by G. K. DeRosa
The two males glared at each other, their noses only inches away from the clear barrier. I took advantage of the momentary pause and hopped off the bed.
“Excuse me, Skarson? Like I was telling you before, this is a big mistake. I need to talk to the person in charge here.”
All three men chuckled.
“You’re going to be waiting awhile, fresh meat,” our uber-friendly corrections officer hissed. “Our warden, Egan, was recently replaced, and the new guy doesn’t know his head from his ass.”
“Well, how about a lawyer or a trial? I don’t even know what I did to end up here.”
Talon inched closer and lifted his nose in the air. He inhaled a deep breath, and a scowl twisted his mouth. “Ugh, of course.” He grunted. “You’re part human?”
I popped my hands on my hips and shot him a narrowed glare. “Yeah, so?”
“Do you know anything about Darkblood Prison?”
I slowly shook my head.
“Once you’re here, you’ve already lost any chance of a trial.”
Hayden nodded. “Yup, it’s kind of like that human game, Monopoly. You don’t pass Go, you don’t collect two hundred dollars. It’s just straight to jail…”
Hot tears pricked at the back of my eyes, but I blinked them away. There was no way I’d survive this if I cried my first day. I trudged back to my bed and sank into the mattress, the jagged springs digging into my butt.
“Call Actaeon,” Talon insisted. “She can’t stay in here with us. So help me, Skarson, I’ll rip her head off myself if you don’t.”
I slapped my hand over my mouth to keep the gasp from slipping out. How did I end up with this psycho? Glancing up at the C.O. for help, a chill settled through my bones. He was smiling.
“That’s what we were counting on, Talon.” He winked and strode off.
I almost jumped up to beg the guard to come back, but I planted my feet and forced myself to stay calm. There was no way he could actually kill me, right? And why would he want to anyway?
Talon stalked by and leapt up to the top bunk.
I’d like to say I didn’t flinch as he passed, but that would be a total lie. The guy was huge and scary AF. But for now, we were stuck together, and if I wanted to make it out of this big misunderstanding alive, I needed to keep my head down and lay low.
Hayden sauntered past me, turned around and pulled his pants down. A perfectly sculpted butt filled my vision. My jaw dropped.
It wasn’t until the trickle of water reached my eardrums that I unfroze and averted my gaze. Oh, my gods. He was peeing!
A few endless moments later, Hayden pulled his khaki pants up and strode to his bed. It was only then that my gaze settled on the metal urinal carved into the wall. I crossed my legs as dread bubbled up in my gut. How the hell was I supposed to pee?
“Next time a little warning would be nice,” I muttered.
Either he didn’t hear me, or he didn’t care. My bet was the latter. I lay back on the bed and propped my head on the lumpy pillow. Closing my eyes, I searched my mind once again for the series of events that had landed me here. Nothing. The last thing I remembered was dancing with those two Fae at the club. It was like a gigantic void had been left where my memories once were.
Blowing out a breath, I sat up once again and twisted a lock of dark hair around my fingers. How long had I been in here? Half a day? A whole day? I stood up and paced the length of the clear barrier. The hum of electricity whirred over the glass surface. That must have been what had zapped Talon earlier.
The cell across from ours was empty. Too bad. At least I’d have something to look at.
“Quit pacing,” Talon growled.
I glanced up and met fiery silver orbs. I chomped down on my lower lip to keep the nasty retort from slipping out. I’d never been very good at keeping my mouth shut, but maybe, just maybe, this was the time to start.
Or not.
“What the hell did I do to you?” I seared him with my own narrowed glare.
The big guy jumped off the top bunk, and the ground shook below my feet. Shitzu.
“T, chill. She’s just a girl.” Hayden slapped his arm across his friend’s broad chest and held him back.
“She’s not just anything, man.” Talon broke free of his hold and climbed up the ladder once again.
