Desecrated Beauty (Twisted Fairy Tales #1) (16 page)

He didn’t answer her before sweeping her up into his arms and carrying her straight through the sitting room. Beyond the double oak doors that held back the vampire sex room and before she even had the chance to realize what he was up to he had already thrown her into a cage.

“Hey!” She jumped up to attack him, but her human reflexes might as well have put her in a pot of cold molasses for all the good it did. She slammed against the bars just as he was locking it up with a smug expression on his face. “Nero will rip your hands off for this.”

“He’ll pat me on the back and hand over a bloodwhore to me,” he said casually, the derogatory name for the other humans around her slipping off his tongue and curling around her in such a slimy way she felt herself shiver.

She stuck her hand through the bars and swiped at him with the stake, but he jumped back and laughed at her. She anticipated his next move, thanks to all that training with Tate, moving her hand back in time as he tried to take the stake off her.

“What are you going to do?”

“Go to the city and find my master. Help him kill whoever has taken him.”

“He was kidnapped?”

“I believe so, yes.”

“How? There were no signs of kidnapping in the house.”

“I am trained to see things you would never even consider.” He said it with such a sneer she decided Nero wouldn’t get the chance to rip his hands off because she would do it for him. Damien laughed again, so casually and aloof like the situation Nero was in wasn’t worrisome at all, before walking back to the stairs in a painfully slow way to piss her off even more. When his foot hit the step though he zoomed up them and disappeared.

“Asshole,” she muttered under her breath, nonetheless feeling foolish for letting him get the upper hand on her in the first place. She looked around the small cage, too small for much movement and certainly not fit for a human to live comfortably the way these ones around her did.

Her eyes fell on the stake in her hands and she twisted it around, considering it for a moment before moving to the front of the cage. She reached through the bars, angling her hand carefully so the tip of the stake drove into the lock hole. She fidgeted around with it for a moment trying to find the movement that would catch the lock and force it open.

It didn’t matter how long it took her, by the time she did manage to free herself he would already be to the city. Perhaps even helping Nero but Quill certainly wasn’t going to let him humiliate her this way and treat her like just another bloodwhore. The word made her cringe, refocusing her determination.

When the lock finally clicked she was more frustrated than anything. She had wasted so much time trying to free herself she felt like there was no point in venturing toward the city let alone attempting to help Nero. Damien would’ve already solved that problem and they’d be back in no time at all. They’d be back before she even got to the city with her snail-like human pace.

That didn’t mean she didn’t plan on trying.

There was a garage attached to the back of the property. She recalled seeing it when she walked the perimeter when she first arrived so she decided to start there. She didn’t know how to drive, but she’d learn quickly if it meant getting to the wall faster. From there she would have to scale, not knowing the route into the city from this side of the wall, but that wasn’t so much more than a track hurdle.

It was too good to be true, believing there might be a car in the garage. Instead, she found piles upon piles of old furniture that no doubt dated back to a time long before she was born or even before the city walls had been erected. It didn’t matter though, she counted this as a mission and she knew she had succeeded on others where all hope had felt lost.

Her fingers slipped on the top of the wall just as she reached it. Clinging with one shaking hand to a brick she pulled her hand away to see it come back with the slickness of oil.

“Clever assholes,” she muttered to herself, wiping the oil off as best as she could on her jeans. She was caught for a moment, hanging on the wall as she considered her options.

She needed to find a way to get a better grip while avoiding the oil. She looked down at her feet, pulling one away and drawing it up closer to her body looking for another foothold. Her toe slipped into a crevice and it was enough leverage as the one leg did all the work, pushing her entire body up so it was her chest that landed on the oil-slicked surface. She reached over to the other side of the wall and held it before swinging her leg up and over the wall, straddling it awkwardly.

She hated the fact she was basically a sitting duck for the shooting right now but if there were guards on the perimeter tonight. The chances they were actually at the exact spot she was crossing at was unlikely though. But she still had a problem. Now most of her torso was covered in oil and her body was teetering closer to the edge. She didn’t feel confident enough that she would be able to get a grip to climb back down.

Shifting her body a little more, she craned over the side to take in the drop she was currently considering. Easily it was eight feet or more and landing on any part of her body down there would hurt like a fucker. Pursing her lips in consideration she glanced along the length of the wall to where a massive oak tree hung closer to the wall than the rest. It was by no means close, but she might be able to jump to it if she wanted to risk standing on the oil-slicked wall top. But then using her feet after that would be useless until she wiped all of it off.

“Damnit.” Quill sighed to herself looking down at the ground again, taking a deep breath and then rolled ungracefully to the ground. The impact launched all the air out of her lungs and despite that she still coughed in surprise, grabbing her ribs as she rolled off her back to her side.

“Fuck… fuck…” She cursed, face contorted and body aching in agony. Nero was not going to be pleased about that move but if she reached him, and he was alive, he could give her blood and she’d feel better.

