by Eden Ashley
Rhane rose from the floor. When close enough to count the hairs on the back of York’s neck, he spoke, hoping for a little fun out of the reaction. “This had better be good news.”
He wasn’t disappointed. York jumped like a champ, lurching around in a burst of adrenaline. But those big, rigid muscles relaxed on seeing Rhane’s amused expression. “I didn’t hear you coming!”
“I didn’t want you to.” Rhane flopped into a calico armchair while York finished looking around. “Was that you creeping around outside, scaring my houseguest?”
“Yeah,” York replied absently. He gestured to the open space, masking concern with measured lightness in his tone. “What happened in here? Smells like someone lost a lot of blood.”
Rhane folded his arms and ignored the question. “How did you know she was jailbait? I found out the hard way.”
York snorted. “And that’s clearly not stopping you.” He cleared his throat at Rhane’s serious expression. “Her student I.D was in the car outside.”
Rhane scowled. “I didn’t tell you to come. You had clear instructions.”
York understood. Nothing he said would be relevant until an explanation was given for disregarding an order that had been rather direct and flawless in delivery. He had to give a reason for his presence. “Your orders were clear.” He jerked his head toward the upstairs. “But Kalista summoned me.”
#
Kali stopped at the second above-ground level and was unsure if she wanted to keep going. To describe the house as huge would have been a ridiculous understatement. Endless hallways and multitudes of living spaces made exploration of the manor a much bigger task than she had initially perceived. Hours could have been spent wandering around without ever having to retrace her steps. She counted well over a dozen rooms and had yet to find Rhane’s bedroom. In a castle of such dimensions, the king’s dwelling would probably be at the top of it all.
Though it was midday, there wasn’t much light within the manor walls. That didn’t make her task any easier. The gloom was generous. Eerie shadows stretched out all around. White sheets covered an odd collection of scattered furniture. They were like ghosts of assorted sizes greeting her gaze with vacant stares of their own.
The first set of stairs ended after twisting onto two landings, forcing her to venture out in order to find the other stairwell located elsewhere on the floor. She hoped the stairs would lead to the uppermost floor and not to some hidden chamber that housed Rhane’s secret stash of dead bodies. Such an unfortunate event would put a terrible strain on their burgeoning romance. Maybe Rhane was starting to move past the whole age discrepancy issue. Could he forgive the crime of unearthing his secret identity as a serial killer? Kali shook her head. By Hollywood standards he would kill me and avoid the hassle.
She began to suspect Rhane had sent her to get lost while he met with the big guy in private. After all, he had said, “I’ll come find you.” She imagined him laughing as she wandered around hopelessly, like a rat in a giant maze. That’s so not nice.
She wondered how much time had passed. Rhane had to be done by now. If he thinks I can’t get back on my own, I’ll have to prove him wrong. Kali turned around. She would locate those stairs and march her way down them.
She had only taken three steps when a hair-raising chill crawled along her skin. Shivering, she paused and noticed slight movement within the drapes.
“It’s the wind,” she said. But her body tensed all over. Nudging the unease aside, she peered through the open door. Though the room was immense, merely two pieces of furniture were inside. Like everything else, they were draped in white sheets. One was a sofa. The other she wasn’t sure of. Feeling the chill again, she went to investigate.
Telling herself the area was like any other, she took one nervous step and then another until she had crossed the room. Standing in front of the curtains, she thrust them apart and discovered the open window. Satisfied it had been the source of the nipping breeze, she began to appreciate the simplistic surroundings.
The room didn’t look so intimidating when flooded in outside light. Mahogany floors of deep red hues blended wonderfully with faded walls painted the color of cinnamon. She pulled the sheet from the sofa and was instantly saluted with a cloud of dust. Thrown into a fit of coughing, she considered the plush chocolate leather with approval. She succumbed to its gravity, sinking into the cushions with a satisfied sigh. Her eyes fluttered shut…and abruptly reopened.
