(Andrew)

?"My love," Andrew said, taking Evone's hands in his, "I'd marry you myself, right here, right now, if I had the power." He cracked a smile as he added "But while king and tradition have given ship's captains the power to officiate at marriages carried out on ships, they didn't give us the power to marry ourselves. So it must needs wait until we reach the next port. Or meet up with another ship with a captain who can do the rights for us."

?

"As for being a handful..." he laughed and pulled the young woman to him, swinging her about in a merry circle "...I wouldn't have it any other way.? Life without spice is a tasteless thing.? You've brought light into mine in abundance, and I would no more part with it than I would my sword arm.? So let's hear no more such talk.? I've chosen my course and you are my star to steer by."

?- Evone' -

Evone’e chuckled when he picked up and swung her around. Laughing and holding him tight. “Well aren’t you a silver tongued devil,” ?she teased looping her arms around his neck.

”but do not think I haven’t noticed the fact that you haven’t given be ?a proper proposal. Complete with a ring and knee bending.” She said when he sat her on her feet.

Evone’ looked up into his bright laughing eyes. “When we get to France you make sure you rectify that won’t you,” she said kissing his lips first softly, the passionately.

Sean was waiting at the airport when Alice arrived. Being a cop he was able to gain access to the tarmac. He was leaning against his car when she stepped off the plane. He smiled at her. “What’s up Gray,” he said.?

Sean, Alice, and Seth had known each other since college. The three had been the three amigos, however, when Alice joined the military, they couldn’t get together as often as they wanted.?

However, with everything going on with Persephone, he knew that she was going to continue to be reckless. And if there was anyone who could keep extra-close tabs on her...it was Alice.?

Alice came off the plane with her remaining operatives, whom she said goodbye to on the tarmac. She had confirmed payment while in the air and had disseminated their pay to their private accounts from her laptop. At Dulles International Airport, she handed the cartel turncoat over to the FBI and bid them all goodbye. Taking her bag, she headed over toward the awaiting car with Sean in it.

In-flight, Alice had changed out of her dirty suit and cleaned up, now sporting a pair of tight jeans, a black top, and a black jacket to conceal her pistols, one in a shoulder rig and the other clipped inside the back of her pants.

When Sean asked what was up, she smiled, “I don’t know, you tell me? You called this little meeting if I recall.” She then walked up and hugged Sean.

Sean hugged her tight. “It’s good to see you, Alice,” he said. In college people always thought he was banging both Seth and Gray because they were both beautiful women. But he always looked at it as his duty, to protect them. “From the looks of things it doesn’t at all look like you are doing what I told you and staying outta trouble. Wasn't that Juan Carlos Esparza.” He said picking up her bag and putting it in the trunk.

“You hungry.” He asked, “I can take you to that place you like so much?” He said looking over at her as he started up the vehicle.

Alice smiled as she slid into the passenger seat of Sean’s car. “Esparza? I wouldn’t know.” Her grin said otherwise, but Sean understood she couldn’t say any more than that.

“Yeah,” she said as he got in and started the car. “I’m famished. You can tell me what this is all about on the way.”?

Sean smirked. As he drove the car away. “You know what this is about. Or shall I say… considering you two are two peas in a pod when it comes to trouble? And you both seem to have a knack for finding it.” He said

“Persephone was raped last night.”

Alice turned toward the window and sighed deeply. She slowly shook her head. Poor girl, she thought. Finally, she turned back to Sean with a glare on her face, “Tell me who did it and I’ll put them down like a sick dog.”

“We don’t know.” Sean sighed. “She is hell-bent on some story. It's got her trying to go undercover and do unsafe things. She went to some place that she should not have gone alone and things that happen when you go places you should not go alone happened.”

He said parking the car outside of Persephone’s townhouse then getting out of the car. “I asked you to come back to keep an eye on her.”?

Alice frowned as she stepped out of the car and shut the door behind her. She looked over at Sean, “You haven’t cleared this with her, have you? You know how she is. She’s not going to want a chaperone...even if she needs one.”

Sean frowned. “I don’t care what she wants Al. Seth is reckless and impulsive and...a whole lot of other lesses and ives. If someone doesn’t step in who knows what it’s like to live in this world, she’s going to get herself killed or worse. I can’t go everywhere she goes, but you can. Besides, you’ve got the most gifted tongue I know, if anyone can get her to agree to a bodyguard, it’s you.”

He said walking up the steps. And unlocking the door.

Alice Gray

The convoy of five black Chevy Suburbans wheeling through the streets of Mexico City gave the locals the impression it was either a government motorcade, or a drug cartel boss and his minions making their way to some sort of major deal.

Either way, most people had the sense to stay out of its way.

Strength and intimidation were the intention of the motorcade when Juan Carlos Esparza decided he wanted to drive from his estate outside the city to the Mexico City International Airport to board his private plane.

Despite the urgings of his bodyguard, Alice Gray, to take a helicopter to the airport, Esparza decided the motorcade would be fine, despite the fact he was about to betray the Cali Cartel

Esparza was a wealthy member of the cartel who was flying to Washington D.C. to turn himself in to the FBI, who were offering him witness protection if he surrendered willingly and agreed to cooperate with their prosecution of Hector Trujillo, the boss of the cartel and Esparza’s business partner for the last 22 years.

Esparza had hired Gray to act as his primary bodyguard in the days before he made his decision to turn himself over to the Americans. He had come up with a plan to ditch his cartel security detail and replace them with a team of professional American bodyguards so there was no chance anyone would attempt to double-cross him. They had successfully ditched his security detail at the estate, Alice and her team drugging them at dinner and then tying them up once they were incapacitated.

