Текст книги "Bloodbreeders: Lies Beneath London"

Автор книги: Robin Renee Ray

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Текущая страница: 15 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

I saw Martin lower his head as he nodded twice. He stood and walked to a wooden door and spoke too softly for me to hear. A few moments later the door opened and a young male that was bound and blindfolded was pushed in. Yvette smiled and pushed herself into a sitting position, as Martin grabbed the young male under the arm and forced him to the left side of the bed. I wanted nothing more at that moment than for Martin to turn around so I could see the look on his face. “Take that thing off of its eyes. I like to see the horror in these nasty beast’s eyes as I drain their pathetic lives away.” I was grateful when, for the second time, I witnessed Martin’s head dropping as if ashamed.

“You must wake before I am pulled under.”

“Go away, I wanna watch.”

“Renee, it’s Jacob. You have to come back to my voice.”

“Go away, little one.”

I felt the sting before the view of Jacob’s smile wiped the vision from my mind. “Did you just slap me?” He shook his hand as if he felt the sting as well, and then shook his head and stood up. “I gather I was out a little longer this time?”

“We are the only ones that have not been pulled under, but I am soon to be on my way.” Jacob pulled one of the high back chairs in his room over by the bed and sit down and lean back with his eyes closed.

I waited a few minutes before I spoke. “Jacob,” I whispered. When he didn’t reply I continued. “Martin had Yvette help him kill his dad, like, way back when. They were in that same room where she killed that man you called 'the Egyptian’. He said he lied, but I had no idea he was that old. The really bad thing…he held down a young man while she drained him; well you woke me before I actually saw it but it was about to happen.”

“I know, I have always known.”

“Good grief!” I all but jumped off of the bed. “You could have given me a heart attack. I thought you were out.”

“No, I could not do such a thing and I, as you say, I will indeed be out shortly.”

“Either way you look at it, Strawberry, that scarred the shit out me. Rest well, Jacob.”               ***              

I woke with a hand holding mine. It was hard to make out the face with the hair hanging around the features but when the fireplace came to life it was hard not to pull my hand free. It was Martin and all I could see was him by Yvette’s bedside. Then the memory of him being tortured replaced my childish jealousy. “Should you be up moving around?”

“You slept in the guest room. I do not like waking without seeing your face. Not if you are under the same roof.”

“We got in late and I didn’t want to disturb you,” Jacob said as he stood beside the fireplace.

“I understand my young friend. I, too, have held the curse of drinking from an ancient,” Martin looked at me as I pulled my hand free and sat up, bringing the covers to my chest as I did so. “I just hope she can forgive what she sees from the ancient that she now owns.”

“I’d look pretty stupid if I held something that happened longer than I can even imagine, against you. But, that doesn’t mean I won’t ask you about it. Like what was the deal with you needing Yvette’s help to kill your father?”

Martin took in a deep breath, stood and limped over in front of the blazing fire. He kept his back to me so I got up and walked over and gently wrapped my arms around him from the back, resting my hands on his chest. Jacob looked at me and was about to turn and leave. “Stay,” I whispered. I then lay several kisses on Martin’s shirtless back. “I love you and we can talk about anything, just like you said.” Martin reached up and rubbed the back of my hands with his left, as he leaned his cane on the side of the chair with his right. He then pulled me around and into a hug.

“I love you and will answer all that you ask.” He looked down at me and I rose onto my toes. The kiss was magical and must have lingered a bit too long because Martin didn’t release me until Jacob cleared his throat. I heard nothing but the soft humming of spring. I was in love and it showed no matter what I did to hide it. “I needed her help to seduce my father into going to a place where his guard could not follow but his trusted son could, and would. I saw them together many times before, being a slave to them both. Now I was using her when she thought she was using me.”

“Your father would have been an elder, had he lived, is that correct?”

Martin nodded several times. “Because I was his blood kin, I was given to him from birth and told he was my father. Yvette had no idea what I was to inherit by taking his last drop but it was enough to rid myself of the likes of her.”

“And the story about the man you saw burn in the tunnel?”

