A young woman, one of high ranking, if her tilted nose and air of arrogance had anything to say about her, came straight up to me. “You’ll do,” she said, her accent strong.
Swallowing, I nodded, agreeing to…whatever I was agreeing to. A man, a little older than me, sauntered over to Chloe, who had distanced herself from me. They spoke briefly before she smiled up at him. She knew how to turn on the charm when needed.
“Let’s go.” My lady offered her hand, giving me the chance to be chivalrous.
Smiling down into her light grey eyes, I wrapped my fingers around her hand and planted a small kiss on her knuckles.
Her blush of satisfaction made my chest pound. Good, I had someone to take me into the heart of the party. That was the first test passed.
Following her back out of the building, I kept my eyes on my feet. I could hurry her up if I wanted, but I had to appear to be a newcomer, someone who didn’t know what to expect.
The night air rushed over me, cooling my raging heat. I offered my arm for the lady to take as we crossed the courtyard.
“The party is held in the Vladislav Hall. My name is Anya. Please don’t ask me any questions, just do as I ask, when I ask.”
Keeping my eyes forward, I muttered a positive. If Anya thought she could control me, she had another thing coming. Yet, the shake of her hand on my arm made me wonder what had brought her to this place. She didn’t belong here, even if she believed she did.
The old royal palace came into view. We were silent as we made our way over to the entrance of the building. A man in a long cloak and black mask allowed us entrance. Other couples were already navigating their way to the hall.
Classical music wafted towards us as we made our way up the sloping entrance. The room we entered was decorated in pretty lights and the usual masquerade theme. Red and purple material lined the walls. The ceiling, which was gothic in style, was illuminated by the chandeliers.
“My father is one of the world’s richest men. I want you to kill him.”
My throat almost closed, causing me to choke. Okay, that was extreme. There was sex, there was drugs…all about to go down at the party. But, death?
“So you can have his fortune?” I asked.
The woman led me to a table that had her nameplate on it. She slumped in her seat as I lowered myself next to her.
“So I can be free from his tyranny. I don’t want to marry the man he has chosen for me.” Her sulky face was easy to read under her mask. She was bloody miserable.
Looking around as I rubbed my chest, I took note of Jack, who stood beside an older lady, his arm on the small of her back. Chloe was laughing, genuinely laughing, with the man who had picked her. Maybe she wouldn’t have such a bad experience after all.
“You want me to kill your father? Who is he?”
I wasn’t asking because I was going to do what she wanted. I was just interested in who she hated so much.
“I told you not to ask questions. He’s not here yet, but when he gets here, I want you to kill him. You look like the type of man who has a weapon on him.”
Raising my eyebrows as she looked at me, studying my frame, I couldn’t help the smile. “Do I, now?”
Rolling her eyes, she watched the newcomers intently. “So, you don’t deny it. Good. Will you do as I wish?”
The last thing I wanted to do was offend her before the party had really begun. If I told her that I wouldn’t kill her father, she might demand that we leave. Something that could hinder my progress.
My chest still burned deep with the heat that warned me that a Fallen One was in range. It was so hot, I picked up the jug on the table and took a gulp of water to try and cool down. It wouldn’t be long now.
“I will consider it if an opportunity comes up. However, if there’s no safe way for me to do as you ask, I will not.”
Her pretty made up lips pursed but she nodded. She knew that she had risked a lot to ask a stranger to murder someone. Not that she cared. The woman obviously got everything she had ever desired. And, the first time her father asked for something in return, she couldn’t go through with it.
“There’s the man he wants me to marry,” she spat, getting up from her seat and grabbing my hand. “Dance with me so he doesn’t try to come over.”
Okay, I could see why she didn’t want to be involved with her father’s chosen suitor. He was twice her age, an old man. If Anya already had all the money she needed, why would she have to marry a man twice her age?
Taking her waist, I swung her around the dance floor. Her lips actually lifted into her cheeks as she looked up at me. “I’ve not danced like this for a long time.”
