Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Colletion_ Books 6-10 - Laurell K. Hamilton [883]
“We would have taken the blades out, but the hyenas ordered us not to touch either of them again until you arrived.”
I looked across the room at the guard that was closest to Nathaniel. The one that had looked unhappy to be there. He flinched under my gaze. “I was following orders.”
“Is that an excuse or a defense?”
“We don’t owe you an excuse,” the other guard said, the tall brown-haired one that had let us into the room. He was standing by the closed door. He was arrogant, defiant, and I could taste his fear like candy on my tongue. He was afraid of what I’d do.
Gregory came to stand near me in half-leopard, half-man form. I’d never seen him like this, all spotted fur, taller than his human form, more muscled. His genitalia hung large and healed between his legs.
One of the snake men was on the floor, dragging its legs behind it. Its spine was broken, but it would heal. Another scream tore from behind me, from Nathaniel’s throat. Another snake man was huddled against the far wall beside the chained brunette. Its arm was almost torn from its socket. Sylvie’s dress was in shreds, baring her breasts to the world. She didn’t seem to care, her hands still curled into claws, pale wolf eyes staring back at me.
“Take your leopards,” Coronus said, “and go in peace.”
Another scream came on the end of his words. “Peace,” I said. I felt strangely numb, like part of me was folding away. I couldn’t stand in this room and listen to Nathaniel’s screams, and feel. Not and stay sane. A quietness that I sunk into when I killed spilled over me, and it felt so much better. There are worse things than emptiness.
“Who are the women?”
“Swanmanes,” he said. “No concern of yours, Nimir-Ra.”
I looked at him and felt a smile curl my lips. I knew it was an unpleasant smile. “What happens to them when we leave?”
“They’ll heal,” he said. “We don’t want them dead.”
My smile widened, I couldn’t help it. I laughed, but it was a bad sound, even to me. “You expect me to leave them to your mercy?”
“They are swans not leopards. Why should you care?”
Nathaniel’s voice came thick, and when I turned I saw tears sliding down his face. “Don’t leave them. Please, don’t leave them here.”
Jamil pulled another blade out. Only three to go. Nathaniel didn’t scream this time, just closed his eyes and shivered. “Please, Anita, they would never have come here if I hadn’t asked them.”
I looked at the three women, chained naked to the walls, gagged, surrounded by dozens of clean, unused blades. They watched me with wide eyes, their breath coming in quick shallow pants. Their fear slid down my throat as if it were wine and I could drink it down, deep and cool. Fear, like wine, goes good with food. And I knew just by looking that they were food. They were swans, not predators. They were not us. I was channeling Richard now. I was being a smorgasbord of the boys tonight, of their thoughts and feelings. But there was one thing that was my own. Rage. Not the hot rage that the wolves used when they killed. This was something colder and more sure of itself. It was a rage that had nothing to do with blood and everything to do with . . . death. I wanted them all dead for what they’d done to Nathaniel and Gregory. I wanted them dead. By the rules, I couldn’t have them dead, but I’d do what I could. I’d cheat them of their other victims. I would not, could not, leave the three women here like this. I could not do it. Simple as that.
“Don’t worry, Nathaniel, we won’t leave them behind.”
“You have no right to them,” Coronus said.
Gregory growled at him. I touched Gregory’s furred arm. “It’s alright.” I looked at Coronus surrounded by his snakes. “If I were you I wouldn’t tell me what I have a right to.