Ruby hid her amusement. Although no gashes were carved into Bennett’s face, it was coated in the blood of their assailants. Ruby spat out the blood that had leached into her mouth and wiped her lips with the back of her hand. “Yeah, I’m fine. Worse than it looks.”

Bennett nodded and focused on Napoleon as she stepped over the first body in her way. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but it appears you’ll need to find more than just a few new slits now. Honestly, though, I don’t think you’ll have the time.”

“That’s what you think. I was hoping not to waste the first appearance of my pets on the likes of you bitches,” Napoleon pulled a remote from his pocket and pressed a button. “But, oh well.”

The double doors stationed around the arena came to life. The metal panels receded into the ceiling, exposing the barred cells behind them, and as they did, the sound of heartbeats became deafening.

Ruby stepped closer to Bennett. “What the fuck is that?”

Bennett looked from one cell to the next. Behind the iron bars stood emaciated, leathery beings, the skin on their faces hanging from their jowls like it was melting off. They wore nothing more than tatters, soiled and stained clothes decades old, and around their necks were black collars, each displaying a luminous cardinal-red light. Like statues, they stood looking back at the women through eyes void of life.

It took Bennett a few moments before she figured out what the cells contained, and when she did, all the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. “It’s his bloody army.”

“What?”

“They’re vampires,” Bennett said under her breath. “And by the looks of them, he’s been starving them of food and blood.”

Ruby swallowed hard. “Oh…shit.”

“And now that I have your attention,” Napoleon said, raising his voice. “Please allow me the time to gloat. I mean, seriously, talk about two birds and a stone. Although I have to say Flanna is just icing on the cake.” Napoleon rubbed his hands together in glee and threw himself onto his throne. “After all these years, after all the endless accolades I’ve had shoved down my throat about Max’s pet cunt, I finally have you right where I want you, Archer. Helpless.”

“You think I’m helpless,” Bennett said, adjusting her grip on her swords.

“Not yet, but soon.” Napoleon looked up at Ivan and held out the remote. “Care to do the honors?”

Ivan snatched the remote from Napoleon and pressed his ham-shank-sized thumb on a button. Around the room came a series of electronic clicks, and one at a time, the cell doors opened.

In an instant, Bennett and Ruby widened their stances, preparing to be rushed, except the skeletal vampires didn’t move. They didn’t even blink.