Dark Illusions: The Beginning

by Ariana Browning

  Kat looked at him and relaxed when his words sunk in, melting her fear away. “Thank you Kober.” At the compliment, he ducked his head. She held up her hand and told him, “Oh. Hold on.”

  Going into her room, she changed out of the dress, and into some lounge wear, then took the dress back out to Kober. “I don’t want to keep a dress that isn’t mine.”

  “You know Julian—”

  “No. Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt. I know you mean well, but . . . no. Please, just take it.”

  “I will leave if you would like me to.”

  Kat shrugged and a small laugh escaped her. “I have to get used to being on my own I guess. Otherwise you are more than welcome to stay. I enjoy your company. Quite a lot.”

  “I appreciate you mentioning so, but I will leave you.” Kober let himself out, but before he could walk away, Kat ran after him and gave him a big hug.

  “Thank you for being here, for protecting me, for being a friend when I needed one.” Kober ducked his head again at the compliment. If he could blush, she swore she would’ve seen him do so. She smiled while she watched him walk down the hall.

  Sighing to herself, she headed back inside her condo and locked the door. She knew she would have to wash all her stuff. She didn’t want to take any chances that someone had touched any of her clothes. The thought horrified her and she hoped what Julian said was true. That she would never have to see Vincent again.

  Twenty Five

  It’d been a long time since Kat spent the night with Julian, and those first few weeks took some getting used to. They were the hardest. She kept thinking someone was in her condo, and any minute they’d grab her and take her away. She thought she’d seen Vincent once too, but it was her mind playing tricks on her.

  She remained jumpy for a while, but soon came to find someone was in the condo with her on those nights when she woke up startled. She didn’t know who for sure, but she figured Kober checked up on her, since she already knew he liked to watch her sleep. There were moments when her gut feeling told her it wasn’t Kober, but someone else.

  Someone who made her feel a lot safer than Kober. A man who couldn’t stay away from her for long, but didn’t want to disturb her, or let her know he was around. Still, she began associating most noises with Kober or one of his clan, and it helped her to grow more comfortable.

  After that came the nightmares. She dreamt Vincent would enter her bedroom and rip her clothes off, or rip her sheets off the bed. She’d wake up only to find she’d thrashed so hard she’d kicked her covers off the bed herself. It wasn’t some evil presence trying to harm her.

  If someone stopped in the hall outside her door, she pictured Vincent’s men out there about to come in after her. Her heart would begin trying to escape her chest and she’d feel her world spin. She’d grow light-headed until she figured out it was someone looking for another condo, or happened to stop in front of her door and it had nothing to do with her.

  Those moments were nothing more than a panic attack. She didn’t pass out, didn’t die, didn’t scream and run, hide under her covers, though it felt like she would. And the most important part of it was that Vincent’s men never came bursting in through the door. They weren’t anywhere near her.

  Kat learned in time that she was stronger than she gave herself credit for. It helped to call friends and talk to them about trivial things to get her mind away from it all. They didn’t know what went on in those moments, or with Vincent, so it helped clear her mind. She didn’t have to answer questions she knew would arise from them knowing the situation.

  It also helped to know Kober—or someone else—was always near. Someone was always there watching over her if she needed anything. She knew if she screamed, they’d be there. She’d thought about testing the theory, but knew it’d be unfair to whoever heard her.

  It took work getting used to Daryl, he still worked the front desk. She was disgusted with the thought of him downstairs in the beginning. On a few occasions, she was afraid to walk through the lobby and tried to avoid it by using the backdoor, but one day he stopped her. He’d wanted to tell her she didn’t need to worry about him. Julian made it clear what would happen to him if he had any ideas.

  It took a while to believe him, but with time and the knowledge of Julian being Daryl’s prince, and the Prince of the City, she did. If Julian told Daryl to leave her alone, Daryl would have no choice but to obey. He more than likely didn’t want to go against Julian period, not just because of him being the prince. Hints of Julian were everywhere now that she knew about him and Kober, and the rest of them.

