Part 35 (1/2)
”You should not have done that,” Elise said in warning.
”Why?” Escape was the natural solution, I thought logically.
”They will abuse those you care about to maintain your cooperation.”
Gramps.
We poured out of the small wooden building and the first thing that struck me was a wide platform that was maybe three meters deep by five wide. There were steps which led up to the wooden platform that flanked its sides.
What was this?
Elise said from behind me, ”It is the auction block. Your females will remain here no longer. They will be sold...” she hesitated and I looked back at her, naked apprehension flooding through my body, my adrenal system firing up like clockwork.
Her face was turned to the sun, a hand shading her eyes. ”Maybe they'll be free for two hours more. The doctor will check them first for,” she paused over her next words, ”readiness.” Virginity, my mind translated. She shrugged as if this were normal. ”Then they will be traded.”
Alex surged toward her and she backed away from his coming tirade. I put a hand on his arm and he looked down at me breathing deeply, collecting himself. His eyes sharpened and he controlled the modulation of his voice. ”They can't do this. We're not... we're not from here.”
”That doesn't matter, dude. These effing creepers are greedy suckers. They don't care about the chicks, man... they only care about...”
”Power,” Archer supplied and Jonesy pointed a finger at him.
”That.”
”How do we stop it?” Sophie said, getting ready for hysteria.
We all looked at her and John walked to her. Putting his hand on her pulse he looked at me and shook his head. ”She's slipping, Caleb.”
I turned to Elise, ”They can't sell crazy can they?”
John repeated my question, a little more in line with her understanding. ”What if the females are mad?”
She nodded and shrugged. ”They will be beaten.”
”Until when?” Tiff asked.
”Until such time that they submit.”
Tiff snorted. ”Fat d.a.m.n chance. I'll never submit!”
Elise looked at her with sad eyes.
Despondent eyes.
”There are buyers who favor that disposition.” She continued to stare at Tiff, ”You do not want a male that enjoys that to have you.” She shuddered.
Bry shook his head and scrubbed his short hair, working over his face as he did. He scrubbed his face three times then said, ”Nah, n.o.body is gettin' their paws on my sister. I'll kill 'em. I swear to G.o.d I will.”
”You behave as if there be choice in the matter.” Elise's eyes searched his. ”There is no choice. None,” she said with a ringing finality.
”How is it that you've managed?” I asked.
”I heal,” she said, turning her palms upward and facing us. ”I heal, therefore, I am of value.”
Wow... just wow.
”Okay,” I looked around me, seeing structures that surrounded ours, ”Parker, Tracker...?” I raised my eyebrows and Jonesy piped in, ”yeah, he's here somewhere.”
I nodded. ”Gramps and whoever else we can bust out...” I gave John a look. ”Can we get Elise here to juice Randi out of her stupor enough to get us the h.e.l.l outta here?”
John shrugged. ”It's our best chance, but...” his eyes found mine.
”What,” I stepped forward, our gazes locked. ”We have to get that blood collected or it'll be a moot point. The girls will go crazy and the guys will follow. It won't even matter if we get back. As a matter of fact, look at the degradation even now.”
I looked at the girls. Tiff was hanging in there but getting more ornery (if that was even possible), but Sophie was going the way of Jade. The girls were getting sick and Sophie was moaning about purses and c.r.a.p.
Jonesy went to her and felt her head. ”She has a fever. I thought they said it was mental.”
”It's metastasizing,” John said in a flat voice.
”What, like cancer? That c.r.a.p that used to kill people all the time before The Cure?” Jonesy asked.
John nodded. ”Yeah, just like that but worse. This thing, it'll make the girls sick, then they'll clear up in time to go bats.h.i.+t.”
Things were bad if Terran was cursing.
I turned to Elise. ”Can you fix his leg?” I asked her, looking at Brett.
She nodded and he looked puzzled and I clarified, ”I can't use a gimp, Mason.”
”Oh Hart, you like me after all,” he said, all-sarcasm.
”Nah, but I need you,” I replied in complete seriousness.
Elise went and healed his leg as he held Jade, delirious with sickness. I watched her face as she became more ill. It strengthened my resolve. I would get that effing blood if it was the last thing I did. Shoot the girls up like a drug pimp and get us out of here.
Or die trying. The fragment weren't going to touch our girls.
Especially Jade.
I loved her, and that was all that mattered. I'd see this thing through, regardless of the cost.
The sacrifice.
CHAPTER 20.
”Question!” Jonesy said, halting our progress as we made our way to the other buildings. I turned, my brows to my hairline as Brett and Jade came behind us.