Dark Illusions: The Beginning

by Ariana Browning

  “You are a great friend to me, Julian.”

  Julian nodded. “Let’s give more thought to it, ask around. We need to find out what Cyrus and Vincent have planned for her. It seems we already know what that is. And if so, she will have to stay here quite a bit longer. She won’t be safe anywhere else.”

  Kober nodded and watched Julian leave, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

  Twelve

  Kat woke up the next morning, disoriented. At first she wasn’t sure she knew where she was, until all the previous events she had been involved in returned to her. No, she wasn’t at her condo. This time she found herself in Julian’s castle. Julian. The feel of his arms still enveloped her.

  She lay in her white plush cloud a bit longer before she attempted to leave, luxuriating in the silk sheet’s embrace around her, and the feel of the silk gown Julian had lent her. Taking a deep breath, she glanced at the doors to the patio. The sun beamed through the sheers, casting a warm glow to the room that brought it back to life. Now this she could get used to.

  Kat peeled the covers back and dragged her body from the bed, hesitant to leave such comfort and warmth. While she changed into her clothes, she smelled fresh coffee and found it on a platter—with some kind of Danish as well—on the dresser across the room. Who’d left her coffee, and when?

  She meandered over and poured herself a cup, making sure to grab a Danish in the process. She scarfed the first one and grabbed another, taking more care with it than the last. She bit into it, reveling as the layers of pastry melted in her mouth, the sugar tickling her senses first, followed by cream cheese with a hint of lemon. She purred in delight.

  Leave it to Julian to serve only the best first thing in the morning. Pretty nice.

  Kat walked over to the patio doors and opened them, allowing the morning air to vanquish the last of her sleep away. She stepped out into the sun, basking in its warmth. Looking out over the courtyard below, one couldn’t help but notice how quiet the entire place was, how peaceful.

  Below her lay a stone courtyard and a large garage to the right. Beyond the courtyard a massive garden full of beautiful flowers was in bloom. The land went on as far as she could see.

  A huge, thick, black-iron gate blocked the castle from outsiders, which she figured had a security alarm ready to go off any minute. No guard shack sat beside the gate, but she wasn’t too surprised. Knowing the man living inside, most visitors probably didn’t try to break in. A few guards patrolled the grounds, but other than them, nobody lurked about.

  Beyond the gate, a street led down away from the castle. Further on, she could see nothing but land heading down the hill on either side.

  She turned away from the patio and headed inside to see if she could find anyone else awake. Going back down to Julian’s office, she gave a quick knock on his door, but the effort produced no answer. A quick glance in the meeting room found nobody there either.

  Kat whirled around upon hearing footsteps heading her way from down the hall. A maid came in her direction, an older woman wearing casual clothing. Upon seeing Kat, a warm smile lit up her face.

  Kat smiled back. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning to you, miss. How did you sleep?” The woman looked caught up in her work as she continued past, having no intention on stopping and having a conversation.

  “I slept well, thank you. Is anyone awake or around yet?”

  The woman answered while she passed by, “Of course not my dear. They’ll be sleeping until sundown I’m afraid.”

  “Oh. Ok. Thank you.”

  “You are quite welcome, my dear.” The woman moved down the corridor and turned the corner, continuing her rounds, but gave Kat another warm smile and nod before she disappeared.

  Kat looked around at her surroundings for a moment, trying to remember which way Kober had brought her through, then turned and headed to find that door that would lead her back down. Trying not to disturb anything, she headed down to the wine cellar, and made her way back down to Kober’s cave.

  She wandered around inside the cave and didn’t find Kober anywhere within, but she did see a beautiful painting of a woman, sitting at his easel.

  Stepping closer, she noticed the woman was lying on a bed of fluffy white covers and realized it was her. Was Kober the one who had brought her coffee in the morning? Was he watching her sleep? The paint looked damp, so he could still be around.

  “I am sorry. You should not have seen it,” Kober said from directly behind her.