  Kat didn’t know Julian kept tabs on her as much as he did either. She assumed Daryl was told long ago to leave her alone. But one day when Daryl chatted with her, he’d let it slip how it was weeks after she came home when Cage brought Daryl to see Julian. The only reason being to remind Daryl of what Julian expected of him.

  “May I speak with you miss?” Daryl stood as Kat walked through the lobby. She was working hard not to look at him. “I know you want nothing to do with me, but once we were friends and I would at least, if nothing more, like to explain. Help you to feel safer coming and going. Your decision of course.”

  Kat took another step before stopping to hear him out. If for nothing more, then maybe he wouldn’t talk to her again.

  She let out a deep sigh. “Go ahead, but know it won’t mean anything to me.” She crossed her arms, keeping a safe distance.

  Daryl nodded and leaned across the counter. “I appreciate it. I don’t expect my words to change anything between us, but I do feel they should be said. You’re safe to go and come. It was under Vincent’s orders that I helped catch you. I understand your suspicion, but with Vincent gone, you don’t have any reason to fear me going against the prince’s wishes. He’s made it quite clear—countless times—that if I harm you, I will not be welcome in his city anymore.”

  Daryl paused, shaking his head in angst, muttering more to himself than her, “Yeah, that’s putting it mildly.” He cleared his throat and flinched as though seeing her for the first time. “Anyway, Vincent made it clear he’d wanted you as the new Raaka queen. He had me convinced he’d take over the city. Not knowing Julian, the clans laws, and having the Raaka blood running through my veins, I was all for charging full speed ahead. I can’t say I’m completely sorry. I do believe you would make an excellent Raaka queen, but without Vincent around, and with Julian down my throat every month reminding me . . . well, don’t be afraid I’ll try to kidnap you or harm you is all I’m sayin’.”

  Kat studied him. She didn’t know whether to believe him or not. As she learned about the Raaka clan, they were brutes. Charge ahead, as Daryl put it, was what they did. They lied. They were thieves. They were monsters. They were thugs. They were nothing she ever wanted to live as.

  “I’ve said my piece. Make of it what you want.” Daryl sat back down, interrupting her thoughts.

  Kat shrugged and spoke more to herself than to him, “Yeah.” She went up to her condo, leaving Daryl with nothing from her.

  Ever since they had had that conversation, Kat wasn’t as afraid of walking past Daryl as she’d been. On one or two occasions, she’d given him a bit of a smile when she passed through, rather than ignoring him as she’d been doing.

  It wasn’t until later, Kat remembered Daryl telling her—he hadn’t realized it—Julian kept tabs on her. “Every month” Daryl said he was “reminded” to stay away from her.

  The pain Kat felt from Julian’s avoidance, or simple dismissal, faded. She knew in her heart Julian was forced to stay away, not because he didn’t want her, but because of who, or what, he was. They were victims of circumstance. It hurt that he couldn’t talk to her, but at the same time, she didn’t blame him. He did his part by keeping her safe. If he was as uninterested as Vincent tried to make her believe, Julian wouldn’t have made sure she was always taken care of.

  She knew Vincent wanted her to hate Julian enough to stay away because o
f the attraction between her and Julian. And that way when Vincent turned her, as his plan had been, she would’ve hated Julian. The Raaka clan hated Julian, but she didn’t understand why.

  One night Kat awoke in the middle of the night feeling like Julian was there, before realizing it was nothing more than a dream. It took a while to face that he hadn’t been standing in her open patio doors, watching her sleep, and apologizing to her.

  She sat up in bed with a knot in her throat. Her eyes watered, but she shoved the tears back down. Rubbing her face and looking at the clock, she saw it was only three am. Already she had difficulty falling asleep, now she wasn’t sure if she could fall back asleep for another few hours. Climbing from the bed, she wrapped her arms around her, then made her way over to the open doors.

