Chapter 18: Chapter 18
“Give him double his food ration to make sure he is well fed. I will send the names of the ones to come with us after I have discussed that with my sons,” Antonio Rufus said to the guards and when they wanted to cuff him again, Antonio Rufus raised his hand gesturing for them to stop. He held Angel’s gaze and said, “We do have an understanding, right, Angel?” When Angel nodded again, he added, “There wouldn't be any need for that…”
The guards stepped back and allowed Angel to walk out on his own, following him closely from behind. Angel heard the office door click shut and he took his ample time striding down the long corridor.
Just when he was about twelve meters away, he heard Mathew ask, “Do you really mean to spare the werewolves you would find on that island? Because if you ask me, that will be extremely risky, they are werewolves.”
“Of course not! I can hardly tell him that!”
“And what do you intend to do about Alexander's son? That fool needs to be taught a lesson,” Daniel said.
“I doubt the Were would let him get off their island in one piece. He is Alexander's son after all. Their leader, I heard, was the one that dealt Alexander the killing blow.”
“Fucking animal the whole lot of them!” said Daniel
“Angel might seem docile but that bastard is too smart for his own good. Don’t be overly sure he will do as you ask,” Mathew interjected.
“I have my ways…” Antonio Rufus replied.
“We don’t have all day, Wolfboy, move!” One of the guards yelled from behind him Angel had no choice but to keep walking and then he couldn’t hear Antonio Rufus and his sons anymore. He clenched his jaw, searching his mind for a way out of his current predicament.
When the guards led him to his cell he waited for them to leave as he paced back and forth, darting his eyes to the exit door. Kurt got up and came to stand by the bars that separated their cells. Every single Were in the pit was looking in his direction — everyone except for Wolfe that is, who was hitting his head repeatedly against the sidebar of his cell. Freki; the new Were also watched Angel with apprehension. He figured they could all feel his anxiety. After waiting for about ten minutes, noting he could not perceive the guards anymore. He strode to the guarding iron bars, not making the mistake of holding on to them and peered directly at Freki.
“This mountain you spoke of, is it on an island in America?”
“I don’t know if it is on an island, but yes, I heard it is in America. Why did you ask? Have you heard anything?”Freki anxiously replied.
Angel let out a silent curse, pushing back from the iron bars. He started to pace, running his hand over his shaven head. He knew Alexander Miller lived somewhere in the United States and since he was Antonio Rufus' major supplier of kidnapped Weres and had died by the supposed leader of the rescued Weres, Angel figured the frosty island Freki spoke of must be in the United States, and hence, must be the same one Antonio Rufus was planning to invade.
“What is going on?” Kurt asked in apprehension.
“Antonio Rufus is planning to invade the island…” Angel replied with utter conviction.
“What?!” every single one of them exclaimed in dismay except for Kurt who was eyeing Angel with keen scrutiny.
“And?” Kurt prompted.
“He intends to use us … I mean some of us; ten to be precise, and he wants me to lead.” The room went deathly quiet. “He was … gracious to let me in on his plan. According to him, he would go ahead with or without me. I am going to go.”
“Is there a way out?” Kurt asked.
Angel shook his head. “Not yet. But …” he paused and pointed at the new guy. “I am betting on the leader of the rescued Weres. He killed Alexander…” Upon hearing that, all the Weres made a low whoop.
“Great! I hope he died a slow, agonizing death and went straight to hell!” Blaze said through gritted teeth. Angel gazed across the iron bars at the younger man. Although Blaze had lost the memory of his past and had no recollection of his family, Alexander had made sure he taunted him about it the last time he came to visit Antonio Rufus. He told him how his family had abandoned him and given him up like thrash. Angel told him not to trust Alexander’s words but then the words did take root in the mind of the abused young Were, and it has been hard to erase. Angel gave Blaze a reassuring nod.
“I told you guys he was real!” Freki said, grinning. “And I am telling you, the place is a fortress. I doubt these humans will best the White wolf.”
“What if they do?” Seiko asked. He was a Were on the twelfth cell on Freki’s row.
“They will not!”Freki snapped. “And I will really love it if I get to go…”
“Why?” Angel asked, his eyebrows furrowed with a frown.
“Because I know once he knows we are captives, he will do everything to make sure he doesn't let them bring us back here to this hell hole!” Freki replied with such confidence that made Kurt sigh.
“You sound so sure…” Angel said.
“That is what he does. I heard his father died protecting our kind. And did I mention he is Wulfblood?”
“Every fucking time!” Blaze grumbled in exasperation. Angel’s heart constricted at the information, thinking of the faceless uncle he had lost. And he felt proud that one of his kin was out there doing them proud.
“You will all feel ashamed when he rescues us all,” Freki murmured with annoyance. Angel couldn’t help smiling.
“If you lead them there and he tries to do as Freki here believes, it would be wise to stay there – to be free,” Kurt said looking at Angel.
Angel sighed and turned to hold his gaze. “I want to watch this goddamn place burn to the ground,” Angel said. Kurt grinned in understanding. Angel couldn’t help noting the relief behind the act, his heart constricted. ‘I will get us all out, dear friend, I will find a way,’ he thought to himself.
A few hours later, Angel's ears pricked at the sounds of footsteps coming from the entryway the guards normally use, and he sat up in apprehension. The other Weres also halted what they were doing, watching as the door came open. About twenty guards spilt in, carrying tranquiliser guns, tasers and Antonio Rufus' custom-made ammunition which uses silver bullets. Angel slowly rose to his feet and the others joined in when Daniel strode in.
One look at his face and Angel knew there was going to be trouble.
He came to stand a few meters away from Angel's cell and said, "You are beginning to forget your place around here. And I know exactly how to fix that." He paused, gave Angel a malicious grin and then added, "shoot him!" Angel tensed, his heart picked up speed and he waited, standing with legs apart and waiting for the Guards to obey Daniel's command. However, when they raised their guns they didn't point them at him but at Kurt. Angel fought down the urge to react, noting that Daniel's eyes were on him, he schooled his features and looked unbothered. An act that got Daniel angrier. The guards fired the shots at Kurt and he went down with a loud thud. Angel didn't spare the other Were a glance. His gaze was fixed solely on Daniel. The other man's face grew red with rage. He unlocked Kurt's cell and strode in, gesturing for the doctor to come in. The tall slim silver head man followed with the mind-controlling silver band in hand and crouched down beside Kurt to strap it around his neck.
The two walked out of the cell afterwards, leaving the door ajar. The guards turned to the new guy and shot him too. And again the doctor strode inside his cell to strap the device around his neck.
They continued to move from one cell to the next, doing the same thing to them. When they were done strapping up all the Weres in the pit. They all retreated, knowing Angel's cell door was open.
Angel took shallow breaths, preparing himself for what was about to happen.
But what Daniel didn't know was that Angel had had his powers restored and none of the men could match his strength. The problem was with the mind-controlling devices around the Weres' neck they would be relentless and he might seriously harm them to incapacitate them.
Angel exited his cell, not wanting to be trapped in the iron cage when his friends grow mindless and come at him.