Desecrated Beauty (Twisted Fairy Tales #1) (4 page)

Crouching down she moved her hand along the foundation of the house. It was too dark to see anything on this side, there wasn’t even a spotlight to guide her at all but maybe…

Her fingers curled around the framework of a window and she knelt by it, feeling along the glass. It was closed and trying to pry it open only resulted in the glass shifting just a bit before settling back in place.

So much for a silent entrance. She leaned back onto her butt, put her feet out and kicked. It was a risky move but she needed to get in there, she had to get to her sister and get her out of there.

The glass shattered on the ground below making her wince as she paused once more to make sure no one came running. When no lights or people came, she slipped through, cutting her back this time as she slipped in. Doc was going to be pissed with her once she got back, but she’d worry about it then.

At the very least it would get Tate off her case about training for a day or two.

Landing with a thud on the basement floor, the impact jarred her knees and the glass crunched underfoot. Now that she was in she had two more things to do: find Rose and figure a way back out. She might have to just make a run through the front door with guns a-blazing. It was a little Wild West for her taste, but it would be effective… She hoped. Rose hadn’t looked like she was exactly decked out in running gear. She looked more ready for a party.

Moving through the darkness of the basement Quill was thankful for the old early Victorian style which left her in a sprawling empty basement room. No weaving in and out of rooms like upstairs trying to find the way out. Darkness guided her with a small band of light at the base of the door that had to be the exit.

Blind and moving slowly because of it, her toe smacked against the back of a step. Quill reached out in front of her, looking for a hand railing as she lifted her foot only managing to trip on the edge of the bottom stair. Both her toe and her knee ached when she landed on it, wincing slightly. Her body was getting a beating tonight, this was probably going to be the last time she volunteered to be a hero. It wasn’t her style.

Crawling up the stairs in pain she reached the door and finally paused, waiting to make sure it was clear. Drifting from beyond there was a soft voice speaking, wrapping around her and reminding her of something she had almost forgotten about.

“Tonight we thank our patrons for their dedication to our livelihood and helping us to maintain the lifestyle in which we are most accustomed. Without their patronage, our society would’ve failed by now and we would’ve been living like the savages we were before the awakening. To celebrate our thanks for our freedom from Desecration, we offer to our Patrons gifts tonight. So it is with my pleasure that my subscriber, Rose, may introduce you to tonight’s lineup.”

Quill pushed the door open with her shoulder and stumbled out of the basement looking around. The room she entered didn’t belong to the main room from which the voices, and now clapping, were coming from. She was thankful for this, she wasn’t sure if she would be able to handle everyone turning to look at her if she did interrupt something important - which from the sounds of this, it was.

Slipping to the threshold, Quill carefully made her way toward the room and peered into it, trying to draw the least amount of attention from her appearance. On stage, some of the other Desecrated walked on, just as dazed and sleepy as before. She frowned, watching them line up like they were on display in a store. When her eyes flicked to the audience she watched them stare and the way they exchanged discussions and she remembered with a start the word “auction”. They were on display. These people were going to buy the Desecrated prisoners.

Quill felt herself go cold as she looked up at her sister standing beside the lanky man at the podium, as slim and good looking as the beast from the bar. His arm was slung low around her sister’s waist; this must be her patron.

Rose’s eyes flicked around the room and suddenly settled on her and Quill felt like a spotlight had suddenly been cast on her. She cocked her head to the side and raised her eyebrows. Her sister shook her head slightly, but she wasn’t going to be dissuaded that easily without actually speaking to her sister.

One-word exchanges were not going to suffice after nearly 5 years apart.

Rose turned to her patron and whispered something. He frowned but nodded his head, saying something to her that made her pale face fill with a redness that was acutely visible under the lighting on the stage. She disappeared behind the curtain and Quill took this as her cue to go behind the wall again in case someone else looked her way.

She felt antsy, wanting desperately to get out of this strange place, so as she waited she found herself hugging her arms around her stomach and pacing like a caged animal. She tried to ignore the throbs of pain resonating through her body, but they left her feeling queasy.

She wasn’t waiting for long before Rose reappeared in the room, grabbing her arm so tightly the tips of her perfectly manicured nails bit right into her flesh.

“What are you doing here still?” She hissed angrily, “you’re going to get us both killed!”

“I couldn’t leave you here! Something isn’t right, you need to come with me.”

Rose shook her head vehemently, “my place is here now. I can’t leave, he’ll come for me.”

