“Someone's put a block in there.  There is no way she is that strong,” Cameron said, “Angelique, are you in.”  “Yes, but only because she gave permission,” Angelique answered.

“What is she thinking about?” Devlin asked.  “Mostly wondering who the fifth is,” Angelique answered, “And the weather.”  Benjamin chuckled, “The weather?”  “Yes.  Would you like for me to think about something else?” I asked.

“What do you think of whips and chains?” Benjamin asked.  Apparently, they all like that stuff.  “I always wanted to know how to whip someone,” I answered, “Are you going to teach me?”  He chuckled again.

“Actually, what’s it like to flog someone?” I asked.  He gave me a funny look.

Angelique squeezed my leg.  I looked at her.  She was crying.  Uh oh!

“I could teach you how to flog someone, “ Devlin said, looking at Angelique with anger.  “Oh no,” I leveled my eyes at him, “I want to flog you.”

He sat back in his chair, looking at me with what I think was shock, “I’m out.”

“What?” Cameron exclaimed, “I never thought that I would see the day.”

“I’m not willing to get flogged,” Devlin said, “I’m out.”

“But you know that she is not strong enough to hurt you,” Ivan said.

“The rest of you are.  She knows that I will invite others in,” Devlin protested.  He narrowed his gaze at Angelique, “She told her.  Angelique and I will be having a session after this to refresh on the rules.”  Angelique whimpered.  “Come sit with me, Angelique,” he growled, “You think that we don't know what you're doing.”  She looked at me, then slowly got up and went to him.  He pulled out the seat next to him, and she sat down.  She wasn't squeezing my leg that much anyway.  I suspected that he was doing something to prevent her from helping me.

“What is she thinking now, Angelique?” Benjamin spoke up.  “She's sorry for me, and she's thinking about revoking my permission,” Angelique answered.  “Do not grant her request!” Devlin commanded.  Can she do that?  How do I just take it back?  I felt a snap in my head.  Angelique put a hand to her head, “She just took it.”  She looked at me, relieved.

“Someone's helping her,” Ivan growled, “There's no way she's doing all of this by herself.”

Benjamin got up and sat next to me, facing me, “I would so like the opportunity to find out what makes you tick.  May I read your mind?”

“How old are you?” I ignored his question.  “Does it matter?” he asked.  “Yes,” I answered, “I wouldn't want to be accused of improprieties with a child.”

Cameron snorted, “he is older than all of us!”  Huh?

“I assure you that I am no child,” he had a dangerous look in his eyes.  Looks can be deceiving.  I waited, staring him down.  I had to know.  “Four hundred and thirty two,” he answered, waiting for my look of shock.  I did my best not to give him what he wanted.  He smiled sweetly, “My turn.”

He put his hand on my cheek and looked into my eyes, “Such beautiful eyes.”  I felt a hard tug in my head.  The next thing I knew, he was leaning me back in my seat.  I closed my eyes.  Relaxed when I shouldn't be.  “She has known great loss,” Benjamin said, “I feel sorry for her.”

“You feel something?” Ivan asked with a chuckle.  “Occasionally,” Benjamin replied, “I want her.”  “Fine by me,” Ivan agreed.  “Same here,” Cameron stated, “She's too strange for me.  I think that she could cause an uprising.”  “Perhaps that is why I want her,” Benjamin said, “I am bored.  I need a little spice.”  “She's all yours,” Devlin said.

What!  “No,” I moaned softly.  They all stopped talking and ceased all commotion.  “What did she say?” Ivan asked.  “She said no,” Angelique stated.  “She'll have to speak up.  I didn't hear it,” Devlin said.  I worked my lips, but nothing came out.  After a moment, Benjamin said, “I’ll take her to my room.  She'll be more comfortable there.”  I tried again, but nothing.  What did he do to me?  It was like being drugged.

