“I took care of that first matter, sir,” he said.
“Very good,” Mr. Vanderbilt said.
“And the men are ready to go out. I will be leading one of the groups myself, sir.”
“And the security manager?”
“Mr. Doddman will be leading the other group.”
“You both have the same mission: kill whatever beast did this and find the Braddick girl.”
“We will, sir. You can count on us.” Lieutenant Kinsley nodded curtly, glanced at Serafina, and then exited as if he had just been given orders by his commanding officer.
After the lieutenant had gone and she left Mr. Vanderbilt, she headed quickly down to the basement to see her pa. She knew she didn’t have much time—she had to make sure her brother and sister had fled the area—but she also knew her pa was going to be fretting about her.
“Come on over here,” her pa said gently as he wrapped his arms around her. And she held him in return, just resting there in his arms for a few moments. After everything that had happened the night before, it was good to see her pa. It felt like she’d been gone for days. And she knew he must have been worried sick about her when he heard about the attack during the night. As he held her, there were no suspicions from her pa, no doubts, no uncertainty, no complications, not even any words for a long time. Just love.
“Come on,” he said finally, “you’re gonna need some breakfast in your belly.”
“I can’t, Pa, I gotta go back out.”
“Understood,” he said, nodding. “Go do what you need to do and get back safe.”
She liked the way he didn’t grill her with questions or demand that she stay clear of what was happening. Her rats had gotten bigger, and a whole lot nastier, but he knew she had a job to do.
After leaving her pa, she went straight upstairs to the second floor, knocked on the nursery door, and poked her head into the room.
“Come in, my dear,” Mrs. Vanderbilt whispered as she set the blanketed bundle of baby Cornelia carefully into the rocking crib, which was stuffed with down pillows and white bedding.
“Is Cornelia all right?” Serafina asked as she came in.
“We had a difficult night, but she just fell asleep,” Mrs. Vanderbilt replied.
The nursery was a newly finished room, with gold-and-maroon cut silk velvet wallpaper, and the delicate curves of fine French furniture.
“Did you see or hear anything strange in the night?” Serafina asked.
“There were a few creaks and bumps here and there, and then all the commotion of the men downstairs, but that was all,” Mrs. Vanderbilt said.
“Good,” Serafina said. “Does Baby Nell like her new crib?”
“Oh, yes, I think so,” Mrs. Vanderbilt said. “But what about you? The maids said that when they went to make your bed this morning that it hadn’t been slept in. Is it not to your liking?”
“I’m sorry, ma’am, I haven’t had a chance to sleep,” she replied, suddenly feeling terribly ungrateful for the kindness that Mrs. Vanderbilt had shown her.
“There’s no need to apologize, my dear,” Mrs. Vanderbilt said. “I understand that you must have been very busy with the shocking news about the hunting party, but I just want you to promise me that you’ll rest as soon as you can. I’ll make sure none of the servants disturb you.”
“Thank you, ma’am, I will, as soon as I can,” Serafina promised, but a moment later she headed outside.
As she stepped out into the cobblestoned courtyard at the front of the house, she saw that it was filled with the men preparing their horses and weapons. Lieutenant Kinsley stood nearby, loading the leather saddlebag on the side of his horse, a beautiful dappled gray mare.
“Bring plenty of ammunition!” the lieutenant was saying to the other men. “And make sure your girth straps are tight. We’re going into some very steep terrain.”
She marveled at how much he had changed in mood and action since she’d seen him at dinner.
The news of what had happened had brought the whole house up in arms. Country strolls and afternoon tea had given way to hunts for rabid beasts and searches for a lost child. Everyone was helping, servants and guests alike.
When Lieutenant Kinsley saw her standing there alone, he turned toward her in surprise. “Miss Serafina…”
“Hello, Lieutenant,” she said.
“Have you come to join us?” he asked hopefully. “I’ll have a horse brought up right away.”
She hadn’t expected the invitation. His gray eyes seemed to flicker as he gazed at her, his face filled with not only the grim seriousness that it had possessed a few moments before, but a kind of encouragement as well. It was as if they were comrades-in-arms now, working together toward a common goal, the darkest of circumstances pushing them together.
“I wish I could,” she said sincerely, “but I think it would be better if I went out on my own.”
He gazed at her in surprise, as if trying to figure out exactly what kind of person she was.
“On your own?” he asked, his tone steady and respectful.
She didn’t know how to tell him that she had never ridden a horse. Nor did she know how to tell him that while he and his men were hunting her feline kin, she’d be making sure they got away. She knew it must confuse him why a lone thirteen-year-old, seemingly with no weapon or steed, would venture out when a vicious animal was stalking the forest.
“In what direction will you be going?” she asked.
“Up to the North Ridge first,” he said. “Where the attack took place and Jess was last seen.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” she said. “But stay on the lookout. It’s very rocky and there are many gullies and cliffs. And if you end up going east, down into the low ground, stay well clear of the swamp. It would be treacherous terrain for your horses.”
