Bitten (Book 1 - Book 4) novel Chapter 41

It was midnight when Uri woke Natalia.

Before going to bed, they had set out clothes, so they didn’t have to open drawers. Uri had also brought up hats and gloves, but not ones she had seen before.

They dressed quickly. Once they were dressed, Uri licked his finger and slid it over her bracelet. It dropped off into his hand. He then gave a tug to the fine chain around his neck. He put her bracelet under her pillow and his chain under his pillow before putting on his gloves.

She expected them to sneak downstairs, but was surprised when he opened a window. He took an escape ladder out from under the bed and hooked it on the railing of the small balcony. She saw that all the snow was cleared off both the balcony and the area below it.

He waved for her to step out. Once she was out, he followed and closed the window. He went down the ladder first then signaled for her to follow. There was a stone path that was also clear of snow. They reached the street without leaving any foot prints.

Uri broke into a fast jog. The cool weather and the exercise felt exhilarating to her. She jogged at a fast pace, keeping up with him, until a car pulled up beside them. Uri opened the back door for her. He sat up front.

“Evening,” Moralis said.

“Evening,” Uri said. “You’re right. She can run pretty fast and far.”

“Told you. That’s how we got to the limo so fast. You’re not bathing her in sanguine tea are you?”

Uri chuckled.

“No. She’s developed this fast on her own.”

They fell silent. Natalia didn’t ask, knowing by the direction they were going that they were heading toward Hell. However, Moralis changed direction a short ways from Hell and parked on a side street. There were a few buildings on the side where they parked. Across the street was an empty lot.

“Short walk,” Moralis said.

Uri had her follow Moralis while he took up the rear. They crossed the lot.

On the other side, there was a fence, but there was a swath cut through it. They easily stepped through the gap into another lot. She could see that this lot wasn’t so empty. There were piles of clothes and boxes. It took her a moment to realize these piles were made-shift tents. Out of one tent, she could see bare legs sticking out. From within, she heard the huffing and grunting of two people having sex.

Moralis led them across a street to another lot. This lot also wasn’t empty. It was piled high with trash. The trash was so high that the only way through was to follow a trail that wound around the piles.

They crossed another street. Natalia could see they were aiming for a warehouse. Moralis opened a side door with a key and stepped in. He closed the door after they had entered.

The building had no lights, but Natalia could see the rows and rows of barrels.

“So what’s the word?” Uri said to Moralis. “And what’s up with the tracking system?”

“It’s out. I’m guessing sabotage. Another diversionary tactic I’m guessing again.”

“So we’re not tracking anyone?”

“Oh, my tracking system is working fine,” Moralis said with a grin. “It’s just the one the Council uses. So you and Nattie are not being tracked right now. If you looked at the system, it would show you where you were at when the system went down.

”So that’s why I saw her at home earlier and thought it was working,” Uri said to her.

“Yep,” Moralis said.

They were walking down one aisle filled with barrels. Natalia could smell that they held sanguine tea. They were stacked three high per rack level. There were three levels up to the ceiling.

“I’m not seeing anything with Alfie. He’s going to all the expected places,” Moralis said.

He stopped to look at some barrels.

“And the safe?” Uri said.

“Everyone took their money out. I was the last one. I made sure the safe looked pretty much how it did in the video that Mina took. My guess is one or more of seven people helped themselves.”

“All Council members I presume.”

“Yes.”

“Council members?” she said.

“They were the last ones with access to the safe. They were the only ones who knew where it was taken. Mirren didn’t even tell anyone in our group where it was. You were the first non-Council member to see the safe, Nattie. Tia told me that she didn’t even know where it was despite she’s considered a Council member. So she didn’t know what was going to happen when she was told to take you to that warehouse. She was as surprised as you were.”

“How did you survive the Council’s questioning?” she said to him.

“Video. I took video of myself preparing the safe for them to take it. That included a look inside, me closing the door, and a Council member showing up seconds later.”

“No one is spouting any excess money or spending extravagantly?” Uri said.

He tapped on a barrel. There was a dull thud showing that it was full.

