“Where am I?” she questioned, getting up.
With his back still facing her, not bothering to turn around—he’d already known she’d awoken—Kober answered, “In my home.”
Kat walked over to him. “Why am I here?”
He took his time to put his paint tray down and his brush in a liquid filled jar with other brushes before acknowledging her. Kober turned around and watched her for a moment before he bothered to speak. “Do not be afraid.”
Kat stopped a few feet from him. “I’m not. Why am I here?”
“Would you rather I left you there?”
She sighed. “Of course not. I just want to know why you brought me here?” she asked, waving her arm around.
“So you would be safe,” Kober said in a way to suggest any other reason would have been ridiculous to assume.
“Who was that man? What did he want?” she asked, desperate to find an answer and some clue to the situation.
“It is hard to explain.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You two seem to know each other. Pretty well in fact. And you appear, every time he does. How do I know I can trust you?”
Kober found himself lost in her gaze. A strength emanated from deep within her, which he found compelling and admirable, engaging even. He didn’t understand the reason behind it, but he found himself wanting to avoid lying to her. “We are different. He is a different clan than I. His views on how things should be run are ways which I do not agree with. I have been trying to protect you from him.”
Kat’s face scrunched in confusion. “‘Clan?’ You say that—I don’t know. . . . You say that like—It’s weird.”
A gentle smile touched Kober’s mouth and his gaze softened. “We are Awakened. We are not human as you are. We are far older than you.”
Kat’s face relaxed, but scrunched with confusion again.
“As I said, it is hard to explain.”
“You’re confusing me.”
“I should not have told you. Humans cannot know that we exist—”
“But I won’t tell anyone what you told me. I promise—” Kat interrupted.
Kober continued, unfazed. “—Humans cannot know we exist. You cannot know we exist.” His gaze appeared solemn, but dark, and seemed to be darkening with each passing second. Kat grew increasingly nervous, wondering what the big secret was.
“It’s not like I can forget something like that so easily.”
Kober took a step toward her. “There are ways around that.”
Is he growing in size? Kat took a step backward, her gaze flitted about. “What are you gonna do?”
“Make you forget what I have told you, and make you forget what you have seen.”
“Please. You’re scaring me. Don’t hurt me, Kober.”
“Do not fear me, Kat. I am merely trying to protect you.” Kober reached up and trailed the back of his hand lightly down her cheek. “You are so beautiful, so pure.”
“Why do I have to forget what I’ve seen? I promise. I won’t tell anyone what I know. What I have seen. Nothing. Please.”
“I am sorry.” He waved his hand in front of her face and she lost consciousness.
Six
The sound of rain pelting the window and making rivers down the window above her bed woke Kat. She rubbed her weary eyes, feeling like she’d slept for days.
She peeled herself from the bed and got ready for work, slower than normal. Her body was far too weary to race through the day.
Passing through the lobby, she gave a “Hey,” to Daryl as she made her way out. A man in a suit was talking to him as she walked through, but she paid him no mind. She was more focused on needing to get to work. The way the man looked at her suggested he knew her, but as far as she knew, she’d never seen him anywhere. Kat figured he was just visiting a tenant in the building, despite the odd look he gave her, and an underlying feeling of having seen him before.
As Kat made her way past, Cyrus noticed she didn’t recognize him, which he found to be perfect. Looks like someone has been playing with her mind.
Cyrus looked at Daryl. “Looks like Kober has made it easier for me.” He laughed along with Daryl as he rapped on the security counter and left. His day had just become brighter.
****
Kat stepped out of the elevator, and went down the hall to her condo. She got her keys out, unlocked the door and walked inside, flipping the light on. Setting her purse and keys on the small table, she noticed her balcony doors were open. She didn’t remember leaving them that way when she’d left in the morning. The normal ritual was to make sure they were shut and locked every day before she left.
Walking over to the doors to shut them, a sound caught her attention. She spun around to find the man she’d seen from the lobby that morning, standing there, watching her with a grin.
