I seethed at the thought of Jazmine planning a wedding to my husband. My. Husband. Thoughts of Zane threatened to generate a river of tears, something I didn’t have time to indulge. Swallowing hard, I met Connie’s eyes.
“You okay?” she asked.
“Nothing that I can’t deal with. Please … go on.”
“Well, like I said, she came back unannounced with two of her boy toys. Sensing danger, but not sure what to do, I did my best to please her. She still needed her bridesmaid dresses.
When I bent over to grab our latest sample book, one of her men knocked me out cold. I woke up in a van full of other mutant women. I happened to be seated closest to the front divider. I overheard the driver call her Jazmine. That was the first time that I heard anyone use her given name. She’d listed the name, Zane Marshall, on all her wedding documentation at the shop.”
I felt the usual wave of jealousy spiral through me
None of this made any sense. The one thing I was sure about: how much I hated Jazmine.
Maybe she was insane with no hidden motives. She’d certainly made her craving for Zane known to me. Maybe her sole purpose was to marry him and produce a litter of pups.
No. She was doing something far more devious than planning a wedding to an already married man. Her clandestine medical activities proved that. Killing off the men in Plum Beach, and searching for ancient coins weren’t part of her marriage preparations either.
Connie glanced again at Deb and lowered her voice. “I know this sounds stupid, but one of the others, a woman who has been here a long time, said The Mistress was rounding up all the most attractive mutant females to keep us under control, so she could use us as servants for her new army.”
I’d heard all about the whole army thing in my dream with David. “Great. Another take over the world scheme. A modern day Hitler who sprouts fur and …”
The snoring came to a sudden halt. Like an operating switch had been flicked into the off position. I stiffened and felt Connie tense beside me.
A few grumbles and pillow punches later and Deb settled back down.
Giving Connie a warning look, I nodded for her to continue.
By the time she finished, I’d pieced together a theory. One with a number of gaping holes, but it was better than nothing.
Jazmine, her sidekick, Martin, from Logan’s Board of Directors, along with a bunch of mutant-wannabe-warriors, were attempting to collapse the current purebred hierarchy and take control of their business interests, and God knew what else.
This wasn’t a fight for equal rights, more like a hostile takeover.
And as Connie had explained, it appeared as if Jazmine was trapping mutant women to do her bidding, ensuring she kept the upper hand with her male followers.
Unluckily for Jazmine, more of the female mutants were going to form bonds with their alleged, Loyal-to-The Mistress’ captors, following in the footsteps of Connie and Dillon’s blissful example.
In addition, according to Connie, Deb had started out as a serious ringleader, stirring up unrest and causing Jazmine more than a few headaches. Rather than killing her, Jazmine now used our still-snoring roommate’s popularity with the other women to her advantage.
Deb had been converted to the “lower level” spy; rooming with the women deemed rebellious, thus unworthy to serve their Mistress. In order to keep her circulating amongst the others, the time to reinsert her back into the general population had arrived. The cycle would continue. Deb would seek out any dissenters and report them while pretending to be their accomplice
Dillon had trusted Connie with the secret, warning her to keep any anti-Mistress views to herself. He was determined to protect Connie, even going as far as to start planning an escape.
If I had anything to say about it, me and any other desiring woman would be joining the lovebirds when they decided to leave the nest.
After two hours of hushed conversation, I determined Connie was worthy of my trust. I had to believe in someone. There was no way I’d get out of here alive on my own. Having a guard on our side would be yet another bonus.
Once we’d decided to trust each other, I launched into my own story, skipping the parts about Valamir, the coins, and my own advanced mindreading talents.
As I’d done so many times before, I shared an abridged version of my special skills, sticking to how the animal communication process had worked in the beginning. I didn’t want Connie or Dillon aware of my ability to delve into their minds’ darkest corners.
Under the circumstances, I could trust just enough to take the next step.
Anymore might prove deadly.
