The wolf’s tongue wagged at him, and he thought he saw the creature smile. Demon.
Moments later, a searing pain erupted at his belly, and his mouth opened on a hoarse scream. Using the last of his strength, he lifted his head to better see and remove the cause.
The demon was there, head buried in his belly as it tugged and ripped….
He tried to push it away, but its sharp teeth latched onto his hand and it began to tug and rip.
Chapter Nine
The day was turning out to be—for lack of better word—chaotic. Instead of the usual ritual of the day, breakfast and then to the fields, Hollis, along with Leon and his brothers, had lined the slaves up just after dusk and read off eleven names. Pleasant had yet to arrive, and proceedings were going through without him. As the names were read, ten slaves stepped forward, looking confused and terrified. Julia, who must have been added as the eleventh slave recently, as Penny could not remember seeing her on the list, was the only one who was not there.
“If your name has been called, you may return to your quarters for anything of value to you,” Leon spoke clearly, authoritatively. “In some hours, you will be leaving for Mr. Julius’s plantation in Virginia. He’ll be your new master and I expect you to treat him with the same respect you’ve shown me.”
Cries immediately broke free from the friends and family of the slaves being sold.
“If you work hard, you will be treated well,” Leon continued, eyeing the terrified humans and feeling a keen sympathy for them. They didn’t know they were a step closer to their freedom, only that they were being sold away from, for many, the only home and family they’d known.
“An’ don’ none of y’all try runnin’,” Hollis said, lifting his voice. Because Pleasant was not there, he seemed to think it his job to put fear into the slaves until the true terror arrived. “Pleasant be here soon ’nuf ’nd us and these ’ere boys gon’ be watchin’ to make sure.”
Leon nodded. He didn’t want to scare them, but he didn’t want anyone running, unknowingly, from what was perhaps their only chance of freedom.
He scanned the crowd, searching out Penny. She wasn’t looking at him. Instead, she was looking at the people she’d helped him select, people fit enough to make this journey north. Her eyes were sad, haunted.
He looked away and clasped his hands behind his back. “That is all. You’re dismissed.”
***
“Don’t cry, Annie,” Penny was saying. Annie was around her age, and had been born on the plantation, like Penny. She stroked her friend’s hair. “Massa Julius’ place might jus’ be better’n this one. You ain’t neva like them fields, ’member? Maybe you be a cook this time?”
Annie only cried harder, and although she knew she’d done the right thing by putting her friend on the list, Penny felt guilty. There came a commotion and Penny looked up to find someone pushing his way into her quarters. People were mulling about, talking to those would soon leave, comforting them, so it was a task to get through.
Once the person cleared the others and she saw the face, she immediately knew what was to come. It was Ray. And he, too, had been placed on the list.
“You bitch!” Ray hollered.
Annie immediately quieted, sniffling as she turned to see who it was making such noise. “You dirty, Massa-lovin’ whore!”
“Boy, don’ you come in here talkin’ to Penny like that!” Old Ma began angrily, banging the stick that aided with her walking on the floor.
“She got y’all fooled. Had me fooled good, too,” Ray snarled, anger dripping from his being. He took a step forward and Penny shoved Annie behind her. She’d never seen Ray this angry before, and was unsure of what he would do. “Why ain’t you on the list, Penny? Tell ’em why you ain’t on the list!”
When she didn’t answer, Ray released a bitter laugh and spun to the face their growing audience. “Penny ’ere ain’t on no list ’cause she spreadin’ her legs for the Massa—”
“That’s enough!” Old Ma roared, banging the stick once more. “Boy, I gon’ forgive this ’cause you angry and bitter, but you say one mo’ thing and you gon’ face ’em fires o’ hell ’fore you’ time!”
Ray blanched. Old Ma was a voodoo priestess after all. But he still managed to turn to face Penny. Even as hurt pounded through her at the words from her friend, she remained expressionless.
