Chapter 65
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
The information they were searching for was ancient.
If there was any, it would be buried deep within the archives.
Reiya had sent word that they had some information from the Sage, but they were scouring through the libraries to see if they could find what they needed.
It turned out that Hunter’s parents were already searching for information on the Slayer.
His mother and grandmother both had premonitions of the future and were already ahead on the searching game, though Hunter was irritated that his mother didn’t tell him about it the last time they came to visit.
The vampires created a special team to look over their vast archives, with Jester heading it.
Some remained entombed in a tower that descended into the bowels of the earth, buried so far beneath the vampire kingdom under dirt or water that centuries had erased their names from living memory.
It was this team's job to retrieve everything and interpret it.
Some of it was in an ancient language that required their special scholars to translate, which would take time.
They had a feeling that if the information existed, it would probably be in one of those tablets.
Hunter had been sending out scouts every day, wanting to be ready the moment the demons were on the move.
They were running drills and had a plan set for when that time came.
He had also requested that the other wolves and their packs be on standby, so they would be able to get to them quickly, since there wouldn’t be a moment to spare.
Other than all the preparations, everything was fairly calm. Hunter remained relaxed, which kept the packs quiet. Seeing the Alpha of Alphas in a calm state kept the other wolves calm as well. If their leader wasn’t afraid, they wouldn’t be either.
Ciana was at the vampire kingdom helping look through documents. She was also there in case they found any information.
Susan, Jin, Renee and Freja were in town, picking out gender neutral outfits for the new arrivals. They cooed over the cute baby toys and gushed over the little shoes.
“Chasen should be heading back this way with Sam. I’m going to take a seat on the bench outside and wait for them,” Jin said, completely over the shopping already.
“I’ll go out with you. Can you grab the things on this list for me?” Susan asked, handing a piece of paper to Freja and Renee.
Freja wanted to groan in displeasure. Shopping wasn’t her thing.
Instead, she smiled and nodded. She was disappointed Hunter couldn’t be with them, but he was busy with the pack, and she understood that.
They needed at least one of their leaders to be present.
So even though she was reluctant to leave Hunter, she also wanted to show her support and excitement over becoming an aunt.
Chasen and Sam agreed to come along as well. Chasen wasn’t letting Jin get too far from his sight. He was already protective before, but now that she was pregnant, he was absurdly overbearing and almost smothering at times.
“We will meet you out there in about fifteen minutes,” Freja said as she glanced over the party supplies Susan wanted them to grab.
How she wished she could have been the one to go and sit with Jin.
But she had a feeling that Susan wanted to talk to Jin about something, so she wanted to give them some privacy.
Jin sat on the bench outside and looked up at the sky as Susan sat beside her. She swung her feet back and forth as she breathed in the fresh air.
“Um … Jin?” Susan said quietly as Jin turned toward her. “I wanted to talk with you about something.”
Jin smiled and sat up straighter. “What is it?”
“Well … the thing is … I hope this isn’t rude to ask, but Adam’s birthday is coming up.
He’s always wanted to go to one of those indoor skydiving places, and with everything going on, traveling is out of the question.
So I was wondering if you thought maybe you could simulate something like that with your powers.
And if it would be safe. If it’s a problem, I completely understand.
I just wanted to do something special for him.
” Susan glanced at Jin, trying to gauge how she felt.
Jin grinned widely. “I think I can do that. We might need to set up like a round barrier or something, but I should be able to manage that. It’s no problem at all. And it’s okay for you to ask.” Jin smiled at Susan.
“I wasn’t sure if it was rude to ask that of you or not.
I’m really excited now. I want this to be special.
It’s his first birthday with us as mates.
” Susan couldn’t help but feel giddy. Having the mate connection with Adam was wonderful.
They already knew each other and had been friends forever.
The mate pull just made love happen instantly.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone running up to them from behind. Before she could turn her head to look more, everything suddenly went dark. She struggled for a moment before she fell unconscious.
Freja and Renee walked out, carrying their bags of items. They could see the car parked in front of them, with Chasen and Sam leaning against the front of the vehicle. They rushed over and took the bags from the girls, tossing them into the back hatch.
“Jin still inside?” Chasen asked with a smile.
Freja’s eyes opened wide. She moved her head around and looked at the empty bench. “She came out with Susan to wait for you …”
“Maybe they decided to get some drinks?” Renee suggested. It was warm out, and it made sense.
“You’re probably right,” Sam said as he began to look around.
Freja felt a chill race down her spine as she approached the bench. She could see some torn material from Susan’s clothes. There was no other evidence except for one … the faint smell of putrid flesh. She didn’t want to alarm anyone, but her gut told her she was right.
Freja looked over the clothes she had on and quickly made her way back to the vehicle. In the back was a zip-up leather bag. She quickly grabbed it and started strapping items to herself.
“Hey, what are you doing?” Sam asked nervously as Chasen watched her with an intense gaze.
“Just a precaution.” Freja’s voice was terse.
