Black Ice-Completed
Chapter 29

As the night wore on, she’d often see Lily and Avia within the crowd but the thought of those silver eyes watching her left her feeling rather helpless.

Finally the doors to the lower levels were being open and people began to meander down to the auction block. The plan was for Lily and Avia to get down there first so they could begin searching the rooms. Nyota was to become the distraction once the book was found.

“Ah Karmia,” Nyota flinched as she heard the purr in her ear and an arm wrap around her, “The auction is about to begin, you’ll be in my box. It will be easier to select the slaves with excellent visibility and in comfort.”

Nyota looked up to replace silver eyes staring down at her and she felt her stomach drop. As the cat coaxed her down to the block, Nyota was able to catch Lily’s eyes as they went past her in the hall way.

What’s going on? Blasted through Nyota’s brain and she felt like she needed to kick herself for forgetting the mananei beans the three had taken.

Hoping she was doing it right she replied, I don’t know how I am going to be able to help when this cat is going to be having me stuck in a viewing room!

You’re a wolf aren’t you? Just shift and take the kitty out! Lily growled as she looked through a stack of paper and rummaged in a desk.

Nyota sighed as she turned a corner and was out of eyesight of Lily and Avia, It’s not going to be that easy, he may be a saber.

What’s a saber? Avia asked as she started to meticulously look through a room that had been off a side hallway.

Just about every species of shifter has a far superior shifter race. The bears have bruins, the foxes have vulpes and the cat shifters have sabers. Even the wolves have lobos but I’ve never met one, Nyota said as the cat led her into an all glass enclosure that would have the perfect view of the block.

“Would you like a drink?” he asked as a servant appeared with beverages.

“No thank you, I had plenty to drink up in the ballroom,” Nyota said as she sat down in one of the two chairs available.

As the cat took a seat next to her, Lily asked, wouldn’t you be a lobos then?

Nyota involuntarily shook her head which draw the cat’s attention, “Is something wrong? We can’t have our first wolf shifter be dissatisfied with anything,” he purred as he softly caressed her wrist and moved up her arm, watching her intently.

“Everything is perfect,” Nyota said as she forced a smile. This cat was far too attentive and he knew he was making her nervous.

“Good,” he said before leaning back in his chair and relaxing, “How long have you been in Marais?” he asked as he took a sip of his drink.

“Not long, only a couple of weeks,” Nyota smiled as she lied. Truthfully, she felt that she had been in the swamp far longer than what she had wanted. By now her aunt could be in Azgeta getting raped continuously. Two and a half years was too long and she’d have to get moving sooner or later.

“Where do you live then?” he asked and she knew he was fishing for more information.

“Tell me my Kar, why should I tell you?” Nyota asked curiously, wondering what the cat would say. She hadn’t really talked to any being of the opposite sex besides her father and Syn and both had made her far more irritated with them then this cat did.

“Good manners, I’ve taken you under my wing so to speak, and I have given you a better opportunity to replace the slaves you need then if you were in the public section of the auction block,” he said with a shrug and offered his glass to her.

Narrowing her eyes in disbelief, she took his glass and brought it to her mouth but didn’t take a sip. Thanks to the bears of her childhood, she could tell that the drink was wine that was made from cherries, a fruit that could easily hide any drug if someone wanted information.

“Good manners prevail then,” she said as she gave the glass back to him, “I live at the Southeastern tip of Axun. I have a private island off the coast which is where I reside now,” she said and hoped really hard that he didn’t catch her lie.

“Where did you live before that?” he asked and Nyota was about to answer with another lie when another Kar entered into the chamber, “There you are Beren!” Nyota blanched as the name was called out. The cat shifter was in charge of this event as well as this was his home ground, “I wanted to speak with you about this succulent- oh pardon me my Karmia!” he said as he just realized that there was a woman in with the cat.

Nyota looked at the man and felt revulsion. Her instincts cried that he was a monster who beat on women and killed them with his bare hands, “Don’t mind me, my Kar. Beren was just asking me questions but I am sure those can wait. Please take all the time you need with him,” Nyota said sweetly as she started to get up.

“My a’lisonia,” Beren said as he placed his hand on her shoulder and pushed her none too gently down, “You have full use of my room, we will go outside and speak about what he wants,” he smirked at her as he and the other Kar made their way out of the room.

Biting back a growl at his high handedness, Nyota had to roll her eyes as she could clearly hear the two talking.

“My Gods! That gorgeous creature would keep anyone occupied! No wonder you left the ballroom early,” the other Kar said to Beren.

Nyota heard a soft laugh, “She is passable to say the least,” he murmured and Nyota cut back a growl knowing that he knew she was listening to their conversation.

“Is she actually a Karmia or one of your paramours?” the man asked.

Once again she heard the cat give a soft chuckle, “Maybe she is neither,” he said and Nyota felt the blood drain from her face at the accusation.

“A slave then?” the man asked excidtedly, “If so, I would like to buy her and that fetching creature that is residing upstairs!”

“Kar Quentire, neither are for sale I am afraid. The Karmia inside this room is looking for slaves of her own and the creature upstairs, well, nobody was permitted to see her. How you came upon that room is now my concern,” the cat growled.

Nyota had to smile at the bite in his voice, whoever the person was upstairs had a fierce protector in the cat. As Quentire started to try to blubber his way out of the mess he found himself in, Nyota tuned them out and finally answered Lily’s question.

No, we may call ourselves werewolves or wolf shifters but the Black Ice nation are not lobos. We’re far faster, bigger, and the moon does not call to us as it does to wolves.

What are you then? Avia asked as she continued to look through the room off the main hallway, the first four rooms had been a bust.

We are blessed by the Wolf God and then cursed by a powerful witch. That is all I can tell you, Nyota said softly. It was silent for several minutes as Lily and Avia both searched rooms while she watched the people filing in and jumped when Avia screamed in aggravation, We have looked in all the rooms and the book is nowhere to be found!

As Lily concurred, Nyota sat up straighter in her seat as she watched a man, dressed in a black suit and mask, walk up to the pedestal and sit a book on the stand.

“It's there!” she cried aloud and instantly slapped her hands over her mouth. Turning her ears to door she listened but heard neither man on the other side of the door and breathed in relief. Avia! Lily! It’s here at the auction block! A man just came in with it! Nyota cried in her head.

Okay, here’s the plan. Lily go and- suddenly it went quiet and Nyota whimpered as she understood what had just happened. The mananei beans had finally worn off and all three women were cut off from each other.

Looking down at her dress, Nyota felt sadness at the fate the dress had in store. They needed that book which was far more important than any dress could ever be. Without another thought, Nyota shifted into a wolf, the dress ripped to shreds as her body grew.

Giving a long howl, she never glanced back as the door was slammed open, and rushed the glass wall, closing her eyes as she went through.

Mayhem ensued as glass flew everywhere and the people in the public box covered their heads while they screamed in terror.

As Nyota opend her eyes, she snarled as she saw the masked man run away, the book held tightly in his arms.

Howling again, she rushed the man and knocked him down. Bending down to grab the book, she felt claws slash down her back and across her hindquarters.

Turning to look, she found herself facing the cat. He was a huge saber that had thick roped muscles, sleek black fur with silver rosettes all along his body and glowing eyes that held a green tint. He was staring intently at her as he snarled low.

Snarling back, Nyota faked a lunge at Beren. The cat instantly drew back and slashed his claws out at Nyota, who immediately turned back around and grabbed the book before launching herself off the masked man and dashing out into the hallway, Beren close at her heels as he roared in rage at being tricked.