Night World : The Chosen Chapter 10

Or not to meet them so much as graze past them, before concentrating on his chin. She didnt dare lookdirectly into them for longsighted.Maybe she is from another planet, Quinn was saying to the girl. Maybe shes not human. Maybe Imnot, either.Thats right, Rashel thought. Make fun of them by in positive(predicate)ing them a truth they wont believe. merely, she noticed, Quinn looked more as if he didnt care what they found disc everywhere than as if he were mockingthem. Maybe shes from another world. Did you ever ideate of that?Rashel was confused again. Quinn seemed to be trying to entrance himself killed. He appeared to be vergingon telling these girls ab fall out the Night World, and under the laws of the Night World, that was punishableby death.Youre re entirelyy slipping, Rashel thought. First the slave trade, now this. I thought you were supposed to besuch(prenominal) a stickler for the law.There are darker dimensions, Quinn was confiding to the group, than you have ever ima gined. But,you see, its all part of lifes grand design, so its all right. Did you know-he put his arm around a girlsshoulders, gesturing outward as if inviting her to look at some horizon-that theres a certain kind of waspthat go unders its bombard in the body of a caterpillar? A live caterpillar. And it stays alive, you see, while the eggshatch and the little waspettes eat it from the inside out. Now, who do you think invented that?Rashel wondered if vampires could discover drunk.That would probably be the or so horrible way to die, Daphne chimed in, her musical instance ghoulish.Being eaten by insects. Or maybe being burned.It would probably expect on how fast you burned, Quinn said meditatively. A flash of fire-highenough temperature-you bum the nerves out in the first few seconds. Slow baking would be different.Im writing a poem about fire, Rashel said. She was surprised to find that she was nark because Quinn didnt really seem to have noticed her. On second thought, she should be annoyed her plandepended on him not only noticing but choosing her.She was outlet to have to capture his attention.Do you have it with you? Daphne was asking help righty.No, but I can tell you the beginning, Rashel said. She braced herself to look at Quinn as sherecitedTheres warmth in ice theres cooling peace in fire,And midnight light to show us all the way. The move flame becomes a funeral pyre The Dark wasmore enticing than the Day.Quinn blinked. Then he smiled, and he looked Rashel over, dearly taking notice of the velvet jumpsuitand result with her face. He looked everywhere except into her look.Thats right youve got it, he said with that same brittle exhilaration. And theres plenty of dark outthere for every whizz.Rashels worry that he powerfulness look too deep if he met her gaze was groundless. Quinn didnt seem to bereally seeing anybody here.There is plenty of darkness, Rashel said. She moved toward him, feeling strangely brave. Her instincts perceive a weak ness in him, a flaw. Its everywhere. Its inescapable. So the only thing we can do isembrace it. She was standing(a) right in front of him now, tone at his mouth. If we hold it dose, it wonthurt so much.Well. Exactly. Quinn showed his teeth, but it wasnt the manic smile. It was a grimace. He didnt lookhappy anymore suddenly, for just an instant, he looked tired and sick. He was almost leaning extraneous fromRashel.I came here so I could do that, Rashel said in a sultry voice. She was scaring herself a little. In the invoke of the charade, she was doing everything she could to seduce him-but it was surprisingly easy andsurprisingly enjoyable. There was a sort of tingling all over her body, as if the jumpsuit had picked up acharge.I came to look for the darkness, she said. Softly.Quinn laughed abruptly. The feverish good humor came flooding back. And you found it, he said. Hewent on laughing and laughing, and he reached out to border Rashels cheek.Dont let him touch youThe thought flashed done Rashels mind and communicated to her muscles in an instant. Withoutknowing how she knew, she was certain that if he touched her, it would all be over. It was skin-to-skincontact that had nearly fried every duty tour in her brain before.She danced back from his fingertips and smiled teasingly, while her heart tried and true to pound its way out of her chest.This place is so crowded, she said throatily.Huh? Oh. Then why dont we roll something more private? I could pick you up tomorrow night.Say seven oclock in the parking lot.Bingo.But Quinn. It was Daphne, looking aggrieved.You told me to meet you tomorrow. She trembled her chin.Quinn stared at her, and for once, Rashel could train his face easily. He was thinking that anybody thatstupid deserved it.Well, you can both come, he said expansively. Why not? The more the merrier.He walked away laughing and laughing.Rashel watched him go, resisting an impulse to shake her oral sex. Shed done it shed passed the last testa nd been chosen. So why was her heart still pounding?She glanced out of the side of her eye at Daphne. Well, I dont know about anybody else, but Ive hadenough excitement for tonight. She went to get her coat, with the rest of Quinns coterie glaring jealouslyafter her.She had one enjoyable experience on the way out. Ivan, still slouching, tried to stop her at the door.Shelly, hey. I thought we were termination to get to know each other better.Rashel didnt need him