Her admission resounded in my head as I thought about the first woman I had fallen in love with after I had left my ruined village. She was fair haired, tall and thin. Her eyelashes had been so blonde, it didn’t look like she had any. Yet, although she wasn’t beautiful, there was something about her that drew me in.
“I’ve not danced like this for a long time, either,” I replied truthfully.
The days of posh balls were over. Not many people bothered anymore, yet, it had always been romantic. Not that I had often indulged after I’d had my heart broken over and over. My dark hideouts were far easier to bear.
“The last time I danced like this with a woman, she ended up dead,” I whispered as I bent down to reach Anya’s ear.
A shudder ran over her as my breath brushed her bare neck. The low cut gown was pleasing to the eye, but her misery radiated from her, repelling me from wanting anything from her.
Chloe’s laugh filtered over to me, drawing my attention. Glancing over my shoulder, I smiled when I saw the man she was with trip over his own feet in an attempt to move her around the dance floor.
“Why did she die? Did you kill her?” Anya brought my attention back to her.
Shaking my head suddenly, I flicked my ponytail over my shoulder. “No, someone else did.”
My mind travelled back. We had been dancing merrily, lost in each other when someone asked to cut in. I refused, believing it was obvious that she was mine. The man didn’t like that refusal, especially as he claimed that he was her betrothed.
Her guilty eyes told me that he was telling the truth. And, she had known all along. But, I couldn’t bring myself to let her go, so I asked if I could claim her. The man laughed in my face, telling me to go back to the heavens if I was that special. He would never let me have her.
“You’ve gone back to a different time,” Anya said, her fingers stroking my cheek softly. “You’re handsome when you’re reminiscing. Your face loses its harshness.”
Clenching my teeth, I ducked away from her fingers. I wouldn’t let any woman touch me that way. Ever.
Memories flooded back as I spun Anya around, distracting her from my dismissal. The man had challenged me to fight him. Being a prideful young man, not long with my power, I accepted. But, when it came to it, my love jumped into the middle of our fight, getting in the way of the man’s fist, which was flying towards me.
My eyes closed briefly as the image of her head snapping violently sideways made me want to heave. I had back then, almost a thousand years ago. I had fallen over and heaved as the crack of her neck resounded around the small square of the village. My love was gone…because of me.
“I need you to come back to me, my father is here.” Anya’s voice cut through the memories.
I had no idea that my eyes had been closed until they snapped open and reality reasserted itself. What was it with being close to Chloe and Jack that made me slip back to old memories? I hadn’t thought about my past the whole time I had been alone in Prague.
Looking to where Anya pointed, I almost stumbled as I spotted the man. It wasn’t her father I was interested in, but the man he was talking to. Frederik Jenson.
Thor’s power engulfed my whole body as the men chatted between themselves. Anya took her hand away from mine, staring hard at me.
“Why are you so hot?�
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“I can’t help it, lovely, I was gifted with these looks a while ago.”
Her scoff distracted me from my target. Not the one she had asked me to kill, but my own. The Fallen One. Frederick wore only a small mask, leaving most of his face bare for all to see. He obviously had nothing to hide.
A beautiful woman clung to his arm, listening intently to what they were saying. Her face was turned to Frederik, lovingly gazing at him. The evil spirit had enticed someone to fall in love with him? How was that even possible?
“My father is speaking to Frederik Jensen. One of the best men I know. If he wasn’t so loved up with his wife, I would marry him in a heartbeat.”
“Really?” I said, baffled as to the attraction of the man.
Sure, he was broad, with a strong jaw, but his energy radiated the evil that was inside the host. Maybe she had liked the man who was Frederik before the Fallen One had commandeered his body.
“Will you do it?” Anya whispered, putting a hand to my cheek and moving my head to look at her, instead of the two men.
Licking my lips, I glanced at Jack. He nodded in the direction of my enemy before sitting down at a table with his date. He knew to leave it up to me. I was going to take my time. Especially as the man seemed completely oblivious to my existence at the ball. Unless he was keeping it calm.
