by Kunz, C. A.
“Hey, sleepyhead, you stay in bed all day?” Taylor quipped.
“I’m allowed. It’s summer,” she laughed hollowly. “So Mom, what’s this thing at seven that I had to be home for?”
“Let’s eat first, I don’t want the pizza to get cold,” Rachel replied.
“But Mom, you like cold pizza,” Cat stated.
“I meant for you guys,” she muttered, not looking at her. Cat turned to her father and realized he hadn’t said a word yet. She went to speak, but then decided to wait until after dinner.
“So what’s with all the doom and gloom, parents?” Taylor spoke up, his mouth full of pizza.
“What have I told you about speaking with your mouth full?” Rachel snapped at him. Taylor looked at Cat in confusion. Cat shrugged her shoulders and mouthed, “I don’t know.”
As they were finishing dinner, the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it,” Sam said, breaking his silence. He quickly left the room and Cat could hear muffled voices coming from the foyer. Before Cat could ask her mom what was going on, the doorbell rang again, followed by the door opening, and more voices.
“Could you two clean up and then join us in the living room? I need to go meet with our guests,” Rachel said before hastily leaving the room.
“What’s going on?” Taylor asked. “I swear a person could get frostbite sitting with those two.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean. Dad didn’t look well when he came home yesterday. Do you think this is all about me?”
“Miss Red Freak, it’s not always about you,” Taylor tried to joke, but it failed miserably. “There goes the doorbell again.”
“Let’s go see what’s up,” Cat said in a worried tone.
The living room was full of familiar faces. Aldon stood at the front. “Catherine, Taylor, please come and join us,” he said, seeing them poking their heads around the corner. A knock came at the front door. “Oh, Catherine, could you let Matt in, please?” Bewildered, she went to the front door and opened it.
“My mom told me to come right over. What’s this all about?” Matt asked in a whisper.
“I don’t know, but the only way to find out is in the living room,” Cat said, grabbing his arm and pulling him down the hall.
“Ah good, Matthew. I believe you know everyone, right?” Matt nodded. “Well, now that you’re here, we shall begin,” Aldon announced. Cat and Matt moved to sit by Ryan on the couch in the corner. “I have received news from the Varulv council. I am afraid they require an audience with Catherine for her testimony on last week’s event.”
Cat sank into the couch, the pizza weighing heavy on her stomach. Sensing her distress, Ryan threw his arm around her.
“Now young lady, do not fret, this is just a formality. With all the evidence in our possession, you have nothing to fear,” Aldon said, and then flashed Cat a reassuring smile. “Matthew you are here because, as the only eye witness to the incident, you must accompany us. I’m afraid your parents will be made to believe you are at summer camp. We will discuss the details in a minute.” Matt sat there shell-shocked.
Taking a moment to collect his thoughts, Aldon continued, “All the evidence that has been gathered points to a traitor in the Varulv council, who we feel conspired with this master vampire in a plot to kill Catherine. As such, we need to be vigilant. Here at home, and abroad. We hope to rid ourselves of this mess quickly with the council, and be home as soon as possible. With Sam and me gone, you will be in charge as usual, Roland. And if Lucien should require any assistance with my basement residents, I am sure you will be available to help. Now, we leave tomorrow. Are there any questions?” Aldon asked as he scanned the room.
Cat buried her face into Ryan’s shoulder, trying to stop the tremors caused by the thoughts of what might lay ahead.
A proximity signal sounded through Robert Craven’s mountain hideaway. He moved over to his computer monitor and saw it was Max, his longtime friend and agent, at the front gate waiting to be let in. He hit the buzzer and watched as the large iron security gate crept open. He observed, through several security monitors, as Max’s car wound its way up the mountain toward his estate. “This can’t be good, he’s back early,” Robert muttered to himself.
Robert waited at the front door, anxious to hear what had caused this unplanned visit. “Back so soon?” he asked as Max came toward him.
“You don’t look happy to see me,” Max stated.
