Collared Souls

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Nick expected the stockade would be the hotel Raleigh had kept him and Adam in while letting Jah’lar dig holes in Nick’s psyche and forcing him to give Raleigh the information the man wanted, no matter how inaccurate.

They’d gone a very short way, however, when he realized that was not the case. While they were heading to the section of the city the hotel was located in, they were verging slightly west and north. A hot nugget of anxiety burned just under Nick’s solar plexus and a quick, sidelong glance at Todd told him his mate was getting just as apprehensive. The most notable thing in this part of the city was a prison.

There were multiple reasons Nick could think of to travel to the prison or its general area, none of them good. Todd grumbled under his breath beside Nick and ground his teeth for a half-dozen paces. For a short time, his gaze met Nick’s before he scanned the road and buildings as they walked by.

Nick knew well enough how Todd’s mind operated and the fact Todd was working on a plan to get them out of their current predicament eased Nick’s own tightly strung nerves. Step one of that plan would, of course, be getting cuffs and rope removed from at least one of them.

By the time Nick’s suspicions about the prison were confirmed, his hands, bound behind his back for so long, were tingling from lack of circulation. He wiggled his fingers and tried flexing and relaxing the muscles of his shoulders and arms to ease his discomfort.

The prison loomed ahead, growing larger and more ominous with each step Nick took. Like the Chancellor’s Estate, it had high fencing surrounding the perimeter. Where the Chancellor’s Estate and slave sanctuary had made an effort to look homey, cheery, and welcoming, this place looked like the prison it was.

The two-story stone structure rose dark from the ground, the windows and doors blocked with iron bars. Surrounding it was a fence Nick judged to be an easy twelve feet tall and topped with another few feet of barbed wire. The only thing missing was dark, foreboding clouds sparking with lightning hanging over the building.

Tall guard towers were spaced at regular intervals, mounted with more solar panels than would be needed to power each one, so it was likely they electrified the fencing. The entire top of the fortress was arrayed in even more solar panels, another clue that the cell doors were also powered, or at the least the locks were.

On the plus side, there was plenty of iron encompassing the prison, ensuring there wasn’t much chance of them running into supernatural creatures. If needed, Nick figured the electrical system could also be used to magnetize sections of the iron.

He bumped Todd’s shoulder and used his chin to point out the solar panels, then miles of iron. One small nod and quick half-smile was all Todd did in the way of response, but it was plenty. They understood one another.

As they neared the prison, more details came into focus. Inside the fencing was a stone-paved yard that, from the looks of it, surrounded the entire prison. It was sectioned off into smaller parts, each fifty or so feet wide and about seventy-five deep. Each had only one entrance back into the main part of the prison. The barrier between them was also made of iron bars topped with barbed wire, but these were shorter than the outer fencing, probably eight feet in height. Again, guard towers sat at regular intervals between each. Nick counted off six towers and ten sections. The main entrance was fenced off from the rest, creating a sort of corridor with an iron gate at the first entrance and another to the prison interior.

They stopped near the gated main entrance. Captain Howard leaned back, swung her right leg over the horse’s withers, and dropped to the ground. She reached into a pouch hanging from her belt and extracted a small bundle of folded papers. Holding the reins of the horse, she led it, Todd, and Nick, to the base of the guard tower.

Nick realized there weren’t simply people at the top of the towers, but the bases also had room enough for several people and horses. He suspected all the towers were occupied in the same manner.

One of the prison guards stepped out of the tower, took the reins of the horse, and motioned the captain inside. She ducked through the door, into the darker tower interior. Nick watched closely. He could see she was speaking to someone and she pointed in their direction a few times. A minute later, she was back outside and taking hold of the horse again, motioning to her lieutenant to follow.

Watching Todd for clues, Nick knew his mate hadn’t paid much attention to the captain’s actions. He’d been busy scrutinizing every inch of the fence and prison he could see from where he stood. Nick could pay attention to their captors’ activities without the soldiers even realizing what he was doing. Todd was probably checking the location for escape routes. Two sets of eyes were much better than one, and each of them concentrating on different elements of any given situation offered them far more information.