  Kat jumped and whirled around, looking up at him. He looked remorseful. “Were you the one who brought me coffee this morning?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  “You have a lot of talent, this is a beautiful painting.” She paused and glanced about. “Why aren’t you asleep like everyone else?”

  “I could not sleep. I know it makes you uncomfortable that I was in your room, so I apologize.”

  “Why do you do that?”

  “I do not follow. Do what?”

  “You always seem to think I’m offended by your presence.”

  “In what way do you mean?”

  “I’m not entirely sure. I know that you seem as if you need to apologize all the time. Why is that?” Kat wandered over to sit on his chair near the side of the easel. Kober followed and perched himself against the edge of the table across from her.

  “I am not a nice man. I have done horrific things. Things of a nature which you cannot imagine. I am a monster. I will always have things I must apologize for.”

  Kat hated seeing the solemn look he held. “Why? I don’t understand Kober. Why should you apologize for who you are? Fine, you are a monster if you wish to call yourself that. I can see you’re different when I look at you. It’s clear. But why should you apologize for it? It’s just who you are. You can’t help it. I may not know what it’s like being what you and Julian are, but I have a strong hunch that it would hurt you to live as anything other than who you are. Maybe even as much as it hurts you to be who you are. I guess in that way you are as they say, ‘Damned if you do and damned if you don’t, huh?” She shook her head in frustration for the pain Kober must go through.

  “I was the one who snuck into your room, and yet here you are defending the monster I am. You have no idea what a stunning woman you are.” A gentle smile crossed his face.

  Kat blushed at the comment and ducked her head. “You flatter me too much. I may not be a monster, but trust me, I am just as flawed as you are. About sneaking into my room? Trust me, there are worse monsters than you that could’ve come into my room last night. You didn’t do anything. Did you?”

  “I would never harm you. I can promise you that. At least not intentionally. As I said, I am a monster—I may hurt you . . . inadvertently.”

  “You are a good man, Kober. Monster or not. You are a good man. I take comfort in your presence. I don’t fear you. I don’t believe you would ever hurt me, if you had a choice in the matter I mean. I am glad I met you when I did. I’m being honest when I say that. I shudder to think what would’ve happened if—”

  Kat clamped her mouth shut and moved over to him, watching the way he drew back. She ignored it and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him. At first he seemed uneasy about the display, but then grew a bit bolder and wrapped an arm around her, being careful, afraid to hurt her. When she pulled away, she told him, “Thank you.”

  Kober’s eyes twinkled. “As I told Julian last night, you are enchanting. I should be careful around you.”

  Kat’s eyes widened. “Julian? You two discussed me last night? What about?”

  “Nothing. I should not have said anything.”

  Her eyes sparkled in interest when she grinned. “Too late. Tell me. You discussed that I was enchanting to you, Kober? And what else?”

  “Julian asked me if I care for you.”

  “Oh? And what did you say? How could I care about a common human?” She let out a soft laugh, pretending to be him.

  “
Actually, no. I told him I did, quite a lot. But as I explained to him. Someone as beautiful as you could never feel anything for a monster like me.”

  Kat’s heart lurched, such pain. “Kober—”

  “Please do not feel the need to pity me—”

  “Don’t interrupt me. I don’t know what you think I see when I look at you, but it’s clear you think all I see is a monster. Okay, I can admit that when I first saw you, that is exactly what I thought. But Kober, you have been there for me. You have protected me. If it wasn’t for you, I’d be in a lot more trouble than I am. Again, you have been there for me and you are my friend. I don’t see you as anything other than a great man. That is why you are wrong. It would be easy to love someone like you.” She looked deep into his eyes to convey her sincerity to him as she reached up and stroked his cheek.

  “That I don’t love you has nothing to do with what you are or what you look like,” Kat said. “That I don’t is that I don’t. Besides, on a personal level, I think you can do a lot better than me. I don’t make it easy for people—anyone—to love me. It’s just who I am.”

