Read Death's Servant (The V V Inn, First Prequel Book) for Free Online Page A

told me later that he’d hoped we’d ban together and overpower the vampire... Somehow find a way out.”
    Disgust crosses my face at the situation she’s describing. How could’ve it gotten so bad, so fast?
    As if sensing my unease in the facts laid out, she continues. “First, the creature took his eight year old daughter.” Her words drive a spike through my heart. “When his wife tried to find her, against her mate’s orders, she was abducted as well.” A heavy sigh escapes her and she sags against the cold wall, exhaustion and defeat etched into her skin. “By then it was too late for little Pamela. She’d lost too much blood to Cecil’s addiction and couldn’t bounce back.” She motions to the pitcher, with the strange lime-lemon tasting water. “We found out about the blood replenishing additives later.”
    Power floods my limbs at her mention of the drink. I gesture with my cup. “What’s in it?”
    “I don’t know for sure. We grow the plants out back at the vampire’s direction. But he won’t let us give them to Cliff and Kristin, our alphas.” Sadness crosses her face. “My sister, Jennifer, was killed when she tried to sneak the herbs to them. Cecil keeps them chained and weak for a reason. I think together they would eventually overpower him. Their draining is very specific; they aren’t used at the main house, but depleted here in the cells. He makes sure they remain on the cusp of death.”
    The return of my strength encourages me to test the chains binding me to the wall. A slight tug loosens their hold in the stone, confirming my suspicions. The water is working on me the same way it would work for Cliff and Kristin. In ten minutes I’m back to normal, like my blood loss never happened.
    Raine reaches out a hand and touches my forehead. “Your gash, from the fight—it’s gone already.” Confusion mars her features. “It would normally take hours after that much blood loss to heal perfectly, even with the herbal-infused water.” She gasps and hope lights her eyes. “Oh my God. Are you an alpha? That’s the only thing that would explain it.”
    I nod, staring deep into her eyes. “Yes, I am.” I wrap the chains around my fists. “You know what that means, don’t you?”
    “What?”
    I rip the chains from the walls and stand. “I’m going to get us the hell out of here and find a way to save everyone.”
    Raine’s hand flies to her throat, her mind whirring behind her startled eyes. “You’ve got to get out quick. Before he checks on you.” She scuttles toward the door, gesturing me to follow. “I’ll show you through a back door they can’t see from the house.” She checks the watch on her wrist. “You’ve got very little leeway until he’ll come to test your recovery time. If he suspected you were an alpha he never would have ordered the enhanced water.”
    “You’re coming with me, right?” We glance up and down the hall and then scurry along the deserted passageway to a dimly lit staircase leading up.
    “No, I can’t,” she whispers. “If he suspects I’ve helped you he’ll kill one of my packmates in retaliation.” We make our way to the top and down another dark hallway leading to a back door. “Each of us knows the penalty for running when we’re let out to work and attract other Weres to his net.” She faces me at the threshold, rising up to kiss me lightly on the mouth. “I’m so sorry I got you into this. You’re our only hope. Get out and find help. Even the local police if you have to—anyone!”
    A grim expression settles on my face. “I won’t let you down. No matter what.”
    A sound from the front of the building draws Raine around. “You don’t have much time. He will follow your scent trail. He’ll come after you even outside the property. I’ve seen him do it to non-pack wolves before.” She grabs me and kisses me, desperation seeping from her pores like cheap cologne. “Be careful.”
    Without another word, she slinks