Cameo and the Highwayman (Trilogy of Shadows Book 2)

by McCullough-White, Dawn

  Opal paled.

  “You must go find her in the daylight.”

  The highwayman sat down slowly, “But how will I get past the palace guards?”

  “That’s what you’re worried about? The guards?”

  “Are you certain you saw the palace?”

  “Pretty sure. I mean, it’s true that I’ve never been there before, but I had a strong feeling about what I was looking at, where I was.”

  Opal glanced up in Kyrian’s direction. “Where you were?”

  “You don’t believe me.”

  The highwayman removed his eye patch and poured a pitcher of water into a basin. “What choice do I have?”

  “Oh, thanks.”

  “I can either sit here and drink my days away or go find her for myself. Throw me that dreadful coat of yours, would you?”

  “Why?”

  Opal scrubbed the paint from his face and pulled the ribbon from his hair. “Because I’m going to wear it.”

  Kyrian tossed his well-worn coat across the room in Opal’s general direction.

  “Thanks,” he muttered as it sailed past him.

  “Oh, I get it. You’re going to the palace dressed like this so not to rouse the suspicion of the soldiers.”

  “Go to the palace dressed in rags? Certainly not.” The highwayman pulled on the coat and ruffled his hair a bit, then he turned to look at the lad who was now standing in the light. “I’m going to steal a horse. I don’t want anyone to recognize me.”

  “Oh.”

  He glanced down at his fantastic boots. “Oh, I can’t wear this. That’s it, give me your pants as well.”

  Kyrian put one hand in front of his groin protectively. “You aren’t getting my pants.”

  “Well, this is just what you get for only having one pair, isn’t it?” He rummaged through his own shoulder-pack. “Here, take a lovely pair of my breeches.”

  “Those are made of silk or something—”

  “No, just satin. Well here.” He attempted to set them in Kyrian’s hand, but the lad took several steps backward.

  “You look as though you’ve just tasted a lemon for the first time, lad. Stop being so fussy. Stop thinking of your own selfish needs for once and consider Cameo’s welfare.”

  Kyrian lifted the lavender breeches with the tips of his fingers. “What’s a lemon?”

  “I’m going to pretend I didn’t just hear that. Now, take off your pants.”

  “I’m not wearing these. I’ll just wrap up in a blanket or something.”

  Opal rolled his eyes. “Fine, get a blanket then. Can we just move along? The point of stealing a horse at dawn is to do it before it gets light.”

  The lad undressed hastily behind a blanket then threw his pants at the dandy.

  For a moment Opal wondered why he had been so adamant about wearing them. They clearly had not seen a wash in ages. “I think I’ll just wear these over my pants.”

  Kyrian flopped down on the sofa unhappily.

  * * * * *

  Cameo woke with the sun in her eyes. She pulled her blankets over her head and rolled over. It was late in the afternoon. She had been used to getting little sleep while on the run from Wick and the assassins who had wanted her head for the bounty placed on it. Now she had all the time in the world to sleep or think. Sleeping was preferable to the latter.

  Unable to fall asleep again, she turned onto her back and pushed the covers from her face. It was a very comfortable prison at least. She reached for her flask on the bedside table and heard the thud of something falling over. Cameo was suddenly awake, scrambling to right the flask before she spilled alcohol everywhere. As she sat up, she saw the full-length mirror on the other side of the room, and she caught a glimpse of herself in the nightgown. It was startling. For a moment she didn’t recognize herself. She looked frail and ghostly. Cameo approached the glass apprehensively. The gown brushed the top of her feet lightly, and she could see the scars: the scars that Gail had left her with, even down to her toes. She stripped off the gown and looked at herself.

  What was once young and fresh was marred for all eternity. Her chest had multiple stab wound scars from her near death, and a bullet wound from being shot in the Graveyard of Yetta. The length of her body had many dings and marks from various scraps she had been in over the years, but the majority of her wounds had been inflicted by Clovis Gail DePell....