  As Kat dropped her hand from his cheek, Kober stood up in front of her. When she didn’t back away from him, he cupped her face in his hands and leaned down to place a small kiss on her lips. Kat was taken aback for a moment with how much she liked it.

  Kober pulled away. “That is where you are wrong—you make it effortless to love someone like yourself.”

  He released her and watched a smile creep across her lips, blushing again at his compliment.

  “I should go and leave you to your work. Or hopefully to get some sleep.”

  “You are no bother to me. Stay if you like.”

  Kat smiled. “No really, I should go.” Get used to me running when things get too personal.

  “I will see you later,” Kober said with a soft smile.

  “Bye.” Kat gave a slight wave as she headed out, intent on going back up to the main floor.

  Thirteen

  Upon entering the hallway on the main floor, Kat stopped and looked around, listening for sounds that anyone else was awake. She heard nothing. Not one person talking, a whisper, creaking of the castle. The place had become a virtual tomb, but it didn’t frighten her. The quiet was comfortable to her. She felt at home in the strange large castle.

  Though she felt comfortable, she didn’t like being there, for the moment. She didn’t have her clothes, toothbrush, books, or anything else, and she didn’t know what she should do. Should she go find a TV and park herself until someone woke up? Should she find the kitchen and make a bite of food? Should she stay in her room? Would Julian like her wandering around all over in his home?

  She wanted a few of her belongings if she was going to stay with Julian for a while. Should she wait until Julian woke and get one of his guards to go with her? Well, she wasn’t a kid, she didn’t need someone’s permission to do as she pleased. The thought of waiting on Julian made her uneasy as hell.

  Come on. If everyone is asleep, then everyone who wants to harm me—specifically Cyrus—is asleep as well, right? Cyrus’s men were probably sleeping too. The last thing they’d assume she’d do was go home, right?

  Kat looked around at the empty home beyond her. Forget it. Everyone is asleep. Surely even Kober is asleep by now. The last thing she wanted was for one of Julian’s men to go rifling through her belongings.

  Kat glanced around again, feeling a sense of wrong in the pit of her stomach, but figured it was because she knew Julian wouldn’t be amused with what she was going to do. Julian seemed like a man who, when he asked a person to do something, it had to get done. No argument.

  Well, that isn’t me.

  No sound echoed in the hallway and she still heard no voices, nothing but complete silence. She left the castle, maintaining her normal composure so as not to alert the guards, thinking maybe they’d buy her act, and she could leave. Or maybe they hadn’t been told Julian wanted her to stick around as it seemed he had.

  Kat walked toward the front gate and a guard headed her way. She smiled and said, “Good Morning.”

  He took her cue and smiled. “Good Morning, Miss. Going for an early morning stroll?”

  Kat answered, but kept moving, “Yes, thank you. I didn’t want to disturb anyone, so I thought I’d wander the grounds for a bit.”

  He narrowed his eyes, finding it suspicious, but didn’t try to stop her. “Enjoy.”

  “Thank you.” He was already on his way, having accepted her answer.

  Kat went around the corner to the front gate and encountered another guard who stood by the gate. She kept moving and said, “good morning,” with a smile at him too. He nodded, but didn’t offer a smile. Pointing at the gate, she asked, “Would you mind?” He gave her a quick nod again, and she passed through the gate as it opened in front of her, uttering a “thank you.”

  Wow, it worked.

  Kat’s heart pounded and she was getting her giggly nervous laugh, but she suppressed it so the guard wouldn’t pay much more attention to her than he was. The smile remained on her face as she walked down the hill with the hopes that it would lead back to the city.

  She continued her descent for a long time until she came across homes lower on the hill. She caught a man named Colin leaving his home, on his way to work, and with the false story of a broken down car, got him to give her a lift home.

  Fourteen

  Colin pulled up in front of her building and turned the car off.