“Very true, Renee. My father had this piece of London since it was created. But, we had not come to this stay for many years, leaving London to the likes of those you have met, or others much like them. We had only been here a short time when some of the slaves my father had bought, escaped. It was then that the old man with us lost his mind and walked out into the coming dawn. We woke in the cover of that tunnel and the first thing that I did was step out into the night to see the charred remains that the day had left behind.”

“I’m so sorry, Martin.”

“I wish you would all change your minds and not go this one time. Renee, would it be so hard to gather your family and take a break? You can always make a better plan later and go do what you all do best once you have rested well and trained to your best ability.”

“If we take down the elders, we can live in peace, Martin. If not we all have to watch over our backs and stay in hiding. I’m not willing to do that. Not even for a little while. I know you mean well, but the plans are in motion and they can’t be stopped now or Angelica and Inara will be worse than when we got here.”

“She’s right, Martin. If we were to leave now they will find it as a victory and London’s dark world will pay with their cruelty.”

“You few are going to go to a place where there is going to be at least fifty, if not more. And you plan on being the only ones walking out…” Martin held up his hand before I could speak. “I know you think if you take down the main heads that the rest of the body will fall, but what if you only anger the body and it retaliates?”

“Then we’ll fight our way out. It won’t be the first time,” I shrugged.

“How can you be so nonchalant about this matter, Renee?”

“The same way that you’re so bothered about it I guess, Martin. I don’t know.  You know, I can see you being upset because you can’t join u, but I don’t get why you pretend that this shouldn’t happen. I’ve told you that I will join you after we take care of the beginning of all of this and we will live a very happy life.”

“But, not until then,” he whispered, lifting my hands and kissing the backs of both. “I shall keep my word.”

A light tap sounded on the bedroom door. “Are you guy’s about ready to get these stupid clothes on? Tanda’s having a fit waiting to see if the things she fixed are going to work out okay,” Derek spoke loud enough for us to hear him through the door.

“I will go and try on the pants she worked on of mine. Don’t be too long, Renee, your hair will take time.” Jacob left Martin and I alone.

We both said each other’s name at the same time and started laughing. “I’m sorry, you go first.”

“No, ladies first. I insist.”

“If all of this is meant to be, if you and I are meant to be forever, then those who are doing these horrid things will go down and we will see it happen. Those who follow the ways of their makers will turn tail and run or they will go down as well. One night it will all end and our kind can live in peace, just like us.”

“You have my support this night and you may take anything that I own. Whatever is mine, is yours. The unmarked coaches are hidden under tarps at the back of the stalls.”

I couldn’t resist, I reached up and put my hand on the back of his neck and pulled him down to meet me and pressed my lips to his until he opened to me. Our tongues mingled as the taste of his blood rushed through my senses like a wildfire in a wheat field on a windy day. I had pressed too hard on his lips and nicked his already scarred bottom lip. He was so sweet, that I wanted more. Martin broke the kiss and moved my head to his neck. “Take from me, I am your maker.”

“No, I can’t.”

“I will make you stronger and I will be with you on this battle tonight. Take from me, my love, and satisfy us both. My promise to you is to return that satisfaction when I am healed,” he spoke low by my ears and sent chills cascading over my entire body. “Now, take from me, my love.”

There was no way that I could look up before I sank my fangs into that amazingly soft flesh, but I did as my maker asked. I took a small amount, enough to feel it coating my stomach and making its way through my veins. I licked the wounds clean that I had made. Now I couldn’t take my eyes off of Martin. His head was slightly tilted back and his eyes were closed. He was beautiful! I continued kissing my way up his chin then cheek and that’s when he stopped me.

“You must go and get ready, and I must go to our room and rest,” he said, with both hands on my shoulders.

“Are you okay?”

“I am in a bit of pain but Tammy was kind enough to leave a little wine in the room. I think it best if I go and have a small drink.” He kissed my forehead, leaned over and picked up his cane and slowly made his way to the door.

“Can I at least help you to the room?” I asked, walking over and touching his back.

“No, I believe that would do more harm than help. I do not mean to hurt your feelings in any way, my love, but I have told you that it would be very hard to be around you until I have healed. This, I am afraid, is one of those times.”

