Bitten (Book 1 - Book 4)
Chapter 23

Natalia couldn't see either Nancy or Beah, but knew she had to find someone fast. There was only one woman who stood out, so she took a chance. She figured even if she was wrong, it gained her more time to find one of Ravi's wives.

“Sittel. Is that you?” Natalia said, sidestepping the woman who was blocking her way.

The woman was elderly and wearing a sari that was brightly colored. Her long white hair was pulled back in a braid. There was a lot of gold jewelry around her arms and her neck. Dangling earrings with gold and red adorned her ears. And surprisingly enough, there was a henna tattoo on her left cheek and on both hands.

The woman looked over at her, giving Natalia a bit of a rush that she had guessed right.

"Are you Sittel? You look how Nancy described you. I'm Nattie,” Natalia said.

The woman who had tried to block her was now right behind her, trying to get her attention.

"Ah ah ah. Nattie. My. Yes,” Sittel said while she gracefully spun on her heels. “Nancy. Where are you? Nancy.”

“She's not on our list,” the woman behind Natalia said.

“She should be,” Sittel said.

The tone of her voice was a little haughty. The woman backed off but stayed nearby.

Natalia breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

"Oh, there she is. She's outside. Come along,” Sittel said, leading the way.

She was rather spry for her age. Natalia had to walk fast to keep up with her.

“Nancy. Look who showed up.”

"Oh, my word. Nattie,” Nancy said, looking thrilled.

Every woman within ear shot turned their way.

“Afternoon,” Natalia said with a smile.

The sun was now peaking out of the clouds. It felt warm and comforting.

"What a nice surprise,” Nancy said. “Beah.”

Beah danced over, looking pleased.

"So nice to see you, Nattie.”

Natalia was relieved that she wasn't asked why she was there, but she decided to offer a little excuse.

“I've never seen the Botanical Gardens. I can't believe I've never been here,” she said, looking around.

"Oh, Sittel. She needs to become a member. I'll invite her. I'm sure Beah will second it.”

"Oh, yes, definitely,” Beah said.

"Well, being I'm the President, I'll put her application through. Come, let's introduce you around.” The next half-hour felt like a Wednesday night meeting while Sittel and Nancy introduced her to members. Everyone was pleasant. Then, there was a lull and a ripple of grumbling murmurs. Natalia stiffened when a woman walked through the door.

“Who invited her?”

Natalia didn’t know who had spoken.

“She's a member,” Sittel said in a whisper. “Unfortunately.”

“Your highness.”

Natalia had never seen the Abbess before. She was a middle aged woman who moved with an air of authority in her flowing habit. However, the black fabric seemed like a cloud that wanted to cover the sun.

"How nice to see you. I didn't see you in church last Sunday. Are you having problems? Let me pray for you. We are always in need of alms for the poor. Even the middle class can afford the ten- percent tithe, I know you can, too. Don't you think?”

Her voice was quiet and demanding. She pretty much said the same thing to every woman in her path, trying to instill guilt wherever she walked.

Sittel and Nancy stepped away, but the Abbess seemed to be heading straight for them. Natalia was also trying to stay out of her path.

"And who is this?” the Abbess said, swerving suddenly to cross Natalia's path.

“Nattie,” she said.

“I haven't seem you at church lately. Or are you hiding in the back with your husband? And who is he?"

The Abbess was almost sticking her face into Natalia's. She had a big smile on her face, but Natalia found her manner to be overly friendly and the smile scary. There was also an odd odor emanating from the Abbess causing Natalia to step back away from her.

“I...” Natalia found herself loath to respond.

She didn't want the Abbess to know who she was, let along who Uri was. If she revealed that she had money, then there would be the hounding to have her attend church and the demands for donations.

"Oh, did you drop this?” Sittel said, stooping over by Natalia.

She looked like she picked up a ring.

“I... Yes, I might have,” Natalia said, recognizing that Sittel was rescuing her. “My fingers swell and shrink. I can't seem to find the right size.”

"You have an earring loose, too. Let's go get that taken care of,” Sittel said, taking her arm and leading her away.

“Thank you,” Natalia said in a quiet voice once they were some distance away.

“I keep telling her that this is a garden party, not a place to beg for alms,” Sittel said, putting the ring on her own finger.

Another woman hurried over to them

“I am so sorry, Sittel. I published the garden party location and date in my newsletter. I forgot she got a copy.”

"Harms already done, we'll deal with it,” Sittel said.

The Abbess seemed to want to follow them, but two ladies intercepted her. They looked as if they were inviting the Abbess to see something.

Natalia decided to keep her attention on Sittel and ignore the Abbess.

“Your henna tattoo is beautiful,” Natalia said.

"Why thank you. For a while there, every time I wore one, people screamed and said I was a Hollow.” “Everyone knows Hollows only come out at night,” one lady said.

“That's what I told them. Apparently a brown henna mark looks like a black tattoo. Helloooo.” Sittel rolled her eyes.

“I hope henna tattoos come back in style,” Natalia said. “I love them.”

