by Dawn Ibanez
Tereza frowned as they continued on their way to the tables. “He's adjusting? Not you?”
“His changes will dictate my changes. Like I said to him, to me, he’s still Ryan. I don’t see a difference.”
Tereza snorted. “I can assure you, you are probably the only person who feels that way.” She looked at Kalina “You’re too soft to be Faust. He’s going to break you before your child is born.”
“You say that like you know the outcome of the day.”
“I say that as someone who has seen this before.” Tereza fell silent as they crossed the last few feet to Faust. “Here she is, Master.”
Faust took Tereza’s hand and kissed it. Kalina saw the revulsion on the other woman’s face and felt sorry for her. “Hello Faust, Elena.”
Both the demon and witch nodded. “Is your goblin lurking in the shadows, or is he wallowing in his cave?” Faust asked.
“He’s around here somewhere.” Kalina looked at the table they stood in front of. The dealer was quietly dealing out hands of poker. “Change your mind on the game?”
Faust looked her over. The barely hidden sneer said he didn’t care for her simple green and gold dress. “No, my dear. I am just waiting for Francisco to come back with our chips.” His eyes went to her hair. “You turned it brown. What a pity.”
Another thing she noticed about him. Ryan told her about it before. But now she understood it. If she would have changed the color of her hair or wore something even more daring, she would have been flashing her power around for everyone to see. Kalina shrugged. “I didn’t feel like dressing up like a peacock for tonight.” She then smiled at Faust. “But you look extremely handsome.”
The slight twitch in his eyebrow gave him away. Kalina wouldn’t pat herself on the back. Not until his head was at her feet. She looked around the crowd and saw a few familiar faces. Most were strangers. They all wanted to witness the spectacle of someone’s death. And since Faust couldn’t kill her, they were all hear to see Ryan die.
She turned and saw a face she hadn’t seen in years. Cisco hadn’t changed. Only his suit was custom instead of tailored. She smiled as she went to him. “How have you been?” she asked.
He smiled at her. “Money hasn’t stopped coming in since I was able to open this place.” His smile fell as he looked over at Faust and Elena. “I owe Ryan Gold a lot. But in the end, it was Faust that got it for me.”
Kalina looked at Faust and leaned closer to Cisco. “Don’t say that too loud. He’ll be a dick about it,” she said playfully.
Cisco’s smile was strained as Faust approached them. Faust glared at Kalina before turning his attention to Cisco. “I trust you found a table for us to enact this farce?”
Cisco cleared his throat and nodded. “Yes sir, we cleared out the best table when you called. This way, please.”
He led them down to the exclusive floor slightly above everyone. A single table was set up ready for use. Ryan to one side of the table. Kalina couldn’t stop the smile that crossed her face. Cisco looked at Faust. “You said one person was allowed on the dais per player. As well as the overhead camera. Everything will be taped as you wanted.”
Kalina sat at the table next to Ryan. Her world slowly righted itself as he stood at her back.
“You look lovely,” he whispered into her hair.
Dark brown eyes looked at the demon watching them. Faust went over the rules they set for the game. They would both start with $100,000. The first player to one million would win. Losing all their money would also result in a loss. Bets could be no less than a thousand dollars. Kalina took a breath. She watched as the dealer broke the seal on four decks of cards. He then proceeded to shuffle them before adding them to the multi-deck card shoe.
It was time for the game to begin, and Faust’s reign to end.
*****
Rumple stood at Kalina’s back as Cisco gave both her and Faust their chips. She sat with her back straight and an air of confidence that even made Elena look twice. She came to a fight for her life against one of the most dangerous creatures in existence with no armor. No glamor. No displays of power. She was nothing like Faust.
In the end, it would be what destroyed him.
The demon was so used to flashing his power and boasting about his strength, he didn’t know how to fight the quiet strength Kalina held.
She placed her first bet. Faust placed his. She chose the player, he the banker.
Faust won that hand.
Rumple stayed quiet as she lost three more hands.
