by A and E Kirk
“Oh my God!” Kiara skirted around the desk after him. “He opened the door!”
“Kiara, stop.” Butch stood in front of the exit, arms out. “I don’t think he’s here to steal anything.”
“Neither do I.” Kiara grinned at him as she passed by.
A quick check out the door revealed nothing but the man’s shadow across the tight spiral of stairs. The stone steps were freezing against her bare feet, but Kiara hardly noticed, so excited at being out of the tower.
Butch kept a firm grip on Kiara’s elbow to keep her from rushing down. The stairs opened up to a hall of eggshell-colored stone walls and creamy marble floors that were not any kinder to her feet.
Twisted iron chandeliers cast a bluish-white light on the intruder as, mid-step, he flicked his arms down and out to the side. Two short swords slid out from his sleeves. Without breaking stride, he sauntered out the end of the hall and swung his arms wide. Two heads toppled at his feet.
The assassin made a sharp left out of sight. In his wake, two bodies crumpled across the entryway on top of each other.
“Retreat!” Butch hissed.
Kiara sprinted ahead. “I think he’s Oleander.”
“So do I!” Butch screeched, eyes wild with fear. “Let’s hide, missy. Now!”
“Let’s go to the ocean!” Kiara flattened her back against the wall of the entryway, and then peeked out to make sure the coast was clear.
She spared only a casual glance at the dead bodies on the floor. Rotted faces and skin a sickly blotch of yellow and purple. An obsidian ooze glugged from their necks and stained the shiny marble. A couple of murdered zombies were certainly nothing to cry over. There were at least a few dozen more stumbling about the palace to replace them.
Out in the corridor, Butch twirled an anxious circle on the other side of the zombies. “The ocean? What about the serial killer loose in a palace full of potential victims?”
Kiara shrugged, skipped over the corpses, and headed the opposite way of the man she was now almost certain was Oleander. “Someone else’s problem. Besides, you just said we should hide.”
“Kiara,” Butch growled.
“Ugh.” Kiara let her head fall back with the groan. “Fine.” She kicked a frustrated jig, then stomped after the assassin.
“Wait! I didn’t mean go after Oleander.” Butch fell in step beside her. “Just tell someone he’s here.”
Kiara smiled with anxious hope. “Then we go to the beach?”
“Yes. Wait!” He grabbed her arm to keep her from rounding the corner.
Kiara peeked out. The assassin stalked down the corridor and descended the stairs to the assembly room below. She waited a beat and then followed. The corridor also served as a balcony to view the large chamber below. Its black leather furniture was strangely empty. Usually, at least a few undead could be found hanging out there. The ebony curtains were drawn shut even though dawn was hours away.
“You know, we haven’t heard a single sound since we got out,” Butch said.
“So?”
“It’s night and hundreds of undead live within these walls.”
Kiara stilled and did a slow spin. “You’re right. Where did they all go?”
Footsteps echoed up the stairs.
Kiara dropped on all fours and crawled under an accent table, rattling the vase of lilies perched on top.
Butch frowned. “Genius. No one will see the girl in the bright yellow nightgown.”
“I don’t have many options, do I?”
“A little magic would be extremely useful right about now.”
“Very funny. Would you just hide before someone sees us?”
“Kiara?” a deep voice boomed.
“Ugh,” Kiara groaned. “Busted.”
CHAPTER 5 Bane stood a few paces away, several suited bodyguards at his flanks. He was a giant of a man, tall and thick, an intimidating mass of muscle. Despite the paleness of being a vampire for centuries, his skin was still dark enough to make evident his mixed-race ancestry. The bastard son of a French nobleman and his Haitian slave was all Kiara remembered, and she did not know how she knew that much. He was also the queen’s right-hand man, although Kiara found little right about him.
Bane’s midnight blue silk dress shirt stretched ever so subtly across his torso, just in case anyone failed to notice his immense size. He hitched his black trousers and scratched his heavy beard, which was always neatly trimmed.
“Bane!” Kiara rushed toward him.