Chapter 4024
By Friday I was going stir-crazy.
Connie wanted to wait until Deb was upstairs before making any specific escape plans. I understood her reasoning, but I was hungry for action.
My thoughts were consumed with Zane. Did he miss me? Would he forgive me? Was he even still alive? The not-knowing kept my stomach in knots. I was more worried about my friends back home than myself.
I’d spent countless hours trying to determine who’d betrayed my whereabouts to Jazmine. Alcuin was the only one who’d been aware of my exact location. He’d arranged everything from the hotel room to my car rental. Luke had known my general travel plans. Unless Alcuin had revealed my detailed plans to an unknown person, it had to be my vampire friend. No matter what, he was somehow responsible.
To make matters worse, he possessed the sketches from Joshua Smart’s journal.
What if he failed to pass them onto Zane and the others, and instead turned them over to our enemies?
I hoped David and his ilk would find a way to intercept the drawings. The cloaked crusaders had proven to be resourceful and discreet, impressing me at every turn. I had to believe they were out there somewhere working on my behalf. I wished that David would take me on another guided dream quest. I’d drifted to sleep each night with the expectation of such an encounter, only to awaken disappointed.
Promising Connie I wouldn’t try anything drastic, I’d been the picture of an obedient captive for the past three days. She, on the other hand, had been free from the room on a number of occasions, with her beastly beau, Dillon, whom I liked as much as I could under the circumstances.
At the moment, the two were off wherever it was they went for their rendezvous. I didn’t understand why Deb didn’t report their dalliances. Maybe she’d use their relationship for blackmail at a later date. Connie wasn’t worried, though. If Dillon thought something was safe so did she.
I disagreed, but kept my opinions to myself.
Any comment she perceived as negative about her man was defended with great vigor. Creating tension between us wasn’t worth my efforts. The last thing I needed was my ally seeing me as a threat to her happiness.
Deb, my closest real threat, was sorting her meager belongings. She hadn’t said much to me since my arrival, and I didn’t expect it to change now. I’d listened in on her thoughts a number of times.
She spent a majority of time reading or reminiscing about her childhood, which had been ideal until she was bitten at fourteen by an uncle. Jazmine controlled Deb with the promise of revenge. She wanted her uncle to suffer for ruining her life.
When she spoke to me, I was shocked. “Would you like any of my books?” She motioned to the tower of paperbacks on her dresser.
Not wanting to appear ungrateful before she reunited upstairs with Jazmine, I nodded and wandered over, making a show of examining the covers. “Spicy stuff.” That was an understatement.
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” She continued folding.
Not sure what to say, I grabbed the pile and plopped back on my bunk.
The book covers featured gorgeous women embraced in passion by muscle-bound men. A number of the titles included the word desire. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of a male cover model who reminded me of Zane.
“See something you like?” Deb was by my side before I’d
processed her moving. It was the first time either of my cellmates had displayed their mutant powers. I’d almost forgotten they weren’t human.
Embarrassed, I hugged the book to my chest.
“Don’t think you’ll win this battle,” she growled, changing the subject. Her eyes flashed crimson. “Jazmine always gets what she wants.”
She snatched the book away, scanning the cover. “Ah, isn’t he adorable? He looks an awful lot like a photo my Mistress keeps. Is he worth your life?”
I paused. Was he?
I’d better know what exactly I was fighting for, because it was time to make a stand. Ignoring Connie’s warnings, I rose to my feet; certain Deb could smell my fear.
“Is Jazmine worth yours?” I grabbed the book back. “You think she’ll keep her promise, help you destroy your uncle, think again. She’s using you like she uses everyone else. You’re nothing special to her, just another means to an end. She’d use your uncle against you if it served her purpose.” The venom in my words surprised both of us. She took a step back, eyes wide.
“How … how did you know that?” Confusion was painted across her face.
