32. Chapter 32
Chapter 32
Luka
After being rescued and sleeping for numerous hours, I finally asked the dreaded question. Although I didn’t want to, I needed to know how the fuck long I had been in that hell hole. Sage hesitated at first before she finally broke the news, telling me I’d lost six months of my life.
The torture I had endured while strapped to that table was unbearable. The only wave of relief was when my consciousness became consumed by hazy dreams. As I became more awake and aware, the memories of my time in captivity replayed in my mind, each moment etched vividly in my memory.
Doctor Cuntface snaps on a pair of latex gloves, the sound a haunting reminder of the last two times she was near my groin.
“I will be taking samples of your scrotum and testicles again today.”
I don’t give her the pleasure of answering, instead, I tighten my fists, praying it doesn’t hurt as bad as the previous time.
She clutches her hand around my balls and squeezes, sticking in the first of three needles.
A stinging pain radiates through me and I grit my teeth tightly. The overpowering torture yanks a tear from the corner of my eye.
She sets the last needle down, exchanging it for a scalpel. My fists tighten more, causing my nails to dig into the palm of my hand, and I hold my breath as she slices into my sac. A whimper slips through my teeth, and I swallow down a second one, refusing to let her hear the pain she’s causing.
Once done, she puts the surgical instrument back and grabs the lubrication. As soon as she begins to lube up a finger, I squeeze my eyes shut, not wanting to watch as she strips me of my virility.
“Are you okay, bro?” Winnie asked, ripping me out of my memories.
A thin layer of sweat coated my entire body while my heart pounded against my chest. As I leaned back in the recliner, the soft fabric gently caressed my skin, offering a much-needed comfort, unlike the cold, spiked metal bed I laid on for six months. I threw an arm over my head, letting out a sigh of relief, grateful to have escaped the torment of hell.
“I’m good, man. Sometimes I get these flashbacks and . . .” I swallowed my words, knowing damn well I’d never reveal what happened to me while I was in VRC. “Don’t worry. I’m good.”
A motorcycle engine roared, pulling into the parking lot, and Winnie looked toward the door. “Lane’s here.”
Knowing we needed cold beer for this conversation, I hopped up from the chair and quickly headed to the kitchen, where I snatched three from the fridge.
Making my way back to the living room, I placed a beer in front of Winnie and another on the opposite side of the coffee table before settling back into my spot.
The wood planks on the front porch creaked, the scent of a wolven entering my lungs. “Come on in, Lane.”
Annie started barking at the door as it opened, and Lane entered with a huge smile. “My man, I’m so glad you’re back.”
He headed toward me and I stood, giving him a quick hug. “I got you a beer.”
“Awesome.” Lane copped a squat on the couch by Winnie, twisting the top off of his bottle. “Settling in good?”
I nodded, picking Annie up and setting him on my lap, not wanting to talk about what happened to me. “Winnie said you had some information.”
“Possibly. I was up at the new Save building, fixing a pipe in the kitchen because Evelyn asked me to. No one knew I was there, and I saw Finneas on the cameras talking to a man right at the edge of the property. I didn’t know how to download the footage, so I just took a video of it.” Lane pulled out his phone, clicked on a few things and then handed it to me. “Do you know the man with him?”
In the slightly blurry and dark video, two men could be seen engaged in conversation before ultimately shaking hands beside a white Cadillac. The shorter, plumper guy was Finneas, one of the leaders of the Supernaturals Against Venom Elitists. The other guy had a muscular build, darker hair, and was completely unfamiliar to me. He entered the Cadillac and proceeded to depart, while Fin made his way toward his black Escalade.
“I’ve never seen him before.” The video started over as I handed the phone to Winnie, then stroked my fingers down Annie’s short fur.
The second his eyes locked on the screen they flared in disbelief, his jaw dropping open. “What. The. Fuck. I fucking knew it.” He shook his head, holding up the phone, furiously pointing at it. “That burly dude, that’s Ben Fucking Argent. Sage’s uncle.”