Walking down the long entrance path sent shivers through Nick. The thought of being locked away anywhere chilled him straight through. A small cave and wagon had been bad enough, but at least those had no locks or bars. Todd coughed and lifted one eyebrow, glancing at Nick when Nick inched close enough to his mate he could constantly brush Todd’s shoulder with his own.

Nick didn’t say anything, he didn’t have to. The expression Todd wore told him his mate was not only feeling the same gut-twisting anxiety but had tuned into Nick’s. A roll of Todd’s shoulders produced a small, comforting rubbing that Nick could concentrate on, reassuring him.

They were taken through the main entrance. The prison wasn’t one single building, but half a dozen set in a horseshoe. Each building was connected by a short wooden breezeway with small windows but no door to the outside. Those were the only places Nick could see that weren’t constructed of stone and iron. From where he was, it looked like no more than two or three people could be in one of the breezeways at the same time.

Their cuffs were left in place, but the ropes lashing them to the horse were removed, as were their packs hanging on the saddle. The mounted soldiers climbed off their horses and began leading them to one of the buildings near the right end of the cluster. It became clear to Nick these people had been here often. Possibly this was also their barracks.

Larry Witze stood near the doorway of one of the center buildings. Nick’s heart sank a little when he saw the expression on the man’s face. Witze was angry and making no effort to hide that fact from Captain Howard, judging by the glares they exchanged.

Captain Howard wiped her hands on her pants and strode forward, glancing sideways at the soldiers standing on either side of Todd and Nick.

“Bring them,” she ordered.

Todd drew in a deep breath and took a long stride forward so he was in front of Nick. Taking his cue, Nick purposely checked his steps for a few feet and moved to the side, dropping behind Todd.

They were led into one of the buildings with Captain Howard going first. She unlocked the door using a key from a ring hooked to her belt, went through, and stopped a few feet inside. She turned and watched as the soldiers, one in front of Todd and one behind Nick, then Larry Witze filed through and into the building.

They walked down a narrow corridor, forced to stay in a line, and were taken into a room, which looked to Nick like some kind of intake area.

“Inform the vice chancellor we’re here,” Captain Howard said to one of the men already inside. It was difficult to tell if they were soldiers, guards, or both, since they all wore the same type of uniform.

The man nodded, turned on his heels, and vanished down yet another corridor.

“Take their cuffs off,” Witze demanded.

“Mr. Witze, they’re prisoners. That’s hardly appropriate. Or wise,” Captain Howard said, rubbing the bridge of her nose with thumb and forefinger.

“It’s a prison,” Witze said flatly. “They have nowhere to go and are too smart to try an escape. Isn’t that correct, Mr. Ruger?” He looked pointedly at Todd. Had they not been in cuffs and in it pretty deep, Nick would have laughed at the looks Todd and Witze gave one another.

Todd shrugged and c****d his head to one side. “No reason to be stupid.”

“Ruger,” Witze growled the word, crossing both arms over his chest.

Todd heaved a sigh and turned to meet Nick’s gaze. “No, we will not try to escape. You have my word.”

A nod from Captain Howard and their cuffs were removed, allowing Nick to rub his sore wrists. Todd dropped his hands to his sides and put on a very neutral expression, making Nick almost feel sorry for these people. When Todd wore that look, usually someone’s ass was going to get kicked—hard.

Vice Chancellor Raleigh picked that moment to arrive.

“Well, Todd Ruger, I’ve been looking for you.” Raleigh rubbed his ribs and offered Todd a smug smile. Moving around Todd to Nick, he raised one hand, knuckles almost brushing Nick’s cheek. “And you.” Nick jerked his head to the side and took a step back.

Todd’s hand came up in a move so fast he was a blur, catching Raleigh by the wrist and snarling, “Don’t touch him!”

Chuckling, Raleigh pulled his hand free and let it drop to his side. He nodded to the guards. One of the guards gripped Nick by the arm and jerked him away a few steps. Two others positioned themselves between Nick and Todd. A quick, almost nonexistent shake of Todd’s head and Nick stood motionless and tense in the guard’s grip.

