by Frank Morin
At the sight of it, her fear of Mai Luan returned. This time, however, it was tempered by anger and the resolve to stop the Cui Dashi. Mai Luan had made the fight personal. Sarah had never been a violent person, but Mai Luan’s cold brutality forced her to face the reality that she had to fight. Some people couldn’t be reasoned with.
Some people just had to be put down like a rabid dog.
As scary as the situation was, she was grateful she hadn’t abandoned Tomas in New Orleans. She might have enjoyed her ignorance for a while.
Until they killed her.
Mai Luan would have hunted her down. At least this way she could draw upon powerful allies and fight for her life. The world was far deadlier than she’d imagined, filled with shadows she had yet to explore. She lacked Tomas’ fighting skills, but she could learn.
Sarah toweled off as she considered that. She could either choose to be a victim, or she could fight. She vowed to find a way to turn the tables on Mai Luan. With Tomas, Eirene, and Gregorios, they’d find a way. She’d make Mai Luan wish she’d killed them when she had the chance.
The newly made resolution helped restore her confidence as she raided the bathroom’s impressive stock of beauty supplies. In the walk-in closet she found a man’s dress shirt that looked passing fair with her dark slacks. She wouldn’t wear the bloody blouse again.
Mai Luan’s theft of their bags rankled. Such a petty gesture. Sarah would’ve preferred meeting the well-dressed Quentin wearing something a bit more formal, but at least she no longer looked like she worked in a slaughterhouse. She found a shoulder bag to use as a purse and dropped the pistol inside.
Quentin was waiting for her downstairs in the salon. “You look splendid, my dear.”
“I hope you don’t mind that I borrowed a shirt.”
“It never looked so good,” he said with a warm smile.
He was quite a charmer. She liked him more and more.
Sarah took his arm and he led her on a tour of the mansion. It was incredible. Too many rooms to count, and everything was decorated with exquisite taste. Each room reflected a different theme or time period. Ornate furniture, rare paintings, suits of armor, and fine statues were scattered throughout.
She decided she wanted one.
She hadn’t really enjoyed her recently acquired wealth and had a lot of money available. A nice mansion would be just the thing.
They passed quite a few servants but no one else. For such a huge building, that seemed strange. Quentin looked relaxed, but each time he entered a room or reached an intersecting hall, he paused for a second to scan their surroundings. He disguised the action by asking her questions or pointing out details of the area, but she picked up on it anyway.
They passed through one entire wing that was set up as a hospital ward where they inquired after Tomas. He was in surgery but the early prognosis was good. The doctor, who stood at attention while delivering his report, raised his hand in salute.
Quentin waved him away, then glanced at Sarah. “He used to be a soldier. Some habits die hard, I guess.”
“Why do you have such an extensive medical facility in your home?” Sarah asked.
“Our work often requires medical assistance,” Quentin said. “Treating my men here is far more efficient and avoids the questions we’d face in a public hospital.”
That was interesting and a little unnerving.
“What exactly is your work?” Sarah dared ask. Quentin had been a gracious host so far, but she wondered how he’d react to her prying.
“Tomas didn’t tell you?” He considered her closely, his eyes calculating.
“No. He just said you could help.”
“I’m glad you brought him here.” His ready smile returned and he held out his arm for her again. When she took it, he led her back into the hall. “I beg your indulgence, my dear. We’ll discuss my business once Tomas awakens. What of your family? Will they be worried?”
“Not likely,” Sarah said. “My parents and I aren’t exactly close. Will I get to meet your family today?”
“I am afraid not,” Quentin said. “My children all live overseas, and my wife passed away four years ago.”
“I’m very sorry.”
“She did not suffer,” he said. “And her soul is at rest now.”
Quentin led her out of the hospital wing and they bypassed another entire wing on their way back to the main building.
“What’s in there?” Sarah asked.
“Nothing interesting,” he said. “That wing is undergoing extensive remodeling.”
She didn’t hear the sound of construction, but maybe the workers had the day off? She decided not to press him. She needed his help and couldn’t risk antagonizing him.
They finally returned to a long dining room that sported at least two dozen paintings on the wall. They were high-quality works that would have looked completely at home in a museum of art. Two places were set near one end of the polished table that could have easily sat twenty.
Quentin motioned Sarah to sit and helped slide her chair in. “I hope you don’t mind dining here in the art gallery,” he said as he seated himself across from her. “The formal dining room is a bit too much for the two of us.”
“This is beautiful.”
Several servants entered bearing the first of several courses on silver platters. The meal was divine. They started with fresh fruit that refreshed her without filling her up. A spicy dip followed, served with warm pita and olive bread. It smelled fresh baked, and the aroma lingered in the air.
She sampled dolmas, made of grape leaves stuffed with herbed rice. She wanted to fill her plate with that single course, but when she finished her small portion, a waiter replaced it with a traditional Greek salad. By the time the main courses arrived she wondered where she’d fit them.
