I Kissed a Dog (31 page)

Chapter
40
24

By Friday I was going stir-crazy.

Connie wanted to wait until Deb was upstairs before making any specific escape plans.
I understood her reasoning, but I was hungry for action.

My thoughts were consumed with Zane. Did he miss me? Would he forgive me? Was he even
still alive? The not-knowing kept my stomach in knots. I was more worried about my
friends back home than myself.

I’d spent countless hours trying to determine who’d betrayed my whereabouts to Jazmine.
Alcuin was the only one who’d been aware of my exact location. He’d arranged everything
from the hotel room to my car rental. Luke had known my general travel plans. Unless
Alcuin had revealed my detailed plans to an unknown person, it had to be my vampire
friend. No matter what, he was somehow responsible.

To make matters worse, he possessed the sketches from Joshua Smart’s journal.

What if he failed to pass them onto Zane and the others, and instead turned them over
to our enemies?

I hoped David and his ilk would find a way to intercept the drawings. The cloaked
crusaders had proven to be resourceful and discreet, impressing me at every turn.
I had to believe they were out there somewhere working on my behalf. I wished that
David would take me on another guided dream quest. I’d drifted to sleep each night
with the expectation of such an encounter, only to awaken disappointed.

Promising Connie I wouldn’t try anything drastic, I’d been the picture of an obedient
captive for the past three days. She, on the other hand, had been free from the room
on a number of occasions, with her beastly beau, Dillon, whom I liked as much as I
could under the circumstances.

At the moment, the two were off wherever it was they went for their rendezvous. I
didn’t understand why Deb didn’t report their dalliances. Maybe she’d use their relationship
for blackmail at a later date. Connie wasn’t worried, though. If Dillon thought something
was safe so did she.

I disagreed, but kept my opinions to myself.

Any comment she perceived as negative about
her man
was defended with great vigor. Creating tension between us wasn’t worth my efforts.
The last thing I needed was my ally seeing me as a threat to her happiness.

Deb, my closest real threat, was sorting her meager belongings. She hadn’t said much
to me since my arrival, and I didn’t expect it to change now. I’d listened in on her
thoughts a number of times.

She spent a majority of time reading or reminiscing about her childhood, which had
been ideal until she was bitten at fourteen by an uncle. Jazmine controlled Deb with
the promise of revenge. She wanted her uncle to suffer for ruining her life.

When she spoke to me, I was shocked. “Would you like any of my books?” She motioned
to the tower of paperbacks on her dresser.

Not wanting to appear ungrateful before she reunited upstairs with Jazmine, I nodded
and wandered over, making a show of examining the covers. “Spicy stuff.” That was
an understatement.

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” She continued folding.

Not sure what to say, I grabbed the pile and plopped back on my bunk.

The book covers featured gorgeous women embraced in passion by muscle-bound men. A
number of the titles included the word
desire
. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of a male cover model who reminded me
of Zane.

“See something you like?” Deb was by my side before I’d processed her moving. It was
the first time either of my cellmates had displayed their mutant powers. I’d almost
forgotten they weren’t human.

Embarrassed, I hugged the book to my chest.

“Don’t think you’ll win this battle,” she growled, changing the subject. Her eyes
flashed crimson. “Jazmine
always
gets what she wants.”

She snatched the book away, scanning the cover. “Ah, isn’t he adorable? He looks an
awful lot like a photo my Mistress keeps. Is
he
worth your life?”

I paused. Was he?

I’d better know what exactly I was fighting for, because it was time to make a stand.
Ignoring Connie’s warnings, I rose to my feet; certain Deb could smell my fear.

“Is Jazmine worth yours?” I grabbed the book back. “You think she’ll keep her promise,
help you destroy your uncle, think again. She’s using you like she uses everyone else.
You’re nothing special to her, just another means to an end. She’d use your uncle
against you if it served her purpose.” The venom in my words surprised both of us.
She took a step back, eyes wide.

“How … how did you know that?” Confusion was painted across her face.

“You can’t trust her. She keeps putting you off, doesn’t she?” I’d latched onto her
first thought following my verbal assault, learning that Jazmine had promised Deb,
multiple times, that they’d start pursuing her uncle any day. That day had yet to
come.

Deb staggered to her cot and collapsed, her eyes glued to the floor. “She keeps making
excuses for why we can’t go after him.”

Knowing this window wouldn’t stay open long, I moved to sit beside her. “You don’t
have to put up with this, you know. You’re in the perfect position to do something.

“At first she planned to kill you. It was after she discovered your secret and how
she could use the information to control you that she enlisted your help, wasn’t it?”
I hoped I was right. “From the beginning, you knew how wrong this all was.”