“You can’t trust her. She keeps putting you off, doesn’t she?” I’d latched onto her first thought following my verbal assault, learning that Jazmine had promised Deb, multiple times, that they’d start pursuing her uncle any day. That day had yet to come.
Deb staggered to her cot and collapsed, her eyes glued to the floor. “She keeps making excuses for why we can’t go after him.”
Knowing this window wouldn’t stay open long, I moved to sit beside her. “You don’t have to put up with this, you know. You’re in the perfect position to do something.
“At first she planned to kill you. It was after she discovered your secret and how she could use the information to control you that she enlisted your help, wasn’t it?” I hoped I was right. “From the beginning, you knew how wrong this all was.”
“Are you a witch?” Deb looked up, but kept her gaze diverted from mine.
“Sort of, but mostly just another women being held against her will. A woman in love with the wrong man, at the wrong time.” Yes. I’d die for Zane, I thought, but not if we could find a way to live.
I dove into her mind again and found a wounded, war-scarred woman ready for change, now resolved to helping me, but uncertain how.
Now was my chance.
“If you want out of this hellhole, here’s what we need to do …”
An hour later, we had our plan in order. I’d also learned some valuable information about the mating mark.
I needed to be outside, tonight, during the full moon.
It was then the mating magic would work. Proclaiming my love for Zane would seal our union. He had no choice in the matter, he was already marked. If he couldn’t forgive me later for my dishonesty, that was fine, we’d deal with it. Right now, we needed the added abilities that authentic, love-bonded mates received, like unlimited telepathy.
Granted, I already had the skill, but the distance between us was just too far to allow for any communication. I’d been trying with no success since my capture. Deb was worried that my human condition might keep me from gaining full powers. I felt certain it would work. I might be human, but I was also something more.
Besides, we had to try. I was running out of options.
It was my chance to connect with Zane and my team back home. Worst case scenario, I still had my cell phone.
When Deb entered her debriefing upstairs, she would convince Jazmine to let me out with the others. She’d tell Jazmine how terrified I was and that seeing the mutant masses howling together during a full moon would send me over the edge.
A full moon was the one time the compound was open for all the women at once. The special event meant a bonfire outside and a chance to run the grounds. Pent up mutants were difficult to keep under control. Jazmine was no fool. She knew she had to give a little to get a lot.
After the mating ritual, which could be completed quickly and quietly, I would reach telepathically for Zane, and then call out to Valamir, in hopes he still had me on his vampire radar, however that worked.
After all, if Alcuin was right, my blood was his obsession, and I needed someone to get Jazmine’s wig to Plum Beach and into the hands of Detective Davis or Officer Tate, fast, while keeping it far from Agent Green’s twisted agenda. I still didn’t know the agent’s role in all this, but it wasn’t to help our cause. It was obvious that he was in Plum Beach to thwart the murder investigations.
A few minutes later, the door clanked open, revealing a smiling Connie and Dillon. Turning to face Deb, he put on a more formal face. “You ready?”
Ignoring me as we’d discussed, Deb grabbed her belongings and bid Connie a brief farewell.
“Good riddance!” Connie barked at the closed door. “Now we can breathe.”
“At last,” I agreed, pacing the room as I prepared to share the plan.
Before I could say anything, Connie hurried to the third dresser and pushed it aside ¯ the scraping sound, like fingernails on a chalk board, was forgotten at the sight of an oversized ventilation shaft.
“Told you we could count on Dillon.” She grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Hope you’re not claustrophobic.”
Stunned to find a possible escape route so near, I rushed to crouch in front of the grated metal plate. “I don’t want to end up in some creepy boiler room.” I shivered, overcome with the heebie-jeebies.
“Where does it go?” I asked, peering inside.
Imagining myself belly down, army crawling through the shaft, wasn’t something I was eager to attempt, regardless of my mom’s embarrassing stories about me wearing out the left knee in my pajamas due to my speedy, army crawling technique.
