That’s exactly right.
This is amazing. Will anyone else be able to listen in?
Not even a little, so don’t worry.
He drew close and held out his arm. “As for how we’re getting there, I’ll be using altered flight. Now put your arm around my neck and step onto my foot.”
“Oh, Reyes, no, I’ll puke all over everything.”
He chuckled and for just a moment he almost felt like a regular guy taking a woman on a date…except of course that she was dressed like a stripper. “I promise that it’ll be very different this time. I’ll go really slow, unlike when I took you out of the auction house. You might feel a little dizzy when we arrive, but that should be all.”
She drew in a deep breath and settled herself on his shoe with great care, apparently making sure she didn’t puncture his expensive leather footwear with her stilettos.
Holding her tight against his side, he told her to close her eyes. “Let me know when you’re ready. Again, I’ll take it slow.”
He felt her take a deep breath “I’m ready.”
From his peripheral vision he could see that her eyes were closed. He opened his power and entered altered flight, heading straight through both the bedroom and the cave walls. Just as he’d promised, he flew at a crawl, the picture of Engles’s mansion burned in his mind, a true homing beacon, typical of his world.
He slowed on approach, and felt the resonance of others arriving at the same time. He gauged where he needed to be without colliding with anyone or anything else and landed near a large fountain that rose thirty feet in the air. Engles liked to display his wealth.
Angelica blinked and released him. “You’re right, just a little dizzy.”
She glanced up at the well-lit structure that had water cascading from a central bowl. “Wow,” she murmured. Her gaze skated around the massive, vaulted cavern and her eyes widened further. “I hate to admit it, but this is beautiful. The sculpted rock walls are exquisite. I take it that stonework is a highly prized art form in your culture.”
“It is.”
“And I didn’t expect to see so many women in gowns, though I can see that there are an equal number of slaves present.” He felt her shudder. “So many of them are bruised.”
“That’s usually how you can tell if the slave is human. Vampires self-heal.”
She turned to look at him, but surprised him by shifting to telepathy. Reyes, should I have a few bruises? Would that have made you look better—you know, to keep up appearances?
He was incredulous as he stared at her. Sorry, but I draw the line at beating the shit out of you.
She smiled faintly. Just as well. I probably wouldn’t have gone for it anyway.
His lips curved. No, I don’t think you would have. But there’s something else you should know. He glanced around. You’re the star of this party.
Great. Every girl’s dream, to be the main attraction at a sex-slave blowout. No pun intended.
Chapter Five
Angelica took a moment to calm down. She was nervous as hell and trying hard not to show it.
Sticking with telepathy, she asked, So how do we do this? Do you want me next to you? Although I’m not seeing any of the other slaves doing that.
Walk just a little behind me and keep your head slightly lowered. He took a couple of steps forward and glanced back at her. Good. You look submissive. Just remember that I won’t be able to see what’s going on behind me, so if anyone touches you, tell me telepathically. And for God’s sake, don’t address anyone directly. Let me do that. I’ll protect you tonight.
Got it.
“Oh, shit.”
“What?” She looked around.
“Engles is at the head of the stairs, waiting for us. It’s time.”
So that’s the monster? I remember him from the auction. His face had a ruddy color at the time. I guess he was pretty worked up.
And furious.
She let him get half a foot ahead before she fell into step at an angle behind him. He tugged on the leash and she tugged back.
With her head down, she continued to glance at what had to be a huge mansion tucked into some corner of the cavern system.
The area where they’d landed sported a waterfall, a small lake lit by torchlight, and dozens of potted trees and shrubs, creating a sort of outdoor garden. The trees twinkled with small blue and white lights.
All this led up, through a series of wide stone steps, to the house itself. The front facade appeared to be fifty yards across and at least four stories high. Mansion, indeed.
She was struck again by how beautifully gowned the women were. Most of them wore not just necklaces, but intricate chains.
A lot of chains around here.
Yes, some of them are blood-chains.
Okay, that’s new. What’s a blood-chain?
The single blood-chain creates a tight bond—the couple can’t be more than a few yards away at any given time. I’ve never done it myself, but if I was a controlling sadist as some of these men are, I’d chain you.
If we were chained, I wouldn’t be able to run away, would I?
Not even a little.
She noticed one woman who wore a gold double-chain, linked together with loops. A large diamond pendant pulled the chain toward her cle**age. You said single-chain. Are there double-chains as well?
Yes. These are deep bonding chains, usually indicating a married status.
Ah, married slavers. How charming.
There are a lot of women equally into the lifestyle. You’d be surprised.
After that redheaded she-devil who hurt me, I guess I’m not.
He didn’t respond, but at the mention of the woman, she felt he’d tensed up again. Reyes’s owner had been a woman. The subject no doubt hit some buttons.
As she drew closer to the entrance, she saw that massive white marble pillars supported the front structure, leaving it completely open to the air. She began to understand something important: she hadn’t fallen just into a world of vampires and sex slavery, but into an entire civilization as well. A profoundly skilled architect, accompanied by master builders, had created this extraordinary house.
And this is Engles’s home?
Yes, it is.
I’m guessing Starlin earnings built this house.
You guessed right.
And he’s really not the one running things?
He’s a front man. Don’t ask me how I know, but I know. Call it an instinct. He’s smart enough and manages things quite well, but he’s not an empire builder. He’s too much of showman. Building and sustaining an empire requires finesse and, to a degree, secrecy.