“Are you a witch?” Deb looked up, but kept her gaze diverted from mine.

“Sort of, but mostly just another women being held against her will. A woman in love
with the wrong man, at the wrong time.”
Yes. I’d die for Zane,
I thought, but not if we could find a way to live.

I dove into her mind again and found a wounded, war-scarred woman ready for change,
now resolved to helping me, but uncertain how.

Now was my chance.

“If you want out of this hellhole, here’s what we need to do …”

An hour later, we had our plan in order. I’d also learned some valuable information
about the mating mark.

I needed to be outside, tonight, during the full moon.

It was then the mating magic would work. Proclaiming my love for Zane would seal our
union. He had no choice in the matter, he was already marked. If he couldn’t forgive
me later for my dishonesty, that was fine, we’d deal with it. Right now, we needed
the added abilities that authentic, love-bonded mates received, like unlimited telepathy.

Granted, I already had the skill, but the distance between us was just too far to
allow for any communication. I’d been trying with no success since my capture. Deb
was worried that my human condition might keep me from gaining full powers. I felt
certain it would work. I might be human, but I was also something more.

Besides, we had to try. I was running out of options.

It was my chance to connect with Zane and my team back home. Worst case scenario,
I still had my cell phone.

When Deb entered her debriefing upstairs, she would convince Jazmine to let me out
with the others. She’d tell Jazmine how terrified I was and that seeing the mutant
masses howling together during a full moon would send me over the edge.

A full moon was the one time the compound was open for all the women at once. The
special event meant a bonfire outside and a chance to run the grounds. Pent up mutants
were difficult to keep under control. Jazmine was no fool. She knew she had to give
a little to get a lot.

After the mating ritual, which could be completed quickly and quietly, I would reach
telepathically for Zane, and then call out to Valamir, in hopes he still had me on
his vampire radar, however that worked.

After all, if Alcuin was right, my blood was his obsession, and I needed someone to
get Jazmine’s wig to Plum Beach and into the hands of Detective Davis or Officer Tate,
fast, while keeping it far from Agent Green’s twisted agenda. I still didn’t know
the agent’s role in all this, but it wasn’t to help our cause. It was obvious that
he was in Plum Beach to thwart the murder investigations.

A few minutes later, the door clanked open, revealing a smiling Connie and Dillon.
Turning to face Deb, he put on a more formal face. “You ready?”

Ignoring me as we’d discussed, Deb grabbed her belongings and bid Connie a brief farewell.

“Good riddance!” Connie barked at the closed door. “Now we can breathe.”

“At last,” I agreed, pacing the room as I prepared to share the plan.

Before I could say anything, Connie hurried to the third dress
er and pushed it aside ¯ the scraping sound, like fingernails on a chalk board, was
forgotten at the sight of an oversized ventilation shaft.

“Told you we could count on Dillon.” She grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Hope you’re not claustrophobic.”

Stunned to find a possible escape route so near, I rushed to crouch in front of the
grated metal plate. “I don’t want to end up in some creepy boiler room.” I shivered,
overcome with the heebie-jeebies.

“Where does it go?” I asked, peering inside.

Imagining myself belly down, army crawling through the shaft, wasn’t something I was
eager to attempt, regardless of my mom’s embarrassing stories about me wearing out
the left knee in my pajamas due to my speedy, army crawling technique.

“Where do you think it goes? Out of here,” she answered. Before I could respond,
she was squatting next to me.

Putting her mutant strength to use, she gave the cover a tug, separating it from the
rectangular space.

“But …” I stammered, hating the way my nerves had surfaced. I just wasn’t ready to
abandon my plan with Deb.

“But what? Let’s take a look. We need to do a test run; see where it ends up.”

“Are you saying you don’t even know where it goes? I thought Dillon would have at
least told you that much.” I didn’t want to go into the shaft if I could help it.
The opening was starting to look like a dark maw eager to devour us whole, and my
doubts were increasing the longer I stared into the gaping shadows. “I have a better
idea.”

“What could be better than a hole in the wall?” Connie grinned, breaking the tension..

“Would you believe that Deb is on our side?”

Connie’s rolled her eyes. “This better be good.”

Chapter
41
25

After an arduous debate with my current roommate, it was decided that we would stick
to the course of action Deb and I had concocted, with the secret shaft serving as
an alternative plan or emergency exit should we need it.

I somehow doubted we’d make it back to our quarters alive, if Plan A failed.

More likely, we’d be burned alive in the great bonfire Deb had boasted about. A spectacle
blatant enough to strike fear in the hearts of every creature present, and one that
would squelch any rebellion forming in Jazmine’s ranks.