“Introduce me to your father, let me talk to him.”
Anya’s hands tightened on me before she heaved out a long breath. “Okay.”
Stepping off the dance floor, she led me over to the pair. I put on my best smile, keeping my attention on the men. If I dared look away to see if Chloe was safe, I would be distracted. And, anything could happen at that moment.
My senses were on full alert as the men looked up. Anya’s father’s gaze landed on her, his face blooming with pride as he studied her gown.
“Anya, you look stunning,” he said, grasping her in a hug.
The girl air-kissed his cheek, a dull expression on what could be seen of her face. Turning to me, she introduced me as her date. Her father’s lips pressed together as he looked around the room for her intended.
“Pleased to meet you,” Frederik said, offering his hand, like a decent gentleman.
Nodding, I took it, squeezing slightly as we shook. A frown creased his forehead before he cleared his throat. Had he felt the heat pulsing from my palm? Would that shock him into knowing who I was?
“Frederik, darling, I want to dance,” his wife interrupted, drawing him away from the group.
Shit. I wanted to try and talk to my enemy. Sizing him up was my goal, especially as he seemed pretty unsure of who I was. How was that?
“Hold on, beautiful, I would like to talk to Anya’s date for a moment. Go and get us a drink and I’ll join you momentarily.”
The woman smiled as she leant up and kissed his cheek. I wondered if…
“Excuse my wife, she’s a keen dancer. Especially as I know my way around this type of dance floor. As do you, it seems…”
Anya was having a heated discussion with her father beside us. Moving to stand side by side, Frederik and I ignored them.
“So, do you know this type of dancing because…?”
“I know who you are,” he said, his voice tight in his throat. “I must admit to being sorely disappointed that you’re here tonight. I was rather looking forward to the debauchery.”
His gaze was fixed on his wife as she whispered something to the man walking around with the drinks on a platter.
Clasping my hands in front of me, I almost laughed. “I must admit, I’ve never met a Fallen One who didn’t instantly want to kill me.”
The man ran a hand over his salt and pepper hair. His human body was in mid-life, yet, the spirit inhabiting it knew time, having been alive for so long. Longer than me.
“As hard as you might find this to believe, I’m actually trying to help the human race. I may have done some bad things in my time, but by eliminating the underworld creatures, I’m making up for it.”
The snort that escaped me attracted attention from Anya and her father. They frowned at me, thinking that I was making fun of them. They stared for a moment, unsure what to make of me.
“Don’t worry, my love, he was laughing at a joke I made about my wife. You know how I love to tease her.”
They both smiled, their attention drawn back to each other as Anya tried to fight her case. It didn’t sound like she was winning if her father’s hand gestures were anything to go by.
“I’m not sure your reasoning is sound. You’ve committed atrocities for well over a thousand years, yet, you think that by killing the evil in the world now, you’re atoning? I don’t think so somehow.”
My sword rubbed against my side as I pressed my arm against my chest. I liked to remind myself that it was there. Although no one else could see it, I couldn’t help but check constantly when a Fallen One was near. Never had I stood so close to one without it threatening me.
“Let’s do this differently. I’ve heard about your exploitations. You were close to being defeated in London recently. I don’t want to fight you, Thunder Hunter. I want to work with you. Surely, you agree that there are too many human killings at the hands of the underworld?”
Trying to disagree with him would be pointless. There were far too many innocent lives being lost because of vampires needing sustenance and Dark Crawlers draining the light from people. However, I didn’t believe that Frederik had found the answer.
Chloe came into view suddenly as she dragged her date off the dance floor and forced him to sit down. If his swagger was anything to go by, he was already on his way to being completely drunk. Which would help free Chloe up if I needed her for any reason.
“In London, there seems to be a good balance. I’m not sure how it works here in Prague, but it looks like you’re on a mission to kill all underworld people. I’m afraid I can’t conform to that idea.”
