I take in a breath and slowly exhale. “He tortures them to death, then sells the corpses to be further mutilated?”
“Most are sold alive but not in the greatest of shapes,” Dolos says. “There aren’t just shifters being sold either. I guess they’re equal opportunists when it comes to supernaturals in general. I’ve heard of at least two sirens who have been sold. From what I understand, some pose opportunities for individuals who use dark magic. You know what some of those spells can take.”
“Why didn’t you tell anyone sooner?” I ask.
“I didn’t realize it would affect the convention. I didn’t want to bother you or the other women with it. It’s not something you should have to deal with,” he says.
“Are you doing anything to stop it?” I ask.
“It’s not really something I want to get involved with. I’ve passed along some information about it to people who want to know in order to stop it, but I haven’t gone out of my way to hear anything. It’s not my scene, and you know that.”
Unfortunately, I really do. Some immortals are only about fun or themselves. After everything we’ve seen, we know it can get really fucked up out there whether we help or not. A lot of immortals, if they’re not personally affected by things, don’t give a shit. Which would be Dolos. They might know it’s wrong, or they might not, but either way, they’re not taking the time and energy to step in.
“Yet you’ve managed to pinpoint where they originated from,” I say.
“Not pinpoint, just the general area.”
“Anything else I should know? Besides that it’s near us, but not the actual location, you don’t know who it is, and you don’t know any clients or where they meet?”
“That about covers it. I don’t want to know where they meet or anyone who would be involved in such foul business,” Dolos says with distaste.
“Do you know if most of the clients are supernatural or human?” I ask.
He sighs and says, “I think a mixture of both. Humans who know about us and supernaturals who want to dominate others? Not sure.”
“Are there regulars?” I ask.
“Now, Peitho, I don’t know. I’ve already told you, I don’t know much as far as details. I know that people in the black market who have shown they’d be interested in this kind of service get contacted by the sellers, then they meet for auction. They can request a specific supernatural, which also goes to auction,” Dolos says.
“For someone who doesn’t know much, you’re just full of surprises. Do you know any clients who have gone to an auction?”
“I only know all of that because I know someone who was invited but didn’t go. He didn’t go through enough steps to get an actual meeting location either, so don’t bother asking. There was a rumor that he beat and killed a hooker, which was false, and I’m assuming that’s why he was invited. Plus, he’s known for having good funding,” Dolos says.
“Name?” I ask.
“Not happening,” he replies easily.
Damn him. This is much more important than some dumbass confidentially. What does it matter that he keeps a good name with his clients? It’s not like he can’t find new ones. All the same, I know reasoning with him would be pointless.
“Do you know how many people are involved in the actual organization?”
“At least two. More than that, I’m not sure. I also don’t know if they hire people to get shifters for them, or if they take them themselves. I’m guessing there’s at least five people involved. Most, if not all, of them supernatural,” he says.
“When did you start getting information about the group?”
He thinks for a moment. “Maybe six months ago? A year at most.”
“An entire year,” I mutter to myself, wondering what kind of jackass could just sit around and do nothing while knowing that was going on.
“Or six months. Somewhere in there.”
“Can you let me know if you hear anything else?” I ask.
“I could, but we both know the answer to that one. I’m not going to find out any more information, and even if I do, I’m not going to tell you. It’s not anything personal; you know how it is. Is that all?”
“Yes, that’s fucking all.” I slam the phone down.
I turn to Hunter, and we both just stare at each other for a moment. I’m not sure what he’s thinking, but I’m reenergized about trying to help these people. The convention. More victims could be taken, and at least some of them must still be alive.
“Why won’t he tell you more?” Hunter asks. Maybe he’s wondering how I could know or be friends with someone like that. I can’t justify his behavior.
“Dolos doesn’t want to get involved or put out any feelers for me. It takes time to build contacts. He doesn’t want to risk losing their trust.”
“What kind of … people could do this?” he finally asks in a broken voice.
“Evil ones who are out of their minds.”
He looks at me for a long moment. “You’ve never known people like this, right? Seen or heard of something like this?”
“I wish I could say no, but I have. When you live as long as I have, you see all kinds of evil, but there are good people out there too. It’s just that the bad tend to overshadow the good.”
Hunter suddenly whips his head at me. “Dolos said that the leader of the ring wants to be a vampire. Or thinks he is one.”
“Yes.” I nod.
“The only person we know with strong connections to vampires is Vincent,” Hunter says.
“Yes, but we couldn’t read him. We shouldn’t make a move against him without proof. The person in charge of this sounds very unstable. We don’t want to make any sudden movements against whomever this is if we have any hope of getting some of these women out alive.”
“We could go to the coven leader. They’re connected to their humans, right?”
“Yes,” I affirm.
“He might know if Vincent is involved. He could at least tell us if it’s something that he’s capable of. I don’t want to waste the time to double check, but it would be good to have someone to control him in case it is him,” Hunter says.
“That’s a good idea. Did Vincent ever say where his coven leader is?” I ask.
