by Faith Gibson
The lock turned, and the door opened. A tall, well-built man stepped into her room. “Thank you, Agnes. That will be... all.” He stared at Kerrigan like he’d seen a ghost. As quickly as his face had shuddered, he composed himself, standing taller with an air of importance. His black hair was slicked back from his face, and even though he smiled, his eyes told a different story. She’d seen the same look in Dalton’s eyes. Cold. Calculating. “Hello, Kerrigan. I’m Brother Gideon. Agnes tells me you have questions.”
Even though she was fully clothed, albeit in the same type of drabness Agnes had on, Kerrigan pulled the sheet up higher. “You’re damn right I do. Where the hell am I for starters? I was supposed to be going to see a doctor.”
“Foul language isn’t tolerated here at The Sanctuary. You really should be more appreciative of our generosity. Brother Steven brought you here where we could help you recuperate from your injuries.”
“I’m feeling pretty recuperated, so if you’ll give me my clothes back, I’ll be on my way.”
“I’m afraid it isn’t that simple.” Gideon took a step closer, his hands clasping in front of his immaculate suit. “Your boyfriend is causing quite a stir looking for you, and we feel it’s best for you to remain here where you will be safe.”
Kerrigan didn’t feel safe. In fact, she was terrified, but she did her best to keep that to herself. “I appreciate what you’ve done thus far, but I was supposed to have gone to my parents, and they’re no doubt looking for me.”
“We took the liberty of telling your family you were safe so they wouldn’t worry about you.”
“You did what?” Kerrigan threw back the covers and stood quickly. Her ribs protested, but she ignored the sting. “You had no right! And you cannot keep me here. That’s kidnapping.”
“Kidnapping is such a harsh accusation, Kerrigan. You flagged down Brother Steven for assistance. We only brought you here to help. Of course, you’re free to go, but you should know, The Sanctuary isn’t close to a town. Let’s just say, we’re off the beaten path, and if you were to leave, you’d be on your own.”
Kerrigan was beyond frustrated. How had her life gotten to that point? She would blame Dalton, but she’d been the one to agree to moving in with him. This was all on her. Why hadn’t she let Ambrose take care of her? If only for one night? Then she could have gotten safely to Walmart and on to her parents. God, her parents. They thought she was safe. Nobody, save these crazies, knew where she was. She needed a plan. If what Gideon said about their location was the truth, she couldn’t just take off. She’d end up lost and starved.
“I need to use the phone to call my parents.”
“I have already assured your family we were taking care of you.”
“How the hell do you know who my parents are?” Kerrigan, even more leery than before, wanted to hit the man, but she knew it wouldn’t end well if she did. He was even larger and more imposing than Dalton. She needed time to think, and that meant she would have to bide her time and get to know the lay of the land. To do that, she would have to rein in her temper as well as her urge to take off running as soon as she was allowed outside. “Can I at least have my own clothes?”
“We are a simple people, Kerrigan. For your duration with us, you will need to dress as we do.”
“You mean I’m stuck in the ugly uniform, or you’re giving me a suit?” she asked, pointing to the clothes he was wearing.
Darkness flared briefly in his eyes. “No. The clothes you are wearing are the typical attire of our flock. Since I have important meetings, I dress for the occasion when it’s necessary. Now, I will go fetch Agnes. She will be taking you to your new quarters.”
“I’m not staying here?” she asked, looking around at the bland room. Moving to a new room might not be a bad thing.
“This is the infirmary, so no, you are not staying here. Your ribs are healing and will continue to do so in your new home. While you are among our people, you will adhere to the schedules and... customs as if you were one of our own. Who knows? You might find you like the peace and solitude enough you’ll want to stay.”
Kerrigan bit the inside of her mouth to keep from saying there was no way in Hell she would want to stay. Instead, she nodded, crossing her arms over her chest so she wouldn’t fist her hands. Without another word, Gideon left the room. Kerrigan could hear him speaking in low tones to someone in the hallway, but she couldn’t make out the words. Seconds later, Agnes reappeared, her face devoid of any emotion.