It was there she recommended taking the helicopter, but Esparza said it would not be customary for him to take a chopper the short distance from his estate to the airport, thus possibly raising suspicions among the higher-ranking cartel members. So, he insisted they travel by road, appearing to be heading into the city for a meeting, rather than the chartered FBI plane that awaited them there.

What they did not know was Esparza’s wife, Gloria, was having an affair with Trujillo and when she found out her husband was going to leave and betray the cartel, she managed to warn her lover about her husband’s plan. Now, as the motorcade made its way through the busy streets of the Mexican capital, a trap was waiting to be sprung.

“I’m glad this is a short-term contract Mr. Esparza,” Alice told him as she sat beside him in the backseat of one of the Suburbans. Gloria seated on the opposite side of the man. “Because I’m used to my clients listening to me when I tell them to do something. And if we weren’t already balls deep in this op to get you out of the country, we would have walked the minute you went against my wishes.”

Esparza smiled and looked out the window, gazing upon the streets of his beloved Mexico City for what was probably going to be the last time in his life. “Senorita Gray, I understand you are unhappy with my decision to take the motorcade but trust me my associates would have their interest piqued if I called on a helicopter. I have only used a helicopter on only one previous occasion to get to the airport, and that was when I was late for a meeting.”

Alice, dressed in a black business suit, her hair pulled into a ponytail at the back of her head, surveyed the city out the opposite window. Despite being dressed much like a man, she remained beautiful, not what one would expect a former U.S. Army Ranger turned professional bodyguard to look like.

Looks were deceiving, however, because Alice Gray was not only a deadly martial artist and an excellent marksman, but she was also well-versed in a variety of weapons including knives, swords and explosives.

Her team was a group of 9 professional bodyguard she knew from being in the business, all of who she recruited personally to serve as Esparza’s security detail. The job seemed simple enough – overpower the cartel bodyguards, get Esparza and his wife to the FBI jet waiting at the airport and get them in the air, accompany them to D.C. and see that they got off the plane and into the awaiting hands of FBI agents at the airport.

Esparza had paid them $1 million up front and the American government was going to ante up another $500,000 upon his arrival in the states. A nice mill and a half, divided 10 ways, made for a nice $150,000 a piece for what amounted to a couple days of work.

That was as long as the cartel didn’t find out they were taking Esparza to America…then the additional $500,000 from both Esparza and the U.S. kicked in – hazard pay for coming under fire while protecting the drug trafficker.

Rounding a corner, the motorcade came into a straightaway that took it through another busy part of town. As they drove along the street, Alice noticed a couple things that seemed to be happening simultaneously.

First, she noticed a faint buzzing or vibration and glanced over at Gloria, who suddenly had a cellphone in her hand. Alice frowned…she had asked for and had been given their phones earlier when they were still at the house.

“Where did you get that?” Alice asked Gloria, and the drug lord’s wife looked up, surprised, and shook her head like she didn’t know what the bodyguard was talking about.

Before she could say anything else, Alice noticed out the window people hurriedly getting off the sidewalks and into shops along the route, closing doors and shuttering windows. She looked over to the other side of the street and noticed the same thing happening, at which time the Suburban in the back of the convoy reported over the radios, “This is Five. I think we have a tail. Hummer on our ass, coming up fast.”

“Shit,” Alice muttered.

“Gloria,” Esparza said. “Where did you get that phone? We gave up our phones so we could not be tracked.”

Alice’s hand snaked out, snatching the device out of Gloria’s hand. She looked at the screen and it was a text from an unknown number.

“It says ‘when the shooting starts to go down. My people will get you out and we will be together my love’,” Alice said in a disgusted voice, suddenly glad she could understand Spanish. “Senor Esparza, I think we’re about to get hit.” Alice keyed her radio, “Big Al to Team Guarddog…look sharp. I think we’re about to run into trouble. Streets are clearing and we have a tail.”

There was a driver and one other bodyguard in the Suburban with Alice and Esparza’s. The other bodyguard, riding shotgun up front, pulled his H&K MP-5 out and released the safety. Alice also drew her Sig Sauer P-226 and looked over to Esparza who had been processing everything that just transpired. It all finally registered with him, and he shot a glare over to Gloria beside him. “PUTA!” he hissed. “You are fucking HIM, aren’t you! That bastardo Trujillo? Dammit, Gloria, you told him we were trying to leave!”

Gloria turned and bared her teeth like a wild animal, “I did! You think I’m going to leave him? That I want to leave this life to go live as some ordinary couple in America? Hiding from the cartel? I'd rather see you dead and be with him…”

Alice drew back her arm and slammed an elbow into Gloria’s face, knocking her out and leaving her with a bloody nose slumped forward in her seat.

“Bitch!” Esparza growled. “I should kill her…”

“Not now!” Alice said, noticing a garbage truck pulling across the road ahead, just as the front car radioed to everyone about it. “Shit’s hitting the fan.”

And it did.

The garbage truck effectively blocked the one-way street, bringing the motorcade to a sudden stop. Behind them, the Hummer pulled up, turned sideways to block as much of the street as it could, and a man with an M-60 machine gun came out of a hatch on the Hummer’s roof and trained his weapon on the rear car of the procession.

Men began to pile out of the back of the garbage truck, each brandishing an AK-47, wearing bandanas around their faces and black baseball caps.

