Bloodbreeders: Seeking Others

by Robin Renee Ray,

“What’s changed? You’re the same smart ass as you were with two arms. Think we can stop with the arm jokes for now?”

  “For now,” he smiled, causing me to smile back. “No need to cry over spilt, well I was going say milk, but arm sounds just as good.

  “Oh Cates, you’re too much,” I replied, following the others out the door. “Oh, and what the hell was that horrid tapping that I heard when I woke up?”

  Kala cleared his throat. “I did not know you were awake, it is a nervous thing.” He lowered his head. “I tap my foot.” I shook my head and smiled as I walked out around him.

  Sure enough we met the girls about halfway out. Tammy standing counting heads no doubt and looking for one big set of shoulders. She hadn’t seen Cates’ wounds until it was time for him to climb the ladder back into the safety of our ship. He reached up and pulled himself up on the bottom steps, that was floating in and out of the water. Then he gripped the whole thing with his only arm and brought his feet up higher. Tammy let a small sound out, gripping her mouth as she watched him struggle over the side, then she was the next to follow without question. Jessica and Jacob kept watch behind us for any signs of lights, boats, or things that may not have needed either, while the rest of us climbed into the ship. He told her of the elders, and them knowing our numbers, but also told her that he that we could make good, by going straight to London.

  “The winged one came back covered in wounds, screaming about her, ‘me’om’. I could not help but to come and search for you,” she admitted, never taking her eyes off of the silent shore behind us. “We found the two elderly in a boat crossing the wide part of the bay.”

  “Then they are safe. Renee will be pleased.”

  “What else bothers you?”

  “I felt the assassin, much like I feel you in my mind, when we’re not close together. I saw more than one, but the one was there before my eyes ever had proof.”

  “Do you know him?” she asked, finally breaking her gaze.

  “Somehow, but to see him in my mind would only mean that I would know him much like I do you,” he replied, looking back to see that all but Jessica, and himself remained on the smaller boats.

  “But, how?”

  “Maybe when we were smaller children, he was in the training camp with me. It’s the only thing that I can think of and those memories are all but gone.”

  ***

  They joined the others, helping tie the boats to the ship as we made our way back to the open waters that would soon lead us to the place that I had wanted to go all along. Little stories had I heard about the tortuous ways of the slave traders in London, but I knew that my maker was given word that he would find me there, and I was looking for him. For many nights we saw nothing but the rocking waves of the sea, as we sat about making plans as to what we would do once we reached our destination.

  Tabor’s maps showed a narrow river that allowed us to enter the land around the Island of England, where we made port at one of his many secret shelters. Jacob and Derek made their way deep into the quiet, dark land before coming back, surrounded by small people.

  They led us to their home, which was far away from the shores and nowhere near the watchful eyes of passersby, which stopped only to stare and point at their deformities. Johnny and Shyanna were treated like little queens and kings the moment we stepped into Tabor’s family’s world. He who never grew up, and she who flew. One from their own creation. Not one seemed to fear us, no matter how rugged we looked. The time on the open waters had taken its toll on all of us, and fresh blood was in great need. I could hear Tammy giggling under her breath, because Cates had told her once again that he only needed the one arm to hold her with, as he pulled her in for one of their many brief moments of kissing. Derek rolled his eyes and pushed past Tanda, who was smiling back at the two that had found true love, wondering in the back of her mind why Derek disagreed.

  “Why does it bother you every time you see them hold each other?” Tanda rushed up beside Derek and asked.

  “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he replied in a gruff manner, never slowing his step.

  “Is it that you saw favor in her first?” she asked, bringing him to a dead stop.

  Derek stood there with her until everyone passed by, then spun her by the shoulders into one of the moss covered trees.

  “Is that what you think?”

  “I was only asking, and you’re hurting me,” she replied, trying to wiggle out of his grip.

  “It bothers me, because I don’t understand how anyone can be that happy after everything that we have been through, not to mention those that we’ve lost.”

  Tanda didn’t reply, she just waited for his grip to ease and then she leaned in and kissed him right on the mouth. Derek stepped back, then out of know where pushed her harder into the tree, returning the kiss just as she had offered it. His arms wrapped around her tiny frame as she ran her hands up his back, kissing him as deeply as she could. Derek broke away; kissing her on the forehead, squeezing her one more time, then released her so fast she fell back against the tree. She smiled, watching him become one of the many shadows, knowing his heart was not yet turned to stone, for she held that tender piece that still possessed a spark of what he once was.

  The people we meet were much like Tabor and his clan, and knew that we would soon be coming their way. Word traveled fast among his people, just like he had said it would and they treated us like we were one of their own. We drank our fill in fresh cow’s blood that night, getting to know those around us. Johnny found a friend his age, and the two were like normal children playing with a ball and stick with Shyanna, bouncing around them the whole time.

  “My son has not yet been affected by the disease,” a kind woman named Cornelle said as she smiled with the good side of her face. “We all hope it will skip the little ones, but it never does.”

  “I wish I could see change in Johnny’s future, but he will never grow up. His mind will, but his body will stay the same,” I explained, wiping the tears from my eyes.

