Bloodbreeders: Seeking Others (20 page)

“I see. So, let me ask you a question. Will we travel to the top of the states in one journey, or will you ask about other places that we can correct on our way?”

“I like using the word ‘correct’ much better,” I smiled. “I personally want to hit them all, and then go around the world until there are no more slave traders out there.”

“You have a universe of dreams to fill, I’m afraid. We have lived among the normals for centuries, never being found out for our true nature. Oh, there have been those who claimed to know what we are and even sought us out, only to become a hot meal for their troubles. What I am getting at is, having to leave your little ones, as well as my sister, on the ship where others may find them when we are not on board, a risk that I myself am not willing to take.”

“Then what do you suggest that we do with them? I’m not leaving them here, not now, but I will hit the other places, even if I have to do it by myself.”

“Why are you so strong minded about this quest that you have placed on yourself?”

“Just knowing that someone is being sexually abused, or severally beaten, not to mention all of the other things that we both know a slave is put through, makes me sick to
my stomach. Ashley and Bo didn’t die in vain, Jacob. This will continue in their names, for the sake of all who need our help.”

“Excuse me,” Cates said walking out to us. He was clean and changed into his maroon silk pants that were very much like Jacob’s. “The others are clean and fed. They all wait in the grand room. It seems they wish to talk to you both.”

I looked at Jacob, who simply raised one brow, then turned to follow Cates into the open foyer. I watched as the gate-like doors closed, wondering how, as I looked up at the ledge of the wall that surrounded our home. That’s when I knew there was no magic being used, but two men turning a big wheel, as the doors slowly closed. I let a small giggle out, thinking how silly I was to believe that they had been opening and closing on their own, and ran to catch up with the others. We found all the rest comfortably sitting around at the back of the great room, the same room that I’d killed Rebecca in. Johnny and Shyanna both came at me. Johnny, running full out getting caught by Jacob, and Shyanna flying up as soon as Johnny’s feet left the floor.

“Renee, watch this,” Derek said and took out an apple. “Shya, go get the ball and I’ll gi
ve you this nice juicy apple.”

She hopped once then sprang into the air and out the door she went, coming back minutes later with the ball that she and Johnny had been playing with. She handed it to him and he gave her the apple, which she tore into, making ‘yummy’ sounds all the way down to the last bite. Jessie got up and grabbed another apple from the bowl on the center of the table.

“Can you find me a stone from the water’s edge? A pretty one?” Shyanna looked around then chirped as she flew back out the door.

We waited a good thirty minutes, talking about the pleasure of being home and getting to take a hot bath. Cates had closed the doors after Shyanna left, not wanting to have the workers hear what we were talking about. When I asked what the big deal was, he walked up and whispered that we would not have room to take them all, and if they felt that the moon people would attack, it might cause a panic.

I was about to argue with the ‘not enough room’ when Shyanna started banging on the door, crying her bird-like cry. Cates opened it and she half hopped, and half flew in, spinning around to look up at the giant who let her in. She made her way to Jessie and handed her a sea shell. “Pretty…me’s bite sweet?” Jessie smiled down at her and handed her the apple. I think we were all waiting for her to eat, but instead she hopped over to Derek and gave it to him. He thanked her, and then looked at me. Very slowly he raised the apple to his mouth, getting a ‘don’t do it’ from half of us in the room.

“My stomach has felt different ever since we drank that green stuff, which by the way, stayed down. Maybe it made it so we could eat?” No one said a word after that, even though Jacob and Cates, along with a few others, knew that Derek was fixing to make himself sick again, just like he did when he drank the tea.

Derek teasingly put the apple in his mouth and bit down, spitting out the piece shortly after, claiming that it tasted sour and burnt his tongue. I was beginning to get a better picture of our taste buds. Salty, copper tasting blood was like sweet nectar, while real food according to Derek, was the complete opposite. I myself had no desire to put solid food in my mouth. I had tried the water in my first week in this life, and with the pain of it coming back up I doubted I would ever have the desire to try anything else as long as I lived in the world of darkness. Brandon pushed Derek, and then rubbed the top of his head.