  Kat adjusted herself to face him. “If you don’t have to rush off, you’re welcome to come up with me. I can make you a drink as a thank you.” Part of her didn’t want him to leave and she really hoped he said yes. She didn’t want to go into her condo alone, and she enjoyed his company.

  “I’ll come up. You are better to deal with than some paperwork. I can spare a few minutes without the business crashing.”

  Kat laughed and nodded toward the building. “Thanks. C’mon.”

  When she entered, she didn’t see Daryl around, which made her happy. She strode toward the stairs, not wanting to waste a second in case Daryl came out and saw her waiting for the elevator. She glanced at Colin. “All the way upstairs.”

  They entered her condo with no problems. She looked around, expecting someone to pop out at her. Colin watched from the doorway, picking up on her fear.

  “Sorry. I’ve experienced a few break-ins not too long ago. Just wanted to make sure no one is here.”

  “You stay put. I’ll check the place out for you. You shouldn’t be the one wandering around.” Colin touched her lightly on the arm before he strolled into the back rooms.

  Kat confirmed her patio doors were shut and locked before she relaxed. Stomach rumbling, she checked the clock and saw it was noon. No wonder she was so hungry.

  Just after she moved into the kitchen, Colin entered. “Walked into a small table, then a bookcase, scared some bugs, but other than that nothing is amiss back there. I checked the windows in the rooms and none were unlocked either. No boogie men under your bed or in your closets . . . or shower.” He smirked as she opened the fridge and grabbed some bread.

  “Good to know. You didn’t hurt yourself did you?” She stopped what she was doing and looked over at him in concern.

  He chuckled. “Hmm. Let me think about that a minute.”

  Kat grinned. “Yeah, now you’re hurt. After the fact?”

  “Delayed pain.”

  “Are you hungry?”

  “Actually.” Colin told her as he walked toward her—

  A knock came at the door, startling Kat, making her drop the bread. Colin looked at her and saw just how serious the situation was.

  As Kat bent down and retrieved the bread, Colin walked over and placed his hand on her shoulder. “You stay here and I will get the door. I take it I don’t need to ask whether you were expecting visitors?”

  She nodded yes, then no, not knowing what else to say.

  He turned the corner and di
sappeared from sight, leaving Kat to grab the makings for a Panini for them both. She walked over to her counter and set the food down next to the grill, pausing to listen, and didn’t hear a thing.

  Why was it taking Colin so long?

  Kat went to take a step and an arm wrapped around her body. She tried to scream, but someone pressed a cloth against her mouth and nose, forcing her to inhale what was on it.

  As she drifted off, she heard a voice whisper, “Nighty-night kitty Kat.”

  Fifteen

  Kat’s head felt like it was being sliced open with a knife. She expected to open her eyes and find Kober or Julian staring down at her. Why wouldn’t they just ask her to come with them?

  Upon opening her eyes though, she didn’t recognize where she was. She wasn’t in her room, wasn’t in Kober’s cave. No music played and she could sense nothing familiar about where she was. Not the scent of a damp cave, not the soft silky sheets of Julian’s bed he’d provided. It smelled grungy, and the sheets were not soft.

  She went to rub her temples to ease the pain, but found her wrist handcuffed to the bed. Glancing around the room didn’t reveal much. Bare room, bare floor. The curtains covering the windows were open and it was dark out. When she’d been at the condo, it was noon.

  How long have I been asleep?

  A chair sat next to the bed like someone had watched her sleep, or they planned on sitting there soon. A lamp was lit, but other than that, there was no overhead lighting.

  Her head throbbed and she wished for some water to drink or food to eat. She also needed a bathroom. She slumped back against the pillow and stared up at the ceiling as she tried picking out any sounds outside the door to the room.

  Voices came from outside, but she couldn’t understand anything they said, just that they belonged to men.

  After a while, a deep voice came closer to the room. She kept her eyes closed so she could listen better, but it didn’t help. She didn’t hear the door open or close, but did hear the footsteps on the floor as they approached, and a part of her feared what she’d see when she opened her eyes.