BK 3 - Chapter 19 - Captives
Melanie heard people talking but couldn't tell what they were saying. Her body felt like it was on fire. When she tried to open her eyes, she realized she was blindfolded. She was sitting in a chair, but that was all she knew. Where was she? Where was everyone else?
*"Melanie, are you awake?"* Her mom mindlinked her.
*"Yes, what's going on?"*
*"We were kidnapped. I don't know where we are because I'm blindfolded. Saira's acting funny, like she's been drugged, so she can't tell me anything. Are your hands and feet tied?"* Melanie tried to move and tried to talk to Chika, but all she got back was a groan.
*"Yes, I'm tied up, and Chika isn't waking up. Are we the only two here?"* Melanie wondered where Saxon and the cubs were. Her mind was a little fuzzy about what happened.
*"I think it's just us. I can hear people talking, but it doesn't feel like they're in the room with us. I can't make out what they're saying, can you?"* Cat asked, trying to stay calm even though she was terrified. She should have fought harder to stay with the others and go to the auction, but she hadn't wanted to put the cubs at risk.
*"I can't hear them either. Our hearing is better than humans. What's going on?"* Melanie was trying to keep herself from panicking. She needed to be strong if they were going to get out of this.
*"I don't know. The last thing I remember is seeing men running across the yard before busting through the doors. When we fought them, whatever they had on their clothes burnt us like fire. I can't remember anything else. I just woke up a few minutes before you did. We should be able to break out of whatever they tied us with, but I can't."* Cat tried again to tear through the binding, but it wouldn't budge.
*"Mom, I'm scared. Whoever took us wanted me and you because we're part caladrius. What are they going to do with us?"* Melanie asked fearfully, trying to hold back her tears.
*"I don't know. When Thatcher came after me all those years ago, he said he planned on using my caladrius power to make him stronger. I don't know exactly how that works, but maybe they're planning something like that as well. Everyone has to be looking for us by now, so we need to be on alert. If there's a chance for us to get away, we have to take it. We're werelions Melanie, we can fight for ourselves."* Cat was trying to give her daughter and herself confidence. Before Melanie could answer, they heard a door open.
"Well, well, well, it looks like our visitors are awake," Melanie didn't recognize the voice of the man speaking. He had a Spanish accent.
"Where are we?" Cat asked. They may have covered their eyes and tied them up, but they could talk. The man laughed.
"Nowhere you need to worry about right now. We have some people that are interested in purchasing a caladrius. We're trying to decide if it would be better to sell you separately or make a two-for-one deal. Although, I've thought about keeping you both for myself. Mother, daughter slaves sound like fun." Melanie felt rage bubbling to the surface.
"You can't keep us here. Our family will find us, and then you'll be dead." She yelled at the man, who started laughing louder.
"They won't be able to find us here. We've taken many precautions to ensure they're just chasing their tails. So we have plenty of time to get to know each other." The man walked over to Melanie and stroked her face. She twisted away from him, and he grabbed her by the chin.
"Don't touch me," She said, trying to move out of his grasp.
"I can do what I want with you. Maybe I'll keep you as my pet. You're still young and can be disciplined. There's a whole lot I can do with you." He ran his thumb over her lips before sticking it in her mouth. She bit down as hard as she could, holding it between her teeth even as he screamed in pain. When she let go, she heard him fall to the floor.
"I said keep your hands off of me, you disgusting bastard," Melanie spat in the direction she heard him fall. With her eyes blindfolded, she wasn't prepared for the slap that was so hard it made her see stars for a second.
"You do that again, and you'll regret it." Melanie felt the sting on her face longer than she should, being a shifter. What did they do to their lions?
"*Be careful, Melanie. I don't need you injured when we try to escape. Pick your battles,"* Cat said cautiously, even though she was proud of her daughter for fighting back against whatever the man was doing to her. If they weren't blindfolded, they might be able to find a way out.
*"I know, Mom, but he was rubbing my face, and when he stuck his disgusting thumb in my mouth, I had to bite it. I wasn't going to let him think he could stick anything else in there."* Cat bit her tongue so she wouldn't laugh. Melanie was so much like her it was scary sometimes.
*"That's my girl,"* She said with pride.
"What the hell is going on in here, Rico?" They heard another man ask. This one was American.
"The bitch bit me, so I had to show her who was boss," Rico answered angrily. Melanie heard a loud crunch, but this time it wasn't her face that got hit; it sounded like Rico's.
"I told you to keep your hands off the merchandise. We need to keep them in the best condition so we can get top dollar." Melanie felt someone approach her and lightly wipe her lip with something soft. She turned her head away from him.
"I'm going to tell you what I told him. Don't touch me." She said. The man laughed before patting her on the head.
"I like this one. She's feisty. I can see why you were tempted to sample the product but don't let it happen again." The man walked behind Melanie and ran his finger lightly over the back of her neck. He then pulled her hair hard so her head was tipped back. "As for you, little lioness, you will not injure my men, or you'll pay. Trust me, I know how to hurt you in ways that won't leave marks, and there are many ways to make you do as I say."
Melanie tried to move away when she felt his hand move from her hair down her shoulder and over her breast. He slid his hand inside her shirt and squeezed hard, but she refused to make a sound. He leaned down next to her ear, his hand still on her breast.
"Now, was that so hard. This was only a taste of what I'll do if you don't listen. I have a feeling you'd be lots of fun to break." Melanie turned toward his voice. She spat on what she hoped was his face. When he pinched her nipple roughly, she knew she accomplished her goal. Cat didn't know what he was doing to Melanie, but it was taking everything in her not to interfere.
*"Hang in there, Melanie. We'll get him back for this."*
*"Don't worry, Mom, I got this."*
"I will not be broken, but I'll tell you what. If you touch me like that again, I'll break you." The man removed his hand from her shirt and grabbed her hair again. Why did men think that women's long hair was made for them to pull? He tilted her head back as far as it could go. She recoiled when she felt his tongue lick her from her neck up to her cheek. He then licked her lips but wasn't stupid enough to stick his tongue in her mouth after what she did to Rico.
"You taste delicious. Anyone can be broken. You just have to know what you're doing. What about you, mom? Do you feel and taste as good as your daughter?" Melanie turned toward his voice when he let her hair go.
"You touch my mom, and I'll take pleasure in ripping off your testicles before I shove them down your throat," Melanie screamed at him. She could take whatever they wanted to do to her, but she didn't want them touching her mother. She knew about her mom's history, and there was no way she was going to let her relive any of it. The man laughed.
"I wish I had the time to play with you both, but we need to leave. Get ready because we're about to go for a ride," He said before walking out of the room.
Cat and Melanie tried to listen to the voices on the other side of the wall but couldn't understand what they were saying. A few minutes later, the door opened again, and they heard several people walk in. They untied them from the chairs but kept their hands and feet tied. The men picked up Cat and Melanie, carrying them outside without saying a word. They were placed in what felt like the back of a van. Neither of them spoke for fear of the other getting hurt.
They didn't drive long before they stopped and were lifted out of the vehicle. The women could feel they were being carried up a flight of stairs and placed in what felt like leather seats. Someone buckled seatbelts on them.
"I hope you don't have problems flying." They heard a new man say. They didn't know what he was talking about until they felt movement. They were in an airplane, and it was preparing to take off. The hope of their family finding them or of them getting away plummeted as the plane rose in the air.