“This is my intrigued look,” he joked.
“So, are you going to let me in?” Max asked, pointing to the door.
“Am I going to like what you have to say?”
“Let’s just say you won’t be the happiest person,” Max replied.
Robert’s handsome face took on more of a somber look. “Catherine?” he asked.
“Yes,” Max replied.
“Serious?”
“Very.”
“Let us go discuss then, shall we? Would you like something to drink?” Robert asked, opening the front door.
Max was always in awe every time he stepped into Robert’s estate and saw the magnificent mountain view from the large, sweeping panoramic windows. “No, I actually can’t stay long. I need to get back,” he replied.
“Alright then, don’t keep me waiting. What is this news you bring me?” Robert asked as he poured himself a scotch on the rocks mixed with a shot of blood. It never failed to amaze Max that in all the years they were friends, and though Robert was a world-renowned author, he was always to the point and a man of few words when it came to discussing matters.
“Catherine has gotten herself in to quite the jam,” Max stated. “It has to be a setup. But nevertheless, the Varulv Council is still going to hold her responsible.”
“What is she accused of?” Robert asked.
“Murder.”
“A Varulv? She killed a Varulv?”
“It would appear so,” Max answered.
“Come on, she’s only sixteen years old,” he spat out.
“Robert, why don’t you sit down, and I’ll tell you what I know.”
“I prefer to stand if you don’t mind, old friend,” he replied and raised his glass to Max before taking a swig.
“No, old friend, I implore you to take a seat, for what I have to tell you will require you to again come out of hiding.” The moment Max spoke those words Robert set down his glass, put on a serious face, and took a seat across from Max. He listened very intently as Max told him everything.
A half an hour later, Max was on his way back down the mountainside to make plans for their trip to Austria.
22
The Void
The next day, the party boarded Aldon’s private jet which was headed for Austria.
“You know I can’t come with you, Cat, for obvious reasons,” Ryan said, and then kissed her softly as tears filled her eyes.
“I hate this. I want you to be there with me,” Cat whispered as she placed her forehead gently against his.
“I know, but there’s no way I can.”
“I’ll miss you,” she replied.
“You have no idea,” he stated sadly. “Well, you better get going. I’ll be waiting for you, remember that.”
Cat looked deeply into his blue eyes and smiled. “I love you,” she said, and then embraced him in a hug.
“I love you, too.”
Cat stood there framed by the plane’s open doorway and stared at Ryan forlornly until it closed. She gripped the ring he had given her in her left hand and swiped away the tears with the other. “Be strong, Cat, you’ve got to be strong,” she whispered to herself.
As Cat took her seat next to Matt, she could feel his nervousness. “It’s going to be okay, Matt,” she said as she buckled her seatbelt.
“I’ve never flown before. Heck, I’ve never left the state,” Matt stated, gripping the armrest tightly.
Poor Matt, last night he looked like he was going to throw up after the announcement that he was coming with us. I feel terrible. This is all my
fault, she thought. Cat reached over and put her hand on his, squeezing gently, trying to ease him.
“I’m sorry you have to go through this, Matt.”
“What was that?” he asked panicked, looking around frantically.
“We’re just moving,” Taylor replied and rolled his eyes.
As Matt settled his nerves, “I kind of feel guilty about the little white lie we planted in my parents’ memory. Since when have I ever gone to camp? But they actually believed it. I mean, Lucien made them believe it, but still,” Matt rambled on.
“It was for their safety and ours. You do understand that, right?” Cat asked.
“Yeah, but that doesn’t change how I feel about it, though,” Matt replied as he looked out the window and watched the tarmac disappear.
As the jet began to descend, the first thing Cat noticed was Austria seemed as lush as Astoria. There were forests of large trees and green fields as far as Cat’s eyes could see. The only real difference was the glorious snow-covered mountain range standing off in the distance.
It was raining, drizzling really, and a light fog trailed the ground. Two limos were waiting for them as they exited the jet, ready to transport them to their destination.
