Chronicles of Darkness: Shadows and Dust

by Andrea F. Thomas

  "Yes, you would like that. By the way, do you have any idea how late it is, dear little sister?" Kyrian asked.

  Skylar shrugged her shoulders. "It's not dark anymore."

  Kyrian scratched at the first traces of beard stubbles, before slumping back into the pillows. "It is far too early. You should still be asleep. I should still sleep."

  "It's not dark anymore. Besides, Papa always said, the early bird will catch the worm." She started to pull on his arm to get him to leave the bed.

  "Hey, hey, slow down! I need this arm!" Kyrian protested.

  "Then get up already!" Skylar said, stomping her foot impatiently.

  Kyrian grinned, not moving an inch. "Mama always says patience is a virtue."

  The girl crossed her arms and pouted.

  "That won't get you anywhere with me, you know that, Skylar," Kyrian responded.

  "You are so mean!" she declared boldly.

  With lightning speed, Kyrian grabbed his sister, turned her on her back and started to tickle her. "You take that back this instant, you little pain in the neck!"

  Skylar was laughing so hard, she wasn't able to say anything, until her brother stopped. "Since I'm very much awake, now, may I offer a suggestion?"

  Expectantly, Skylar looked at her brother. "What?"

  "While I'm dressing, how about you go to the stables and saddle Nightshade?"

  "We're going for a ride?" Skylar's eyes lit up in excitement.

  Kyrian nodded and laughed.

  Skylar hugged him happily. "You are the best brother in the whole wide world," she announced and hurried from the room.

  *****

  Impatiently, Skylar stood next to the paddock, holding Nightshade at the reins, waiting for her brother.

  He walked towards her, shaking his head softly, laughing. "Isn't it about time for you to get your own horse?"

  "No, why?" the girl responded cheekily. "I like riding with you on Nightshade best."

  "Well, if that is so." He helped Skylar to climb on the stallion's back and settled behind her.

  The sunlight fell through the roof of leaves above them. Unhurried, they were riding at a leisurely pace through the woods, while Skylar's thoughts circled around the conversation from the evening before. "Kyrian, do you think it could be possible?"

  "Could what be possible?"

  "That story Bernard told us yesterday evening."

  "Of course. Why should he make up such a story?"

  Skylar rubbed her chin. "I just think it is strange for an immortal to work together with a mortal. Wouldn't one of his own kind be of better use?"

  "Hmm. Yes, the whole alliance is strange. Still, it is possible. We don't know anything about this Chalice and what reason she has to be with the vampire."

  Skylar nodded. "That's true. But, there is another thing that's peculiar. Why does he cut out the hearts of his victims and takes them with him?"

  Kyrian contemplated that briefly, before answering, "You know what Mama is always saying, how the heart is the seat of the human soul?"

  "Hmm." Skylar murmured.

  "I think it gives him some kind of perverse pleasure to know that, even after their deaths, his victims will never be free, as long as he owns their hearts."

  His sister shook herself. "A nasty thought. If he is that cruel to humans, how can this woman stay with him? I don't understand that."

  The young man ruffled his sister's long hair and said, "Don't wrack your brain with such heavy thoughts. We will find this vampire, and we're also going to take care of his companion, so that everyone will be able to sleep again at night, without any fear."

  "Maybe the woman doesn't want to be with him. It could be possible that she is a victim, too. Or perhaps she is under his spell?" Skylar threw in.

  Kyrian shrugged his shoulders. "It could be possible. But after Bernard's tale, I don't think so."

  "It was just a thought."

  *****

  A pot of steaming and delicious smelling herbal tea was added to the bread, cheese and fruit on a tray. Monique dried her hands on her apron and adjusted the little white bonnet, which covered her light-brown curls. She took the tray and was about to head to the chambers of her new mistress. As soon as she turned around, she got a fright. The tray slipped from her hands. Crashing to the hard kitchen floor, the china burst into a million pieces. Trembling, Monique grasped at her wildly beating heart. "Are you totally out of your mind?" she screamed, at the person opposite her. "You scared ten years off me!"

  Chuckling, the tall, broad-shouldered man removed the horrible mask, which had covered his tanned face. "Awww, come on. Don't be like that. It was only a joke."

