Stefan cocked an eyebrow as he glanced from John’s dick back to me as I scrambled to hide myself under the bedcovers.
“It sounds like you are torturing the girl.” He chuckled. “But I can see that I was mistaken.”
“Join us, lover.” John pulled Stefan’s hand from his side to place it on his stiff cock. Stefan accepted the burden with a squeeze.
“Come to my room.” Stefan glanced over at me again. “You are supposed to wean yourself from her. She leaves tomorrow for the human compound.”
NINETEEN
They left my room in a flash. What did Stefan mean about me leaving for the human compound? Was that his fancy name for feeder pen? I had to get out of this place. My dreams of spending the rest of my life with John, what a joke. What life? My very short life, that’s what life. They fooled me by caring for me, helping me bathe, bringing me sustenance. I thought maybe I could live here with the two of them. Heat invaded my face as I realized my own stupidity.
At least this time, I found the clothes I had on earlier and dressed. I had no shoes, but I didn’t have to run around naked or clothed in one of John’s shirts and nothing else. I crept to the door, sure that it would fly open to expose Stefan and a large paddle waiting for me on the other side. Turning the knob, I eased it open and peeked through the crack. Nobody there. I slithered into the hallway and took off as fast as I could move and still be silent.
I passed another bedroom with the door ajar. Stefan’s raucous laughter spilled through that crack and I stopped cold. My mental facilities kept going without me and left the building. I had to be brainless to do what I seemed determined to do. Instead of running, rage forced me to throw open his door and stand there, Athena ready to do battle. All I needed was a robe and helmet.
They sprawled together on the bed wearing matching gym shorts, and both very surprised at my appearance. John recovered first. “Is there something you…” I glared at him and he shut his mouth with a snap of his teeth. I turned my belligerent glare to Stefan since I knew he was the one controlling my fate.
“Why are you sending me away? I don’t want to be a feeder.” I choked on my own words, and to my absolute horror, I burst into tears. Through my blurry vision, I saw them jump from the bed and stand there staring at me as if I’d lost my mind. Stefan held out his arms to me.
“Come to Daddy, Dumplin’.” I ran into his embrace, sobbing like a little girl. This was not what I had in mind when I left my room just moments ago. My shattered heart melted as he held me in his arms. John joined our hug by moving against my back, encircling both of us. My tears dried and still my two Elite—yes that is still how I thought of them, as my two Elite—held me tight.
Stefan kissed the top of my head and broke away to move toward the bed. John walked me over to join him. Somehow I ended up right between them on Stefan’s enormous pillow-top mattress.
“Time to sleep. We have a long night ahead of us.” Stefan patted my shoulder, then stretched to his nightstand to turn out the lamp. John threw his arm over my stomach and slid his hand under my back on the other side. I couldn’t move, not that I wanted to anyway. In a matter of moments, their breathing deepened and if they were feigning sleep, they did a very good job of it. It dawned on me then that Stefan had not said anything about me staying with them or being a feeder.
I fought sleep, lying between them, plotting my next move. The cool mist circled my head but I recognized it this time and shook it off. They would not do that to me. I tried to pinpoint which of them did it, but they both still appeared to be sleeping. A cold chill invaded my brain, sending shivers down my spine and throughout my body. I could not fight the numbness any longer as they forced me to sleep.
* * * *
Voices intruded into my dreams, hushed low tones I recognized as John’s. “She will not even try to escape.” I listened to John speak without opening my eyes or moving to alert them that I had awakened.
“Bullshit, John. You are delusional if you believe that. The first thing she did when we arrived at the corporation—you know, she bolted down the hallway, in a direction away from us.”
“She saved my life.” John’s whisper seemed to float over me, caressing me.
“She is also the reason your life was at risk in the first place.” Stefan’s harsh answer made my heart race and I knew they heard it banging against my ribs. I held my breath, my eyes squeezed shut as the silence grew thicker and thicker.