“I’m to escort you to your new housing. I’m also supposed to take you around and show you where everything is as well as inform you of our schedules.” Without waiting, the woman turned on her heel and left the room. Kerrigan could either stay put or follow. If she were honest with herself, she was a little curious as to The Sanctuary and the other people who lived there. How many were there by choice, and how many had been brought there like she’d been?
As Kerrigan walked behind Agnes, she took in her surroundings, doing her best to remember every turn they made. Once outside, Kerrigan was surprised to see what she considered a compound of sorts. All the buildings were square, one-story structures with no discernable differences. Instead of entering any of them, Agnes continued on toward a tree line. They walked down a worn, dirt path for close to ten minutes. Kerrigan had to pause a few times to catch her breath. When they cleared the other side of the trees, more buildings came into view. These were the same bland concrete as the others had been only on a smaller scale. Kerrigan was noticing a pattern – everything, save Gideon, was plain and boring.
“The women’s quarters are on the right and the men’s on the left. Under no circumstances are you to ever enter the men’s quarters. Here we are,” Agnes said, stopping in front of the fourth building. Her new accommodations were sparse at best. Two bunkbeds lined the side walls, and one door was positioned on the far wall. At least there were long windows situated high above the beds. Other than oil lamps sitting atop two small tables, that was the only source of lighting. “That’s the bathroom,” Agnes said, pointing to the door. “You will sleep on the top bunk above me,” she instructed, pointing to the beds on the left.
“Who sleeps in the others?” Kerrigan asked. There were no personal effects. No photos or any type of artwork adorning the walls. At the foot of each bed stood a small chest of drawers.
“Sisters Mary and Katherine. They are tending to the gardens at present. You will meet them at lights out.”
“Gardens? Like flowers, or...?”
“Vegetables. The Sanctuary is self-sustaining in that we grow our own vegetables. What meat we eat comes from venison as well as the cattle and poultry we raise. We do have to have some items brought in from the outside, but it’s bought and stored in bulk. You’ll see all that when we head back to the square.”
Kerrigan took the square to be the buildings they’d passed on the way to their room.
“All I saw were plain buildings. Where are the animals and gardens?”
“They’re in the south.”
“The south? Like, away from here?” Kerrigan still didn’t know where “here” was.
“No, the southern acres. The Sanctuary is vast in its expanse.”
“And where are we exactly?”
Agnes sighed. “I’m not supposed to tell you that. I will tell you we are in Vermont.”
Shit! There was a state between her and home, and since she didn’t know what part of Vermont she was in, it could be as much as nearly two states away. She’d foolishly thought she would be able to bide her time and make an escape, but considering she was in the middle of nowhere, Kerrigan was screwed. “Where are my things?”
Agnes stepped to the chest at the foot of their shared bed and pointed at the third drawer from the bottom. “Your purse and underwear are there, and your clothes are in the bottom drawer.”
Kerrigan opened the bottom drawer expecting to find her own clothes. She should have known better. It was more of the same thing she currently h
ad on. Opening the third drawer, she went to grab her purse but stopped when she saw the bras and panties. Pulling out the top bra, Kerrigan grimaced at the article she doubted her grandmother would wear. Tossing it back in, she removed her purse and dug inside for her wallet. What little money she had was still there, but her credit cards and driver’s license were missing. With no money to speak of, no identification, and no phone, she was well and truly fucked.
“Gideon said I’m not a prisoner, but in taking all my possessions, that’s how I feel. Does anyone ever get to leave once they’re brought here?”
“No one wants to leave. Why would they? The Sanctuary is like heaven on earth.” Agnes didn’t address the part about people being brought there against their will.
“Right,” Kerrigan muttered to herself. Instead of letting her disappointment show, she walked over to the bathroom door and opened it. Plain bottles lined the shelf in the shower. “What about soap, shampoo, and other toiletries?” She didn’t see a bottle of Suave or a bar of Dial anywhere.