Tears gathered in Ray’s eyes, and his voice lowered. “I’s on this list fo’ you, Penny, ’cause he don’ want me ’round you!” His voice broke slightly, and sadness engulfed her being. If he only knew the truth… “I got brothers and sisters I ain’t never gon’ see ’gain ’cause o’ you!” His face drew up in anger once more and he took a step forward as if he intended to hurt her.
Penny tensed again, waiting for the attack.
“You touch ’er and you ain’t gon’ use that arm ’gain!” Old Ma’s voice came as if in the distance.
Instead of hitting her like she’d expected, he caught her arms in a punishing grip, and said softly, words meant only for her ears, “He ain’t gon’ want you fo’ long anyways. You’s a darkie, and soon’s he learn these ways, you gon’ be an ordinary field nigger like rest of us.”
Pushing her away, Ray blindly made his way to the door. Some people patted his back, others revealed their sorrow that he was leaving. Once he was gone, they all turned to her expectantly. She knew what they wanted: a vehement denial, something to put them at ease. She couldn’t bring herself to lie.
“What y’all lookin’ at?” Old Ma demanded after seconds passed with Penny as a spectacle. As if she’d shocked them, everyone returned to what they were doing. People were crying again, comforting again
“Actin’ like people ain’t leavin’ soon!” Old Ma huffed as she made her way over. “You all right, girl?”
Nodding automatically, she turned and looked for Annie. She’d moved farther into the crowd. When their eyes met, Annie looked away hastily.
Penny’s secret was out, and now it seemed her own people were going to treat her as an outcast for it. Learning she was different had put them somewhat in awe of her. Finding out she was sleeping with the master was going to make them despise her.
She’d known the day would come; it didn’t ease her hurt any less.
***
After almost a half an hour of either being ignored or watched with accusing eyes, Penny stepped from the quarters and made her way to the house. She didn’t blame them for the way they treated her. They didn’t understand, nor would they.
She’d just stepped through the side door when a hand clasped hers. Although she went on the alert, she recognized Julia, and the expression on her face was haggard.
“What’s wrong?” Penny asked immediately.
Julia looked around quickly, and then shook her head. “Not ’ere. You follow me?”
Nodding, Penny set off behind her, passing the dining room and into the kitchen. She expected to see Jolie, but the girl was nowhere in sight. Julia led her into a room off to the side of the kitchen, a room where Julia obviously slept. There were six cots, barely inches away from each other, but the space was clean, much like the space she shared with the field slaves.
“I know we ain’t friends or nothin’, but I ain’t kno’ who to come to,” Julia began brokenly. She braced against the wall and closed her eyes as if she couldn’t bear to keep herself up anymore. “This my only home, like it yours. Born ’ere, I was. Me and Jolie both. Ain’t never been nowhere else. I don’ wanna leave.” She paused and drew a deep breath. “Don’ wanna leave ’er ’ere alone.” Jolie. Julia was concerned for Jolie.
“I’s sorry, Julia,” Penny said softly, unable to say anything else.
“You can ’elp me,” Julia continued, her eyes beseeching. “I kno’ you’s close to Massa. Ask ’im for me. I do whatever you wan’. I be your slave—anythin’. Please.”
Shaking her head slowly, Penny closed her eyes and said, “It not gon’ change nothin’.”
�
��Try, please—please.” Julia broke off on a sob, sliding down the wall as if even that was not enough to keep her up. She clutched a delicate, fine-boned hand to her chest and shook her head. The cream scarf she wore as a hair cover shifted and her red locks tumbled around her face. Tears streamed from under her closed lids and her lips trembled. “Pain. I ain’t never kno’ nothin’ but pain.”
Penny rushed over to her immediately, kneeling at her side. “Everythin’ gon’ be fine, Julia.”
Julia’s eyes opened, gray swimming in a pool of water. “Please try—I can’ leave her. She the only thin’ in this world I got.”
“I try—” Penny began reassuringly, only to be cut off by Jolie’s screech of anger.
“Wha’ she doin’ in here?” Before anyone could answer, Jolie grabbed her, pulling her up. “Out! Jus’ cause Massa let you in the ’ouse don’ mean you come in ‘ere!”