“You sure you’re not causing the sanguine tea shortage?” he said, giving Moralis a nudged.

Moralis laughed.

“With only pregnant households getting tea, it’s quick to stock up. We guzzle a lot of tea, probably more than we should.”

“So we have Council members stealing money, sabotaging the tracking system, and taking all the blood for tea,” Natalia said. “And Mirren or Tia don’t know who? You sure their not tilted?”

“I’m hard pressed to believe that my family is tilted against me,” Uri said. “I know that Mag, Zena, Kate, and Bonnie are on our side.”

“Grazie is getting lots of time with Tia, and she hasn’t dropped any hints that she’s in on this,” Moralis said. “She’s visiting him every day I hear.”

“If Mirren and Tia were in on this than our whole operation is suspect,” Uri said. “I don’t see that.”

“Tia likes Grazie,” she said.

“No one is throwing money around,” Moralis said. “The last big expense was you buying Nattie’s car. Boy, did that light up everyone’s radar.”

“I already had the money for it.”

“So how’s that car working for you Nattie?”

“It’s in the shop already.”

“Shop? I thought you were a good driver?”

“I am a good driver. Kidnappers nailed it,” she said.

“Shit. No, kidding.”

“Bonnie suspected they were seen in town and saw Nattie get into the car. She was the target. They won’t try that ever again,” Uri said.

Moralis chuckled.

“I can imagine they weren’t expecting two Viperian ladies with knives and attitude.”

Uri laughed.

“A rather accurate description.”

Natalia found herself smiling at being called a Viperian lady.

“I’m getting a little bothered with my vehicles in repair shops, though. The limo is still there, although we’ll be getting it back in a few days. Second time this year,” Uri said. “My insurance is going to go through the roof.”

“I’m surprised Bonnie is still driving for you. It seems to be dangerous around you two.”

“I’m as surprised as you. Perhaps it’s the challenge,” he said.

“I think she likes me,” she said.

“With how you can handle a knife, I wouldn’t be surprised,” Uri said.

They turned and headed down another aisle.

“I still haven’t heard anything from John,” Uri said.

“I’ll say you’re not going to. He’s spending too much time with Alfie. I’d make sure you follow all traffic rules,” Moralis said.

“I went through a check point today,” Natalia said. “It went as Bonnie said it should, but she did show me the SOS button.”

“I wouldn’t drive alone if I were you,” Moralis said. “Either one of you.”

“I haven’t even gotten my knives back from the Council,” Uri said.

“That was weeks ago,” Moralis said. “Is that going to hamper you?”

Uri smiled.

“Not in the least. I should ask Mirren and/or Tia about them. They will probably say I don’t need them. With the Church pretty much disbanded, I’m not being used for rescues anymore. Moralis, there’s a hell of a lot of tea here.”

“Uri, this isn’t even a months supply of what we go through. The recommendation is once or twice a week for an adult male and twice that for a female. Club night alone goes through more than half a gallon per person.”

“Yeah, even I’m drinking more than the recommendation,” he said.

“I’d raise the price, but I don’t think that will change everyone’s habits,” Moralis said.

“What’s the recommendation for a pregnant lady?” Natalia said.

“Daily, usually twice daily,” Moralis said.

“I’m getting that.”

“I’ve got new sources of blood coming in. Within a week or two, this shortage will be over. We’ll be better for it. We got a little lazy with our one source.”

Moralis stopped at one barrel. It was tapped. There was a mug on top. He took it and opened the tap to fill the mug part way.

“That’s a different smell,” Natalia said.

“New recipe,” Moralis said.

He swirled the tea, sniffed and put the mug to his lips.

“Good stuff.”

He smacked his lips and handed the mug to Uri.

Uri took a mouthful, then a second.

“Wow. Intense. What did you do?”

“Most of our blood is a mixture of all the cow blood. We don’t know the types. One of my supplier types the blood. We can get barrels of only type B.”

“This is what it produces?” Uri said.

Moralis nodded.

“You want your senses to become more acute, drink this stuff.”

“You going to give me some?”

Moralis smiled.