“We know you are awake.” Stefan’s singsong words right by my ear made me jump and my eyes flew open to see him bent over the bed, looking down at me. I stared back at him, once again in awe of his handsome features. His lips stretched thin above a strong chin covered, as always, with a slight growth of beard. The man always needed a shave. I liked it though—it lent a ruggedness to his appearance that may otherwise appear too pretty for such a large, muscular man.
His nostrils flared as he inhaled—taking in my blood fragrance? I pulled the comforter up to my chin and tried to make myself seem small. Stefan laughed and yanked the comforter off the bed.
“This would be your life should you remain here right under our noses. Don’t you see? I want you right now, all of you, your body and your blood.” To prove his point, he yanked my wrist to his mouth and drove his fangs into my flesh.
I gasped, but didn’t flinch, didn’t pull away. Instead, I watched his mouth work against my skin then closed my eyes to slits and savored his bite with a low moan. He withdrew his teeth and licked at the punctures then kissed my palm and let my wrist go. He studied my face, his head tilted to the side then glanced back to John across the room.
“No. It just can’t work. Her body will not stand up to our demands.” Stefan spun on his heel and strode into his closet. He chose his clothing and put on slacks and a dress shirt. I didn’t think it possible, but he dazzled me even more, dressed in a business suit. His muscular chest filled out that suit in such an appealing way that my mouth watered. I wanted to stop myself, stop having any feelings for him, this man I thought of just hours ago as a swine.
John hesitated, looking from me to Stefan and back again. He ran his hand through his hair then moved to my side in a flash of speed that made me giddy.
“Come on, Sandy. Go back to your own room.” He took my hand, pulling me out of bed and across the room as he spoke. As we entered the hallway, he slowed his pace and I thought he would tell me something else, but instead, he hurried me into my bedroom.
“Stay here.” John sped away without another word. I knew that he would have words with Stefan about me. I didn’t know what would happen next, but I feared it would not be pleasant for me or for John. I had already gotten him into trouble, but why should I feel guilty for that? He is the one that chose me as his feeder. I certainly didn’t ask him to toss me in his patrol car. The sad thing was, I did care—about him and the swine, Stefan. I shouldn’t, but I did. We’d spent a lifetime together, in just a few short days, or rather—a few short nights.
I had to convince them that I would not run again, but would I? Didn’t I want to return to my family? I knew in my heart, that I would never be allowed to go back to the outside world. The Elite never released their feeders and though John and Stefan treated me better than the other golden-eyed devils did, the fact remained that my sheriff and his gorgeous cohort were still members of the Elite—high-ranking members of the Elite. And I have to remember that I was human and humans were only good for one thing to the Elite. Food.
I didn’t ever want to end up in another Elite feeder pen. “Time to go, Sandy.” I almost jumped right out of my skin when Stefan spoke. I spun around to see both Stefan and John standing just a few feet away. I hadn’t heard them come in. John had dressed in one of his sheriff uniforms and Stefan, well I’d never seen a more gorgeous business man.
They both exuded raw power, so much so that it seemed a tangible force to be reckoned with. A force that I had no chance of fighting.
“Where are you taking me?” I already
knew, but I asked anyway, hope still simmering in the back of my mind. John looped his elbow with mine and walked with me, arm in arm.
“You are to live in the human compound, Sandy. It is a pleasant place. No bills to pay, nothing required of you to stay there, except that you cannot leave. Really, honey, you will like it.”
I snorted at John, then glanced at Stefan, following behind us, talking in a whisper into his tiny cell phone. His phone looked like a toy in his giant hand. He saw me watching him and lifted his eyebrows at me before he tucked the phone into his slacks pocket.
In no time, the hallways, passages, elevators and stairways disoriented me. Stefan’s immense corporation sprawled for miles and I’d never find my way back to those more familiar rooms. At last, we entered a long concrete tunnel that ended at a locked gate. Two guards stood before the entrance and the third unlocked it and pulled the heavy steel bars open.
“Good Evening Sir.” The guard with the key bowed his head as we passed through. I sensed that everyone here treated Stefan with the reverence I’d witnessed in both Dimitri and this man too.