  She pressed her hands to her hips. "Joke? You call that a joke, Jean? It is a miracle that my heart didn't cease to beat!"

  Jean rolled his eyes and sighed. "You always have to exaggerate."

  "Lord almighty in the heavens! You, at your age, are acting worse than a little scallywag!" She smacked him with a towel.

  He ducked, laughing. "I just wanted to remind you that there is a funfair today."

  "I know that there is a funfair today," she grumbled, still angry about his prank.

  Jean bent to her face, waggling his eyebrows. "So?"

  Monique wrinkled her forehead. "So what?"

  "Will you go with me?" He asked, gazing adoringly at her with his big, blue eyes, until the cook started smiling, immediately forgetting all about being angry.

  "Be careful with your eyes. They might pop out of your head. Besides, you know my answer to that question." Monique answered.

  Jean pretended to be ignorant. "Your answer? I'm supposed to know it? Well, I don't remember. You've got to help my memory."

  Monique swatted at him, playfully. "You know that I will be going with you, and now get out of my kitchen! I need to clean up the mess you caused."

  Jean laughed, heartily."Oh, I love it when you take command!"

  Monique took hold of a wooden spoon, swinging it, threateningly. "Disappear, and get on someone else's nerves!"

  Still chuckling, he left the kitchen. "See you later, sweetheart!"

  On the stairs, he came upon Helena and greeted her politely," Good morning, Madame."

  Helena smiled, returning the greeting. "The same to you." She entered the kitchen, where Monique was busy cleaning up.

  As the cook saw her, she leaped up from her task and dropped to a curtsy. "Good morning, Madame."

  "Good morning, Monique. Are my children already up and about?" Helena asked.

  Monique responded, enthusiastically. "Oh yes, that they are. I think your daughter was the first of the household to greet the new morning. Such a cute, little thing, if I may say so and so well behaved."

  Helena smiled. "Oh, thank you very much. I'm doing what I can. And? Where are they?"

  "They went out with the horse." Monique returned to the stove and stirred something in a big pot.

  Helena nodded, in understanding. "Ah, an early horseback ride through the woods."

  "Yes, Madame. They set out shortly after dawn. They should be back soon. Where does Madame wish to dine?"

  "Here," Helena said.

  Monique was astonished and turned to Helena. "You mean here? In the kitchen?"

  Helena arched her eyebrows. "Is there a rule against this?"

  "Please, forgive my openness, Madame. But, it isn't right for a lady, such as yourself, to dine in the kitchen." Monique explained.

  Helena chuckled and waved it off. "I don't have pride of place, and I don't want to be treated like a highborn lady, because I'm not of nobility. Have you eaten yet?"

  Monique shook her head in confusion. "No, Madame. Usually, the servants eat later than the Lordship or Ladyship."

  Helena smiled. "Well, I guess we have to change that then. From now on, we're going to have meals together. So, bring it on. I have to admit it smells delicious. And sit down beside me. I'd like to have some company."

  The cook blushed slightly. Never in her life had she b
een treated so nice, like an equal. "Are you truly serious about this?"

  Helena nodded.

  "It is my greatest honor, Madame."

  "Oh, the honor is all mine, Monique."

  The cook gave her a beaming smile and sat down beside her at the big, wooden table.

  "May I get Madame a cup of milk? I need to brew new tea because I had a little mishap, but..."

  Calming, Helena put one of her hands on the cook's arm. "Please, don't go to any trouble on my behalf. I would like to drink some milk."

  Monique filled Helena's cup from a pitcher. "It's fresh, Madame."

  "Thank you."

  Silence fell. They were enjoying their breakfast, until Skylar and Kyrian stormed into the kitchen.

  Smiling happily, the girl ran to her mother and embraced her effusively. "Mama! Can we go to the funfair?"

  Helena looked at her daughter. "How about a little good morning first?"

  "Oh, yes. Of course." Like a good girl, Skylar sat down beside her mother. "Good morning, Mama."

  "The same to you. And, to you, too, my son." Helena smiled fondly in her son's direction.

  Kyrian hugged her before taking a seat at the table. "I'm so very hungry!"

