Yes, some of them have small barred openings. Just a minute.
Cody heard someone wheeling a cart over the damp, stone floor. While waiting to see who it was, he peered into the room in front of him. A small gasp escaped him as he saw one of the men in his visions. Cody felt his anger rise as he examined the condition inside the room. Dark and damp, the only light came from an overhead bare bulb which was so weak, most of the room remained in the dark.
A man was shackled to the wall with barely enough chain to lie down on a filthy cot. Over in one dark corner, he could smell the toilet which didn’t appear to be working. The approaching person was now closer and Cody stepped back to see who it was. As the shifter walked under the overhead light hanging from the ceiling, Cody quickly held his hand over his mouth as he recognized ayoung man who’d been whipped and beaten so many times in his visions. Pain broke through the wall in his mind and he felt the horror of his visions all over again.
Dylon saw their life thread turn dark and he knew what was happening.Cody! Cody, answer me! Now, ma moitié! Come back to me! I need you!
Finally, his mate’s voice broke through the pain and Cody felt the strength and love Dylon was sending him. He was able to break the cycle, allowing him to again lock the pain behind the wall in his mind. I’m okay, babe. Really, I’m fine. It was just a small lapse but the pain is back behind the wall. Someone is coming with food for the prisoner. I’m going to follow him to see who’s being kept prisoner and where. Are you still safe where you are?
Yes, I’m fine. Please keep talking to me about what you discover.
Okay, will do. Right now, I’m in a hallway that I’m pretty sure is carved out of the mountain. The only way in is the way I came. There are a number of small rooms …no, that’s not right…prison cells down here. In one room I looked in, I saw one of the men in my visions. Dylon, he’s in bad shape. The young man who’s bringing the food is the one who’s always getting whipped.
Dylon could see their life thread varying in brightness as Cody saw more people from his visions.Ma moitié, how are you doing? I’m worried that what you are seeing will trigger more pain. You can come upstairs now. We know where the prisoners are.
No, I need to see who else is down here. Just a minute, he’s opening another door.Cody stood in the doorway and watched as the young man gave the prisoner a bowl of gruel, then reaching into his pocket of his apron fishing out two fresh rolls lavished with butter. Refilling thewater jug in the cell, he smiled at the prisoner before leaving and bolting the door. Cody watched in amazement as he repeated these actions with each prisoner, showing that someone cared about them. Cody was sure none of the prisoners knew that the young man was often beaten and whipped about the missing food.
After he had fed all the prisoners, Cody followed him upstairs to the kitchen where he watched him prepare baby food and bottles. When he was finished, he loaded up his cart and headed to another hallway leading away from the living room. Cody remembered Zane telling him about the babies included in the auction and guessed that’s where the food was headed. Finally, the young man stopped at an old wooden door and took out a set of keys. Finding the right one, he opened it and rolled his cart in.
Babe, I’m upstairs now and I think I found where the babies scheduled for the auction are. Same floor as you but opposite end of the house.
How many are there?
Twelve.
I thought Zane said ten?
Yeah, he did but there are twelve cribs. Just a minute, I want to check the babies to see what condition they’re in.Cody walked around the room, smiling at each one; they reminded him of Daniel. Pleased with what he saw, Cody turned to watch the young man as he quickly changed and fed each baby while humming and smiling, making it fun for the pups. He was so absorbed with what he saw, it was a few minutes before Cody glanced at the young man’s face.Holy shit!
What? What’s the matter?
Oh, nothing. Sorry, babe, I was amazed at how beautiful this young man is when he smiles.Cody heard his mategrowl.Oh, stop it babe! I was just surprised at how a smile changed his features. You know I chose you.
I know, just momentary jealousy. What conditions are the pups in? Will we need any medical personnel?
Nope. The good thing is all the pups are healthy and doing well. Oops, gotta go, he’s heading out. I’ll let you know where he goes next.
Chapter 37
Cody followed the young man back to the kitchen where he filled the cart again, this time with raw steaks. Curious about who the recipients would be, he tailed him down another hallway to a steel door. He watched as he loaded up two buckets sitting next to the door with the raw steak. When he finally unlocked the door, Cody instantly knew who the prisoners were.
The young man switched on a light, revealing a stone staircase. Then, picking up the meat filled buckets, he descended the steps with Cody close behind him. At the bottom, the young man flipped another switch, illuminating all the wolves that were chained to the walls, preventing them from shifting. It wasn’t hard to find Slate; he was the biggest fucking wolf there. Cody made his way over to him and whispered in his ear. After getting a response, Cody moved away and headed up the stairs. He’d be useless if he were locked in with the wolves. Once he was in the hall, he told Dylon all he’d discovered.
Can you get the keys away from the guy?
I don’t know. I’ll follow him and see what he does after this. Maybe there are more prisoners in different dungeons.
Be careful babe!
Will do, oops, here he comes now. Gotta go.Cody expected the young man to head back to the kitchen but instead, he parked the cart in an alcove and walked further down the hallway until he reached another door. Unlocking it, he switched on the light and went down those stairs. Cody was perplexed as the young man had nothing with him other than the keys in his hand. Following him, Cody stopped half way to the bottom.What was he up to? What is he doing here? The last thing he wanted was to be trapped behind a locked door.
The young man looked around at nothing in particular and then spoke. “I don’t know what or who you are but if you mean me no harm, please flip the lights off and on.”
Cody thought about it and seeing no harm to himself, he moved to the top step, and flicking the switch, waited.
The young man smiled. “My name is Kieran. Are you here to rescue me?”
Cody flipped the switch again.