  Her eyes lingered on his signature; it was carved into her torso.

  She lowered her head sadly, and she saw little bald patch on her head from when Haffef had thrown her against a wall and nearly killed her.

  Cameo tossed the gown over the mirror and hurriedly dressed in her black leather. She had kissed Opal once; now she wondered what she’d been thinking. She was an undead; it could go no further than that—ever. If he saw what she was… how like a monster she truly was, he would turn from her in disgust.

  She took deliberate gulps from the flask as she remembered: After she staggered back to life, she ran into Gail. She was weak and confused from her near-death experience, and Gail held her captive for days. He cut her, and the cut healed, leaving a bloated scar within hours. This must’ve caused him a great deal of amusement because he covered most of her body with lengthwise scars. One day when she was dangling from her chains, she felt them break, and the next thing she knew she was lying on the canal path near Wick’s tower. Someone found her and brought her inside. Wick’s tower was a home to her for years, until she met Black Opal.

  She remembered the wind in her hair as her Master lifted her from Gail’s camp to Lockenwood. Somehow she’d forgotten that detail, but now it came back to her in vivid detail. The wind, the smell of pine and a summer night, fresh with rain… balmy… and the scent of decaying flowers....

  These were horrors that had haunted her decades ago, yet now she realized that every drop of whiskey hadn’t quite put them to rest. She slumped down on the edge of her bed and tried to relax; outside it started to snow.

  * * * * *

  There was a knock at the window in Kyrian’s suite. A rather dingy individual was holding onto one side of the large pane looking perturbed. For a moment the lad had no clue as to who it could be, and then he noticed the expensive blouse sticking out from his collar.

  “Opal?” he asked as he unlocked the window, and the dandy leapt into the room with a flourish.

  “Well, finally!”

  “What? I mean… it’s midday, and I thought you’d be with Cameo by now.”

  “Rescue the dear lady dressed like this?” He held up the filthy coat, then flung it over a chair. “That wouldn’t make much of an entrance now would it?”

  “But it’s afternoon. You have to get to the palace before sundown.”

  Opal dismissed him with a gesture, then rang for a maid.

  Kyrian waddled toward him still wearing a blanket around his waist, “You did get a horse?”

  “Of course.” He removed the second pair of trousers and flung them over the coat.

  A knock came at the door. It turned out to be that same little maid that Opal had spoken to before, and this time she was a bit more distressed about the dandy’s appearance. He wasn’t wearing any makeup and he’d left his hair a mess. It suddenly dawned on him to turn and put on his eye patch. Embarrassed, he looked back at her, “As you can see, I am in need of a bath.”

  She lowered her eyes as she shut the door with a curt, “Of course, sir.”

  “A bath?! You haven’t got time for that.”

  Opal raised an eyebrow at the young man. “There’s always time for proper hygiene, but I suspect a sentiment like that is wasted on lads such as yourself.”

  Kyrian sighed, “Look, I just don’t want to see you killed. I’m telling you there’s a vampire with her… and some other creature, but I’m not sure what it is. I don’t understand why you seem to be more willing to face that vampire than the palace soldiers.”

  Opal attempted to brush the knots from his hair. “Oh, certainly. Just
take on the entire Belfour army.”

  “It’s not going to be the entire army.”

  “It might as well be. We’re talking about the palace guard for heaven’s sake.”

  “You’re good with a sword.”

  Opal turned and faced him with a look of amusement on his face. “Thank you, Kyrian, you really are a very sweet young man.”

  “I’m not sweet,” he grumbled.

  “Hmm....” The highwayman caught a glimpse of his profile in the mirror, much to his delight.

  Kyrian hurriedly pulled on his trousers. “Where is that tub? They are taking forever with the bath.”

  Opal chuckled to himself.

  “What?”

  “Nothing, nothing at all. Now then, wait until you see the mount I’ve found to carry me to the palace.”

  “Is that what kept you?”

  “Beautiful white gelding. The stable boy said they used him for parades.”