We entered a brick courtyard surrounded by towering walls of stone. It reminded me of a castle yard. We must be in the human compound. It appeared vacant. Not a soul stirred anywhere and I saw row after row of barracks like buildings. Enormous vapor lights sat atop slick metal poles so that the entire area reminded me of daytime when in fact, night had fallen.
“Where is everybody?”
“It is after curfew, honey. They are all inside.” John placed a hand into the small of my back, giving me a light push toward the nearest barracks. “Go on, make some new friends.” I stood rooted to the spot, staring at the unfamiliar buildings. I didn’t want to be here. I heard the metal clanging as the heavy gate closed and I knew without turning around that Stefan and John had left me.
Again, hot tears streaked down my face. For the first time in several days, I wanted to just give up. I collapsed in a heap right where John left me, my sobs echoing through the empty courtyard. I recognized the cool mist as it encircled me, twining though my hair, washing over my face. One of them wanted control of my mind. I would not give in.
Jumping to my feet, I ran to the closest barracks and eased open the door slipping inside before I could change my mind. Startled people stared at me as if they’d seen a ghost. They appeared to be right at home. Some had been watching a huge television at one end of the long room, others played pool and still others had poker chips and cards out on the table in front of them. Now, they all stared at me.
“Hi.” No one answered me. But then one blonde-haired woman left her poker game to approach me. She sniffed me. A smile broke out on her face and she threw her arms around me.
“She’s human.” The woman hugged me again and turned me to face the rest of the people. “She is human.” It seemed that everyone started talking at once, leaving their activities to crowd around me. Too many questions thrown at me at once and I couldn’t answer them all, so I just smiled.
After the endless stream of chatter died down, a very nice looking older gentlemen took my arm and led me over to the nearest sofa. “Sit down here and let me get a look at you, young lady. My name is Dr. Anderson. I’m the physician for this facility.” He must have seen the doubt in my eyes because his kind face wrinkled into a huge grin. “I was also drafted into living here. We are all human.”
Turning to one of the inquisitive young boys hovering nearby, Dr. Anderson beckoned to him. “Go get my bag, would you Tommy?”
“Sure thing, Doc.” Tommy ran off into the far end of the barracks.
“So, what’s your name?” He held my wrist in his hand, taking my pulse. I could’ve told him that it raced and saved him the trouble.
“Sandy.” I managed to answer despite my clenched throat.
Dr. Anderson brushed the hair away from my neck and his audible gasp brought people scurrying back to stare.
“Oh no.”
TWENTY
Hands grabbed at me, pulled on my arms, my hair, my clothes.
“Stop it.” I screamed and squirmed to get out of their clutches.
“Cut it out, all of you. Give her some air.” Doc pushed several of them back. “Come on you guys. You’re scaring her, and from the looks of her, she’s been through enough already.” Doc smiled at me again, his kind gray-blue eyes roving from my neck to my wrist and back to my face.
“Sandy, do you want to tell us what happened?” For some reason, as I glanced from face to curious face, I knew that I shouldn’t tell anyone here about Stefan or John.
“I was attacked by a rogue. He broke into a friend of mine’s house and I hid.” I buried my face in my hands. Reliving the horror of that attack affected me more than I expected it to. Someone patted me on the back, trying to provide comfort. Taking a deep breath, I uncovered my face again, looking at my rapt audience with all the horror I’d witnessed stamped into my features.
“He found me and tore my throat out. If not for my friend returning home when he did, I would be dead.” A murmur drifted around the room but nobody said anything to me. Tommy returned with the doc’s bag. Dr. Anderson removed his stethoscope and stuck the earpieces around his neck.
“All right, let me check her out. Give us some room people.” He listened to my heart and rubbed ointment on my neck. He clucked his tongue as he did so. I know he saw some of the other bites and bruises but he said nothing about them. The others drifted back to their previous activities leaving me to the Dr.’s ministrations.
He leaned close to my ear. “You have a few more stories to tell, don’t cha, young lady?” I shook my head, no. “Don’t worry. I won’t say anything.”