After returning the grate to the duct’s entrance, Connie repositioned the dresser
to its original place. If something went wrong later, we’d make every effort to meet
here and exit together.

After hours of anxious waiting, Dillon entered with two bowls of pasta and two tan
uniforms like I’d seen the women upstairs wearing. It seemed Deb had completed the
first part of our scheme ¯ getting Jazmine to approve an invite to the bonfire. Being
trapped all this time had increased my desire for freedom. I couldn’t wait to breathe
in the night air.

What I wanted, far more than fresh air, was to wrap my arms around Zane and forget
everything but the warmth of his lips on mine.

Noticing my faraway gaze, Connie snapped her fingers. “Hey, daydream later. We’ve
got a prison riot to instigate.” She replaced her jogging suit with the perfectly
creased uniform.

“That’s one sexy ensemble,” I joked, attempting to silence the fear gnawing in my
gut, making eating impossible.

“
The Mistress
wouldn’t want her harem looking hotter than she does.” Connie smirked. She looked
thoughtful before unbuttoning her shirt enough to reveal an ample eyeful of cleavage.

She’d managed to make herself look sexy in a basic uniform. Dillon would appreciate
her efforts even if Jazmine didn’t.

Rather than worrying about my appearance, I took special care to gather the items
necessary for cracking the case and proving my innocence. Wrapping Jazmine’s wig snuggly
around my right calf, I stretched the sock up to my knee, securing the hairpiece.

The kakis pants were wide-legged, providing enough space for me to move with ease.
I adjusted the cell phone in my bra and slid Joshua’s sketches into my back pocket,
eager to get on with the big event.

In a few short hours I’d be one of two things: Dead or Alive.

At least we didn’t have to wait long before Dillon reappeared with my least-favorite
escort, Mr. Tall and Rude. I trooped after my captors, Connie at my side, providing
a hint of security.

The air of anticipation in the compound was palpable. Women dashed from their classrooms
intent on reaching the great outdoors. I couldn’t blame them. I felt like running
too.

I scanned the hallways. The number of mutant guards had increased. I decided it was
time to let Connie in on the full extent of my silent communication capabilities.

Hey, don’t panic and don’t look at me. I’m speaking to you telepathically.

Chloe?
Despite my warning she glanced my direction. Thankfully, in the bustle no one seemed
to notice.

None other. I don’t have time to explain how I do this.

O-k-a-y,
she agreed sounding somewhat reluctant.

Where did all these extra guards come from? This is going to make it difficult for
me to do my mating magic.

Can you talk like this to anyone?
She asked.

Anyone who is of the animal persuasion.

Does Deb know?
Connie sounded wary.

We’d reached what had to have been the school’s cafeteria/gym. Neat piles of clothing
were stacked throughout the room.
Changing room?
I asked Connie silently.

Yes. And you didn’t answer my question.

She knew about some of my abilities, enough to know I could reach out to Zane following
the mating ceremony and with any luck contact a vampire friend.

We were guided though doors that opened to reveal what could have been a picture book
scene under different circumstances.

Dillon steered Connie into the night, leaving me to admire my surroundings with my
favorite sidekick, who for the moment was intent on standing at my side.

An expansive, grassy field, freshly mowed, stretched past an old playground. The forest
beckoned in the distance. The summer sky was clear, and the stars spread seductively
overhead, the moon their master. A bonfire popped and crackled, shooting sparks upward,
surrounded by women in uniforms.

As evidenced by the discarded clothing, others, already in mutant form, romped through
the field, remaining inside the ring of armed guards. Their ranks expanded to cover
at least half a mile in all four directions. Anyone attempting a mad dash to freedom
would be executed.

The gun-totting watchmen were a serious reminder that this was no high school, homecoming
bonfire. This was a way, granted, a pretty cool one, to further manipulate those in
servitude to
The Mistress
.

So absorbed by my surroundings, I jumped when a heated hand clamped around my arm.
“Enjoying your little recess,” Jazmine purred. “Try not to be too frightened when
everyone takes off their clothes and shows their inner beauty.”

Struggling to control any sarcastic rebuttal, I nodded, remembering Deb’s extensive
efforts to convince Jazmine of my mutant phobia. It was show time, and I had a starring
role to play. I wasn’t hoping for an Oscar, merely survival.

“They’re all going to turn into mutants?” I asked.

Jazmine tossed her head back and roared with what I considered unladylike laughter.
“Why, of course they are. Don’t worry, though, I’ll protect you from the wolf monsters.”
Her grip tightened on my arm. “Won’t you join me at my table?”

She didn’t wait for my answer, instead prodding me to an elevated platform that featured
a table set up for six, and a good-sized podium.