  Kyrian shot Opal a look of exasperation.

  “Don’t look so put off. He’s lovely.”

  The lad removed the chain from his neck and handed it to Opal, “Put it on.”

  Black Opal glanced down at the symbol of the sun as if it were in poor taste. “I’m really not much of a believer....”

  “Just put it on.”

  “I’m planning on wearing that charming purple jacket. Do you really think it will go?”

  There was a sudden knock at the door, followed by a large cast-iron tub that was carried in by several servants. They set it down before the fireplace, much to Opal’s delight.

  Kyrian pulled on his tattered coat and moved out the open door.

  Chapter Five

  CAMEO EXITED HER BEDROOM. It opened into the sitting room, which for some reason seemed warm and inviting tonight. Edel sat in a corner, at a window seat, his profile caught in the golden glow of the firelight.

  “There’s the most interesting thing outside.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked warily.

  He motioned for her to come to him.

  Cameo reached Edel hesitantly, almost afraid to look outside, afraid Edel had done something as terrible as Haffef might do to her.

  Edel didn’t move.

  She looked out the glass, and her jaw nearly dropped.

  There, on a beautiful white steed, milling about in front of their end of the palace, was Black Opal!

  He was wearing one of the most audacious costumes she’d ever seen. He was astonishing.

  “That’s quite a hat.”

  “Yes....” she muttered, unable to take her eyes off of him.

  “Do you think he’s come to rescue you?”

  “Yes.”

  Edel turned to look at her, “Why don’t you invite him in?”

  “What?”

  “Invite him in.” This time it didn’t sound like a request.

  “Edel ....” she took a step back, uncertain, wondering when he was going to force her to look into his eyes and hypnotize her, but to her surprise, the idea of inviting Opal inside sounded like a good idea. Too good. She resisted. “Stop that.” Apparently he had to try that on her only once and now she was more easily suggestible.

  He glanced back out the window, a bit put off. “I simply want to meet him.”

  The idea of bringing Opal inside struck her as a terribly bad idea. He would be completely defenseless to a vampire who wished to kill him and toss him away. However, she could not deny that she wanted to see the highwayman again, and because of that the suggestion that Edel had just put in her mind was pushing any remaining logic from her head.

  Edel could feel her mood shift but sat quietly, anticipating the moment that she would voice her opinion change.

  “Let’s clap hands in a deal shall we?”

  The vampire turned toward her. “What deal?”

  “If I invite him in, he’ll be free to go anytime he wants, and you won’t injure him.”

  “I won’t.”

  She extended her hand, “You promise.”

  “I promise,” he said, shaking her hand gently.

  “And if you do break this deal, I’ll kill Chester.”

  His grasp on her fingers tightened a bit. “Don’t kill him.”

  “Please don’t make me.”

  He pulled away from her in distaste. “No harm will befall him while he’s my guest.”

  She took several steps away from him in triumph, and then she realized that she had no idea how to get to Opal. She had never seen the stairs.

  Edel looked at her, somewhat amused by her previous threat and the current predicament she found herself in. “Need help?”

  * * * * *

  A tall, dark figure approached Opal, and at first he wasn’t quite certain who it was, so he pulled his pistol.

  The silhouette moved nearer; it had a graceful gait.

  The horse’s eyes widened, and it began to paw the ground anxiously. Then the form moved into the moonlight, revealing itself to be Cameo. She was just strolling over to him as if she didn’t have a care in the world, and she looked so lovely with the snow falling into her hair.

  Opal stashed his pistol in his belt and leapt to the ground.

  She was amazed by how magnificent he looked. He was wearing some of the silk clothing from Derbec’s suitcase, which was fit for the royal family. The shirt sparkled with crystals adoring the cream-colored collar, and the jacket of purple velvet peeked out of his black duster. He was caught in the cool light of the moon and the gently falling snow.

  The gelding was spooking because she had come out to greet him. Animals never felt comfortable around her, or at least not since Haffef had infected her with his bite.

