Mad World
Surely, this had to be some kind of joke.
Blaine said as much, but his brother only laughed harder.
“There’s been some suspicious activity at the Hideaway, so Raelynd wants to play it safe—take you somewhere protected. You two lovebirds will be staying at your family’s estate,” Val cooed.
“My ‘family’ thinks I’m dead,” gnashed Blaine. “What do you expect me to do? Waltz into their house, throw a white sheet over my head, and go, ‘Boo!’?”
“Always with the dramatics,” Val drawled, the amusement in his voice barely contained. “No, I meant the other estate.”
This didn’t seem to assure him any. Blaine settled back into his seat, looking like someone just handed him another death sentence. And the mood didn’t lighten any over the course of the next hour. If anything, his misery found company in me as familiar landmarks and shops came into view as we drove over a river I knew all too well, accompanied by a sign that announced, “Welcome to Mystic Harbor.” Not a moment later did we pass The Office, Mr. Reynolds’s waterfront bar on the south side of town. Adam’s Jeep Wrangler was even parked out front. This place used to be my home away from home. I spent hours upon hours after school curled up in the back booth with Adam, doing my homework. I’d even memorized the entire catalog of the jukebox machine. Now, the sight only had bile rising up my throat, had me cowering away to the other side of the car. It didn’t matter if the windows were tinted or not. Being this close made me feel like an escaped convict driving past FBI headquarters, as if anyone and everyone was out looking for me and I was on enemy territory.
The feeling didn’t lessen as we drove past the mall and into Old Port, the 19th-century shopping district made up of cobblestone streets and historic buildings. I’d always loved taking early morning jogs through here during the summer, seeing the dew settle into the moss covered roofs. When the natural mist met with the break of dawn, the entire district glowed in gorgeous golden hues. But today, it only reflected the gloom resonating from within the car. It seemed as if the storm was chasing us up the coast, because the sky only grew darker, making the earth tremble in its quake as roar after roar bellowed overhead. Everyone scurried about the sidewalks, umbrellas in hand, as they raced for their cars. The rain coming down was only a light drizzle, but the lightning flashed above us like a siren, warning the town of the impending storm, perhaps warning them of us.
I couldn’t have thanked the driver enough that he decided on taking the back roads along the coast. If we’d headed up north on Main Street, we would have inevitably taken DuPont Lane, which went past my folks’ place. My stomach dropped, however, as the pier came into sight, along with the advertisement for Slippery Pete’s restaurant. The last time I’d been here was when I’d leapt out of a moving car to get away from Blaine, where I’d accidentally hit him with enough energy that it had stopped his heart—and mine. To my surprise, the limousine turned onto an unfamiliar side street, leading us southbound into a forested collection of reclusive estates. This must have been where Blaine had been planning on taking me—if I hadn’t escaped.
I’d been to the Ryder’s estate in town on several occasions, mostly for dinner parties and fundraisers my mother had co-organized with Blaine’s mom. The place was pretty much a castle, even by Mystic Harbor’s haughty standards. I expected as much from this estate when we continued along down the coast, eventually coming to the end of the road. Large wrought iron gates greeted us as the limousine turned onto a long private driveway. As if on silent command, the gates drew open, despite no one manning the entrance. There wasn’t even a call button.
I looked to Blaine, hoping for some clarity, but he still refused to meet my eyes. It was unnerving. Somehow, Blaine not talking made him all the more intimidating. Seeing him in quiet contemplation, seeing his eyes shift every which way as the gears in his head turned over, it promised an unspoken wrath.
The narrow road continued down another winding bend, encased by trees that domed over the path. At last, in the center of the thicket made of elder maples and evergreens rested an English Tudor estate. It could easily be classified as a manor, but it wasn’t nearly as gaudy as Blaine’s family home. There weren’t any other houses in sight, made all the better by the lush greenery obscuring distant eyes. It was surprisingly quaint, if not for the sudden procession of cars pulling up in back of us as our driver took us to the small courtyard out front.
“Welcome to Haven Crest,” announced Val not a moment later, ushering me out of the back of the car. “This is where all the magic happens.”
“Magic?” I asked, unable to control the nervous crack in my voice.
“Indeed.” He slung an arm around my shoulder, drawing me up alongside him. “Here, nobody can hear you…scream,” he whispered balefully.
The double meaning wasn’t lost on me. It didn’t matter what kind of ‘screaming’ he was insinuating. All I knew was that I didn’t want any part in it. The series of unfamiliar black vehicles pulled up, and armed men stepped out to greet us. Panic ran rampant in me until I spotted the man sitting on the hood of the Land Cruiser that had already been parked out front when we arrived. It was a different face than the one I’d last seen him sporting, but the mannerisms were uncanny.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite couple?” Raelynd flicked his cigarette to the ground, crushing it beneath his boot heel upon leaping off the hood. The joyous way the demon greeted us, rubbing his hands together in anticipation, you’d think we were bricks of cocaine being presented to an addict. “Valor has told me the exciting news.”