  "Oh, that was your tummy that's been making the growling noises? I thought it was a hungry bear chasing us," Skylar remarked with a broad grin.

  Monique got up, went to the stove and filled two wooden bowls with porridge from the pot. Beaming, she put it in front of the children.

  Kyrian took his spoon, and started to eat enthusiastically.

  Dumbfounded, Skylar gazed at the white, steaming mass in front of her. With innocent eyes, she looked at the cook, asking, "Uh... What is that?"

  "It doesn't matter," Kyrian threw in, his mouth still full. "The most important thing is, it's delicious!"

  Monique patted Skylar's head. "This is porridge, my little one. It's good for you, so you will be big and strong one day."

  Kyrian couldn't suppress his next comment. "Yes, that's just what the tiny dwarf needs."

  "Ha, ha, you braggart," the girl answered, sticking out her tongue.

  "Thanks, but no thanks. You may keep your tongue, I got one of my own."

  Just before Skylar could reply with something inappropriate, Helena interfered. "Enough! Both of you! Stop fighting and start eating, before it gets cold. We don't want for Monique to have cooked in vain, or do we?"

  Bravely, Skylar dipped her spoon into the porridge. After the first bite, she was very surprised to find that it didn't taste as bad as it looked.

  Monique noticed that and leaned over to the girl to whisper into her ear, "When I was your age, I didn't like this meal either. I mixed in some honey to sweeten the taste."

  Skylar smiled and whispered back, "Thank you. It is delicious."

  The cook winked.

  Turning to Helena, the girl asked, "Mama?"

  "Yes, my dear? What's on your mind?"

  "Can we go to the funfair?" Excited, Skylar rambled on, without letting her mother answer. "Jean was telling us all about it! It is so great there! With acrobats, and tightrope walkers, and musicians, and dancers, and..."

  "Oh yes, Madame. You must not miss the big funfair of Paris," Monique threw in. "It takes place every year, in front of Notre-Dame. There are lots of amazing, odd and interesting things to see. Everyone will be there. It is a very exciting event."

  Helena was skeptical. "Well, actually, we are not here for amusement..."

  "Oh, please, Mama," Skylar begged. "Please, please, pretty please?"

  "It would be a great opportunity to get to know some people that could be of value... for our investigations," Kyrian added.

  The huntress raised one eyebrow and tapped one finger against her chin. "Hmm. You could be right about that. Alright. Skylar, tell Jean to get the carriage ready. We are going to town, to the funfair."

  *****

  "Look over there! And there! And there! Isn't that just amazing?" Skylar exclaimed, pointing with her finger in every direction where she found something that she considered interesting.

  The Leosol family had arrived in front of Notre-Dame, where lots of civilians were already gathered. The people crowded around the colorful wagons and tents of the showmen and acrobats, tumblers and clowns, who showed off their talents.

  Skylar was practically dancing with excitement. "There, Mama, look! Up there! A tightrope walker!"

  Helena's gaze followed the outstretched arm of her daughter, to where a giddy young man, in a colorful checkered costume, was moving across a rope.

  "Well, there are enough people to catch him, if he should fall," Kyrian remarked dryly.

  Helena laughed and pulled her children along. "Come on. Ahead there is even more to see."

  Passing fire-eaters, men who could swallow swords, and jugglers, they reached a little stage, made of boards, which had been nailed together. "Come forward! Come forward," shouted the little, stocky-built, bald man, who stood there. "I proudly present, Ivan! The strongest man that ever walked the earth. He has never been defeated!" He praised loudly, pointing to the tall, imposing man, that stood beside him, scowling at the audience. "Who, from all of you, has the courage to face him?"

  He swung a little leather bag around, in which the sound of clicking coins was audible. "This bag shall belong to the man, who is able to defeat Ivan! Is there anybody, who will show his power and take on this challenge? Anybody, maybe one of the men in front of me?"

  Meanwhile, Ivan had removed his shirt, to better show off his taut muscles. He flexed them and made them ripple from time to time.

  "What a show-off," Kyrian said, turning up his nose scornfully.

  "You are just envious, because next to him you look rather slight," his sister snidely remarked.