I settled back down on my bed and twiddled my thumbs. After an uncomfortably long silence, I resolved I needed to set things straight with my new roommates. They were both pretty big and scary, and the right kind of friends to have in a place like this. Steeling my nerves, I pushed myself off the mattress and crept toward the bunkbed. Talon lay face down, his mountainous frame dwarfing the small bed. Hayden lifted his gaze from the book he was reading as I approached. “Look, I’m sorry if we started off on the wrong foot or whatever. I don’t plan on being in here for long, but while I am, I could use some friends.”
“That’s not really how things work around here, pumpkin.” Hayden lowered his book and scooted to the edge of the mattress so he could sit up without hitting his head on the top bunk.
“No? Enlighten me then. And my name’s Azara; why do you keep calling me pumpkin?”
He smirked. “The second question is easier than the first.” He ticked his head at my jumpsuit.
I glanced down at the abrasive, rigid orange material and heat blossomed along my cheeks. Because I look like a big orange pumpkin.
He chuckled, and I was surprised at the soft sound coming from such a big guy. “Don’t worry, you’ll get a new one in your survival kit soon.”
“My what?” From the corner of my eye, I noticed Talon hadn’t even batted an eye at our conversation. Rude.
“It’s the supplies you get when you first arrive—the bare necessities: a garbage bag containing a sheet, blanket, pillowcase, a jumpsuit, two pairs of socks, two underwear, two t-shirts, and a Ziploc bag with one bar of soap and a mini toothpaste.”
I gasped. “No deodorant?” I could’ve sworn a faint chuckle slipped from Talon’s clenched jaw but when I glanced up at the top bunk his body was turned away from me, his head facing the wall.
“You can buy that, as well as other semi-useful stuff at the commissary. And if you’ve got a good allowance you can even smuggle—”
“Hayden!” Talon hissed, rolling over. “She’s not one of us, so don’t go spilling our secrets to a pretty face.”
I pierced the insufferable man with my steeliest glare. “Who pissed in your Kool-Aid?”
Hayden let out a roaring belly laugh and drummed his palms across the underside of the top bunk. Talon hopped down with a snarl at his buddy.
“Don’t mind my cellie, he’s pretty ornery before his first cup of brown swill they call coffee at the mess hall.”
“Cellie?”
“Yeah, you know, cell mate, bunkie?”
Right… My stomach growled at the reminder that I hadn’t eaten anything in nearly twenty-four hours. Or at least I didn’t think I had. Everything was still pretty foggy after leaving the Nether Lands. “So when do we get breakfast?” I glanced at my wrist and realized my watch was gone. As were the earrings and necklace I’d been wearing. I wondered if I’d ever get them back.
“Breakfast, if you can call it that, starts at seven but we eat in three shifts.”
“And we’re on the last one today,” Talon interjected.
From the corner of my eye, his dark hulking form practically melted into the wall. For the first time, I noticed his scrubs were a slate gray as opposed to Hayden’s khaki. I added it to the growing list of questions I already had. Hayden seemed kind of helpful, but I didn’t want to push my luck. I needed my most important questions answered first. I dropped back onto my bed and waved at the big blonde. “You never answered my first question.”
“What do I look like the welcoming committee?” Hayden’s words came out harshly, but a faint smile pulled at his lips.
“At least you’re talking to me.” I hitched my thumb at Talon who still hu
gged the wall behind me. “He won’t even look at me.”
A dark blur sped across the periphery, and a pair of frosty silver irises blotted out my vision. I crab-crawled backward until I hit the end of the bed and the hard wall. Talon mirrored my every move until he loomed over me, his massive body blotting out the rest of the room and his corded arms trapping me against the mattress.
“What the hell?” I squealed.
He inched closer, his mouth a hairsbreadth from mine. “Let’s get something straight, inmate, we’re not friends. We will never be friends. It’s taking all of my restraint not to choke the life out of you, so you’re lucky I’m not looking at you.”
A chill surged up my spine, but I stiffened my upper lip and refused to flinch. “Get off me, you ass.” I planted my palms on his firm chest and shoved. But he didn’t budge.
“Come on, T. It’s not polite to play with your food.” Hayden grinned as he hauled his stupid cellie off me.