Hunter shakes his head. “But, his information was listed in the hotel information. I have his name and address. He lives in London. I can fly us there and back quickly. We should go tonight and see if we can get some answers.”
I snort. “It’s getting pretty late. Vampires are big on manners and etiquette.”
“What do you mean? The only time to go would be tonight or tomorrow night, unless you think we should call first.”
“Definitely not. We don’t know if they’re involved in anything as well. We should go tomorrow morning.”
“Won’t they be asleep?” he asks.
“You’re thinking of the human idea of vampires. No, they don’t sleep during the day and suddenly come out at night to stalk and prowl. The sun doesn’t burn them, either, before you think of that. Their eyes are just a bit sensitive to strong light, since they have very good sight.”
“I’m sure if we went tonight they’d understand the urgency.”
“Trust me; we don’t want to start this meeting off on the wrong foot. Better to go tomorrow and request a meeting with the coven leader. They don’t do well with rude,” I say.
“But this is life or death!” he protests.
“That’s why we need to be careful about this, if we expect them to help us. We need to look and act the part. They’re big on the class system”
He shifts a little uncomfortably. “I can dress up, and I have gowns here.”
I raise my brows to him. “What do you mean? I’m not borrowing some past dragoness’s gowns. You do realize how possessive you guys are, right? She’ll come after me like nobody’s business and rip the dress from my cold, dead body, once I can no longer put up a fight!”
“No, I have some in my treasure collectio
n,” Hunter says quickly.
I stop protesting. “Oh. What kind of dresses do you have there? Are they all old and bejeweled?”
Hunter sighs. “Yes, some of them have gems on. They have also been spelled to stay clean. Most of my treasure has been.”
“By yourself or by a magic user?”
“I hired a wizard to spell my treasure,” Hunter explains.
I feel a little uncomfortable, like he’s taking a big step, or that I don’t know the true significance here. I’m not naive enough to think a dragon takes everyone to see his treasure, let alone is willing to part with some of it to them. Do I feel like taking him up on this, or doing the more prudent thing?
“Lead the way! I want to see the sparklies!” I say with a grin.
Hunter gives a little grunt, and I think he may actually be nervous at showing me his pile of treasure. At least, the stash he keeps here. I know that between dragons, it’s a great show of honor and worth, so I can kind of understand that. On the other hand, I’m happy with anything sparkly.
“The room is past the water spring,” Hunter says, starting to lead in that direction.
After a few turns and passageways, we walk into a large archway and into a chamber. It’s oddly organized from what I’ve come to expect from his home. To the right is armor and weapons. The middle appears to be art and artifacts. On the left there seems to be jewelry and chests full of who knows what. There are rows of tables with the treasure carefully set upon each of them.
“Nice digs,” I compliment him when I realize he’s been silent.
“It’s not my entire collection, but it is my largest,” he says, looking around critically.
“I can’t imagine that there’s even more. Enyo would die at those daggers, and Apate would lose it at those huge gems adorning the hilts. I myself like all the crowns,” I say with a grin, looking at a table filled with crowns from the most elaborate and jewel-encrusted to more understated, elegant ones.
He smiles at me. “Yeah, I do have a lot of crowns.”
I turn back to him, pulling my eyes from the visual treats with reluctance. “As the youngest male son of the reigning royal dragons, you’ll want to look good but not too above yourself. I suggest a nice suit and fancy weapons. Don’t worry, they’ll expect you to be well armed, especially since you’re taking me with you under your protection. They respect such bonds.”
“What do you have to wear?”
“If I want them to respect my social status and acknowledge my power, I have to show that in my appearance,” I explain.
“Much more than the shifters, I’m assuming,” he says.
I nod. “They won’t mind that I have a gift that mortals or shifters seem to look down on. Since they can feed off of emotions such as lust, as well as blood, that earns me some added respect.”
“I can understand that. I don’t think it makes you any less to have control over seduction or persuasion,” Hunter protests.
“Thanks,” I say simply, appreciating the acceptance.
“You’ll also have to wear a crown,” Hunter points out.
I turn to him in surprise. “We don’t have crowns.”
“Right now, you’re my consort and I’m royal, so that makes you a princess. You have to wear a small tiara, at least.”
I feel a shiver go up my spine. “You mean, I can wear a crown and be justified in wearing it?”
“Yes, totally justified,” he agrees and grins.
Hunter shows me his treasure with obvious pride, and I couldn’t be a more admiring audience. I pick a long Grecian goddess-style dress that’s strapless and deep, royal blue. The necklace we choose is a choker with strands of diamonds and sapphires falling down in neat rows.
“It brings out the red in your hair,” Hunter comments when he sees me in the dress, eyes a bit hungry.
“Thanks.” I grin at him, but think back to earlier, when he was more concerned about me calling Dolos than me being naked. I’m not just here to let him have his wicked way whenever he wants it.
“Peitho?” he asks, watching me carefully.
