Bitten (Book 1 - Book 4)

Moralis led them through a door into a tunnel. At the end was a staircase. Natalia was surprised to find herself in a garage. She had to scoot around a car, then out a side door. The yard had no lights. They all had to jump a fence and cross over a neighbors yard that was also dark.

Two blocks away were two cars. Natalia wasn't surprised to see they were black. They split up with four in each car. Moralis drove the car she was in. Tia sat up front.

There was no talking during the drive. She expected to have them pull up to the gates of Hell, but they didn't. They pulled alongside a wall and parked. The other car parked behind them. There were no street lights along this stretch of road. Mina led the way along the wall until she reached a point where she looked like she walked sideways up the wall.

Natalia looked closely when Grazie followed Mina. There were bricks sticking out ever so slightly creating invisible steps. Uri went next and she followed. At the top of the wall, she had to jump down. Uri caught her.

She was immediately aware of the underlying scent of kite. The smell turned her stomach, and she was glad they hadn't eaten before they came.

Once everyone was over, Sophie led the way with Grazie next. He made everyone else stay behind him, keeping a good gap between them and Sophie. They went in a few blocks before Grazie signaled for Natalia to move up. The smell of kite was getting strong, however, as soon as she advanced, she caught the other smell. It was stronger than what she had smelled on the Abbess. She figured they had to be near the source, and she took a good look around. The street was totally void of light. All the street lights were out, which, she figured, was another good sign that something was up and they were in the right spot.

Grazie had her pause while Sophie jogged ahead to make sure the coast was clear. Even though Natalia could see in the dark, Sophie was difficult to see.

An arm wave indicated that she could move. Natalia trotted up the street. She reached the end, but... both smells were getting weaker, so she turned around and started walking back. Everyone shifted based on her movement. She found her nose zeroing in on the stoop of a building. There was the decaying carcass of a dog. She pointed at it and indicated the whole building. The rotting smell of the dog and kite were exactly what she had smelled on the Abbess. Considering how the dog was positioned on the stoop, she figured the Abbess had walked through it, getting the scent on her shoes and hem of her habit. She could only guess that the kite smell was from within the building.

Sophie and Tia circled the building, then there was the signal to move away. Uri grabbed her arm and pulled her beside an adjacent building behind some full trash bins. The smell was horrible. The door to the building became framed with light when it opened.

"Someone move this crap. Oh, my god. It reeks.”

Natalia knew the voice before she even saw the person. It was the Abbess speaking. A moment later, she stepped into view.

There were three robed priests with her. They all carried staffs and flashlights. The last person out shut the door.

Natalia couldn't believe her eyes. It was Anna.

The group moved together down the street.

"Oh, for gods sake, quit running into me, you fool.”

All of the priests looked scared.

“We shoulda used a building that's closer,” one said in a quiet voice while he looked around.

All the priests held their staffs as if ready to strike.

To hold back the druggies and the Hollows, Natalia thought, finding it amusing.

“This place is filthy. Why doesn't the city run the cleaner through here? Yuck,” the Abbess said, almost spitting out the words.

Natalia noted that Anna trailed behind. She didn’t look too happy. Nor did she look around. She seemed confident that no one would be around. Or maybe, Natalia thought, she didn't care.

"You fools. No one is out walking after dark,” the Abbess said.

She pushed one of the priests away before she tripped over him.

Yeah, who the hell would be wandering around Hell after dark, Natalia thought, feeling smug.

As soon as the group was a block and a half away, Sophie approached the door. She was there sometime before Natalia realized the door was locked and she was trying to pick the lock.

The door opened. There was no light. Sophie raised an arm, and three figures dashed over and into the building with her. Natalia couldn't tell who they were from where she and Uri sat.

She waved her hand across her nose, but it did little in wafting away the stink. Uri sat without moving while his arms were wrapped around her. They waited for twenty minutes, before everyone exited the building.