anymore she had her invitation. Id instead get to know a head louse, she said inher sweet chatty voice, and she stepped on his foot hard with her high heel.In the car, she waited a full twenty minutes, watching the front of the club, before Daphne joined her.Sorry, but I didnt want anybody to think we were leaving together.You did a great job, Rashel said, driving away. You even managed to get both of us invited to meetQuinn together-that was dangerous, but it worked. The only thing that surprised me is that he invited us infront of everybody. Is that how he did it before?No. not at all. Last time, he sort of whispered it to me when nobody was around. But, you know,nothing was normal tonight. I mean, he usually asks new girls questions-I guess to figure out if they havefamilies wholl miss them. And he isnt usually that-thatManic?Yeah. I wonder whats overtaking on with him?Rashel pressed her lips together and stared straight ahead through the windshield. You sure you want to go through with this?It was Sunday night and they were nearing the parking lot of the Crypt.Ive told you and told you, Daphne said. Im ready. I can do it.Okay. But, listen, if theres any trouble, I want you to run. Run away from the club and dont look backfor me. All right?Daphne nodded. At Rashels suggestion, she was wearing something more sensible tonight black pantsheavy enough to supply some warmth, a dark sweater, and shoes she could run in. Rashel was dressedthe same way, except that she was wearing high boots. The knife w as in one.You go first, Rashel said, parking a street away from the club. Ill come in a minute.She watched Daphne walk away, hoping she wasnt going to get this little blond bunny killed.She herself was the danger. Quinn was going to use mind deem on them to get them to go to thewarehouse quietly. And Rashel wasnt sure what would happen when he did it.Just dont let him touch you, she told herself. You can carry it off as long as he doesnt touch you.Five minutes later, she started toward the Crypt.Quinn was in the dark parking lot, standing by a silvery-gray Lexus. As Rashel reached the car, she sawthe pale pick out of Daphnes face through the window.I almost thought you werent coming. There was now a sort of savagery mixed in with Quinns lunaticgood humor. As if he was angry she wasnt smart enough to save herself.Oh, I wouldnt miss this for the world. Rashel kept her eyes on the car. She wanted to get this overwith. Are we going somewhere?There was that tiny hesitation that seemed to come every time she spoke to him, as if it were taking hima minute to focus. Or as if he were trying to figure something out, she thought nervously.Then he answered smoothly, Oh, right, get in.Rashel got in. She glanced once at Daphne in the back seat. Daphne said, Whats up? in a chirpy voicelaced with feminine rivalry.Good girl.Quinn was getting in the drivers side. Once the door was shut, he turned the engine on to run the heater.The windows immediately began to fog.Rashel sat in a state of continuing mind, ready for the unexpected at any moment.Only the unexpected didnt come. nonhing came. Quinn was just sitting there in the drivers seat. ceremonial occasion her.With a sudden void in her stomach that threatened her zanshin, Rashel realized that it was too dark. Toofamiliar. They were sitting here together in silence, so close, glaring to each other only in silhouette, just asthey had in the cellar. She could almost feel Quinns confusion as he tried to figure out what wasboth ering him.And Rashel was afraid to say anything, afraid that her chirpiest voice wouldnt be a good-enoughdisguise. The horrible feeling of connection was mounting, like some giant green wave looming over themboth. In a moment it would break, and Quinn would say, I know you, and switch on the light to see theface without the veil.Rashels fingers edged toward her knife.Then, through the electric buzzing in her ears, she heard Daphne say, You know, I just love this car. Ibet it goes really fast, too. This is all so exciting-Im just so glad I got here this time. Not like last week.She went on, blathering easily, while Rashel sank back lightheaded with relief. The connection wasbroken Quinn was now looking at his instrumentpanel as if trying to trip the chatter. And now Daphne was talking about how exciting it was to ride inthe dark.Smart, smart girl.Quinn had to interrupt her to say, So, you two girls want to surrender to the darkness? He said it as ifhe were asking if they wanted to o rder pizza.Yes, Rashel said.Oh, yes, Daphne said. Its just like we always say. I think that would be just the most seriously cool-Quinn made a gesture at her as if to say, For Gods sake, shut up. Not a rough gesture. It was morelike an exasperated choir director trying to get through to some soprano who wouldnt stop at the end ofthe measure. Stop here.And Daphne shut up.Like that.As if hed turned off a switch in her. Rashel ill-shapen slightly to look at the backseat and saw that Daphnehad slumped to one side, body limp, her breathing peaceful.Oh, God, Rashel thought. She was used to the kind of mind control other vampires had tried on her. Thepersuasive, whispery-voice-in-the-head type. And when Quinn hadnt tried to use that, or to call for helpin the cellar, shed assumed he was low on telepathy.Now she knew the truth. He packed a telepathic garget like a pile driver. No, like a karate blow swift,precise, and deadly.He turned to look at her, a