I quickly paste a smile on my face. No need to confront him about things now, when we’re getting along and just about to do something that’s much more important than us and our rather pathetic excuse for a relationship.
“I’m thinking a silver-colored tiara. Nothing too big and flashy,” I say, walking away from him to look at the selection.
I pick up a white gold number that’s delicate and has diamonds to add sparkle.
Hunter nods at my choice. “I have a crown to match it, which I will wear. I also have weapons with diamond and sapphire accents. I’m thinking a gray suit?”
“Sounds good.” I move away to change back into my other clothes.
I avoid the way he’s looking at me as I change, and the sudden heat that flares in his eyes. Just because I’m staying here and willing to accept—no, borrow—his treasure doesn’t mean that I’m his to do with as he pleases any time he so wishes.
Hunter comes over to me. “Anything wrong?”
“No, just tired. I used a decent amount of power today,” I lie. It didn’t take a lot of power for me to befuddle the people earlier in order to question them. “I’m going to bed. We have a big day tomorrow.”
He looks a little puzzled. “All right, is there anything you need?”
“I’m fine. Don’t forget to set the alarm. We want to make sure we get there early.”
“How do you know so much about vampires? Dated one of them too?” he asks.
I try to ignore the dig, and the fact that it oddly hurts. People say lots of things to me. They rarely actually make me feel bad. I know that my girls are only joking, and everyone else just doesn’t matter. When did his opinion start to matter to me?
“No, I have never dated or slept with a vampire. We studied various supernaturals in school.”
“I didn’t realize you had such a well-rounded education.”
I turn to him with irritation. “Haven’t you figured it out yet? Everything about me is well-rounded.”
I’m gone before he has a chance to retort.
Chapter 14
I glare at the back of Hunter’s head when he’s turned away from me. First he was completely irritating and borderline insulting last night. Then he had to invade my dreams. I was restless with images of him, me, us—naked, and doing things that I haven’t been persuaded to do in near centuries. If I didn’t know the limitations of his mind magic, I’d think he did it purposefully. Sadly, I know such things are beyond his powers. Which means it was all me.
We’re dressed and ready to make our appearance at the vampire coven. I know I look nice in my royal blue gown, even if I do feel a little odd sashaying around in it at ten in the morning. I get some curious looks from the innocent bystanders, but the people mostly assume that I’m coming back from a walk of shame. If I concentrate, I can pick up on the lusty thoughts of others. Sometimes a good gift, sometimes a bad one.
“This is it,” Hunter says, and we stop before a large and rather foreboding home. “Somehow, I pictured it differently.”
“As in a big spooky castle in Transylvania?”
“Something like that.” He seems slightly embarrassed at the stereotype. “I thought there would at least be some gargoyles.”
I can’t help but roll my eyes. “Welcome to the modern supernatural world.”
I step forward and knock.
“Hello, what may I do for you?” a woman rocking the flapper look with a sleek black bob says as she opens the door.
“I am Peitho, the daimon of persuasion and seduction, and consort to Prince Hunter of the Green Dragons. I would like to request a meeting with your coven leader,” I state firmly.
She looks at me with interest, only an inch or so shorter than myself, but with a thin, graceful body. “You both may enter.”
The woman moves away from the door slightly, just enough that I can get past her, but I have to brush across her body
in order to do so. The lighting in the foyer is dim, and the styling is classic. There’s a staircase leading upstairs in the middle of the room and two hallways.
“Do you have an appointment with Loren, or were you sent by another?” she asks.
I shake my head. “We are both here on our own accord and don’t have an appointment. I know it is rude of us to show up unexpectedly, but this is a matter that requires our immediate attention.”
“Indeed. I’ll check the schedule.”
“I appreciate that,” I agree.
The woman pulls out a schedule book, and it makes me feel more comfortable to know that she isn’t completely electronic either. “He’s busy now, but I’ll check with him later to see if you can be squeezed in. Would you like to wait here or give me a contact number by which I can reach you?”
“We’ll wait,” I say firmly.
“You may follow me. I am Vivien, Loren’s second-in-command. I will tell him that you’re here and request some of his time. May I ask what you specifically wish to talk with him about?” she asks as she leads us down the left hall to a cozy little sitting room.
Vivien motions at a couch, and Hunter and I both sit while she takes the chair across from us. Her manner is coldly polite. I don’t get an obviously predatory gleam off of her, which is more telling about her age. The young ones cannot help but want to dominate all around them. Their auras are not nearly so well hidden.
“I would like to ask him questions about a ward of his,” I say.
“This is a pressing matter?” she asks with a raised brow, probably wondering why we didn’t go through the proper channels and contact them before showing up.
“Yes, it is rather urgent,” I say.
Hunter is silent, as we had a talk before coming here. I told him that it would be best if he let me take the lead and do most of the talking, since I’m the higher ranking of the two of us. He didn’t fight for the power at all, which tells me that he really isn’t comfortable being the diplomat. Luckily for both of us, I’m used to it.
Skin of a Goddess (Goddess Ascension Book 1) Page 19