Part 25 (1/2)

Xavier stared at her for long moments. The beat of the club's music vibrated through Gideon's feet, in tune with his thundering heartbeat, the pulse of Anwyn's body, so close to them both and yet so distant in a strange way. Her mind was shuttered like a trap, a total darkness that awed and worried him at once. When he dared a glance around, he realized they were almost alone. The other patrons had moved on, as if sensing the volatile nature of what was happening, or encouraged that way by two other vampires who had appeared from the shadows, here to reinforce Xavier's will if needed.

Despite the force with which she'd just taken the reins, a familiar rubber-band-taut apprehension was swirling in his gut. He'd had it twice before, both times right before he'd been captured by a vampire. It made him antsy as h.e.l.l. He wanted to strike out, fight in some physical way before things became any more claustrophobic. He held steady, though, because she did. Though Xavier saw and felt only the s.e.xy frosting of the ice she was dis.h.i.+ng out, Gideon could feel her pulling on his strength with all that she had to keep that chill. They were a unit, one person. He had to remember that.

Xavier shook his head at last, a rough chuckle rumbling from his chest. ”Boys, I best watch my step. I might be talking to a future Council member here. You've certainly got bigger b.a.l.l.s than most of them. Not a whiff of fear on you.” His gaze hardened. ”Don't push it, though. Lovely and clever only go so far with me.”

For the first time, he turned his attention to Gideon. ”This one looks big and mean enough, but you seem to have him towing the line. I should have known you had more than one ace in that tight dress of yours.” He proffered an arm. ”Shall we take that tour?”

Inclining her head, she laid her slim fingers in the crook of his arm, caressing his biceps with easy familiarity, as if they'd never teetered on a violent edge. ”It would be my pleasure, Master Xavier.”

He took his b.l.o.o.d.y time with it. A thorough tour of the upper area, and then the lower dungeons, where more intense, and a lot less legal, play occurred. Couples that liked to push it way past the safe-word route, into play that was far too risky for the body. Asphyxiation, full sensory deprivation, beatings, electric shock. Russian roulette with loaded weapons. Anwyn pa.s.sed by it all with perfect aplomb, whereas Gideon felt like he needed a shower. What he'd seen in the lower levels of her dungeon had skirted into these areas, but were far better monitored, the boundaries far clearer than he'd realized at the time. Anwyn had no interest in facilitating people with a careless desire to throw away their lives or who cared so little for the trust of their slaves that they'd cause them permanent damage.

While Gideon had s.h.i.+ed away from the physical machinations of BDSM, having a difficult enough time with his own strong responses to psychological D/s, he had a new appreciation for Anwyn's firm but intelligent hand on it by the time they reached the final staircase. They were already belowground, making Gideon wonder if the club had once been some type of utility facility, delving this far into the earth.

”If you're a bit squeamish about taking things too far, this level isn't for you, little queen,” Xavier said, sliding a finger across the top of her right breast, a casually possessive touch, as if he already a.s.sumed he had that liberty. ”Typically only very select clientele go into this area.”

”Lord Stephen hinted you had such a place.” Her gaze gleamed, her lips lifting in a cruel smile. ”Why do you think I was so eager to come here?” She glanced back at Gideon as if she were looking at a prized possession, not a sentient being. ”Last night, I used a bullwhip on him. Thirty-six lashes, until the skin was hanging in strips off his back.” She gave a s.h.i.+ver. ”He screamed during the last of it. Then he crawled to me, put his lips to my shoe. I was a Mistress before I was a vampire, but I find I like how much deeper I can take it . . . with fangs.”

”I would have liked to see that. I can see why Lord Stephen directed you our way.” Eyes gleaming in antic.i.p.ation, Xavier flourished her ahead. ”I have a captive lion below that needs to learn quite a bit more humility. Maybe I'll let you help me with that.”

”My pleasure.” Anwyn's expression reflected eagerness, with the right touch of wariness. Gideon amended his earlier a.s.sessment. She was scarier than he'd ever imagined she could be. However, as she gracefully descended, he had to bite back his irritation and discomfort when Xavier stepped in behind her, leaving him to bring up the rear. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d's hand rested nearly on her a.s.s to ”steady” her going down the winding staircase.

We're getting close, Gideon. She'd done such a good job of pulling in Xavier, Gideon was relieved to hear her voice, the concern and compa.s.sion, speak in his mind. She'd done such a good job of pulling in Xavier, Gideon was relieved to hear her voice, the concern and compa.s.sion, speak in his mind. I can feel him, but I'm not sure . . . I think he's out again. I can feel him, but I'm not sure . . . I think he's out again.

All right. We know our plan. Hold to it. I've seen eight vampires in the building so far, and it's a safe bet Xavier's linked to all of them.

This was a dungeon in truth, complete with water dripping from damp walls and stifling, close air. Though he heard nothing, it was like the stone had absorbed past cries of pain and hopelessness. Cold fingers gripped his vitals. As they reached the ground level, Xavier took them down a narrow, poorly lit corridor. Opening a metal door with a security panel code, he swung it inward, gesturing Anwyn ahead of him.