“I wonder how far we’re going. This doesn’t look like a main road.” Cat said as the limos continued on a small winding lane toward the majestic mountains. “Have you been here before, Taylor?”
“No, this is my first time,” he replied, continuing to look out the window at the trees flying by.
“It’s beautiful,” Cat said, staring at the mountains ahead. She leaned back in the seat. “I’m glad we got our own limo. I still feel awkward around Uncle Aldon.”
“Cat, how many times do we have to tell you? It wasn’t your fault,” Taylor replied, whipping around to look at her.
“I know, but I still shouldn’t have taken off by myself like I did. It was a stupid thing to do,” Cat murmured, fiddling with the clasp on her messenger bag that was in her lap. She looked over at Matt and saw him tapping his foot nervously while gazing out the window as if in a trance. She felt guilty that he had been dragged into this. “Matt, are you okay?”
“Sure, why wouldn’t I be?” he replied, not sounding convincing. “Is that where we’re going?” Matt asked while pointing at a large castle nestled at the bottom of the mountain range.
“Maybe,” Cat answered, shivering at the thought of what she may face behind its tall, dark grey walls.
“Never been to a real castle before…I kind of wish it was under different circumstances, though,” Matt laughed nervously, missing Cat’s worried expression as they pulled up to the front doors of the massive structure.
Taylor reached across the seat, placing his hand on Cat’s knee. “This will be a piece of cake,” he said, wanting to ease the fear in her eyes.
The limos came to a halt. The drivers jumped out and opened the doors, waiting for their passengers to get out. The castle’s colossal wooden doors creaked loudly as they slowly opened and a tall, thin-figured man emerged from them. His face was stoic as he waited patiently for them all to approach.
“I want to go home. I can’t do this,” Cat said, her nerves getting the best of her.
Aldon approached the thin man as Rachel and Sam went over to the open door of the other limo. “Mom, I can’t do this. Please, let me just go home,” Cat said tearfully.
Her mom knelt down, “We’re right here, Cat, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Come on now, let’s all go inside. The sooner we do, the sooner this will all be over.”
As Cat exited the limo, the tall, thin man’s stony gaze lingered on her, making her feel uncomfortable. “The name is Baroque. Please do come in. I will have Magda see you to your rooms. Dinner will be served promptly at seven,” he stated to the whole group, his gaze still fixed on Cat. His eyes flashed golden as he smirked at her. Dodging his stare, Cat quickly focused her attention on her mom.
Magda was just as warm as Baroque as she led the group down a long hallway lined with plush red carpet. She assigned everyone a bedroom, and Cat was relieved when she found out hers was between her parents’ room and Matt and Taylor’s room. Aldon and Druanna’s room was across the hall.
The inside of Cat’s room was awash with rich autumn colors. Its focal point was a huge four-post bed with a dark wood finish. Portraits of regally-dressed men and women were hung on all the walls, seeming to be trapped in a time gone by. Their ornate gold frames didn’t seem too gaudy and fit in nicely with the room’s décor. As Cat scanned the room while walking toward the pair of tall windows in front of her, she felt like every portrait was staring at her with their golden brown eyes.
While looking out the windows at the fairytale-like scenery below, Cat became entranced by the snow gently falling outside. She jumped when she heard a noise behind her. Turning, Cat watched as a man hastily left the room after leaving her bags just inside the door. Cat looked on as Magda, who had the looks of a cover girl, came slightly into the room.
“Is everything satisfactory, miss?” Magda asked coldly.
“Yes, thank you,” Cat replied nervously as the beautiful woman stared at her.
“If you like, you may wash up in the bathroom behind the door. Someone will come for you when it is time for dinner.” Not waiting for her reply, Magda abruptly left the room and closed the door behind her. Cat lay down on the bed and curled up.
“I will not cry…I will not cry,” she said softly trying to fight back the tears.