Sophie gave the signal, and they continued down the street. Natalia found Moralis kept her and Uri toward the back. Every once in a while, they paused while certain buildings were searched, usually by Mina and Mirren. At times she felt that Uri and she were the only ones in the street.

They did this for two hours, zigzagging up and down the streets of Hell. Not another individual or group was encountered.

Natalia recognized the wall, realizing they were done with their time in Hell. This time Grazie led the way up the invisible steps with Uri after him. She followed. Again, Uri caught her when she jumped down.

They were farther down the street from the cars, but no one was in sight to see them when they walked to their respective cars.

Moralis started the car.

“Status,” he said.

“Bonnie remains in the park.”

The car appeared to be talking, but Natalia knew it wasn't. She didn’t recognize the voice.

“We're on our way back,” he said.

He pulled out. She noted the other car didn't move. But after a few blocks, she noted they were following, but at a greater distance.

Her stomach growled.

Tia chuckled.

A short time later, Moralis parked and they got out. They had to go over the same fence they had jumped when they left. They regrouped in the basement.

The house now smelled of food with a particular strong scent.

“Take off the outer clothing and into this bag,” Moralis said.

No one spoke while they complied.

One by one as individuals finished, they went upstairs.

Uri waited for her and they went up together.

"What's that odor,” she said before they joined the others.

Because she knew she was in a house with Viperians, she spoke in a quieter voice than usual. She was almost mouthing the words.

"Fish sauce,” he mouthed back at her. “The only scent that kills our sense of smell and masks any other scent.”

They reached the top of the steps where the others were. Everyone was taking turns washing hands and faces either at the kitchen sink or the half bath off the kitchen. Once they were washed, everyone headed to the dining room.

Natalia saw that their coats were gone from the table which was now set.

“Sit,” Moralis said, coming in from behind. “It's just a simple Italian chowder soup.”

"Ah, but the good chewy Italian bread,” Mirren said.

They all sat. There was no talking while they ate. Natalia was famished, eating two bowls full. She could taste the strong taste of the fish sauce, but it worked well with the other flavors of the dish. "What a delightful dinner, Morals,” Uri said.

There were a few chuckles.

"Actually, this is quite delicious,” she said.

Tia nodded in agreement.

“What the hell did we find in Hell,” Uri said.

“A lot of Hell,” Mina said.

“I've got the video,” Moralis said. “In the building that Nattie found, people were chained in the basement making kite. You won't believe the set up. Above each person hung a chain. We could see that after they worked so much, the chain would lower a link. On some of the links, there was food tied to it, on others, a syringe of kite.”

“Their incentive. They were working pretty feverishly,” Mina said. “There was one dead body. If you don't let them sleep, they go bonkers and die.”

“Yuck,” Natalia said.

"What I found really disturbing,” Tia said, “was seeing Anna.”

“That was a surprise,” Mirren said.

Everyone nodded.

“So is it her or her mother or both?” Natalia said.

Everyone shrugged.

"Did you find the other thing you were looking for?” Uri said to Moralis.

He nodded.

“What?” she said.

“That's between Uri and me,” Moralis said.

No one else asked what.

“We now see the link that we suspected,” Mina said.

“It's getting time to take out the Abbess and Abbott,” Mirren said.

"Are we ready for that?” Uri said.

Tia shook her head.

“Not yet. There are still a few preparatory things we need to do.”

"Anything else we need to discuss?” Moralis said.

"Who was here and who wasn't,” Tia said.

"Only Uri and Nattie are tracked,” Moralis said.

“But they need to say who was here if asked,” Tia said.

“I would almost say it was a family gathering. There are five members of the same family here,” he said.

“Seven,” Mina said.

“Seven?” Moralis said, looking around.

“Mirren is father to Uri. Uri and Tia are brother and sister. I'm expecting a Uri baby,” Mina said. "Grazie and Tia have a child. Of course, Nattie as Uri's wife and they are expecting.”