"We used to put out a publication... Cindy. Do you still put out the Nightlife newsletter?”

“Yes, we do.”

Cindy was like most of the women present in that she was middle aged. She was also very short with a loud voice that she seemed to use to compensate for her small stature.

“Do you still put out what Hollows looks like? Or at least what their tattoo looks like?”

“During the summer, Derek really pushed me to do so. We ran a few issues with the description. We even had a photo. But we haven't of late.”

“Derek?” Natalia said.

“My husband. He's the Director of the University Medical Center.”

“How nice,” Natalia said.

“Maybe we should run it again,” Sittel said.

Cindy nodded in agreement.

Nancy arrived looked pleased.

“Leaha and Tracy led the Abbess off to look at some plants and pretended they got poison ivy on her,” Nancy said with a giggle. “They took her over to the University medical clinic.”

Natalia noted that every woman was now gathering around. There seemed to be a united front against the Abbess.

“Sittel, I think it's time. She's broken the rules one too many times,” someone said.

“I agree. I will revoke her membership.”

Sittel turned to Natalia.

“There is a rule that the club is not to be used for business. Yes, we can make connections either as friends or business associates, but no business is to be conducted during our meetings.”

"Sounds like a good rule,” Natalia said. “Well, I could really use a cup of tea and a tour of the gardens, if that's allowed.”

"Of course,” Nancy said with a laugh.

The mood of the group changed. Natalia suddenly found herself with twenty new friends in addition to the three wives of Ravi.

"Consider yourself a member,” Sittel said.

It was now a little after three and the ladies were taking their leave. There was also a rumor that the Abbess was on her way back.

“I'll send you the packet we put together of the rules and regulations and our credo. In the back there will be a list of everyone's name and phone number.”

“Thank you. Everyone has been so kind.”

Her limo pulled up.

"We're so glad you came,” Nancy said.

Beah stood behind her nodding vigorously.

“I hope to see you again soon, take care,” Natalia said.

Bonnie opened the limo door for her. Natalia thought she stood a little more at attention. There was a little delay since many of the ladies were now in a hurry to leave, thus the exit to the parking lot was clogged. The figure of the Abbess was looming at the top of the stairs.

Natalia felt a wave of relief when the limo cleared the lot. She was feeling good about meeting all the ladies. There hadn't been a single high brow uppity personality among them. Being that all of them were much older than she, she felt like she had just gained twenty-three new aunts.

Her phone rang.

"Yes?"

"How was the tea party?” Sherri said.

“It went well.”

“Must have as you were there the full hour plus.”

"Yes. The only low note was the appearance of the Abbess. I guess she’s not popular.”

“No? Interesting news. How many ladies did you meet?”

"Aside from Ravi's three wives, twenty. I have names and phone numbers. Sittel is sending me a list of that information as well since I am now a member.”

"Excellent. Good work, thank you, Nattie. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

The call ended.

Natalia called her back.

“Yes, Nattie?”

“Not so fast. I have more.”

"Go on.”

“They talked about a newsletter called the Nightlife.”

"Yes. Derek Clock’s wife, Cindy, writes it.”

“I met her today.”

“I see,"Sherri said.

"Sittel wears a henna tattoo on her face and hands and commented about how people would say she was a Hollow so the newsletter came out with a picture and description on how to tell the difference.”

"Yes, we were instrumental in that through Derek.”

“I take it he has a mistress.”

Yes."

“They may want to ran another article regarding that.”

“Very good. Anything else?”

Natalia noted Sherri was being more patient.

“No, that's everything.”

“Very good. Thank you, Nattie.”

The call ended.

Natalia sat back. She smiled. It was a good feeling to be part of a group, to have friends, and to be free of her mother. She almost laughed while she looked at where she was. Here she was riding in a limo. She had a phone in her hand. A purse with money and an ID. There was fine clothing in her closet.

“I'm living the life you wanted, Mother.”

She smiled and almost laughed out loud at the irony of it all.

An odor permeated the limo. She looked out the window. They were passing through a restaurant district. Then Bonnie made a turn and it was behind them.

The odor seemed to linger then it faded. However, it evoked a memory.

Natalia sat up straighter. She picked up her phone and called Sherri.

“Yes, Nattie?"

“I think I smelled kite on the Abbess. No, I'm sure I smelled kite, but I couldn't tell if it was on her breath or her clothes. It was rather faint.”

“Interesting,” Sherri said. “Anything else?”

“No, that's all.”

“I'll look in to this.”

The call ended.

Natalia knew she was almost home when her phone rang again.

"Yes, Sherri."

“I have Mina here. She has some questions.”

"Yes?"

Natalia felt a little anxious since she remembered Mina was the one who managed to get Uri to breed.

“The kite smell on the Abbess, you said was faint.”

Yes”

"How close were you to her?”

“She was inches from my face.”

“She breathed on you?”

Yes."

“That means she wasn't on kite, but near someone who was,” Mina said.

“Damn. Sounds like they're distributing it again,” Sherri said.

“l was sure we had closed them down.”

“Get on it,” Sherri said rather sternly.