Faust only lost two.
Kalina let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Maybe we should have picked Uno. Or maybe solitaire?”
Faust looked at her, his eyes darting to Rumple. “I learned Mahjong recently. It’s totally different than the computer game.” He placed his bet.
Kalina copied his bet. “One of my customers said that if I really wanted to learn, I needed to go to one of the halls in China. They do everything crazy fast there.”
They both won. Kalina followed that pattern. Faust would place a bet, she would follow his lead. They would both win. Faust frowned as he also noticed what she was doing. He slowed on his betting. They would engage in small talk. He gestured to the table, and Kalina placed her bet on the banker.
To be contradictory, he placed his bet on the player.
Faust lost.
She waved over a waitress and ordered a glass of water. Rumple was impressed by how unfazed Kalina was. She looked at the chips in front of her. “Right now, I’m sitting pretty. Most people would sell their souls for this kind of money.”
The waitress came back with the water. Before Kalina could drink it, Rumple took the glass. When she looked at him, he nodded to her. “I’m trusting you.”
After a moment, she smiled. “If you’re poisoned, I’m going to be very upset.”
A strange sensation in his chest made him laugh. “You won’t be alone.” He took a sip of the water and held it in his mouth. It was simply water. He gave her the glass and swallowed what was in his mouth. “It’s fine.” He pressed a kiss to her hair and noticed the tables turned.
Now, Faust was waiting for Kalina to place her bet before copying her.
“I wonder who the child will take after,” Faust commented. “Hopefully Kalina’s genes will prove to be more powerful in this instance.”
Kalina placed her bet for the player and leaned back in her chair. “It won’t matter. He or she will be loved either way.”
Faust chuckled as he copied her bet. “If you believe so, my dear.”
They both lost.
Faust cursed as he placed his bet for the player again.
Kalina placed her bet for the bank.
Kalina won.
She drank her water. Kalina looked at her winnings and sighed. “You know, Faust, I think it’s time to end this,” she said. Rumple watched as she shifted in her seat and faced Faust fully. “I’ll give you one final out. Leave us alone. Let Ryan have his human form back. And I won’t destroy everything you’ve built.”
He laughed. “You really think you can win? Against me?”
“I’ll take that as a no then,” she said. Her eyes were cold as she faced the dealer. “I’m ending this, right now.”
Faust continued to laugh as he pushed the entire pile of his earnings, save one chip, to the banker section. “My sentiments exactly. Let’s finish this.”
Kalina took all her winnings and placed it on the one area neither player used all night. She was confident as she let half a million dollars ride on TIE.
Faust erupted with laughter. “Your goblin’s head is going to be on my mantle sooner than you think.” His laugh was joined by those that were interested in the battle of wills.
Rumple wanted to carve Faust’s eyes out. Kalina reached for his hand and took it into hers. She looked at him as the dealer dealt the hand that would seal their fate.
The dealer placed two cards for the player and two for the banker.
&nbs
p; Both hands equaled zero.
“Draw again,” Faust ordered.
Kalina was silent as a pair of third cards were drawn.
The dealer placed a nine of hearts on the side of the banker.
Then placed the nine of spades on the player.
Kalina smiled.
Faust roared in anger.
Rumple could only watch stunned as the dealer gave Kalina her winnings.
“You cheated!” Faust accused. “There was no way to know that would happen.”
Kalina didn’t move from her relaxed position in her chair. “Is that how you won so many over to your cause? You would challenge them to a card game, and when you lost, claim they cheated? Or maybe you would cheat on your own? God knows I’ve been watching you try to enchant the cards all evening.”
Faust paused. “What are you talking about?”
She waved her hand, a gesture Rumple had seen Faust do dozens of times. “It’s neither here, nor there. The end result is the same. You lost.”
“No!” Faust held up his last chip. “I can still play.”
“I’ve reached a million.” Kalina looked at the table and counted her chips. “I’ve reached over a million. I didn’t bet everything and the bonus for tie odds puts me well over. You want to play first to ten now?” she asked.