The yogurt-marinated chicken fell off the bone, it was so tender. Roasted lamb followed, with gemista, which was roasted peppers and tomatoes stuffed with rice, raisins and herbs. She was glad she hadn’t stopped at the dolmas. Everything was cooked perfectly, and despite how much she had already eaten, each new dish tasted so good, she eagerly dug in.
Quentin explained each of the dishes and spoke at length of the foods grown locally in Italy. “I hope you don’t mind my choosing the meal for you,” he said as they sipped on Cupido soft drinks. “But I thought you might enjoy a traditional Mediterranean feast.”
“It’s absolutely delicious,” Sarah said. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was, but she ate far more than she usually allowed herself. Quentin didn’t seem to mind.
As she raised a fork full of potatoes he asked, “What about our friend Gregorios?”
She paused for just a second in surprise but used the pretext of finishing the mouthful before answering. She frowned, “That jerk told me his name was Tomas.”
Quentin laughed and slapped his thigh with one hand. He looked younger like that, and must have been extremely handsome in his prime. She had thought she did a pretty good job with that one, but he was not fooled.
“Very good. Where did Tomas find you? Not only are you beautiful and resourceful, but quick witted.”
“Thank you, but I already have a date. Well, I did, but you’ve already managed to supplant him for dinner. Are you planning to take his place for the rest of the evening too?”
She actually got a little flush of embarrassment out of him.
He raised his glass in salute. She clinked to it and he said, “Let’s leave that part of the conversation out until Tomas can join us.”
She wasn’t entirely sure if he meant the questioning about Gregorios or the bit about him taking Tomas’ place as her date.
She could believe it either way.
After the servants left with another stack of plates, Quentin spoke quietly, his expression serious. “I hope you will come to realize I am trustworthy, my dear. Although I trust all of my staff implicitly, your caution is well advised around them. It is always possible anything overheard could
travel beyond the walls of this house.
“So is that why we’re dining alone?”
“Yes. That and the fact that I rarely have a chance to enjoy an intimate meal with such a beautiful woman whose company I so much enjoy.”
“Other than your daughters, perhaps?”
He winced at the jab at his age, but his smile didn’t falter.
Their conversation turned to less delicate subjects and when he learned she was new in Rome he launched into very entertaining descriptions of the best tourist attractions. He shared nuggets of history he assured her she would never learn from normal tour guides.
As deserts were being served, a butler entered from the far side of the room. “Pardon me, sir. You have additional guests.”
“Very well. Show them in.”
Quentin did not look surprised. He should have warned her. He had made her feel comfortable in his presence but she wasn’t really dressed for company.
The door opened and Gregorios and Eirene entered the room. Gregorios grinned when he saw them seated at the table.
“What’s for dinner?”
No matter how many lives I live, a perfect sunset is a special moment that still holds the power to replenish my nevra core. Every soul needs to discover beauty and love, for they fuel the soul and keep us young.
~Eirene
Chapter Thirty
Relief nearly made Sarah giddy as she leaped to her feet and rushed over to embrace Eirene and then Gregorios. “I’m so happy to see you.”
“Are you all right?” Eirene asked.
“Fine. Tomas is hurt though.”
“He is expected to make a full recovery,” Quentin added as he joined them.
A young man trailed the others into the room. When she turned to say hello, he actually bowed over her hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles.
“Hello. I am Alter.” He spoke English with a slight accent she couldn’t quite place but found very pleasant. He was tall, with dark hair and eyes, and deeply tanned skin. His face was quite handsome.
But the greeting was still weird. “I’m Sarah.”
He seemed willing to hold her hand for a while, but she pulled it away. He needed to tone down the advance. They weren’t on hand-holding terms.
“How did you find us?” she asked Gregorios. “You didn’t go to the safe house did you?”
“No. We tracked Tomas by his GPS.”
Sarah wondered if there might have been a way to send a message to them sooner.
“I’m glad you found us,” she said. “I wasn’t entirely sure this was the best place to go.”
Quentin made an exaggerated look of hurt. “Sarah, how could you say that after our lovely dinner?”
Alter frowned, “Miss, are you here under duress?”
“Well, it’s certainly not the best of times.”
He surprised her by assuming a dramatic pose. “I pledge my service to guaranteeing your freedom.”
“Uh, thanks.” She glanced at Eirene. Was this guy for real? Eirene shrugged, her expression long-suffering.
Sarah placed a hand on his arm to calm him down. “No, it’s nothing like that. Quentin has been a perfect gentleman.”
“I only just managed to supplant Sarah’s last date,” Quentin said. “And you’re already trying to move in and take my place?”
“I think I’ve had enough dates for one night, thank you.” She appreciated his attempt to keep the conversation light. With Gregorios and Eirene back, she felt a little more secure than she had all afternoon.
Alter looked a little disappointed.
Quentin added, “I must admit I am surprised to find a hunter in my home, not aiming a gun at me, and in apparent cordial company of two of my oldest friends.”
“You know me, sir?”
“Your family is not unknown to me.”
“And you, Mister Quentin, are known to me,” Alter said with a noted lack of warmth. “I cannot claim it’s a pleasure to be a guest in your home.”