Bane scowled in irritation. “What are you doing out of your cage, you tiny twit?” He patted the top of her head, easy to do since he towered at least a foot taller.
Kiara knocked his hand away. “You’re a stupid . . . nitwit.”
“Excuse me?” Bane raised a warning brow.
Butch pinched Kiara’s arm.
“Fine.” She rolled her eyes. “There’s an intruder sneaking about the house. I think it’s Oleander, and I think he came to kill me. You’d better call more guards.”
Now it was Bane’s turn to roll his eyes. “Great. Brain still on meltdown, little one?” He sighed. “So much for Dr. Lyons and all his useless hours. I’d be much more useful helping get your memory back.”
“That’s against the rules,” Kiara said.
“So is breaking out of your room,” he countered. “If Oleander really was here, there’d be no slinking quietly through the corridors.” His smile turned dark. “The Butcher of Britain. The Flayer of France. Europe’s finest executioner. Slaughtering entire villages—men, women, children—with so many slices of the scythe. Oleander always makes a splash. With gallons of blood and piles of body parts.” He made a dramatic gesture of wiping away a fake tear. “I really miss those days.”
“You miss killing?” Kiara asked.
“I miss the excitement of the unknown,” Bane said wistfully. “The world has become such a bore. We should spar again, you and I. That always cheers me up.”
“Doesn’t cheer me up. Last time you gave me a black eye.”
“Exactly,” he smiled. “And the time before that, I gave you two black eyes and broke your arm. You should be thanking me.”
“Why?”
“Because it shows you’re improving, little one. With my help. How else are you going to learn? Leontes won’t spar with you. He just plays stupid kid’s games, like hide and seek.” He shook his head with disdain.
“I don’t think they’re stupid,” Kiara said.
“Because you’re not right in the head. So, you and me, in the gym tomorrow? Let’s say around—” He stopped to sniff the air and frowned. “Why do I smell zombie blood? What did you do now? I am not cleaning up another one of your messes.”
“It wasn’t me. It was the assassin.”
“Of course it was,” he said, thoroughly annoyed. “So what is it tonight? Another bad dream? Or are you hallucinating again?”
“Lie,” Butch said.
“No.” Kiara gave Bane a formal salute. “My mind is fit as a fiddle.”
Kiara winked at Butch. He groaned.
Bane glanced at Kiara’s side and shook his head. “Who is it this time? The old cowboy? He is a favorite of yours. You should hallucinate someone handsome and charismatic like me rather than that old fart.”
“Hey!” Butch said, highly offended, then muttered, “Well, ain’t no matter. Don’t care what a dumb Sasquatch like him thinks anyway.”
“Sure you don’t,” Kiara said.
“No sass from you, missy.” Butch gave her an anxious glance. “And don’t look at me. I’m not real!”
Kiara scratched her head. Sometimes that was hard to remember. Butch was a hallucination, conjured from some part of her fractured mind. Kiara breathed deep and focused on Bane.
“Where is everyone?” she asked.
“Charity ball.” Bane’s voice took an oddly tight lilt.
“Awesome.” Kiara clapped her hands and grinned. “L
et’s go catch the assassin before they all get back. He can’t be far. You just passed him on the stairs.”
When Bane laid his left hand on her shoulder, Kiara stiffened. She would rather he did not touch her at all, let alone with the hand missing a digit. Only a heavily scarred nub remained where his ring finger should be. It gave Kiara the creeps.
He bowed low so he could look her in the eyes. “Look, little one, there was no one on the stairs and there’s no scent out of the ordinary. You’re having another bad night. That new medication Lyons prescribed is obviously useless.”
Kiara slid Butch a sideways glance. “Are you sure the assassin is real?”
“Yes, but stop looking at me!” Butch backed out of view.
Kiara asked Bane, “Where’s Frankie? Who’s supposed to be watching me?”
“I am,” Bane said. “Which isn’t at all fair. I had to cancel a date to babysit the likes of you.”
“Disappoint another supermodel? Or was it a starbet?” Kiara said. “You should be careful. I think one of your last dates was part fairy. The queen frowns on hanging out with the enemy. But you go ahead. I’ll be fine.”