He reached for her. Before he could close his hand around her throat, a blade appeared at Faust’s own.
Carly appeared next to Kalina and Rumple. A tall man with slicked back hair held a sword to Faust’s throat. “I was there to witness the deal. Kalina won. His life is forfeit.”
The man looked at Kalina. “Do you want his head here, my lady?”
Kalina glanced around the room. Her expression was closed off and colder than anything Rumple had ever seen. “You should have given up when you had the chance,” she said. His growl echoed through the silent room as she turned her attention to the executioner. “Here is fine. Just keep the blood off the carpet if you can. I don’t want to owe Cisco.”
“It’s fine,” Cisco said. He stood at the bottom of the raised dais and raised his glass in a toast to Kalina. “We can celebrate the new Faust with the death of the old one.” He smiled as winked at Kalina.
Faust lashed out and swung a fist at the executioner. Rumple pulled Kalina back and snapped his fingers. The demon fell to his knees. A blade appeared in the death dealer’s hand as he stood over Faust. In a matter of moments, the demon’s head fell from him shoulders.
Rumple looked around the casino and took note of everything around them. Elena was gone. Tereza vanished as well, but she would return soon enough. Jasper stood on the other side of the room watching a monitor. He turned to Rumple and lifted his glass in a toast. Others stood in shock as Kalina held onto his hand and drank her water.
Rumple pressed a kiss to Kalina’s hair and inhaled her scent. They were free of Faust. His hands started to tremble as the repercussions started to dawn on him. “It’s really over.” The demon that played with everyone’s lives was dead. Every debt that was owed Faust would transfer over to his daughter. Rumple felt his stomach drop.
Kalina was Faust’s heir. Everyone always said to beat Faust, you needed to be Faust. Rumple placed his hand on the small of her back. He leaned close to her ear. “Do you realize what you’ve done?” he asked.
She placed her hand on hers. “It couldn’t be helped. But we can talk about it when we get home.”
The death dealer picked up a thin rope that had been around Faust’s neck. As he stood, the crystal on the end of it shattered. A humanoid form made of smoke and shadow appeared before them. Rumple stepped between the form and Kalina. A pair of hands slowly clapped as the smoke solidified into the form of a man almost identical to Faust appeared in front of them. “Well done little sister.”
Kalina smiled as she looked at the man she had seen in the shadows and reflections. “Thank you. Welcome to freedom.”
The legendary Alphonse Faust looked around the casino, a frown marring his features. Everyone was focused on the scene before them. “I won’t give you my magic.” The words were a hissed challenge.
“And I don’t want it.” Kalina didn’t move as his eyes narrowed. “I know you were sealed away because you tried to fight Faust and lost.” Rumple wanted to stop her from speaking. Anything to get away from the half-demon Faust tricked into being sealed away. But she went on. “I’m tired of having to continuously looking over my shoulder because someone is trying to steal either my magic or my child from me. And to be completely honest, even though the Harts are awesome, I would like to get to know an actual member of my family.”
His crimson eyes narrowed on her. “You don’t want me sealed away?”
“If I wanted you sealed away, I wouldn’t have let Faust be executed right here.” Kalina glanced at Rumple. “I want to know my family, and I want the same for my child. If it would make you feel better, you could become an enforcer for me. Deal with any problems that may come up.”
Alphonse looked at Rumple. His eyes focused on his hand which held Kalina’s. “You’re touching The Goblin.”
“Oh Christ. Not you too.” She turned to Rumple and grabbed the sides of his face. Before he could pull away, she attacked his mouth with her own. The last thing Rumple heard was the shocked gasps of the people in the room. He was stunned as her tongue caressed his. The taste of magic was on her lips. Kalina’s kisses always tasted like the purest sunshine; now was no different. His skin burned as he pulled her closer to him. She broke the kiss and laughed. “I love you too,” she whispered.