Blushing would be an understatement to what I must have looked like after I realized what Martin was talking about. He had become aroused from me drinking from his neck and it was causing him a great amount of pain. I felt like he had given me a gift, one that I could feel rushing through me. Every sense that I had was because of touching him in some way. I could smell him, see his eyes when mine were shut, hear his breath on the vibrations of my ear as if he were whispering something to me. It was if he was walking with me as I walked into the room with the others.

Chapter Twenty Five  

Tanda had already worked on half of the group, putting their make-up on after they dressed. Derek, Sydney, and I were the only ones left waiting to sit in her chair that soon became known as, Tanda’s torture throne, and to feel her wrath; but she was having the time of her life. Fala stood back and watched it all. All that he had to do was get a light powder on his face with a touch of cheek blush. Once the others were finished I knew it was my turn. I for one was ready for a good laugh. Just the thought of all of my little ones playing dress-up was a hoot to me.

If I was going to look anything like Tammy then I was going to look ridiculous. The white could not get any whiter than Tanda painted on her face and her cheeks and lips were a bright red. On one cheek she had a black mole painted on, and her eyes were extremely heavy in make-up. It looked as if her face would crack in half if she smiled even a little. The boy’s thought they would get away with a mask but because we were doing our best to not be noticed as breeders who were not known to the area, they all had one form of make-up on or another. That made it very hard to not have some form of a smile on my face when I finally stepped into the room instead of peering at them from the secrecy of the shadows of the foyer.

Jacob, Cates, Tammy, and Garvin turned and looked at me at the same time I stepped into the room laughing, thinking they would join me. My laugh slowed to a giggle, then stopped all together. Tanda and Derek came around me, with Sydney and Fala following them. “What’s wrong with all of you?”

“You walk with a power of Martin all around you,” Jacob replied. “Why would you feed on him at a time like this?”

“You cannot go to the gala with his aroma all over you. They will know you belong to him as soon as you walk in the front door,” Cates growled, shaking his head.

“Renee,” Tammy walked up to me. “Why didn’t you wait until we came back?”

“What the hell are y’all talking about?”

“You drank from your maker, did you not?” Jacob snapped.

“He said it would make me stronger!” I snapped back.

“He has fooled you, Renee. Martin knows they would feel his blood in your veins. You cannot go with us and that he also knew.”

“That son-of-a-bitch,” I hissed through clenched teeth. “Well, I’m going no matter what he thought feeding on him would do.”

“If you do, we will all die.” Jacob turned his back to me. “There is only one way to mask what Martin has done… and you will not approve.”

“I did what I did to protect the one I love,” Martin spoke as he stepped into the study.

“Oh, you have just opened a whole new door of piss-me-off is what you did,” I spun around so fast he stepped back. “How could you, Martin?”

“How could I not do whatever I could to stop you from dying this night? There will be too many, Renee. You are putting all of our people in harm’s way.”

“Don’t you say that…don’t you ever say that! These are my people and I would never stab them in the back the way you did me.” I turned back around and looked at Jacob. “What do I do to take this off?”

“You can only mask his mark by taking in others.”

“Are you saying that I have to drink from more of you to get rid of his…” I paused.

“Odor,” Derek smirked.

“Yeah, what Derek said.”

“You can look at it as finally marking those who follow you,” Cates added, walking up to me and going down on one knee. It was then that I heard Martin going back up the staircase. “You need but take a small amount.”

“Is this really necessary?” I asked all who were in the room.

“If you wish to join us in taking down the two heads of this great city, it is.” Jacob walked up behind Cates and put both hands on his shoulders.

They each stood in line. I looked down at Cates, fear gripping my stomach so harshly that I felt that I would be ill at any moment. Cates reached around and moved his hair and then leaned his head to the side, exposing his neck to me. My eyes rose to find Jacob looking back at me. He nodded once, then looked down at the matter at hand. I smoothed my hand over Cates’ arm as I bent over, then I sank my fangs into the pulsating invitation. I only took a small amount; swallowing twice, maybe three times, before I felt Jacob’s hand on my back. By the time I had reached Tanda, the last, I was so full I thought for sure I would burst at the first foul scent that we passed.

“I belong to you twice as much now,” Tanda smiled, holding her neck where I had marked her.

“How do y’all know I don’t smell like Martin anymore?”

“You smell like a mass of your kind and no longer just one, Renee,” Fala answered from the foyer. “I do not believe any night creature would be able to decipher your count when you are only one.”

