CARNAGE CASTLE

CHAPTER 2

SIBYLLE

Bones not yet bleached by the sun lay scattered in wolf dens spread across Europe. No one would find the missing co-workers in 1845 and no one was looking - not yet. Vampire flesh still clung to the bones as Lanecea summoned her familiars, the great beasts running across the bridge toward their Wolf Whisperer at the single word, "Come."

Ryder shifted, wary as the wolves approached where he and his fellow centaurs were waiting for the queen's orders but Lanecea was focused on Stalker. 

"Find Storm," Lanecea instructed as she slipped her note just under his collar. "Stryker, stay with me, please."

"I would have been just as fast, Lady Lanecea," Ryder assured her as he stepped forward after Stirker turned toward Poland, yet kept a safe distance between himself and the white wolf at her side.

"I'm sure you would have been, Sir, and I appreciate the offer, but I need you. I know I can trust you."

Trust meant everything to Lanecea and Ryder was honored. 

Lanecea also knew that Storm trusted her to behave and stay put, therefore, Lani did just that - at least her version of behave.

"Ryder, please locate Wolfstein. He is at his wolf den in Poland. Here is a map - destroy it once you have the location memorized. Please let him know that I am making my first move. He will know..."

The centaur reached for the folded paper in Lanecea's hand. Not only would the creature be travelling forward in time, but once he arrived in Poland, even if he didn't stop, he would still be nearly four hours away from where Storm and the boys were taking down traitors. 

"Please ask Wolfstein for the book. It is imperative to my success."

Ryder bowed before thundering over the bridge, leaving Lanecea surrounded by her centaur army. 

Ignacy would be foolish to turn against her.

*****

Herja eyed the wolf warily - and for good reason - as Lanecea entered the bedroom, Stryker at her side. She'd been threatened enough times to know she had better behave or the wolf would have her for a snack. 

Lanecea hesitated for a long moment studying Herja although the woman kept her eyes lowered as she knelt at the end of the bed beside Revna before turning away. Reaching for a silver necklace she'd hidden until Herja earned it, Lanecea slipped the tight band around Herja's neck before locking it, then added the key to her collection of keys hanging from her necklace.

"You have yet to earn your slave collar, Herja, and I can remove it should you fail me just as you have forfeited the right to wear my signature butt plug." Lanecea twisted the plain steel one wedged within Herja's butt to emphasize her point before attaching a chain to the buttplug hook.  

Threading the length of the chain between Herja's thighs, Lani attached the opposite end to a hook below her breasts, then stepped back to admire her slave. The chain was short, rubbing against Herja's chastity belt, but she wouldn't forget she was a slave even when she stepped away from the castle's looming shadow.

Lanecea was a good girl and Storm expected her to stay put, but that didn't mean she couldn't send her slaves out on her behalf.

"Find Sibylle. She is German and a newcomer, so I am sure she will stand out. Sibylle is a seamstress, therefore, when she is located, inform her that your mistress wishes to employ her." Lanecea ran her fingers through her hair before turning to Revna. "Ignacy showed devotion last night, and although the percentage of vampire blood greatly increased by this morning, I believe that you will be able to test him for me."

"Yes, Mamma. What is the test?"

"He must find Sibylle. She will contain vampire cum which you will not be able to detect, but I believe that Ignacy will be able to locate her easily. She isn't a vampire, but the vampire cum should, if my hypothesis is correct, cause her to stand out to the hybrid. I must see where his loyalties lay so Ignacy will not be chained. Bring your whip, Princess, but it would be wise to keep it concealed."

Herja wasn't as certain but didn't mention her doubts as Lanecea focused on dressing her slaves, treating them as though they were dolls. There was no guarantee that the vampire had been intimate with her. Lanecea was putting a lot of trust in her belief that the vampire wouldn't be able to resist his German wife.

"I won't disappoint you, Mamma," Revna promised as Lanecea removed her thin silver leash.

"That's my good girl. A lot is riding on this success. Stryker, stay with my daughter. Kill Ignacy immediately if he betrays my trust."

Stryker licked his fangs, the taste of vampire still on his breath as he stepped away from Lanecea before pressing his body against Revna's side.

Revna scratched the beast's head as she watched Lanecea dress her mother, the navy blue dress concealing the chain rubbing mercilessly against Herja's chastity belt.

Lanecea stepped back to admire her slaves before leading her companions to the dungeon where Ignacy was hanging from the stone wall, awaiting his fate.

"We will accompany the ladies," Stanislaw offered as he unfastened Ignacy from the shackles at Lanecea's request.

"Thank you for the offer, but no. You are no longer mine and I will not use what doesn't belong to me."

****

Ignacy rubbed his wrists as he escorted Revna and her mother through the market. He could easily make a run for it now that his chain had been removed. Not only would Revna and her mother be slower and weren't as strong, but mother and daughter were already distracted on their first shopping trip in Brussels. 

Herja was unable to understand the language as she was common, language barriers non-existent to the divine. That didn't stop her, however, from pointing to artisan items which immediately caught her eye, the woman forgetting their mission. Revna, with just enough divinity coursing through her veins, served as a translator between the Belgian women and her shop-a-holic mother. Neither of the females noticed Ignacy step away from them, the hum of the bustling marketplace drowning out his footsteps as he left the marketplace behind.

Shadows moved but didn't give away their presence as they stepped closer to Lanecea's slaves. Lani's secret police were everywhere guarding not only the castle but her property and yet not a single one prevented Ignacy's retreat. It wasn't their duty to protect the hybrid, leaving him to his own fate the second he turned his back on his mistress.

Trust means everything.

Stryker looked up at Revna and then over to where Ignacy was turning down a narrow street. His charmer's command was to remain with her daughter, but to kill Igancy should he betray her trust. Uncertain of what to do, Stryker remained at Revna's side. The girl was far more precious to Lanecea and he was certain Lanecea would want her protected. He'd hunt down and deal with Ignacy after Revna was returned safely to her mother.