The voice. It was back. And singing the unforgettable melody. Spine straight, her focus was drawn to the other piece of covered furniture. The song continued. Sad and hopeful all at once, the words were unintelligible. In the next moment, Kali was only inches away from the masquerading object. She couldn’t remember leaving the sofa. She reached out, and the sheet fell away though she had barely touched it, exposing a silver standing mirror. An awed breath escaped in a whoosh.
The mirror was exquisite, lined with detailed carvings that glinted in the afternoon light. She traced the raised surfaces, admired the precision of the design. She thought of Mack. A fan of antiques, he would have loved to get his hands on such a stunning piece, even though it hadn’t been buried in the dirt.
She let her eyes fall to the mirror itself. Kali already knew what she would see. The grey-eyed beauty. Her painted face was waiting. Her eyes closed. Her chin dipped slightly. The melody had been her voice.
Chapter 28
Hoping it was a hallucination, Kali squeezed her eyes shut. Things were the same when she opened them. The woman did nothing to acknowledge her presence, but Kali knew the vision saw her. Only when her haunting performance had ended, did the woman look up. Her cold, grey eyes were enchanting. She spoke in a language Kali understood.
He is coming.
Kali took a small step back.
Do not be afraid.
She tried very hard not to faint. “Who—who are you?”
Who are you?
Moving forward again, Kali placed her hand against the mirror. The eyes reminded her so much of her own. Instead of a lost girl, it was the face of a spirited temptress. “Are you for real?”
The woman smiled with full, crimson lips. Grey fire danced within her pupils. She lifted both arms. Odd symbols were painted on them in hues of gold and black. Kali read their meaning aloud. “The strongest will stand.”
The symbols began to glow with soft blue light emitting from the woman’s skin. She spoke again. Darkesong.
The light brightened. Then it erupted. In the next breath it disappeared and the mirror was smooth again. The painted beauty was gone. Something else quickly took her place.
A large black canine soundlessly entered into the room. Kali turned to see him. Well, she assumed it was a “him.” A shadow surrounded by light, the animal seemed motionless even as it moved. Just as when she had spotted it from the bleachers, Kali found herself reassured at its appearance.
“Come,” she said. At once, the dog padded over and sat next to her. She knelt down to meet its eyes and was impressed by the intelligence within them. “You’ve been following me, haven’t you?” The dog gazed at her and then looked away. “Thank you for helping me in the cemetery.”
Rhane’s voice spoke from the doorway. “You’re not afraid.” He had finally come to retrieve her.
“Is he yours?” She was miffed at him for intentionally getting her lost, but put that aside.
He shrugged. “Sort of.”
“What’s his name?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Kali frowned. “Haven’t you named him?”
“Well, that’s just it,” he said while coming closer. “I’m sure he already has a name. And it wouldn’t be fair for me to saddle him with a new one since I don’t own him per se.” Rhane sat down on the floor next to her. “He found me the other day when I was on my way here and has been hanging around ever since. I get the impression that he’s waiting for something.”
She
nodded. “Did you try asking him?”
His face said he thought she had lost her mind. “Asking him what?”
“What he’s waiting for.”
He said very carefully, “Dogs don’t talk.”
Kali shook her head, wondering exactly what she had meant. She looked back at the dog. It was watching her expectantly. A thought came to her, suddenly as clear as Rhane’s spark had been. “Bailen,” she said aloud. The dog wagged its tail.
“What?” Rhane sounded confused.
“His name is Bailen,” she repeated firmly. Eyes shining, the dog nuzzled her face. It managed to sneak in a couple of enthusiastic licks before Kali could push it away.
Beside them Rhane grew very still, watching her and Bailen bond over the small triumph. “How…how did you know?”
Kali grinned. “I have a way with some animals. Remind me to introduce you to Stew and Pat the next time you’re over.”
Rhane nodded absently. Taking the dog’s head into his hands, he pulled it to him gently. “Hey…Bailen.”