Following them in, Gideon saw several cells. Two of them held small cl.u.s.ters of young women who had obviously been club patrons above. Their clothes were too thin and scanty for this damp level. Some were like junkies, sprawled on the dirty floor or cots in various stages of stupor. Seeing the pallid tones of their skin, their lethargy, he realized they were being used as donors, with no care for how much or how often. When they were husks, their bodies would be discarded.

Others not so far gone huddled in the corners or behind the cots, keeping their eyes down, as if that would keep them from being noticed. He saw bruises and gashes, evidence of other forms of abuse Anwyn would recognize far too well. The pretty clothes they'd donned to entice others and please themselves were now soiled rags that mocked the independent spirit that had brought them to the club doors.

”It's inconvenient to my men to maintain servants, and going out to dinner all the time can be a pain in the a.s.s. Why do that when we have a potential buffet upstairs every night?”

”Indeed,” Anwyn murmured. ”But don't you worry about human law enforcement?”

”Their disappearances are never connected here. My men talk up the girls, target the ones that come alone, that have few family ties, or are just traveling in the area, not locals. We take a new one every few months, s.p.a.ce it out.” He nodded to a girl that appeared to be barely breathing, curled in a fetal position in a corner. ”That tough little piece of a.s.s, we call her Sarah. She's survived nearly six months with us. If any authority gets too close, it's easy to distract them or make them vanish. That's what you need to understand, fledgling.” Xavier shrugged a ma.s.sive shoulder. ”The Council won't tell you this, but as long as we stick to the shadows, we can do as we please. Humans don't want to discover us. They don't want to believe we exist.”

”I'm only seeing young girls,” she said, with just a touch of boredom. ”You promised me a lion.” She glanced up at him with an avaricious smile tinged with hope that Gideon fervently wished never to see on her face again. ”I saw a bear once, in the States. All pent up in a cage outside a casino. He caught a gawker who got too close. They'd declawed him, the cowards, but he still crushed the man's chest, beat him to death against the bars. It was when I was human, so at the time I thought I was appalled. But secretly . . . it was delicious, in a way.”

”Yeah, you have a taste for it, all right. Maybe you should consider staying in our territory for a while.” Xavier leaned in with a wink. ”You could be my little secret, so I wouldn't have to share you with a territory overlord. I bet Stephen would do it as a favor for me. You could pretend to get on your plane back to the States, but never really go back.”

Anwyn laughed. ”As appealing as that sounds, I have a club to run there, a lucrative business. Maybe you could come be my my little secret, hmm?” She winked at him, moved forward with a sashay of hips that was pretty much indecent. Walking down the stairs had worked the dress up around her hips, the lower curve of one bare b.u.t.tock almost visible, even in the dim light. She adjusted the hem with a finger caressing the cheek, making Xavier growl low in his chest. little secret, hmm?” She winked at him, moved forward with a sashay of hips that was pretty much indecent. Walking down the stairs had worked the dress up around her hips, the lower curve of one bare b.u.t.tock almost visible, even in the dim light. She adjusted the hem with a finger caressing the cheek, making Xavier growl low in his chest.

”You'll be f.u.c.king me tonight, fledgling. No matter what clever words you say or do. Hope you can handle a big c.o.c.k in that smart a.s.s of yours. I want to make you cry.”

”I don't waste my time on anything small.” She gave that head toss again. ”Where's my lion?”

Xavier chuckled. ”Impatient b.i.t.c.h. I have other, more interesting playrooms for vampires beyond this one, but I'll show you my current prize.” He moved past the cells to another heavy door and pushed it open.

Gideon tried to brace himself for the next horror he would see. More important, he prepared to brace Anwyn, if it was Daegan.

It was.

She saw him first, because Gideon felt all those carefully packed boxes in her mind swell against their seams, in danger of rupturing as rage entered her mind like a flood. It shoved into every corner of her mind, threatening to disrupt that cool veneer that had carried her this far.

He wanted to get closer to her, give her physical as well as emotional support, but Xavier stood between them. His hand was now square on her a.s.s, fondling the hem of her skirt, meaty finger sliding under it. He'd have it in her p.u.s.s.y in a second, and Gideon knew she wouldn't be able to handle that. Her skin was crawling from everywhere he'd already touched her. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d likely planned to f.u.c.k her right here. The stench of his arousal was growing.

It was easy to see at a glance why Daegan had sounded so disoriented and weak. He'd been restrained on a steel autopsy table, so that the blood being drained from him flowed down the molded channels. It was a slow drip, but the blood bags to catch the flow were full, another three already lined up where he could see them. There was a refrigerator out in the cell area, so no telling how much had already been banked, or if they were just throwing it away.

Gideon realized the purpose wasn't torture. That was a side benefit. This was to keep him weak. Apparently, even that hadn't been enough, because crude electric wires had been wrapped across his far-too-pale body. The b.a.s.t.a.r.ds had left the power source on, keeping his body jerking, the smell of flesh burning constant and nauseating. No wonder his thoughts had been coming through disjointed.

