Kiss of Death (Blood Brothers Book 1)

by Annie Harland Creek

  “Sorry about that,” David muttered, without looking up from his canvas. “He forgets that the rest of us aren’t deaf.” He finished the stroke before wiping his brush on a piece of rag he kept on the easel.

  “I’ve interrupted your work.”

  “Not really. It’s just something I’m playing around with.”

  “May I see?”

  “Sorry.” He stepped in her way before she had a chance to glimpse the painting. “Not till the unveiling. Temperamental artist thing.”

  “Can’t I have just a little peek?” Anna’s stuck out her bottom lip in a pout and did her best eyelash flutter.

  “That won’t work on me pet.” He lifted Anna’s chin and ran his paint covered finger down her nose, leaving a smear of blue oil color. “Although I can see why you have such an effect on my brother.” He tossed her a clean piece of cloth.

  It was a struggle to remove the paint. Anna scrubbed until David passed her some turpentine. She was tempted to complain about how the turpentine would spoil her makeup and possibly damage her skin but instead asked, “Where is Derrick?”

  “Away on business.”

  “I’m his business partner.” She reminded him as she passed back the rag and bottle. “He should have told me where he was going and when he’ll return. What if there is a problem at the gym?”

  “Then you may call on me, chérie.”

  “Are you a Martial Artist as well?” she asked, noticing that David’s build was similar to Derrick, she assumed that he probably worked out too.

  “I’m a lover not a fighter.” His penetrating eyes gave Anna the impression he was not lying but she sensed he had also had his fair share of brawls. “My brother is the physical one in the family.”

  “That’s why I’m here.”

  “To get physical with Derrick?” David teased.

  She felt the color rush to her face at his innuendo and the cheeky grin that followed.

  “No. Of course not.” Not yet anyway. “I want to take martial arts lessons.”

  “Derrick left one of his Sempai as a replacement.”

  “I don’t want a replacement, I want Derrick.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she inwardly cringed. David would surely use them against her.

  Surprisingly, he ignored the opportunity to take advantage of her faux pas. His smile faded and his expression changed. He looked serious, almost sad. “I’m afraid that sometimes we can’t have what we want.”

  Anna’s cheeks burned. Was she really so bad for Derrick? Fighting back the tears, she drew on all her strength to find a way to leave with dignity. “I believe that if you want something bad enough and you work hard enough, you’ll get what you deserve.” She turned her back on the handsome artist and bolted up the stairs as David muttered under his breath.

  “Let’s hope so, chérie. Let’s hope so.”

  ****

  As she approached the main gate, a familiar car made its way up the drive. She pulled over and waited for the driver to wind down his window.

  “What are you doing here, Patrick?”

  “I could ask you the same thing.”

  “I was here to see Derrick.”

  “Same.”

  “Well he’s not here.”

  “Where is he?”

  “I don’t know, Patrick. I’m not his keeper.”

  “No. But you’re his partner.”

  “Well, he didn’t tell me where he was going or when he’ll return so we’ve both wasted our time, haven’t we.” She turned over the ignition and put the car in first gear ready to leave.

  “Wait, Anna. We can’t go on like this. Let’s have lunch and smoke a peace pipe. There are a few things you might like to know about your business partner.”

  Anna thought for a moment. She didn’t trust Patrick. He was manipulative, self-indulgent and arrogant but he did have an ear for gossip. If Derrick kept secrets from her, maybe Patrick could shed some light on the subject. She glanced back at the house and noticed the heavy drapes move slightly. If someone in the house was concerned to see her talking with Patrick, maybe there was good reason.

  “All right.” She relented. “I guess lunch will be okay.”

  Patrick leaned over and opened the passenger side door.

  “Leave your car here. I’ll drive you back later.”

  “Only if you let me pick the restaurant this time.”

  Patrick hesitated. “Not a hamburger joint.”

  “We’ll see.” She jumped into the seat beside him. “Head to the beach.”

  ****

  “All right, you promised me some gossip.” Anna threw another chip to the seagulls as they watched the tide come in from their position on a sand dune.

  “You promised me that you would pick a restaurant.” Patrick complained as he picked at his fish and potato scallops. “We could have dined at Stefano’s again.”

  “Blahh.” Anna made a gagging gesture with her finger in her mouth. “I much prefer eating to dining.” She accentuated the word. “Give me good old fish and chips any day.”

  “You’ll never change, will you, Anna.”

  “Probably not.” She sighed. “The sooner everyone comes to terms with that the better.”

  If Patrick had picked up on the reference to everyone, he didn’t acknowledge it.

  “Sometimes a change is good.” Patrick took a sip from his can of Pepsi and snorted. “I’ve been trying to get Derrick to introduce me to some of his friends. He associates with people who could make me more prominent in society. More influential, more powerful, but he refuses to help me.”

  “He probably has his reasons.” Anna shuddered as she remembered the odd group of people that assembled at Derrick’s house the night of their ill-fated dinner.

  “Yeah. Reasons like he doesn’t want me to be as rich or connected as him.” He emptied the can, crushing it before hurling it across the sand at an unsuspecting gull.

