Chapter 29
"Angels sing,"
"Excuse me?" Rachel asked. She was standing in Dominic's office. He'd summoned her just a few minutes ago. She'd thought it was for dinner since it was early in the evening but apparently she'd been wrong.
"Angels, in all the old scripts they are said to sing. Do you sing?" he asked, setting down his pen and looking up at her for the first time since she'd walked into the room.
"I've been known to sing." Rachel hedged. Sure, she'd sung. Drunk, topless and on tables but that might not be what he wanted to hear. It was hard to tell which way Dominic would flip when it came to anything he considered "un-lady-like."
"I have heard rumors that the people still don't trust that you will be my wife." He told her, tapping a finger on his desk.
"And my singing will change that?" Rachel asked carefully, not exactly confused but not sure where he was going with this either.
"I believe that a concert will give them something new to focus on. You will sing and following that, with all my people gathered, we will perform the marriage ceremony."
Rachel suppressed the shudder of disgust that threatened to run up her spine and bit back the words she wished she could spit at him. Instead she nodded. "And when do you purpose this takes place?"
"The moon will be full three nights from today." He told her as if that explained everything, getting up and crossing to the liquor cabinet. Dominic slowly ran his eyes over her slim, muscled frame and smiled. "You will look lovely in white."
Rachel smiled back, accepting a glass of wine he poured for her. She took a sip to wash the acidy taste of bile out of her mouth.
"With your agreement," Dominic said, turning back to his paperwork, "I will have my people make the official announcements immediately.
"I agree," Rachel told him, thinking fast. That didn't give her a lot of time to figure out how to get herself, Claws, Gina and Severus out of here without somebody ending up dead. "What will I be singing?"
Dominic, delighted that she was being so agreeable, handed her a sheet of paper that had been place off to the right of his desk. "I took the liberty of selecting a few works that I feel highlight the spirit of the occasion."
Rachel didn't recognize any of the titles but she could tell they were all hymns. "I will review these, do I need to let you know my choice before hand?"
Dominic shook his head. "No, just send Gina to the tech department so they can get the music ready. My people have already been told to get ready whatever you choose."
And they would report her choice back to Dominic. She thought but kept her mouth shut.
"Now I do apologize my sweet Angel but I have a lot to do this evening if we are to hold the ceremony on the full moon. Will you be angry if I leave you to dine alone?"
Rachel smiled and shook her head. "Not at all. Your devotion to your people is commendable."
"A high compliment coming from you."
She nodded to him and left her wine glass on the corner of his desk, trying not to look to eager to be out of the office.
Severus was waiting for her outside the door, looking stoic and deadly.
"The level of that man's madness is astounding," she whispered to him as he fell into step just behind her.
"So is his cruelty." the ghoul warned, keeping her voice very low. "He's ordered whole families executed for a man's failure to complete a mission."
Rachel saw the haunting shame on her new friends face. "Those lives are on his head, not yours. You didn't have a choice."
"Their blood is still on my hands." Severus told her very quietly, looking straight ahead.
"Blood washes away eventually." she tried to console but the big ghoul but he shook his head, his silver eyes sad.
"The blood of infants never washes away."
Rachel's eyes snapped up to his face but he wasn't looking at her. "We will make him pay." She promised after the horror of what he was telling her settled onto her shoulders like a cold, damp, blanket. "I promise."
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Brandy, smeared with grease, glared at a stubborn bolt holding a rusted water pipe in place. She was squeezed into the tight humid space meant for maintenance. This was the first project Garret had given her to do entirely by herself and she didn't want to disappoint him. She was supposed to be replacing the damaged piping so they could turn the water on to the showers in Angel's Wing.
Garret had said she was ready to be on her own but a small part of her suspected that she was here because she was the only one small enough to fit inside the steamy space and still have room enough the work a wrench.
Everything had gone okay up until this last bolt. She was afraid it was striped enough that it was going to need to be cut away with a torch like one she'd watched Garret do two days ago. He'd claimed it was easy to learn but she wasn't excited about trying the torch herself. In fact the heat and sparks looked down right terrifying.
She growled at the bolt and slipped her wench back into her belt before sitting back on her knees. Maybe if she took a small break the answer would come to her in a moment. A door opened and closed on her right and she froze, the entrance to the maintenance crawl space was in the women's bathrooms. Most of her fellow women hadn't taken to freedom like she had and Brandy didn't was to scare anyone by popping out of the wall. She'd just wait until whoever it was finished before going for a cup of coffee.
Brandy heard the door open again and heavier footsteps followed the first set. It was silent for half a second and then there was a startled gasp. She frowned and scooted around so she could peek out the access vent. There was a man standing in front of a blonde girl named Sophie.
