Bitten (Book 1 - Book 4)

“Morning, sir. May I see your ID?” the man in the lead said

Both men flashed badges long enough for Uri to take a look.

“My house hasn't changed, and I haven't changed,” Uri said, showing some anger.

“Sorry, sir. We have reports of criminals in the area. We are required to do house checks.”

Natalia noted Zena slide in beside Mag near the kitchen door. Her tattoos were also gone.

“This all the servants?”

“Yes,” Uri said, still showing agitation.

This was uncharacteristic of him. Natalia wondered why.

“And who is this?"

"My wife, of course.”

“IDs, please,” the lead man said again, remaining calm.

Natalia pulled out her ID from her jacket. Uri did the same. She noted that Mag and Zena also pulled out IDs.

The men slowly looked them over before giving them back.

"Why is your wife not wearing a wedding ring?” one man said when he stepped over by her. Natalia felt herself automatically step away from him.

"My fingers have swelled,” she said.

She was used to making up quick excuses to her mother.

“It no longer fits. I'm pregnant.”

"Congrats. This all your staff?”

“Yes,” Uri said, again with anger. “My driver is probably outside with the car waiting. We were just about to leave for work. I can't be late.”

"Sorry to have bothered you, sir. All looks to be in order. Have a good day.”

The men turned and Mag led them out.

Uri stayed where he was until he heard the front door shut.

“Make sure the house is clear,” Uri said to Zena, his calm demeanor was back.

"Yes, sir. It is. We'll head out as soon as the breakfast dishes are cleaned up.”

Mag returned.

“Those were the assholes that..."

“Noted,” Uri said before she finish. “Clear the house.”

He came around the table and reached out his hand. Natalia took it. They left the house to find the two men standing by the limo. Natalia saw that the driver was showing them her ID. She could tell their eyes weren't any higher than the woman's breasts.

Uri suddenly became huffy and irate.

“We have to go,” he said, aiming his comment at the men.

Natalia now realized this was an act.

The driver was given back her ID, allowing her to return to the drivers seat. Uri opened the door, acting as if he was in a big hurry. Natalia slid in quickly. As soon as the door to the limo shut and the limo moved, Uri brought out his phone.

"Hey, there was a house check this morning. What's up?”

He listened for a moment.

“It was Clantik and Johanne.”

There was a long pause of him listening.

He then waved a hand in a circle, and the limo did a turn. Natalia knew they were heading back to the house.

“The last time I heard they did an early morning check the staff didn't fair too well. I'm heading back. I'll use the excuse that they upset me so much that I forgot something.”

The limo completed the turn around the block and pulled back into the laneway. The car for the two men was still there. It was empty. The two men were not in sight.

"Bloody asses,” Uri said under his breath.

This time Natalia noted real anger.

"Stay in the car.”

This was an order she had no problem obeying. As soon as he shut the door behind him, the driver locked the doors.

Natalia felt as if she had been waiting a long time when Uri appeared. He was half dragging one man by the arm. When he reached the men’s car, he slammed the man hard against it. Close behind him came the second man. He was holding a hand to his face which was covered in blood.

Behind him, Zena and Mag appeared. She could see that Mag's dress was torn at the shoulder. Both women headed toward the limo at a fast pace, keeping their distance from the men. The doors unlocked and the two women got in, sitting across from Natalia. She noted that Mag’s hair was mussed and there were red marks on her face. Zena was holding her arm against herself as if it was hurt.

“Bastards,” Natalia murmured.

She was about to ask what happened when a police car pulled up.

“Police,” she said instead.

Both Zena and Mag looked at the two officers who exited the vehicle.

“She bit me,” the man Uri held screamed, drawing everyone's attention.

He escaped Uri's hold, running toward the police with his arms flailing.

“Arrest her. She bit me."

The man with the bloody nose also headed toward the police. Uri followed behind. Natalia had the impression of a lion stalking his prey.

“The fucking bastards were raping my servants,” Uri said in a loud angry voice that didn’t match the look on his face.

“She bit me. She bit me.”

The man was pointing and looking in all directions as if trying to locate who had bit him.

“I wish I could have vend him,” Mag said in a soft voice while she smoothed back her hair.

“Vend him?” Natalia said.

“I didn't inject him with venom using fangs. He'll have teeth marks, not fang.”

“But you drew blood,” Zena said. “He's going to get agitated.”

"Are you okay?" Natalia said to Mag

“He didn't get what he wanted,” Mag said. “Zena just wrenched her arm pulling him away.”

“Calm down, sir,” one policeman said to the man who was screaming he was bit. “I don't see any fang marks.”

“She bit me.”

“You were molesting her,” Uri said.

The policeman was getting closer to the bitten man. He kept putting his arms out as if fending the man off.

"Stay back, sir. Sit down and calm down.”

“She bit me.”

The man was now panting.

"You sure you didn't vend him?” Zena said, watching out the window.