  “We’re two mothers wanting the best for our children and both knowing their outcome. It is a small world to be so huge.”

  “He’s my little brother, and I wish I knew the outcome of his little life, because what he’s been dealt is a fate worse than death.”

  “He can be a child here. My husband knows of your plight and we will watch over the young ones for you. They will be completely safe in our care,” she turned, showing the tears building in her eyes. “The girl, Lilly, is being sent here as well. The one you saved.”

  “Yes, I know Lilly, but why is she being taken from her family?”

  “She cries each night for the one who gave her the nectar of her own fluids. The baby is now with another family because she had stopped caring for the poor little thing.”

  “I have enough on my hands, I can’t take care of a normal,” I said angrily getting to my feet.

  “And her mind cannot withstand life without you,” she retorted, taking my hand. “We will keep her safe here until you have returned for the others. It will calm her knowing she is around your kind.”

  “How far is it to the tunnels of London, Cornelle?”

  “He passed through here,” she replied.

  “Are you reading my mind?” I asked, sitting back down. “How do you know what I’m looking for?”

  “Why else would such a beautiful woman be doing what it is that you do, if a man is not somewhere in the mixture?”

  “I hate what the traders are doing to the innocence of others. I will never stop until it ends.”

  “You have a heavy heart, but I would bet my soul that it is based on the love of a man, and not just your hatred for the black ways of your kind,” Cornelle responded, whistling for her son to come over to her. “It’s time to get ready for bed, you can play again soon.”

  The child did as he was told, looking back waving at Johnny who stood holding the ball in his hands. I never replied to Cornelle’s statem
ent, but listened as she and the others explained to us, how we would find our way into the tunnels and be able to leave the younger ones with them. Tanda stood her ground for the first time, and I believe we were all shocked to see it.

  “I’ll not stay behind again. I’m tired of being treated like a little girl when I’m older than half here,” she demanded.

  “It’s far more dangerous than where we have been, you can understand that,” Garvin said getting to his feet, leaving the rest of us around the fire to watch.

  “I have seen and been through hell for fifty years, and I’m not going to sit back and let you treat me like some snot nose brat that can’t take care of herself!”

  “Calm down,” Gavin demanded, grabbing her arm.

  “Let her go,” Derek hissed, stepping out of the darkness.

  “Brother, I love you, but I too want to explore this world and fight against what we have seen for so long.”

  “Let her go,” Derek repeated, dropping his weapon on the ground.

  “She is my sister, and she will not go into that city!” Garvin yelled as he turned to see the blur of Derek’s body knocking him to the ground.

  Tanda screamed out, watching the two men that she loved rolling around, fighting over her wishes. “I will protect her,” Derek growled as he slammed his fist into Garvin’s, stomach.

  “I will not take that chance,” Garvin yelled back bringing his knee up and flipping Derek head over heels. They were acting like two little children, not two that were meant to protect.

  “I will do as I damn well please, without either of you telling me what I can and cannot do!” Tanda screamed, walking into the circle of the fight. “I will stand on my own from this night on.” Then she stomped around them and went into the stone house where Shyanna and Johnny were resting.

  Both men watched her storm away; one holding the others shirt, ready to swing the next blow. Garvin looked back at Derek, and pushed him off, getting to his feet. Derek dusted of the front of his pants glaring back, then walked over, picked up his long blade and left into the night.

  “I will stay with them, let her have an adventure. She’s very good with her weapons and can move as fast as a well-trained soldier,” Jessica smiled. “What do you think we do on that ship all night…play dress up?”

  Her statement caused a round of laughter from everyone other than Garvin, who had the look of fear written across his face. When I tried to ask him why it was so important for her to not join us, he just turned and looked into the direction of the glow from the city of London and shook his head. Sydney, as well as Cates, Tammy, and myself, gave our word to keep her close to us. Garvin took in a deep breath of night air, and then nodded. Tanda came running back out and all but threw herself into his arms. She had been watching the whole time.

  “I knew you would let me go,” she laughed, kissing his cheeks. “I will be very careful.”

  “Many things can live in the tunnels and much more goes on above them,” he replied, trying his best to smile back.

  “But as long as I’m with all of you, I will be fine. Don’t you think that it is those of the past that better be worried of us?”

  CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

  Talk eased around the fire that night. Our plans had been made as far as the gates that would lead us into the underground passage ways that were filled with the long death of London past, and also the area that all breeders used to transport slaves without being seen. My bones were tired and my mind weary of the next night’s encounters in the one place that the entire group talked about as being miles and miles of twisting turns, that could find one lost in its manic array of disarray. Tunnels where Martin himself searched for runaway slaves, witnessing the light of day turning as man to ash, and all running through my mind like a rapid storm on a trail of mass destruction .

  I woke in the damp, moldy basement of Cornelle’s family home, with all of my people around me. Tanda lay on her side next to Johnny, who had his head resting on Shyanna’s lower leg. Cates and Tammy held each other in the far corner, and Derek, Sydney, and Garvin, were on the opposite side of them. Jessica lay near her brother who was looking back at me. He reached down and moved the strand of hair on Jessica’s face, then eased himself from around her, coming and sitting by me.

