Living in Darkness (Bloodbreeders) (24 page)

When they got to the door, we all entered the enormous room together. The
ceiling was at least fifteen feet high, and the fireplace was big enough to
walk in. Large rugs adorned the massive floor. Round ones, square ones, oblong
ones, all bordered in dangling fringe. There was a square table on one of the
rugs, and it couldn’t have stood more than twelve inches off the ground. It was
surrounded by pillows, one for each color of the rainbow and more.

“Please, sit,”
Isa
said, gesturing to the
table. “My man will bring us something to drink.”

“But I thought we couldn’t put anything but blood in our bodies?” I
asked, confused. Isa just laughed. “What? I’m serious.”

“I now know why after almost one hundred and fifty years of freedom, he
chose you to live with for eternity. You become more charming by the minute,”
he said.

About that time, the big man returned with a tray and set it on the
table. The
drinks
he had referred to
were indeed blood. I lowered my head, embarrassed by my naivety.
Of course, its blood
,
I thought to myself.
What
else would it be, stupid
?
Then,
a question I hadn’t really given much thought to cross my mind.
 
Since this man seemed to be different from
the others, I decided to ask him.

“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful after you have been so kind to me,
but can I ask you a question?”

“You may ask whatever you wish,” he replied.

“It’s the blood. Not just this, but also what they feed us,” I cleared
my throat.
 
“It’s always in a container
of some kind... where does it come from? Do they have, like
normals
standing by or something?”

“That is a very good question, one that not many would think to ask,”
he began. “Blood is blood.
Normals
, I must say, taste
the best, though it may only be a state of mind. However, if we were to feed
strictly on
normals
, our kind would be known, and
subsequently, hunted like in the days of old. That is why we use pig blood. Their
systems are very much like our own. Is that what you wished to know?”

I only nodded, because I was too overcome with relief to speak. I knew
that Rebecca was giving me the blood of goats, but after seeing the Brown boy
from back home, chained up in the dungeon, yet still human, I had been thinking
the worst.

“There are those who are careless and chose to feed only from the
living. Your Mistress is one that refuses to go for too long without her
special stock.”

“Yeah, I was already pretty sure about that.”

Isa and I reclined back on the pillows, drinking the blood that had
been provided, and watched as
Tanda
and the giant
played some kind of card game. She looked truly happy for the first time since
I met her. My thoughts drifted once again to all that she must have endured
over all these years, and my heart sank.

“You look very sad, Lady Renee,” Isa said. I had been so deep in
thought, that I hadn’t even noticed he was looking at me. “Tell me what are you
thinking?”

“I was thinking how hard it has been for that young girl,” I said
motioning to
Tanda
. “I’m already to the point where I
think I can’t take any more of this place, and she has fifty years on me. My
heart breaks for her.”

“I came here shortly after she was brought here,” he said. I must have
been glaring at him, because he quickly said, “I never harmed her, so there is
no need to stare at me with such hatred.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just that I don’t understand why you would come to a
place like this if you are so honorable,” I said, and it was obvious from his
facial expression that I had hurt his pride. “Look, I didn’t mean to upset you,
but I haven’t come across too many good folks in my little stay here.”

“You are correct. How could you think any different? I will tell you
why I come.”

“No, you don’t have to. I was rude, and I apologize.” Truthfully, I was
just afraid of what the answer might be.

“I come to buy slaves, that much is true. We take them to our country,
where they work and live in our home.” He held his hand toward his body guard.
“
Najja
, I found in Africa. He was made to do hard
labor, with a whip on his back daily. He has been by my side since the day I
found him.” Now the giant had a name, and a past like the rest of us, maybe
even worse.

“Then why not buy
Tanda
? She was only sixteen
when she was turned, and she’s so sweet and caring. She doesn’t belong here,” I
said.

“I agree, but they will not sell her. Even if they would, she would not
survive without her brother.”

“Why not take them both?” I asked.

“Because Mistress Yvette knows how I treat my slaves, and finds it
appalling. She once told me she would make more money renting them out, even
after I offered her top price and then some,” Isa said. “If she thinks any joy
would come to her slaves, she refuses. She is a demon, and very much enjoys
what she does.”

Isa and I talked for a while longer, about how he buys time with
Tanda
, just to know she is safe, and that he comes every
couple of months or so just to spend time with her. He told me that he thinks
of
Tanda
very much like a daughter, and that he
wishes he could save her from this place as much if not more than I do.

“I know you wish to escape.” Isa blurted out.

 
I was shocked. My mouth hit the
floor. The statement had come out of nowhere, and the fear it brought with it
reached my very core.

“Please don’t tell Yvette! I was... I was only thinking about... Oh,
God, please. I won’t ever bring it up again,” I stammered. He held a hand up,
and with a smile shook his head.

“I wish to help you in any way I can,” he said.

His words hit my heart, and I prayed that what I had just heard was
true. Tears of joy streamed down my face, and I could hardly gather myself
together to speak.

“Seriously, you mean it?”

“I am always serious about such important matters,” he replied handing
me a tissue. “I owe Martin a favor. He once saved my life, and I will repay
that debt by helping to save his bride.”

In the excitement, I decided to let the bride comment slide, but I
couldn’t control the tears.
Tanda
came and kneeled by
my side. She took me in her arms, and said ever so softly, “Now you really can
go find help.”

“And you know I will come back for you and Garvin, just as soon as I
can.”

“See, I told you she was different. She really cares about us.”

“So I see,” Isa said pointedly.