“Lead! Get us around that garbage truck!” Alice called into the radio as machine gun fire erupted. The Hummer gunman was firing his weapon into the rear Suburban, the bullets cracking the bulletproof glass and putting huge dents in the armored skin of the vehicle.

“There’s not enough room to go around! We’re taking fire!” the driver of the lead car announced.??

“Rear! Can you back around that Hummer?” she called out as bullets clanged off the cars in the convoy. “Before they bring something to bear on us that penetrates the armor on these beasts?”

McCallum, driver of the rear car, called into the radio, “Yeah! Yeah! I think there’s room, going for the right sidewalk! Everyone follow!”

All five Suburbans threw their transmissions into reverse and, starting with the rear car, they tried to back around the Hummer. As the rear car made it up onto the sidewalk and drove backwards past the Hummer, a gunman came out the opposite door of the vehicle with an RPG.

“RPG!” McCallum cried into the radio. “MOVE!”

The RPG launched and the rocket-propelled grenade slammed into the Suburban. The blast ripped through the vehicle upon detonation and nearly tore it in half, flipping it onto it’s side, blocking the right sidewalk.

“Rear is gone!” the driver of car four announced.

The convoy came to halt and gunfire rained down on it, bullets from the direction of the garbage truck and from the rooftops above struck the black vehicles and ricocheted off the armor. Alice looked up and saw some on the roof of one of the buildings toss a canvas bag down which landed on the lead car.

“Lead! Get out, get out!” Alice screamed, but it was too late. The bag, filled with explosives, detonated and reduced the lead car into a pile of flaming debris. They were now blocked from all directions and the ex-soldier decided they needed to get out of there before the cartel turned the remaining three Suburban into scrap – and the members of her team inside.

“We’re going to have to get out of these trucks and go on foot from here,” she told Esparza, who was looking rather pale as he realized his decision had just put himself and his wife in the situation that they were all in – though at this moment he really didn’t care what happened to the bitch. He was more concerned with his own survival.

He looked at her and nodded sharply, “We are sitting ducks here.”

“Everyone, get out and make your way west, toward the Hummer. Less fire to contend with that way,” she called. “Now, everyone, go!”

The doors on the Suburbans all were thrown open and the surviving six members of her team piled out into the streets, guns blazing as they fired on the cartel soldiers. Several gunmen died almost immediately, the deadly accuracy of the security detail taking them down one after another.

Alice and Esparza got out and he took one last look back at his wife, still sitting unconscious in the Suburban. He shook his head, cursing in Spanish, before following behind Alice. The two ducked low and ran up under an awning and stayed crouching as they moved west down the street.

Three more of her detail joined her and Esparza, while the other three were locked in a gun battle with the garbage truck soldiers. As they moved toward the Hummer, the guy with the RPG was working to reload, while three other goons were now out of the vehicle and firing their AKs at Alice’s team.

“Stay down!” she told Esparza, pushing him to the ground as she dropped to one knee and fired her Sig at the gunmen. She killed one right off, while Miller and Beaumont, two of the three team members who were with her, took down the others.

“The guy with the RPG, he’s behind the Hummer,” she told Miller. “Go left around the Hummer. Let’s drive him out and take him down.”

Miller took Beaumont and headed left around the Hummer, while Alice led Esparza and Rizzo, another bodyguard, toward the right.

As they moved, the RPG toting killer came out from cover and tried to aim the weapon at Esparza. Miller stopped and aimed to shoot at him, but he was shot from behind by one of the surviving garbage truck soldiers. In the gun battle, the three bodyguard who engaged the AK-47 gunners who got out of the garbage truck had all been killed. The two from the garbage truck who survived were now targeting Alice’s remaining team.

Alice aimed her pistol at the guy with the RPG and placed two shots into his face, dropping him before he could fire the weapon. Alice then led Esparza, Rizzo and Beaumont around the Hummer and they headed off down the street.

They didn’t get far before another group of cartel soldiers appeared from up the street, coming in their direction. Alice, Esparza and the others ducked behind a car that had been stopped and abandoned on the street. Carefully, she peeked out and checked on the group, counting another 10 in all.

“The leftovers from the garbage truck are coming,” Rizzo said, checking her MP-5 to make sure it was locked and loaded.

“Rizzo, Beaumont, cover our flank,” Alice said. She looked at Esparza. “You and I will deal with these fucks.”

Rizzo and Beaumont nodded, turned and began shooting at the stragglers. Meanwhile, Alice and Esparza stood up, using the car as cover, and began to blast the newcomers. Surprisingly, Esparza wasn’t a bad shot, as he felled two of the AK brandishing thugs. Alice killed three for the remaining five started firing in their direction.

Rizzo and Beaumont made short order of the stragglers and then turned to join Alice and her client in fighting off the cartel killers who were trying really hard to shoot them, to no avail.

When the gunfire ended, the new batch of soldiers lay dead on the street. Alice and the surviving team wasted no time in making their way toward the cross street ahead, her eyes falling on an abandoned van parked there, still running.

They reached the van and got in, Alice taking the wheel. The van peeled out and headed off up the side street as they tried to put the scene of the attack behind them. It wasn’t long, however, that they realized they had company. Five motorcycles converged on them and trailed them along the street heading toward the airport. Alice watched her side mirrors as the bikes came up on either side of them and the riders began to strafe the van with submachine guns.

The van, not armored like the Suburbans, quickly began to take on the appearance of Swiss cheese as bullets ripped through both sides of the vehicle. Alice swerved to the left and smashed two of the bikers, knocking them off their motorcycles and send them tumbling along the asphalt.

