Darkness Captured (19 page)

Gabriella silently promised to thank Marduk the first chance she got for not humiliating her in that fashion.

Her gaze went back to the man who held the repulsive leash. So, this was Dumuzi’s true face? Inanna’s husband had apparently shed the skin of the man he’d inhabited last in the other realm, Pasqual.

How had Inanna ever thought to rule him? His body, clothed only in a red kirtle, exuded power and sensuality. His features were rugged, completely masculine. His dark, narrowed gaze landed on Gabriella, and he smiled.

She shivered at the calculating way his gaze dropped to her breasts, then to the tender area just beneath her rib cage. She remembered the way he’d ripped the heart out of Alex’s phoenix, his cupped fingers plunging beneath her ribs and hooking upward, only to pull away, holding her still-beating heart in his hand.

Here was a hint of the wicked darkness. And then she wondered about the others at the tables in this hall, so seemingly civilized and well behaved. What sorts of beastly secrets did they carry inside their souls?

She edged closer to Marduk, felt his hand settle on her waist, and trembled with relief, her courage bolstered by his support.

“You’re already acquainted with my sister and her husband, yes?” Irkalla drawled.

Gabriella nodded. “We’ve met.”

“Old friends then?”

Inanna’s lips tightened, and she gave Gabriella a contemptuous stare at odds with the vulnerability of her appearance. “Never. Do you think I would consort with a werebeast?”

“Now, now, sister,” Irkalla said, amusement in her tone. “Lord Marduk might take umbrage to your comment. He’s also a shape-shifter, although he never stinks of dog. Won’t you join us, Marduk? A place will be made for your little slave, too. Dumuzi, would you like to sit beside them and renew your acquaintance?”

Dumuzi’s head lowered, his smile stretching his thin lips. “I would be honored to share your table. And my slave will behave this time.”

Inanna’s nostrils flared and her lips tightened, but she held the rebuke that Gabriella knew had to be burning inside her. The proud bitch had been humbled here. But Gabriella couldn’t work up any pity for the vampire.

Marduk led the strange procession around the end of the dais and climbed up the steps, taking a seat beside Irkalla, whose cheeks flared with excited color. A kneeler, like a church’s psalter was placed beside Marduk for her to take. Dumuzi had a chair, but Inanna had her own kneeler, which placed both their heads lower than anyone else’s at the table—annoying, but Gabriella wasn’t the one who had to make a place for herself in this world. She let the insult roll off her proud shoulders while Inanna’s gaze smoldered.

Without any spoken command, servers arrived in front of the table with gold plates and finely crafted chalices to set before Dumuzi and Marduk. Wine was poured; trays of meat, fish and vegetables, honeyed fruits were offered.

Marduk took samplings of all the foods, using his fingers to take bites. After he’d taken several, he offered her tidbits, feeding her like a favored pet.

She didn’t mind. When a sliver of beef was placed on her tongue, she sucked on the finger, licking up the warm juice.

His fingertip glided along her bottom lip when he pulled it away, and suddenly she was getting hot again, her eyes closing to relish the sweep of that finger, her nipples tightening, the golden rings offering a pinching sting that stimulated her further.

When she opened her eyes, the heat in his gaze told her he knew exactly what she felt. But he turned his head toward Irkalla to talk, ignoring her now, stoking resentment and a stirring of surprising jealousy, but also a slow-burning heat, because she knew the meal was one long tease and that she’d be sharing Marduk with another woman by the looks of Irkalla’s delighted smile.

Then Dumuzi’s hand landed on her shoulder, wrapping around the curve and squeezing.

Gabriella’s heartbeat slowed to a dull thud against her chest, and she held her breath while his fingers trailed between her breasts and downward, circling in teasing forays just below her ribs.

“Stop playing with her,” Irkalla said, laughter in her voice. “She must know Marduk isn’t ready to let you have her heart.”

“Pity. I’ve never tasted wolf.” His gaze cut to Inanna, who glared at Gabriella. “Perhaps, if you are good tonight, Irkalla will let you drink from the wolf.”

Irkalla lifted her hand and a server bolted forward, bowing in front of the table. “What may I bring you, mistress?”