The commotion started again.  They were getting up, ready to leave.  I felt a cool hand on my wrist.  I was being pulled forward.  I tried again.  “No,” I moaned loudly this time.  I heard a sigh of what I think was disappointment.  I felt an overwhelming need to belch and did so.  I felt like I was waking up.  Then there was a series of belches, each one causing me to wake up more.  I opened my eyes and looked at Benjamin, “I revoke your permission.”  I felt the snap in my mind, waking me up more.

You’ll regret that,” Devlin said, “Ben doesn't have the same proclivities that we do.”  Somehow, I doubt that.  “Psychological can be just as bad, if not worse,” I muttered, fully awake but exhausted.  “I wanted something better for you,” Benjamin whispered with that sweet, soft smile.  “Sure,” I whispered, not believing him.  “So be it,” he said with regret.

They all stood up.  “Angelique, you will stay with her until he arrives.  Then you will go straight to my rooms and wait for our session.  I have other business to attend to first,” Devlin said with malice.  Angelique cried out, “Please don't hurt him!”  He just smiled at her.  She fell to her knees whimpering, “Please Sir, I’m so sorry.”  “You should've remembered your loyalties before,” he growled and shoved her aside.  They all filed out of the room.  She just sat on the floor sobbing.

I got up and slowly made my way to her.  I sat down next to her and took her hand, “I’m so sorry, Angelique, I didn't mean to make it worse for you.”  “It’s not me that I’m worried about.  He's going to kill Evan,” she said when she had calmed down.  “What?” I asked, shocked, “Why?”  “Because I didn't convince you to go with him,” she answered.  “Well, we have to do something,” I told her.  She shook her head, hopeless, “There's nothing that we can do.”  “There has to be,” I said.  “I’ve thought and thought about it and have come up with nothing,” she responded, “There is nothing we can do.”  She hugged me and started crying again.  I don't know what possessed me to offer this, but I hesitated, “You could bring him back, and I could go with him.”

She went silent, then looked at me, “You would do that for us after what we've done to you?”  “Well, yes,” I can't let someone die because of me.

“You'll do no such thing!” A familiar voice grumbled from the door.  We released each other and turned to look at the door.  Devlin stood there with a wry smile on his face.  He had wasted no time.  Was he waiting outside the door?  But I was more interested in who stood behind Devlin.  The others stood on either side of Devlin.  But someone stood obscured behind him.  He shoved his way through.

I wrinkled my forehead upon seeing him, “McDreamy?”  I heard a few shocked gasps.  “What did you call him?” Benjamin asked, giving me the strangest of looks.

McDreamy, I mean Michael, rushed to me and got down on one knee by my side.  He put his hand on my cheek, “Are you alright?”  “I think so,” I answered, “What are you doing here?”  “I should be asking you that.  I told you not to come here,” he told me.

He looked at Angelique as if noticing her for the first time, “Angelique, what are you doing here?  Where's Evan?  Why are you crying?”  She didn't speak, just cried.  “Devlin is going to kill Evan,” I whispered.  “What?” he looked at her, confused.  Then he stood up and looked at Devlin, “Since when do you presume to order a member of my guard?”  “He stepped in to take Angelique’s place," Devlin answered.  “Her place in what?” Michael asked.  “He's set for feeding!” Angelique wailed.  “Why would you schedule Angelique for that?” he asked.  “I tired of her,” Devlin said with a smirk.  Michael got up and charged at him, hitting him square in the jaw.  Devlin fell on his ass, rubbing his jaw.  He made no move to get back up.

“Don't you ever presume to make determinations on what is mine,” Michael yelled, “I know that you were baiting him to manipulate this meeting.”  “I would do no such thing,” Devlin feigned ignorance.  Michael stomped his foot at him, and he flinched, “Where is he?”  Devlin didn't answer.  “Where?” Michael growled.  “The basement,” Angelique answered.  “What?  There's nothing but storage there?” Michael looked at her.  She just looked down.