Alice then swerved right, taking out one more rider before she cut across all lanes of traffic and narrowly made it onto the ramp which took them to the airport. On the freeway they pulled ahead of the three riders, allowing Rizzo to open the side door while Beaumont leaned out and fired on the motorcyclists.? Another one went down, leaving just two who continued to shoot at the fleeing van.

“Exit to the airport coming up!” Alice announced. Just then, one of the cycles whipped around and came up on the driver’s side of the van. The rider aimed his submachine gun in one hand and tried to shoot the van, but Alice raised the Sig Sauer P-226 and fired several rounds, two of them striking the cartel rider in the chest, sending him careening out of control and into the median.

?Alice then swerved hard to the right, cutting off the other cyclist and she took the van down the exit ramp, looking in the rearview mirror to see that the cycle had crashed and was nothing but smoking debris on the road behind them.

“Beaumont,” she called into the back. “Give the feds the heads up we’re coming in hot. Tell them the van’s description.”

They slowed down, driving into the airport and heading to the entrance to a private hangar. Beaumont was just finished on the phone when a couple men in suits came out of the hangar entrance and pushed the doors wide open so the van could roll in.

Once inside, a team of fully armed and armored FBI agents swarmed the van with guns aimed at them while the two suited guys closed the doors back up and locked them. The agents ordered everyone out of the van and Alice nodded to everyone, “Leave your guns on the floor and step out, hands raised. It’s cool.”

They all complied, and they stepped out of the van, hands raised moving slowly away from the van with Esparza getting out last. One of the agents stepped forward and lowered his gun, “You must be Alice?”

She looked at him and gave a nod, “I am. Your package is delivered.”

“Where’s his wife?” the agent asked,

?“Left her behind. She sold us out to the cartel,” Alice explained. “Hence the bullet holes and downgraded mode of transportation.”

The agent looked at the bullet-riddled van and gave a sharp exhale of breath. Well, you made it and you brought him with you,” the agent said. “We’re good then, money will be transferred as agreed.”

She then turned to Esparza who smiled and extended his hand to Alice, “Thank you for getting me here. You will find the payment we agreed upon has been transferred to your account also.”

“What, the cartel didn’t seize your accounts yet?” Alice smiled.

“Not this one,” he said. “This one is secret, though I suspect the Americans will be taking whatever is left once I am…processed into their system.”

Alice shook his hand. The agents had all lowered their guns and two of them took Esparza into custody, escorting him into the plane that was parked in the hangar. The fed she’d spoken to when they arrived motioned toward the plane, “As also agreed, we’ll take you back to Washington with us. Though, I was expecting more of you.”

She looked around at the remaining team members and gave a sad look, “Yeah, this is it. We’re all that made it.”

“Go ahead and get aboard,” the agent said. “We’ll be heading out shortly.”

As they walked up the boarding steps, Alice heard her phone ringing in the pocket of her jacket.? She pulled it out as she stepped into the main compartment of the Lear jet and answered it. “Gray here.”

“Hey Alice, It’s Sean. You think you can be on the next plane to DC. I have a job for you.”

?Alice smiled as she sat down in a seat, “Plane to DC? Funny you should say that Sean. I can be there in a few hours.”

Seth’s eyes flutter open once more only to snap shut again only to flutter open once more.? She fought to free herself from the blackness that wouldn’t let go.? The waking process was slow going for her.? Her head hung back, limp upon her shoulder’s blades, lolling to and fro. It throbbed and her temples hurt. Her eyes rolled around in her head and her breast heaved, rising, and falling deeply. Her head would have lulled to and fro.

Her hair lay back behind her but would come to fall forward when her head did. Her eyes rolled around within her skull, her mind was still somewhat dizzy. Her breast heaved, rising and falling deep, almost panting.

Seth had no idea how she came to be in her current predicament other than the snippets of the last thing she remembered…which she would rather forget. Her so foggy mind tried desperately to fight off the call of exhaustion.? Trying to deal with the hazy pull of her frustrated mind trying to fight its way out to no avail.

She groaned.

Finally able to keep her eyes open for longer than a minute, they snapped shut again at the blinding light that assaulted her eyes and the pain from her head attacked her once again.

Seth groaned. Sean was going to kill her when she told him and Sean…well Sean would not be much prettier. Seth decided right then and there that she would never tell them about this ever.

Thinking, she realized this situation was funny…not funny ha, ha, but funny she couldn’t believe this. Well, this is another fine mess you gotten yourself into, she thought as the haze finally broke enough to remain coherent

“The light,” she said, her throat dry. “Please turn it out.

She felt whatever she was laying on spring upward, then the room went dark only to have what she was lying on dip down once more.

“Does it hurt? Good.” Sean said.? “I’m waiting,” he said gruffly.

“Can’t this wait? I have a pounding headache. Give me some aspirin, will you?” Seth said trying not to smirk

“I’m not giving you a damn thing until you talk. As far as I’m concerned your head can fall clean off and roll across the floor and I still wouldn’t do a damn thing to help you until you start talking and tell me what I want to know.”

Seth smiled again. “I was drugged, stripped, raped and almost killed. Can I have the aspirin now?” Even though her eyes were closed, and she couldn’t see that every man in the room’s mouth had just fallen open only to snap shut again.

“Damn it, Persephone,” he yelled back.? “Why do you have to be so goddamn stubborn all the goddamn time?”

Ut-oh, she thought. He called her by her real name. Not Seth, or Cross or woman as he was prone to call her when he was particularly annoyed with her but Persephone.? Which meant pissed with her was putting it mildly.

