Page 185 of Darling Wildfire
“Well, it’s not like he has a choice really—he has to make Mahoney believe he’s just like him. They have to become besties. And look, T is probably going to be the best thing to happen to some poor girl in there. I saw West’s notes on the Warren, I know what kind of dark shit he’s about to walk into,” Nyx shrugged. “I’m just saying, he’s not going to beat his woman to death. Which, unfortunately, I saw is a kink in the brochure. This place has very few rules.”
Atlas chuckled. “I guess Red did have a pretty good time and you could consider that rape,” he shrugged.
“Exactly!” Nyx exclaimed. “What was it you said one time, T? Manipulatethe body and the mind will follow?”
“Something like that,” I chuckled.
Shortly after that we landed and I said goodbye to the guys. A sharply dressed man flanked by two armed guards was waiting for me when I disembarked the plane. A blacked out jeep sat behind them gleaming in the sunlight. I threw my aviators on as he walked over and extended a hand.
“Kraven,” I nodded and shook his hand. “Welcome to the Warren. I’m here to show you to the facility and get you all checked in.”
He took my luggage and we all piled into the jeep which took off down a manicured dirt track through the trees. The drive was maybe five minutes before we pulled up in front of an iron door set into a cliff face. Beautifully crafted forest designs ran from top to bottom and two additional armed guards stood sentry on either side. I followed the man through the door and into a warm, welcoming reception area. He handed my luggage off to another porter and walked around a counter to a computer. A few clicks and he pointed to the counter in front of me.
“Extend your wrist for me there, please. This is a temporary tattoo which will serve as your access key to all necessary areas in the facility.”
I did what he instructed and he hovered a device over the inside of my wrist. A white tattoo of a running rabbit appeared. I raised my eyebrows at the man and he chuckled.
“You’ll find the owner of this establishment has a specific sense of humor,” he said dryly. “Don’t worry, it will fade by the time you leave at the end of the week.”
He placed an ipad in front of me that had documents pulled up.
“You should have already received a copy of these and signed them, I’ve pulled them up for you to look over once more. At this time, I do wish to remind you, this place has very few rules and what you may see here could cross over any moral codes you may have. This is a safe place for our patrons to explore their desires without fear of repercussions. This includes accidental—” he gave me a look like accidental was a loose term here. “—death of one of our rabbits. We assume you are here because of your own deviant desires but if this isn’t what you expected, now would be the time to back out.”
I gave him a look that had a grin ghosting over his face as though that was the usual response to his script.
“Very well. There is a reception dinner tonight and the auction is tomorrow morning. Is there a phone you wish to check in during your stay? Any device connected to the outside world is prohibited. There is a media room you may visit at any time to use it if you’d like but it cannot go outside of that room. Wehave jammers to ensure this rule is followed.”
I shook my head. I’d left my phone with Nyx and Atlas. The tracker I had in me would alert them if I was in distress or needed extraction.
“Everything is included during your stay—including drinks and food and use of all of our many facilities. We understand this place can be quite the maze to navigate so anytime you need directions, you can go up to one of the monitors on the walls and scan your wrist. It will pull up a menu with options on it, including navigation.”
He clicked a few more buttons. “It looks like your auction contribution is in the holding account. After the auction, you will sign over whatever amount you bid. If you don’t see something you like during the auction, we can select something to your liking from our inventory. We already have your STI panel results and general health screening. If you’ll just ensure all of the documentation is to your satisfaction?”
I scanned the iPad, signed and handed it back.
“You have access to your rabbit during designated times and while we do have an itinerary such as dinners, cocktail hours and such, you are more than welcome to pick and choose what to attend. However, I highly recommend attending some of the group events. Watching and sharing is encouraged. Finally, our staff already know who you are and have your preferences memorized as far as food and drinks go. Don’t hesitate to ask them for anything.”
He put everything away and fixed a customer service smile on his face.
“Any questions?”
I shook my head and he gestured to a door behind him. “Then if you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your room.”
I walked into my room and discovered the porter had already neatly put away my bags. It was a modest room but with all updated fixtures, a large shower and king sized bed. It felt like a high end resort room, only without the view.
Following the directions the man left with me, I headed for the cocktail lounge. When I walked through the door, I would never have thought this place was underground. It looked like any upscale, dark and sultry speakeasy with black walls, charcoal furnishings and a deep mahogany bar that stretched across one wall with the alcohol bottles alluringly backlit. Soft modern jazz music was playing, providing a relaxed but not lethargic atmosphere. All the seating was comfortable couches, lounges and armchairs surrounding low tables of dark wood. Soft, dim lighting on the wall, interspersed among provocative artwork pulled the entire space together.
“Old fashioned, sir?” The bartender asked.
I nodded and leaned back against the bar, looking over the men already in attendance. A boisterous laugh cut through the general low level of noise in the room. It belonged to a man with a buzz cut in a grey button down with sleeves rolled up and dark dress pants. He noticed my attention and excused himself from the group before walking over and stopping in front of me.
“Cooper,” he said, extending a hand.
“Ah, you must be the one behind this white rabbit I have to have on my wrist for a week,” I said, amusement in my eyes as I shook his hand.
Cooper laughed. “You know it’s funny—the Warren—rabbits—cute, huh? You’re Kraven, right?”
“Yes I am.” My drink arrived and I grabbed it, taking a sip.