Penny yanked her arm away and was preparing to teach Jolie the lessons in manners she’d never learned, when Julia’s voice halted her.
“Stop it!”
Jolie stepped past Penny and looked down at her sister. Her hand landed across Julia’s forehead and she said gently, “Wha’s wrong wit’ you? You sick again?”
It was obvious Jolie hadn’t heard the news yet. For one, she didn’t look hysterical, and two, she wasn’t trying to attack Penny, which should probably would once she found out.
Penny stepped back until she was near the door. She was about to turn when Julia pinned her with that sad stare. “Please.”
Nodding, Penny walked out.
***
“What’s wrong?” Leon asked immediately upon seeing his mate.
She shook her head and approached him, burying her face against his shirt and wrapping her arms about his waist.
Stroking down her back, he easily burrowed his way into her mind. She was both happy and sad, and guilt seemed to press down against her every thought. There were no images, as if she’d blanked them all from her mind.
“Penny,” he murmured. “This will only benefit them. If everything goes as planned, in a few months, they will be free. No slavery. No masters.”
She nodded against his chest and sighed, “I know, Leon. I do. It’s just—sad.”
He agreed wholeheartedly. Slavery was sad. Humans were stupid. Those were facts.
“Is it possible to send Jolie as well?” he heard her ask.
Blinking at the request, as it seemed odd, he replied, “Next time, ma louve. Armand was only supposed to be taking ten, but I’ve amended it for eleven. We shouldn’t change the sale too much in case they are stopped, and someone grows suspicious.” He paused. “Why do you ask?”
“Julia,” she replied. “She does not wish to leave her sister.”
He understood now. “It won’t be for long. As soon as the first group is in Canada, we will start preparation for the next. Jolie will go then.”
“Why must Julia go now? She wasn’t on the list I drafted, Leon,” Penny said, pulling her head back to look into his face. She had been quite surprised to hear Julia’s name on the list.
Leon’s face grew a bit shuttered and before he could say anything, she pushed into his mind, seeing the conversation he’d had with his brother as clearly as if it were played out before her.
“You did it for Armand,” she whispered softly, before blinking in confusion. “Why does he want her on the list?”
With a sigh, Leon replied, “Why did I place you on the list, ma louve?”
“But you’re my mate—” She broke off as her eyes widened. “But he’s a wolf and she’s human.”
“Yes,” Leon replied, with a stiff nod. “Sometimes fate can be cruel, Penny.”
“So it’s not normal for a human and a were to be mates?”
He shook his head once. “It is not normal, but it has happened before.”
Nodding, Penny pressed her cheek against his cotton shirt again. “Will he hurt her?”
“Never intentionally,” Leon replied, the conviction in his voice only putting her slightly at ease.
“But he could still hurt her?”
“Yes.”
“I always thought that living in this house would be better than working the fields,” Penny murmured, remembering the tears streaking Julia’s face, the pain that seemed to weigh her tall but slender body down. “Perhaps, it was because they received better clothing, and food, and were always inside, away from the sun and the prickly cotton vines. I didn’t know—didn’t think about the type of things she’d be subjected to. She’s experienced more pain that anyone I’ve met, Leon. You can almost smell it on her.”
Leon remained silent, listening to her, stroking up and down her back, comforting her. It was true. Julia had always struck him as sad, and close to broken.
“It would be unnecessarily cruel to have her suffer anymore,” she continued softly, and Leon sensed whatever she would say next was not going to sit well with him. “I want you to tell him that. Tell Armand that. If you won’t, I will. If he knows he’ll hurt her—”
“I told you, Penny, he’ll never hurt her intentionally—”
“But he will hurt her, nonetheless, because she’s not like us.” Penny pulled away from him, her eyes burning into his. “He shouldn’t mate her, Leon—”
“It is a decision they will have to make, ma louve,” he replied immediately.
“Will he give her that choice?”
A little smile tugged at his lips before he sighed and nodded. “He has to. He can’t mate her unless she accepts.”