That wasn’t why she pushed herself to her feet though. However motivating the idea of feeling invincible again with his blood coursing through her, what made her rise and keep going was that voice - was he actually alive still?

Well, as alive as a vampire could be.

Her legs ached as she walked, no more so than the rest of her did, but it still made the effort that much harder as she navigated the suburbs of this side of the city. This was the section housing the middle class, as low as you would get within the city. Her family didn’t belong here, she hadn’t even gone to school with someone middle class. She hated to admit it, but she didn’t know this side of the city half as well as she did the rest - another handicap to her growing list.

The main one being she had no idea who actually took Nero and where she might find him. She was going into this with only her training and knowledge to help her. She figured she’d start with the normal places that captives were held and questioned and work her way from there. That was considering it was the agency that had taken him.

Anger surged through her suddenly, churning her stomach and rippling through her blood. Her fingers clenched at her sides, turning to fists as she heard herself growl. Nero wasn’t happy about something, his captives she hoped and not because he was feeling the dull throb of her body right now.

Where are you? Where are you? She whispered desperately in her head, trying to pick up on something - anything - that might come through from him. She squeezed her eyes shut, a dangerous move, and just followed the place where the anger was coming from. Fear prickled the back of her mind, slow to join the fray but eventually it came. Not fear for herself though, no, her stomach churned and then knotted and she knew it was fear for her, from him.

She started walking again, almost in a jog as she weaved through the quiet homes of the suburbs toward the main part of the city. This was where most of the agency conducted its business from and considering what Nero had told her about its alliance it should be where other vampires would be found. She was good at getting information out of people, she reminded herself, this was just like any other search and rescue mission she had undertaken.

At least that’s what she continued to tell herself as she drew closer to the city centre and a knot of uncertainty lodge itself in her stomach. Her repetition was based on a belief that maybe if she said it enough to herself it would come true.

Outside of the main governing house they used within the city she noted most of the lights were off, even at this time of night that was unusual. Tracing the outside of the building she found four guards posted despite a building that looked seemingly empty.

So she did the first thing she could think of. Tugging the zipper of her jacket down to expose the deep v-neck t-shirt she was wearing before hauling her neckline down a little bit more. Her bra sat comfortably right above where the material stopped making it look just slutty enough to be believable. Approaching the guards at the back door, the only ones posted at the main entrance, she tripped like she was drunk and giggled to herself as she caught herself on the wall beside one of them.

“Hi,” she said with her biggest, most flirtatious grin. He sized her up immediately, determining she wasn’t a threat before replying casually.

“‘Ello. A bit far from home aren’t you?”

“General Faulkner sent me. I’m a donation for the… vampires.” She whispered the words carefully like it was a big secret. This was the moment of truth. However, if they weren’t here the guards would think she was insane or suspicious and either way she was about to fail. But Mr Tall and Militant just stared down at her unblinkingly.

“They were fed a few hours ago. You can have your turn tomorrow bloodwhore.” Again with that term. She gritted her teeth together and forced a smile, anything to make it look like she didn’t want to jump on top of him and beat his face in.

“I know… I know. But General Faulkner said that tomorrow is the big day so they need extra… juicing.” She giggled like the term was endearing, making the soldier stare at her for a moment before glancing at his partner. Neither of them seemed to know the validity of her statement so they finally nodded and turned, unlocking the door to let her in. She grinned, almost with excitement, before stepping toward it.

“Lewis will see you into their cages.”

“Of course,” she said with a sharp nod, mock saluting him before giggling again. Neither of them was taking her serious that was good. The door was then propped open and she slipped past, followed by Lewis, who quickly took the lead.

He led her through winding corridors that quickly made her feel turned around if not for the fact she knew this building inside and out from her thorough training. She didn’t need him to lead her down to the cages when she knew where they were. The very same place they had pinned her against guys twice her size, watching the winner beat his opponent nearly to death. It was gruesome, dirty and completely undignified.

They descended the stairs into the basement where the cages were set up for the fights, but they had since been turned into homes much like the vampires had for their humans.

Lewis fished out a set of keys from his pocket, turning to face her, scrutinizing her with a frown.

“I swear I know you from somewhere.” She shrugged and giggled again, watching him turn away once more. Even if he did recognise her now, she couldn’t risk letting him recognise her later. Moving quickly, she slipped up behind him and brushed against his hip with another stupid, drunk giggle. She knocked the keys from his hand while at the same time reaching for the gun she’d spotted holstered on his hip. Too quick to be caught by him she unlocked the safety, twisted and then pressed the mouth against the underside of his chin, pulling the trigger. Blood flew everywhere and she heard the vampires hiss at the smell of it.

“Sorry, Lewis,” she said in a none-too-serious tone before sweeping to pick up the keys and moved to the first cage. Peering into it with a frown, it wasn’t Nero.