“Uh, who-are-you-and-what-are-you-doing-here?” The words rushed from her lips.
“You don’t remember me, but my name is Cyrus.” She shook her head, glancing about for an exit. “Yes, we have met,” he said.
“No, I have never met you. Cyrus?” A huge feeling of déjà vu overtook her upon saying his name. “Well, whatever. That doesn’t explain how you got into my condo, or why you are here.” A small tremor echoed in her words and she took another step back, trying to put more distance between the two of them.
“Why would I be here except for you? Don’t ask a stupid question, Kat. It doesn’t become you.”
Kat pointed a wavering finger toward the door. “You need to leave. Now.” The firm voice she tried portraying didn’t sound convincing, even to her ears.
Cyrus laughed, which made her stomach churn. “I don’t plan on leaving here without you, Kat. The boys are waiting downstairs to take you home.”
“I’ll scream.”
Cyrus smiled. “Please do.”
“Haven’t you done enough?” A man’s voice asked from a few feet behind Kat and she jumped. She flipped around and took a couple steps backward, away from the both of them.
“Kober get lost. You shouldn’t be here. Since when do you sewer rats get involved in anything?” Cyrus asked.
Kober’s face remained passive. “Since you have too much interest invested here. You need to leave the woman alone.”
“Kober?” Kat’s head hurt. Déjà vu hit her all over again, but this time much stronger. Why did this thing’s name seem familiar? Cyrus seemed familiar, but she didn’t understand why. She was on the verge of recognition, but she couldn’t grasp it yet. “That name. Have I met you before too?”
Kober’s eyes turned red and he looked at Cyrus, “You need to go. Now!”
Cyrus laughed. “Not without her.” He nodded in Kat’s direction.
Kat looked at the preacher-looking attire Kober wore. She sounded out his name again, “K—o—b—e—r,” speaking more to herself than anyone else in the room, trying hard to gain some recognition.
“Get out yourself, Kober. I’m not going to kill her—I have better ideas than that.” Cyrus grinned. “Sort of.”
A chill ran down Kat’s spine as she watched Cyrus, the recognition still tickled at her mind. “C—y—r—u—s.” She tried his name. Memories clicked and merged.
“Uh oh.” Cyrus glanced over at Kober. “Someone’s remembering. I thought your spells were foolproof, Kober. Looks like you’re getting old. Your charms didn’t work. That’s another reason for me to like this woman. She’s resistant. Has any human ever been resistant?”
Kat’s face was still scrunched as she cursed her mind, damn it. I almost remembered something!
“My spells work fine. If Julian knew you were here—”
Cyrus cut him off, “Julian? Ha! Julian doesn’t care, he doesn’t even know she exists.”
“Spells. Cyrus.” Kat envisioned a place where candles were all over, surrounding her, she could smell the damp dirt. “Candles.”
Kober’s attention spun her way, telling her she was on the correct path, “What?” he asked as tho
ugh trying to read her.
Kat looked at him and felt like someone punched her in the stomach. The breath escaped her lungs and a huge headache formed. Recognition hit her.
The wind stirred, and it took a moment to process Kober had Cyrus by the neck. He hurled him across the room, into her bookcase, breaking it, sending wood splintering across the floor. He thudded to the ground.
Cyrus got up from the broken bookcase and stared Kober down. Only showing minor disturbance, he didn’t look like a man who’d just been thrown across the room. Fear held Kat in place. Should she run? Would it do any good?
“You asshole.” Cyrus emitted a low growl while he brushed dirt and debris off of his suit.
In an instant Cyrus was behind Kat, grabbing her hair, dragging her head back against his shoulder, and exposing her neck to him.
“Maybe I should do away with her Kober. Would you like that?”
Kat tried struggling to no avail. Cyrus’s hot breath carried across her skin; the smell of his cologne and rankness of his breath invaded her senses. Nausea rolled through her. She whimpered as the arm that held her tightened against her waist, taking away the ability to breathe too deep.