“I think we need to make arrangements to leave as soon as the sun sets tomorrow night. The workers can have the ship ready before we wake,” Jacob said sitting down in one of the four large chairs behind the table.

“We all go?” Jessie asked her brother.

“Renee wants to take you and the other young ones to our home in Maine,” Jacob explained leaning his head back and closing his eyes.

“I can fight. I do not wish to stay in Maine, if the rest of you will be elsewhere,” she replied, turning to me as they all seemed to do.

“Jessie, we are going into places that have turned my mind to mush with unbelievable things, things that should have never existed. I can’t have Johnny in that sort of danger and Tanda can’t care for him, not by herself. I need you to protect them for me,” I said leaning back on the table so I could look her in the eye.

“What do you expect of me if something should happen and you do not return?” she asked in a voice low enough that Johnny wouldn’t hear.

“I’ll leave the choice in watching over him up to you. I want you to do whatever you
think is best for you all, not what anyone else wants. I know you’ll find a way to keep him safe,” I whispered back giving her a light hug.

“I will watch over him. He calls me, Auntie,” Tanda smiled turning back to watch him play. “Jessie has been teaching me how to defend myself. I will keep him safe.”

Tears filled my eyes and crashed over my lashes before I even realized it was happening. I shook my head lightly and wiped my cheek. “That was the bravest thing that I’ve ever heard, sweetie, but who’s going to look after you?” She looked over at Garvin, who in turn looked at Brandon. It was a game of eye tag. Jessie apparently didn’t want to be left in Maine, and Tanda and Johnny had to have someone else stay with them. Staying on the ship was out of the question, and I let it be known when Derek asked. I rolled my eyes and turned around facing away from the table. The thought of them being attacked while they slept, or worse, having the ship sink as they lay in their dead sleep, knowing nothing until they woke at the bottom of the black water…if they woke at all, was more than I could handle.

Jacob and Cates sat back and let all of us discuss what we should do in the way of caring for Johnny’s needs. Everyone in the room knew that there would be no keeping Shyanna on board, or in Maine. If she didn’t get loose she would, in a state of manic fear of being left, fight and kill those who merely wanted to help her. Unless something else happened when she took the lives that she did. It was just another small thing about her that I would never know.

Derek and Brandon let it be known that they would never leave my side and the only way that they would stay, is if I were the one to be chosen to stay and care for Johnny. I laughed out loud when Derek added the last. I wouldn’t even be in the equation. I was in search of more than just those in need of our help. I was trying to find my maker along the way, without making my intention known. He could be anywhere along our path, it was more than likely the very path that he had taken.

I would have to wait to get back on the ship to look at the maps that Jacob had showed us when he was comparing them to the ones Tabor gave him. I remembered seeing the rolled out map, and seeing the state of Georgia before we left, Williams Bay. We were a long way from reaching the top of the states, and Jacob hadn’t even mentioned another estate, or ill minded master, since we removed Cortez. I agreed to have them get the ship in order, but I told them to stock plenty of food and drink for several normals. I wasn’t leaving the weakest behind to be slaughtered. The rest of Jacob’s men could defend the place, and more than likely would be victorious in their attempts, but I wasn’t going to take a chance with the handful of normals that Chin had under him.

“How many non-breeders are here?” I asked looking right at Jessie.

“Seven. Three males and four females. All of them are up in age and would not do well if we had to fight. To not retreat would be their assured death.” Jessie defended those she seemed very fond of.

“That’s the very reason that I don’t want to leave them here.” I stood and stretched my back. “It’s getting late, and we better get down for the day.” I walked to the door.

“Renee,” Jessie called out, walking swiftly to catch up. “I would be honored to watch over your brother and Tanda. I just find myself wanting to be close to my brother when he’s away. Now, I find myself feeling that same pull to you.”

“That’s because we’re a family, Jessie.” I kissed her on the forehead. “I wanted to be back with all of you so bad that I felt the pain behind it.”

“Please, promise me that you will not leave us there long. I want to be with you when you cross the ocean to find him.”

I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into the open foyer.

“How did you know that’s what I was doing?”

“What other reason would you have for going so far north? You could have chosen any number of directions to find those of our kind who are being mistreated.”