  “Hey.” Anna complained as she jumped up to retrieve the can. She could feel Patrick’s eyes on her bottom and tugged at the hem of her skirt, realizing that the skin-tight mini-dress was completely inappropriate attire for the beach. She tossed the can into a rubbish bin and sat back down beside him.

  “Still protecting the world I see.”

  Although she knew Patrick’s comment was meant to be an insult Anna took it as a compliment. “And you’re still trying to rule it.”

  “I just want to make my mark. I want to be someone people look up to, respect and admire.”

  “You could be all those things without being rich and powerful, Patrick. Treating others with respect is a good way to start.”

  “No. You don’t understand. You’re happy with your simple life.”

  Tempting as it was to argue, Anna felt sorry for Patrick. He wouldn’t be happy until he had all those things but she doubted he would ever find true happiness. He would always want more. Need more.

  “I could try and reason with Derrick if you like. Not about you working at the gym, he’s made it perfectly clear he doesn’t want you there but I don’t see why he wouldn’t introduce you to a couple of his friends.”

  “Forget it.” Patrick shook his head. “I don’t need him anymore. That’s what I was on my way to tell him. I’ve found another sponsor.”

  “Good for you.” What a relief. She seriously doubted Derrick would be swayed by her opinion on anything. “Who is it?”

  “No one you know. He’s from out of town. He moved away a few years back and has returned to take back control of his company. He’s promised me wealth and power, Anna.”

  Anna gasped. Not in reaction to what Patrick had said. In truth she hadn’t heard his answer to her question. She had been absently staring out to sea when, to her horror, a dark shadow crept over the landscape spreading a crimson hue in its wake. The color of the water and sky had slowly deepened, before turning completely red. The waves carried the sickening stench of blood as pink foam crashed against the golden sand, scattering the gulls tha
t fossicked for scraps along the shore.

  “Patrick…” she said, her voice barely above a whisper as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing. It was a though she wore rose-colored glasses but rather than make the world look rosier, they prophesized destruction and death. Blood oozed from every grain of sand, every drop of water. She could feel the gooey substance between her toes, soaking through her clothes. She could taste the copper in her mouth.

  “What is it?”

  “Can’t you see? Look at the water…” she struggled to her feet, her legs trembled as she pointed to the surf.

  “See what?” Patrick turned his head left to right. “Anna. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I … I want to go home.” Her voice trembled as she realized that no-one else on the beach reacted to the horrifying scene. Children were playing in the pink froth, waving joyfully to their parents who seemed blissfully unaware of any danger. She alone experienced the horror. What did it mean? Was there some apocalyptic event about to happen or was her life about to end in a bloody tempest? She turned to her companion. “Please, Patrick. Take me home.”

  Chapter Nine

  Anna couldn’t understand what had happened at the beach. Why had the sky and ocean turned blood-red? Why had she been the only person to notice? She blamed Derrick. If he hadn’t left so suddenly, she wouldn’t have accepted Patrick’s invitation to lunch and, maybe, she wouldn’t have experienced the vision. No. It wasn’t fair to blame Derrick. Somehow she had always known that her empathy would evolve into something more but she had also dreaded the day. Normality was an unobtainable dream and it was time that she accepted that. But accepting wasn’t enough. If this was to be her life, she had to learn how to control her visions and decipher them.

  Torke was real. Evil was real. Anna’s thoughts drifted back to the last time she saw her mother. Her mother had warned her that her ability would attract evil. Had her mother known about Torke? What else had she known? Her mother had died before she could impart any useful information but, maybe there were clues contained in the numerous boxes that her father kept locked away in his room. She opened the door and steeled herself for what she might find.

  As she busied herself with the task at hand, Anna felt compelled to find one particular treasure that had belonged to her mother. At least she thought it must have been a treasure. The way in which her mother guarded the object made it seem particularly interesting to a small child even though outwardly it looked quite unremarkable. Where did she keep it? She had put off packing away her father’s belongings, hesitant to dredge up painful memories but now seemed like the perfect time to sort through his stuff. Besides, she needed the distraction. After working for hours, Anna had managed to pack away a set of barely used golf clubs, a worn-out sewing machine, some rusty handheld weights, numerous war novels, and an old guitar. The last of her father’s things were labelled and carried out to the garage to await donation to the Salvation Army but she still hadn’t found what she sought, the old wooden chest that had belonged to her mother. Finally, as she climbed to the top rung of the step ladder and balanced on her toes to reach the top shelf, she spotted the chest. It was far to the back of the wardrobe, covered in a fine layer of dust. No bigger than a bread box, the wooden chest was surprisingly heavy. Anna struggled to balance it over her head as she steadily made her way down the rungs.

  For the longest time, she sat cross-legged on the carpeted floor of her parent’s room, staring at the object of her mother’s reverence. The box had been important to, not only Elena but all the females in her family. Anna remembered her mother telling her the story of how this box was passed down from mother to daughter for centuries. The handing over of the box was a rite of passage and an eagerly awaited ritual for every daughter, a ritual that died with Elena.