Sophie smiled.

“Mina is the only one who knew. I'm expecting a child by Mirren.”

“I'm the odd man out,” Moralis said.

"You provided the house that was a neutral place, so we could all get together and mend family ties,” Tia said.

“Nice excuse,” Mina said. “Everyone thinks Uri and Mirren fight.”

Natalia saw the look she gave her. That let her know why Mirren and Uri never greeted each other: like at the tournament.

“That would work,” Uri said. “So did we mend our ways?"

“Let's say things are at a truce, but relationships could still be a little strained,” Tia said.

Uri chuckled.

“Such a politically correct way of saying maybe, but probably not,” he said.

Tia stuck her tongue out at him, causing everyone to laugh.

"Well, that's the story then,” Moralis said.

“Then we have to discuss the soup. The soup contained bits and pieces of a seven-course dinner. Anyone need a reminder of the tastes?” Mina said.

Natalia shook her head because everyone was looking at her.

“Let's me guess,” she said. “Fried veggies with a fish sauce dip. A soup, a clear chicken broth as a palette cleanser. Sliced ham with potato. The bread. Sauteed veggies with a butter and garlic sauce Breaded clams with more fish sauce. I could say cookies for a last course, which I would call dessert. There were... I don't know what you normally call the beetles... in the soup.”

"Wow," Mina said. “You're good.”

“We just call them grubbies,” Tia said.

“She's ahead of the curve in development,” Mirren said. “You're done a good job, Uri.”

Uri smiled.

“We have the menu, then,” Moralis said. “Let's call it a night. I'm getting info that Bonnie is getting restless. She's driven past twice, but thankfully, they were all during our time here in the dining room.”

“We need our coats,” Uri said, standing.

Moralis rose and stepped out.

Uri gently pulled her to the foyer. Everyone else stayed in the dining room where they were now out of sight.

Moralis returned with their coats, then stepped into the dining room.

Uri licked his finger and put her bracelet back on. Then he pulled out a small piece of wire. Considering he did it all by touch, he had no problem piecing together the two links. He used his knife to sever the ends close, and it was impossible to see the connection without being close and knowing exactly where to look.

“Thanks, Moralis,” Uri said, which prompted Moralis to step back into the foyer.

“Thank you so much for coming,” Moralis said.

“Thank you for such a nice evening,” Natalia said.

Uri chuckled and led her out.

“Bonnie. Pick up,” Uri said on his phone once the door was shut behind them.

“There's a lot going on that I don't know about,” she said.

“Yes,” he said.

"Am I going to learn it all?”

"Eventually. You're apart of it.”

It was hardly a few moments before the limo pulled up. Uri opened the door for her. He slid in next to her, but tonight he put his arm around her and kissed her cheek.

“It's starting to get chilly at night,” he said.

“You're just looking for an excuse to cuddle,” she said.

“Always,” he said, breathing in her hair.

Natalia enjoyed the warmth of his breath. She was feeling tired from running around Hell for two hours. It was nice to sit.

The limo turned onto a main street and picked up speed. Natalia could hear the car talk. There were no police cars within range.

She felt Uri stiffen.

"What's the range of...” she started to say.

“Two miles,” Uri said. “That's a problem.”

She felt him slide something into her pocket with the hand that wasn't around her shoulders. Then in one smooth move his arm around her shoulders moved down to her waist and he shifted them from where they sat to the seat across from them. This placed them in the middle of the limo behind Bonnie.

He then sat at full alert. She felt like a statue. The limo continued down the street. There seemed to be no other traffic.

The limo went through an intersection, then the engine revved and surged forward. Natalia caught sight of a huge truck coming through the intersection straight at them. It wasn't stopping. She tensed. The truck rammed into the rear of the limo, causing it to spin sideways. Only Uris presence kept her in her seat. Before the limo could correct itself, there was another collision at the front. "Stay behind me,” Uri said when the limo doors unlocked.

