Justice (Moon Hunters Inc. Book 1) (2 page)

Chapter 2

Envy

Envy sat in the lounger near her master. The old goat refused to die even though he was ill beyond any healing. It was ironic that the pollution he had contributed to with his refusal to spend money to clean up his manufacturing processes, was what would put him six feet under. It was also just in a way, that the son he had felt such pride in, the one he had built his legacy for, hated him with a passion.

The master thought she was just a pretty face and desirable body, the
envy
of all his friends and acquaintances, hence her name. Once he died, she had a plan and she would never be at anyone’s mercy again. For now, she just wanted justice and that would only be served with his speedy death. That he had lived to old age was an affront to all his victims and more proof that life was unfair.

“Envy!” He hollered even though she was always close at hand.

“Here, Master.” She said thinking how hard it was to bide her time.

“Bring me a drink.”

“What would you like?”

“Whiskey, straight up.”

She hurried to bring what he wanted so he wouldn’t throw a tantrum like a spoiled child. It had been years since he had been able to perform as a man. Food didn’t always stay down and he got much of his sustenance through his IV, so the only joy he got was through pushing his will on others. It was a pathetic power play for a small minded man who had no other proof of his value to flaunt.

Envy poured the whiskey and hurried to get it to him. Somedays, nothing pleased him and this seemed to be one of those. She handed him the drink and he slapped it out of her hand. Another mess for the maid to clean. “Bring it quicker this time.”

She hurried faster and this time he accepted it. Probably because the whiskey helped numb some of his pain. There was nothing in her for this man but loathing. He’d kept her like a pet since the lab he’d funded had been shut down by the government. The pervert had seen something in her preteen self that he’d desired, but he’d waited for her to come of age. That had been his mistake, one she was grateful for because now he would never possess her body in the way that he’d wanted.

Standing next to him, waiting for his next order, she didn’t move when he grabbed the chain that hung down from her belly button ring. “You remember, my girl, when we added this?”

“Yes.” She responded. That day would be burned into her mind. He’d wanted it done while he watched hoping it would excite him enough to make his body respond. While it had excited him mentally, his body was too ill to rise to the occasion.

The nasty old man traced the tattoo on her thigh next and she struggled not to pull away. “When you received your tattoo was a fine day as well. Do you remember that, too?”

The lovely miniature dragon on her hip was gorgeous although it had been painful to get. “Yes.” She said calmly and coolly. He enjoyed tormenting her, but she wouldn’t let him see how much she hated him. If he did, he would win.

“Come, Envy. Can’t these wonderful memories spark a smile? You have the most haunting smile I’ve ever seen.” She tried to smile, but it fell flat. “Almost a smile. Maybe the memory of when you had your nipples pierced?” Fury rolled over her.
Pervert!
The man was disgusting and she imagined his face bereft of life. His eyes open, unseeing, while his skin, a pasty white, would never again feel the warmth of the sun. Envy could imagine his skin, death would leave it cold as ice. A smile fluttered to her lips, yes, that would be the happiest day of her life. “See, I knew that would bring the smile to your lips.”

Envy forced herself to look straight ahead so he couldn’t read her mood. It was a killing mood, but she had to wait. The money she’d hidden under the floor in her room would support her while she made a new life for herself. Her new ID would get her off this fucked up planet, all she had to do was use her reserve of patience. This man was fading fast even though he stubbornly clung to life no matter how much pain he was in. Another smile ghosted across her face, he deserved all the pain he was in and more.

“Are you remembering how I saved you, Girl? You were young, too young unfortunately to be the companion I needed, but I kept you anyway. I could have sent you out into the cold, cruel world. So young, but so incredibly lovely.” His eyes clouded over as he relived that day. She had seen him do this every day since he’d been ill. “My biggest regret, Envy. You understand, we should have been together, even if it was just once.” He had that faraway look, it always made her think death was calling to him.

She wished he would answer and free her from him. A guard came in. “Sir, you have a call on line one.” He handed the com unit to her master.

“Hello? …Son?” The hopeful sound in his voice was so obvious. “No, clearly I’m not dead yet, you’re talking to me.” Pain filled his voice and she rejoiced. It might seem cruel, but this man was pure evil. “You can’t send someone here to take inventory of my possessions. It’s all going to charity now, anyway. You’ll not get another dime out of me.” He hung up and slammed the com onto the floor. Tears shone in his eyes but she didn’t feel sorry for him. “Get me another whiskey, Envy.”

As upset as he was, she knew to hurry. If he downed this one, mixed with his medicine, it would put him out. She would have made it through one more day and be that much nearer to freedom. Pouring the whiskey, she rushed it back to him. Shaking hands, weak with illness and disappointment, grabbed the shot sloshing just a few drops over the edge before he threw it back gulping it all down.

“You’re the only one who I can count on, Envy. Only you.” He whispered as he went under, losing himself to sleep.

“He’s ready to go to bed.” Envy said out loud. Two guards came in and picked him up, carrying him to his bedroom. They were told to do as she instructed when he was unavailable. He technically had her listed as his his caretaker, not slave. That was what would see her free, slavery was against the law anyway. Still, she had to be careful because the son was even worse than the father. Both were a blight on this world.

