Deadly

Chapter 11

" Bennett, Katherine, hurry up!" Benjamin shouted from the palace doors. I was certain by that point the color had drained from my face. I didn't want to enter that place, definitely not after what Bennett just said.

" Why not?" I'd asked.

" Because it's likely you'll die here."

Those words spun on an endless loop in my mind. It felt like I stood rooted to that spot for hours, but it was only seconds. Heart pounding in my ears, I chased after Bennett. By the time I caught up to him he was already standing in front of the main doors where the others were waiting impatiently. Grasping his elbow I spun him around to face me.

" What do you mean by that?" I asked, my voice wavering with uncertainty. He regarded me with annoyance before easily shrugging me off. " Bennett,"

He remained silent and impassive, with the others here I didn't get the chance to ask again. Benjamin gestured for his burly guards to open the doors for us by waving his hand subtly. They obeyed with haste, seizing the handles to draw them open. The doors groaned in protest before giving way.

Felicity clasped my hand in hers as Benjamin and Bennett lead us into the palace. A soft yellow glow filled every nook and cranny of the entrance, the warm colors almost felt inviting combined with the sweet smell of firewood and vanilla. The palace was undoubtedly nicer on the inside than it was on the outside. However, all good things must come to an end, don't they?

Felicity repeatedly tugged at my hand as if I hadn't already seen the dozens of young females scattered around the living room wearing lingerie.

What the fuck?

I blinked my wide eyes, expecting them to be a part of my imagination. After all, sometimes my mind was twisted like that. I blinked again, but the half dressed girls were still there.

" Umm," I paused, uncertain of how I should phrase my next question. To hell with it, I might as well get straight to the point.
" Why are there half dressed girls walking around in lingerie?"

Benjamin lead us into what appeared to be their Lounge room. He turned to face us, snickering when he saw the way Felicity was clinging to me.
" They're here to satisfy Bennett, but he doesn't give them the time of day."

I didn't think it was possible for Felicity's eyes to get any wider without popping out of her head, but I was proven wrong. After hearing Benjamin's answer, she resembled a tiny mouse that had been backed into a corner by a starving cat.

Benjamin turned to address the girls sitting around the C shaped couch. " Good evening girls, as I'm sure you know, I'm back on business. These are our guests while we're here, treat them as you would me."

One of the girls in the room brushed past Dallas, fluttering her eyelashes as she stared deeply into his eyes. The idiot stood gauking at her, totally awestruck by the dumb fire hydrant. I had the sudden urge to grab the bimbo by her fiery red hair and drag her to the next continent. Jealousy burned hot, spreading through me like a volcano errupting. Reaching out, I violently slapped the back of his head.

He yelped at the same time Bennett laughed quietly in amusement. Dallas spun around to look at me with big innocent eyes and a skiddish smile that my outraged glare burnt right through. Felicity squeaked, staring at me in surprise.

" Well.." Benjamin said, interrupting our staring contest.               " I'm sure everyone is hungry, so why don't I tell the chief to whip us up something while you get settled in?"

Without waiting for conformation from the rest of us, he vacated the room. Felicity uneasily shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her eyes darting around the room at all of the skanky eyes that were devouring Bennett as he leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.