Kalina turned to the room and brushed her hair away from her face. “As you can all see, he’s not a goblin anymore. And the next person that says otherwise will not like the fate that befalls them. Am I understood?”
It took a moment for the words to sink in. Rumple looked down at his hands and started to shake. He was human. The burning he felt had been the transformation from goblin to human. He looked at Kalina and shook his head. “You didn’t have to do this,” he told her.
She took his hand into hers. “Yes, I did.” She looked at Alphonse again. “So, what do you say? Truce?”
Before Alphonse could answer, Tereza appeared between them. She dropped to her knees in front of Kalina. “With his death, I am now yours, my lady.”
Rumple tightened his arm around Kalina’s waist as she backed away from the djinn. “Don’t be shy now,” he said. When she looked at him, he shrugged. “You’ve done what most only dream of. Give your second decree.”
Kalina stepped forward and pulled Tereza to her feet. “Stop that. You don’t have to bow to me. Faust has probably done enough to you.” She tucked her hair behind her ears. “What do I need to do to free you?”
Tereza shook her head. “You’re too soft,” she grumbled. “Even if you free me, I’ll have to stay here and make sure you don’t get yourself or your babe killed.”
Alphonse stepped forward. “You would allow a djinn to roam free?”
Kalina frowned. “Why wouldn’t I? She’s a person, not a disease.”
Alphonse turned to Rumple. “She’ll need enforcers and guards.”
Rumple knew where this was going. Kalina would hate it, but he would convince her to listen. “Her best friend, and the people that adopted her are death dealers.”
“If any of you hear of any deal breaking, tell me. I will handle it.” He looked around the casino. “As of now, I am my sister’s enforcer. Between myself and Tereza, if you break deals with Kalina, we will come for you.”
A low murmur went through the crowd. “And if anyone raises a hand to her, you will deal with me,” Xian’s voice rang out.
Kalina looked at Rumple. “Where did she come from?” she asked. “I didn’t see her when I came in.”
He smirked. “She has a way of disappearing and reappearing. I threatened to put a bell on her. She just laughs.”
Kalina leaned her head on his shoulder. “I did it,” she said softly.
“I want
to know how,” he said looking at the table.
She kissed him. “When we get home.” She leaned forward to kiss him again, when Tereza cleared her throat. Kalina looked at her. “Yes?”
“I wanted to know if you have realized exactly where home is.”
CHAPTER 27
Rumple held Kalina’s hand as she walked into the lavish room. With Faust’s death, Kalina inherited more than just his contracts. All of his money, properties, and assets were now hers. She looked at the high ceilings and pure white furniture with gold trim with a frown. “This is all yours now.”
She touched the sofa that cost more than most people’s monthly rent. “I hate it.” She sighed. “I don’t mean to sound like a brat, but none of this is me.”
He smiled. “I know.” And he did. She was more at home in his apartment in the city than in this gargantuan mansion in Prague. “But you have options.”
“We.”
He noticed the way she continued to correct him. He hid another smile as she went to inspect the Faberge eggs on the mantle. “This is your property Kalina. You decide what you want to do with it.”
“Well, I would burn the whole damned place down but you, Al, and Tereza won’t let me.” He also noticed how quick she took to having a brother around. Rumple would keep an eye on their relationship. He didn’t trust the demon, but he would wait to see if he would really hurt Kalina. “Do we have to live here?”
He nodded slowly. “This mansion was built on a place of power. Think of it like Esme’s coven. Her magic is centered around her home. So is yours now that you’re the ruling Faust.”
Kalina picked up a pillow and threw it into the dark fireplace. She smirked at the cloud of soot that covered the pristine white fabric. “My mother wanted all white furniture. With white walls, and white floors. I want my home to look lived in.”
“Then the furniture will be kindling by dusk.” He went to her and wrapped his arms around her. “What else?”
“This place it way too big for just the three of us. Maybe I can invite a few people to move in?” She looked at him with hope-filled eyes.