I jumped up and straightened out my hideous orange jumpsuit. Pulling my shoulders back, I attempted to look as intimidating as possible which was tough when staring up at two hulking monsters. “Now you two need to get something straight, I may be new here, but I’m not some weak little human half-blood. I’m practically full demon, and I spent the last two years in the Nether Lands. I’ve faced more than my fair share of Underworld a-holes so you two don’t scare me. At. All.” Sounded good, right?
Hayden broke into a slow clap, and I tossed him the middle finger salute. He turned to his buddy with a smirk. “I think our little pumpkin is going to fit in just fine here, T.”
Chapter Five
An hour later, I was traipsing behind my cellies toward the mess hall. I kept one eye on them and the other on the other convicts passing us by. Now I knew why the C.O. kept calling me fresh meat. Every single prisoner I encountered practically salivated as their eyes raked over me. And it wasn’t only the males. I hugged my arms around my middle, hoping to make myself invisible from the creepers.
One thing I did notice: walking behind Talon and Hayden was like Moses parting the Red Sea. There wasn’t a single supe we came upon that didn’t immediately move to the side as they passed. What was that about? Damn, I really needed to get on their good side. I hated to think what they’d done to earn that sort of respect in a place like this. I’d have to keep an eye on them and every other convict in here. It was the only way I’d survive my hopefully short stay.
If only Talon didn’t want to rip my head off…
As I walked behind the pair of massive shoulders, I tried to guess what kind of supernatural creatures my new roommates were. Actually, I did it with everyone as they passed. From what I’d deduced so far, the supernatural races were divided by jumpsuit colors. Some demons were a dead giveaway—their horns, leathery skin or forked tongues gave them away. But the human-looking variety were the tough ones.
My eyes trailed down Talon’s broad shoulders, down his corded arms and muscular butt. Even in the jumpsuit, I could tell that man was cut. Too bad he was a complete douche. My money was on Talon being a shifter of some sort—most likely a wolf or tiger. They were usually the more dickish ones. According to Emi and my parents, anyway. I smiled at the thought of my Dad’s mom. She hated to be called grandma, and I didn’t blame her. Her demon blood had kept her looking smoking hot as my ex frequently liked to remind me. Eew. It was all Ryx’s fault I was in this mess to begin with.
Hayden and Talon stopped short and with my head immersed in my internal musings, I nearly smacked right into Mr. Dark and Broody’s back. A deep growl vibrated his throat, as if he’d sensed me get too close. I jumped back and right into the arms of another hard body.
“Well, hello there, precious.”
I froze as thick biceps encircled my middle. I tried to look up at the velvety voice that belonged to the deep ebony-skinned arms, but the guy had me in some sort of weird headlock.
“Don’t freak her out, Dallas,” said Hayden, my new savior. “T’s already scared her enough for one day.” He leaned toward my captor and whispered loud enough so I could hear. “He’s on the rampage today, FYI.”
Dallas released me, and I spun around to put a face to my newest torturer. “Never do that again.”
He laughed, showcasing gleaming white teeth and a pair of sharp fangs against the dark backdrop of his skin. Vampire. At least I’d been able to pick out one of the three. “Oh feisty, I like that. What’s your name, little thing?”
“Azara,” I bit out. What was up with all these nicknames?
He extended his hand and flashed that beaming smile again. “Dallas Texas.”
“Seriously?” I choked on a laugh.
Hayden smacked the tall guy on the shoulder. “He’s serious all right. When he woke up as a child of the night a few decades ago, he found himself in good old human world, Dallas, Texas. Apparently, his God-given name Cornelius didn’t quite fit his new immortal lifestyle.”
“God didn’t give me that name, Angeles, my mama did. And you shouldn’t be one to throw stones, Hayden.”
“That’s not your real name either?” I interjected, my gaze bouncing back and forth between the two men.
“Hell no, child. When was the last time you’ve heard of an angel by the name of Hayden?”
I sucked in a sharp breath but kept my jaw from taking a nosedive by clenching my teeth. An angel?
“Fallen, pumpkin. Don’t get too excited.”
Talon strode between the two guys and ticked his head toward a door down the hall. “Are we going in or are the two of you going to keep doing this all morning?” He pointed between the three of us, his mouth curved into what I’d come to realize was a permanent scowl.