“Is it really a good idea for the police to be here? They're still looking for me,” Natalia said.

“These guys are okay,” Mag said.

Natalia looked closer at the officers. Only one looked like he could be Viperian. The other had lighter hair. She couldn't see eye color from where she sat.

“Sir, calm down.”

The officer was now holding the arms of the bitten man who couldn't stand still. Then, she saw the officer jerk, raising up his arms as if he had been thrown off by the bitten man. In what seemed to be a choreographed move, the police officer ripped off his body cam. Once the camera was out of range, the officer started beating the man in the face.

The man with the bloody nose rushed forward. Uri pushed him back only to be attacked. The other officer rushed in. His body cam was also ripped off. Now, the two officers and Uri were beating the two men. There seemed to be blood everywhere. The sounds of the blows to the bodies let Natalia know that the police and Uri were not holding back.

"Uri always protects family,” Mag said with a smile while she watched.

Zena grinned and nodded.

Natalia was horrified by the scene, finding herself speechless.

The two men were now a bloody mess and unconscious on the ground. Uri gave one a hard kick in the groin, then walked off. There were quiet words exchanged between the officers and Uri before Uri left to go back into the house.

A car pulled up behind the limo. A woman in a dark suit exited from the backseat. The window by Mag rolled down.

“Mag?” the woman said, squatting down by the window.

“Just slapped around a little. I'm okay. Zena wrenched her arm.”

The woman gave a nod. Her eyes moved to Natalia for a moment, then swung back to Mag “Come with me. This scene is too much of a mess.”

“Cleo, these were the guys who raped Pana,” Zena said.

"Beating is justified,” Mag said.

“Yeah, but we have to clean up the scene a little. Did you vend one?” Cleo said.

“No. Just a normal bite, but I drew blood.”

“Saliva poisoning. He got agitated.”

“Highly,” Mag said.

“It helped her get away,” Zena said, sounding as if she was defending Mag.

“I'm sure Uri was thrilled. He likes a good fight.”

Cleo's eyes flashed around.

“Where is Uri?"

“House,” Natalia said in a dry voice.

“Is the house clear?”

“Yeah. Kate's at the other house,” Zena said.

"Okay, you two. In my car.”

The locks sounded and the window rolled up. Mag and Zena exited the limo to get into the backseat of the other car. One of the officers approached Cleo. Natalia couldnt hear what was said. Then Cleo got into the front passenger side, and the car left. Moments later an ambulance appeared.

Natalia watched as the EMTs looked over the scene, but they ignored the two unconscious men. They took the two officers over to the ambulance. She saw them wiping blood from their uniforms and cleaning up their hands.

Uri came back out. She could tell that he had taken another shower because his hair was damp. He had also changed clothes. He went over to the ambulance.

One EMT left the group. She could tell he was carrying something. He approached the two men and injected something into each man’s leg. One of the men moved and the EMT kicked him in the face before returning to the ambulance.

A few minutes later, Uri left the ambulance to return to the limo. The doors hadn't been locked since Mag and Zena had left. He slid in beside her and took her hand. The limo drove off as soon as the door shut.

Uri leaned in to kiss her cheek.

“Your heart is beating a little fast.”

=

“Mag and Zena will be okay.”

“Those two men..."

“They're not dead... yet.”

She took a deep breath to try and ease her discomfort.

“Calm,” he said in a quiet deep voice while he leaned in and breathed in her ear.

He did that for a long time. The warmth of his breath was comforting. By the time they reached the bank, she was almost feeling as if nothing had happened that morning.

"Sophie get a ride?” she said when they exited the limo.

"Yes. She got another ride.”

Uri led the way, but he led her to a stairwell instead of to the elevators, and they walked up one flight.

“HR,” he said in a hushed voice. “Wait here.”

He entered an office. She only had to wait a few minutes before he ushered her in.

Natalia wasn't surprised to find that the woman they met was a Viperian.

“This is Ursula Wane. She's the HR director. She'll get you taken care of,” Uri said. “I'll come down and get you when she’s done.”

Natalia nodded.

"Have a seat,” Ursula said with a wave of her hand after Uri left.

“Thanks.”

“Do you have any college?”

"No."

“Intent to go to college?”

"Yes, of course, this fall,” she said, thinking she better reply positively.

Ursula nodded before pulling out a couple of sheets of paper.

"Fill these in. You can go sit over there.”

“Thank you.”

Natalia took the pen offered.

The papers were what she expected. They were like filling out an application form. She had to pull out her ID to get the address correct and to make sure she spelled her new last name correctly. However, there were a number of areas she couldn't fill in. She had no prior job experience. However, there was an area for high school information, which she was able to fill in, including the business clubs and extra curriculum items she had participated in.

"One thing you let me do, Mother, that may actually help,” Natalia muttered under her breath.

She reviewed the papers, making sure she had everything that she could fill in completed before returning the sheets.

“I'm done.”

Ursula took the papers, reviewing them quickly.