Kober took a step toward them. “If you wanted her dead, you would have killed her by now. It is quite clear you wish to keep her alive.”
“You sure? You willing to risk her life on that assumption?” Cyrus asked him, giving Kat’s head a jerk and she cried out. He placed his mouth closer to her neck, her body shook.
Kober looked at Kat’s neck, a mere inch from Cyrus’s mouth, “Do you trust me, Kat?” He asked her, remaining calm and allowing her to feel the same.
All Kat could manage was a muffled, “Yes.”
Cyrus tightened his grasp, but the wind stirred and his grip loosened. Kat fell and hit her head.
Seven
Kat came to and heard soft opera playing in the recesses of her mind. The pounding in her head reminded her of its most recent contact with a hardwood floor. What happened? Kober had been there, that Cyrus man. Cyrus held her and had his mouth near her neck, with that disgusting stench every time he spoke.
Something touched the left side of her forehead, and she imagined a big bug crawling across her. Sucking in a breath, she jerked her eyes open and scooted back, stopping the moment her back hit the wall.
Kober sat on the edge of the bed and she relaxed. In one hand was a washcloth and the other held a bowl of water. Her head throbbed, letting her know the swift movement was not appreciated. She tried rubbing the pain away with her hand.
“I am pleased to see you are awake and all right.”
Kat crossed her legs and scooted closer to Kober so he could finish what he’d been doing; he’d meant no harm.
“How long was I asleep?”
Kober grabbed a bandage and took his time placing on the cut, trying hard to avoid hurting her. “About twenty-four hours.”
“A day? Geez . . . Are you serious? What happened?”
Kober got off the bed and put the bowl and washcloth away. “I let him go.”
Kat gaped at him. “Why? He could have killed me.”
“He was not going to kill you. Julian will deal with him.”
“Julian? Who is this Julian? Clearly an idiot.”
Kober whirled on her. Not wanting to reveal his prince, he calmed and informed her, “Do not speak of that which you do not know. Or, whom.”
Kat jumped off the bed. “Please. You had your chance to do something and you didn’t do anything.” She strode toward him, angry he wouldn’t see her side of it.
Kober took a step toward her. “Silence!” His eyes flashed red.
Kat halted mid-step as though he slapped her and her eyes widened. She bit her bottom lip to keep it from quivering, and tears formed in her eyes.
Kober’s face softened, his eyes returned to normal. “I am sorry. I did not mean to get angry with you.”
“I thought you told me you would make me forget everything I saw, I heard, I experienced,” she asked, worried she’d anger him again, but figured she should change the subject.
“I did.”
“But, I remember all of it.”
Kober studied her. “It seems you do.”
“How is that possible?” Face scrunched, Kat narrowed her eyes. “Does it happen a lot?”
Kober motioned for her to sit on a chair nearby. He perched himself against the edge of the table, crossing his arms.
“I have never experienced it before you. It is still surprising to me that you remember. I wiped it from your mind. There is something . . . I cannot put my finger on it. Perhaps that is the reason the charms did not work on you.”
“Why does Cyrus keep coming after me? What does he want with me?” Kat pulled her feet up to the chair seat and hugged her knees.
“I am not sure what he wants with you. It has been proven his intention is not to kill you. He wants—or needs—you alive. But I am unsure as to the why.”
“Are you going to try to clear my mind again? Are you going to send me back?”
“No. You are not safe in your home right now. I need to discuss this with Julian. You are going to have to stay here in Julian’s home. Here I can say you are protected and safe. I cannot guarantee your safety if you stay somewhere else. Cyrus will not come for you within these gates.”
Kat glanced around, trying to figure out where this Julian man lived. “Julian’s home? Won’t he mind some stranger coming into his home? Needing a place to stay?”