“Perhaps I’ll surprise you.”
“You aid and abet these demons in their work. You don’t want to surprise me.”
Gregorios interrupted before a real argument could brew. “What happened to Tomas?”
Sarah glanced at Quentin and raised an eyebrow. He made a little bow, closed the door behind the group, and slid aside a concealed wooden cover to reveal a recessed keypad. He typed in a code and a low-pitched hum began rumbling softly around them.
“The room is secure from any active listening.”
Sarah had to be sure. “Gregorios, can we trust this man?”
“I like you more all the time,” Quentin said. He didn’t look the least bit offended.
“Quentin is an old friend and perhaps the only person I trust in the facetaker organization right now,” said Gregorios.
“Then why did Tomas warn me not to speak of either of you to him?”
“In case others overheard, I suspect,” Quentin said. “Our positions require delicacy at times.”
“What position is that?” Sarah asked.
“I oversee the armory and special projects for the council,” Quentin said.
“He makes the best toys,” Gregorios added.
“You’ll have to give me the rest of the tour,” Sarah said.
“As soon as it can be arranged,” Quentin replied.
She nodded toward Alter, who was watching them all with unguarded distrust. “And how about him? I thought you couldn’t trust hunters.”
The young man bristled, but Eirene patted him on the shoulder. “You could learn something from Sarah about being circumspect.”
“I’m not that bad.”
“Keep working on it, dear.”
They sat around the table and Sarah related the important points of her ordeal with Tomas. When she told them about the confrontation with Mai Luan and how she shot the Cui Dashi in the face, Alter gaped. His first impression was going to be completely skewed.
When she finished, Eirene gave her a hug. “I’m sorry we weren’t there to help.”
“I swear to destroy this Cui Dashi and save you from her wrath,” Alter proclaimed.
“That would be nice,” Sarah said. She’d take any help she could get, even from a overzealous hunter.
“She’s targeting you personally,” Gregorios said. “That’s unexpected.”
“She blames me for wrecking her work at Alterego.”
“I can see her point,” Eirene said. “But it seems an overreaction to me.”
“It sounds like she’s not not operating alone,” Quentin said. “Her comments to you suggest she’s part of a larger organization.”
“And that her standing was damaged by that fiasco,” Eirene said with a nod.
“Not good,” Gregorios said. “Bad enough to have a Cui Dashi alone. We already knew she had a team, including Tereza, but if she has a broader support base to draw from, that changes the situation somewhat.”
“Not entirely,” Alter disagreed. “Kill the abomination first. Dismantle her organization second.”
Sarah liked how he thought.
She answered quite a few probing questions from the group, then Quentin called for a servant to provide an update on Tomas’ condition. When they learned he was stable and awake, Sarah rose.
“I need to go see him.”
“Let’s all go,” Eirene said.
“Just wheel him down here,” Gregorios said, gesturing at the platters of baklava and yogurt parfait waiting on the table. “We can eat while we wait.”
Eirene hauled him out of the chair. “Take one to go.”
I like to be a free spirit, but I can’t do this. I know I signed the contracts, accepted the payout, but there has to be a way to avoid surrendering this life to another. Meryem promised to find me a replacement, but whose life would I be stealing?
I don’t want expensive gifts; I don’t want to be bought. I have everything I want. I just want someone to be there for me, to make me feel safe and secure.
I pray the hunters can provide the answer in our upcoming meeting.
~Princess Diana, August 1997
Chapter Thirty-One
Tomas’ face was still pale, but he looked alert sitting in his raised hospital bed. His loose-fitting clothes concealed the bandage, and Sarah breathed a sigh of relief to see him looking so much better.
Sarah greeted him with a kiss on the cheek and a gentle embrace. “I’m so glad you’re feeling better.”
“All thanks to you.” He squeezed her hands gently and his eyes spoke volumes.
The threat of losing him had driven home to her how much she cared for him. It looked like he’d come to the same realization.
The others packed into the hospital room and Quentin ordered the staff to maintain a security perimeter. Eirene greeted Tomas with a hug. Gregorios waved his parfait spoon. Alter mumbled something vague and looked a little sullen.
They chatted for a couple of minutes until another butler arrived carrying enlarged photocopies of the runes Eirene had photographed on the machine. They passed the copies around for everyone to review, then turned the discussion over to Alter.
He began to speak slowly, as if considering every word. He looked decidedly uncomfortable teaching anything to the assembled company.
“These runes are powerful,” he explained. “Some are known to us and date back over two thousand years. Others we’ve never seen before.”
From the grave looks on everyone’s faces, Sarah realized she was missing something. “That’s important, right?”
“Of course,” Alter snapped, but immediately added, “Sorry. If we’ve never seen them, then no one has.”
“Uh, I saw them,” Eirene said.
“Well, usually,” Alter corrected.
“I don’t know much about runes,” Sarah said. “I’m glad you’re here to teach us.”
Alter stood a little taller and spoke to her as if they were the only two in the room. “The demons were right to come to us. No one knows runes better than we do. My family has maintained the master rune catalog for over forty centuries.”