For as little time as Gideon had known Daegan, perhaps because his mind was so melded with Anwyn's, he realized he'd unconsciously shared her belief that Daegan Rei would fall to no one. To see him weakened and tortured like this, brought down low by trickery and cowardice, opened something as dark and volatile inside him as what was boiling in Anwyn's soul. He closed his hands into fists just as Daegan's eyes opened, the dark, dull depths struggling to focus. Gideon remembered the man's grace, his deadly speed, the way he'd spoken with such calm about justice. No revenge, no anger, just quiet dispensation to balance the scales.

Sorry, Daegan. I think this calls for full Noah-flood, wrath-of-G.o.d response.

”Feel no pity for this one, Mistress Anwyn,” Xavier a.s.sured her. ”He was a lion to take down in truth. Killed four of my men, even though we had the jump on him. He's a very powerful vampire. Centuries old.”

”What did he do to earn this punishment?” Her voice was flat and wooden, but fortunately Xavier was caught up in his boasting and didn't notice.

”He offended me. I will drink his blood, let my men drink it, and keep him alive long past when he is a living skeleton, to show my enemies what I'm capable of being. This is what I was saying, sweet fledgling. I am a worthy overlord for you. At least for tonight. Or until I tire of you.” He gave an ugly laugh that was matched by feral grins from the three vampires now arrayed at the door. Gideon flicked a glance toward them. It was the two from earlier, plus one more. Xavier had apparently signaled them to rejoin the party. s.h.i.+t. s.h.i.+t.

Anwyn turned on her heel, studying Xavier. ”I think it's time to pay that price of admission,” she said with a slow curve of her lips, the baring of her fangs. To the completely oblivious, it suggested she was aroused by his display of strength. She unfastened her belt, the jewels and chains catching the dim light.

”You knew I wanted to do it right here. Intuitive little thing.” l.u.s.t thickened the vampire's voice. Gideon felt the pressure of his knives, gauged the distance to the three vampires. We're still a go, Anwyn. Do it. We're still a go, Anwyn. Do it.

”Right here.” She echoed Xavier's words, a cold and deadly tone entering her soft voice. Then she dropped the belt to the ground with a clink of metal. Threading her fingers under her hair, as if searching for a fastener at the high collar of her dress, she stepped toward the vampire. As he moved to close the distance, she stepped on the belt, the center jewel setting.

The tiny crunch of broken gla.s.s made him look down. ”Ah, sweet-ling, you broke your pretty baubles. We'll have to-” He stopped, swaying, his brow furrowing. With a disoriented frown, he turned to his men.

Gideon leaped for him. As expected, the vampires responded instantly, rus.h.i.+ng forward to defend their leader.

They crossed right into the invisible fumes now drifting into the air. Thank G.o.d it worked fast. They were not as large as Xavier, and fell quicker, dropping to their knees, though one did reach Gideon, tackled him like a front lineman in that rush of movement too quick to follow. Gideon grunted at the bone-breaking impact that would have killed him if he were still human. Now he managed to pull the wooden knives he'd concealed in the lining of his jacket, tearing the seam. He staked the one and lunged for the others, who were scrabbling across the floor, eyes wide and dazed.

Xavier remained on his feet, rocking like a tree in a storm, his eyes flas.h.i.+ng with anger and fear at once, his giant fists clenching, trying to fight it off.

Anwyn had shoved away from him in that first moment, stepping out of her shoes lithely to run to Daegan's side. Putting the filter mask she'd had folded inside the neck of her dress over her nose and mouth, she put another one over Daegan's face.

Xavier struggled forward, stumbling, his murderous gaze on her. Gideon shouted out a warning, tried to get past the two crawling vampires, but he needn't have worried about his Mistress.

He never saw a hint of fear. When the big male fell, she moved back toward him, slipping the mask tie over her head to free both her hands. Bending with a predator's grace, she picked up one of her abandoned stilettos just as Xavier crashed to the floor at her feet. Gideon's heart skipped a beat at how close the monster was to her. However, dizzy and fumbling, Xavier was unable to push her away as she straddled him. Her eyes bright with cold rage, fangs bared, she slammed the heel of her shoe into his chest. Fueled by vengeance, she brought her fist down on it like a hammer. The impact was so great she caved in his chest, making sure those five inches of wood went straight into his heart.

She twisted it with a snarl, and earned a dying bellow of pain. Shaking himself out of his moment of pure admiration and adoration for her, Gideon straddled the other two helplessly wriggling males and staked them with the wooden-bladed knives. When he spun around, Anwyn was back on her bare feet, her eyes still wild.

”Think I can't take him with these heels now?” she demanded, her voice m.u.f.fled by the filter mask.

It took a second to recall his thought about her shoes, barely an hour ago. But she wasn't seeking a response. She was back at Daegan's side, hand on his mask to steady it, to make sure he didn't inadvertently inhale the now-dissipating fumes. Though most vampires didn't breathe when unconscious, Brian had explained the fumes could still enter the nasal membranes or soft tissue in the roof of the mouth if they didn't take the precaution.