Dallas nudged his big shoulder into Hayden’s. “You’re right, he is cantankerous this morning.”
With a growl, Talon spun on his heel and all the supes lingering in front of the mess hall scrambled out of his way. I followed behind the bulky threesome, my stomach really growling now. I hoped the coffee wasn’t as bad as Hayden said. I needed some bad. Then I had to find a way to talk to the warden. Maybe one of these guys could help.
Doubtful.
A guard stood in front of the door labeled Cafeteria, a sleepy expression on his dull features. As Talon approached, he pulled a black device that looked a lot like a TV remote from his pocket. “Cuff,” the guy barked.
Talon extended his hand, and the C.O. ran the device over the black bracelet. A neon blue light emitted from the scanner as it crawled over the cuff. The light turned green, and a sharp beep rang out.
“Go ahead,” he muttered and waved his palm over the biometric device that seemed to control all the doors at the prison. After repeating the procedure with the other two guys, it was my turn.
The C.O.’s lip curled into a snarl as I raised my arm. “No food left, demon.”
“What?” I lifted to my tiptoes to peer through the small square window behind the dragon guard’s head. Dozens of supes lined the long cafeteria tables. “There’s plenty of food.”
“Not for you,” he snarled.
Approaching footsteps echoed behind me, and I considered my options. If I stood up to this guard today, I could just get into more trouble. On the other hand, if I didn’t eat soon I was going to starve.
I looked up at the C.O. and batted my lashes, pouting my lips. “Please, officer.” I tried to call on my feminine wiles, but not even a twinge of my demon powers ignited.
His reptilian irises narrowed, and a clawed hand reached for my neck. I jumped back but a dark, hairy hand wrapped around the guard’s forearm before he could reach me. My eyes trailed up, higher and higher until they reached my savior’s face. Damn, and I’d thought Talon was tall. This demon was about a head taller and twice as terrifying, a deep scar bisecting his leathery skinned face in two gruesome halves.
The guard seemed to agree because he was frozen beneath his grip.
“Is there a problem, C.O. Tolliver?”
The man whipped his
head back and forth.
“Good. Then let the demon girl get her breakfast.”
“Of course, Delacroix. Whatever you say.”
Tolliver darted out of the way. In a second, he was nothing but a dark blur. And just like that, I was alone with what I was pretty sure was a hellus demon, one of the high level, nastier ones from the Underworld. A thick mane of hair and black pointy horns encompassed the bottomless black eyes that stared down at me.
“Thanks,” I finally muttered.
He held the door open and ushered me into the bustling mess hall. “Of course, my little demon. We Underworlders need to stick together after all.”
The moment we set foot across the threshold, the entire room went silent. I hazarded a quick look up to find dozens of eyes glued to me. Just great. So much for keeping my head down. Isn’t that rule number one of surviving prison?
Delacroix strode toward the line of supes queued up for food, completely unflustered by the thick silence, and everyone dashed out of his way. He motioned to the now empty line. “Please, help yourself.”
I nodded and trailed a few steps behind him. I’d almost made it to the cereal station when a familiar deep voice broke the oppressive silence.
“She’s not one of yours, Delacroix.”
I whirled around to see Talon followed by Hayden and Dallas.
Delacroix’s dark eyes blazed as he stepped right into Talon’s space. “I’m afraid you’re mistaken, dragon. She’s an Underworlder, just like me.” He rubbed his hairy chin. “Strange that she was not placed in our block.”
Dragon? At least I’d been close in my assumptions. I filed that tidbit of information to process later when I wasn’t a chew toy in the middle of a brewing turf war.
“That’s because she was placed in ours.” Hayden stepped forward, nudging me with his thick bicep. Dallas flanked me, and dread swirled in my gut.
Heavy footfalls reverberated across the suddenly silent mess hall, and dozens of inmates encircled us. I couldn’t help but notice they were all huddled behind the hellus demon.
“Since when does the Triad take interest in a low-level demon?” Delacroix’s dark gaze scoured over me.