Even though I didn’t recognize the man, I knew exactly who he was talking about. Just an hour ago, Winnie had filled me in on all the details I’d missed, including the revelation that my girlfriend was a witch, and her uncle some kind of triple hybrid.
A low growl left me, veins rippling across my face in a flash, and a weird throbbing radiated in my gums. Annie hopped off my lap, running toward the bedroom.
Winnie cocked a brow. “Chill, bro. We ain’t killing anyone today.”
Lane’s nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply, his confusion evident. He locked eyes with Winnie who nodded, and a sense of suspicion washed over me.
My eyes darted between the two of them. “What?”
Winnie’s body language spoke volumes as he leaned forward in his seat, his elbows planted firmly on his knees. “Umm, we weren’t going to say anything yet, but you smell weird.”
“I literally showered before you got here.” I raised my arm and sniffed my pit. “Smells fine to me.”
“It’s not that.” Lane shook his head, his nostrils widening as he sniffed again. “I don’t know what it is. It’s earthy, like old soil mixed with a pungent rotten fruit smell.”
My brows lifted. “Are you sure? I can’t smell anything.”
“We’re sure,” Winnie said, yanking his beer up. “Every wolven and vampire in this camp has smelled it, yet none of us can pinpoint what it is.”
“And when you growled it became stronger for a minute,” Lane added, his nostrils flaring once more. “It’s a lot calmer now, but it’s still there.”
Winnie took a sip of beer, then leaned back into the couch. “Perhaps that doctor loaded you up with steroids or some other unknown substance, bro.”
Lane picked his phone back up, his head shaking as he eyed it. “Shit. Based on your description of Ben’s scent they might have injected him with something too.”
A wave of coldness washed over me, causing my back to immediately tense up and sending a prickling sensation across my entire body, as if warning me of some impending danger.
The three of us locked eyes and the tension in the room became palpable, our expressions silently acknowledging the unspoken truth.
It’s possible the Vampire Research Center had altered my ?nature.
Winnie cleared his throat, finally breaking the silence in the room. “Do you think they turned you into a freak hybrid?”
“No,” I quickly replied, my hands trembling with fear of what the truth might reveal. “You said you’d detected the scent of the multiple species on Ben, but mine doesn’t smell like that, right?”
Winnie ran a hand through his dark, shaggy hair, the shaved sides contrasting against the longer top. “No, but they definitely did something to you.”
“Let’s ?stay on topic. Back to Sage’s uncle and the meeting he had with Finneas.”
Winnie’s intense glare clarified we’d be continuing this conversation in private, whether or not I wanted to. He finally broke eye contact, tipping his head toward Lane. “If they’re working together, you’re not safe. I think you should pull back from meetings.”
“I agree with Winnie.”
“Will do.” With a nod, Lane reached for his beer, finishing it off in one swift gulp before he rose from his seat. “Well, this has been eye-opening, but I gotta get back. If you guys need anything, let me know.”
The cabin door flung open and Sage and Lyric giggled their way through the door. Annie came back out, barking again, before happily wagging his tail.
“Oh, hey, Lane, how is umm,” Sage side-eyed me and Winnie, “that thing we were talking about?”
A wide smile spread across Lane’s face. “Beyond amazing. Once I get time, we can sit down and I’ll tell you the entire story.”
“That would be great.”
Before Lane even got out the door, Drag poked his head in. “Has anyone seen Laren? I need more torch oil. Oh, hey, Lane.”
“She went to the store for Ollie again,” Lyric said, her brows tightening. “He needed limes and something else for the bar. I can’t remember.”
“My dad is a pain in the ass.” Drag sighed, his eyes landing on Lane. “Hope all is going well at your place.”
“Thanks. I’m settling in nicely.”
Drag nodded, his face filled with urgency. “Good. I can’t stay and talk because I have to finish this project. See you guys later.”
He shut the door and Lane turned back toward us.
“What’s wrong with Drag? I’ve never seen him so energetic.”
Winnie snickered. “Ever since he rejected that chick from Ironclad, he’s been running around putting up tiki torches, solar lights, and hammering on shit. I think he’s nesting or something.”