A gentle smile touched Kober’s mouth. “Something tells me he will not mind you staying here. He will only mind that you have not forgotten all that you have seen—”
Kat interrupted, “But I—”
“But—” Kober held his hand up to quiet her, “—in this case, I believe he will make an exception.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Kober seemed astonished at her surprise and shook his head. “Never mind, Kat.”
“So when am I going to meet him and ask whether it’s all right if I stay here or not?”
Eight
Kat followed Kober up the stairs, trying hard not to make a sound. They went through a passageway in the dark, carved into the rock long ago when the occupants of the home above needed an escape.
They ascended the stone steps in the damp darkness in total silence. As they did, Kat held her hand out in front of her and against Kober’s back because she was blind. Her eyes couldn’t find any means of light to adjust to, and she trusted the man in front of her.
Kober pushed open a door at the top, causing Kat to blink a few times against the onslaught of brighter light.
Entering a wine cellar, he maneuvered through, as a man who’d passed through there many times, toward another doorway. Kat held the back of his shirt, apprehension filling her stomach with every step, wondering where they’d come out.
Her gaze swept over the room while they passed through it. Letting Kober guide and pull her, she kept a firm grip on the back of his shirt so she wouldn’t lose him. He didn’t seem to mind, so she didn’t plan on letting go anytime soon.
They entered another doorway and ascended another flight of stairs. Once through the door at the top, they entered the main floor of Julian’s home.
Kat still held onto the back of his shirt, and her stomach tightened further when they entered the main floor. She was worried over how Julian would react to her inviting herself into his home and wasn’t sure how one was to act around the man, or in this place.
Having gone through so many floors already, she was beginning to get the idea that this guy was made of money, and it made her think she’d be encountering someone that could act like Cyrus. If he was, was he as mean as Cyrus? Would he want to hurt her too? Surely Kober wouldn’t have brought her here if that were that case?
Julian’s home was the most beautiful house she’d ever seen and the magnitude made her breath catch. “This is Julian’s home?” she whispered, afraid of making too much
noise.
Kober nodded. “Castle, yes.”
Kat studied the old gothic styling, feeling more in awe and inferior. She watched Kober as he listened to something she couldn’t hear and a moment later walked off. Kat snatched hold of his shirt once more, stumbling to catch up with his long strides.
They walked down a hallway and stopped next to a pair of doors where voices came from within. Kat tightened her grasp on Kober’s shirt, keeping herself close to his body.
“—need to know what say each leader? How do we proceed?” A man’s voice inquired from within.
A voice Kat would not soon forget. Smooth as silk, strong and powerful. A voice one could listen to reading the phone book and still beg for more. His voice slid throughout her body, more than she heard it, and a shiver of fear passed over her as warmth spread through her cheeks.
Kober glanced at Kat, which refocused her attention on him. “Wait here,” he whispered to her. “Are you all right?”
Kat nodded, not quite sure whether she was or not.
Kober nodded and headed into the room. Kat’s hand remained on his shirt until Kober wrapped a hand around her wrist and gently removed it, letting her know she was safe.
Kat listened to him approach the man inside. “Julian, may I speak with you a moment?”
Kat couldn’t help herself. She stepped into the doorway as she heard Julian answer, “What do you need?”
Four people sat around a long table in the center of the large room, in addition to Kober and Julian.
An old man sat at the end to her right. Next to him, a woman sat on his right, a stunning woman with dark hair and blue eyes. From this distance Kat could see how blue they were, like the spring sky, and she was dressed in a beautiful burgundy dress.
Across from her sat a young man who wasn’t wearing a suit as were the rest of the men. This man wore jeans and a shirt with a leather jacket over the top. Dirty blonde, a bit of facial hair, also unlike the rest of the clean-shaven men in the place. A rebel to authority.
She glanced over at Kober while he made his way over to a man standing at the corner of the table. The man must be Julian. Dark hair and dark eyes, he was handsome. No, the word handsome didn’t do him justice. She’d never seen a man as striking as him. That guy owned this castle? And she was supposed to ask him to stay here?
Dark Illusions: The Beginning Page 2