“Wouldn’t that be a giveaway itself? Surely there isn’t a lot of breeders walking around with a load of their follower’s blood hangin’ around in their body.”

“And the slang begins,” Jacob said with one side of his mouth raised in an evil grin. “That is a true statement, my young Renee. However…every old breeder there will be bloated with the blood of slave and normals alike. The more show of power they have, the better to secure their years trade around London.”

“Will these older breeders be bringing some of this trade to the gala?” Derek asked.

“They bring their trade no matter where they go. But, none are allowed to bring them into the homes of the higher land owners of London without a personal invitation. That only happens if the gifts they offer are up to standards of the mistress or master of the manor,” Cates explained, taking Tammy into his arms.

“Okay, then another question. Will these breeders know that the blood in me is the ones walking with me? And before you say it Jacob, I already know it’s just another stupid question.”

“I was going to say that your questions are starting to have a great deal of meaning, right up until you added the last. And to answer it, no, they will not know unless the older breeders have tasted us on a more recent visit. To my knowledge, they have not.”

“We need to be there before midnight to see all who are going in. I want to make sure to see how many we stand against in the event that things do not go as we plan,” Cates added, then kissed Tammy’s hand before joining Jacob and myself.

“Does everyone have their weapons?”

“I should go have Martin show me where he keeps his weapons room,” Jacob said, glancing over at me, then down at the floor.

“Go ahead if you think we’ll need them, I can’t go with you right now.”

It was one of the many times that Jacob gave me his disappointed stares as he walked past me and up the staircase to find out where our gracious host had gone. He had a small study on the second floor in one of the bedrooms where he stayed for hours throughout the night while we were out. A few moments later Jacob came back down with Martin close behind. They both went into the sitting room across from where we all stood in the study and closed the double doors.

“I guess your maker doesn’t care to share his secrets with the rest of us,” Sydney verbally observed.

“He can keep them, for now. And yes, I love him, but that was a sneaky move.” I fumed as I grabbed Brandon’s blade that Derek had given me and did my best to slide it down in the pocket that Tanda had sewn into my dress. “This is never gonna work.”

“There’s a small opening at the bottom of your pocket to slip the end of the blade through, Renee. It will rest comfortably on your leg as you walk. I will bind the sheath to your leg if you will calm down enough to get the blade into the opening,” Tanda smiled as she touched my elbow.

“I am calm, I’m just extremely pissed right now,” I winked, then found the hole and slid the sheath of my blade through with ease. “Wow, once you get that tied in place this will work perfect.”

“I am a good seamstress, when I have the proper things that one needs to mend with.”

“I’m not so bad myself,” Sydney said, getting everyone’s attention. “What? Men can sew too, ya know. I was born and practically raised on the boat, so my mom was the only teacher I had when I wasn’t helping my dad with running the boat.”

“You were born on the open water?” I asked.

“Yep, right outside of Sydney, Australia. That’s why my name is spelled the way it is.”

“And how does one spell your name, young Sydney?” Cates asked with a look of confusion on his face.

“With a ‘Y’ instead of an ‘I’ like some would say a girl’s name is spelled. Believe me, I got made fun of plenty when I did go to school in the states.”

“Normals are a weird group of creatures indeed. Breeders would never put so much thought into a person’s name. If your maker chose to name you after the name of a place then so be it. Who has the right to say otherwise?” Cates said as he slid his black blade down the inside of the top of the back of his vest.

“The farmers have arrived,” Fala announced from the front door.

“You’ve already paid them?” I asked, looking at Cates.

“Before Jacob and I dressed…” he paused gesturing at himself, “in this. We made our way to their stay and paid for the delivery of what we discussed. Why, did you also want to be involved in that?”

“Don’t you go getting all pissy with me too, Cates. I get enough of that with those two hiding in the other room. And why do you think they had to go in there alone anyway?”

“You are the mistress of all but the one who has marked you. Why do you not just storm in the room and find out for yourself.” I spun and glared at the closed doors as if my thoughts could burst them open all on their own. But nothing happened so I spun back on Cates. “Hey, it was just a thought.”

“The less you know, the better,” Garvin interrupted.

“What do you mean?” Derek stood taking Tanda by the hand.