“That guy?” I cast an uncertain glance at the man on stage, “I could take him.”

“No, not him and no you couldn’t.”

“Then who? Whoever it is I could take him.”

“No.” She spoke with a sharp tone, “you can’t. Now you have to leave. I’m sorry you even saw me, I wish you hadn’t.”

Quill felt herself go cold at the way her sister dismissed her as if they hadn’t been best friends growing up. She grabbed her sister’s hands and held them tight, refusing to let go.

“What has you so scared you’re willing to stay and live in your terror?”

Rose opened her mouth to say something and then shook her head because she couldn’t bring herself to say whatever was sitting on the tip of her tongue.

“I can’t.”

“Please. Please, let me take you with me this time. I need to take you with me this time.” She hated to hear herself beg, to hear how vulnerable she felt in her own voice.

Rose stared at her, her eyes glassy and broken before she glanced over her shoulder, “they’ll kill you if we’re caught… They’ll kill me.”

“They can try.” Quill sounded a lot more confident than she felt given how much pain she was in. But if need be, she would fight to the death to get her sister out of whatever trouble her father had inevitably put her in for his own benefit.

“We have to go now while they’re distracted while he’s distracted…” She dropped her voice so low Quill had to strain to hear her compliance. With a quick nod, she grabbed her sister’s hand once more and tugged her back toward the basement.

She didn’t have any other time to come up with another escape plan so she would have to chance going out the way they came.

Maybe they would be lucky.

“RUN!” Quill turned to glance over her shoulder at her sister, still holding on tightly to her hand as they ran for their lives. From behind Rose, she could see two figures chasing them: guards, no doubt. She squeezed her sister’s hand, smiling tightly in what she hoped was an encouraging fashion. It was a foreign expression for her after all.

“We’re almost there.” She turned back to see where they were going, weaving them around the buildings heading for the pipe that would bring them back to the compound. Falling to her knees in front of the grate she reached out and started unscrewing the grate carefully.

“Okay, go first. There will be someone to help you out, shout “Orion”… He’ll come.”

“You’re right behind me right?”

Quill nodded sharply, “right behind you.” She promised as she watched Rose drop to her knees and start to crawl through the hole. She waited until Rose was far enough in before glancing over her shoulder to make sure neither of the guards had caught up to them. She dropped to her knees and stopped suddenly. A blade was held at her throat, a very familiar and cold blade.

She turned her head ever so slowly to look up at the hand attached to the body that was hovering over her.

“You are following me,” she said challengingly.

“You are stealing something that belongs to me.” She blinked slowly, trying to understand the implication of his words.

Rose.

“She doesn’t belong to you,” she said with a snap, but the beast just smiled at her, his teeth elongated in the moonlight and glinting a starch white.

“Yes, she does. I bought her.” He pulled the knife from her throat and Quill leaned back on her heels, staring up at him. “But I’ll trade you.”

“For what?” Her heart rammed against her rib cage, hope blossoming. She would trade anything for Rose’s freedom if he were the key holder.

“You for her.” And just like that the hope disintegrated in a flash. Of course, this would be her choice. She could give her sister freedom in a world where her main purpose would be to breed, to develop a race that would forever be seen as lesser than or she could let her sister return to this man who openly admitted to taking what he wanted from women. There was one thing Quill was certain of, even if Rose were asked to have children with The Desecrated it wouldn’t be forced on her until she was honestly ready herself.

It wasn’t a tough choice to make it was just a hard pill to swallow as her mind raced with the possibilities that trading herself to him presented.

“Fine,” she said with a leer, she wanted him to understand she wasn’t coming willingly but felt she was being forced to.

He didn’t seem to notice, or if he did, he didn’t bother to let it show as he smiled toothily at her, “good.” He nodded his head and backed away.

“I will expect you at my home in 30 hours.”

“30 hours? That’s all I get?”

“I could take you now if I wished, I thought I would be kind and allow you to settle your affairs before coming to me. Willingly. If you do not come, I will come for you and the result will be tragic for anyone who stands in my way.”

He seemed to read her mind, she had already been considering that within 30 hours she could find a way to hide her sister and herself from his sight. Even if it was just within the compound. He couldn’t find them there, she was so sure of its hidden location.

She took a deep breath, not letting her eyes close however much she wanted to if only to calm herself, “fine.” She repeated to herself before turning to the tunnel once more. “I will see you in 30 hours… How do I find your home?”