dark shape against a luminousness d arkness. Rashel tried to brace herself. And the rest is silence, Quinn said, and gestured at her.Rashel fell into a void.She woke up as she was being carried into the warehouse. She had enough presence of mind not toopen her eyes or make any other sign that she was conscious. It was Quinn carrying her she could telleven with her eyes shut.When he dumped her on a mattress, she deliberately fell so that her head was turned away from him andher tomentum was over her face.She had a moments fear that he was going to discover the knife in her boot when he shackled herankles. But he didnt even roll up her pant leg. He seemed to be doing everything as quickly as possible,without really paying attention.Rashel heard the shackle give way shut. She kept perfectly still.She lay and listened as he brought Daphne in and chained her. Then she heard voices close by and thesound of other footsteps.Put that one bring here-what happened to her purse? That was Lily.Its still in the car. Ivan.Okay, b ring it in with the other one. Ill do her feet.Thump of a body hitting a mattress. Footsteps going away. The metallic clink of chains. Then a sigh fromLily. Rashel could imagine her straightening up and looking around in satisfaction.Well, thats it. Ivans got number twenty-four in the car. I guess were going to have one very happyclient.Joy, Quinn said flatly.Twenty-four? One client?Ill leave a message that everythings going to be ready for the well-favoured day.Do that.Youre awfully moody, you know. Its not just me whos noticed it.A pause, and Rashel imagined Quinn giving one of his black looks. I was just thinking it was ironic. Iturned down a job as a slave trader once. That was before. Do you remember before, Lily? When welived in Charlestown and your sister Dove was still alive. A captain from Marblehead asked if I wantedto ship out to Guinea for some human cargo. Black gold, I think he called it. As I remember, I hit him onthe nose. And Fight-the-Good-fight-for-Faith Johnson reported me for brawling.Quinn, whats wrong with you? Just reminiscing about the old days in the sunlight. Of course, you wouldnt know about that, wouldyou? Youre lamia you were born this way. Technically, I suppose, you were born dead.And technically, I suppose, youre going peculiar. My father always said it would happen.Yes, and I wonder what your father would think about all this? His daughter selling humans formoney. And to such a client, and for such a reason-At that moment, while Rashel was listening desperately, hanging on every word, heavy footstepsinterrupted. Ivan had returned. Quinn broke off, and he and Lily remained silent as another bodythumped on a bed.Rashel cursed mentally. What client? What reason? Shed supposed the girls were being sold as regularhouse slaves or food supplies. But clearly that wasnt the case.And and then something happened that drove thoughts of the future right out of her mind. She heardfootsteps next to her bed, and she was aware of someone lea ning close. Not Quinn, the smell waswrong.Ivan.A rough hand grabbed her hair and pulled her head back. Another arm slid under her waist, lifting herup.Panic shot through Rashel, and she tried to push it away. She forced herself to stay limp, eyes shut, armsdangling passively.I ought to have been prepared for this.Shed realized from the beginning that playing her part might include allowing herself to get bitten. To feelvampire teeth on her throat, to allow them to splash her blood.But it bad never happened to her before, and it took every ounce of her will to keep from fighting. Shewas scared. Her arched throat felt exposed andvulnerable, and she could feel a pulse lace in it wildly.What are you doing?Quinns voice was sharp as the crack of glacier ice. Rashel felt Ivan go still.Ive got something to settle with this girl. Shes a smartass.Take your hands off her. Before I knock you through the wall.Quinn- Lily said.Quinns voice was painfully distinct. Drop her. Now.Ivan dropped Rash el. Hes right, Lily said coolly. Theyre not for you, Ivan, and they have to be in perfect shape.Ivan muttered something sullen and Rashel heard footsteps moving away. She lay and listened to herheart slowly calming.Im going to get some sleep, Quinn said, sounding flat and dull.See you Tuesday, lily said.Tuesday, Rashel thought. Great. Its going to be a very long two days.They were the most boring two days of her life. She got to know every corner of the smallglass-windowed office. The windows were a problem, since she was never absolutely sure if Lily or Ivanwere outside one of them, standing in the warehouse proper and looking through. She listened carefullyfor the warehouse doors, froze instantly at any suspicious sound, and trusted to luck.Daphne woke up Monday morning. Rashel had her neck twisted aslant and was staring through theoffice glass up at the one tiny window set high in the warehouse wall. Just as it turned gray with dawn,Daphne sat up and screamed.Sh Its all right Yo ure here in the warehouse with me.Rashel?Yeah. We made it. And Im glad youre awake.Are we alone?More or less, Rashel said. There are two other girls, but theyre both hypnotized. Youll see when itgets lighter.Daphne let out her breath. Wow we did it. Thats great. So how come Im so completely and perfectlyterrified?Because youre a smart girl, Rashel said grimly. Just wait until Tuesday when they take us out.Take us out where?Thats the question.