“We make those as well. Much better for us and the environment.”
“And feminine products? It’s almost time for my period.”
Agnes blushed and pointed to the cabinet under the sink. “There are supplies in there.”
Kerrigan didn’t bother to look. She probably wouldn’t like what she found. “So, if the men and women are separated, I take it there’re no couples in The Sanctuary?”
“Oh, sure there are, but they reside in a different area.”
Kerrigan closed the bathroom door. “Are you dating anyone?”
Agnes looked as though Kerrigan had slapped her with the question. “Brother Gideon hasn’t chosen me yet.” Agnes shrugged.
“Maybe you just haven’t met the right man.” Kerrigan didn’t understand why Gideon would have to choose Agnes for a relationship, but the way the other woman curled around herself told Kerrigan it was a topic best left to a later date. They hadn’t passed any of the others on their walk to their room. Kerrigan didn’t know what else to call it. Quarters seemed too generous. “Speaking of men, where is everyone?”
“Everyone has a role to play. Much like where you are from, we all have jobs. Come on, I’ll show you where everything you’ll need is.” When Kerrigan closed the door behind them, she went to lock it, but there was nothing but a plain knob.
“Uh, why isn’t there a lock on the door?”
“We are a peaceful people. We don’t need locks.”
“So, anyone can just walk into our room whenever they want?”
Agnes shook her head. “It’s against the rules, and everyone follows the rules.”
Kerrigan understood there were nice people in the world, but she also knew there were those who weren’t. She’d met both kinds, and she didn’t believe not one single soul in this place wasn’t at least less than honest. “Since I was a bartender back home, will I get to do the same type of work here?”
“Alcohol isn’t allowed in The Sanctuary. It’s considered a vice, and Brother Gideon teaches us vices can ruin people.”
No alcohol? How the hell was she going to get through her time there? Kerrigan wasn’t a drunk, but working at Harper’s Point had allowed her to join in with the regulars whenever they celebrated or just wanted her to have a shot with them. As she followed behind Agnes, Kerrigan thought back to Ambrose. Why hadn’t she taken him up on his offer? If she’d gone home with the large fisherman, they would have no doubt fallen into his bed, and even though Dalton was a dick, Kerrigan wasn’t a cheater. But looking back, it would have been worth it. He might not have stuck around for long, but she’d have been able to get safely to her parents. Now, they thought she was okay and wouldn’t be looking for her. She’d told both Brooks and Ambrose she was going to South Carolina. Dalton might ask around, but not because he cared. He would be pissed she got away from him. No, he would give up, figuring she got to her folks’ place. Her reality slammed into her chest, much like what she thought getting shot would feel like.
No one would come for her. Kerrigan had been taken to hell, and Gideon was the devil.
Chapter Five
War
SITTING in the arena waiting for the graduation ceremony to commence, Warryck thought back to his own graduation. The pain had lessened over the years, but the memory wasn’t among his happiest...
Instead of celebrating with his wife, instead of tossing his cap into the air amidst the flurry of black mortarboards, Warryck pushed his way through the throng of his fellow graduates. He flung his graduation cap into the nearest garbage receptacle. The Bachelor of Science degree he’d been presented less than forty-five minutes prior was just another reminder of what he’d lost. Instead of walking across the stage immediately after the love of his life, he walked after some guy he’d never met. Some nameless face like all the other college students graduating that day. If it hadn’t been for his wife’s aunt and uncle pushing him to finish, pushing him to succeed, pushing him to live, he’d have gotten on his Harley and driven off into the proverbial sunset, never to return. But they had pushed. Lucius and Vera Ball had saved Warryck’s life in more ways than one.
He’d done as they asked and graduated college with a degree, but now that he had the piece of paper, he had no interest in pursuing a career in psychology. No interest in becoming the man he’d dreamed of. Without his wife, Warryck had no interest in anything at all, and that included his six-month-old baby girl. Warryck couldn’t see her little face and not see Harlow. He couldn’t look at her and not think about the life he and his high school sweetheart were supposed to have. Maybe one day he would look at his daughter and not feel the loss of his beloved, but that day wasn’t today.