“It’s starlet,” he said with a lecherous smile. “Fairy? That would explain a few things. Now let’s get you back to your room. I’ll even tuck you in.”
“Ew. No,” Kiara cringed then backed away from Bane’s touch. “Plus, it’s against the rules, and Leontes wouldn’t like it.”
Bane shrugged. “Maybe not, but he’s not here. And you know I hate rules.”
“The queen left you with Bane?” Butch’s voice was heavy with suspicion. “Something’s wrong.”
“I know,” Kiara muttered. “Bane, help me catch him and you’ll look good in front of the queen.”
“I already look good,” Bane smirked. “You’re the one that needs to score points. Hey, if you want this killer so bad, go get him yourself.”
Kiara narrowed her gaze. “You’d let me leave the mansion?”
“Sure. Because crazy is as crazy does, and if you want to prove you aren’t crazy…” He stepped back and swept his arm down the hallway. “Have at it. I’m all about showing support.”
“Sir,” one of the guards said nervously. “That isn’t sanctioned. I don’t think—”
Bane slammed a fist into the man’s face. The guard dropped flat on his back, unconscious, blood pouring from his nose. Another man started to help his comrade, but at Bane’s steely look, the man put his hands behind his back and stared straight ahead.
Bane smiled at Kiara. “Go on, little one. Find this so-called intruder and prove everyone wrong.” When Kiara hesitated, he added, “Unless you’re really all talk. Don’t actually have the guts to leave the mansion, eh? The Kiara I remember wouldn’t be such a coward. But what do I know?” His smile widened, showing his fangs.
Kiara lifted her chin and threw back her shoulders in a defiant pose.
“No!” Butch cried. “Don’t do it.”
But Kiara ignored him and gathered her skirt. She strode past Bane and the guards, ready to jump out of the way if any of them tried to grab her.
They did not.
Bane gave a low chuckle that echoed off the stone walls. He told the guards, “Bring me the copper penny. I suddenly have an appetite.”
Butch raced to catch up to Kiara. “You realize he just goaded you into this idiotic move, don’t you? Bane never, I repeat never, has your best interests at heart. This is all kinds of bad. Leontes would not approve!”
“Like Bane said,” Kiara shot back with heavy bitterness, “Leontes isn’t here.”
CHAPTER 6 Kiara pulled on a pair of heavy boots she kept hidden near the front door and ran outside. She took some time enjoying the smell of freedom before focusing on the intruder’s scent, following it through the various modern buildings and into the woods that surrounded the compound.
The sprawling estate rambled over endless acres of rolling hills along the Malibu beach coastline. She easily skirted through the wilderness, unconcerned with the shrubs and branches that caught her nightgown. She headed away from the cliffs and the soothing sound of pounding surf. When she came to the high wall at the perimeter, she did not hesitate. In one great leap, she landed on top of it in a crouch, staring down at the road directly below.
“Kiara, don’t do this,” Butch pleaded from the ground.
“I’m not scared.”
“That’s the problem. You should be scared. You ain’t equipped for this. You’ve been in that mansion for years. You don’t know a thing of the outside world.”
“That’s what makes it so exciting!”
“No, it doesn’t!”
She grinned. “Don’t be such an old fart.”
Out of sight, an engine roared to life. Kiara leapt down to the road and rushed toward the sound, but by the time she made it around the bend, the car was driving off. She ran, picking up speed, but the car pulled away.
Kiara slowed, and before the red taillights disappeared in the growing mist, she pointed her finger and said, “I will find you.”
As the mist thickened into a drizzle, Butch appeared next to her, doubled over and wheezing. “And how are you going to do that? Stop the next vehicle and demand that they follow that car?”
“Great idea!”
Headlights came around a corner. From the side of the road, Kiara waved her arms. “Hello! Stop!”
“Quit that!” Butch yelled. “I was joking! This isn’t like one of your movies!”