Envy made sure her master was tucked into bed, then she left to go to her own room. She made a cursory search finding the note she had been expecting for days now. Who left these notes in her room, she wasn’t sure. They claimed they were family and wanted to guard, guide, and protect her. A family was something she had never had. There was no doubt she had come from
somewhere
, but she’d never known where. The old pervert claimed she’d been the result of a breeding program and it was probably true.

Her mother had been bred by some male known only by a number, who had no idea how many children he sired. Her mother had died giving birth, too delicate to survive the hours she had labored to bring forth such a perfect female child. Envy couldn’t say what was true. She scoured the internet on the computer her master gave her, but access was limited.

Opening the letter, it was odd, which was usual.
Have patience. You will be free soon, Justice will deliver you.
Would the house be raided by police as the lab had been? So many had died that day, confused because they’d been told the police were there to kill them. In the end, the police had protected themselves, and the doctors and employees had escaped in the mayhem. One of those employees had brought her to her master.

Years later, her biggest dream was to be free of this house, but mostly of the man. She took a shower and tried not to think. Thinking led to remembering and that led to sadness. Sadness made you crazy and if you were crazy, they put you down. Life might not be what she wanted it to be yet, but she had a strong will to survive. Bring on justice and set her free.

Chapter 3

The Mark

Justice sat straight up in his seat as the buxom blond went right for his pride. He shooed her hands away. He’d not felt like female company since the old lady had spoken to him. Maybe she’d cast a spell on him, he knew nothing of such things. All he knew was he felt differently about the loose women that hung out at places like this bar than he used to. There was no rhyme or reason to the whole thing, it was just the way it was.

His com rang. Cash had some of the best tech around making it easy for him to reach Justice almost everywhere. This was even beyond what he had thought possible. “Justice here.”

“Make any progress yet?” Cash asked. He was sitting back in his desk chair with his legs stretched out on top of his desk. A big male, he radiated power and a sense of danger. No more so than Justice himself did, but Cash came close.

“I got lucky and found an informer. I have everything cased out and I’m planning on making the move tomorrow night. One more run through fast, just to be sure. Not like this is an easy job. The man’s got more money than Midas to buy all the best security. There was a rumor, guy said the son was an even bigger monster than the old man. Doesn’t sound like this will be the end of it.”

“That’s good information, but all we can do right now is proceed with caution. You may well be going back for the son in the near future. Do what you do best.” Cash suggested.

“How did you get me on the com?”

An Oison ship is halfway between here and Earth. We boomeranged off them and sent it to you. Cool, huh?”

“Smart.”

The com dropped the call so either there was interference or Cash was done talking. Everything that needed to be said had been. Justice took a shower and went to bed. He lay there thinking for what seemed like hours before he drifted to sleep.

Chapter 4

Well-Guarded

A noise woke Envy up and a guard tripped as he launched through her door. She stared at him, amazed he had the nerve to enter here. A thought struck her that brought out both terror and joy. “Is master dead?” She asked?

The male stepped closer and she caught the scent of whiskey, the fool was drunk. “Hey, Stan! Where the hell are you?” The newcomer stepped into the room. “Sorry ma’am, come on before you get into trouble.”

“She likes me. You like me, don’t you?” Stan asked looking at her.

“Doesn’t matter. The boss will have your balls removed.”

“J.J., you’re just teasin’ right? He don’t really do that, does he?” Stan asked his voice wavering.

“He has, and would right now if he knew you were in here.” J.J. led Stan out tugging on his arm, to get him to leave.

It was a relief when Stan staggered out with J.J. helping him. This wasn’t the first time a drunk or high guard had wanted to claim extra privileges. Usually, she was forced to remove them. She might look weak and delicate, but something in her blood made her strong and an excellent fighter. That was something she’d proven more times than she could remember over the years.

Once she was sure they were gone, she changed her clothes and got ready for one more day. It was the only way to survive this hellhole. One day at a time and she would make it through. Envy headed to the kitchen. She would check to see if the master’s meal was prepared and pick up hers. He wanted her with him at every meal time. For some reason he believed she loved him despite his wicked treatment of her or maybe because of it. That only showed he didn’t know her at all.

Everyone looked up when she entered the kitchen. The cook rushed to get the master’s meal ready. Half the staff was new replacing experienced kitchen staff that had abandoned his service, because they all knew he was dying. They preferred the certainty of a new job to the worries of being caught here when he was gone.

“Here you go. All his favorites.” The cook pointed out unnecessarily. Her plate was also put on the tray with about half the food he had.

Carrying the tray down the hall, she balanced it carefully as she opened the door. He sat up looking healthier than he had in a while. Disappointment shot through her as she feared the new treatment might be working. It didn’t matter, change was in the air and she just knew it would visit them soon. She just hoped it would be soon enough.

“Hurry up and bring the tray here, Envy. I’m starved half to death!” her master demanded.