“You’ll know which one it is.” He grinned again at her making her want to reach out and punch it off his face.

“I doubt that immensely, so if I’m late it’s your fault.”

“You will know which one it is. As it is not in the city.”

“It’s not in the city?”

“No, that is where the humans live.” His voice was filled with contempt while her body felt like someone had dumped ice all over her.

“Humans.” She repeated unsure if she had heard him correctly. He grinned at her in a chilling way this time, leaning in closer so their bodies had barely a scrap of air between them. Quill wanted to look away, but her eyes were glued to his, widening with each passing second as he hovered so close to her.

She was completely caught up, he could easily take whatever he wanted from her and for a moment he considered it.

“I live beyond the main perimeter of the city, east of the iron gate.” He broke away from her reluctantly and forced himself to take another few steps back. His body wanted to return to her heat and to the electricity that charged him when she was around.

“East of the iron gate,” she repeated, transfixed.

He nodded at her, “in 30 hours I will see you there.” He leaned down and brushed his fingers along her lips gently, the sensation sent a course of shivers down her spine as he did. She blinked and when she opened her eyes again he was gone. But the eerie cool feeling didn’t cease.

Shaking free of the sensation Quill pulled herself through the hole and began to crawl dazedly toward the end of the pipeline. By the time she reached the end she felt more like herself and found Orion and Rose waiting for her.

Rose threw her arms around her neck, crying out in relief: “Oh, I thought they had caught you!”

“Nearly did,” Quill muttered, rubbing her throat where her knife had sat only moments ago. Rose sighed again and clung to her sister.

“Are we free?” Rose whispered and Quill pulled back with a nod.

“Yes. We are.” She smiled, “Welcome to the compound. C’mon, let us show you around.” She glanced over at Orion whose eyebrows were raised in a silent question. She shook her head to tell him not to worry about it, yet, before leading Rose away and back toward the compound entrance. She doubted Rose could remember a time when nature like this was so open. She had spent most of her life behind city walls and before that gracing only parks that were found within the city. Her father would’ve never taken them someplace impractical like this, there was nothing to learn here. At least, that was what he believed.

“So, what do we do here?”

“Survive, mostly.” Quill looked down at Rose as she slipped her hand into hers and shed the mask of the brave woman she had worn back at the auction house. Maybe she was feeling the side effect of freedom. It was an intoxicating mistress, freedom could wrap you up so you forgot yourself and the careful boundaries you built for a reason.

“And how do we do that?”

“Well, everyone has a job here.” Orion was the one to speak this time. “We all do something to help the family because that’s what we are here. And every job is as important as the last even if you’re just a cook or a cleaner or a fighter or a breeder.”

“Breeder?” Quill winced, knowing there was no way out of this without explaining in full. So she stopped walking so she could turn to face her sister.

“Breeders are the jobs most women hold.”

“Are you a breeder?”

“No. I’m not.”

“Oh. Why?”

“Breeders are girls who get pregnant to help us grow the population. When the blood baths happened… well, you know what happened. The Desecrated believe that it’s our job to repopulate, it’s the only way we might be able to take back what is rightfully ours.”

Rose’s eyes widened and she shook her head, “no… Breeding won’t save us.”

Quill frowned, “what do you mean? What do you know about the city?”

“Too much.” Two words was all it took to convey a decade of secrets. It was the whisper of a burden too great for one pair of shoulders to bear and yet here was her little sister - shouldering it with a grimace and a blush.

“You need to tell us.” Orion was insistent moving closer to Rose, who only shrunk closer to Quill. She shot Orion a warning glance before looking back down at Rose.

“You don’t have to tell them until you’re ready. No one here will force you to do anything you don’t want.” She brushed a stray bit of hair out of her eyes before nodding her head. “Alright, let’s get you inside. It’s been a long night and you look like you need sleep and food.”

Orion made a noise, no doubt longing to suggest she was the one who needed help. She could only imagine what she looked like right now to everyone. Her body was aching and her chest was sore from where the glass cut it, her leather jacket torn open on the back by the window… She probably looked like a heathen.

She didn’t care though, it was all worth it to know Rose was safe now. She led her to the door leading down into the underground compound, the door slamming shut behind them and tucking them into the darkness beyond.

“How’s your heart doing?” Rose whispered softly, no doubt hoping that only Quill would hear the question. She didn’t need to see Orion to know he had heard, he was trained to pick up on things like whispers when it came to tracking or hunting.