“What he means is, if we were to be taken by those we mean to take down,” Cates lowered his eyes then looked over at me, “the torture to his valuable’s whereabouts would be the first they would want information on. Your pain would be secondary.”

Our conversation came to a halt when a knock sounded on the front door. Fala looked in at Cates, and then he and Garvin walked over, while Fala stepped back into the study with us. We all stood in silence as Cates explained that we were on our way out to a party at one of the gatherings in the London Square somewhere downtown. I was finding out quickly that Cates was a man of many talents, and could turn a tale better than Pa around a campfire any day of the week. It brought a soft, warm glow to my very dark heart. Once they had stepped out into what Martin called the ‘courtyard’ he and Jacob opened the doors to the room across from the study.

Ours eyes met and Martin was the first to look away. He spoke to Jacob then went up the staircase without so much as another glance my way. I think that made my blood boil more than him tricking me into drinking his blood for strength. Even if I knew deep down why he had done it, he shouldn’t have done it, no matter what. I watched as Jacob left through the front door to join Cates and Garvin and everything in my body wanted to rush up the stairs and confront my maker.

“Renee, will you join us please?” Jacob called from the open door and changed my mind for me.

“Sure,” I replied, but could not control my head from turning and looking up the way that Martin had gone. I think I may have made a guttural sound when I didn’t see him there looking back down at me. Now I knew what being in love was all about. I wanted to be near him whether I was happy or mad at him. My greatest wish was that my maker would join us when he was ready but until then, at least give us his blessing to kill those who laid harm to the innocent and set them free. The only thing he worried about was keeping me safe and that was unacceptable.

Chapter Twenty Six     

My people had their fill of the largest of the pigs that the farmers had brought. I was so full; that just seeing them drink the warm red nectar was making me ill. We were an hour from the time when we had to leave. Martin and Jacob had laid out a number of weapons for us to choose from. As everyone was making their pick, I called Cates and Jacob over to me. I had the weapons that I wanted and now I needed them to do something that I knew they would be against.

“I want the two of you to take Alex and Martin down into the dungeon and make sure they can’t get out until we get back.”

“You want us to force the owner of his own home into the underground levels? Why?” Jacob asked.

I stormed up to Jacob, pressing my chest into his, putting my nose as close to his as I could. “How dare you question me after harping down my throat this whole time about me needing to take control! You belong to me and you will damn well do as you are told or I will…”

“Forgive me, My Lady?” Jacob went down on one knee.

“No, wait,” I was shocked at my own words and his reaction. “I didn’t mean it. I mean, I meant I want them in the lower level, but I didn’t mean to sound like that.”

Jacob stayed down on one knee. I turned around and saw Cates mirroring his actions. That’s when I started to cry. The confusion was overwhelming. I had been a complete cow before and they had just stood up to me, but now they were different and I didn’t like it. “Was this from taking your blood into me?” I backed into the bottom steps of the staircase and went down on my backside. Both Jacob and Cates were in front of me within seconds.

“It is, but it is a very good thing, My...Renee,” Jacob said. “All who we stand against this night will see your power. And that you rule your people with a powerful hand.”

“I take it all back. I don’t ever want to see what I just saw out of my friends again. Can I order you guy’s to not ever do that again,” I sniffed and smeared my red tears through the white make-up that was now plastered on my face.

“Miss Tanda will not be happy with you,” Cates laughed. “And yes, you can now, as before, order us to do whatever you wish.”

Jacob dropped his head and shook it. “I wish you had not told her that. Life will be dick to pay now, without doubt.” With that, I burst out laughing through my tears.

  ***

We all stood in the foyer, weapons well hidden, as Cates came down with Alex in chains. Martin followed with Jacob at his back and all looked at us with eyes filled with uncertainty. Alex’s eyes, of course, were glazed with the fear of his impending death as well. Martin showed no other emotion, it was as if he understood that he was being locked up for his own safety. Tanda knew she was going into the lower levels also, not only watch over Martin and to make sure Alex stayed put but to keep herself out of harm’s way if others came into our domain.

“Do not bother looking for this man you seek who makes the dead walk, all who ran from those you have already touched would not seek sanctuary in this country. The things you have crossed have been here for a very long time. If you wish to find him you have come to the wrong place.” Martin never looked at me; he only spoke as he turned to go down the hall.