“I could have chosen to go north, because we were already on this side of the states.”

“Doubtful. But, the worst
are
on the coastal shores, it is better for an easy escape.”

“Does that go for all of the things out there?”

“You are changing the subject,” she smiled.

“Okay,” I said peeking back into the room. “I am looking for him.”

“And he was headed to London?” she nodded.

“Yeah, and I don’t have a clue how he went.”

“You need to talk to my brother, so the two of you can make a good plan.”

“Tomorrow night, right now I just wanna to get comfortable,” I said, then started to turn. “Jessie, I would really appreciate you not mentioning this to anyone, if you don’t mind.”

“Your secret is safe with me.” She turned and went back into the room, like my wanting to find Martin was no big deal.

How many of them knew my plan? I laughed to myself as Shyanna, Johnny, and I, made our way back to our sleeping quarters. Tammy was helped in a few minutes later by Cates, then soon after followed Jessie. She looked at me and grinned, then walked over and crawled in bed beside Tanda. I was lying on top of the covers on my side and Shyanna was on the floor next to me, covered with her blanket and holding her pillow on the wrong side of her head. All the males stayed in their own area, which I was assuming was similar to ours. Our bed was big enough for all of us, but Tammy chose to sleep on the chaise lounge with her leg propped up. It wasn’t long before I was the only one awake in the room. I sat up and walked into the dressing room, I think more to be alone than anything. I sat down in the corner and pulled my knees up, laying my head down on them and thought about everything…then nothing.

I woke sitting in the same position, only now I had a blue wool shawl over me. I looked around and there he was, Jacob, leaning against the door jam. I pushed my legs out and felt the stiffness in my bones. He wasn’t in our area when the sun came up and as far as I knew he would burn just like the rest of us. The men’s area was through another door in the open air foyer and the light would easily fill it. “How’d you get over here?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

“The tunnels, of course.”

“Oh, of course, like I knew that,” I sarcastically replied getting up.

“You never asked.”

“I thought this place was to open for our kind. I should have known it would have some spooky tunnels with all the creepy crawlers that live in them.”

“You speak too soon, as usual,” he replied walking straight at me, and then all of the sudden brought his hand up and hit a hook on the wall by my head.

The panel slid back and a
well-lit tunnel appeared. The dressing room that we stood in was something that I would have never thought to have a secret door in it. Clothes hung on display rods, along with vanities with jewelry from all over the world gracing the opposite wall. There were two private changing rooms, and one bathing room. The long table in between the two changing rooms was more like a cushioned bench than it was a table, and sat closer to the floor. The cool air that drifted out of the sage and lavender smelling tunnel was unexpected to say the least.

I was utterly shocked at sight of the tunnel, which was more like a hall. The walls were wooden slates that shined with a fresh polish and the floor was tile, with throw rugs every few feet. The ceiling was the only thing that gave its true appearance away. Its high arched curves and chiseled frame, showed the hard work of those who created it, but not one cobweb was in sight. Jacob was right, I had spoken too soon.

“Where do they lead to?”

“They go to the outer reaches of our land. They also let you move freely about in the confinement of the estate.”

“You don’t worry about something accidentally stumbling across the ones on, what did you call it? The outer something?”

“Only those who know the combination can open them from the outside. That is if they were to ever find one.”

“Then Johnny and the girls might be safe here after all,” I said turning. “Do they lock from the inside?”

“Better, you can go down one level and close it off to trap any who may be unlucky enough to follow. Chin has made this into a place to match his home in China. The earth may be blackened with fire, but those who took shelter in one of these would remain alive.”

“I wanna know about other traders up the coast.”

“Come, sit and we will talk until the others wake.” Then he turned and walked out of the tunnel.

He first told me that there would be places best left alone, and I returned a statement of ‘not likely going to happen’. He didn’t seem to get my meaning of not wanting to have a group that we missed coming up our backs, when we could have put the fear into them in the first place. He, on the other hand, thought that there were a few places that given the chance, would tear us apart. We talked about a place close to, Havelock, North Carolina. It was hard to listen to him tell about the master of that trading ring, because he was a man that chose men. Jacob added that the only women we would find anywhere near there would be a dead one.

