Chapter 6: And This is the Cage

The moment they reached the pens, Aiden was fully aware his Jewish roommate was not the only free wolf in the Cage. For a while the scent mingled in with the other sights and sounds—but as they got deeper into the vampire liar, the more sure they were that Hope and Thom were somewhere on the establishment grounds. At first Aiden thought he was the only one to notice, but he had turned glanced at his roommate and with a single nod, realized he had picked up on their smell too. They didn't have to speak, it was just so clear to them after all the years of knowing each other.

Not any of the other vampires, like Olfaq and Mitchell (who seemed to be too busy competing with each other for best fangs of the year) had made any indication that they senseed anything amiss, and after a moment, Aiden realized it was because the smell of 'wolf was strong enough. What would be two new bodies to someone who didn't know them?

The two hospital workers tensed, as if expecting something to explode without notice. But the tour continued, and Mitchell checked the conditions and faces of every 'wolf that was in the cages without any incident. Each soulful, mourning eyes and little, whimpering voices did not yield any face that Mitchell seemed to recognize. And though he didn't like how they were treated, Aiden got the sense he wasn't interested enough to help these strangers from their predicament.

"He's not here," the British vampire stated.

Olfaq took the cue and had the mind to look insulted. "Of course not. It is as we said." He ran his tongue against his fangs and rattled the silver bars, "If it were up to me I would never have let you come down here in the first place."

"Why not?"

"Too many accidents," Olfaq sneered. It was true, vampires were deathly allergic to werewolf blood. And a cut on a cut could result in a quick, ugly vampire death. "But you got clout behind you." Aiden only frowned in disapproval when the older vampire indicated to him. "Mother likes him."

Mitchell did turn to Aiden now, the fury and frustration was etched obviously in his angular face. But he held no qualms toward the American vampire as it were- just a few general vampire Family complaints.

"Do not be jealous Olfaq. You are in fact, one of the only who I have known to serve Mother without her single complaint. You know as well as I do that her favor is a deadly boon. What all vampires actually want is for her to be reliant."

"Don't try to flatter me."

The vampire just snorted, shorting out a laugh. "I don't even like you, Olfaq. Why the hell would I want to flatter you?"

Oddly enough, this comment satisfied the dark vampire and he merrily turned to show off his catch. "New werewolves, most of these. Turned last moon by a new 'wolf in the neighbourhood."

"Maybe I'm just that strong." Josh chuckled. Then his light lost the mirth when he saw his tough guy joke was not funny to the entertainment guide. The face he made, in turn, forced Aiden to stifle a smile. He loved Josh for a reason.

"You are an exception to everything, Dog." Naturally, Olfaq didn't like that there was a werewolf in higher standings in the Family than himself. "Even your brutality has nothing to stand on this beast. We do, on occasion take down werewolf menaces to the human population. We do need to feed on something living after all."

This implication that vampires were protecting humans did make Josh smirk. He knew by now that any time vampires pretended to be man's saviour from werewolves usually meant one of the beasts was scaring them shitless. Josh knew, even if no other werewolf knew. Josh knew that werewolves in form were the only things tougher than vampires, and the only thing they feared. A mouth full of wolf blood and a vampire would keel over, poisoned, bleeding—his curse was an immunity to their curse.

Olfaq feared Josh. "You think I'm brutal?"

"I think you're a pest!"

Aiden stepped between them and gave Josh a telling eye-roll. The 'wolf tried to stifle a grin then happened to catch the eye of John Mitchell while Aiden turned to glare threats at Olfaq.

The jovial mood turned sour the moment the other vampire exchanged eye contact with him. The orderly didn't really know what to make of this stranger; sometimes he liked him enough—sometimes he thought he would kill him.

"What?"

"Nothing." The vampire pouted. He turned away.

Josh gave Mitchell a final calculating look, then turned to sniff the rafters. Thom and Hope's scent had worn dim, and by the time they descended deeper into the Cage, to the entertainment ring, it had disappeared completely.

"Do you still smell them?" Aiden hissed, when Olfaq showed Mitchell an empty gate room on the other side of the ring.

"No. Maybe they went home."

"I hope nothing happened to them."

"What would they be doing here anyway? They must have followed us. They must have over heard everything."

"Don't think it matters," Aiden tried to act casual as the other vampires approached them. "They have their own missions, I guess, just like us."

"The mission: not to die from disfavor." Josh joked dryly.

"The mission: not to die from disfavor," agreed Aiden. Then to the room at large, "Well then, Mitchell. Is everything to your satisfaction?"

"No, this place is disgusting."

"No argument there." Josh added.

Olfaq stifled a sneer then just said, "It's not for your entertainment, it's for the entertainment of the masses."

"And the Old Ones," Aiden added. Olfaq accepted this amendment. He didn't comment more on the matter.

"I trust then you will not bother Mother about my facilities."

"No," Mitchell's eyes twinkled in lies, "No I won't."

Aiden saw it, he knew it, he shook his head to warn him. But the vampire king was not in any mood to accept suggestions. Mitchell intended to snap Olfaq's neck and check the whole cage top to bottom. But Aiden knew his objective was not there. "If you can't smell him, then you won't find him."

This suggestion, Mitchell did contemplate. He wanted to kill Aiden, he wanted to kill Olfaq. He would have killed any of the vampires that stood between him and the missing werewolf. And honestly, Aiden wasn't sure if he would win against the rage. But Mitchell cooled his bloodlust, - Aiden could almost see the hunger float out of his body -, then he turned to the entertainment guide and said, "I think I will just go home then. I'll leave you alone, for now."

Olfaq must have subconsciously felt the truth for he settled into a smug superiority complex and then started to whistle. "We're keeping some fresh girls upstairs if you want any. All aged 20, all volunteers. If you care to sample the menu for next month…"

"Who volunteers to die at these things?" Mitchell was disgusted, and that feature impressed Josh.

"A great many," replied Olfaq, "the house spares no expense for the events."

"He's baiting you, buddy." Aiden chuckled, "He'd never let anyone bleed any of his dishes before a big party."

"Oh."

"I'd like to go home now," suggested Josh, he was looking sadly at an old homeless man in one cage. "There's no good gonna come out of sticking around."

"True." Aiden thanked Olfaq, and brushed past the accompanying vampires, "Mitchell, I'll drive you back to the safe house."

The British vampire hesitated, as if trying to re-evaluate the other vampire before him, then finally he said, "thank you," and followed them back through the labyrinth of silver cages.