Page 20 of Reaper's Revenge
Our club was run by an old vamp, taking in stragglers as they came. It was strange; we rarely had a human stop by; it was always other vampires, seemingly lost, having to go through the years alone. Our old Prez, Sunny, didn’t like my father, and they butted heads regularly, but Bones didn’t put up with it for very long. He’d challenged Sunny and, in the end, buried him, becoming our new president. Since then, we’ve become devoted to the MC, only allowing certain vampires to join us.
None of it matters right now, only that Athena is gone and I haven’t the faintest idea where to look for her. I poke my head out of the office, taking in the brothers leaning against both walls lining the hall. “Does anyone know anything that can help? Any new scents, any attacks reported…Anything?” I end my questions in a shout, growing more worked up by the minute.
They remain quiet except for Panic, our techy. “I’ll run a scan to see if there are any recent articles about random attacks in the area. I can also try to hack into the local police department, see if I can find a backdoor into their computers. If so, I’ll be able to read over their notes, as well as any coroner’s findings. Maybe it’ll narrow down the area she’s been, but I can make no promises.”
I hiss in his direction because he’s basically just told me the same thing the others have said as well.Nothing.My stare pins on Machete, “I want to know if anyone is hunting her. I want to know if anyone is selling a half-blood. I want to know everything leading in that direction, do you understand me?”
He nods, glancing around at the brothers before saying, “If someone will take a ride with me tonight, I’ll stop by the closest warehouse and see what they’ve got for sale.”
Chaos sends him a sinister grin. “I’ll go too. Are they selling drugs and black-market items?”
Machete meets his gaze, replying, “They’ll be selling creatures of all types. Weapons of mass destruction. Basically, every horror you can think of.”
“How have I never heard of this before?” Ice asks.
“Because you’ve never asked, brother. Be glad you’ve never seen it in person.” Machete grumbles and walks off.
It’s where we found him. Accidentally, anyhow. We’d been traveling, a group of us, and stumbled across the trade show. It was code for a warehouse full of horrors, like he just mentioned. Slaves, body parts, animals, you name it. If it’s depraved in any way, they’re selling it. Bones wouldn’t leave without Machete, so we broke him out of his cage and stole him.
He owes me for helping save his life. He'd better find something out; I don’t care what he has to do. I want my woman back and at the clubhouse where she belongs.
Chapter Fifteen
Athena
I stir, instantly noticing that my body is warmer than it normally is. My skin is no longer the culprit for my body feeling like it’s burning, but rather, my blood.
What is happening to me?
Is this menopause? I’ve read about it some, but I think I’m about five or ten years too early for it to hit me full-on. It would answer the sudden hot flashes I’ve been having, though, but right now, is the absolute worst the heat has ever been, to the point I feel like I’m boiling inside.
I manage to peel my lids open, my eyes seemingly drier than usual. I swear my eyelids scrape with every blink. My face is flat on the floor, cheek against well-worn carpet, only serving to confuse me more.
What happened?
Glancing around, without moving my head, as I draw in a few steadying breaths, everything comes rushing back to me. I must’ve passed out at some point. But for how long?
Picking my head up off the floor is a much harder feat than it should be. I feel wobbly and weak. My mind spins as dizziness washes over me. Was I drugged? But when? I don’t remember Veronica coming near me when she was talking to herself, and I was watching her. I must’ve passed out, and then she somehow gave me something. It’s the only thing I can guess that makes possible sense.
My throat is drier than the Sahara, and thank God I don’t need to speak right now, because I don’t think I’d be able to. Just swallowing brings on a new burst of pain, reminding me of shards of glass ripping up the back of my throat. A tear leaks from my right eye at the sensation. But I allow no more. Obviously, I was right about being severely dehydrated, and I can’t afford to lose any more fluids.
I scan over the room, searching for a clock. All the blinds are lowered, and the drapes pulled closed. Most of them are either light colored or thin fabric, so light shines through. I’m so thirsty. I don’t think I can move; my limbs are like hundred-pound lead weights, weighing me down. I know I have to do something, but what?
Garnering every bit of strength I have, I get up on my forearms and knees and push my body forward. I’m too weak to go far. I need a new plan. There’s no way I can get to the kitchen like this to either drink water or get a knife, let alone fight off my captor.
I need Reaper so badly. I don’t think he’ll ever find me here, though, so I have to somehow be my own hero or else she’ll drain me as she’s been doing to the old couple. My gaze falls on them, noticing how much paler and feebler they appear already. They’re thinner, the skin nearly translucent as they steadily lose all of their blood and nutrients that had kept them alive at one time.
I need to check the old man’s pockets. He may have a knife and his truck keys in there. I will need them both at some point to escape from this hell.
Slowly and painfully, I wiggle and crawl my way next to them until I can almost reach his jeans pocket. It puts me right next to his shoulder, making me squirm a bit. God, I’m exhausted.
And hungry.
My stomach twists and cramps, unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. It takes every bit of effort for me to grit my teeth through it and not moan out loud. I can’t let Veronica know I’m awake. The last thing I need right now is her sadistic attention pinned my way.
My eyes clench closed as I lie here and pant. Another stomach cramp rolls through me, and I bear down with a whimper. I’m thirsty but yet my mouth waters, saliva pooling on my tongue as a scent unlike any other hits my nose.
Is it the man? Or the woman? Why do they smell so good?