“So, not only does this man have a liking for men, he has a hatred for women to the point that he kills them?”

“He is the sickest of our kind, Renee. The men he buys do not always want the favors of a man,” he said, nodding very slow.

“You mean he rapes them?” I replied, swallowing the lump that had crept up in my throat.

“He, as well as those, who play his games.”

“What else do you know about him?”

“Little I’m afraid. Chin traveled far around the likes of him and those in the state of New York.”

“They do the same thing there?”

“They do
everything
there.”

“We leave the younger ones in the safety of the tunnels with your guard watching over them, and take this…I don’t even know what you call a thing like that.”

“He is demented in more ways than one,” Jacob claimed.

“It just gets deeper and deeper doesn’t it?”

“I believe you have lived through a great deal of the deepest part of our world. Any who have suffered at the hands of Yvette, knows all too well the ways of our world.”

“And should want to stop it from ever happening again,” I snapped, shooting a glare his way.

“One at a time,” he said, raising his chin at me.

I let out a small laugh and knew I had no reason to get upset with him. Jacob left through the tunnel to set things in motion with the men. The tunnels would be set up so that you could only open them from the inside, unless you had the combination that Jacob had mentioned. Once we were all in agreement, we started helping load the small boats with supplies to take to the ship. We were walking up to the gates, when the howling began. Jacob pushed me behind him and Cates stepped in front of Tammy while pulling his sword from his back. Brandon and Derek stepped out to one side of me, and Garvin and Sydney stepped out on the other side of Tammy.

“Looks like we have company,” Jacob said as he slid his blade out from the sheath that swung on his hip.

“The dogs? They’re here?” I asked frantically.

“It would be wise to refrain from using the word,
dog
. There are better known as wolves,” Cates interjected stepping back, making the circle tighter.

The howling got louder as the smell became stronger. I held the handle of my jeweled blade, but pointed my gun in the direction of the moving brush. In one smooth motion, three men stepped out. They were Indians. From the long black hair to the leather beaded pants and footwear they had on. I jumped back hitting Derek in the chest when several of their fur friends stepped out into the opening. 

“Be calm, Renee. They will do nothing, here and now,” Jacob said looking at the man in the middle.

“Your master broke his word,” the man in the middle said, stepping up.

“My master did not know of your pack with the old one,” Jacob replied also stepping forward.

“Then it is true. He who made the pack is no longer.”

“It is, but a stronger master has taken his lead. We will honor the pack as it has always been, unless you and your people are ready for a new one.”

“You crossed into our territory and three of my people died. You have no pack with us.”

“They attacked us,” I yelled.

“Renee!” Jacob said never turning to see me come up beside him.

“You are speaking for him then?”

“She is not,” Jacob replied in a heavy voice.

“I’ll speak for myself, thank you kindly. Your people came after us, when all we were doing was trying to get home. So, if they couldn’t handle what they bit off that’s not our fault.”

The tall dark man started walking toward me and Cates and Jacob both stepped in front, blocking my view. “Move!” I yelled and pushed through them. I met him face to face. He growled, bringing chills up my spine, but I stood my ground.

“We could go to war right now.” I heard his words, but didn’t believe his threat. What I did believe was the two huge beasts coming up behind him. It was then that I felt Jacob and Cates getting closer to my back. He raised his hand and the beasts stopped moving. One snapped at the other as they swayed waiting for another order.

“Make the first move,” I said moving closer.

“You killed Chin?”

“I did. Why, you got a problem with that?”

“Why did you break his word?”

“You mean by crossing your land?” I asked as he nodded. “Our boat sank. What other choice did we have?”

“Chin would have expected us to swim.”

“I’m not Chin, you don’t bother us, we won’t bother you.”

“Words mean nothing coming from one with no name.”

“I didn’t hear you offer yours.”

“Hum,” he frowned. “I am Cochee of the Moon Tribe, and these are my people.”

“I’m Renee Lebrun, and these are mine. You need to call your dogs off.”

