“Just peachy, Will. How are you? Out for a stroll, are you? I’d join you but my bloody house is on fire!”
The sound of the approaching sirens were becoming louder and louder.
“I already called the fire brigade. They’re on the way.”
“Katherine, there’s a fire-escape ladder under the bed.”
Katherine reached underneath. “Got it.”
She slid it over to me.
“Get some shoes on. You’re going to go down first,” I told her. Thankfully, she didn’t argue. She stepped into her black leather boots, putting them on over her bare feet. By then I had my own boots on and the ladder hung over the edge of the window. Katherine stumbled over to the window, gasping for breath.
“I’ll be right behind you.” I kissed her. It was quick, almost chaste, but it was all we had time for.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Spike?”
I grabbed a pillow from the bed and stripped it of its case. Then looked for the tie that I’d worn to work the day before. It was still fastened to the bedpost. “We’ll both be behind you. You first,” I told her as I worked to loosen the knot.
I helped Katherine climb out the window.
Spike was whimpering at my heels. I didn’t have a second to waste. I scooped him up quickly and dropped him into the makeshift sack. Using the tie, I secured the pillowcase around my waist. I didn’t look back. I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t give a single thought to what I was losing, what I was leaving behind. Instead, as I stepped onto the ladder, I was focused on preserving my future, our future.
“Steady, love. You all right?”
“I think so.”
“Go slowly.”
Will reached up and guided her down the last few steps. As soon as the way was clear, I jumped the remaining few feet.
“The front is completely ablaze.” Will took the pillowcase from me and set Spike loose. “We can get out the back gate and circle around.”
“How did you know?”
“Jennifer.” Will stripped off his overcoat and held it out for Katherine. Then we headed for the gate. “She woke up coughing and hysterical. I tried to call you, but you didn’t answer. So I put her in the car and we came over.”
As we rounded the corner a bright red fire engine came to a halt. One of the firemen jumped off and approached Jennifer. She was standing in front of the building, dressed in a long white silk nightgown and an unbuttoned black overcoat.
“Is there anyone else in the house?”
Jennifer looked past him. She smiled broadly, seeing us for the first time. “No, they’re safe.”
The firefighter followed her gaze. “Any of you injured?”
“No. We’re all right,” I assured him.
“We’ll try to keep it from spreading. I think that’s the best we can do.”
“There’s a painting over the fireplace.” Katherine pointed toward the living room window. “It’s priceless.”
I pulled her into my arms. “It’s immaterial, it’s just a thing. You and the baby are priceless. You’re safe. That’s all that really matters.”
Even from across the street I could feel the intense heat of the blaze. Neighbors poured out of their houses, some concerned for the safety of their own homes. We watched in silence until there wasn’t anything more to watch. Until the fire was out. When it finally was, nothing remained. Nothing but a pile of smoldering ash.
“I want to go talk to a couple of the guys, then we can go back to my place. You’re welcome to the guest room until things are sorted,” said Will.
Snow had started to fall from the sky. Neither Will nor I had coats and now that the fire had died down, I was beginning to feel the cold.
“That’s awfully nice of you, but I think I’d rather head to Atherton House. I want Katherine tucked away, nice and safe. Unfortunately, my car keys were in there.” I nodded toward the remnants of my home.
Will tossed me his. “Take my car. When I’m finished here, I’ll hotwire yours. I’ll have a new set of keys made for you tomorrow. Call me in the afternoon.”
Once Will was halfway across the street he turned back. “Jen, do you want to come with me? Maybe you’ll pick up on something?”
“Yeah.” Jennifer reached into her pocket and pulled out her mobile. “Here. Keep it until you replace yours.” Then she took off, running across the street to catch up with Will.
“Where’s Atherton House?” asked Katherine.
“Southeast of here in Kent. It’s where I grew up. I should call Charles and let him know we’re coming.”
I quickly rang Charles; he picked up right away.
“Hello?”
“Charles? It’s Wes.”
“It’s about time. Laura’s been trying to reach you for hours. Is something the matter with your phone?”
“She’s been trying to reach me?”
“Yes. She’s here. Let me put her on.”
The fact that Laura was with Charles and it was the middle of the night didn’t escape me. Before I had time to say anything, however, Laura had taken the phone.
“Wes? Your friend, the one you brought in, he’s gone.”
“What do you mean, gone?” I turned around and began to scan my surroundings.
“I guess when it happened the hospital tried to call. I was in the Tube, in a tunnel. The message went to voice-mail and I didn’t notice until a few hours ago. I’m off and had the setting on silence. I’m sorry, Wes.”
This was too much of a coincidence.
“You were going to call me when you extubated him.”
“I’m sorry. He apparently regained consciousness, extubated himself, knocked out a nurse and left.”
“How long ago?”
“About four or five hours now, I’d say.”
“Tell Charles that Katherine and I are on our way to Atherton House.”
“But it’s four in the morning!”
“There’s been a bit of a mishap. We can’t stay here.”
Charles took the phone back. “What kind of a mishap? I’d like to have an idea as to what’s in store for me tomorrow.”