“One, stop calling me that. Two, I’m fine. I’ll heal. And three and this is most important, stop making a big ‘ole fuss out of nothing.”

“Nothing!” Sean snapped

She smiled at his shocked, incredulous expression. “Yes, nothing,” she said struggling to sit up, her large mane of auburn red-brown ringlets flopping down to frame her face, covering her eyes. “I will be fine,” she said even as her head began to swim, and her body ached from the affronted movement.

It was funny, she could still feel the ache of the haunting pounding of Dorian’s cock battering her insides plunging deep into her body over and over again this many hours later.? He had planned to do many things to her…so many unspeakable things. If he had succeeded, she was sure the lead story for the News at 5, 6 and 11 ‘Journalist Persephone Cross found floating in the Potomac, unable to handle the guilt of forcing a Senator from killing himself.’?

And that was if he didn’t decide to simply sell her to act as a drugged-up cock warming fuck toy for the rest of her life to one of those same unscrupulous senators she was researching for her story. The bastard.

And to that all she could say was thank god for vomit, she thought with a smirk as she moved to get off the bed.

“What the hell do you think you are doing?” Sean asked, annoyed.

“Getting the aspirin,” she said, batting her long dark lashes innocently. “I mean after all you said…”

“Lay the hell down,” he snapped. “I mean damn. I really can’t believe you sometimes,” he said, pushing her call button.

“Of all the stupid, reckless, irresponsible…I can’t believe you sometimes, woman”

Woman…he was calling her woman. That was a good sign. It meant his worry and anger were calming down enough for her to talk to him.??

“If it’s any consolation,” she began. “I can’t believe me sometimes either,” She sighed. “Well, it’s time to make the donuts,” Seth said trying to get out of the lump hospital bed again

“Are you fucking kidding me, Persephone? Don’t you know what happened to you…”

He was calling her Persephone again…chance she was gonna have to take. “Yes, Sean, I lived it. But I still got a job to do. I’m in the middle of the story. ”

“A story that almost got you killed.”

“Damn Sean, I get it. But let’s call a spade a spade here, Seanie. I’m a fucking reporter. A political one at that in the most political city in the world. And I’m damn good at my job. Wanna know why? Because I don’t have time for bullshit, so I’m getting out of this bed and you are getting out of my way,”

Sean's face twisted into a tight smile that never reached his eyes. “Well, that is just too damn bad for you Miss big bad reporter because I’ll be damned if you are getting out of that bed. What do you have to say to that?”

A tight smile that never reached her eyes also spread across smirked Seth's face. She squeezed Sean’s hand a bit too hard and then said. “And just what army do you plan to use to keep me here? You know I’m a big girl. I can sign out AMA, right.”

“Damn it, Seth! Must you be so stubborn all the time? I asked you to be careful.”

“I know…I know…” she contrition in her voice. He had asked her to be careful…and that had been her intention… “But there is a girl out there I promised to help and I’m gonna keep that promise. “Don’t make me break it.” He went quiet then. “I’ll be alright.”

With a long-exasperated sigh, Sean stood, rubbing the tension in the back of his neck “At least let me drive you home.”

“Okay,” Persephone said.

Since Persephone was home and, in the shower, Sean called someone from his past. The only person he knew that could protect the hard-headed woman from herself and what was coming. “Hey Alice, It’s Sean. You think you can be on the next plane to DC. I have a job for you.

开云体育

开云体育

开云体育

Angelique stood strong and confident before him; hands clasped behind her back. When he ran so soon after the window was lowered, she didn’t even turn to him. Just sighed. She supposed she couldn’t blame him. He saw his chance he took it.

Pick and Lylaa didn’t move after him either. Lylaa looked bored, even downright annoyed when he ran. Pick was completely amused. “Run, boy Run,” she called as he did. The smaller woman wanted to see just how far he would get before…it turned out not that far. “Well Damn that was uneventful,” Pick said.

Reaching a hand out to Lylaa, who took her Mistress’s hand to provide the support Angelique needed to step down, she stepped from the cage and smoothly, walked over to where her new property lay. As she approached the pain he felt would begin to diminish and he would be in his right mind again, almost as if the pain had never started.

“I suppose I cannot blame you for what you just did, but I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that I found it utterly pedestrian and quite disappointing. Your biography paints you as a smart and cunning man. But your actions just now led me to question every word. After all, would a smart and cunning man be so stupid as to try an escape attempt so soon? You are still quite weak from your ordeal and completely unaware of your surroundings.? I would say only a stupid, stupid man would attempt anything under those conditions,” the word stupid would feel almost as if he had been struck. Like a slap across each alternating check every time the word left her mouth.

“I mean how stupid would one have to be, to run off like that, all willy nilly, when you have no idea where you are, where to go or what to expect, what would happen,” she said coming to push him from his side to his back with the toe of her high heeled shoe. “But you did get yourself capture and mortally wounded, so there is that."

“And I suppose your fight was an attempt to make a stand against? To show all around you, myself included what all that you can do, show your fierce survival instinct. Your willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed in your goals. To let me, and everyone in the vicinity see your relentless dogged resiliency” she said beginning to circle him almost as if she was thoughtful pacing.? "The thing is, however, as impressive as the demonstrations of your abilities are, you have no idea who I am. Which is again, indeed also quite stupid. More to the point you have potentially angered me,” he tone dipped from causally conversational to laced with some menace “And my dear is extremely stupid on your part because you have no idea what it is I am capable of. Hmm," Angelique stopped, landing in the same spot she was when she started.