  “She’s seen the horrors of the tunnels. Even I would stay with the younger ones if I could.”

  “Martin never told me anything other than searching for the few lucky ones that escaped.”

  “He never had the chance,” Jacob said, looking back at his sister.

  “How bad is it, and don’t tell me that I will see it for myself soon enough. I’m getting really tired of surprises.”

  “One has never seen so many layers of death, unless they’ve walked the tunnels themselves. Bones on top of bones; heads removed from the remains and made into the walls themselves, because even the tunnels became too small for the dead that so eagerly waited to enter. It is how it became so usable by our kind. The breeders once hid in the tunnels from the walkers of the day, but now lay in wait for any who are unlucky enough to fall prey to the cover of night. We can come in from any side of the city and escape just the same. The only worry that we have is getting separated.”

  “And if that happens?”

  “Then we become weak to those who seek the fallen of the tunnels. Together we stand strong. Scavengers will only attack the weak and few.”

  “Scavengers? Are they breeders like us, or animals like Fala?”

  “It has been many years since Chin has made his way through the tunnels, then it was only those who sought others for the high mistress of the city—Angelica,” he said, whispering her name.

  “Then we stay close until we get to the opening that leads to the main estate.”

  “London will be a hard challenge for us to concur. There is more than just the one, you know?”

  “My pa always said if you take down the biggest one, the rest will take notice,” I remembered smiling up at him.

  “Your father was a wise man, even for a normal.”

  Three hours later we all stood at a rusted iron gate that had wrought iron spears for ribs to hold the living out. But we were not the living were we? Johnny, Shyanna, and Jessica, seemed to be happy enough staying with the lepers and they were more than pleased to have them, with orders to send them back to Chin’s very private home in Maine, if we didn’t return within two weeks’ time. I gripped the iron gate, feeling the years of death flow through my body, with Sydney standing right beside me. “I see nothing but death in this place, Renee,” he whispered. I nodded, looking at Derek who reached up and grabbed Cates by the shoulder and lifted himself over the eerie gate, and waited for us to follow.

  “Everyone have a torch or candle? It is pitch black in there, and not even our eyes will be able to see the walls in front of us,” Jacob explained. “Once lost, you may never be found again. Other than by those you wish not to find you, or worse, if starvation finds you first.”

  “And how would that be worse?” I shrugged and he ignored me.

  Tammy looked worried staring at the six foot gate that was surrounded by an eight foot stone fence on both sides. Cates reached down and lifted her up with his right arm, right up to shoulder level. It gave her so much pride that she grabbed the top of the stone pillar holding the side of the gate, and swung her curvaceous body over, and slid down the other side. Garvin put Tanda on his shoulders, and while balancing on one foot, placed her over on the top of the gate, and pushed off landing lightly on her feet, and right in the arms of Derek.

  “Thanks, but it’s not that big of a leap and I’m taking care of myself, remember?” Then she pushed past him and walked over to Tammy.

  Cates looked at me, which made me just shake my head and smile back. He held his hand out and I took a short running ‘go for it’. My foot hit his palm as he lifted and I never even touched the fence. My feet didn’t land as gently as Tanda’s, nor was there anyone to catch me from crashing into the shr
ubbery by the steps that led down into the tunnels on the other side.

  “That’s one hell of a leap girl! You all right?” he asked chuckling, pulling himself up on the gate.

  “Yeah, you just missed the steps by half a foot…but, I’m fine,” I grimaced in reply.

  “Everyone stay behind me, and no one light their torch until I give the word…do I make myself clear?” Jacob asked, turning to look at each of us. “It will take our eyes time to become accustom to the dark, so never look directly into the blaze. Light only one at a time to save them, and keep it as dark as we can, just in case we get separated. That is something that cannot happen.”

  “And if it does?” Tammy asked.

  “If you are alone light your torch, and listen for the others, we cannot hear you if we’re calling out your name. When we pause, you yell and we will find you.”

  “Don’t keep moving, because you’ll just keep moving further away,” Cates added, nodding at Jacob.

  “If you find yourself alone and frightened, scream once, then listen. Do not panic, because we will not be the only ones listening to your cries. We will make our way to the safe area, in the third corner on the other side of the city, and then figure out what we will do tomorrow night,” Jacob explained as if giving a speech to a group of soldiers.

  “Can we go in now?” Derek asked, lifting his black cloak over his head.

  Jacob shook his head, going in after him, with the rest of us following. Tammy and Cates brought up the rear. We went down several steps, and the further down we went, the darker it became. I felt the back of Garvin, who was more than likely feeling the back of whoever was in front of him, with Derek boldly and blindly leading the way. Cool, stale air blew against our faces as we took into the tunnels that we still couldn’t see. My hands touched the walls of small round stones, but I hadn’t smelled the horrid scent of gore filled death that I had expected from the demented cravings of wealthy breeders, to the blood thirsty insane lower levels, and this was said to hold this largest count of death yet. My thinking was that we were just not deep enough, that is until Jacob brought his torch to life.