  "Slight? I do not look slight!" Kyrian protested. "I could beat this guy with one hand tied to my back!"

  Skylar chuckled. "This I have to see. You have to prove that, my dear brother!"

  "Fine. Watch carefully, so you won't miss anything, dear sister!" Kyrian forced his way through the crowd to the stage.

  At first, Helena wanted to hold him back, but then she decided against it. Maybe getting defeated would get her son to forego his exaggerated opinion of himself.

  "Ah! There comes a brave one," announced the little man on the stage. "Tell me your name, my young friend."

  "Kyrian Leosol!" he declared proudly.

  "Oh, what a heroic name! Now, let me hear it for Kyrian, the Sunlion!"

  The audience cheered.

  A bit frightened, Skylar looked on, while her brother and the tall, muscled man, named Ivan, took their combat positions. She grabbed her mother's hand.

  The giant scrutinized his opponent up and down, and came to the conclusion that the fight wouldn't last long. "Have you thought this through, you little squirt?" he snarled. "I won't show any mercy. You're going down!"

  "We will see," Kyrian said and grinned boldly.

  Ivan scowled at him, grumbling, "You're brave, lad. I've got to hand that to you."

  Skylar pulled at her mother's sleeve. "Mama? Please, he has to come back! That man is going to kill him!"

  "It is too late now, sweetheart. Kyrian made a decision. Now, he has to see it through." Deep down, Helena was praying for her son to come out of this unharmed.

  "I don't want to see him getting hurt!" Skylar's concerns became lost in the crowd's cheers, as the fight started.

  With great dexterity, Kyrian dodged the massive fist of his opponent and ducked, skillfully. At the same time, he delivered a mighty punch to Ivan's solar plexus. The giant bent over from the unexpected pain. Kyrian's other fist followed quickly behind, crashing onto the tip of the man's chin. Ivan's eyes rolled back, his knees buckled, and the whole stage shook, as six feet of heavily muscled man dropped to the ground, unconscious. Ivan had been right; the unequal fight had not taken long.

  Kyrian bowed before the cheering audience. He collected his winnings and went back to his family.
"So? Did you see everything, my dear sister? I may look slight, but you need more than muscles to defeat another man." He tapped a finger on Skylar's forehead. "You also need to use your head, and you need to know the weaknesses of the human body," he explained, and winked at his mother, who smiled and nodded approvingly.

  Suddenly, the voice of a news crier ripped through the victorious atmosphere. "Extra! Extra! It's not over, yet! Another murder was committed! The Heart Taker was at it again!"

  Helena looked around and found the little paper-selling boy, who was loudly announcing the latest news. She turned to her children. "You wait here. I'll be back in a minute." She went to the boy and bought a paper. "Oh my God! It's horrible," she exclaimed, while reading the article.

  A dark-haired man with a bushy beard stood next to her. He cursed and crumpled his paper to a ball.

  "Monsieur? Is everything alright?" Helena asked him.

  "No, nothing is alright! We are absolutely helpless!" the man spat. "There is nothing we can do against this bastard, who's been spreading fear and horror for weeks now! If it goes on like this, and if I don't catch this murderer soon, I might as well give up my position as chief of police, and hang my uniform back in the closet!" Furious, he threw the crumpled paper at the pavement.

  "You are the police chief of Paris?"

  "Please, forgive my rudeness." He offered his hand and Helena took it. "My name is Michel Dutroit. And yes, I am the police chief of Paris."

  Helena smiled. "What a coincidence to meet you here. I'm Helena Leosol."

  "Oh! You are Madame Leosol? It is a pleasure and a great honor to meet you," the man smiled, broadly. "I have been told a lot about you. I'm really glad to have found you. I know that you are currently working on the case of Comte de Bouchardon, which I have no reports about." There was a hint of displeasure in his voice. "But maybe, there is a connection between this one and all the other murders that have occurred, frequently, over the last few months. Last night, another of these horrible deeds was committed. I'm on my way to the crime scene. It would be my honor if you were to accompany me. Perhaps you will be able to shed some light on this, because, frankly, I'm at the end of my rope. I have no idea how to protect the nobles from this lunatic any longer."