While the other graduates celebrated with their families, Warryck slipped into the men’s restroom and removed the gown, stuffing it into the trash can before taking a piss. He didn’t bother looking at his reflection in the mirror as he washed his hands. Warryck already knew what he’d see, and it wasn’t the face of the happy man who should be standing there. The one who should be celebrating as both he and Harlow graduated together while their families looked on. In that man’s place was the Gryphon that lived within, driving him to seek revenge for Harlow’s death. Drying his hands, Warryck grabbed the fake diploma and headed for the exit.
“War,” a deep voice growled, causing Warryck to release his talons. If he’d been paying attention instead of wallowing in self-pity, he would have noticed the man leaning against the truck parked next to his bike. Since his head was somewhere else, he had been caught off-guard.
“Fucking hell,” he cursed, retracting his claws while looking around to see if anyone had caught his infraction. Seeing the coast was clear, Warryck turned his attention to the other man, taking in the changes since the last time he’d seen him. “What are you doing here, Mav?” Warryck asked his twin. Standing at six-four, Maveryck Lazlo was the same height as Warryck, but he had bulked up over the last few years, giving him at least thirty to forty pounds on Warryck. His twin did favor the lion over the eagle, so it only made sense he wouldn’t be as lean as Warryck.
“Did you think I’d let you graduate alone?” Maveryck took a deep drag off his cigarette, blowing the smoke up and away from Warryck. “You might have abandoned the rest of us, but we didn’t abandon you.”
“I didn’t abandon anyone. I made a choice, and that was Harlow.”
“I get that, but just because you got married and went to school didn’t mean you had to cut the rest of us out of your life. I’d like to have been there for you when my niece was born. Mom was pissed as hell about that. Still is.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t have a lot of time to call family in.” Warryck didn’t want to talk about that night.
“I’m real sorry about Harlow. I liked her.”
Maveryck’s words, even though they surprised War, couldn’t have hurt any more if he’d hauled off and punched Warryck in the gut. “How did you know?” he asked, his question barely more tha
n a whisper.
“You think I didn’t keep tabs on your ass when you left? You’re my fucking twin, War. Besides that, I’m a Hound, for Zeus’s sake. Just because you don’t embrace your inner nature doesn’t mean I don’t.”
The Hounds of Zeus were Gryphon shifters, created by the god to protect his human children. At least that was the story that had been passed down through all the generations.
“You don’t know anything about me. Not anymore.” Although it was the truth, it didn’t sit well with War that he and his twin were no longer close. He knew it was his own fault, but he had chosen his wife over his family. That didn’t sit well with his brothers, and it especially pissed off his mother.
“No? Are you gonna look me in the eye and tell me you aren’t getting ready to run? That you aren’t abandoning your baby girl as well as four years of education so you can go on a suicide mission alone? That you’re gonna continue to act like you don’t have a brotherhood ready to hit the road with you so they’ll have your back? Look, I get the club isn’t the life for you, but you’re still one of us whether or not you wear a kutte.”
Ignoring his brother’s keen insight into exactly what Warryck had planned, he diverted the conversation. His twin’s vest had patches depicting the name of their club, and War pointed at the one under Mav’s biker name, Mayhem. “I see you’re VP now. How does Ryker feel about that?”
“Seeing as he’s now the Pres, he likes it just fine.”
“Pres? What happened to Sutton?”
“Dear old Dad passed down the gavel. One of his old Army buddies tried to recruit him for a black ops mission, but Sutton told him he was retired. When his friend pressed the issue, Dad found out what the mission entailed and told his buddy he was in. Dad came into Church, holding a special meeting to let us know about the mission and how he was going undercover. He filled us in on as much as he could, but the little he told us was some really sick shit.”