Lane laughed, his hand on the door knob. “Aluna is a sweet girl. He should at least acknowledge her. But it’s none of my business.”
With a smile, Lane left, and it only took a few seconds for the door to open again.
I threw my hands up. “What the fuck is this, Grand Central Station?”
Lynx stuck her head in. “Someone wants to see you.” She pushed the door open and Carmen stepped into the house.
She nervously glanced around, pulling on one of her curls before her eyes landed on me. “I was just seeing if we could talk for a minute before I leave.”
According to Winnie, Lynx was taking Carmen home and planned to stay at her house for a while as she figured out her next steps. I was sad to see her go, but was happy she was free from VRC.
“Uh, me and Lyric were about to take off,” Sage said, taking my finger in her hand. “We’re going to go shoot targets with Peach. We’ll be back in a little while.” She gave me a quick kiss and smiled at Carmen. “It was nice meeting you.” Sage headed toward the door with Lyric in tow.
“Don’t be out too late, mama, I have plans to be inside of you tonight.”
Lyric froze in the doorway, whipping toward Winnie, her face red. “Winston!” She exhaled sharply, slamming the door shut.
Winnie shrugged nonchalantly. “I was just being honest.”
“Stop torturing that girl,” Lynx said, heading into the kitchen and opening the fridge. “She’s going to dump your ass.”
“Doubtful. She knows what daddy Winnie has to offer.”
Winnie’s outgoing personality left Carmen puzzled, her face contorting with confusion. “Is this a bad time?”
Winnie grinned, showing off his fangs. “Nah, I’m always this arrogant.”
I rolled my eyes, then gestured toward the couch. “Have a seat, and be careful, he bites.”
Nervous laughter escaped Carmen’s lips, but it was short-lived as her face turned somber. “I don’t have time to relax. I have to get on the road now if I want to make it home before sunrise. I just wanted to say thank you. Without you and your friends, I’d still be trapped in a never-ending cycle of torment. I owe you all so much.”
Her eyes took on a gentle, watery shine as tears began to pool in them.
“I wouldn’t have left without you,” I said sincerely, before standing and pulling her in for a hug. “You take care of yourself.”
“You too, Luka.”
My heart was heavy as she bid us farewell and walked out of the cabin with Lynx by her side.
“I’m going to get us another beer so we can talk about the possibility of you being a freak.”
As Winnie stood, making his way toward the kitchen, a lump formed in my throat, which I struggled to swallow down.
The front door flung open once more and I was beginning to wonder if anyone knew how to knock as a dude with thick glasses stumbled in, his eyes filled with fear.
“Who the hell are you?”
“I’m Jimmy. We met before and you told me to run instead of killing me.”
“I told you about him,” Winnie hollered from the kitchen. “He’s chill.”
Jimmy had sweat beads forming on his head, his heart thundering in my ears. “Why are you panicking so bad?”
“We’re all being hunted by Venom. They’re offering reward money to anyone who captures us.” He hurriedly made his way toward me and slapped down a pile of papers on my lap.
My heart bounced against my rib cage, my breaths becoming choppy when I saw the top page. It had a vivid picture of Sage, accompanied by a thorough description of her appearance, notable markings, and any other relevant details they had gathered. They also had a considerable amount of reward for her capture, and half that amount for her death.
“Holy shit.”
Winnie was by my side in a flash, taking it from my hand. “What the fuck! They have a million dollar bounty on Sage.”
The next portfolio in the pile was mine. It had the same categories, and went into great detail about every tattoo I had. Just like Sage’s, my bounty was a hefty million.
I panicked, thumbing through the rest quickly.
The next three had unknown names and were Ravage, Winnie, and Lynx. Then Carmen’s had a name attached. Each of their profiles only had descriptions of them and semi blurry pictures taken from video footage inside and outside of VRC. A half a million in bounties on each, dead or alive.
The profiles with names and pictures attached were all the ex-Venom members. Lyric, Erik, Marcus, Zeke, Jimmy, Nellie, and Randi were less wanted criminals with bounties reaching two-hundred fifty thousand each, dead or alive.