  Hugging herself, she looked up at the stars and full moon shining above. Speaking to the moon and to the ears she knew listened in the night, she whispered, “I can’t stop thinking about him. I need him to explain to me why we can’t be together. I know we are two different species, but our hearts feel the same way. It hurts. I feel him around me all the time. I can’t let go. I feel his presence all the time. Tell me he isn’t there. Tell me to forget about him. Tell me how to . . . I don’t know.”

  Kat stood watching the moon for a long time. Underneath her, the ears that listened, ached for her. They felt the pain she went through and they felt the sorrow as though it was their own.

  The next day Kat arrived back home and encountered a dozen red roses sitting on her table. She called down to the front desk and asked Daryl if anyone came up to her condo. Confused, he asked her why. When she told him, he said he hadn’t seen anyone.

  She hung up the phone, walked over to her table and stared at the flowers before picking up the attached card.

  Friday night was handwritten on the back.

  Kat turned the card over to read the name of a club—Inferno—printed on the back with an address. The owner’s name was also printed there. Cara. One of the other clan leaders.

  She wasn’t sure who sent the roses, or wanted to meet up at the club. She’d never seen Kober, Julian, or Cara’s hand writing so she couldn’t be sure who wrote the card.

  Twenty Six

  Friday night, Kat stood outside Inferno, unsure whether to go in or not. A long line of people were waiting to get in, so she took it to be a popular place. They stood on her right, and to her left was a group of Harley motorcycles that waited along the curb.

  While deciding whether or not to go in, another custom-looking Harley approached with one of the other clan leaders. The younger one she’d seen at Julian’s.

  He got off his bike and gave her a quick nod. She returned a slight smile, but still wasn’t sure whether she should go in or leave. Part of her said it may be Julian wanting to see her, but there was no way to tell. Because of that, she was torn. She did want to see Julian, but if it wasn’t him?

  The club doors stood in front of her, enticing her to come in, but the guard at the door was intimidating. As much as the club invited you in, this man told you to stay away.

  Kat listened to the melodic seductive tone emanating from the stairs that led down to double doors. The music beckoned her in, inviting her to come explore the deep pulsing atmosphere within. Whispering the seductive words: come in; relax; stay.

  “You going in?”

  Kat jumped and whirled around to find the younger clan leader had stopped next to her. “How long have you been standing there?”

  A seductive smile crept across his lips. “Long enough. Are you going in, or are you going to stand here and stare at the doors?”

  “I’ve seen you around Julian haven’t I?”

  “I’m his personal guard and friend, I’m around a lot.”

  The lights from the street allowed her to fully appreciate his rugged good looks for the first time. No doubt, he was well-versed in female attention by the way he acted and the way he held himself. “And something else. I saw you when I was at Julian’s castle the first time. You sat with the other leaders. You’re a leader, aren’t you?”

  With a slight nod he changed the subject, “Are you going in?”

  Kat smirked. “When you tell me your name.”

  “I’ll see you inside.” He left and she ran to catch up to him.

  “Okay, Okay. Sheesh.” She huffed. Following him inside, she too gave a nod of thanks to the guard when he opened the door.

  Protests came from the people waiting in line, “Come on!”

  Once through the doors, they continued down the stairs. “My name is Cage, leader of the Elukkar.”

  Kat smiled. He wasn’t looking at her. He hadn’t even stopped walking. “Kat—”

  “I know.” He cut in before she’d finished and left her at the end of the stairs, headed off toward the back of the club.

  Okay. Thanks for the conversation. Clearly not a talker.

  Switching gears, she glanced around at the beauty of the club beyond her and was impressed. Cara had incredible taste. The place was dark. Dark booths, tables, chairs, walls, but it was strangely inviting, seductive almost. Tables in the center of the floor and booths along the sides of the walls, and a stage to the side where a woman sang her melodic blues song.

  There weren’t as many people to see as Kat expected, save for a few at the bar to her right and some in the booths and tables. When she took a good look at the ones who were there though, they didn’t look like your everyday people.