For the next two hours, we went over the plans for my escape. Isa
explained how
Najja
would leave a bag at my exit, and
how I would have to make Annabel angry enough to place me back in the hole.

“Are you prepared to go through the pain they will cause you?” Isa
asked. “It may be days or weeks, before you are able to start your journey.”

“Well, it’s not like I haven’t been through it before,” I said, trying
to sound upbeat.

In reality, the thought of yet another torture at the hands of Annabel
was almost enough to make me want to think twice… almost.

“How will I know the way to the ocean when I get out?”

“There is a drain for sewage in the lowest level. That is where Garvin
will lead you. It will not be pleasant, but the drain goes directly to the
ocean. The bag you need will be up on the bank, at the left side of the drain,”
Isa explained.

We talked awhile longer, but our night was drawing close to its end. Before
leaving, Isa reminded me to act as if I had a terrible time in his care.
Tanda
and I both changed into the night wear he laid out,
and let down our hair.

“Have you put much thought into how you will anger your captors?” Isa
asked.

“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “Can’t you just say I was a pain, and I
wouldn’t listen? You could hit me or something
ya
know?”

“I am afraid I would hurt you. Besides, that would be out of character
for me. In almost two hundred years of knowing the fair Mistress, I have never
once laid a hand on any woman.”
Tanda
nodded as he
spoke. “They also know I have a way with women. There would be no way you could
resist me.” Then he smiled from ear to ear.

 
I smiled back, but I knew that
all joking aside, I had to come up with something. Time was running out.

“One more thing, Renee,” Isa said. “The boat that brought you here will
be back with a delivery at the end of next week. You must be prepared. It is
the only boat that can take you back to the states, and it does not come ashore
often.”

“How can I ever repay you?”

“Come back for the child I call daughter. Then, we will be even.”

“If I make it out, you can count on it. I couldn’t live with myself
knowing that this continued to go on. You have my word.”

“Good enough. You both must get ready to leave, they will be coming for
you soon,” he said. No more than he had gotten out the sentence, someone
pounded on the door. He looked at me and whispered, “Are you ready?”

“As much as I ever will be.” I gave him a quick hug, and whispered in
his ear, “You are a good man. Thank you.”

 
The pounding on the door
resumed, only this time the sound on grew louder with each knock.

“Enter,” Isa said firmly.

Annabel threw the door open so hard that it slammed into the wall, and
as always, her lap dog Enrique followed close behind.
Oh, hell, here we go
,
I thought to myself.

“Enrique, collect the girls and wait for me outside,” Annabel told him.

He came over to us with a demeanor I had not yet seen. With a slight
bow, he held his hand out to
Tanda
and I. “Ladies
shall we?” he asked politely.

I took
Tanda’s
hand in mine, refusing his. We
three walked out of the room, and Enrique closed the door behind us. When the
door was closed, Enrique looked at me and said, “I hope the report Annabel
receives about you is awful. I can’t remember a time when I enjoyed a whore
like you screaming in pain.”

“I’m pleased I can bring joy to a eunuch of a man, such as you,” I
said, smiling at the use of my newly learned word.

“I’ll beat you senseless!” He raised his fist, and had the door not
opened, I am sure he would have made good on his promise.

“You have done well this night, both of you. I have always known
Tanda
was a good little money maker, but you have surprised
me tonight Renee,” she said, before she started leading us back to the lower
pits of this hell. “I thought you would have been harder to break”

She walked over to me, getting so close that I thought I was going to
be kissed, and without warning, she ran her hand up under my gown and grabbed
my privates. I jumped and tried to back away, but Enrique had butted up against
my back, assuring that I stayed in place. I closed my eyes, and turned my face
away in humiliation. She released me as quickly as she had grabbed, and held
her hand up close to her face.

“I knew it. You have not yet
laid
with any
man, yet you pleased Isa greatly. Tell me, was it the first time you took a man
into that pretty little mouth of yours?” she asked with a smirk. She and
Enrique started laughing uncontrollably. I was naive, but I didn’t have to
think hard to know what she meant, and I was suddenly given my way back to the
hole.

Annabel wiped her hand on the front of my gown, and I grabbed it. I
jerked it backwards in a flash, feeling the bones snap in my grip. She screamed
and tried to pull away, but I held fast. I felt a burst of adrenaline, and
before I knew it, I had lost my mind. Next thing I knew, I was on her. She
tripped backwards and we both went down. I landed on top of her, and began
beating her face with my fist.

“You sick... nasty
....
bitch... die...
die...DIE!” With each word, I delivered another punch. I felt myself being
pulled
off of
her, and resisted. “No,” I screamed. I
tried to swing out again, but my arms were pinned to my sides. I took advantage
of my feet, and made contact with several kicks before Enrique lifted me up to
his six foot level, and chucked me down the hallway we had just exited. I
bounced not once, but twice, before landing in a heap. I looked back to see
Annabel lying there, bleeding, and damn sure not moving. Now it was my turn to
smirk.
Oh, God, I hope she’s dead
,
I thought to myself, but there
was no such luck. She curled up onto her side in the fetal position, groaning.

Enrique crouched down beside her, and looked back to me. “What the
fuck
were you thinking? You almost
crushed her face, you’re lucky she lives.” He turned back to her, and I slowly
got to my feet, spitting my own blood to the floor. It wasn’t until then that I
realized just how hard I had landed. I had to use the wall to balance my first
few steps, but soon was walking normally. I was almost to them before I spoke.