“I can see his attraction to you more clearly now.” A bored voice came from the body curled against the back of the cage.

“Clovis?”

“Beautiful and deadly, his two favorite things.”

“He doesn’t call me a warrior for no reason.”

“Indeed.” She went through the ring, shoving key after key into the hole before finally clicking it out of place and opening the door.

“What the hell happened?”

“The agency attacked in the morning when we were sleeping and helpless. Most of the family were burnt by the sun, but Nero and I are both old enough that it takes a bit more than a few hours exposure to kill us. Maybe an hour or two longer and it would’ve taken effect.”

“Don’t be so smug about it.” She watched him rise and come over to her. “Still doesn’t answer my question though.”

“The agency came. It would seem they are bored of being under vampire control. They believed they would be able to take back control by capturing all of the old ones, the council, and delivering the true death to them.”

“So the entire council was captured?” she asked incredulously.

“Of course not, do not be so preposterous. Only a few of them.”

“Like Nero,” she said, playing along with some suspicion. She recalled Rose telling her Nero didn’t want to be a part of the council. She had never exposed why but the words came to mind as Clovis spoke.

“Yes, unfortunately.”

“How the hell did he get caught? He’s always going on about being so old and so fabulous.”

“Because your father was there and said they had captured you on your way out of the area.”

“How-“ She frowned, swallowing the lump that suddenly formed in her throat. There was only one vampire who knew she was out of town besides Nero, one who had deliberately locked her in a cage only 2 hours ago. But worse than that: her father knew she was alive. “He turned himself in to free me.”

“That was the arrangement and I told him it was a preposterous idea.”

“I’m getting you a thesaurus for Christmas.”

“So naturally he came all the way to the city and low and behold you were not here, but we were captured none the less.”

“Where is he now?”

“His father came for him.”

“His father? I thought his father is a vampire.”

“It seems his father is interested in disbanding the council to enact a dictatorship.”

So then what were her father and his father doing working together? She shook her head, focusing herself again. Whatever the answer, it didn’t matter. Nero might not be in immediate danger with his father leading the charge, but she needed to get to him nonetheless.

“
Do you know where he is, where they’re keeping him?
”
She turned to Clovis before freezing again. If she went to Nero, she would have to confront her father. That was not something she had ever thought she would have to do.

“
I do.
”
Clovis brushed himself off casually before taking the key from the lock of his cage and tossing it in the air thoughtfully before turning to the other vampires caged in the room. He made his way over to each one and opened them, releasing the vampires who bared their fangs at her and the scent of blood in the room. Quill steeled herself, raising her chest as she held out the stake as threateningly as she could manage.

They laughed at her, maybe not out loud, but she could see it in their eyes as they walked by her.

“
You’re welcome for saving you,” she said with a sneer, rolling her eyes back at them before turning to Clovis. He began walking to the stairs, moving up them at human pace for her benefit as she trailed slowly after him. Her body was aching a lot more now that she’d managed to overexert herself with those moves on Lewis. From upstairs the guard she had left behind screamed in horror as the vampires descended on him.

He reached the door, holding it open for her. Not bothering to slow his pace for her human speed.

“
Why do you owe Nero your allegiance?
”

“
Because he is my sire.
”
It was such a simple answer and Clovis’ delivery of it conveyed that with every inflected tone of boredom.

“
That’s it? He killed you so you serve him like a slave for eternity?
”

“
It is the way of our kind,
”
Clovis spoke so casually about it all Quill could do was shake her head. She didn’t know what else she was supposed to say.

The streets were empty and eerie with their unnerving silence. It was as though every inhabitant within a 5-kilometer radius had cleared out thanks to a sixth sense. But human instinct had a good way of serving each individual with a sense of self-preservation.

Clovis led them through the streets with a comfortable ease before drawing them into the upper-class suburban district. Quill felt her skin prickle, standing on edge as she walked by street after street that she was far too familiar with. Homes whose owners she knew, whose children she’d gone to school with. Each turn off she past brought her closer to the past she had been running from since she was 17. But Clovis didn’t notice her unease and if he did he didn’t acknowledge it at all.

They reached their destination, standing outside of a manor not so different from the one Nero possessed. In fact, the unnerving similarities were hard to miss. Both manors possessed a Georgian style architecture, huge pillars outside of the main entrance almost as if guarding the main way. But where the woodwork was expected to be white someone had gone around and painted it all black giving the house a very ominous and foreboding appearance. Understandably this might be why humans kept their distance from the vampires.

But Clovis descended upon the house with a familiar nonchalance leaving Quill to hurry after him as he pressed the door open and they both slipped inside. The interior had forgone electricity, perhaps a personal choice of the owner’s or an attempt to add to the eerie atmosphere, but the hallway was lit only by sconces of candles along the walls. Clovis carried on through the manor as though he had lived there for centuries, pushing a door open into a primary meeting room.