  Vincent’s clan took up a few of those tables and were lounging about as though they owned the place.

  A huge mirror hung along the back wall. Kat had a strong hunch it was a two-way to keep an eye on the goings on in the club. A stronger hunch told her someone stood behind it, watching her, at this moment. The thought brought warmth to her cheeks and she turned away.

  When the woman at the stage began another song, Kat glanced around again and it dawned on her. If Cara owned and ran the club, it was a place where they, the clans, could gather and unwind. Kat was one of few humans within. She looked toward Vincent’s clan and the other groups of men in the club and knew for sure.

  As the song changed again, a waitress walked up to her and gave her a warm smile. “Feel free to sit wherever you like.”

  The odd feeling of finding herself on a dinner menu gripped her. Her gut instinct told her she shouldn’t be there. She felt uneasy with Vincent’s men sitting at the tables. Not from the fear they would hurt her, but because she felt guilty, which she found strange. As if she should bear responsibility for whatever happened to Vincent.

  His men had treated her with nothing but respect when she’d been around them. Yes, they were involved in the kidnapping, but still. Cyrus scared her, but even he’d shown her some respect. She didn’t understand the reasons at all, but when she looked at the Raaka clan, she felt guilt. Like she’d betrayed them. Like they’d been her friends and she’d turned on them.

  “Miss?” The waitress looked at her with concern.

  Kat realized she was staring at the Raaka. “Huh? Oh, sorry. I’m okay. Just deciding whether to stay or go. I’m supposed to meet someone.”

  She smiled. “Okay. I can bring you some water if you’d like. Let me know.” She reached out and squeezed Kat’s forearm in reassurance before leaving.

  Kat returned her attention to the Raaka clan to find a couple of them watching her, smiling. She found her strength, smiled at them, and moved over to a table with a view of the stage. The table was void of company on all sides and sat a few tables away from the Raaka clan.

  As soon as she sat down, she felt more comfortable. The weight of the Raaka’s attention remained on her, so obviously they hadn’t got the memo. She wouldn’t be joining their clan. Didn’t seem to dissuade them from keeping an eye on her.

  No sooner had she sat down at the table did a glass of water appear in front of her. The waitress nodded, smiled and left. Kat gulped a lot of it down in appreciation.

  A hand touched the back
of her chair, causing her to start, and the shadow of a man moved around her. “May I sit?” His hand dropped from the back of her chair, to caress her back and shoulder before he came into sight.

  Kat found an attractive man in a suit as brown as his eyes, looking down at her. Every instinct within her spoke Raaka. He had the same I-am-in-charge attitude they all did.

  Kat didn’t feel the initial—tell him to go away!—feeling she generally did, which she found interesting. Smiling and motioning to the chair in front, she told him, “Of course.”

  “Cameron.” He reached his hand out as he sat down.

  “Kat.” She took the offered hand. He held hers a moment longer than he needed to before releasing it.

  “You’re more beautiful than I thought you’d be.”

  For a moment Kat thought he’d sent the roses to her and her defenses shot up. “Am I supposed to know what you’re talking about?”

  “I have to admit it’s because he never did have such a great taste in women. He’d go after anything that breathed, and he was never too smart with his decisions.”

  “No small talk? No nice to meet you? Just straight to the point, huh?” Kat rolled her eyes and glanced up at the mirror on the wall because the strong feeling of a heavy gaze upon her, trying to tell her to leave hit her. As if she wasn’t allowed to talk to Cameron.

  “You’re something else.” The way Cameron looked at her should’ve repulsed her, but Kat found herself drawn into his gaze.

  “Are there two of us in this conversation? Or is it just you?”

  Cameron watched her a moment. His gaze roamed from her own, to her mouth, down her neck, then back up. “I apologize. I am honestly impressed with his choice.”

  Understanding hit Kat hard. “Oh god. You can leave.” She waved him off in aggravation.

  “Kat, I am a business man. I am a leader. You are a strong woman and Vincent was a stupid man. Do you realize that? He—”