What I hadn’t counted on was her wanting to hold my hand all night. How the hell was
I going to do my moon mating ritual with her stuck to my side?

Deb, Connie, can you both hear me?
I’d blasted more than one enemy at a time with my mind powers, but had never mentally
spoken with more than one animal at time.

My head tingled, energy thrumming through my body. Again, something unpredictable
was happening. I suspected my powers extended beyond anything I’d ever imagined. Talking
to two or two hundred wouldn’t be an issue.

I can hear you. Loud and clear,
Deb answered.

Me too!
Connie confirmed.
Dear God, she’s got you cornered.

I saw Connie watching from about twenty feet away.

It appears I’m her hot date for the evening. I need you to create a distraction. It
has to last long enough for me to seal the mating.

You’ll know when,
Deb assured.

I hoped they could pull it off, because right now the air duct was looking like the
better option.

“Entertainment! Start the entertainment!” Jazmine barked through a handheld microphone.
“You’ll love this,” she whispered to me.

Awkward didn’t begin to cover how I felt seated like a pagan god atop a created dais.
Jazmine, dressed like a queen, was presiding over her loyal subjects. I wanted to
vomit. How had Zane ever found anything appealing about her?

A low growl rumbled at the bottom of our platform. Martin’s German Shepherd glared
up.

The despicable dog that’d caused my coma-catastrophe reminded me of Martin’s dog;
I mentally screamed into the shepherd’s head,
I hate you!
Then to make sure the beast knew I meant business,
I slammed a vision of me shaving off all his luscious fur into his doggy mind. The
growl turned into a yelp, and he fled into the crowd.

“Dog? Jazmine …” Martin whined from below.

I swallowed a snort when I realized the dog’s name was Dog.

“I don’t care about your damn dog, Martin. Get the entertainment started,” Jazmine
ordered.

I stifled my laughter. Martin was an idiot. He was the one man on Logan’s board stupid
enough to fall into the clutches of someone like Jazmine. How together they managed
this growing empire was beyond my comprehension. I was still missing something, or
more accurately, someone.

Alcuin. He was the traitor. He had to be.

Before I could contemplate further a woman screamed, “Oh no, you don’t! I like him!
He’s mine!”

The other voices subsided as the altercation accelerated. With grace, Jazmine dropped
to the ground, slinking toward the distraction.
My
distraction!

I crept down the stairs, hoping the commotion would serve its purpose.

Dillon roared, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t belong to
anyone
, and not either of you.” Ouch! I knew Connie wouldn’t like that shocking proclamation
regardless of the reason. Dillon sounded like he meant every word.

The yelling escalated as I headed the opposite direction. As planned, everyone was
drawn to the potential dogfight, the animal part of them unable to resist the impending
bloodshed.

I found a dark corner by the school, blocked from view by a shield of overgrown Emerald
Green Arborvitaes, or as some referred to them, “Instant Privacy” trees. I slipped
between them and ducked, praying their promise of privacy would apply to me. There
wasn’t much time remaining. The girls could only argue so long before a full-fledged
fight was expected.

“Tonight, as I look upon this amazing moon …” I stalled. This was ridiculous. I was
talking to the moon. How would proclaiming my love for Zane under a full moon bind
us together? The whole idea was absurd.
Why am I thinking about this now? These don’t feel like my thoughts. This isn’t me.

“Mating with a werewolf is not in your best interest, my beauty.”

Turning, I faced the voice’s soothing source. I knew right then who’d been planting
the confusing thoughts. Damn it! I’d wanted to talk with Valamir, but not until
after
I’d completed the mating ceremony, and not now when I was on a life or death time
schedule.

“You!” I snapped. “I’ve been held hostage for days and you choose now to ride in on
your white stallion. And who are you to tell me who or what I can mate with?” I was
beyond tired of being bossed around. I didn’t care if the delectable man towering
over me had two very pointy teeth. I was saying my bit before he or someone else tore
me to pieces.

“You should watch your tone, my dear. I may lust for you and your blood, but I do
not take kindly to disrespect.” He glowered, arms crossed.

“Go ahead! Do me a favor. At least I’ll have a moment of ecstasy while you’re sucking
me dry. Go on! Bite me!” I took a very dangerous step forward and tilted my neck in
submission.

He shrugged, fangs extended. “I think I will have a bite, since you’re offering.”

Warmth pooled in my belly and spread down my thighs
as his teeth sank in. This wasn’t what I wanted, was it? Death by vampire? No. I’d
simply challenged the wrong foe ¯ one older, stronger, and ultimately sexier.

My eyelids fluttered shut and I allowed myself to drift away, floating on waves of
pleasure and pain.

Dying in his arms made death seem delightful.