He grabbed Blaine’s shoulders as if to pull him into a hug. Instead, the demon grabbed the collar of the Mage’s shirt, yanking both sides away from his neck, exposing the fang marks I’d left behind. Raelynd outright purred at the sight, unable to rein in his curiosity. He ran his fingers across the scars, and Blaine immediately tried pulling away, obviously feeling the same revulsion that always accompanied the deed anytime somebody touched my own.
The reaction pleased the demon all the more as he laughed, turning his attention to me. “You, my darling Princess…” His eyes scoped me from head to toe, clearly appreciating Val’s delicate choice for my outfit. “Well done. I knew you wouldn’t disappoint.” The man made no effort to contain his enthusiasm, howling out into the tempestuous air.
Maybe he was high… He surely acted like it.
And I didn’t dare glance at the other people in attendance, feeling their eyes burning on me as they, too, took in my so-called dress. I instinctively tugged down on the chemise, trying to pull the fabric further over my exposed thighs, but Val’s hand clasped discreetly around mine. He shook his head, ever so slightly. A silent plea.
“Do you have any idea what this means?” Raelynd’s voice startled us both, and Val let go of me, but not so fast as to look suspicious. He knew better than to upset the Boss. But the demon didn’t seem to notice in the least, still consumed by his own enthusiasm. Raelynd’s hands fell from Blaine, only to wind up cupping my face.
The fire in his eyes was equally crazed as it was delighted, like I was the oasis in a barren desert. Before I could even think to push him away, the demon smacked his lips against my cheek. It only lasted for a second, and he pulled away, his laughter so manic it could give the Joker a freaking run for his money.
One look back over at the Crown Prince’s dour expression, and he finally gave an exasperated sigh. “For pity’s sake, mate, you look as if somebody’s just walked over your grave. You’ve got your girl, a lovely place to lay low, and a house entirely to yourselves. What could you possibly be sulking over?”
“What was wrong with the Hideaway?” Blaine demanded. “Why the hell would you bring us here of all places?”
“As far as the Hideaway is concerned, those matters are still being investigated. As for the second inquiry,” the demon crooned, “when you escape from prison, where do you run?”
A shiver prickled up my spine at the mention. It appeared I wasn’t the only one who viewed us as fugitives.
Raelynd pulled Blaine in closer, as if to tell him a secret. “You go as far away as you can, as any smart man would. Those Reapers will be looking at every airport, train station, and border crossing they can get footage of. And that is precisely why this is so perfect. The absolute last place that any of those bastards will be focusing on is right under their noses.”
“Forgive me, but I can’t say I feel particularly comforted, given that demons already tried kidnapping my mate,” Blaine snarled. “And last I checked, I’m not the only one around here with permission to get inside.”
“No need to worry about your previous security detail, I assure you. I had your brother dispose of that demonic lot after your little run-in with that Angelorum blade,” Raelynd drawled, uninterested. “Good help really is hard to find, isn’t it?”
I stole a questioning glance at Val, who in turn merely smirked and pointed to the ground. I gulped.
Hell… He had sent them to Hell.
Raelynd waved a hand, as if to clear his thoughts. “But no bother. Not a single soul will be allowed now inside the manor unless expressed specifically by you, or your darling Katrina.”
Blaine still didn’t appear satisfied, but nevertheless nodded.
“Fantastic!” Raelynd clapped, and there were hands all around us, grabbing sets of luggage and bags from the trunk—all of which belonged to me. Did Blaine not pack anything?
Raelynd’s cronies carried everything up the steps, neatly filing it beside the front door. Blaine grumbled, “Thanks,” but the tone sounded an awful lot more like “Piss off” as he hooked his arm around mine and escorted me up the front steps. Without so much as a key, the door opened on silent command the moment we reached the porch.
Every muscle in me locked up as I stared inside the darkened foyer, and I didn’t budge, even as Blaine tried to coax me over the threshold. The only thing I wanted to do was run in the opposite direction. Run down the driveway, the street, the coast. Run as far as I could until my feet bled and my lungs gave out. I could even feel myself slowly easing a step back.
Go now! that little voice in my head demanded. Run!
But Blaine’s thumb traced over my left ring finger, and something in me settled. “It’s okay,” his voice assured to my mind. Those two simple words, and suddenly my feet were moving forward.
No.
No!
Go back!
But neither my feet nor my legs was listening to me, carrying me inside. I rubbed my arms, for the temperature of the interior wasn’t fairing much better than outside. With a wave of Blaine’s hand, embers roared to life in the fireplace to my right. Okay…that was both really cool, and really unsettling. And it was the only real light in the vast space, considering that all the windows were closed and covered.
The golden glow highlighted what I assumed was the sitting room. Rich oak furnishings, plush leather couches, and matching sofas filled the living space, accessorized by hanging pendant lanterns, candle chandelier wall sconces, and wrought iron fixtures. There was even a full-sized medieval suit of armor, along with mounted filigree blades, and red tapestry curtains on display by the fireplace, assisting the manor’s wood and brick elegance. It was like being in a modernized renaissance manor, seeing as how there was still a flat screen television and sound system residing on the back wall.