“Is that why you think we…I came all this way, Martin?” He stopped. “I only mentioned those notes we found in that place because I was hoping you might know something that would help my brother. But that has nothing to do with why I came to London.” I saw his lead lower. “I thought my maker would be proud of what I was doing, proud that I came looking for him. I guess I was wrong.” That’s when I turned my back and started walking toward the rest my people.

“Renee!”

“What?” I stopped but didn’t turn around to see if he was now looking at me.

“May I please have a moment with you? I cannot bear the thought of this being our last words if you do not come back.”

I let out a harsh breath, knowing that I had everyone’s attention in the house. I nodded once and without turning, walked into the study and waited for Martin to join me. I stayed where I was until I heard the double doors close, then I walked over and stood in front of the fireplace. A few seconds later I felt Martin’s hands grip my shoulders lightly. “My Love, what am I to do with you?”

“I don’t even know what to do with me, Martin. I just know what I have to do.”

“Yes, and I, too, know what you must do. Even why you feel the need to lock me in my own dungeon.”

“I can’t have them taking you again, or Tanda, if this is a trap. I know you can get out, it’s your place after all.”

“It is and I can,” he chuckled. “But, I must admit I was very glad when Master Jacob told me he had no intention of chaining me.”

“Oh he did, did he,” I turned and smiled.

“It is good to see you smile. I am sorry that I tried to fool you with my blood. Your little ones love you very much and follow your mission fully. I did not think that they would give you notice to what I had done so freely. My hope was that they would have gone with what I was doing to keep you safe. One would never have guessed that those who were not marked would do so much for another out of free will alone.”

“Well, they’re marked now, thanks to you.”

“And for that I am even more sorry.”

“Why’s that?” I pulled away walked over and leaned on the desk, pushing the hoop down on the dress before Martin could see it flipping up.

“Because, it gave you more power over your people and it made you less weak to my call.”

“So the real truth comes out. What you’re saying is, now either my love is the real deal or there’s no love at all, right?”

“Correct,” he snorted. “Without my bond being so strong, you may or may not love me as you once did. And yes, my fear is huge.” He looked over at me and my heart sank. Nothing had changed inside of me, it may have grown, but I couldn’t tell him that.

“I do feel different, but there’s no time to talk about it right now. I’m not sorry that you helped me become closer to my family, Martin. I wish I had done it sooner. So, thank you,” I swallowed, walking up to him. I reached up and touched his cheek. “May I have a kiss for good luck?”

“Will you promise to come back to me?”

“I can say the words but I can’t control what will happen.”

“That will be good enough I suppose.” He didn’t say another word. He just wrapped his arms around my body and picked me up, locking his mouth to mine. He pressed his lips so hard to mine that I could taste mingled blood. I opened to him and our tongues danced until a light tap sounded on the door. I pulled back with a certain blush on my face, licking my lips just as Martin was. “You will be the death of me, Renee.”

“I hope not.”

“Forgiven then?”

“There was never anything to forgive. I’m just an old cow who gets pissed at the drop of a hat. Blame that on the ancient,” I smiled.

“I think I remember you being very stubborn well before…”

“Don’t finish that statement if you know what’s good for you.” I walked to the door with him, getting one more kiss before we opened it. ***

Tanda and Martin were made comfortable in the first room off of the area by the larger room with the desk in it in Martin’s secret hidden dungeon. He knew where all of the switches were so there was no prying to find a way in or out. He assured us that we had killed all of the remaining spiders; something else we would one day have to talk about. Alex, however, was chained to one of the beds by the giant, dead spiders and told if he made any sounds what-so-ever that the remaining spiders would make him their next meal. His whispering pleas could be heard as the last of my boys exited the tunnel to his entrapment.

“Watch Inara, it is well known by those who she has pulled into her web that she is, in some ways, stronger in power than her sister. Bernard has been taking from Angelica and Inara, in turn, takes from him. In time, a breeder can gain power if that breeder takes in enough for a long enough time. Angelica has no idea or she would never allow another’s servant to share. Inara’s power may hold stronger in the mind than blood, but either way, she is not to be trusted.”