“We’ll talk about it later.” Quill brushed her off, only mildly feeling bad for doing so, but she didn’t want to talk details with Orion listening so carefully.

“So, the man at the podium, was he your patron?”

Rose shook her head, “no, he was an employee of my patron.”

“Who is your patron?”

“Who was my patron you mean?” She could tell her sister was smiling by the tone of her voice. Trading herself for Rose was worth it, she had no doubt.

“Yes.” She smiled back even if Rose couldn’t see her right now.

“He was powerful, but he’s not one of the elite. There’s a council, he’s not on it, but he’s old enough to be though.” Old enough? He looked 23 and as far as Quill knew most councils consisted of arrogant old men who made others do their dirty work. “He chooses not to be, he doesn’t want to be involved with politics.”

“If he doesn’t want to be involved with politics then why he is auctioning off Desecrated members that they kidnapped?”

“Well, I said he doesn’t like to be involved with politics, but I mean their politics. He wants to be involved in our politics because it gives him leverage.”

“But he doesn’t want the power of this council or whatever?” I didn’t understand what she was talking about. Not that it helped that she was been deliberately vague.

“No, he doesn’t. He’s not interested in being a lawmaker, but he likes the power.”

“So… He controls the auction to have power?”

“Does that make sense?”

“Not …”

“It is difficult to understand unless you know the whole scenario.”

“You’ll tell me right? Eventually?”

“Eventually,” Rose promised just as they reached the door leading to the main entrance. As they entered, Quill watched her sister’s expression. She wanted to see how Rose reacted to the home the Desecrated had forged underground for themselves. It was rudimentary at best, a shoddy reconstruction of a reality they were no long apart of, but it was home. So it had to be cozy in some way - didn’t it?

It had been so long since the last time Quill had seen her sister she knew she had changed in drastic ways thanks to the rigorous training she’d undergone under the thumb of her father. Staying behind had felt like the only option open to her even after finding out about her heart condition from the doctor. But Rose had insisted that she leave and run while she had the chance, knowing that the life she would live at home with them would eventually, literally, kill her.

She hadn’t wanted to leave Rose behind. Only because she felt the small fear in the back of her mind that her sister might become the target of her father’s fanaticism once she was gone. She wanted to ask Rose if this was the case, but even she didn’t like talking about her childhood - not even to Rose. She would’ve rather Rose live in ignorance of the things she’d endured growing up, but it was too late now to take back all the things both girls had seen.

Instead, Quill was left wondering how different Rose was from the shy, docile creature she’d left behind. From the sight of the woman on stage, she could see that side of her had never been squashed or if it had Rose had learned when to turn it on and off to please her patron. Quill had never undergone subscriber training because she had always known that wasn’t her path. Her father explicitly reminded her day in and day out that she was to be the son he never had and she was going to make him proud by joining the agency.

Even if that was the last thing Quill wanted.

The funny thing was that once she joined the Desecrated they had asked her what it was she wanted to do for them and she had turned to the violence anyways. She just didn’t know what she wanted, she had never had the opportunity to ask herself.

She figured she never would now either what with her life being handed over to that beast. She didn’t know what to expect from his patronage, but she hoped he didn’t expect her to be a docile little lamb who fell over at his every command. She didn’t intend to make his life that easy for him. He seemed to think he could get anything that he wanted without having to even lift a finger to do it. She planned to show him she wouldn’t, ever, fall for that.

“Izzy?” She turned to look at her sister, blinking at the name. It had been a long time since someone had called her that. She smiled though, looking up at Orion, who was looking at her with a keen interest. He hadn’t known her real name. Then again, it was rare for any of them here to know each other’s real names.

“I go by Quill now,” she said, correcting her gently. “It’s a new life, a new chance, so we take on new names to go with our new identities. You’re welcome to take a new name too if you want.”

Rose scrunched up her nose a she thought about it before shaking her head, “I wouldn’t know where to start. You’ll have to give me some time to come up with something. Quill… Why Quill?”

“I’m good with knives.” She shrugged her shoulder.

“Oh, I was thinking the old-fashion pen.” She laughed and Quill smiled although it didn’t reach her eyes. Her father used to have a quill, why didn’t she think of that?

“Well, take your time. I’m not planning on introducing you to anyone tonight. I’m going to hog you to myself and then you can figure out your name in the morning right before you meet everyone.” She turned to look back at Orion and nodded her head, “I’m going to go back to my room with Rose. I’ll see you tomorrow.”