Dinner was a strained affair. The dark red wooden dining room table seemed to go on for miles. The food looked and smelled delicious, but Cat had lost her appetite. She spent most of the evening pushing her food around the plate with her fork. After dinner, Cat was relieved when everyone retired to their rooms. She was totally exhausted, partly from the travel and the time change, but mostly from thinking about what lay ahead. She had to reassure everyone several times that she would be okay in her room by herself.
Cat laid awake thinking about giving her testimony in the morning in front of the Varulv council. After many restless hours, exhaustion took over, and she finally fell into a deep sleep.
Cat’s stomach growled as a small woman with wiry hair brought a tray full of breakfast food into her room. The woman avoided eye contact with Cat as she placed the tray on the end table, and then left without a word.
Cat had just finished getting dressed when her parents knocked on her door. Grabbing her messenger bag from the floor, she left her room and was escorted downstairs where the others were waiting.
“You two ready?” Aldon asked. Cat and Matt nodded their heads. “Then follow me,” he directed, and then led them down a long hallway, with Matt holding Cat’s hand. No one said a word. Reaching the end of the hall, Cat looked at Matt, puzzled as it seemed they had reached a dead end.
Aldon reached out his hand and placed it onto the wall, concentrating. “Magie öffnen,” he said aloud. As the wall began to shake, the wallpaper curled up and peeled away, exposing the brick foundation underneath. The sound of bricks grinding against each other filled the hallway as they began to rearrange themselves, revealing a hidden passage. It led to a cramped corridor that was lit by old-fashioned torches.
“Wow,” Matt whispered into Cat’s ear as she squeezed his hand tighter.
The passageway seemed endless with many twists and turns and at the end was a huge arched wooden door. Aldon pulled it open by the large wrought-iron handle, revealing a stone cavern filled with beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. Matt and Cat stood still, holding up the group as they marveled at the sight before them.
“Sorry, young ones, the council is waiting,” Aldon said regretfully, wishing that all they had to do today was observe nature’s beauty.
Traveling across the cavern they made their way to an iron door in the distance. Aldon knocked three times and then a loud grating noise echoed in the vast space, as the iron door slid open to the side. A guard stood at attention as they passed by,
his uniform as dark as the look on his face. Cat kept her eyes averted but felt his gaze boring into her. A stone spiral staircase greeted them at the end of the torch-lit corridor and Aldon began to ascend them. Cat stopped counting the steps after fifty and just kept her eyes on Aldon’s back.
“Look, another door. Will we ever get there?” Matt asked, his voice breathless from the climb. Entering the room, Cat scanned the large space and noticed several ornate white chairs and a couch trimmed in gold meticulously placed about.
“Make yourself comfortable,” Aldon said to the group as he pulled Cat to his side. “The rest of you will have to wait here for us. As only I can bring Cat in for her testimony. Don’t worry, Cat will be safe with me.”
“Be strong, Cat,” Rachel said, moving forward to hug her. “Remember they’re just a bunch of old men and women. They may act mean, but that’s their job. We’ll be waiting right here for you. Just tell them exactly what happened.” Sam bent over and kissed Cat’s hair, gently squeezing her arm. Aldon took her hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow, patting it softly.
“Ready, Cat? Let’s get this over with,” Aldon said softly. After one last look at her family, Cat followed Aldon out of the room.
The doors to the main hall were enormous. They were made of old red wood and trimmed in gold. Two men stood guard on either side, their faces blank as Aldon and Cat approached. Each guard grabbed one of the golden doorknobs and pushed the door open. A large chamber with several stairways that led down to rows of plush stadium seats lay ahead. Women and men were milling around, and as Aldon and Cat stood at the top of the stairs, everyone turned and stared, not a smiling face among them.
To her relief, instead of leading Cat down into the lion’s den, Aldon turned left and led her along the edge of the room, above the crowd below. Across the way on a high stage, Cat saw a long, curved, marble table with thirteen empty high back chairs sitting behind it. Halfway around the room Aldon stopped at the entrance to a narrow walkway. The walkway led out over the crowd and directly faced the stage.
