“The master is not always cruel,” the pretty brunette said. “If we are obedient, he mostly ignores us.”
“Every woman who has tried to escape Purgatory has been killed,” the old woman said. “A dismal life here is better than burning forever in damnation. At least we have a chance to redeem ourselves in the eyes of God.”
Sam approached her. “This isn’t Purgatory. You’re still alive in the real world; you’ve just been changed from mortal to immortal.”
“What manner of immortal?”
“We heal spontaneously, have unique powers, and we don’t age or die,” Sam told her. “We’re called the Darkyn.”
Some of the women laughed; others appeared shocked; all of them looked frightened. The old woman went over to the covered barrel standing where the fountain had been and pried off the lid to look inside.
Chris went over to her. “Your name is Analise, isn’t it?”
“Aye.” She stared down at the dark contents of the barrel. “Werren would never let us drink until after she summoned the garden. She did not wish us to know we were drinking blood.” She glanced up at Chris. “We are monsters. Vampires?”
“You’re Darkyn,” Chris corrected. “You’re part of a superhuman race that is powerful and hard to kill, but that has also learned how to coexist peacefully with humans. Sam is Kyn, too.”
Analise eyed her friend, who was talking to some of the other women. “There are others like us?”
“Thousands.” Chris nodded. “All over the world. They live together in strongholds called jardins, and work together to live productive lives, and protect each other. They have many human friends and allies, like me, who help keep their existence secret.”
“Why were we not permitted to live with them?” Analise asked. “Is it because we are women?”
“The other Darkyn out there don’t even know about you, or that Dutch forced the change on you,” Chris said. “I’m guessing he’s been keeping you here because he’s a sick bastard who hates women.”
Analise had more questions, and Chris tried to answer them as honestly as she could. She could hear Sam doing the same for the rest of the women, until a low groan from Werren silenced all of them.
Analise went over and helped the blond woman to her feet. “Why did you never tell us the truth?”
“Learning what I was almost drove me mad.” Werren rubbed the back of her neck. “I only wished to spare you.”
“Spare us?” Analise slapped her, making Werren stagger backward. “We have been prisoners for centuries, made to whore for Dutch and the crew and any man who crooked a finger, when we might have escaped and found the others like us. You did not spare us. You damned us to hell.”
“Do you remember Lonora? Estelle? Marielle?” Werren countered. “No, you would not. They were the first women he changed. The women I told the truth to. They all tried to escape, but Dutch stopped them with a thought. He beheaded each one of them in front of me. That is why I did not tell you, Analise. Because I did not wish to toss your severed head to the waves, and swab your blood from the deck.”
“You had no right,” the old woman insisted.
“I did what I thought was best for you. For all of you.” She turned to Sam. “Are you pleased with yourself, Detective? Now that they know, they will never again be content, and he will kill them, one by one, and start over.”
“He can’t turn any more women,” Sam said gently. “Over time the process of the change has become lethal to humans, something else he kept from you. You and the others are all the immortal women he’ll ever have.”
Werren looked uncertain. “But Dutch intends to change the crew. That is why he brought the man here, and tortured him until he died. He had stolen the gems that made Dutch immortal. Once he has rule over the warriors and the stronghold on the mainland, he will send out those men to search until they find the treasure. With it Dutch will be able to change as many mortals as he pleases. Then he can build a fleet of ships manned by men who will never die, and go a-pirating forever.”
“That’s why he wants the emeralds?” Chris shook her head. “The jackass is starting to believe his own legend.”
“Yeah, well, the Flying Dutchman is about to crash and burn.” Sam looked around at the faces of the other women. “And we’re going to be the ones who take him down.”
* * *
“For the first time in its seventy-six-year history, Fort Lauderdale’s annual Holiday on the Waves boat regatta has been rescheduled due to mechanical failures at four local bridges,” WSVN weatherman Brent Cameron reported. “All of the affected bridges have been closed, and the hundreds of vessels registered to participate have been temporarily relocated out to sea while city engineers address the problems. City officials are confident that repairs will be made in time for the boat parade to take place on New Year’s Eve.”