Page 11 of Chasing the Night

Chapter Five

The Other Shoe

Chalice

Ender’s finger slid against my wrist, but he made no effort to take my hand. Instead, he tipped his head toward the gate and led me through the crowd. We hung a left and passed Blazian’s shop and the bizarre mountain entrance.

I lost myself in thought—and everything, really—until he swung a door open and motioned for me to enter first. I hopped inside, blindly trusting him. He had saved me, why wouldn’t I?

“The servant was ill, forgive the mess,” he mumbled, rounding the corner.

I followed him, only to stop in my tracks when we entered a room with a desk. To the left was the cabinet I had watched the woman dig through only yesterday.

“This is the…”

“Surgery. Yes.” He opened another door; this one had a staircase made of rock and descended into darkness. He grabbed the lantern from the desk and twitched his head toward the staircase.

“How… how do you have access to the surgery after hours?” I asked. It had long since grown dark between my travels and the hiccup over rentals.

“It’s my surgery. I come when I like.” He winked and dipped into the darkness, leaving me to follow quickly or break my neck trying to catch up in the dark.

“What do you mean, it’s your surgery?” I awkwardly laughed. He was young, mysterious and clearly a soldier. Did he truly think I would fall for his shenanigans? I scoffed and shook my head as he led me into a well excavated tunnel. The chill of the earth was trapped in between the smooth buffered surface of natural rock.

I kept close to him, fearing the ceiling would cave and bury us alive at any moment. It didn’t appear to be in any foul condition. The stone ceiling bore no cracks or signs of burden, but still, I didn’t like it.

After several turns and slopes, we came across what was, for all intents and purposes, an underground doorstep. He popped the door open, and we ascended another stairwell that brought us back to the street surface. I hadn’t realized how nervous I was until I took that first gulp of fresh air.

I took a few actually, which left him staring at me in open curiosity. For being a physician, he sure didn’t ask if I was alright. He merely turned and started for what I assumed was the villa. It may as well have been a modest castle.

It was a sturdy brick structure that formed an L. Where the two ends met, a large cylinder shape betrayed what was likely a circular stairwell or a tower, of sorts. The villa was larger than anything I had ever seen and tucked away in its own private corner of the city.

“The Krypt Villa,” he announced.

I stared up at the massive building until my neck ached. “This is where I am to sleep tonight?”

“Tonight?” he whispered on a chuckle. “This is your home. Isabella has dubbed you family, and what Isabella wants… she gets.” He leaned forward until the last two words were left to hinge between an insinuation and a threat.

I had no doubt Isabella was as powerful as she was beautiful.

“Krypt… is her House name?” I clarified, only to be met with a nod that caused his hair to feather lazily against his cheek.

I stepped inside and soaked it all in. The welcome and home was more than anyone could dream of, especially in my circumstances. An important family of beauty, wealth, and power. Everything in the villa said as much. Polished floors reflected my likeness almost as good as the water’s surface. Arched ceilings left me feeling small and in a world all my own. It felt like a sanctuary, with bizarre and attractive pieces of art and furniture sprinkled about.

I almost felt silly when I realized it was merely the receiving room. Doors allowed for access left or right, while a spiral staircase lay in wait near the back. I felt naked. Nothing I had or ever could hope to possess would compare to such things. I felt like a stain upon its existence until his finger brushed the edge of my wrist again.

His smile and wink did little for my blush, but he didn’t comment on it. Rather, he led the way to the back, and we climbed to the second floor and made our way toward a large arched doorway. It was impaled with pieces of ancient iron that gave it more than a little character. I tested one of them with my thumb, carefully inspecting the rough solid surface.

“Short cut,” he explained without stopping.

I ambled along behind him gawking at the expensive display of china and glass. To the left an entire corner had been dedicated to a winery. The thing could have rivaled Blazian’s in options and size.

Two steps led the way to a door that was identical to the first. Before I passed it, though, I stared in awe at the imported harp. My fingers ached to taste its strings, but Ender cleared his throat gently, bringing me to focus.

I smiled and quickly shut the door behind me. Side stepping widely, I careened into an easel and nearly ruined the canvas with my efforts to save the display. Ender offered no assistance. When I looked up to see how pissed he might be, I found him rubbing the back of his neck and offering the floor a sheepish smile.

“I… told you. The servants were off today.” He jerked the door a bit wider and cocked his head once more.

I hurriedly stumbled after him.