Frederik’s wife waved to him, playfully crossing her arms in annoyance. The man grinned back, holding one finger up to indicate she only had to wait a minute.
“Let’s meet tomorrow and talk civilly. I promise I’m not a bad man. I’ve been working for a few years now to make Prague a better place.” He lifted his arm and pulled up his jacket sleeve.
A tight band was wrapped around his thick wrist. A rune was engraved on a silver plate in the middle of the gold bracelet. Algiz. The rune of protection.
Coughing into his hand to shake his sleeve back down, Frederik turned to face me. “I’m going to be in this body for a while. It’s not rotting, as you can probably notice from the lack of smell. So, I’m ready to do some good in the world.”
“I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, Freddie,” I said, smiling when the man raised his eyebrows at my informal name for him. “Where shall we meet tomorrow?”
“Meet me in the Powder Tower at two in the afternoon. The tower is an old entrance to the castle, gothic in style, much like this hall.” Waving his arm, he indicated the building we stood in. He seemed proud of the country’s historical structure.
“Tomorrow it is,” I said, offering my hand again.
Shaking his head, Frederik shuddered visibly. “You won’t mind if I don’t shake your hand? I can feel that god’s power in there….all heated…”
He backed away, his gaze finding his wife already on the dance floor. With another man. His eyes flared, a hint of red blazing in them. Ah, he was a reformed character, was he?
“I must go and get my wife away from that scoundrel,” he pretended to joke.
However, there was no real joke behind his words. The man was evil, it ran in his veins. No amount of persuasion would make me see any different. A Fallen One would never be clear of its evil nature, no matter how badly they tried to persuade themselves otherwise.
My attention was drawn to Chloe as she tried to casually wave to me. I nodded, letting her know that everything was okay. If we looked too suspicious, other guests would guess that we wer
e up to something. Her small smile as she tilted her head to the side made my heart squeeze. Was she getting attached to me?
“Man,” Anya said, turning to me and nudging me in the ribs. “I’m leaving. You can stay, I don’t care.”
Raising her nose in the air, she dismissed her father when he tried to keep her by his side. Shoving him away, she stormed off, leaving the room.
“Sorry about her, please know that I’ll happily pay your fee.”
Holding up my hand, I stopped him as he reached into his pocket. “No, please, I’ve gone off the idea of this ball myself. It was an honour to meet you both.”
Bowing, I backed away, ready to leave. Chloe and Jack would not know I was going, which made it easier for me to sneak out. They would understand that I had my plan, which didn’t involve them.
“Where are you going, pretty boy?” Jack’s tone echoed around the corridor as I stepped out of the hall. “To fuck that pretty girl?”
My feet stopped moving as my friend, yes, I had to remind myself that he was actually a friend, came to stand in front of me.
“No, I’m leaving. I had an interesting chat with…” I didn’t need to say anymore, he knew exactly who I spoke about. “…and we’re meeting tomorrow.”
“Oh, what, like a dual? Can I be your second?” Jack’s handsome face lit up, just like a school boy. “I promise to bury you deep if you get killed. What weapon will you choose? Oh, the sword I suppose.”
“Jack?” I brought his verbal diarrhoea to a halt with a hand on his shoulder. “Shut the fuck up.”
Moving past him, I patted him on the back. He grabbed my arm, forcing me to stop. “Oh, no you don’t, dickhead. I won’t be palmed off. And, neither will Chloe. What’s really going on?”
Sighing, I knocked his hand off me. Okay, so they were concerned about me, that much was evident. But, when would they start to trust me when it came to the Fallen Ones? Not only had I defeated two Fallen Ones in the last year, I had brought down the other hundred and ninety-five on my own.
“I have a plan that doesn’t involve either of you. It never did. Now, it’s just been made clearer in my mind. So, if you don’t mind, I’m going home to get some sleep before I meet for a chat with Frederik tomorrow.”
Storm Guardian: Viking Soul Book 3 Page 15