We could all feel the pull of dawn when we reached the basement to Martin’s so-called home. The basement carried the very same odor of torturous death that all the lower levels of the demented estates had. Martin kept walking toward the winding steps that led to the comforts above, as we all stood there staring at him, wondering just what his life had truly been about. Or, at least, that was the thoughts going through my mind, questioning if we were actually walking through a part of his personal domain.

“I’ve had it cleaned time and time again, but the hard crimes that happened cannot merely be washed away with soap and water,” he explained looking back at us as if reading our minds.

“Whose crimes happened down here?” Derek asked, stepping forward.

“I will explain everything, but right now, time is not on our side. I have the first floor secure from the coming day with guards to watch our rest.”

“I think it best if you just answer his question, Martin,” I replied, stepping up next to Derek.

“I bought it from an old breeder when I first came in search of you. I thought others were lying to me, just as Yvette had, because of the way that I had broken free from their grip.”

Sydney dropped to his knees, as the pull of day beckoned his daily death. Garvin lifted him under the arm and headed for the steps, with the rest following his lead, all but Derek and myself. Derek’s legs wobbled, and I grabbed his elbow. “I’m going back into the tunnels, Fala will stay with me,” he claimed, nodding once at the werewolf at his side.

“His rest will be undisturbed. I give you my word,” Fala promised, taking him from my hold.

“Stay in the tunnels under this estate, we can hope those scavenger things stay clear of here.”

“And if they do not, several will die, while the others think twice on coming this way again. I have felt no others like myself, nor have I caught any scent, new or old,” Fala nodded, turning back with Derek now limp in his grasp.

“Thank you, Fala…I mean that,” I said as they disappeared through the small opening that we had all come through.

I turned to see Martin waiting halfway up the staircase. His expression seemed a bit confused, I guess because my body showed no signs of being pulled by the approaching light of day. I shrugged my shoulders, thinking if he had heard so much, then he should have known that I drained his maker, who’d drained an ancient, giving herself, as well as myself, the gifts of the old ones. I walked up the stairs, passing him as if he had no effect on me, and made my way out into an elaborate foyer, much like the one in Cuba.

“I can almost guess the decorator,” I smirked looking back, then immediately walked over where Cates had carried Tammy through one of the open doors beside the staircase.

“All the surrounding rooms have been made for our convenient. The windows have been sealed and coated with a layer of cement, and all have their own bathing quarters.” Martin explained, picking Tanda up and carrying her into the closest room.

It was Cates, Jacob, Martin and myself that got everyone that had been pulled under into a room of their own. Jacob stood back until I walked into the room closest to Tanda’s, then slid down by my door, and closed his eyes. As for where Martin had gone, I couldn’t say. No more words were exchanged and the day took control. ***

I woke in a soft clean bed, somehow thinking I was back on the ship. I stretched out my arms and looked to my right, realizing that I wasn’t anywhere near the water, much less my ship. A vase of long stem roses sat waiting, with a glass pitcher of dark red liquid. I then heard water running in the next room, which I assumed had to be the bathroom. I was so tired the last thing I remembered was walking into the room, looking at the bed, and collapsing.

Martin came out of the bathroom with a cloud of steam following him. He was wearing a pair of red silk bottoms and no top. His hair was as out of place as I had ever seen it, which told me that he must have just woken himself.

“Thought you might enjoy a peaceful bath,” he said, going to the closet and opening it. “There are clothes beyond your wildest dreams in here, choose what you want. I will return soon.”

“Thanks,” I replied, pulling my legs up to my chest.

“Can I get you anything else?”

“No, I’m fine,” I replied, noticing the way his body moved as he opened the dresser drawers.

“Here are the undergarments that you may need, and there are plenty of oils and fragrances for your bath and hair in the bathroom. Should I send Tanda in when she wakes?”

“I can take care of myself, and Tanda doesn’t have to serve anyone ever again,” I snapped, getting up and heading for the bathroom.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said, stepping over and grabbing my arm. “She loves you very much and said she wished to be near you when she woke.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have jumped like that, but things have changed a great deal since you saw me last.” I looked him in the eye pulling out of his grip. “I’m not the girl you took from her family anymore. She died a long time ago, back in that dungeon of hell in Cuba.”

“Will the new Lady Renee find room in her heart for the one who created her?” he asked, leaning down as if to kiss me.

“We have a lot to talk about before either of us decides what happens in the future.” I quickly moved out of his way and walked into the bathroom, closing the door before he could respond. But then I had a thought and opened it just a crack. “How did you get in here with Jacob at my door?”

“I simply stepped over his slumber state,” he smiled with a shrug then walked out.

Chapter Two

I was lost in thought with my body neck deep in the warm bubbled water that smelled of roses and lilacs, when a light tap sounded at the door. “Go away Martin, I don’t feel like talking right now.” I heard Tanda giggle from the other side.

“It’s me, Tanda. He told me you would not let him wash your back.” Then I heard her giggle louder. I told her to come in, but to close the door behind her. She did as I said then leaned up against it, smiling from ear to ear, waiting for me to say something. And I wasn’t going to, but she kept staring at me with her huge blue eyes and her slightly mischievous smile.

“Nothing’s changed, so you can wipe that smile off your face,” I said, right before lowering my head under the water, only to find her next to the tub when I came up.

“All things are coming together, don’t you think?”

“In what way? We came here to do the same thing we’ve been doing, and trying to outrun those assassins while doing so.”

“We all saw how you held him in the tunnels, Renee. You kissed him much like I kissed Derek,” she wiggled her brows, lathering up the sponge.

“You did what?” I replied, pretending to be shocked, taking the sponge out of her hand.

“It just happened, and it was magic,” she glowed. “He may be younger in years, but my heart has given itself to him, none the less.”

“So, that’s why you’re so giggly about me and Martin, who, by the way is nothing more than my maker. I have no place, or room, in my life for a lover,” I said, standing up and grabbing the robe that Martin had laid out. “I didn’t mean to cut you off earlier when you began speaking about the others. I thought it would be best if I told Martin about my brother.”

“Of course, I should have thought before I spoke. I’m just so excited to have found him. Now if we could all just live in peace,” she said drying the back of my hair.

“That sounds like something you were told to say,” I paused, turning to look at her. “Was it?”

“Martin mentioned that now that we had found each other that all of this could stop.”

“Do you think that it’s fair to the ones who are still locked away in the same kind of prisons that we were in to have to stay there because we found happiness?”