Raleigh stepped away and leaned against a desk with his hands together, wrists resting on his thighs.

“You know this won’t hold up. Chancellor Clarke reverted Nick’s ownership back to Todd Ruger. You don’t have a leg to stand on,” Witze said.

“The papers are in my pack. It’s the black one,” Todd said quietly. He was speaking to Raleigh but kept his gaze focused on Nick.

Raleigh snorted a short laugh. “Those papers were drawn up after Mr. Ruger here left the Chancellor’s Estate with a slave who was government property. Your paperwork doesn’t change that fact, nor the fact that the same slave, while owned by Todd Ruger, may have been responsible for the death of Chancellor Shaffer, as well as another individual, while on the estate falsely impersonating an orphan slave. Legally, your responsibility.”

“You can’t—” Nick jerked his arm away from the guard and took a step forward.

Nick’s words were cut off by Todd snapping a harsh, “Nick!”

At once Nick stopped, sucked in a harsh breath, and stood with his fists clenched at his sides.

Raleigh gave him a pained, bored look. “Yes, in fact, I can.”

“So, we’re under arrest?” Todd ground out, glaring at Raleigh.

“No, not at all.” Raleigh smiled at Todd, shaking his head. “I’m arresting you. Nick is being remanded over to the government and taken back to the estate.”

“What? No!” Nick knew he’d already been given an order by Todd to stay put. He was shaking with the effort not to lunge forward at the closest guard. Adam had died in part because of Nick losing control and trying to attack him. He wasn’t giving Raleigh the satisfaction of seeing him repeat his mistake.

Raleigh turned a cool gaze on Nick. “Did you really think I’d let you slip through my fingers?”

Witze stepped up, stood beside Nick, and gave a gentle nudge to the back of Nick’s arm.

“I’m still in charge of the slave sanctuary. Any slave with ownership reverting to the government, orphan or not, comes under my jurisdiction.”

Nick turned away from Raleigh, looking to Witze. “Can he do this?”

“He’s not technically an orphan slave, though that can be arranged.” Raleigh looked from Nick to Todd and then Witze, evil smirk back on his face. He turned to the guards, motioning with one hand to Todd. “Put him in a holding cell.”

When two of the guards took a position on either side of Todd and one pulled Todd’s hands behind his back to cuff him again, Nick couldn’t stay still any longer. A huge bubble formed inside his chest, threatening to burst through his ribs. His guts tightened down, and he couldn’t pull in enough air for a decent breath.

Lurching forward a few steps, heading for his mate, Nick garbled, “No. We’re sentries!”

Raleigh laughed, loud and obnoxious. “You think that matters to me?”

“Since sentries are the people who can get rid of the scum he uses, all the more reason to get rid of us, Nick,” Todd said. He yanked his arms away from the guard, took a step closer to Nick, and waved his hands in a come-here gesture.

One of the guards sidestepped, blocking Nick’s path and shoving him back. The other guard grabbed both of Todd’s arms, stopping him from going any farther.

Moving fast, Witze got between them, holding both hands out.

“Quit,” he snapped at the guards. “Give them a minute.” Turning to Raleigh, Witze shook his head. “They’re not going anywhere. Todd’s already given his word. Let them say goodbye.”

“Witze, your sentimentality is nauseating.” Raleigh nodded at the guards. “Let them go, but any suspicious moves, shoot them both.”

Nick didn’t waste time. The second the guards’ hands were off him, he closed the distance between him and Todd and stopped when Todd’s hands came to rest on either side of Nick’s face, holding him so Nick was forced to look only at Todd.

“Nick, you listen to me. Go with Mr. Witze and do what he tells you to, okay?” For a split second, Todd’s gaze flicked to Witze before coming back to hold Nick’s.

Nick could do no more than nod. His throat was too tight, and there was no way he was going to let Raleigh hear the wet, broken quality his voice would have if he spoke aloud.

“That’s my boy.” Todd pulled Nick closer, pressing a kiss to his forehead, then cheek, before wrapping both arms around him and pulling him in for a tight hug.