***
Armand watched stoically, but with his heart tightening painfully in his chest, as Julia and another female—a sister—clung to each other. Julia was the comforter, whispering soft words to the other as she cried and fidgeted, and although her eyes were filled with tears, she shed none. She looked straight ahead, seeing neither him nor the slave cart that would take her away from the plantation.
She wore a simple, dark green gown. It was worn out and threadbare in some areas, but she still looked radiant in it. Her hair was bound with pins and another piece of cloth, but the scarf that usually covered her head was off. Curly stands fell at her temples, making their way close to those gray eyes—
“You haven’t mentioned it, but I’m assuming Pleasant is dead?”
Leon stood beside him, face expressionless as he watched the proceedings. Étienne and Hollis were attaching the shackles to the handles and feet of the slaves to be transported, and although in was close to noon, Pleasant was still nowhere to be found. The family and close friends of the slaves were allowed to be there, to see them off.
“Very,” Armand replied, a snarl curling his lips as he remembered his recent kill. Pleasant had deserved the violent death he received. It had taken almost two hours for the man to die and still Armand wished he’d lived longer. Pleasant deserved many such violent deaths.
“Will his body be found?” Leon asked. “Parts of him—yes,” Armand replied. “An animal attack?” Leon queried softly.
Armand nodded. “Yes.” Even in his anger, he’d remembered to make the attack look like a wild animal, or a pack of wild animals. Coyotes or wild dogs. “Good.”
Julia moved suddenly and he looked back to her. She’d set her sister aside quite firmly, and caressed her tear-stained cheek. With a little smile, she stepped around the younger woman and made her way to Étienne, who’d pushed to his feet after attaching shackles to the legs of a woman and was beckoning Julia forward.
Her eyes caught Armand’s briefly but she looked away and continued on her journey to his brother.
Armand didn’t know he was growling until Leon said, “You’ll have to curb that until you’re further North, brother. Remember you’re transporting a slave, not your—”
“I know well whom I’m transporting,” Armand replied tersely, turning away to keep himself from lunging at Étienne for touching Julia. His brother was only doing a job Armand had assigned to him.
Leon watch
ed him closely, looking behind him to where Étienne was chaining Julia. Once Julia and the rest of the slaves were in the cart, he told Armand.
His brother relaxed and Leon continued, “Do you have enough weapons?”
Armand nodded. Between himself and Étienne, they had many guns and quite a few rounds of silver bullets, not that they expected intervention from any of the immortal species. It was a precaution.
Étienne walked over to them, tugging down his wide-brimmed hat as he did so.
“We’s ready,” he said, testing the lingo he was already picking up.
Leon nodded. “May Luna protect you on this journey.”
Armand nodded, as did Étienne, before they both turned and headed back to the wagon.
Leon watched as they took their places in the front and urged the horses forward. The wagon was making its way down the dirt passageway when Hollis came up beside him.
“Begging you pardon, Mr. Arnaud, but ain’t right for only one overseer to be out in the fields wit’ this number of slaves, and since it seem like Pleasant not comin’ in today—probably got the ague—I’s thinkin’ I can go ’nd get my brother to come in ’nd work ’til he get back.”
Turning to Hollis, who seemed nervous about even asking him this, Leon replied, “Does your brother have experience with this type of work?”
Armand had told him he would need to look for another overseer. It was only appropriate he begin his search now.
“On ’nd off,” Hollis said, wiping the sweat from his brow. “He a fast learner, though, and don’ give no trouble—just do as ’e told.”
Leon watched the younger man with narrowed eyes until Hollis squirmed before he finally said, “He can have the job until Pleasant comes back, and if he does a good job, there’s a chance I’ll keep him on. Is that understood?”
Hollis brightened, turning a shade of red until his deep tan. “He gon’ do a good job. I’s swear. Thank you, Mr. Arnaud.”
He was moving off, when Leon halted him. “Do you know where Pleasant lives, Hollis?”
He nodded. “After you collect your brother, I’d like you to stop by and find out how long he believes he’ll be out.”
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