if nothing was wrong, though everything in me said I was lying to myself. After hanging up the phone I faced him showing no emotions what so ever.
“I am a killer Quinn, you aren’t. The deaths of your victims would weigh heavily on your heart until you feel like you might go mad.”
“That might be true but I know you saved me because you love me” he said that last part like revelation. I felt my face twitch.
“Quinn my feelings for anyone are irrelevant at this point” My bag I had packed was now sitting by the front door, passing Quinn as I went to retrieve it, I could feel his anger and hurt but I refused to open my shields to listen to his thoughts; afraid of what I would find. Grabbing my keys off the table I went outside to place my belongings in the trunk of my lotus, Quinn followed me of course.
“So that’s it then, you’re running away. Have you learned nothing?” Quinn yelled from behind me, my patience was wearing thin.
“Quinn, forget about me and go live your life.” I walked back into the house grabbing the list of things I needed to do before I made my departure. Quinn never came back inside, no good-byes were given, no good lucks even when I heard the cab come and go I still expected him to say something encouraging, guess I had been wrong again.
I called the electric and gas company to have them shut off everything, along with the water and phone as well. By noon I had everything set to leave but was reluctant to do so. I knew my time with Emily would be something I might not come back from but I refused to think about it too much. Locking my front door I walked casually out to my car and began driving to the mansion, erasing every good moment I had from my mind to prepare myself for what was to come.
Chapter 17
The heavy doors to the mansion were locked when I arrived, so I could do nothing more than wait on the steps until a human servant opened the door at three p.m. He didn’t seem surprised to see me there waiting in the least. With a nod of his head he had me follow him to the basement, but instead of going into a cell, he brought me into an open area that looked like a gym shower room.
I was undressed my two females and showered off thoroughly, then they brought me to a cell and shackled my hands and ankles to the wall. If i really wanted to I could easily break the chains, but I had made my own decision and I was going to stand by it. It was very dark in this room, the walls were a grey concrete and there was a single small bulb on the ceiling that would flicker off and on every so often.
I heard the cell door unlock after time had passed; how much I wasn’t sure because it felt like eternity. Emily stepped into the room throwing what looked to be rags on the floor at my feet. I was then quickly unshackled to dress in said rags; I looked like a tribal woman. “Follow me pet” Emily sneered walking out of the cell, I followed quietly though I had several choice words I wanted to say.
I was lead into another concrete room where a human man with a barbers shaving kit waited next to a leather chair that looked to be out of an old asylum. Gritting my teeth I sat down quietly watching my hair fall in pieces to the floor. It reminded me of the movie G.I. Jane when Demi Moor had shaved her head bald to fit in better with the men. Emily was trying to make a point, I now belonged to her and she could do with me what she wished. Once the man was done Emily brought a mirror over to me, I saw that all of my hair was gone, only a small stubble poked out from my cranium. I said nothing which Emily took as a good sign. I kept my facial expressions mute. Again following Emily we walked up stairs where Richard, Andre and Amelia were now waiting. They all looked at me wide eyed; Emily was smiling brightly at their reactions. To top off this experience Emily placed a collar around my neck, flashes of the first time I had ever worn one had me near hysterics, but I swallowed it down.
“There, all done” Emily said happily. I looked at the ground so no one would see the hatred that I knew burned in my eyes.
“Thank you for a delightful vacation Andre, but we must leave now lots of matters to take care of in Europe” Richard said though even I could tell he thought this visit was horrible. A chain was attached to my collar by Emily; that she now tugged on for me to follow like I was indeed her pet. I was placed in the trunk of the limo with the luggage for the deration of the ride.
When the lid opened I was surprised to see that instead of an airport we were at a boating dock. A large freight liner was awaiting our arrival. Richard and Amelia went aboard first. Amelia tried to catch my eye as she looked over her shoulder; I just stared straight ahead watching the back of Emily, imagining all the ways I would love to kill her. I was placed in the cargo hold chained up like I had been in the cell at the mansion except this time the chains dangled from the ceiling hoisting me up like a pig awaiting slaughter.
“If you are feeling uncomfortable now just wait until you can’t feel your arms. You don’t know how long I have waited to see you like this, chained like the creature you are. I intend many things for you Lana, one of which I have yet to hear” with that comment she struck my neck taking deep pulls of my blood, the dizziness came a few moments later, black spots danced before my eyes. Until with a growl she released me, watching my neck heal as if nothing had happe
ned. She leaned her head back and licked her lips savoring the taste.
“I had wondered how you came to be Lana, and even though I did not get the pleasure of hearing your screams, the knowledge I have helps me understand I will become quite wealthy with you as my pet; half shifter half vampire so little of you is human. No wonder the King and Queen gave you such easy treatment” she had grasped my cheek as she spoke looking into my eyes searching for something, when she didn’t find what she was looking for she gave my face a push causing me to swing back and forth as she stormed away.
The trip took three days, I hadn’t been fed, washed and was forced to soil myself. Once the boat stopped Emily came down and unshackled me, I hit the floor weak, smelling like death warmed over. A chuckle escaped Emily as two vampires came to help me stand, I wobbled as the blood rushed through part of my body that had been without good circulation for many days. I would not show weakness even though every fiber of my being wanted nothing more than to sleep for a week. With determination I straightened, one foot in front of the other were my only thoughts as I was pulled by the chain attached to my collar, Emily was disappointed I wouldn’t be needing help to walk.
I had no idea where Richard and Amelia had gone but they were not with us as we walked through sewers of a city I didn’t know in a land far from home. I walked through dirty diapers, soiled condoms and other things I would not think about without shoes since Emily didn’t think it was a necessity.
I was brought to a large black door that opened upon out arrival and brought to another cell that felt like a freezer, they didn’t chain me just threw me inside locking the door. There was a small opening in the door only big enough to slide a metal plate through that only had a few scraps of food; rib bones that had little meat on them and was several days old from the smell of it; I didn’t care nor think about it as I ate needing the nourishment in my weakened state. I ate like a starved caveman until the bones were gleaming white. The hunger was still there shimmering just beneath the surface but I ignored it as I sat against the freezing wall awaiting the next step in my long torture.