Nick bent his head so his face pressed to Todd’s shoulder, sucked in a shuddering breath, and nodded again. He turned his head a bit to the side when Todd whispered in his ear, “You get word to Jimmy. He’s got connections. Don’t do anything for at least forty-eight hours. They’ll be expecting something right away. Raleigh will let his guard down a bit if he thinks you won’t cause trouble.” Taking a step back, Todd rubbed one hand through Nick’s hair. “Good. Don’t give Mr. Witze any grief.”

A quick pat to Nick’s shoulder and Todd stepped away from him completely. He turned to the guards, clasped his hands behind his back, and said, “I’m ready now.”

Nick had to bite his lip until it nearly bled, watching as Todd was led from the room. Raleigh followed the guards. After stopping at the door, he turned back. Giving Nick a hard, cold look, he said in a low voice, “Don’t think you’ll ever make it back to the slave sanctuary. Under any circumstances.”

Before Nick or Witze could respond, Raleigh was gone, the door shutting behind him. The man’s words sent a shiver of cold down Nick’s spine. He looked at the floor through a swirl of moisture, then squeezed his eyes shut to the dizziness that produced. Witze’s hand on his arm made him start. He’d forgotten the man was there.

“Come on, Nick. Let’s get out of here.” Witze grabbed their packs and turned Nick, aiming him at the door, and gave him a gentle shove.

Once they were outside, Witze led the way to the section of the prison where the horses were kept. As they walked along the line of buildings, Nick took in as many details as he could. Where there appeared to have been repairs made might indicate structural weaknesses. Other specifics he mentally cataloged were the placement of delivery doors and vent windows near the ground that would possibly indicate a basement.

“Which one?” Nick asked.

“Huh?”

“Which building will they take Todd to?”

Witze stopped and faced the prison. He rubbed at his neck and stared at the structure. “That one in the center is where the offices and intake are. The very far end on this side is the barn. The last one on the opposite end is the laundry and food storage if I remember correctly. Oh, and there is a big open room used for meetings and seminars, programs for the prisoners.” He shrugged. “Or it was before this war. The next one on that side, next to the meeting room, has the mess hall and guards’ quarters.” He pointed each section out as he spoke, then put both hands on his hips and sighed. “The rest are the prisoner cells unless they’ve changed things, but I doubt it. What did Todd say to you?”

Nick gave him a silent, stony stare as a response.

“Nick, I know he told you something. What is it?”

“Can you get plans, current ones, for this place?”

“Nick! You two have one person to trust right now, and that’s me. As for plans, I’m not sure. That would raise suspicion.”

“I have to get a message to Jimmy Cantor. Jimmy can get them. I know it.”

“I’ll help you, both of you, but you need to keep me informed.” Witze obviously wasn’t budging, though Nick wasn’t surprised. Witze reminded him of a mongoose after a snake, only the mongoose was probably easier to defeat.

“Can we leave first? Then I’ll tell you?”

“Sure,” Witze said.

A few minutes and several try-me looks aimed at the workers in the barn who didn’t want to give Witze two horses, one for him and one for Nick, and they were riding away from the prison. The farther away they went, the more Nick had to beat back the rising urge to vomit. They kept the horses to a quick walk and checked often to be sure they weren’t being followed.

Nick knew where they were going, despite Witze’s winding path through the streets. They were heading for the safe house they’d vacated not long before.

“Well?” Witze asked.

“He…Todd told me to wait at least two days before doing anything. That Raleigh would be expecting something, but right away. Todd said waiting will cause them to think they’ve won, and they won’t be looking for any sort of attack or breakout.”

Nodding, Witze smiled. “Smart man, your mate. Raleigh will assume you know other sentries in the area and go to them for help, ferreting more out for Raleigh to take out of the picture.”

“I wasn’t going to see anyone in the city. There is only one person I’d go to, that Todd has always ordered me to go to if something like this happens.”

“James Cantor.”

It wasn’t a question, so Nick only nodded. They traveled in silence until they reached the small barn and turn-out yard near the entrance to the safe house.

“You know how to get word to Cantor?” Witze asked as they unsaddled and bedded down the horses.

“Yes, sir.”

“Okay, then. We’d better get at it.”