Chapter 272 - Caught in the moment (2/2)

Drake forced a stoic mask as he pushed up from the chair and reached around Fern for the doc.u.ments on the desk. ”I'd wager she would mourn me, if anything were to happen, nearly as much as you would with more loss to this bottom line. Is it not my family who have made the majority of the deposits into these accounts?” He tossed the papers at Fern. ”The way I see it you need this last deal to go through because you know you're losing power here. It's obvious to everyone on the outside that the prince will be crowned king soon enough. His entourage of council bodyguards is enough to prove that much.”

A daunting smile spread across Fern's features. ”Accidents happen all the time...”

Drake raised a brow. ”Don't you think the council is smart enough to pick up on it if any more of your family members mysteriously turn up dead?”

A wicked glint settled over Fern's expression. ”There are far worse fates than death.”

Drake narrowed his eyes. ”I can see we are done here.” He quickly turned toward the door before his well-placed mask gave way to his underlying nervousness. Before he could reach the door, Fern's low sinister voice stopped him in his tracks.

”You and your brother meet me here in an hour. Have your bags packed and ready to leave? I don't want to see you inside this palace again once business is settled.”

Drake nodded, not turning away from the door as he pulled it open. ”Very well.” He closed the door behind him and made it to his own room before collapsing against the door. He rested against the cool wood until he could get his heart rate under control. Once he could breathe easily again, he quickly packed his belonging and wrote out a letter placing it between the mattress and box-spring. He sent up a silent prayer that this would be enough. Walking over to Mattie's room he tapped lightly. ”Ready?”

Mattie swallowed hard as his gaze moved around the narrow coiling staircase leading down into the dark abyss deep within the palace walls. ”Are you sure about this?” He whispered to Drake.

Drake's glowing green eyes landed on his younger brother as he pressed his finger to his lips and nodded to the werewolves ahead of them. He waited until Mattie nodded in understanding before he turned his attention back to the dark passage. Light poured out from the open door of the bas.e.m.e.nt lab. {Almost there...} He thought in nervous anticipation as he followed the wolves into the room, watching as they made their way across the room and pulled open the cellar doors. He fought against the wave of fear that slammed into his brain as his eyes moved around the now b.a.r.e workstations of the lab. It had been wiped clean with no trace of what was once there left behind. His eyes quickly shot over to his much younger brother. True, for a vampire his 43 years of life was considered incredibly young... but Mattie's 20 years of life were barely considered a.d.u.l.thood even by human standards... Had this been his mother's plan all along?

”What are you waiting for?” Fern asked in barely hid entertainment as he followed the vampire's eyes around the room. ”What you seek is just inside.” He watched with growing amus.e.m.e.nt as the vampires followed him into the empty cellars.

”What is the meaning of this?” Drake asked, forcing a stern confidence he didn't feel into his voice.

A wide smile spread across Fern's lips as he turned toward a keypad on the far wall. ”Just what you deserve.”

Drake could hear a faint gasp from Mattie as the fake wall opened up with a loud scr.a.p.e of heavy metal against the hard stone floor. The room was nearly pitch dark, lit by only a single hanging light. A red bulb cast an eerie reflection around the room. He could hear the scurry of several feet and what sounded like heavy chains scraping against the hard stone. ”What is this?”

A wide sardonic smile spread across Fern's lips. ”You made a great point earlier. It is important to know one's place... and resect the capabilities of one's allies... as much as one's enemies...” He stepped aside holding his arms out wide toward the dark, dank opening. ”Here you have it, boys. The freshest source of product my kingdom has to offer. If you're truly looking for high-quality to take back to your people, here you have it.” He arched a brow as neither boy moved. ”What? Still not good enough for you. Go on have a look inside. There are several live selections waiting for you inside. Take them all if you like. As you said my days here are numbered.”

Movement caught Drake's attention. Everything that he'd heard about this place, every rumor of how the products were acquired and harvested came rushing back. His brain couldn't think outside the horrors he knew awaited in that room. Rushing forward, his vampire vision quickly adjusted taking in at least 20 girls of various ages and species chained to the walls. Laughter sounded behind him causing him to quickly turn. His mask fell away and cold fear radiated outward through his body as he realized Mattie had followed him inside, and the sick bastard laughing maniacally from the door had planned this the entire time. He watched helplessly as the stone wall closed. Even his vampire speed and strength weren't enough to stop its closing. A low, weak voice brought his attention away from the thick, heavy door and to one corner of the small cell.

”There's no use, you're simply wasting your strength... These walls are meant to restrain even the strongest of creatures...” Her weak voice cracked with faint coughing.

Drake pulled his shirt up over his nose, trying to mask what he could of the smell of filth and unclean bodies... there was a lingering smell of death he was unable to mask though, regardless of how hard he tried. ”What is this place? How long have you been here?” He asked as he tried to make out the girl's features in the dark.

”You're a vampire, surely you know the answer to that.” The girl replied in hatred-laced disdain.

Drake let out a heavy sigh as his gaze moved back to his brother who was still clawing frantically at the thick boulder blocking the entrance. {The pit...} He'd heard rumors growing up. Drunk vampires talking about the 'entertainment', the fine delicacies, the deprivation allowed here. All for a hefty price, of course... ”We're f.u.c.k.e.d...” He whispered more to himself than anyone else as he walked over and placed a soothing hand on his younger brother's shoulder. ”I'm sorry for dragging you into this, but don't worry... I'll try to find us a way out.”

”Ha... good luck with that.” The girl's sarcastic words broke off with another fit of coughing. ”You'll die here, just like the rest of us.”