“Something rare for my sister, but something still beating for her master.” Her gaze landed on Gabriella. “Have no fears this night. We will all seek our pleasures. Even you.”

Marduk remained silent beside her, his lips curved into a wicked smile. The threatening undercurrents swirling around them didn’t seem to concern him.

Gabriella relaxed, taking her cue from his easy posture. His fingers fed her another tidbit of meat and she wolfed it down, knowing she’d need her belly full.

The hand still stroking over her ribs climbed upward, cupped a breast, and toggled the golden circle. “So pretty, these little beads,” Dumuzi said. “I’d love to see them trembling …” His hand slid away. “Perhaps later.”

Gabriella clasped her hands in her lap and waited to be fed although her appetite had waned. Whatever came, she’d have to trust that Marduk’s influence would keep her safe, however much the others at this table might want to torment her with hints of harm.

The irony that she was placing her trust in a demon didn’t escape her. Marduk might have pulled her into hell, but he’d protected her and kept her nightmares at bay.

For as long as it took for Guntram to craft their escape, she’d play along and do her best to enjoy the licentious pleasures offered, but only because fighting would be a waste of energy.

Never one to shy away from sensual adventure, she also admitted that she possessed a ravenous curiosity and had no doubts this night would be filled with new experiences.

CHAPTER
12

G
untram eyed the iron gate they’d have to pass through to get into the palace. A large halfbull, half-human creature stood unmoving beside it, gripping a wicked-looking spear. “Somehow, I don’t think he’ll just let us walk through. I hope you have a better plan.”

Every step closer to his goal presented a new hurdle. He and Simon waited a hundred feet from the entrance, hiding behind the corner of a building. Had been for over an hour. Long enough to see Gabriella and her “master” enter the palace’s gates and disappear inside.

He almost hadn’t recognized her. Dressed like a harem slut, she’d clung to the dragon shifter’s arm, smiling easily into the man’s hard-edged face as though she didn’t fear his fierce expression—as though she’d placed complete trust in this man for her safety.

With his stomach churning, he hadn’t been able to take his gaze from Gabriella’s tall, curvy body. She walked with a sinuous grace, her eyes sparkling.

Even from so far away, he’d caught the heady aroma of her arousal and a desperate fury filled him. He was so close. But was he already too late? He’d told Simon there was no way she’d choose to remain with her captor, but now he wasn’t so sure.

Further, Simon’s plan wasn’t getting them any closer to that gate.

Dressed in their smelly borrowed clothing, they walked in stumbling, erratic circles, pretending to be plagued by invisible horrors like the rest of the lost souls hovering in the street.

Guntram halted and stuck his hands on his hips, eyeing the walls and wondering whether he could simply shift and jump over it.

“Have some patience, Guntram,” Simon said. “I’m waiting for the right mark … and he’s here.”

A man strode down the street, nearing the corner, but still out of sight of the guard.

Simon lifted his chin, signaling he’d made his choice, and ambled forward, headed directly for the tall, golden-haired creature, who was dressed in a white toga-like garment. The creature’s skin seemed almost translucent in the fading light.

“Dagon,” Simon called softly.

The man’s head turned, blue eyes narrowing. “Do I know you?”

“No, but we must borrow something from you.”

“I don’t think so,” the demon said, pushing past him.

“Hold him,” Simon said calmly.

Glad for an excuse for a little violence, Guntram leapt for the demon, taking him easily to the ground. The demon bucked and wriggled beneath him, but Guntram slammed his knee into the center of his back, pinning him and pushing the air from his lungs so that he couldn’t catch a breath and shout for help.

“Raise his face.”

Guntram grabbed the demon’s blond hair and dragged his head upward.

Simon uncurled one palm, revealing a purple powder in his palm, which he blew into the demon’s face.

The blond creature’s eyes rolled back, and he slumped beneath Guntram. “Dress him in your robe.”

Guntram pulled him to an alleyway and quickly stripped the reeking garment over his head and pulled it over the man’s still form, yanking up the hood to hide his face.

Standing only in his trousers and military boots, Guntram watched as Simon knelt beside the demon and glided his hand over his still face. Then he lifted the same hand and slid it over his own. Simon’s body transformed, shifting into an exact copy of the unconscious man.