“Where do you think it goes? Out of here,” she answered. Before I could respond, she was squatting next to me.
Putting her mutant strength to use, she gave the cover a tug, separating it from the rectangular space.
“But …” I stammered, hating the way my nerves had surfaced. I just wasn’t ready to abandon my plan with Deb.
“But what? Let’s take a look. We need to do a test run; see where it ends up.”
“Are you saying you don’t even know where it goes? I thought Dillon would have at least told you that much.” I didn’t want to go into the shaft if I could help it. The opening was starting to look like a dark maw eager to devour us whole, and my doubts were increasing the longer I stared into the gaping shadows. “I have a better idea.”
“What could be better than a hole in the wall?” Connie grinned, breaking the tension..
“Would you believe that Deb is on our side?”
Connie’s rolled her eyes. “This better be good.”
Chapter 4125
After an arduous debate with my current roommate, it was decided that we would stick to the course of action Deb and I had concocted, with the secret shaft serving as an alternative plan or emergency exit should we need it.
I somehow doubted we’d make it back to our quarters alive, if Plan A failed.
More likely, we’d be burned alive in the great bonfire Deb had boasted about. A spectacle blatant enough to strike fear in the hearts of every creature present, and one that would squelch any rebellion forming in Jazmine’s ranks.
After returning the grate to the duct’s entrance, Connie repositioned the dresser to its original place. If something went wrong later, we’d make every effort to meet here and exit together.
After hours of anxious waiting, Dillon entered with two bowls of pasta and two tan uniforms like I’d seen the women upstairs wearing. It seemed Deb had completed the first part of our scheme ¯ getting Jazmine to approve an invite to the bonfire. Being trapped all this time had increased my desire for freedom. I couldn’t wait to breathe in the night air.
What I wanted, far more than fresh air, was to wrap my arms around Zane and forget everything but the warmth of his lips on mine.
> Noticing my faraway gaze, Connie snapped her fingers. “Hey, daydream later. We’ve got a prison riot to instigate.” She replaced her jogging suit with the perfectly creased uniform.
“That’s one sexy ensemble,” I joked, attempting to silence the fear gnawing in my gut, making eating impossible.
“The Mistress wouldn’t want her harem looking hotter than she does.” Connie smirked. She looked thoughtful before unbuttoning her shirt enough to reveal an ample eyeful of cleavage.
She’d managed to make herself look sexy in a basic uniform. Dillon would appreciate her efforts even if Jazmine didn’t.
Rather than worrying about my appearance, I took special care to gather the items necessary for cracking the case and proving my innocence. Wrapping Jazmine’s wig snuggly around my right calf, I stretched the sock up to my knee, securing the hairpiece.
The kakis pants were wide-legged, providing enough space for me to move with ease. I adjusted the cell phone in my bra and slid Joshua’s sketches into my back pocket, eager to get on with the big event.
In a few short hours I’d be one of two things: Dead or Alive.
At least we didn’t have to wait long before Dillon reappeared with my least-favorite escort, Mr. Tall and Rude. I trooped after my captors, Connie at my side, providing a hint of security.
The air of anticipation in the compound was palpable. Women dashed from their classrooms intent on reaching the great outdoors. I couldn’t blame them. I felt like running too.
I scanned the hallways. The number of mutant guards had increased. I decided it was time to let Connie in on the full extent of my silent communication capabilities.
Hey, don’t panic and don’t look at me. I’m speaking to you telepathically.
Chloe? Despite my warning she glanced my direction. Thankfully, in the bustle no one seemed to notice.
None other. I don’t have time to explain how I do this.
O-k-a-y, she agreed sounding somewhat reluctant.
Where did all these extra guards come from? This is going to make it difficult for me to do my mating magic.
Can you talk like this to anyone? She asked.
Anyone who is of the animal persuasion.
I Kissed a Dog (Werewolves of the West 1) Page 28