Part 21 (1/2)
b.a.l.l.s snorted. ”I'm not afraid of that other-worlder b.a.s.t.a.r.d.” The undertone of apprehension in his voice belied his brave claim.
Honest to G.o.d, I'd be doing the universe a favor if I slit each one of their throats. And I just might do it once I offed EenLi. How long did they expect me to sleep? How long did I have to listen to this c.r.a.p without reaction? I kept my lashes cracked slightly open, trying to catch glimpses of the landscape outside. First I saw only night sky, but trees soon came into view. Their branches were bare.
Finally the car eased to a stop. Cologne gently lifted me out and carted me into a small, dark building. A residence? A business? I couldn't tell. There were no surrounding houses, no signs. No telltale sounds. Moonlight danced upon the roof, spilling over and dripping onto the dry, brittle gra.s.s.
”Get her inside and put her with the others,” the driver said.
”I know what to do.”
With the others?That meant they hadn't been sold yet. They could be saved. Excitement unfurled inside me.
My captor pushed the front door open with a booted kick, not bothering with an ID box. Great security. Inside, I heard the creak of old wood, then the grate of rusty iron. My arms and legs flopped up and down as Cologne descended a flight of stairs. The air became cold and dank, musky. In the distance, I heard the rattle of chains and female moans.
My excitement fizzled when I realized I, too, would be placed in chains. I, too, would be made a slave. How could I willingly, no matter the reason, allow this to happen? I asked myself again. If something went wrong...If Lucius...
No. No! I would not panic. This was the plan. I'd willingly-wholeheartedly-agreed to this, knowing what would happen. Lucius wouldn't fail.I wouldn't fail. I had my knives, and I knew how to defend myself. I was going to be okay.
This was the only way to find EenLi. This was the only way to find what magnetic device he used for interworld travel. This was the only way to save all the others who had been taken as slaves. I would not back out now.
”How long do you think she'll be here?” b.a.l.l.s asked from behind Cologne.
”Not sure.”
”Do you think we could-”
”No.”
”You didn't even hear what I-”
”No.”
b.a.l.l.s stalked in front of Cologne. Scowling, he inserted a key inside a lock then pushed open metal doors. The hinges screeched in protest.
”Out of my way, b.i.t.c.h.” b.a.l.l.s kicked a woman who huddled on the floor.
More chains rattled together. Feet shuffled; women whimpered. My determination to see this through intensified. I'd failed to save the two humans EenLi and his men had raped inside that warehouse, but Iwould save these women.
”Why can't you leave them alone?” Cologne growled. ”You're going to bruise them.”
”We're not to harm the Raka. These b.i.t.c.hes don't matter.”
”They're to be sold, too. They matter. Maybe I need to talk to Wayne about your att.i.tude.”
b.a.l.l.s shuddered. ”You do that, and I'll kill you.”
I was laid on a cold floor. My wrists were taken in a warm, callused clasp before being clamped in cold shackles. The heavy metal bit into my skin. So much for keeping me unharmed. My wrists would be raw within the hour.
”Let's go,” Cologne said. ”We've got to call Wayne and let him know she's here.”
b.a.l.l.s hesitated. I think he was considering squeezing my b.r.e.a.s.t.s or between my legs, but he thought better of it. The two men left, their bickering voices fading into the distance. I didn't reveal my wakefulness, however. I remained exactly where I was, still and quiet, listening, waiting. I felt curious stares boring into me. How would the women react to me? What would they say? Minutes later, my patience was rewarded.
”I hate that man,” a woman spat.
”We all do,” several chimed in dispiritedly.
Footsteps slapped against the concrete floor; chains dragged and rattled. The scent of roses drifted to my nostrils just before a warm leg pressed against mine, offering me body heat. Roses. Like b.a.l.l.s. I knew what that meant.
”Poor thing,” said the woman who justifiably hated Smashed b.a.l.l.s.
”We're all poor things,” another, more embittered female voice retorted.
”Have you ever seen so much gold?”
”They'll cut it off her soon enough,” Embittered said. ”If they don't screw it off her first.”
They sympathized with me, already saw me as one of them. A slave to be raped and sold. That was good. I moaned to let them know I was ”waking up.” Instantly conversation ceased, and a heavy silence grew. I slowly cracked open my eyes then, and eased to a sitting position. The chains were heavy, weighing down my wrists and ankles. The woman beside me watched my every movement, her big blue eyes widening. She was a pretty little thing with delicate bones and long s.h.i.+ny blond hair.
”h.e.l.lo,” she said warily.
I cast my gaze through the cell-and that's exactly what it was, a ten-by-ten prison cell-cataloging and memorizing every detail. There were five women, no men. They were young, about eighteen to twenty, and human, dressed in costumes usually seen on the streets of Wh.o.r.e's Corner. Like me, they had their wrists and ankles chained. The length of our binds allowed for a stroll around the entire cell. Just not out of it.
A table piled high with meats, bread, and pitchers of water took up one wall. At least the ladies weren't meant to starve. There was even a toilet on the opposite end of the cell, but no screen or door for privacy.
The only heat provided against the cold dank air was a mult.i.tude of thick blankets-all of which were taken. Not that I needed one. I'd endured worse things than cold air. My search continued, and I spotted the far wall etched with a mult.i.tude of lines. The number of days they'd been here? A wave of anger rocked me, that these girls were so young, so innocent. I hoped like h.e.l.l the isotope I'd injected was doing its job, helping Lucius track me here.
Did he even know I'd been taken yet?
Hopefully I wouldn't have to wait for my ”sale.” I wanted to do some killing ASAP.
”Don't be scared,” the blonde said, her tone gentle. ”Has anyone told you why you're here?”
”We're being sold to other-worlders as slaves,” Embittered informed me. She was the only redhead.
”Other-worlders?” I forced myself to gasp-forced myself not to scoot closer in antic.i.p.ation of her answer. ”On other planets?”
The timid one gulped and nodded.
I clasped my throat, as if in fear. ”How?”
”It's not painful,” she rushed to a.s.sure me. ”They'll strap a collar around your neck that somehow produces a wind. One minute you'll be on Earth, and the next you won't, but it doesn't hurt. I promise.”
A necklace...G.o.d, a necklace! Excitement rushed through me, more potent than before, and oh, so exhilarating. Romeo had strapped on a necklace before heading for the clearing. It all made sense now. According to Colin, for any type of interworld travel to be possible, a magnetic strip had to be held close to the body. What better way to hide a magnet close to the body than jewelry?
”Do you still have the necklace?” I asked.
”No.” She shook her head, dancing pale tendrils of hair around her shoulders. ”Why?”