She moved faster knowing it never paid to disappoint this man. It made her remember the rages he used to go into back when he still had his health. No one would have believed back then, that he would be like this now. Setting his tray in front of him, she moved away sitting as far from him as he would allow. As she watched him, she shivered with revulsion. It would be so easy to kill him, but she would be suspect. Best to let nature take care of him as long as it was soon.

“Eat, Envy. You’ve lost weight. I know you want to continue to look beautiful for me.”

Her master irritated her to no end, but she refused to show it. She’d hung on since she’d been little more than a child, just a little longer and her life would improve. Something was coming that would change everything and it wouldn’t be long now. It made her think about the note from yesterday. Justice was on its way.

Envy ate her breakfast like she’d been instructed to do. She’d learned a long time ago not to upset the master. He was mean as a one-eyed rattlesnake and twice as poisonous. It made her remember when she first came to him.

“What you waiting for Girl, eat!” She didn’t let his tone disturb her, she was used to much worse. The food looked funny and she sniffed at it. A medicinal scent made her uneasy so she pushed the plate away. Her face stung as the strange guy backhanded her. Tears came to her eyes, but she refused to cry. “Next time you’ll eat when you are told. Take her away.” The guards moved forward and she stood to follow the first one. The other one followed behind so she wouldn’t escape. Why would she try when she had nowhere to go?

“Where did you just go, my pretty?” He asked.

“I was just enjoying my food.”

“Enjoy it faster. I have a new movie to watch.” A movie, one of the few things that she liked, but she acted bored and as if he had to force her to watch. Had he suspected she loved them, he would never allow her to watch them again. She finished her food long before he finished his. He had to eat slowly or it wouldn’t stay down.

“You know your family didn’t want you.” He said cruelly.

“I thought my father was a seed donor and my mother died when I was born?”

“That’s true, but your mother had family nearby.”

“I thought she was taken without a choice?”

“That’s true too. It was for the common good. She should have been proud to be given the chance to help research progress. Your mother was an ungrateful and rebellious bitch. They tried to breed her with my seed, but it wouldn’t take. We feared she was barren, but she had so many unusual traits, we had to try. The next time it took right away. A case of like calling to like. They were both wild creatures hard to keep locked up. Your father escaped but never came back for the female he claimed. Broke her heart like she broke mine. Only fitting, it was a shame to see her brought down like that in a way.” His eyes took on a glassy look as they stared unseeing at the wall. Whatever he saw, it wasn’t the here and now.

Another reason to hate the man. He had destroyed her mother because she didn’t want him. Pathetic was the new word of the day and it fit him perfectly. How had he held this in all this time? Was it a sign that death stalked him? She certainly hoped so because this man had taken far too much from her already.

“Nothing to say about your ungrateful mother or the man that deserted you both?” He asked hatefully.

“You said he never knew about me, never met my mother, and didn’t live in the facility.”

“I was trying to spare the feelings of a frightened child.”

“What’s changed now?”

His eye slowly moved over her from head to toe. “You’re clearly no longer a child.”

“I haven’t been for several years now.”

“I suppose that’s true. It’s been years since I thought about her. She was beautiful, you know. Not quite as lovely as you are, my dear. Neither did she have your sharp intellect or your physical skills. The resemblance is there, but she was a shadow of what you are, of what I made you.”

“It hurt your pride that she wanted another.”

“See, you are too smart for your own good. Yes, she wanted your father. She said she had no control over her heart. It killed her when he disappeared and never came back.”

“You killed him?”

“Where’s the money to be made in that? I sold him to another company that researched genes. Who knows what happened to him, who cares? He’s probably long gone. Research can be hard on people.”

The man told so many stories it was hard to know what to believe, but she sensed he was finally telling her the truth now that death nipped at his heels. It pushed out the memories she hid deep inside.

Envy closed her eyes unable to look at her adoptive mother any longer. The beautiful woman was blonde haired and blue eyed, her skin had once been flawless and pale as milk. Now the sores where her skin rotted away covered her. Her teeth were almost all gone and her eyes bloodshot and full of despair. Her hair fell out in clumps and her scalp was covered in sores.

“I’m dying Sereta,” Jill said. “We need to find you a new mom to look out for you.

“Don’t want a new mama. I only want you.” She had said stubbornly.

“I know, Baby. The problem is I’m already gone. It’s only for you I try to hang on.”

Tears fell down her face as Jill sighed out her last breath. She’d tried to hang on, but death had stolen her away. Sereta became Envy years later when the master stole her away. In one form or another, history repeated itself.

“You’ve been daydreaming a lot lately, my girl. What is it that takes you away from me?”

“Nothing, Master. I just wish I could walk in the gardens as I did when I was younger.”

“I’ve told you I can’t protect you when you leave this building. The world is a cruel place you are not prepared for. Men will want you, but you are mine and they can’t have you. I’ll make sure of that.”

His words were like a threat, did he plan to take her to the other side with him? Envy knew she’d best be careful if she wanted to escape. Everything was ready for when he passed on, she just wished he would hurry.

“You do wish to be with me, don’t you Envy? No one else can have you, not now, not ever.” The anger he felt at the thought of losing her wore him out and he slumped in his seat, asleep instantly.