“Maybe you are not as clever as I thought. Your actions have been downright, well I am just going to say it. Brainless and dumb witted. So tell me lot number six,” she said squatting down beside him, her hand running along his naked chest almost like an owner would rub a dog’s undercoat. As she did, the touch of her hand against his body caused pleasurable tingles to burst through the pain. The feeling of both soothing and erotic delight began to play over his body. Even her voice was like a caress all over his skin.?

?“Are you brainlessly dumb-witted? Was my assessment of your initial mental prowess incorrect? Did I make a mistake by purchasing you? Because I simply do not have the inclination or the time to waste on attempting to train on the hopelessly brainless dumb-witted. Tell me lot number six shall I give you another chance to prove yourself not brainless moron. Hmm, decisions decisions.” Angelique said, her hand stopping its ministrations upon him.?

She stood a turned from him and began to walk away. The further she moved away from him the more pleasure faded and the excruciating pain began anew. When she was far enough away to the pain was just on the edge mind-numbing, she stopped to look at him and said.?

"I made my decision. I have decided you are new and simply do not know what you do not know and that merciful contemplation is the only staying my hand. However, my kindness will only go so far lot number six, remember that” her slightly accented voice held that menace again. “Now I grow tired of this place. It is time for us to leave. Shall we try again lot number six? Or do you wish to try me so soon? Stand up and let us go home."

Angelique turned to move away from him again not bothering to see if he would come.

He was brought within eye view of the woman.? She was attractive, to say the least, and could have easily been a supermodel back in the day…or at least one for him.? She had curves in all the right places and then some.? He on the other hand was only waiting, they had to open the door at some point and he would make good on his escape.? But he listened to her instructions.? ‘Turn…chip down…what chip?’? He couldn’t be bothered with that just yet even though that was in the back of his mind.? Any other day he might have enjoyed spending time with the woman in other ways.? Today was NOT that day.? He sought freedom over date as if such a thing existed anymore, there was no dating where would he take her anyway there was nothing.?

She stepped into his cage, a devilish smile played on his face.? It was all he needed, they didn’t close the door.? He ran at her full speed only to sidestep her at the last minute.? A move that any running back would have been proud of moving out of the door, as he bypassed her.? He could taste his freedom, the other two women were in front of him as he cleared the cage, he ran back the other way, to avoid them.

Next thing, a man moved to hit him with a whip, which he grabbed and pulled the man into him. Arthur began to make quick work of one, then moved to the next and joined to help his fellow guard. Right now Arthur was still in proximity to the cage so he hadn’t gotten far.? In the back of his head, he felt his eyes begin to blur a bit.? Some tingling in his hands and feet but he ignored it as he moved further from the cage that the lovely woman was still in.?

One step, then another…he felt what it was, body wracking, numbing pain, like none he had ever felt before, not even a broken finger felt this bad.? But still, he tried to move.? He was less than 20 feet away when he fell to his knees.? Her words rang out in his head.? <<"Welcome to your new life lot number six.">>? He was on his hands and knees barely breathing when he turned to look around trying to catch his breath since the pain made it even hard to breathe.? ‘厂丑颈….’ ?He thought still holding on to consciousness, barely.

“I can’t believe we have are here,” Pick said. “I mean really.? Do we really have to be here of all places? This has to be one of the worst auctions in the sector. Can’t we go to Ventor 7? Or even Eleesha Fields. I’m sure the mistress would find a much better…,” the girl began; however, the woman between her and large brunette pinned her with a stare that effectively shut her up almost instantly.

“I mean I was just askin’. Beggin’ ya pardon Milady,” the young girl said, shutting up.

?

Angelique couldn’t help but smirk at the girl. Pick, which was short for Pinckney, Pinckney Anne Taylor. She had acquired Pick on the pleasure planet of New Tortuga. The girl had attempted to pick the pocket of her second Lylaa.? The young Pick didn’t get more than five steps away before Lylaa’s large 6” 215lb frame was upon her, picking the young girl up by the scruff of her neck. She remembered Pick had swung like a pendulum from Lylaa’s large hand. And although Lylaa tried her best to intimidate the young Pick, it didn’t seem possible. The girl seemed to have had bigger stones than some men she knew and had shown no fear in the face of the menacing-looking ex-slave.

She had learned that Pick had escaped from the slave pens and was being hunted for biting off the head of a patron’s penis.??Imagine that. Angelique found that so amusing that she purchased the girl herself.? “You know why we are here, Pick,” Lylaa said.

“Aye,” Pick said.??

?

They were here for one very specific reason. Their mistresses wanted to be.?

“Besides, it’s only one night. So shut up," Lylaa said as the three moved through the auction.

?

The three women cut a very interesting trio. Lylaa was a tall strapping woman. Not necessarily pretty, but not unattractive. She was what some might call handsome. With pale skin and striking brown eyes and blonde hair that she pulled back into a tight long ponytail, she looked like one of those pirates of old. And those that knew her knew she was no one to be trifled.??

Pick, on the other hand, was nowhere near as tall as Lylaa, but she was definitely taller than the mistress whose side she flanked. Her wild, thick mane of red curly locks and bright blue eyes were striking. In a few words, Pick was simply beautiful.?

?

And then there was the woman in the middle.? Smooth skin the color of melted chocolate.? Long ropes coils colored curls, pulled high atop her head in well pulled together chignon,?

?Angelique was dressed simply. Her deep red tuxedo that hugged every curve of her hips and the swell of her bosom gently played peek-a-boo. This woman oozed not only authority, a sex appeal that she owned and was unapologetic for.