“I’d say you’ve got little to worry about, Charles. It’s essentially gone—burned rubble and ashes.” I looked once again at the shell of my home.
“Ashes?” repeated Charles, stunned.
“I know, you had just polished the silver.”
“Sod the silver! Are you and Katherine all right?”
“We’re fine, thanks to Spike. He woke the two of us up.” I leaned down and gave the pup a scratch behind the ears before scooping him up. “I’m going to ring off and head out.”
“I’ll be here.”
I pocketed the mobile, then turned to Katherine. “Come on, love.” I unlocked the door and held it open for Katherine.
“Charles lives there?”
“He lives in a cottage on the grounds.”
Katherine climbed into the car, pulling the coat more tightly around herself. I closed the door, ran back around to the driver’s side and hopped in.
“I’ll get the heater on in a minute, love.” I leaned over and dropped Spike into the backseat.
“You lost the painting, and your mother’s jewels, the ones you let me borrow.” Katherine had turned in her seat and was looking back at the remnants of the still-smoldering house.
I leaned over and kissed her. “The pearls and peridot are safe. I gave them to Charles to have them cleaned. I only had them here in the first place because I lent them to someone not too long ago.”
“Reese?”
“No. Bernie Friedman’s daughter, for her engagement party.” I put the car in gear. “There isn’t a thing in that house that is as important as what I left with. I want you to remember that.”
Katherine nodded as she choked back tears. “We could have died in there, Wes.”
“But we didn’t. We’re here, now. And that says something.”
“What if the next time
we’re not so lucky? I’m beginning to feel like danger is lurking around every corner. Am I paranoid?”
“No. You’re not paranoid. We’ll be safer at Atherton House. The security there is good, practically museum quality. At least it was when it was initially installed. In addition to my father’s own works, there are others that he felt the need to protect.”
“How long ago was that?”
“I honestly don’t remember. I’ll call Will in the morning and schedule a meeting. We’ll hire him to make whatever improvements are necessary. It’s what the man does.”
“Wes, I’m afraid. Because of what Jennifer said, I felt safe in your house. Now it’s gone. We were forced to leave. How do we know we aren’t walking into certain danger? This, whatever it is, it’s unrelenting and powerful.”
“It has the power that is given it. No more. It uses subterfuge and obfuscation to confuse the mind, to weaken resolve. We’ve got to stick together and we’ve got to be strong.”
“You think we can actually beat this? Change destiny?”
“You don’t? Katherine, think. You’ve already done it once, love, changed destiny.”
She turned to look out the window. “And we’re being punished for it. Isn’t that what Jennifer said? I don’t know, Wes.”
“This isn’t new, this thing, and we’re not the first to experience it. I’m sure of that. We can’t give in, give up. I’m afraid if we do, it will be the end. We can’t let that happen.”
“What are you saying?”
“I know this sounds crazy. But, we’re dealing with Death, incarnate. It seems to be seeking retribution, payback.”
“You think it’s after me.”
“Or the baby,” I added.
Katherine defiantly lifted her chin. “This thing is not taking my baby.”
“Our baby.” I reached for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I know, technically, it’s not. But, it feels very much to me like—”
“Our baby.”
“Close your eyes, love. We’ll be there in around a half an hour. I’ll wake you. I know you’re tired.”
Time passed and I drove on. Katherine’s head was resting against the window. Just when I thought perhaps she’d fallen asleep, she spoke.
“Wes?” I could hear the fear and uncertainty once again in her voice.
“Get some rest.” I lifted her hand to my lips and kissed her palm. “We’re a great team. We’ll figure this out.”
“What if we don’t?” she persisted. “What if one of us, or two of us, or all three of us don’t make it?”
My jaw was clenched so tightly it was painful. I wanted to be the guy who had all the answers, the guy that knew what he was doing. I wanted to be the larger-than-life action hero who, in the space of a two-hour movie, could save the girl and save the world.
But this was real. Katherine was the woman I loved, and she deserved the truth, however disquieting or unflattering. I turned into the long drive and pulled up to the tall iron gate. I parked the car, then turned to face her and laid it on the line. “Whoever is left will grieve, remember the love we had for one another and then go on living. I want you to know, here and now, that I will love you forever. Not even death will keep me from you. Do you believe that?”
“I believe in you.” Katherine reached out and caressed the side of my face. I pressed my cheek into the palm of her hand, savoring the moment until the sound of Charles’s voice shattered its sweetness.
“Can I help you?”
I rolled down the window. “Charles, it’s me. Can you open the gate?”
“What happened to your car?”
“The car’s fine. The keys didn’t make it out. This one belongs to a friend.” The gates slowly parted, giving us a now-unobstructed view of Atherton House.
I put the car back in gear and drove slowly up the long cobblestone paved drive. A tall wall surrounded the property. There was an expansive lawn with scattered old trees and well-manicured flowerbeds. Off to the right, in the early morning light, we could see the pathway leading down to the small pond.
Atherton House was luxuriously appointed. It was constructed of brick with stone detailing on the sills and quoins. There had always been an air of grandeur about it, yet it still managed to seem warm and inviting. Lights glowed softly in the front downstairs windows.