The car passed without slowing. The next two cars did the same, even though she tried various tactics. Smiling wide, sticking two thumbs up, showing them a peace sign, and even yanking up her skirt to show off her boots. When the third and fourth car came along, Kiara stomped several frustrated steps into the road, causing them to swerve and honk loudly, but they kept going.
“No one is going to stop on their own,” Butch told her, looking up at the sky. “You look like a lunatic axe murderer. The rain is getting worse. You’re getting soaked. It’s time to go back.”
“You’re right,” Kiara agreed.
“Finally.” Butch turned back toward the mansion. “If we hurry, and if Bane keeps his mouth shut, no one will ever know that you left. Kiara? I said if we hurry…”
But Kiara was not listening. She chewed on her lip and, when the next set of headlights appeared, she walked into the middle of the road and stood in the rain, facing the oncoming car.
CHAPTER 7 The only thing louder than the screech of tires on wet pavement was the scream of the girl inside the car.
Skidding on the slick road, the car came closer and closer, fishtailing the final few yards as it headed straight for Kiara. At the last second, she slammed her hand down on the edge of the hood and brought the car to an abrupt halt that lifted the vehicle’s rear end off the ground.
The tires landed back on the pavement with a pounding thud. Kiara rushed to the passenger side. The teenage girl’s hands covered her face. Her screams subsided to shaky whimpers.
The young man in the driver’s seat, with thick black-framed glasses askew on his face, had his eyes closed and his hands locked on the steering wheel as he muttered, “Oh my God, oh my God,” over and over again.
Kiara knocked on the window.
Both occupants threw their hands in the air and shrieked.
Kiara cringed against the loud noise. She could smell their fear and adrenaline, hear their hearts pumping like jackhammers. She smiled in what she hoped was a reassuring manner and spoke calmly.
“Hello. Thank you for stopping. I could really use your help.”
Eyes bugged, the girl stammered, “You-you-you’re not dead?”
Kiara shrugged. “I’m a little dead. But that’s a long story for another time.” She opened the rear door and climbed into the backseat. “I need you to follow a car. I must apprehend an assassin.”
The two teens stared at each other, then twisted around to stare at Kiar
a.
“What!” the girl said.
“Are you crazy?” cried the boy.
Kiara smiled. “Wow, you two are really killing it with the guesses tonight. But again, long story, another time. Now, if you wouldn’t mind.” She pulled something out of her boot and showed it to the two wide-eyed occupants. “I’m on a very important case, and we really need to go.”
The boy stared at the gold badge and turned green. “Oh, God. I almost killed a cop.”
CHAPTER 8 “She’s climbing out! Jeez, Eddie. Out the roof. She’s climbing out the roof!”
“What am I supposed to do, Daphne? I’m driving! Or trying to. She’s letting the rain in, and it’s getting on my glasses and I can hardly see! Why’d you let her open the moonroof anyway?”
“Because she’s a cop! And I thought it was a sunroof.”
“Not at night, duh.” He took off his glasses and wiped them awkwardly on his jeans, then hunched over the wheel again, squinting through the smeared spectacles. “Get her back in here. But be careful. This car is vintage and my mom will freak if there’s a scratch.”
“It isn’t vintage. It’s just old. And getting her inside isn’t so easy.” Daphne grabbed at Kiara’s swinging legs, almost getting kicked in the head as the ‘detective’ wiggled out. “Stop the car!”
“No!” Kiara said, plopping herself on the edge of the roof’s opening, letting her booted feet dangle inside the car. “We must follow him. Stay on course. I can smell him better from out here.”
“Did she say smell him?” Eddie said, his voice rising above accepted masculine levels.
They had been driving for a while, heading into Los Angeles, with Kiara giving directions. She stared at the city as they passed by.
Her body tingled with glorious excitement. So much life happening with shops and restaurants and humans doing dozens of different things. Laughing and talking, eating and drinking. She had seen a most colorful Ferris wheel turning round and round on the pier. There were even people dancing inside a place where music blared and vibrant lights flashed. If she were not tracking an assassin, she would love to stop and experience it all.
