Drantos(42)

She had almost forgotten about that, and she still wondered how he’d gotten through security to get onto the smaller plane. His mysterious-eye hypnotic trick was probably the reason. He fed the fire more until it was large and set to work on cleaning the fish by using a semi-flat stone as a table. There were plenty of them littering the ground.

“Will your brother feed my sister?”

“He’ll take care of her.”

She could only hope that was true. “What are you going to do to us once we get out of here?” If we ever do. She glanced around the thickly wooded area, hoping they didn’t die. Animals could kill them or they could get lost, eventually succumbing to the elements.

“You’ll be safe at our village. Decker wouldn’t dare invade it to try to grab either of you.”

“If we find this village.” If it even exists anywhere outside of your head. “My grandfather won’t want to find me. I wasn’t kidding about how much we didn’t get along the few times I met him. He gave Bat hell when she mentioned bringing me on this trip with her.” Memories surfaced of being a young girl and feeling rejected. It still hurt a little but as she’d grown, it had turned to anger. “He’s a jerk.”

Drantos paused in cutting the fish to glance at her with a frown. “Don’t take it personal. He’s cold inside. He couldn’t even muster feelings for his own mate.”

“Your brother told me more about how he’s got some evil plan to kill a bunch of VampLycans and rule the survivors.”

“He is dangerous and greedy. He won’t be happy until he’s destroyed many lives and controls everything around him.”

“I don’t like him one bit but he just seemed like a creep. I think you’re giving him too much credit.”

“He rules his clan with brutality and fear.”

“Why would they stand for it? What is a clan, exactly? And you live in a village? As in, a fishing one?” It would explain how he was so good at catching dinner if he’d been raised by fishermen.

“Our clan consists of a group of VampLycans and a very small number of Lycans. Some of us are related, most of us are not. We live together because there is safety in numbers. It’s not a fishing village. It looks a lot like this wooded area.” He shrugged, his focus back on preparing their dinner. “Village or town, same thing. I thought you didn’t believe anything I had to say?”

“I don’t but I’m bored. Tell me more.”

He arched one eyebrow as he paused in cutting the fish again. He finally looked down, going back to work. “Laws are important in a clan. It’s not a democracy. Each clan has a leader and a group of his trusted enforcers to carry out those laws. Enforcers are the strongest fighters. Decker keeps his people in line with fear and by murdering any who dare defy or questions his orders.”#p#分页标题#e#

“So he’s a dictator with a vicious army at his disposal?”

“A small but lethal one. It’s also about traditions. Everyone in a clan swore alliance to obey the clan leader and his rules. It would be dishonorable to break an oath.”

“Even if he’s wrong?”

Drantos sighed. “Even so.”

“That sounds stupid.”

“I agree up to a certain point.” He looked at her again. “You have your ways and we have ours. We follow our clan leaders and the laws they set forth. It’s just the way it’s done.”

“It still sounds stupid.”

“I’m certain there are some laws or rules in your world that you don’t like or agree with. You still follow them. Why?”

“I don’t want my sister to have to bail me out of jail and then ask her to defend me in court. I never want to go to prison.”

“Jail or prison would be the least of their worries if anyone in a clan went against their leader. His enforcers would kill them as punishment.”

“Fantastic.” She hoped her sarcasm was clear. “Why isn’t he in prison if he has people murdered?”

“We don’t live according to your laws.”

“Everyone has to. You live in this reality, right? Or are we back to that another-dimension scenario?”

“Humans don’t live in our village. We keep separate from them as much as possible. They aren’t aware of what goes on with our people. Your law enforcement has no way of knowing who is killed or why.”

“I’m trying to imagine this world you’re telling me about but it’s hard,” she admitted. “Why don’t they just stop voting for Decker to lead them if they aren’t happy having him in control?”