She was going into huntress mode, trying to block everything out and focus on finding her target.
It would be reverse hunting in a way. She would be hunting for Jin and Susan, and by finding them, she would find who or what took them.
She was convinced they didn’t just wander off.
She straightened up. “You guys wait here in case they make it back. I’m going to go looking for them.” Freja gave them a weak smile.
Sam eyed her suspiciously. “I’m calling Hunter to see what he wants to do.”
“There’s no time. Hunter will want us to stay put.” Freja didn’t mean to sound the alarm. In fact, she could have kicked herself for blurting it out.
“Enough time? What is it you’re not telling us, Freja?” Chasen’s voice was low and murderous. Just the idea that something might have happened to Jin was making him go feral.
Freja looked at him and sighed. “I don’t know. I just need to go.”
“I’m coming with you,” Chasen said firmly.
Freja glared at him for a moment. “Don’t get in my way or slow me down. I’m not waiting for you.”
Chasen scoffed. “Just the way I prefer it.”
“Look, I’m calling Hunter now, so …” Sam began to plead again, but Freja was gone, and so was Chasen. “Shit.” He looked at Renee and punched the car.
“Sam. What’s going on?” Hunter answered his phone.
“I think we have a problem,” Sam said quietly.
“What is it? What’s going on? Is Freja okay?” Hunter’s voice sounded distressed over the phone.
“Jin and Susan aren’t where they were supposed to be, so Freja grabbed her things out of the car. She had a weird look on her face, and then she and Chasen left. I tried to make them wait. Hunter …” Sam trailed off as a loud roar sounded over the phone.
“Where are you?!” Hunter snarled angrily.
He was livid. Chasen and Freja both knew they should have waited to hear from him.
He didn’t want anything to happen to Jin either, but he had already been through so much with Freja.
He couldn’t lose her. And Chasen wasn’t thinking.
The only thing on Chasen’s mind was Jin.
Jin felt the familiar shackles on her wrists first. She opened her eyes to look around. She was in an old, abandoned building, full of dust and cobwebs. She heard a soft whimper and she directed her gaze in front of her. Susan was tied to a post and bound with silver chains.
“Our pets are awake.”
The sound brought a chill down Jin’s spine.
She knew that voice. She watched as a familiar figure squatted in front of her.
It was Lionel, the demon who was her caretaker when she was the demon’s pet.
Though being called a caretaker was a stretch.
He was just the one that made sure she stayed alive.
Lionel reached a hand out and lifted Jin’s chin.
“Look at you. Someone went and ran off to a new family. Look how well kept and fed you are. What’s the matter?
Didn’t you like how your masters cared for you?
Instead, you ran off and found something better.
” His lips curled up in a disgusted snarl.
“One of them even put a collar on you, I see.” He tilted her head to the side as he looked at her mark.
“Aww. Someone also stole your pet’s innocence,” the man behind him said as he clicked his tongue. “What do you want to do with this one?” The man gestured toward Susan.
“I don’t want her. We’ll just leave her here. It’s not like she can go anywhere. Either she’ll be found, or she’ll rot here and die. In either case, that doesn’t matter to me. But this one … this one is personal.” Lionel sneered at Jin.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw you sitting there …
laughing, without a care in the world.” He clicked his tongue loudly.
“I thought we taught you better than that. But look at you, trusting again. Well … we’ll just have to remedy this spoiled attitude you’ve developed. ” A cruel grin spread over his face.
Jin had learned her lesson long ago how to act with the demons. You didn’t talk to them, and you avoided eye contact. Otherwise, you would be disciplined and taught respect. So, she kept her eyes averted, focusing on the ground.
“Where are we taking her? You taking her back to Leoric’s? Or to the crevasse?”
“Everyone’s on the move, and Leroic’s is too far away. The crevasse is closer to the others. This way, I can visit my pet often, until we put an end to this silly war.” Lionel stood up and turned to look at the other guy.
“To think the wolves and fairies think they stand a chance. No one stands a chance since Mephisto is fighting. He’s going to make himself the god of this world.
This will be the world of the demons soon.
” Lionel smirked and looked at Jin. “Are you going to be good and behave yourself, or do I need to knock you out again?”
Jin continued to keep her head lowered. She couldn’t afford to be beaten now.
She had to protect her unborn child. She had to be obedient and docile.
She was hoping beyond all hope that Chasen would find her, but she was also afraid of him finding her, of him being killed.
She felt conflicted between wanting to escape and keeping the ones she loved safe.
Suddenly, Lionel lifted her up and flung her over his shoulder. She continued to hold still and make it easy for him.
“Looks like someone remembers her place after all.” Lionel chuckled. “Glad to see you remember your real master.”
Jin looked out of the corner of her eye at Susan and continued to watch her until they left the abandoned building and she was out of sight. Sam should be able to track her down. At the very least, Freja should be able to. She really hoped they would find her.
Her stomach rolled with nausea. She had been captured again. Was she once again going to be forced to be their pet?