Athena's Jewel (Aya Harris Collection 2)

She furrowed her forehead and looked at me with a great big question in her eyes, but there was no time to explain. The sooner we got out of here and got to a telephone, the sooner the HQ could get here and save the rest of the girls.

“Welcome, ladies.”

My mother entered the room. The clicking of her heels against the wooden floor made my heart flutter.

“You’ll be coming with me to the Ranch. I’m sure you’ll make wonderful additions to our team.”

Jack followed behind her. At the sight of his creepy smile and the knives around his belt, I pulled my hand away from my boot and straightened up. There was no doubt he’d sink a blade in me the moment he suspected any foul play.

“What exactly is the Ranch?” Tala asked. She swept her long dark hair off her shoulders and crossed her arms.

“The Ranch is a place where every fantasy can come true.” My mother checked the silver watch on her wrist, frowning at the time. “It’s home to two dozen girls, like yourself. Each with a supernatural ability. It’s run by a man named Wesley Blake. He is my superior. Don’t cross him, girls. He’ll sell you to Andrew or Dr. Kim in a heartbeat, for a bargain.”

Tala tilted her head and pursed her lips. “Fantasies? What does that mean?”

“She means it’s a whorehouse,” Jack sneered. “And you’re the newest whores to join the team. Congratulations, ladies. Might have to come visit you myself.”

I shuddered while Tala’s face paled. Maybe we weren’t being sent to a mine to die in the dark or to a lab to be dissected, but a whorehouse didn’t sound much better.

My mother checked her watch again and tapped her toe against the ground. “He’s late already. I swear, if that boy didn’t have such an unusual gift, I’d get rid of him myself.”

As if on cue, a boy appeared in front of her, wearing a giant grin. He had unruly curly brown hair and rosy cheeks. A well-worn black jacket hung over his thin frame and opened to a white Nirvana t-shirt. He looked like any fifteen-year-old boy, if not for the giant pointy ears that framed his head when a shimmer crossed over him.

“Ready to go?” he chirped. Spinning around, he caught a glimpse of us and whistled low. “Is this the new recruits? You sure know how to pick ‘em, Livy.”

“You’re late, Aaron.” My mother pursed her lips. “I told you not to be late.”

He hopped in place and cracked his neck. “Nah, I’m always on time. Aaron time!”

Mother’s disapproving look did nothing to dampen his spirits. He turned in place, grabbing a porcelain vase off the antique shelf behind him.

“Say, is this valuable?”

Mother plucked it from his hands and put it back on the table. “Doesn’t matter. You have a job to do. Get us back to the ranch.”

“But I just got here…”

“Now!”

She held her hand out and lengthened her talons until Aaron blinked nervously. By the way he stood still, I had the feeling he’d already been on the receiving end of a few harpy swipes. His feet snapped together and his face took on a somber expression.

“Okay, boss-lady. Ready when you are.”

She sighed and turned toward Jack. “Thank you for your assistance. We won’t be needing you anymore.”

Jack leaned on the doorframe, his eyes trailing over my body. “Are you sure? This one’s a wild pony. I could break her in for you.”

I took a step back and swallowed. I’d rather die.

“That won’t be necessary.” The frown that pulled on the sides of her mouth tremored between impatience and disgust. “We must be going.”

Jack nodded and drifted through the open door, winking at me before shutting the door behind him. Running my hands up my arms, I tried to dispel the icy coldness running through my veins.

That monster was going back to a room full of girls. Girls who would be sold and traded and bartered like animals. The moment we left for the ranch, this place would disappear off the map. The HQ would never find it or the girls I’d left behind. I had to save them. I had to get out of here.

“Let’s go girls.” Mother grabbed Aaron’s arm with her bony hand and nodded. “Grab a hold. He’ll transport us.”

Tala placed a hand on Aaron’s shoulder, her grip loose. They all looked expectantly at me, waiting for me to copy. But I was too busy squirming in place, looking around the room for an exit. No windows, no other doors except for the one that led to Jack. No way out.