"At once,” Mina said.

“Thanks, Nattie,” Sherri said, then she ended the call.

The limo pulled into the laneway then into the garage. Natalia waited for the garage door to close. Bonnie opened the door for her.

“Thank you, Bonnie.”

Natalia noted that Uri's car was still gone.

She changed into jeans and grabbed her tablet. Mag had put sanguine tea and cookies on the coffee table for her. She was very glad for them. She chugged her tea and snarfed two cookies down.

“For having been to a tea party, I only remember one cup of tea and no munchies. I was too busy meeting everyone.”

The garage door sound reached her. She could almost track the sound of Uris car, him getting out of the car and him coming into the house. He passed through the living room.

“Save me a cookie,” he said.

“What?”

She stared.

He had blood splatted on his face and t-shirt, but he didn't seem concerned, trotting up the stairs to their bedroom.

She jumped up and went to the foot of the stairs, not sure if she should go up or not. Mag wasn't running in with bandages. There weren't any phones ringing.

“Is that your blood or someone else's?" she said, calling up to him.

There was no answer.

“Is this what you usually do on weekends?” she said.

She heard him chuckle, and he stepped out of the bedroom. He had his shirt off. There were dark areas on his chest.

“No, go sit down.”

He disappeared back into the bedroom. A few moments later, she heard the shower.

She returned to the sofa. Mag appeared with a pitcher, a glass, and another plate of cookies. She poured sanguine tea in the glass and refilled Natalia's glass before she returned to the kitchen. Natalia sipped her tea, wondering what had happened. She had some ideas and didn't like any of them.

It wasn't long before Uri trotted down the stairs in a clean t-shirt and jeans. He sat beside her, shoving a cookie in his mouth and sipping sanguine tea.

“This wasn't another breeding, was it?"

Uri eyed her and swallowed.

“No. I thought we already established that I'm not doing any more other than with you.” "Viperian women are crafty,” she said.

He nodded and laughed.

“I now know the trick up their sleeve and know how to avoid them,” he said.

“So what happened?”

“I went to visit Mr. Sturt.”

“So you beat him up?”

“No,” he said with a laugh. “However, Mr. Sturt is not doing very well. He got into something with his dick, and he picked up a few nasties. Sherri sent me back to Hell to see if I could find what he fucked.”

Natalia grimaced.

"Of course, he was no help,” he said.

“Did Ravi show up? At the hospital, I mean.”

“He did a visit, but didn't hang around. He seemed a little preoccupied, but I don't know with what. How was the tea party?”

“It was good. Very good. Met Sittel, Ravi's oldest wife. She's very nice. I feel like I met twenty new aunts who want to take care of me.”

“Be careful. Sometimes those sweet old aunts can be deadly.”

“I'll keep that in mind. The Abbess showed up as well. No one liked her.”

"All they want is money.”

“She smelled of kite, but Mina decided based on what I told her that she wasn't on it.”

“I thought Mina had closed down the Church kite dispensary.”

“That's what she thought, too.”

A bruise was forming on Uri's face.

“So what beat you up?” she said.

“I ran into a gang in Hell. Three to one. Almost an even match in my favor.”

He grinned.

“You went alone?”

“Not many want to go to Hell,” he said, taking another cookie.

“So did you find what Mr. Sturt fucked?”

“In the area he had been in, I found two dead women and a dead pig. Take your pick.”

"Oh, my word.”

"Otherwise, it was something that's moved. I wasn't going to go smell his crotch to get an idea. Besides, they bathed him. His clothing was thrown away in an incinerator. His mother brought him new clothes.”

“His mother?”

“The way Sophie said he was acting, I wasn't betting he had a wife.”

Uri's phone rang.

“Not Sherri,” he said, tapping to answer. “Hello, this is Uri.

Natalia couldn't tell whose voice it was.

Uri handed her his phone.

“It's Ravi. He wants to talk to you.”

Natalia looked confused. Uri shrugged.

“Yes? Hello Ravi," she said.

"So sorry to bother you on your time. I hope you had a good time at the garden party.”

"Yes, it was very nice. I enjoyed meeting Sittel.”

"Yes. Yes. I was wondering... if maybe you had Francie’s phone number?”

“No, I'm sorry. I don't have it.”

"Okay. Thank you. So sorry to have bothered you. Enjoy your weekend.”

He ended the call

"He wanted Francie’s phone number?” Uri said.

"He and Francie were, uhm...”

“Oh.”

“I don't think Francie liked him that much anyway.”

“I don't ask questions,” Uri said. “Why was a nurse from the hospital working in our conference room? I was just told she was going to be there.”

“A Sherri thing,” Natalia said.

He nodded and took another cookie.

"Oh, what did you call Sherri about while I was visiting Lisa?” she said.

“Sturt and Hell,” he said.

"Oh. I don't like you going to Hell.”

She gently touched the bruise on his face.

“Yes, dear.”

"And I'll be telling Sherri the same,” she said.

“Not wise to get cocky with her,” he said

“Watch me.”

He smiled and leaned in to brush her cheek.

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