Jacob made a sound as soon as I said it. The two beasts stood on their hind legs and I screamed. They towered over Cates, and he was our giant. Cochee turned around and yelled something in his language and they twisted around and ran off on all fours. He and the other two men turned back around with pure hatred on their faces. I stepped back up with my head hanging a little lower, feeling ashamed of what I said.

“I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry.”

“You kill my men then you insult me to my face.”

“I said I was sorry. You didn’t have to bring your…your…whatever they are with
you.”

“They are what we all are.” Then his body started to reshape.

“To the gates,” Jacob yelled.

I was running in a sideways fashion, watching Cochee’s skin pull apart and fur replacing it. His head flew back as a sound rumbled out, and none to human. Jacob pulled me in as Cochee’s face began to elongate. He grabbed his head as his body fell forward, then the gates slammed shut. People were running in every different direction inside our walls, and I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on outside of them. Jessie was ushering Tanda and Johnny into the tunnels in our area, as Tammy tried to get ahold of Shyanna.

“Jacob!” I yelled running up to him and Cates. “Can they get in here?”

“You should have held your tongue.”

“Just answer me!”

“It is possible, but I doubt they will try. What they will do is prevent our leaving.”

“The ship,” I paused thinking about our people. “What about the ship? We have people that are depending on us to keep them safe, Jacob.”

“That is what I too am worried about.”

He left me standing with my mouth open, and started climbing up the wall. I watched until he went over the side. At first I thought he went over, until he looked back down. Cates saw him then took off to the other side and climbed up, leaving me to stand alone. I turned around and saw Garvin and Sydney running with a group of the normals and joined them. We ran them into the tunnels with the girls. I told them to stay with them, before I left to return to the others. The howling had started back up and I wanted to see the other side of our well-constructed wall, so I climbed up. The walkway was about a foot wide and there was little to hold on to. There were at least ten beasts in front of the gates, several looking up at us.

One threw its head back and howled for a long time. Four backed up, then ran right at the side of the gate, smashing their bodies into the wall hard, shaking it so much that I fell over. I landed right in the middle of them. I scooted back as fast as my arms and legs would move, until I was as close to the frame of our wall as I could get. The big black wolf that had howled, causing the others to use their bodies as battering rams, came up
and stuck his snarling snout in my face. I turned my head, as he sniffed the side of it. I felt the slime drip on my shoulder from his mouth that was filled with razor sharp teeth.

“Cochee! That will be enough!” a gruff voice said from behind him.

Cochee snapped his jaws, causing me to let out a little scream and close my eyes extremely tight. I heard the gates open and the scrambling of many feet running out. I stayed with my head froze to the side until I felt the heat of Cochee’s wolf breath back away. Sydney dropped down on his knee and grabbed me under the arm. I screamed out and swung at him, hitting him square across the face.  His head went back, and blood flew from his nose.

“Oh, Sydney, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine. I should have said something before I touched you,” he smiled through the blood that was running over his lips. “Come on, hurry.” Then he pulled me to my feet.

Cates held his sword like a bat, while all my other little ones took their fighting stance. Jessie, Tanda, and Tammy were included. I looked down at Tammy’s splinted leg, and just shook my head. An older dark skinned man came walking out of the underbrush with several men at his side. He wore a full set of leather hide clothes, with fringes hanging down both sleeve and down both pant legs. Cochee walked by not five feet in front of us, snapping his jaws in a quick motion at me. Cates came down with his hilt and hit him in the back of the head, knocking him unconscious.

“Be still,” the older Indian said raising his hand high in the air. “He brought it on his self.”

“Sontos, it is good to see you,” Jacob said walking away from our group.

“My son is learning to take my place. I think it will not go well for your kind when I am gone.”

“May we talk until that time?”

“I wish to speak with the one who took your maker,” he said walking a few steps closer.

It seemed every time I opened my mouth lately I got us into trouble, so I just stood there when Jacob turned around to look at me. He moved his fingers for me to come closer, but I shook my head. It was then that the older man named Sontos walked up to me. His hair was streaked with gray and hung well past his waist. His skin showed his
age and the marks across his face showed him to be a fighter. I took a deep breath and let it out as he reached and took my hair in his hands.