“You can choose whichever bedroom you like,” Blaine said, pulling my attention back to him. “Just let me know. I’ll take everything up when I get back.”
I looked behind him, noting he’d already carried all the luggage into the main foyer. “You’re leaving?”
A small smile. “Why? Are you gonna miss me?”
“What? No!” I realized I sounded weirdly defensive, and all I wanted to do was kick myself. The outburst earned Blaine a chuckle, bringing heat to my cheeks. God, what was wrong with me?
“I’ll be back in a couple hours. Don’t invite anyone in, alright?”
The moment he exited the front door, I immediately threw all the locks into place and fished around for any light switches. Ebony wood decorated everything from the vaulted ceiling rafters to the intricately hand-crafted panels and railings of the main staircase. The same gorgeous woodwork domed the entire entrance hall and appeared to carry on up to the second floor.
Two hours. That’s all I had. And this place was enormous. It hadn’t looked like much on the outside, but I discovered as I walked the main hall that the property extended so much further back than I had anticipated. I had to be fast.
The more rooms I investigated, the more Victorian décor I uncovered. Reese would’ve loved this place, if not for the Dark Prince currently residing in it. Not one inch of the manor went underappreciated. Beautiful wood parquet floors, rich red carpets, stunning crown molding… There was a freaking library! Not just a room with some bookshelves. An actual library. It was even equipped with one of those rolling ladders to reach the higher ledges, along with a spiral staircase that led to an upper level.
Spectacle after spectacle, and yet… no sword.
The only blades in the house belong to the coat of arms above the fireplace, but there was nothing special about them. Although, they were a hell of a lot heavier than I’d expected, especially when I pried them off the wall, shield and all. I’d wasted ten minutes alone just trying to get it back up.
And my frustration wasn’t doing me any favors. It had sparked a couple runes, resulting in three ruined door knobs, a shattered drinking glass, and me nearly tearing down a shelf full of antique porcelain plates. Unless I wanted it to look like King Kong threw a hissy fit in here, I had to give my investigation a rest, even with an hour still left before Blaine came back.
I collapsed on the couch in the sitting room, practically sinking into the plush cushions. If I got to take anything with me from this experience, I called dibs on this baby. It was like falling onto a cloud. Just as my eyes began to sink closed, a sharp ring sent me startling upright. I scrambled off the sofa, scouring the room for a telephone, but the only one was an antique handset, which wasn’t connected to anything. Following the sound, I made my way back into the foyer, discovering that it came from inside one of my bags.
I pulled out a phone from a side pocket of a carry-on, but it wasn’t my own. Neither Val nor Blaine had been kind enough to give that back to me. The cell in my hand was a cheap plastic thing that I quickly realized was a burner phone. “Hello?”
“Hey, Princess.”
I outright squealed. “Reese?”
He laughed. “Miss me?”
“I could kiss you right about now!” Without my phone, I had no idea how I would have been able to get in touch with him. “You’ll never guess where I am.”
“Mystic Harbor?” It really wasn’t a question.
“Dare I ask how you know that?”
“I may have overheard a certain phone call from a certain leather-clad asshole whose name rhymes with Pal.”
Now it was my turn to laugh, recalling what he had told me before I left this morning. I told him I wouldn’t know when I’d see him again. His response: “Oh, I wager it’ll be much sooner than you think.”
“Do you think you’ll be able to sneak away for a little bit?”
“I’ve only got about an hour before Blaine returns,” I grumbled. “Where are you?”
“Heading over to Carly’s beach house.”
“Carly?” I nearly choked at the name drop. Reese and she had always gotten along about as well as lead and gunpowder.
“Save the sarcasm,” he said. “Nobody really knows about her parents’ place off the coast, so she’s letting us use it when we all need to meet up.”
“All?” I questioned.
“Dr. Madsen’s making a special trip down here, says he has something you may want to see.”
I had stayed at the beach house with Carly for a girls’ night-in after she and Daniel got into a fight. If my calculations were correct, it was only a few miles away. “I’ll be there.”
Darting over to my luggage, I changed into a set of workout clothes and sneakers before gathering my hair back into a ponytail. With an oversized hoodie pulled on over my head, all my runes were concealed, along with my face. I didn’t see any cars left out front, but I didn’t want to take my chances getting caught, so I slinked out back through the family room.
Holy Moses!
Stepping right out on the wraparound porch, I realized there wasn’t any land backing the property. Overlooking the ocean, the stormy Atlantic tides crashed against the rocks beneath me, sending chilling droplets to splash up within arm’s reach. The scenery was downright breathtaking.
It took considerable effort to tear my attention away from the view, but I snuck a peek around the bend, checking to see if the coast was clear. No one appeared to be on the property, so I took off running. The trip was a bit longer than I’d anticipated, by another couple miles, but one benefit to being Supernaturally-inclined: endurance. Between my speed and prolonged energy, I reached the property in under twenty-five minutes, leaving me about ten minutes to visit.
Trotting up the driveway, I immediately spotted an unfamiliar black Benz pulling in behind me. Madsen, probably. Only…
“Hey there, Doll Face.”
Shit!