The three of them sat for a while longer. But it was obvious Rhane was somewhere else, totally lost in thought. “You should call your parents,” he murmured.
“Right,” she agreed, but then buried her face into her knees.
“I found a change of clothes for you in your car. They’re downstairs in the bathroom. Take a shower and feel better. Your cell phone was there as well, but the battery’s dead.”
Kali didn’t lift her head. “Thanks.” All morning and afternoon she had managed not to think about the consequences of the past eighteen hours or so. But there was no avoiding it. Her parents were going to be livid. She groaned. “I stayed out all night without calling. They’re freaked and I’m grounded.” His hand rested on her shoulder. Something in his touch made Kali look up.
“Kalista, I don’t know how to tell you this, except to just come out and say it. Today is Wednesday afternoon.”
“Wednesday?” she repeated, puzzled.
“Yes. I—I’ve been out of town. It wasn’t until Tuesday night that you came here.”
“So, what are you saying? I’ve been gone for two entire days?”
“You don’t remember coming here, do you?”
She shook her head. “No. But I think I would notice missing an entire day of my life…unless I have Alzheimer’s.” She paused thoughtfully. “But that’s something that only old people get.”
“Well then, what do you remember?” he asked patiently.
Kali thought hard, scrunching her face as she struggled to recall anything about the last couple of days. A jumble of images confronted her. “I remember going into the basement at work. You were there.” She stopped. That was wrong. Things were out of order in her mind. “No, that’s not right. You were at my house. We had a fight.” Her eyes narrowed. “You didn’t want me to leave.” Kali jumped up. “Did you kidnap me?”
“Of course not.”
“Then why is it Wednesday?” More than twenty-four hours had been purged from her memory without explanation. The implications of the revelation sunk in. This was way worse than not remembering Friday. For the second time in one morning, Kali found herself yelling at Rhane. She might feel bad about it later, but right then she needed answers. And if getting them took being angry and directing it at him, then so be it.
Rhane made himself busy studying Bailen. In full retreat, the dog slunk out of the room with both ears laid back. “Thanks for the backup,” he muttered.
“Rhane.”
At her tone, he looked up sheepishly from where he sat on the floor. “Today is Wednesday because Tuesday couldn’t last forever. But it really, really wanted to.”
“This is serious.”
“I know.”
“Do you?” She began pacing the room. “Greg is a lawyer. He’s friends with over half of the police department.” She crossed her index and middle fingers. “He and the Chief of Police are like this. By now he’s called them all.”
Rhane got up. Catching her in midstride, he brought her head forward until her forehead gently touched his. The turmoil of raging emotions instantly quieted. Her frustration and anxiety melted away. Kali wished she could stay with him forever.
“Why can’t I remember?”
“We’ll figure this out. Don’t worry.”
She listened to him breathe, was comforted by the rise and fall of his chest. “It’s going to be worse for you.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
After another long moment, she softly inhaled, preparing to say she was ready to call Greg and Lisa. Rhane stepped back abruptly. “I need something from you, Kalista.”
Kali raised her eyebrows. “What?”
“The cops are going to be at your home when we get there. How we met Friday night will probably come up, but you can’t tell them what really happened.”
“Rhane, it’s time for me to come clean about the attack. That creep might hurt another girl. If I don’t say anything, it would be my fault.”
“Don’t concern yourself with that.” Rhane’s eyes were suddenly very hard. “He won’t be hurting you or anyone else again.”
Kali eyebrows stretched even higher. “How could you possibly know that?”
“I really need you to trust me on this one. Okay?”
She swallowed and nodded. Rhane had saved her life and forgiven her for almost taking his. It was the least she could do.
“Okay.” Rhane rubbed his face. “Let’s go call your folks.”
Chapter 29
Lisa answered on the first ring. On hearing Kali’s voice, her relief poured through the receiver. Then she handed the phone to her husband. “She’s safe,” Kali heard Lisa say to her father. After Greg was certain his daughter was alive, had not been kidnapped, and suffered no bodily harm or grave ailment of any sort, then the tough questions came.