He nodded as he glanced toward his horse, seeming to take the advice to heart. “Arabella here is my pride and joy,” he said, patting his horse’s shoulder. “We’ve been together since I was a boy. We went through officer training together.” And then he lifted his eyes and looked at Serafina. “And in which direction will you be going?”
“West to the river, then upstream. The last time I got lost up in those mountains, I used the river to find my way home. Jess may try the same thing.”
“And you’ll be careful, too…” he said, not with the forcefulness of a demand, or even a question, but with the softness of a request.
It amazed her how a man who was about to go out and shoot whatever moved could be so thoughtful, so gentle of heart toward her. She wondered, if Lieutenant Kinsley saw her out in the forest in her true form, how fast would he pull the trigger? Was there truly even a difference between a panther and a girl?
“I will be careful,” she promised. “And don’t worry. I’m a fast runner.” And then, realizing she should change the subject, she asked, “So, you know Jess Braddick well, then?” She couldn’t help but notice how seriously he was taking the responsibility of finding her.
“No,” he said. “I met her at dinner, but that is all. But if she’s still lost out there, we’ve got to help her. George Vanderbilt has been a friend and mentor to me since I was very young. He put me through school, and arranged my commission as an officer. I owe him a great debt. I just hope that when the moment comes, I can prove myself worthy of his trust in me.”
Hearing the gravity in his voice, it was clear that he was expecting to come face-to-face with the man-killing beast they were all talking about. And for all she knew, it was out there, some sort of horrible creature she hadn’t yet seen.
“Everybody mount up!” Lieutenant Kinsley shouted as he turned, and all the riders began to move in earnest, hurriedly tightening their saddle straps and making last-minute adjustments.
In the single, smooth motion of a well-trained young cavalry officer, the lieutenant vaulted deftly into his saddle. As he took up Arabella’s reins, the horse shifted her hooves and tilted her head, raring to
go.
“Please be careful out there, Lieutenant Kinsley,” she said, looking up at him on his horse. “No one knows what we’re dealing with.”
“Whatever it is, we’re going to find it, and we’ll bring Miss Braddick home,” he said, clearly trying to be brave and confident just as his training had taught him.
“But please keep yourself safe in the meantime,” she said. “Dinners in the Banquet Hall wouldn’t be the same without you.”
He smiled, seeming pleased with her comment. “And you as well, Miss Serafina,” he said. “I will see you at dinner.”
And then he tipped his hat, turned forward, and spurred his horse away.
As the hunting party rode out, she watched him canter toward the front of the group.
“We need to cover as much ground as we can,” he shouted to the other men. “And keep your rifles ready!”
She waited three beats of her heart and then ran for the line of trees, thankful that cats’ paws were faster than horses’ hooves.
The moment she was out of sight of the house, she shifted and ran, her panther legs taking her miles through the forest.
Nose to the ground, it didn’t take her long to find her brother and sister. The two mountain lions were already wild-eyed and on the run. They had smelled the coming horses and heard the shouts of the men.
She had worried that because they had seen her in human form so many times, they had become too careless around humans. But it was clear that just as Kinsley only saw her as human, her brother and sister only saw her as cat, no matter what form she was in. It had been that way since she met them as spotted cubs just outside their mother’s den more than a year before. She was relieved to see that their instinct to flee humans was still strong.
She got their attention with a rub of her shoulder, and signaled them to follow her, leading them deep into the very swamp she had warned Kinsley to avoid. They would need to stay there until the danger passed.
From there she traveled alone, upstream along the river for several hours, looking for any sign of Jess or the man-killing beast. She wasn’t even sure it existed. But something had killed the hunters. Was it possible it was out here? It must have been large enough to shove a horse and deadly enough to slash a man right down the center of his chest. What could do such a thing? A hunger-crazed bear? A wolf? A man with a weapon? Could it truly have been her own claws? Or was there some sort of demon prowling through the forest?
The night before, she had already scoured the North Ridge where the hunting party was going, but she still hoped they might somehow find Jess. And she prayed that Lieutenant Kinsley and the other members of the hunting party would stay safe. There was no doubt in her mind that they’d try to kill any large animal they encountered, but they didn’t deserve to die.
After searching all day and into the night to no avail, she finally turned and headed back toward Biltmore, totally exhausted. She’d been up for far too long.
As she traveled through the forest, she heard the sound of horses. Still in panther form, she climbed a tree and watched from a safe distance as the hunting party moved past her.
Their enthusiasm for the kill had waned, their heads and their rifles hanging down. Wet and tired, they were heading home, just as she was. It was clear that they hadn’t found what they were looking for. But then she realized that one of the men was missing. Lieutenant Kinsley was no longer with them.
Her heart tightened. Had he been killed? Lost? Or had he decided to continue the search for Jess even after sending his exhausted men back home?
When she finally got back to Biltmore, she checked in on her sleeping pa in the workshop, then headed upstairs to the second floor. Both of the hunting parties had returned hours before. The house was dark and still, everyone asleep after a long and difficult day.
As she went into her room, Smoke and Ember both purred gently, as if pleased to see that she’d made it home. And she was pleased to see them as well, especially little Ember, whom she’d been worried about after seeing her outside.
