Continuation of Benji's POV:
I knew it had been hours that passed once more. I opened my eyes to find myself under water. I don't remember anything after teleporting which meant as soon as I arrived in the alley I passed out. My body was freezing. There was nothing but darkness around me but I could conclude I was in an ice bath. I reached out and touched the sides as I tried to figure out how to get out. I felt one side lift to my touch and I managed to open it. I hit the ground as I climbed out of the water and took in a sharp deep breath.
Darkness.
I was surrounded by cold darkness.
Luckily, my night vision kicked in and I could see clearly. I had fallen into an unfamiliar place. But, I knew in fact... I went straight into a walk in freezer. There was meat cuts hanging in here. Buckets were underneath the meat to catch any fresh blood. It was all frozen now. I shivered as I looked back to see what I had been in. Its so cold. My eyes landed on what had been my comfortable coffin for the day. A deep freezer? I could only assume since I was wet it had been filled with water and ice. Perhaps to help keep me cool while my body healed.
Starving.
I'm starving.
And...
That's right.
Last night...
I trembled as I looked around my body. Something's missing... something's missing! The tracking device is missing! I looked at the thread healed over and yanked it out of my body. That's over my liver... but this is the same thread used from before. It concluded my last night's memories. I am so fucked! I lost the tracker.
Now, where did I end up at before I passed out?
I frowned as I sniffed the air and looked at the entrance. I stood slowly- making sure nothing was broken. I felt like a new being. I was all healed. It just sucked I had an agonizing tooth ache and a need to feed. I trembled from the cold as I walked out of the walk in. I recognized the same hallway of the bar and relaxed. This place was familiar, because I spent a lot of time here. I'm where I wanted to be. I walked up to the familiar office I found myself in often and went inside.
"Fabian?" I called out in exhaustion. "You put me in an ice bath?"
Fabian, probably my oldest friend. Of course I would go to him in a time of danger. Luckily, his place hasn't been scouted out yet for my body. My boss must be giving me some time off to recuperate after last night's kidnapping.
"I had to hide your body somehow. And, when I found you... the sun already ate up half your body." I heard his familiar voice tell me. I closed my eyes as I listened to his blood pumping through his veins. His excuse to hide me in a peculiar place meant he truly was hiding me to protect me. He sat behind his desk as he looked up to meet my eyes. Fabian was the only person I could consider my best friend. He was a nine tail fox. His ears were red, his hair red, the tips of his long hair white, and his eyes were green. He wore a kimono because of his traditional era he favored. He was Japanese. But, his name adapted on over the years. "What happened? I heard your shipment didn't make it to the auction house. Your boss was here looking for you." I sat down in front of him on his desk and held my head. He looked disgusted as he looked away and towards a set of clothes he neatly folded for me. "Get off my desk naked," he grumbled. I smirked as I leaned in towards his face.
"Fabian~ How can I thank you for saving me?" I asked softly.
"Pay your debt with me," he grumbled. His hands landed in his lap.
"Will my body count as payment?" I asked playfully. He wrinkled up his nose and rolled his chair away.
"Stop with that nonsense and tell me what happened," he ordered. "Why were you in the back alley half dead? Weren't you working last night? It's very unlike you!" His eyes showed concern for my safety.
"Should I get dressed first?" I offered as I opened my legs to expose myself. His eyes avoided looking at me as he blushed. I loved how innocent he was~! No... he wasn't innocent... he just respected our friendship. I chuckled as I bounced off the desk and walked up to the sofa. I looked at the blue turtle neck, black tights, and black dress shoes he picked for me. The man knows my style. A fur coat resting by it and black socks. I put on the outfit and looked straight at him. "The mother of the eggs came for them and the guard I was with wasn't working for the company. He was working for her. I think the driver too." He nodded like he knew that part.
"The group that dispatched to find and bring the eggs back -as well as you, was found dead in a nearby hotel." So... he looked into what the cartel knows of my disappearance already?
"Hotel!?" I couldn't believe it. Because I thought... surely I was in that woman's nest. But, a hotel? Who takes someone to a hotel instead of a safer location to murder? "That place was nice enough to be a hotel?" I couldn't believe that... It just didn't seem right.