“That’s disturbing,” Guntram murmured.

The full lips of Simon’s borrowed face curved. Then he slung the bag he’d carried from Ninshubur’s home onto the ground beside the demon’s still form. He dug into it, pulling out a leather mask, which he tossed at Guntram. “Put this over your head. No one knows you here, but the mask will mark you as a player in tonight’s entertainment. We should have no trouble entering now.”

Guntram pulled the mask over his head.

Simon tossed him a small jar next. “Rub this salve into your skin. It will mask your scent. We can’t have anyone making you as a wolf.”

Guntram slathered the oily salve over his skin, wrinkling his nose at the scent of almonds, lavender, and sandalwood. The demons around them might not identify him as a wolf, but they might wonder about his preferences.

Then he followed Simon in his new skin around the corner and toward the gates of the palace.

The bull-man bowed, demanding tribute. Simon pulled a strand of perfect pearls from a leather purse at his belted waist.

Had he taken them from the demon or produced them from the air? Guntram didn’t think much was beyond his companion’s capabilities, but let the thought go because they were through the door and entering a courtyard.

There was no sign of Gabriella. He mentioned it.

Simon grimaced. “You hardly thought it would be that easy.”

They passed a fountain and a woman bobbed from beneath the surface of the water to spit a stream of water on his feet as he passed. Guntram spared her a quick glare, but she merely laughed. “What’s next?” he asked, his shoulders bunching with the need to release some more of the frustration he’d been storing up for hours. “Other than finding her tonight, what do you hope to accomplish?”

“As I told you yesterday, you must get close enough to tell her we’re arranging her escape. If you can, ask her for the identities of her master’s companions so that we can approach them and find one willing to help us.”

“Do you really think any of them would cross him?”

“Some will be jealous of the attention he pays her.”

“So, a girl.”

Simon shrugged, dropping his voice as they approached a set of twins at another gate. “I know you’re worried about her. And you have good reason, but we can’t take her from here. Too many guards. Too many layers of protection. The first thing you have to find out is whether she’s willing to leave.”

“Do you really think she might want to stay?”

“Some find their dreams answered in this place. You saw her. Did she seem afraid for her fate?”

“She might have been acting or just making the best of a bad situation,” he said, hoping like hell it was true.

“You won’t know for sure until you talk to her.”

“How will I approach her?”

Simon smiled and slapped his back. “You’re part of the entertainment—entertain.”

Guntram cursed softly, following behind Simon as he bartered to get through the next set of gates. Again, he found no sign of Gabriella or the tall, dark demon who’d escorted her here.

Once inside the gilded hall, he and Simon hovered at the doorway. At last, Guntram found her, sitting beside the demon at the head table. From the waist up she was nude, and she was leaning against the demon, who absently fed her slivers of meat from his own plate like a dog.

That she wasn’t baring her teeth at the outrage was telling.

That she sat so still, so calmly beside her master bothered him even more. Gabriella was a vibrant woman, always animated. She seemed subdued, and yet she wasn’t tethered, wasn’t even wearing a collar to restrain her. Her gaze never left the man beside her. Had he mesmerized her? Or had he seduced her, taking her will?

She appeared unharmed, as beautiful as ever, but lacking that hint of inner fire he’d always admired.

Simon grabbed his arm. “Come. We aren’t staying here. When they’re finished eating, they’ll head to the dungeon. Let’s get there ahead of them.”

Guntram dragged his gaze from her, submerging his doubts, and followed again while Simon offered another tribute and entered a corridor that ended in a steep stone staircase.

The staircase led down into darkness unrelieved by any source of light. The air was warm and humid. The scent of sex and musky sweat was carried on a breeze that swept up the steps, providing an intoxicating trail into the depths beneath the great palace. They passed the last layer of the palace’s stone foundation and continued down a hollowed cavern.

Guntram’s eyes adjusted to the darkness as he descended. “With all the rooms above, Irkalla chooses to play in a cave?”

“Caves are nescient. Places where life is birthed. Where sins are hidden.”

“Where screaming won’t call attention?”