Ember seemed content to sleep, but Smoke studied her with watchful eyes.
“Are you all right?” she asked him gently as she petted his neck. With his gray eyes watching her, he seemed more worried than usual.
She lit a small fire in the bedroom fireplace, casting the room in a soft flickering light and filling it with a gentle warmth, then took off her dress and crawled between the silky sheets to get some much-needed rest. The down padding of the bed and the comforting weight of the blanket over her body made her feel warm and protected.
Her two apprentices joined her on the bed, snuggling up with her, Ember actively purring and kneading her chest with her little paws, and Smoke sitting quietly behind her calves, looking out into the rest of the room, ever on guard. There was nothing in the world quite as comforting as taking a long nap on a soft bed with two cats.
Exhausted, she quickly slipped into a deep sleep.
Her plan had been to sleep for just a little while, but when she woke, the fire had died out and the room had gone cold and black.
Ember was upside down asleep beside her, her paws up in the air as if she were still kneading her chest.
Smoke’s eyes were open and watchful, and she could swear the dark gray fur on his body was more puffed out than usual.
Glancing out the window as she rose from the bed, she could see that Jupiter had set, which meant it was probably well after two in the morning, and the moon was rising. The upper sky was clear, but isolated banks of fog were rolling down the sides of the mountains, enveloping the trees.
Remembering where she was, she glanced at the clock on the mantel, which confirmed that it was twenty past three in the morning.
She wasn’t sure what had awoken her.
She looked out the window again and then crossed to the other side of her bedroom.
Everything appeared to be as it should be.
Then she heard the sound of running footsteps outside her door, the sharp scrape of furniture.
Her heart began to hammer in her chest.
Something crashed to the floor and shattered.
A man screamed in horror.
Serafina ran for the door.
She burst out of her bedroom and looked frantically around, expecting to come headlong into an attack. But there was nothing there.
She was sure that the scream she’d heard had come from the living hall right outside her door, but the large, open room was quiet and still.
Had she heard the scream in a nightmare and woken up suddenly, thinking that it was real?
A wash of moonlight was pouring through the windows, casting the room in ghostly light and holding it all perfectly still as if it were an image in a dream.
She scanned the room again, looking across the empty, ghost-lit chairs, and the dark shapes of Mr. Vanderbilt’s animalier sculptures on the tables. The tall, wrought-iron floor lamps stood like wraiths in the night, casting long black shadows across the pale moon floor.
She could not see anything out of the ordinary, but she felt a crawling sensation on the back of her neck.
Standing very still, she moved her gaze from one empty chair to the next, into one dark corner and then the other, to the small black cave of the dead fireplace, to the murky voids beneath the tables, scanning every nook and cranny for any sort of danger lurking in the shadows.
Smoke and Ember padded slowly forward on either side of her, fanning out across the living hall floor.
“Go flush it out,” she whispered as she searched the shadows.
She made her way carefully over to the Grand Staircase. Leaning over the railing, she peered up to the third and fourth floors above her, thinking that maybe the scream had come from up there, but she saw nothing out of place.
She gazed down the steps that flowed in a sweeping arc to the first floor. Nothing.
But when she looked straight down over the railing, through the spiral of the staircase, to the area of floor directly belo
w her, she saw it.
A chill ran up her spine.
There was a dark shape lying on the floor.
She reflexively glanced behind her, filled with a sudden feeling that someone was creeping up on her.
She scanned the moonlit living hall once more, still sensing the presence of something. Smoke and Ember had disappeared, so she was alone.
Her instincts were telling her to go right back into her bedroom, shut the door, lock it, and hide. But she knew she couldn’t do that.
We all have a job to do, she thought. And this is mine.
When she looked over the railing again, the dark shape was still there on the floor, exactly where it had been. No tricks of the mind this time.
Slowly pulling in a long, steady breath, she crept down the stairway, watching the slide of the shadows as she went. The moon shone through the windows of the Grand Staircase, casting everything in a bright silver light.
When she finally reached the bottom of the stairs, she saw the shape more clearly. It was lying on the floor. Very still. The body of a man.
Goose bumps rose up on her arms and her temples began to pound.
She glanced across the Main Hall toward the Winter Garden and down the corridor toward the Billiard Room.
There was no movement, no people, just the moonlight and the shadows, and the ticking of the grandfather clock in the Main Hall.
She made her way slowly toward the body.
The man was wearing a simple white cotton nightshift and she could see his bare feet. It was as if he had come running out of his room.
Carefully avoiding the pool of dark liquid that was seeping across the stone floor from his head, she moved closer and looked at his face.
It was Mr. Kettering, the gentleman who had come in late to the dinner, just as she had. She had not known him, but he had seemed like a kind and good man. And now he was dead.
She slowly tilted her head and looked up at the third floor some fifty feet above.
Had he come out of his guest room and fallen over the railing by accident?
And then she remembered the sound of commotion and the horrified scream, and the intense fear that she had felt when she stepped outside her room.
Serafina and the Seven Stars Page 10