"Your tracker went off the radar last night right before I found you outside. That's when your boss paid me a visit to ask about you. I figured you'd come here." So did my boss...
"Some dude took my teeth as well as it," I told him as I exposed my sore gums. There were no fangs there as he would see.
"You're lucky to be alive then," he chuckled out. His eyes lingered on my gums and he reached out slowly. He wanted to touch them. He jerked his hand back as he remembered boundaries. "I almost thought at first you were running away and not paying off your debt... But, you're more loyal to the system."
"Unfortunately... I racked up more debt," I grumbled. "The debt I owe now... I could never dream of running away from. They'd just hunt me down and bring me back." I can't believe I lost those eggs. That's a huge first-timers mistake. I should have known before getting into that van with them.
"You're definitely not a coward. They were asking because they thought the same. They were worried about your well being. They know if you survived something like that kind of attack most likely you'd come here first. You want me to give them a call?" He asked. "They can send a vehicle out to get you."
"No! I'll go there myself. I don't need them knowing you kept me here all day without letting them know you found me. I'll explain to them I managed to escape on my own and took refuge in a nearby abandoned building."
"It's not a big deal, Benji. Let me give them a call. They'll probably compensate you for all this and give you some time off." He pointed for me to sit down. I frowned and looked down at my feet. "Plus I'm sure you're hungry. Come on~ Let me treat you. It's on the house! You almost lost your life for the cartel. The least you can do is let one boss talk to another and cut you some slack." He pulled out his phone to dial.
"Fabian," I whispered. "If you get in trouble for harboring me," I whispered.
"Hey~ Let me worry about that. Go take your pick from the healthy blood sacks while I settle this matter over the phone. I'll negotiate some time off for you so you can rack up some more debt with me," he chuckled out. I smiled softly and nodded.
"If you insist," I mumbled.
My mind wondered to last night.
I could still remember meeting that man. The way he frightened me. I couldn't figure out at first who he was. What was going to happen to me? I thought he wanted me dead. But, when I saw through the blinding light to see his piercing dragon slits staring me down... I knew then he was important. His scent hinted he was a dominate dragon. In fact he could very well be a royal. He had been covered in blood which told me he did kill people on the squad who were trying to rescue me.
A faint heat rose to my cheeks.
Who is that man?
"What're you blushing for?" Fabian asked. "What happened to you last night?"
My eyes landed on my kind friend. My concerned friend. I wanted to tell him everything then. I looked at the phone in his hand. But, if I tell him he's not going to let me go back to working for a long time. My debt will only sky rocket in order for Fabian to ensure my safety.
I am a valuable friend to him.
Fabian dialed the phone to speak to my boss. I could hear the wait music as Fabian was being transferred across the company to the correct warehouse's office. "It's nothing truly," I told him. Fabian wrinkled up his nose as he turned on his computed. "I'm going out to the lobby to mingle and find that free blood you offered." I waved as I figured... I don't need to listen to what comes next. Fabian offered me free blood... I walked out of his office to find my way out to sit in the lounge of the bar.
I was about to reach the double doors to take me out when I smelled Fabian. I turned around as I heard him running towards me. He looked pale like he's seen a ghost. He grabbed my shoulders and slammed me up against the wall. He looked out through the twin windows of the double doors and choose one. He looked through the hole.
"What is this?" I asked and rubbed my sore back. He kept me against the wall but enough to move about.
"Oh fuck," he told me. He pushed me away from the doors as he gave a serious look. Whatever he was swearing for- it was about something going on outside those doors. "Someone paid off your debt with the cartel. I checked my books, they're empty by your name," he told me in surprise. "He paid them a handsome tip and they told him about this place and where he might find you."
"I racked up eight million," I whispered. Not counting the adition I added on from last night's fuck up. "Who the fuck pays that off for a guy that only took care of his offspring?" I asked myself more then Fabian. "It's not like I was the one that kidnapped them!" Fabian covered my mouth to keep me quiet. He pulled his hand away to ask me a question.
"He's a dragon?" Fabian asked me and we gulped together. I nodded as I admitted it.