For Pick and Lylaa their job was simply to protect this woman with their lives. And both would. This woman was their world…they would kill for her.

But even Angelique could admit that Pick was right. The Auction was uneventful today and she was bored. Usually, The Auction was the place of entertainment and social interaction. a time to mingle with like minds, make deals, and see all the strange artifacts that came through. Besides, The Ringmaster was a dear friend so there was that. However, usually, Angelique enjoyed chit-chatting with her compatriot, as well as window shopping. Thus causing her to waste an ungodly portion of her day watching the different items being being bought and sold within the market. Oh, she usually never purchased, but she found it entertaining to watch what was available and the giddy child-like excitement of those who did buy. However, it took a very special kind of item in order for her to whip out her black card. She had to be extremely impressed with what she saw. And today, like most days, was not that day.?

A scientist, a simple farm girl, a queen, everything was all so very typical...so very quite boring indeed. That was until lot number six arrived. It was not the lot itself that caught her fancy, but rather the fact that it still had its scars. Now that was rather fascinating. It caused her to wonder how backwater and primitive this particular lot would be.?

“Considering how vocal this one is, we will forgo our normal civil protocol in favor of something more rambunctious." The Ringmaster said. “Opening bid, the will be the standard for such a lot of twenty gold-pressed Latinum.? At first nothing, there had been none forthcoming but when the lot began to scream obscenities and throw a tantrum, he drew both laughter and morbid curiosity from the other bidders and the crowd alike

A flurry of bids soon brought the price up to sixty gold-pressed latinum pieces, still below average, but considering the lot, not a bad price thought the auctioneer. He turned to see if Angelique would wish to bid more.

With a nodded she did.

“300.” She said simply.

Those around her looked surprised, so surprised that they all stopped and looked at her. She did not look back. Only continued to watch lot number six become more and more animated behind the glass. Angelique De’Porta was known for being relentless when there was something she wanted. And apparently, she wanted lot number six. The auction ended and Angelique smiled. Lot number six was hers. It was the rage she had seen in his eyes that made her want him. And when she learned his backstory it made the game that much more interesting. What talents would this man use to escape his new life? Umm, this was going to be lovely to see.

As the others began to leave, the window began to lower, leaving her standing face to face with lot number six. While his intact scars fascinate her, she wondered would the rest of him.?

“Please turn his chip down,” she spoke softly to the unseen attendants that worked the booths. “Stay here you two."

“Milady I must protest, you do not...” Lylaa began. But she was shushed with a simple hand.

The Chip was an implant that every slave had implanted in the base of their head once arriving at. It could be programed for whatever setting a Master desired. Typrically The Chip was usually set for extreme pain and it would go off the further the slave got from their Master, if the slave tried to hurt themselves,? or if the slave tried to hurt their Master. Angelique had no issues with pain, but she also wanted the man to be able to run if he chose to. That was part of the learning.

Slowly, she stepped inside the cell until her smaller frame stood before his much taller one…he was taller than Lylaa she surmised…interesting.

Filing that information away for later, a breathtaking smile upon her lovely face. "Welcome to your new life lot number six." She said her voice husky, sexy, sensual, pleasing to the eye, with all of the curves in the right places and an outfit that only accentuated every sensuous part of her.?

Arthur Tristan Belmont was a king, at least he always saw himself as such.? He had been in charge of his own ‘knights’.? They robbed from the rich and gave to the poor, most of the time. Other times they kept some to survive, rebuild and get weapons.? In the harsh realities of how they found their new world, it seems it truly was survival of the fittest and he made sure it was him!? He had been in the military once his training in what would have been the marines left him to be a more than capable fighter, but he had been before joining too.? He was strong of mind and body growing up, but that didn’t stop him from being bullied.? He only took it for a while, learning martial arts to defend himself at first.? Then for pleasure!? His knowledge increased and his desire was to learn all that he could, with that he continued to work out regularly.? His focus now was on just being the best, but not being bullied anymore.? None would belittle him again, he would make sure of that!!

When everything went to hell, he had to relearn the basic premise of life…survival!? He had to relearn all of his combat skills, even making his own weapons.? He had no idea what went wrong…when his small troop was ambushed.? They were actually delivering goods to help others that another town had been hoarding.? He realized all of his survival skills and focus had changed him into that, that he didn’t want to be…with that he shivered as he was awakened from his meditation.? He was in a glass cage and he wore only a tunic.?

?He looked around at those watching him, he knew what this was as he sat there in a meditation position.? He was rather relaxed, he could only guess as to his purpose of being here.? He had tested the cage a few times with force…enough to hurt himself a bit actually.? He definitely wasn’t a docile person; he had every intention of trying to escape whatever this was.? He was both happy and sad at seeing none of his men.? He could only imagine what had happened to them.? Now he only sat and waited.

The hustle and bustle of a larger group of people moving through the walkways of the stadium. Many strangely dressed people had come to peer at him through the glass of his cell. The acoustics being as they were he could clearly hear what was being said.?

A husky bass voice could be heard saying,?

“Welcome. We are so pleased that you could all make it tonight. Remember you are all our honored guests and we are here for one purpose. To please! Tonight you shall see the best we have to offer. You will be enticed by blondes and Thriller by brunettes. Seduced by Redheads and ebony beauties. And beyond that there are still more...more that will make your mouth water in sheer curiosity. Step up and example the fair we promise you will not be disappointed.