“Why the hell am I worth more than you?” Winnie asked, his brows tightened. “You’re a damn ex-member.”
Jimmy’s shoulders rose and fell. “I’m assuming because you’re a vampire. Other than Sage, all the humans have a low bounty.”
“Winnie, call Lyric and tell her and Sage to get back here, then call Lynx and tell her and Carmen the same. Jimmy, you go find those two other Venom girls and bring them to the fire pit.” I hopped from my seat and headed toward the door. “I’ll get Ravage and the others.”
“What are we doing?” Jimmy asked, his fear so thick, I could almost smell it.
“Family meeting time.”
The bonfire crackled and roared, its flames dancing high into the night sky. All eyes were on me, filled with curiosity and anticipation.
“We received something important tonight that requires serious attention.” I held the papers in my hands, fiddling with them. “Now, don’t freak out when I tell you this but . . . Venom has bounties on most of our heads.”
Gasps and incoherent words echoed from every direction.
“How many of us?” a young woman asked, her tone low.
My brows knitted together. “Who are you?”
“Oh, I’m Randi,” she said with a warm smile.
“You’re on their list.” I approached her, extending the paper with her information and she took it with a large gasp. My gaze flicked to the other woman I didn’t know. “And I’m assuming you’re Nellie.” She nodded and I handed her paper over. “And so are you.”
Patiently, I went from person to person, delivering the papers to their rightful recipients, until I reached the last two. Mine and Sage’s.
She nodded knowingly. “Just give me it.”
With shaky hands, I reluctantly handed it over.
“They have a million dollar bounty on my head!” she screeched, her mouth stretched wide in a horrified expression.
Winnie snickered. “Mine’s only half of that.”
“All the vamps who went on the mission are half a million. The only ones less than that are the ex-Venom members.”
“Mine’s only a quarter of a million,” Nellie said, shaking her head in disbelief. “I’m not sure if I should be happy or sad.”
“How the fuck am I the most wanted? They must really hate me,” Sage pondered aloud, her words tinged with a touch of insecurity.
“You can’t be everyone’s cup of tea, darling, not when you reside in a well-aged barrel of whiskey,” Ravage stated, holding up his glass and winking.
A hard sigh left Sage, then her eyes met mine. “Wait, what does yours say?” She yanked it from my hands. “Fuck, they want us both more than anyone.”
“That seems to be the case, Princess.”
Small sobs left Nellie, bringing my eyes to her. “How can they do this? If they hadn’t gotten a bunch of us slaughtered, we wouldn’t have left.”
Sage laughed, her expression amused. “They couldn’t care less about any of us. They wouldn’t have led you to a slaughter if they did.”
“I just don’t understand,” Nellie whimpered, wiping tears from her cheeks. “One day we are in a prestigious society, the next we have bounties on our heads. And you’re just okay with that?”
Sage shrugged, a small frown playing on her lips. “You get to the point where your animosity overrides your integrity.”
“Hear! Hear!” Ravage held his glass high. “That’s my girl.”
Sage smiled, and when she turned her back toward everyone, it immediately dropped. “We need to get my mom out of there,” she whispered, her voice filled with a mixture of fear and determination. “I only want a few of us to know about it.”
I took her hand and headed fifteen feet away from the bonfire surrounded by people, and whispered low enough the vampires would hear but no one else. “Hey, Winnie. Be chill and come here.”
He got up and messed around with the fire, then slowly made his way toward us, his brows knitted together. “What up, bro?”
“You got a burner and a few minutes to spare?”
He tilted his head. “Always.”
I tipped my face toward Sage. “Go with him and call your mom.”
She nodded, quietly walking off with Winnie.
Despite the urge to take her to call her mom, the toll of today’s repeated conversations weighed heavily on me, a reminder of my long incarceration in mostly silence.
Seeking solitude, I headed into the woods and walked around for a few minutes and took in a few deep breaths, savoring the earthy scent of the trees.
I had been longing all day for a chance to have a private moment with Sage, and then I had a perfect idea.