"Yeah, he's the one I got away from last night," I whispered. But, I don't remember giving him my name... How did he find out?
"You need to get out of here," Fabian told me. "He's here!" I widened my eyes as I wanted to see for myself. Fabian pushed my head down to avoid the window. As soon as my knees hit the ground as I was forced downwards... the doors blew open by unwelcomed winds. We looked out at the bar to see it was quiet. What used to be a dark pit for vampires was now well lit. The lamps changing from black lights to bright white. The whole building was silent as a bunch of thugs were holding tomy guns and aiming down the guests of the club. I felt sick as I eyed down the unknown gang members that were dressed in the finest men's warehouse clothing. They were wearing sunglasses and earpieces. This guy really means business. He didn't come here alone for me.
I spotted him. There was his familiar face. He was standing next to the bar tender, asking questions... but his voice stopped as he looked towards me. He smirked- an evil curl touching the corners. I felt like mariline monroe standing over the man hole with my dress frilling in the air around me. Execpt I was completely embarassed.
"Benjamin Levine," he called out as he pushed off from the bar. He started for us. The gun-men thugs changed their approach as a few started to aim us down. Fabian stepped in front of me with a fierce growl. His growl stopped the man from coming closer. Fabian's tails stuck straight up and hit me in the face as his fingernails began to lengthen as he threatened to attack. He was growling with a scowl across his face.
"Go," Fabian whispered to me. "Go now," he ordered.
"No, I'm not leaving you here," I told him. I'm not sure what this man is capable of. I can't let him hurt my friend.
"Are you avoiding me?" I heard HIS voice asking me. I've got to ask his name next time. Who the fuck is this guy?! "After the good deed I just done for you. You're hiding behind your prison guard?" He looked angry with me. "Come here now and pay your debt to me." I looked towards him as I felt my dignity dripping away.
How can I be so afraid of this?
"I don't want to be paying off debt to you," I shouted.
"You don't have a choice," he growled.
"You just wasted a lot of money," I warned.
"I don't think it was enough money."
My face felt heated as I tried to avoid looking in his eyes. Was that flirting I detected? I should have chosen a different species to be a caretaker for. Now, look at the mess I've walked into. I feel like this is the first time I've ever been flirted with. It's disgusting.
"L-look I'm sorry for your loss. But, blaming me isn't an option. I can't help what happened to your tera mate and the tera eggs. I'm just the middle guy! I only took care of them while they were being processed through the system."
"They took something precious from me... I took you from them as a fair trade. You're a prized award winning dragon keeper. Your knowledge about dragons will no longer be of use to them. You're going to take care of my eggs and help raise them in their mother's place."
"I thought you lost the eggs last night again," I called out. I remember him saying he lost her and the eggs.
"I found them." His eyes flashed from green to gold. I don't think he needed anymore explanation from that.
"If," Fabian called out to break our conversation. "If all you want is someone to raise the thirteen eggs then let me deal out a contract for the both of you. If my dear friend finishes his job, you will let him go... A FREE man." I know Fabian was trying to help but he was starting to sound stupid.
"It'll take more then thirteen eggs to pay off eight million in debt," he snorted as he had to explain it to Fabian. "How did you even manage to rack up that much debt with them?" Oh~ The debt? How I got it? Well it's not really important... His face changed as he realized we were not going to give up. He snapped his fingers suddenly. I froze up as I remembered we forgot to check our six. I felt hands wrap around my wrist and something metal stabbed into my wrists as I knew then I was being handcuffed. I took a step to teleport. But, I only stumbled and hit my face against Fabian. What the fuck? "Enchanted by a witch," he would explain. Fabian turned as he looked at me. I looked past him at the guns threatening to fire at us. He's not gonna ease up until I go. I better go to not cause Fabian anymore trouble. If they shoot this place up I'll rack up even more debt with Fabian.
"Fine. I'm coming," I said in anger. Fabian looked upset as he stepped aside. He knew he couldn't do anything for me at the moment. "I'll come willingly." I felt my back be pushed forward by a gun. I looked over my shoulder at a few more bullies threatening to shoot up the joint. I walked towards the beast as I gave in. If he wants me he's got me. A grin crossed his lips as he won this round.