“You'll be listed as an intern until you get a degree.”

She waved at the door.

“Uri is waiting outside.”

“Thank you.”

Nattie left the office.

“Didn't take long,” Uri said.

He had an electronic tablet that he had been tapping on.

“Doesn't take long to fill in name and address.”

“She listed you as an intern?”

He led her down the hall toward the elevators.

Yes”

“You'll need a degree to get a full-time position, but at least we have you in the company record as working here. That's what's important for now.”

They rode the elevator up in silence.

“I'll get you for lunch,” he said when they reached their floor.

By lunch, Natalia had all the boxes alphabetized. Being in the conference room with much more room sped up her work.

“What do I do now?” she said while limo took them to Cooper's for lunch.

“We'll find stuff for you. Too many bank employees use excuses not to get filing done. With you, we'll get it done. We'll break up a few kingdoms along the way and rile a few feathers. But with me directing you, there is little they can do.”

“You're pretty high up.”

“Second in command, you might say.”

“Who is...”

"No more.”

The limo stopped and he pulled her out. Again, he bypassed the line. They were seated immediately. “Cobb salad?" he said.

She nodded.

"Extra meat?”

He smiled as he said this.

She nodded.

“I'm going to get fat,” she said.

“You're growing a baby, of course you'll get fat.”

He looked rather happy about that.

Lunch was quick. Before she knew it, she was back in the conference room and new boxes were being brought in.

About mid-afternoon, she took a quick restroom break, then explored down the hall. She passed a utility closet, a stairwell, and another elevator. At the very end was a huge office. The name plate was rather large and read Ravi Paroli, Chief Financial Officer and President.

She stopped as soon as she caught a glimpse of the man within. He was an elderly man with short white hair, standing and looking out the window. He was tall and thin. His office décor was dark mahogany with a thick tan carpet. There was also a Viperian woman sitting by his desk. Natalia had the feeling that she was reading aloud his emails.

She stepped back and turned. On her return to the conference room, she noticed the door to the utility closet was ajar. No one had come down the hall, so she decided it must have been like that when she first passed. She drew closer. There was someone in there, and they were breathing hard. With some concern, she stepped to the door, then paused. She could just see enough into the room.

She recognized the man and the woman as the same pair that had dashed into the filing closet the previous day. The woman was leaning back with a leg up and her skirt hiked up. The man was holding her hips and banging against her as fast as he could. The woman was breathing into his ear. Natalia swore the woman was talking to him about work, about a particular customer and what they needed to do. The man had his eyes closed and looked totally focused on what he was doing

A noise down the hall caused her to jump. She hurried back to her conference room before anyone could discover her. The man or woman never passed her way so she suspected they either took the stairs or the other elevator, which also explained why she never saw Mr. Paroli pass. She figured that was the elevator he used.

The rest of the afternoon flew by. She was tired and ready to go home when Uri came to the door. "How was your day?" he said

“Good. I'm actually enjoying the work. Something to do. Nicer than sitting around my parents house with books I've already read twice.”

The elevator dinged and they got on. It was empty.

"How was your day?" she said.

"Always excellent.”

The elevator stopped at the next floor. People stepped in almost filling it, ending any further conversation.

Sophie was waiting for them outside the bank. She rode with them to her stop.

"Good night, Uri. Nattie.”

“Nite, Sophie,” Uri said.

“Nite,” Natalia said, almost feeling some camaraderie.

At the house, Uri didn't pull her out of the limo, but he held her hand, helping her out. He was much more gentlemanly than previously.

They changed into jeans. When they trotted down the stairs, Mag was letting Grazie in.

“Evening,” he said in his usual cheerful manner. “How you doing Mag?"

“Much better, thank you.”

Natalia had forgotten about the events of the morning. The marks on Mag’s face were almost gone. “Excellent.” Grazie said.

They sat for almost the same dinner as the night before. Natalia forgo her usual complaint about the raw meat.

"Arm hurt at all?” Grazie asked her while he dug into his slab of meat.

"No. Should it?"

"Sometimes after tossing a knife around and you're not used to it, you can get soreness.”

"I played tennis with my mother on occasion.”

“Excellent. Good arm muscles.”

They ended the evening with more knife throwing in the garage and going over some self-defense moves. Natalia still couldn't hit a bullseye, but she was managing to always hit the target. “Excellent,” Grazie said.

Natalia wondered if that was the word for the day.

“I would stick with the knife she has.”

He took the other and left.

Mag brought in tea and cookies when they came in from the garage.

“Here's your new phone,” Uri said, opening a package. “It should already have the numbers you need.”

Natalia spent the rest of the evening going over the phone. Despite, she had never had her own, she was familiar with her mother's. She was pleased with her new toy.

"What's up for tomorrow?”

She noted there was no discussion about the morning incident.

“More of the same. Thursday and Friday is club night. Weekends are usually for home time,” Uri said. “Do you want to do anything special this weekend?”