  The dandy hurriedly tied the horse and moved toward her. “My dearest.”

  His voice was full of worry, and she wanted to cry, and to smile and to have him hold her. It was just so good to see him again. She settled for a little smile.

  “Are you alright?” He touched her shoulders lightly. “Kyrian said you were here, and I hardly believed.... He said there was another undead here.”

  Cameo saw the golden sun pendant reflect the moon’s light. “There is. It’s the other vampire I told you about. He’s taken Ivy’s bones, and I guess he decided to take me as well.”

  Opal was trying to guide her toward the horse.

  “Horses fear me.”

  “Well, we will simply walk back to the Port of Villoise,” he said, holding his head high in defiance.

  “I can’t leave.”

  “What do you mean? I don’t see anyone around. We should go now.” He took a step forward, but realized she had not.

  “He has me hypnotized. I cannot leave.”

  Opal took a step toward her.

  “You look nice.”

  He carefully moved her hair from her shoulders, examining her neck. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

  Cameo touched her throat absently, not quite certain. “No. Didn’t you hear what I just said?”

  “There are more pressing matters, don’t you think?”

  She smiled at him thoughtfully.

  “I will take you out of this place. He hasn’t placed any restrictions on me.”

  “You can’t.”

  “And why not?” Snow fell from the brim of his rather outlandish hat.

  “Because I can’t leave, and there’s no way you can force me to do something I won’t allow you to do. So you see, I can never leave this place.”

  For a moment the dandy was speechless. She was right. She was stronger than him, she was supernatural in nature, and he was only a human; there was nothing he could do to save her. She wouldn’t allow herself to be saved.

  “Never? But what about your master? Won’t he free you?”

  She sighed sadly, then met his gaze. “Do you want to come inside for a little while?”

  Opal looked up at the snow speckled windows. “Inside with the vampire?”

  “He gave me his word that he wouldn’t harm you.”

&nbs
p; “Inside the palace.”

  She thought he seemed a bit paler than usual, although it might’ve been the snow or the makeup.

  Opal was wishing he had taken Kyrian’s advice and come during the daylight. “Is this something you two planned?”

  Cameo took a step back. “I must go.”

  “Wait! What?” He grabbed her arm. “You haven’t said that to me in so long. I thought you had gotten used to the idea that I was your partner.”

  She took a look at him, memorizing each detail. “Goodbye.”

  He watched her turn and go; her form turning back into that silhouette and disappearing from sight. “Cameo, wait!”

  * * * * *

  Edel watched from the windows. He saw as Cameo reentered the apartment from its downstairs door with Black Opal on her heels.

  Chester set more liquor on the bar that he had stocked for Cameo.

  The vampire realized he was still clasping a novel and set it aside slowly, all the while listening to the conversation the two of them were having on the steps. He could hear Opal’s heart pounding through the doorway… it was maddening.

  The door swung open and they entered. Cameo gave Edel a hard look as she moved toward the whiskey.

  Opal waltzed into the sitting room, and the tall, white feathers on his hat dusted the doorway on his way in. He was oblivious. Snow tumbled from his duster and onto the carpet. The room was cream and gold gilt, warmed by a crackling fire and a massive amount of cakes on a golden tray before him.

  At first the dandy just looked around the room, uncertain, gazing at the exquisite antiques and enjoying the wealth of the room, and then he realized they weren’t alone in the room at all. There was a pair of eyes staring at him from the darkest corner, and they were silver… quicksilver.

  The dandy startled. It was the vampire.

  His eyes turned from silver to a more human shade of brown as he moved into the candlelight. He was a little taller than Opal, with dark hair pulled back neatly into a ponytail, and he was impeccably dressed in a simple but elegant black suit.

  Opal was astounded by his beauty.

  As Edel drew nearer, he could see the glint of a chain around the fop’s neck. It was an amulet of the sun, and whoever had worn it before had a powerful aura. There was still a brilliant residue left behind on the pendant.