“Where have you been, young lady?”
Kali winced. “I’m with a friend.”
“Why didn’t you call?”
She knew Greg was only ignoring the vague reference to a “friend” for now. “I couldn’t. I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
“Kalista, this is unacceptable. Do you have any idea what’s been going through our minds?”
“I’m so sorry, Daddy.”
Greg breathed heavily into the line. But when he spoke again, his tone had softened considerably. “Give me straight answers, Kali. Where are you?”
“Hunter’s Valley.”
“Who are you with?”
“Rhane.”
One remarkable thing about Greg that had helped him become a successful lawyer and an even better district attorney was that he never forgot a name or a face. An unbearable pause passed before spoke he again.
“Put him on.”
Cheeks hot with guilt and embarrassment, Kali obediently handed Rhane the phone. She felt rotten for having made her parents sick with worry, not to mention the waste of time and resources she knew had been expended on her behalf. She chewed her lip and watched Rhane converse calmly with her father, though most of the talking came from the other end. He said “yes sir” a couple of times. After a moment or two, he glanced at Kali and held his hand out. When she took it, he squeezed her hand and held it.
“I will, sir.” Rhane hung up the phone.
Kali looked at him as if to say, “Well?”
“I have exactly one hour to get you home.” Rhane grinned nonchalantly. “He gave me an extra fifteen minutes for traffic. Get in the shower. I can’t take you home dressed like that.”
#
Aside from experiencing the expected amount of relief and joy to have their youngest daughter returned to them alive and unharmed, the Metts were not very happy. After both of them hugged Kali tightly and multiple times each, Lisa sat her daughter down on the sofa. Rhane remained where he stood. Without invitation he ventured no further than the threshold into the living room. Looking on quietly, he was able to identify with the m
ixed emotions of the reunited family. He also knew the situation was going to be tricky.
Two uniformed officers remained at the Metts’ residence. If Greg did not receive the right explanation of events, charges were going to be pressed. But Rhane was a good judge of people and knew Greg only needed two things to put his mind at ease. First of all, he had to see with his own eyes that Kalista had not been hurt in any manner. And second, he needed to know that some opportunizing pervert had not taken advantage of his little girl. The first issue had been resolved right away. Convincing Greg of the latter was a whole other monster.
Switching gears from doting dad to prosecuting attorney, Greg directed a piercing stare at Rhane. “Why don’t you have a seat, son?”
It was a question but hung a fingernail short of being an order. Greg was letting the pizza boy know who was in charge. Referring to him as “son” meant he had graciously given Rhane the benefit of the doubt. At least for right now, innocent until proven guilty held true. He hadn’t been labeled a pervert. Yet. It was a good start.
“Okay.” Rhane silently added, Here we go.
Chapter 30
Greg took a seat in an armchair positioned directly across from the sofa. Lisa joined him, perching on one of the plush arms of the off-white chair. The picture of solidarity wasn’t a front. And it garnered more of Rhane’s respect.
Kalista wrung her hands anxiously, but stopped when Rhane sat next to her. Greg’s eyes narrowed a bit. He got straight to the point. “Officers Harlow and Remington are good friends of mine. Between the two of them, there are over thirty years on the force. These admirable men are waiting to see if their services will be further needed.” Greg paused.
Rhane waited.
“But first, I want you to help us sort this out. I ask. You answer. That’s all.”
“I’ll do my best, sir.”
“Very good.”
Eye contact was a big deal to Mr. Metts. That much was evident. In a profession like his, it was essential to weed out small seeds of truth in fields ripe with dishonesty. A life or death sentence could very well depend on it.
Liars often had a hard time getting the proportions right with eye contact. Either they made too much or too little. Rhane knew how to make lies sound like the truth. Given a lifespan far exceeding that of any human, he’d had ample time to hone and perfect the particular skill. Rhane hated liars. But if the situation demanded it, he didn’t mind becoming one.