  “I guess you would have wanted me to have this, Mama,” she whispered to the box as she carefully opened the lid and peeled back the purple velvet cloth. An unsuspecting thief would have been disappointed with his find but to Anna, the contents represented the women of her family and she considered each artefact a treasure. One by one, she lovingly removed the items and placed them on the floor beside her. The largest item in the box was a crystal ball made of, what Anna somehow knew to be black obsidian, with an intricately carved wooden stand. She found a deck of tarot cards, a forked stick, a bracelet made of the same stone as her necklace, a small tear-shaped quartz crystal on a chain, and a folded piece of paper. Anna’s hands began to shake as she delicately unfolded the worn and faded paper and read the note.

  Blessed be, child of light. You have been gifted with a power as with all our family’s women. Your gift can provide protection for your loved ones and an insight into the future. Beware of the dark forces that would use you in order to increase their power. Hide your gift from those with the evil eye by wearing the bracelet passed onto you by your mother and develop your powers so you will defeat your enemy. The bracelet has been energized with the power of centuries of our women and will protect you. Use the items in this box to enhance your abilities and heed the advice of your mother who will teach you in the ways of Wicca. May the goddess protect and guide you. Blessed be.

  So, mum was a witch. Anna sighed. Her mother never had the opportunity to teach her anything about the craft and her only experience with magic was the blinding visions that were more of a curse than a blessing. She reread a line from the letter. “Use the items in this box to enhance your abilities.” That would be great if I had any idea what these things are. Anna picked up the forked stick and turned it around in her hand. She poked at the air. Take that you demon scum. Nah, must be used for something else. She placed it back in the box before turning her attention to the tarot cards. The edges were worn and curled as if they had been used often. The pictures were beautifully hand-painted but their significance lost on Anna who had no idea what they meant. She shuffled the pack and drew a card from the top of the deck. Death. Having no understanding of the card’s meaning, she could only assume the worst. Taking a deep breath, she turned over the second card … lovers, and decided that it was time to pack the cards away. She wasn’t in the mood for thinking about death or lovers. Both had turned her life upside-down.

  She packed up the deck and returned them to their place in the box. Next, she examined the bracelet. The moment she placed it in her hand, a warm sensation followed by an uneasiness prickled her skin. She shivered as a sensation of being watched overwhelmed her. Rushing to the window, she studied the dark clouds that had started rolling in and was suddenly reminded of Derrick. As much as she wanted to punish him for his indiscretion, her skin still yearned for his touch. For the short period of time he had been in her life, he dominated her thoughts, plagued her dreams. She wanted him, more than she ever thought she could imagine. If only he hadn’t run away.

  “Damn!” she said aloud when it suddenly dawned on her that she had left her car at his house. In her rush to leave the beach, she had asked Patrick to drive her straight home. If she hadn’t promised to meet Susie in town first thing in the morning, she would have been content to leave it there overnight but she had no intention of getting up any earlier than necessary on a Saturday morning. As she dialed for a cab, she held the cordless receiver in one hand while she packed away most of the heirlooms with her free hand, placing the box in her bedroom on the nightstand. After ordering the cab, she replaced the receiver, fastened the tiny clasp of the bracelet around her right wrist, and waited for the cab.

  ****

  By the time the taxi pulled up outside Derrick’s property, the sun had set. Anna stood outside the gates, shivering from the cold and wondering how she would get in. The heavy gates were locked. The usually welcoming estate looked harsh and cold under the shadows of the threatening storm clouds. She spotted an intercom and pressed the buzzer. After a few minutes, a weary male voice answered.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello, Evan. It’s me Anna Derwent.”

  “Oh,
Miss Anna. What are you doing here in this weather? Didn’t I mention Master Derrick is away?”

  “Yes, you did, Evan.” He obviously hadn’t noticed her car parked inside when he locked the gates. “I’m here for my car. I left it earlier.”

  There was a pause and movement at the curtain. A few more moments passed.

  “So you did, Miss Anna. So you did.”

  “Well?”

  “Well what?”

  “Do you think you could open the gates so I can get it?”

  “Oh. Yes, of course.” Anna heard a click and then the gates began to move apart. “If you give me a few moments, I’ll come out and see you to your vehicle.”

  Anna expected it would be much longer than a few moments for the aging butler to make it down the stairs, let alone all the way down the driveway to her car. Besides, she would reach the car and be on her way long before that. It hardly seemed worth putting him to the bother.

  “Thanks, Evan but don’t worry about it. See you later.”

  “But Miss Anna. It isn’t safe for you to be unescorted around this property at night. I would call Master David, but he is out tonight.” She heard real concern in his voice. Why was the property unsafe at night?

  “I’m fine, Evan. I’ll be quick as a wink, I promise. Have a good night.”

  She slipped through the opening and headed towards her car smiling to herself as she thought of Evan and his offer of protection. How sweet of the old man to worry for her safety. If only the other men in her life would show that sort of consideration. As she made her way to the car, Anna began to regret her decision to return at night. The closer she got to the car, the greater the feeling of apprehension. Her intuition urged her to hurry as clouds crowded the moon, drenching the garden in darkness. A howl pierced the silence, reminding her of a bad horror movie, the kind where a werewolf waited to attack some stupid tourist who had ignored the warnings and wandered off the path into the moors.