“Hey Jackie. Can you find a room for Sandy here?” The blonde woman, who sniffed me earlier, approached again.
“Sure thing, Doc.” Jackie held out her hand to me and pulled me from the sofa. “Come on, Hon. I’ll help you.” She eyed me, seeing the shiny smear of ointment on my neck, the bruises on my arms. “You know, I’m surprised that you were dropped off after curfew. That’s never happened before. So who referred you?”
“Referred me?” She tried to hide her shock, but I saw it in her face before she looked away. “Well I didn’t think you’d been drafted. The Doc was drafted because we needed a doctor. Everyone else here got a referral to be allowed to live here.”
I sputtered, choking on my saliva as my tongue slid back in my throat. I grabbed her arm, steadying myself. “You chose to be here?” I wanted to take back my stupid words right away, but too late. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at me then glanced around to see if anyone else listened.
“How did you end up here, Sandy? Are you an Elite spy?” Jackie shoved me away and I bumped into someone else, several someones as they again formed a crowd around me.
“I’m not a spy.” I didn’t fit in with my own people any longer though. I felt like an outsider, alien to them all. “Why would anyone spy on you people anyway? Is this some secret installation?” Silence descended, heavy and so thick it smothered me. I coughed. “Well is it?” Still not a sound from the multitudes surrounding me. Tears slipped over my lashes and trailed down my cheeks. I stared down at the tile floor.
“Who brought you here?” The Dr. again, standing by my side, trying to make room for me but the others would not allow it. “You should tell them before they cast you out.” I’d had enough of everyone’s demands. To hell with them.
“No, you tell me how you got here. I know what happened to me and as you can tell by my bruised body, it ain’t pretty.” I searched their stunned faces, one by one, my fists planted on my hipbones. “Look at all of you, acting as if you are on vacation...living at a holiday resort.” I snorted, an undignified sound, but I didn’t care. “Have you any idea what hell it is outside of this compound?”
“This is no resort, little Miss.” A gaunt, very tall young man broke through the others and stood looming over me. He lifted a huge bony hand and wagged his finger. “This is nothing mo
re than a glorified feeder pen, if you must know. We pay for our nice lodgings with blood. Yes, we are fed well, given supplements, and have all the comforts we could ask for. That is but a mask for the truth. We are sheep. The Elite Doctor comes every month and takes blood from every soul here. No exceptions.”
My mouth fell open. His giant hand fell to my shoulder and he squeezed until I thought my bones would grind together. “That’s not all either. We are not allowed to leave here. Ever.” Dr. Anderson tried to pull me away at that moment, but the tall man would not let go.
“No, Doc, she hasn’t heard the best part yet. Miss Righteous Indignation needs to hear it all. We’ll see if she looks down her nose at us any longer.” A dark-haired pregnant woman called me that name and made it sound like the worst thing she could say about me.
“Anne, no. Stop being cruel.”
“Shut up, Doc.” Anne turned to me and stroked her belly, watching my face through her long lashes. “See this?” She indicated her swollen stomach again. “You will be expected to make babies too. If you don’t choose a mate, they will choose several for you.” The blood left my head in an instant and I tottered on my feet. Dr. Anderson grabbed my arm and led me back to the sofa.
“Damn it Anne, you didn’t have to act like such a bitch.”
I couldn’t tell who said that, but then they all seemed to be floating at the far end of a very long tunnel. I’d dropped into yet another pit of hell.
“I’ve got to get out of here.” I moaned and the Dr. shook his head.
“Nobody leaves here voluntarily, Sandy. That much is true.” He placed his fingers on my wrist again, but I couldn’t tell if he did it to take my pulse or just to comfort me. He removed something from his bag and hid it from me. I tried to pull away as his hand tightened on my arm but at that moment, he jammed a needle deep into my thigh.
“What the fuhhh…” My world turned upside down. I still heard them talking about me, but I couldn’t open my eyes, couldn’t move. Their disembodied voices came to me from a vast distance, muffled by the wind.
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