“Come along, then,” he told her, “Detain Devlin!”  He grabbed my upper arm and pulled me up.  “Where's the rest of my guard?” he asked a man I hadn't met.  “I don't know, Sir.  We’re unable to locate them, and they're not answering any calls to assemble,” the man answered.  Michael started walking, pulling me with him.  Angelique followed closely.  We went down several halls, making turns that I won't remember.  I had to jog to keep up.  I was relieved when we got in an elevator, hoping that I could catch my breath.  I was a panting, sweaty mess.

“Are you okay, Jess?” Michael asked.  I nodded my head yes, unable to speak.  Between gasps, “I’m just not used to running.”  He scooped me up.  Normally, I would want to walk and run, but I sighed against him in relief.  When the elevator dinged and the doors opened, he told Angelique to lead the way.  She led us down halls and through rooms, then stopped in front of a door.  “We're here,” she said.  She opened the door and we rushed in.

We were in a giant room with large cages set up in rows.  “How long has this been here?” Michael asked quietly.  I looked up at his shocked face.  He didn't know.  “A few months,” Angelique answered, frantically scanning the cages.  I turned to look.  Chairs sat in the middle of the cages.  Men, stripped down to their underwear, were strapped to the chairs.  “Evan,” Angelique called out quietly.  “Over here,” I heard Evan's quiet voice.  Michael sat me down, and we found Evan in a cage.

“What's going on?” I asked.  Angelique put her finger to my lips and whispered, “Quiet.”  She pointed up at the top of the cage.  I saw a monster climbing around inside the cage.  My eyes widened.  Its skin was black, its hair was sparse, long and stringy on its head.  It turned and looked at me.  I saw a mouth full of sharp teeth and red glowing eyes.  Its clothes were in tatters and it looked emaciated.  I felt bile rise in my throat.  It looked hungry.  This is what they meant by scheduled for feeding.  It dropped to the floor, then crawled toward us on it’s hands and feet.  It has hands!  What is that?  It stopped and looked me in the eyes.  I saw so many emotions pass across its face, but mostly sadness and pain. 

“Michael,” I put my hand on his arm, “Was that human?”  “A long time ago,” he answered, “I’ll explain later.  I have to help Evan now.”  He started undressing.  “What are you going to do?” I asked, worried.  He stripped down to his underwear, “Don't watch.”  “How can I not?” I asked.  He just shook his head, “You'll regret it.”  “I know,” I whispered.

“I’m going to distract them.  I need someone to untie Evan,” he quietly told those around us.  No one came forward.  “I’ll do it,” Angelique volunteered, “Do I need to undress?”  Michael looked at the others, disappointed.  “No.  Your fine,” he answered, “The less skin you show, the better.”  “Then why are you?” I started.  He kissed me to shut me up.

“Someone open the gate,” he said, then went to the gate.  I looked in the cage and gasped.  There were two now, and they were advancing on Evan.  I looked up.  There was another on the ceiling of the cage.  “Don't let them out,” Michael ordered, then motioned for the gate to be opened.  He slipped in, and they shut the gate.  The two on the ground swung their heads around to look at him.  They started towards him.  He moved away from the door, and they followed.  He nodded at Angelique.  She went in and hurried to Evan.  She started un-strapping his arms.

“Who wants to live, and who wants to die?” Michael asked them.  One of them hissed.  It sounded like it said die.  He slit his left wrist open with his fingernail, “come drink.”  I watched its fangs come out, and it latched on to his wrist.  He groaned in pain.  I was revolted but fascinated at the same time.  “That's enough,” he said.  When it didn't let go, he hit it with his fist, knocking it loose.  It scurried over and curled up in the corner next to me, and he did the same with the second one.

Angelique finished untying Evan.  “Get out of here,” Michael ordered.  “But, there are more,” Evan said, “Other guard members.”  “I figured as much.  Bring Devlin,” Michael ordered.  Angelique and Evan came out of the cage while some others left to get Devlin.