The Ripple Effect (Rhiannon's Law #3)(61)
Yearn for it.
Holy f*cking shit.
As the vampires left the room—one by one with their servants falling into place behind them—I waited for our turn. I felt as though I’d been dumped in a time warp. How long had I stood there in front of the flesh-eating bastards? Staring at the floor like a douchetard? Had Revenald and Anton noticed my emotional withdrawal? Would Disco be in danger because I couldn’t keep my shit together?
Like everything lately, the answers had to wait.
We exited the room and walked down a hall encased with mirrors, floor to ceiling. The effect was dizzying, forcing me to look ahead to maintain my balance.
Goddamn five-inch stilettos.
Within seconds, the group stopped in the center of two entranceways—one on the left and one on the right. To our left was an enormous, empty ballroom. I glanced at it, noting the wooden floors and empty space, when gasps and moans drew my attention. Turning to the left, I stared in shock at what was nothing less than full-on porn. Another ballroom was on the other side, full of mirrors, complete with sexual equipment I couldn’t begin to identify. Nude men and woman were strapped onto several of the devices, blindfolded with all kinds of vicious things affixed to their bodies. The women’s nipples had turned blood red thanks to nasty-looking clamps; the men’s penises engorged despite horrific looking metal fixtures protruding from the tips. I gaped at the scene before me, telling myself it was some horrific nightmare.
“That room isn’t for you.” Revenald’s chin brushed his shoulder as he turned to me. “You passed up that option. Too late to change your mind now.”
He waved his hand to the empty room to the left. As we strolled into the enormous space, I didn’t know if leaving behind nude people with their orifices defiled in all sorts of hellish ways was a blessing or a curse. My mind was no longer functioning on a rational level. For f*ck’s sake, who needed rational when they boarded a train to insanity? All that was missing were the Oompa Loompas and Willy-f*cking-Wonka.
Revenald glided to three chairs placed against the far wall with Anton on his heels. Despite the fact that Marius started forward, only Disco and Paine followed the half-demons, the rest of the family and Goose going to stand along the wall on the opposite side of the room. The remaining vampires moved to do the same, standing a few feet from the wall, their servants directly behind them.
A firm nudge from Paine’s hand on my lower back informed me I needed to stay close. I nearly plastered myself to Paine’s side, fighting back the urge to cling to him like a terrified child. I took a peripheral peek from the corner of my eyes, getting a layout of the place. There were two doors, directly across from each other, on the far sides of the room.
“This area is reserved for those facing my justice or when I want to share more, how should I put this, primal pleasures with my guests,” Revenald addressed me for the first time, taking the center seat as Anton sat in the chair to his right. “As you can imagine, this room doesn’t see justice happen often. Those who enter our fold are smart enough not to bring attention to themselves. Once you become a member of a vampiric household, you are loyal to it until death.” Revenald clapped his hands and the door to the left opened. I didn’t have a chance to see who entered the room, paying attention to Revenald as he continued, “Several years ago, another servant was taken to task. He was punished, of course, but it appears the lesson wasn’t learned. I’ve offered my assistance in teaching him a proper lesson. You see, he attempted to run from his mistress not once, but twice. That just won’t do.”
I only managed a brief glimpse of the man—a necromancer—who was dressed in the same manner as Goose before I saw the woman leading him toward us. My eyes went wide, my heart thundering in my chest. She looked exactly as she had in the future, dark hair, bright eyes, expensive yet slutty clothes. I knew our paths would cross one day. I’d actually warned her half-brother just before I killed him she would meet the same fate. She took the empty seat beside Revenald, staring at me, her bright green eyes full of hatred.
Victoria Delcroix.
The vampires accompanying her yanked on the arms of the man between them. He was in chains, complete with wrist and ankle cuffs. He stopped in front of the half-demons, chin lifted in defiance. His brown hair was heavy on his brow, nearly falling over his whiskey colored eyes. Even beneath his shirt, I could see the definition of his muscles, the broad lines of his shoulders. Standing at six-feet, he wasn’t huge, but he was deadly. There was a glint in his gaze I knew only too well, one I sometimes saw staring back at me when I looked in the mirror.
“Matthew Johnson,” Revenald said, flicking his hand at me, “meet Rhiannon Murphy. Rhiannon Murphy, meet Matthew Johnson.”
We didn’t say a word, sizing each other up. He was bigger and bulkier than me, meaning he would be slower on his feet. I glanced at his arms and hands. Jesus. I’d have to avoid those guns at all costs if he aimed them in my direction. Just the right punch could and would break bone.
“You’re dead,” Victoria chimed in softly and I looked at her. She was staring straight at me, her expression unreadable and set in stone. “Before the evening is done, I intend to drain the life from you.”
“Don’t start, Victoria,” Revenald chided. “The night has just begun.” He waved at the guards beside the chained man and they started removing the bindings. “Let us begin the festivities.”