“Wow. This is where you grew up?”
“I’ll give you the grand tour and get you settled.”
“Tell me you’re not going to work tomorrow?”
“I have a meeting with the vicar first thing. There are some things I have to take care of and I want to connect with Will. Charles will stay with you. I’ll return home as fast as I possibly can.”
“Home.” Katherine looked back toward the house. “It seems so big.”
I reached out and ran my fingers through her hair. “I’ll remind you that you said that. In a few years, when it’s teeming with children, you’ll be complaining there’s not enough room. Mark my words.”
“Teeming? Just how many times do you think I’m going to do this pregnancy thing?”
I casually shrugged my shoulders, then turned off the engine. “It’s got seven bedrooms.”
Katherine’s eyes narrowed. “I can’t tell if you’re joking.”
We both stepped out of the car.
“I’m not joking. There truly are seven bedrooms.”
Katherine walked up to me, pulling the coat Will had loaned her more tightly around her body. “Seriously, how many children are you thinking we’re going to have?”
I let Spike out of the car and watched as he ran off, nose to the ground.
“I don’t know, more than this one? I grew up here by myself, always wished I had a younger brother. You know, someone to pick on, fight with, be jealous of. ’Course, there was Charles. Come on.” I held out my hand, tilted my head toward the house, then whistled for the dog. Charles opened the door as we approached.
“I’ve prepared the master bedroom for you. I thought you might like to retire for a bit, perhaps freshen up? There are some muffins and tea waiting there.”
“Thanks, Charles. We are a bit knackered. I’m afraid we’ll need replacement clothes. I have to leave to take care of some things in an hour or two. I don’t want Katherine to be alone today.”
“I understand, sir.” He hesitated for a moment. “How bad was it?”
“Bad. Everything is gone. We were lucky. Very lucky.”
“I’m very glad you weren’t injured, sir, miss.”
The moment felt awkward, uncomfortable. I loathed the distance that had developed between us, the barrier that had risen. I wanted to fix it, but I was exhausted and more to the point, I didn’t know how. So instead, I nodded. “Thank you, Charles.”
“Ring if you need anything.”
Then he was gone, leaving Katherine and me alone in the grand foyer. The house had been unoccupied since my father’s death, but you wouldn’t know it. Charles had been taking care of it just as he had when my parents were alive.
The white polished marble floor gleamed magnificently. There was a round table in the middle of the space holding a large vase filled with fresh cut vanilla orchids.
Katherine walked over to the table and fingered one of the delicate blossoms.
I wrapped my arms around her waist and rested my chin on her shoulder. “They’re probably from Mum’s collection. She loved orchids. Charles takes care of them all now. How are you in the gardening department?”
“Worse than I am in the cooking department, I’m afraid.”
“What is it I see in you, anyways?”
Katherine turned around and playfully batted me on the chest.
“Hey, now. There’ll be none of that!” I grabbed her and pulled her against me.
“Well, don’t tease! It’s not nice.” She pursed her lips together in a petulant pout that was irresistible.
I traced her bottom lip with the tip of my finger. “When you pout, this lip comes out eve
r so slightly. It begs to be nibbled.”
Katherine’s stomach growled audibly.
She glanced down. “Speaking of nibbling, I’m kind of hungry. Charles did say something about muffins?”
“Upstairs. In the master bedroom.” I took her hand in mine and led her to the large, sweeping staircase. The old mahogany wood of the banister was dark and rich and smelled slightly of orange.
As we climbed the stairs Katherine paused to look at the various swords and shields that hung on the wall.
“You know, most people hang photographs or paintings on their staircase.”
“Dad was an avid swordsman. I remember the first time I was able to best him in a bout. I had just turned sixteen. I was full of myself for weeks.”
“You and your father used to swordfight?”
“Fence. These are just some of his collection. There are more in the gym, and some in the library.”
“There’s a gym and a library? You’re going to have to leave me with a map. Ah-ha! Here are all the embarrassing family pictures,” she exclaimed when we reached the top of the stairs.
The door to the master bedroom was the first of several in the long hallway.
“You’ll have plenty of time to explore after I’m gone. You were hungry, remember?” I opened the door and waved her inside.
“I remember. Wow!” Katherine stopped. I had to give her a little nudge.
“Don’t worry, you can redecorate.”
“This was your parents’ room?” She stepped inside and started to look around, taking in the black lacquer shutters, shantung silk covered walls and marble floor. She walked across the rich Sarouk rug, past the circa 1880 Chippendale desk, to the antique chaise that was covered in the same rich red velvet that made up the duvet on the curtained four-poster.
I scratched the back of my head self-consciously, suddenly feeling every bit the awkward adolescent.
“I’m afraid so. You see why I became a psychiatrist?”
Katherine smiled. “You know what this looks like?”
“A bordello?”
“I was going to go with vampire lair.”
“Vampire lair, huh?”
She slipped off Will’s overcoat, then untied the sash of her robe, letting it fall to the ground so that she stood before me in just the black leather boots. “It’s making me feel kind of naughty.”
The Sacrifice: Forbidden, Book 1 Page 17