Natalia thought it would be safer staying in the limo, but he had the door open before she could say anything. He pulled her out before she could take another breath.

She could see the another truck that had run into the front of the limo. Uri immediately opened the passenger side door. He half pulled Bonnie out of the car. She had her umbrella with her. Natalia thought she was limping a little.

Hardly a breath later, they were surrounded.

There were six men. Three from each truck. Half of them were positioned behind and the other half ahead of them. The limo made up one side and a building the other. They were hemmed in.

It wasn't the number of men that caused her fear, but the fact that they were all Viperian. Their tattoos were uncovered and glowing. One man from each group carried a bat. The others carried nothing.

"You watch the ones toward the front of the limo with Bonnie,” Uri said, positioning her. He put his back against hers.

Natalia didn’t know what she was going to do. She put her hand in her pocket. She could feel the hilt of a knife... no, two knives in her pocket. Uri had given her two knives. That gave her three to work with.

The man with the bat stood in front of the other two.

“The bat man catches the knives,” Uri said in a low voice to her.

Natalia stared at the man with the bat.

He was quick enough to catch a knife?

Her mind came up with only one solution. You had to throw two knives at the same time.

"Give it up, Uri. Even if you don't die, one of the girls will,” the man in front of Uri said.

“Why are you doing this?” Uri said.

The man’s nostrils flared.

"Why do you smell of fish?”

“I don't think that's why you're here,” Uri said.

“We don't like where you've been,” the man said.

"Visiting friends for dinner isn't illegal anywhere,” Uri said.

Natalia wasn't seeing a good way out of this. She didn't know if they were going to soon be dead or taken captive. Neither was on her list of how to end the evening. And she knew she couldn't throw two knives at the same time.

I'm just a stupid Undent, she thought. Okay, let's be stupid in a way Uri would know she was providing a distraction.

She jerked her eyes over to the limo raising her arm up to her eyes, but she was really preparing to throw.

"Was that Thomas?”

The man with the bat shifted his eyes, and she threw her knife. The man caught it easily with his bat and laughed, then looked surprised. Bonnie's rapier was sticking in his chest. She withdrew it and knocked the bat away. The man slumped forward.

The two remaining men in that direction backed off.

Natalia turned to see what was happening behind her. The three men that Uri faced were dead. There were two knives stuck in the bat of the lead man.

“If you can’t throw them fast, you shouldn't be in a tourney,” Uri said, turning to face the last two men. “Do you want to know how many knives I have left?”

They continued to back up.

“You going to tell me what is going on?” he said.

The two men remained silent, continuing to back up.

Bonnie quickened her steps toward them. The two men suddenly turned to bolt. A seventh man suddenly loomed beside Bonnie. He had a knife. Natalia threw, knowing that Uri threw at the same time.

The man after Bonnie fell against her causing her to start and then pushing him away. The two men who had turned to flee had managed two steps and were flat on their faces.

Both Uri and Bonnie did a slow spin of the area. There didn't seem to be any others.

"You okay, Bonnie?” Natalia said. “You're limping.”

“I'm okay. Just twisted the ankle getting out of the limo. Thanks for that,” she indicated the man who tried to attack her. “I didn't see him.”

“Thank you for speeding up in the limo, otherwise, that truck would have hit us dead center,” Natalia said.

Uri started collecting his knives.

“Where the...” Bonnie said, pushing over the man near her. “Nattie, where did you hit him?”

There was no knife to be seen, but there was blood coming from his mouth.

Bonnie pried open the man’s mouth.

“You got him through the mouth. Good shot,” Uri said.

“I don't know where I was aiming, but I was looking at his face when I threw,” she said, taking the knife from Bonnie.

Bonnie was now staring at the scene.

“Very disturbing,” she said.

“Do you know them?” Uri said.

Bonnie nodded.

"Did you know them?” Natalia said to Uri.

He shook his head.

“Who were they?” he said to Bonnie.