Sophie was a year younger and liked working in the kitchens. The sandy haired man who'd followed her was medium build and backing her into the opposite wall. Brandy had seen him a few times but didn't know his name.
Sophie gulped but swallowed hard, Craven had told them to stick up for themselves the first night they'd been in Angel's Wing. "I don't think your suppose to be in here." She whispered with wide eyes.
"I told you before I wanted you. Why won't you give yourself to me." He demanded quietly.
"Please," she stammered. "I…I said no. I am allowed to say no. Now please leave me alone."
"If you won't give yourself to me I'll take what I want. I'll make to change your mind." He growled, grabbing her roughly.
Sophie squeaked. "I'll scream," she stammered while Brandy looked around franticly. "Someone will come." She had a radio she could call for help on if she could find the damn thing.
"I locked to door," he growled yanking her by her wrists into an unwanted kiss as Brandy spotted her radio on the sink six feet away and cursed herself for not keeping it on her person.
Sophie bit her attacker and he slapped her hard. Brandy, heart hammering in her chest sprang forward despite being as terrified as Sophie was. Her hand found the wrench on her hip as she moved and without any real idea about what she was doing swung the steel tool as hard as she could. It connected solidly with his temple. The man went sprawling and didn't get back up.
Brandy stared, wide eyed as panted from the adrenalin. She dropped her wrench and jerked her gaze up to Sophie. The girl was plastered against the tile wall, breathing just as hard. They locked eyes and Sophie threw her arms around Brandy's shoulders.
"Thank you!" she cried.
"Let's get out of here." Brandy gasped, and together the girls made a quick exit.
"What do we do?" Sophie asked, fighting tears. "Will we be punished?"
If they were still slaves the answer would be yes…yes they would. Brandy would be put to death for using a weapon on a man and Sophie would likely be given over to that man after a good whipping.
"No. We are not slaves." She spat the last would, shaking from adrenalin but feeling very sure of herself. "We find somebody in charge as fast as we can. That's what we do. Come on."
Brandy took her hand and they hurried down the crowded hallway, looking for anyone they recognized. The first person they saw was the big ghoul. Rachel's man. He was talking to Garret.
Garret saw the girls over Charon's shoulder and waved. "Brandy, I was just coming to check on… what's wrong?"
"There was a man, he thought Sophie was alone." Brandy was gasping, adrenalin getting the better of her. "He didn't know I was working…"
"Brandy hit him," Sophie choked, shaking from head to foot herself. "She saved me."
"I think I killed him!" Brandy gasped.
Garret stepped between the girls and slung an arm around each of them, pulling them into a hug. "It's alright girls." He soothed with all the love of an affectionate older brother. "We'll take care of it. You did good."
"Where were you working?" Charon asked, thinking if Brandy hadn't killed him he might finish what she started.
"Women's bathroom," Brandy whimpered, starting to hyperventilate.
As much as Charon wanted to go get the bastard he couldn't leave the girl like she was. He dropped to his knee and took her shoulders firmly. "Deep breaths." He commanded. She obeyed and he nodded when she got herself under control. "I want you to take your friend and go to the kitchen, get a cup of coffee for each of you and wait for me. Okay?"
Brandy nodded, the task he'd given her helping focus her nervous energy.
"Do you want me to go with you?" Garret asked.
The girls looked at each other and something wordless passed between them because they both squared their shoulders. "No, we'll be alright."
They left for the cafeteria and the men headed for the women's bathroom. Inside they found the man still sprawled on the floor. Charon checked his pulse and found a very soft one. Garret radioed Maggie but by the time she got there with a stretcher the man was gone.
Maggie looked him over and picked up the bloody wrench from the floor, hefting it in one hand to test the weight. "She cracked his skull, he didn't have a chance. It was lucky she was here."
"He's lucky I didn't have a chance at him." Craven growled. He'd come as soon as he'd heard about the incident.
Charon nodded his agreement.
"I'd better go tell the girls." Garret sighed.
Garret found them both right were Charon had told them to be. They were seated together talking quietly at the table closet to the kitchen door.
Garret sat down and Brandy looked at him, waiting. When he didn't say anything she asked nervously, "Well?...his he…did I…?"
"Yes," Garret took her hand kindly. "He won't be hurting anyone ever again."
Brandy sat back in her chair. "I didn't mean to kill him." She said softly.
Sophie patted her hand. "He has been trying to get me alone since we got here. I'm not sorry he's dead and I am very glad you were there. Please don't feel like you killed him. Feel like you saved me."
Brandy smiled slowly. "You're right. Thanks."
Sophie looked at Garret and he nodded his approval. "Thank you too. For everything you and the other ghouls have done for us. I wasn't sure before but…but now I think we can make our future better."