At ten thousand Latimum to attend the auction, the Ringmaster smiled at all the willing participants. Some were there for the pure novelty…others were seeking the taboo pleasures of life. Still more were looking for the spice of life. Regardless of what brought them this way this day, each in attendance helped to ensure that there would be no denying the success of tonight’s auction. And tonight’s auction was a rousing success.?

The auction process was simple. Upon paying the entrance fee, each person was given a ballot. This ballot will be filled out and handed to the ringmaster. From these silent ballots, a winner would be drawn. The highest bidder always wins.

“Each lot has been given a number for you to bid on. Please enter your high bid on the ballots provided to you which will be collected upon the conclusion of the viewing.”

“Ahh, and here we have Lot Number Six. The winning bidder of this one will definitely have their hands full. As you can see he is tall, strapping, and handsome. Yet there is a fire within him that makes him truly special.”

“He can be lippy and fiery, something a good master must learn to appreciate. His body is alive with a desire to be controlled, and yet he is a fierce fighter capable of taking down a man twice his size. He has been left with all his scares intact making him an even tastier commodity. This one will require some TLC on the part of his master, though I have complete faith that once trained, he will be the loyalist of all the choices we offer here tonight.”

The ringmaster stepped back watching the way the audience began to salvage at the sight of him Lot Number Six.?

“Just look at the way his muscles flex and tense under our scrutiny. But take not my word for it,” he said, crossing to the window. “Bid and see for yourself.”

(Cho)

“Hmm, that is too bad.” He smirked flirting with Kitty, they were just doing what that did.? Seems like they didn’t cross that line, not that he didn’t want too but he wasn’t the type to force himself upon anyone.? Maybe that was what some women wanted?!?? He pondered but stopped.??

?

He looked at her wondering what she was talking about.? He was pretty sure he wasn’t bugged but he wasn’t above being scryed upon.? “I am lost on what you are talking about?? If the cosmos is plotting against me to have some…fun then I am not sure.”? The only thing he did yesterday that he thought about was the vampire he had killed, she tried to kill him though so if the cosmos didn’t like then send him better potential lovers that didn’t want to kill him!!!

?

(Ashton)

Ashton needed to get to Arrow’s lover and would hope that she was still ok.? He tried calling but got no answer so now he found the need to check on her.? If he had to do what he needed he would have to get rid of her.? So that was what he went to check out.? He had a trace on her phone last time, but he was still not getting a signal.??

?

Once finished his search for her then he went back to Arrow’s place and work to take the place apart.? He knew something else was going on, he was not as lost on connecting the dots.? But Arrow hadn’t been found yet so he didn’t want too but looks like Arrow was involved he didn’t want to not single out the obvious.??

(Scarlett MacAleister)

Scarlett walked in the front doors of the Midnight Society at exactly 2:59 a.m. Far be it from her to keep the prince waiting. In her pocket she carried the flash drive given to her by Ekko. She'd stopped by her safehouse before coming to downtown Raconteur and made a copy of it on her own computer, as well as to another flash drive which she locked away in her safe.

This particular drive would be handed directly to the prince...a token of good faith and as what would hopefully be an incentive for the price to order action against the cartel and its minions.

Once inside, she looked around for guidance to where she was to gather with the others.

(Kitty to Cho)

Kitty narrowed her eyes a moment, then with a shrug said, “Well, usually when these feelings come across the cosmos it is because someone or something suddenly died unexpectedly and in an unusual way. What did you do after leaving here, yesterday?” She paused as she felt the pager from the Midnight Society buzz in her pocket. She reached into the little pocket of her mini skirt and looked at the number and then the code after it. “Hm, apparently I am needed at the Society…by 3 am.” She looked at the clock on the wall behind the bar. “I have a few moments, back to you. Want to make sure you aren’t in any trouble with the cosmos.”

(Katya)

Katya found the right contact and sent her a quick text message with coded letters and number. She waited until the contact responded then looked back at Eryc. “Now, I believe we should report to the Midnight Society…” She paused as a text from the very place she was speaking of sent her a message. “…hm, guess we are being called to the Society.” She looked at Eryc, “I am going to leave you here, I will let them know why you are not there.” Eryc gave her a smile.

(NPC Layla)

Layla had been walking down the street when the coded message from Katya came through. She sent a reply back and then made her way to Arrow’s apartment. She made sure no one was there before she stealthily made her way inside. She knew to look at the desk and sure enough she found the documents that the man had found while following the trail at the docks. She heard someone coming and before they entered the door, she made her way out the window and went down the fire escape with the documents tucked inside her jacket.

(Hollywood/Diego/Midnight Society)

As Scarlett entered the Society she was greeted by a tall, well-built dark-skinned vampire, “Welcome back to the Midnight Society. The Prince will be meeting everyone in the main conference room. Please follow me.” He led Scarlett to the largest room in the place. It looked more like a royal court room from the Middle Ages. there was an actual throne on a dais. Several long tables along the walls with several glasses and decanters filled with the freshest of blood. There were chairs scattered throughout the room and a few small love seats. “Please take some refreshment if you wish. The Prince will be along soon.”

Hollywood was fully infused and felt fully awake. She waited until all of the infusion equipment was removed before standing up from the special chair. She stretched her hands above her head and once she felt ready she left the room and made her way to her living quarters. Here she showered and dressed in full gear all in black. She donned her black trench to finish the look. She looked to Diego, “I need my pet by my side tonight.” With a nod, Diego slipped out of his clothing, laying it neatly on the bed and then shifted to his black wolf form and proudly walked beside his master.

Tag: Cho/Ashton, Scarlett,?Kitty/Katya, Hollywood/Diego open

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