CHAPTER FOUR
R amos kept his hand on Kai's and turned his head to look out the window.
Something had alerted him; there was something in the woods.
"We have company.” He said to the driver, and then there was a van that came out of a blind side road and rammed the vehicle ahead of them.
Ramos turned to Kai and cupped the side of his face.
"Stay here; the car will protect you." He then jumped out and engaged the attackers from the van and those funneling out of the woods. They were shifters, cougars, jackals, and wolves, and they were formidable but not to the level of the DuCane soldiers.
Ramos grabbed the first one who tried to get close to the vehicle, and it was a wolf shifter.
He pulled his short sword and sliced him across the middle before he could dodge the blade.
"Give us the human, and we will leave you in peace.
" The man gurgled. Ramos did not bother with a response.
He lunged forward and stabbed him in the upper thigh, bringing him to his knees.
"Hand him over." The wolf shouted as if he still had a play to make.
The others were being cut down by the guards and the soldiers that had rushed to their aid. Nothing happens in DuCane's territory without him knowing. The wolf shifted and tried a final assault, rushing Ramos and barreling into him, but his attack ended on the tip of Ramos’ sword.
As he stood and pulled his weapon free, he was jumped by two jackals. They were hideous beasts he’d fought thousands of these monsters, and it always disgusted him. They were soulless, mindless killing machines.
They kept coming, and he kept repelling until he had them in the right position. The larger one was leading with each attack, and the smaller came at him from the side. Instead of battling the frontal attack, he swung his sword and took off the head of the little one.
With him out of the equation, he could focus on the larger, stronger of the two.
He paid no mind to the death of his fellow jackal, which was normal for these beasts.
They fought together, but it was only for the force they could project; it had nothing to do with solidarity or camaraderie.
They cared about nothing, least of all each other.
The jackal pulled a dagger from his boot and came at him once again with his claws still prominent and lethal.
Ramos took his dagger and held it in his left hand and his short sword in his right, and they fought.
The jackal was fast and landed a slice to the back of Ramos’ hand, but Ramos lunged forward and opened the jackal’s throat with his dagger and plunged his sword into his heart.
The battle ended swiftly, and cleanup ensued immediately. The citizens of Mt. Pleasant were to remain blissfully ignorant of the supernatural world existing next door to them. It had been over three centuries, and DuCane had maintained his anonymity; the man was without equal.
He understood balance, human nature, and the basic way of the world. He and his people functioned, lived, and thrived in the shadows and in the light. Ramos respected and feared him in equal measure, as did all who answered to him.
Ramos opened the door of the SUV and climbed inside, as did his driver, and without a word they pulled away from the carnage and continued on their way to the Palace.
It was important that Kai be delivered to Master DuCane, especially since this attack was an attempt to abduct him.
The mystery around Kai was growing, and Ramos desperately wanted answers.
The car did not stop as it passed through the giant gates and climbed the long driveway to the Palace.
It was, as it was named, a palace, and the fact he kept this place shielded, unknown, hidden since he built it centuries ago was further testament to DuCane’s power.
He looked over at Kai, who had not said a word since the attack.
He didn't ask questions and made no sign that it had been a surprise.
"Did you know we were going to be attacked?" He didn't play games; if he had something to say, he said it. Kai turned away from the window and stared at him. The pause was enough to know that he had been aware of something.
“Can’t you just sweep my mind and find that out for yourself?” Kai asked flatly.
“No, I cannot.” That seemed to take him aback. Ramos wondered if Kai knew anything of being a vampire’s beloved and the limitations surrounding the connection.
"I didn't know when they would strike, but I assumed they would try something." He admitted.
"Who is 'they'?" Ramos asked, but Kai looked out the window, taking in the Palace and the grounds, but his expression was emotionless. He wasn’t seeing anything.
"The ones who took me in Sedona were like these people; they work for someone else. They want the dagger; they think I am connected to it."
“Why did they leave you to die in Sedona and then hire more mercenaries to bring you back to them?”
“They must have gotten new information.” He paused for a moment as he continued to stare out the window.
“I should have died there in Sedona. I would have died there if you hadn’t intervened.
” Ramos found his stomach tightening and his heart lurching into his throat as he heard his beloved wish for death so casually.
"I will always be there for you, Kai. I will always stand between you and your worst decisions." Ramos was saying more than he intended, but he needed to jolt Kai out of his melancholy. Negative thoughts bring on negative realities, and he would not allow that for his beloved.
They pulled up and parked, and Ramos helped Kai from the vehicle. They entered the Palace through a side entrance that went straight to an elevator. Ramos kept his hand over Kai, channeling calm and peace. He had dread and anxiety coming off him in waves, and Ramos did his best to settle him.
“Where’s Tarek?” Kai asked as they rode the elevator.
"He will meet with you after you meet with the Master.
" There had been a change following the attack.
Master DuCane wanted to meet Kai and decide for himself what kind of man he was and what it was he was holding.
Ramos had not shared his discovery yet, having only discovered their connection a couple of hours ago.
He genuinely hoped that no one made a move against Kai because he could not guarantee how he would react. As it were, he hated that Kai was cuffed and being treated like a threat, but he also understood the reasoning behind the measure.
They exited the elevator and made their way down the wide hall that led to the Master’s meeting room.
He stood outside the closed door and could feel the presence of Master DuCane, along with his second, Ismael, and Silas.
Ira, the Master’s personal guard, stood beside the door.
Ramos looked at Kai and tried to drive home some advice and direction before entering.
“Don’t be defensive, don’t play games. Answer his questions honestly and fully.
Do not stand before him with lies on your lips.
He is a knight; he is the Duke of Burgundy; he is the conqueror of nations; he is a warrior of old.
Remember that when you speak to him and when you listen.
" Kai was hearing him; his eyes were wide, and his breathing was shallow.
He was afraid, and he was listening. Kai nodded, and the door opened.
***
Kai had a basic understanding of who Master Louis DuCane was, and the thought of lying to him had not entered his mind.
Although these days, lying was coming to him second nature.
It was easier to lie than to explain, easier to lie than to be responsible, easier to lie than to be inconvenienced.
He thought of the blood bath that had occurred on the way here and the way it was handled so completely and efficiently.
Ramos had stayed by the SUV that Kai was sitting in, and he kept the shifters from gaining entrance.
He'd watched him fight, and he was a professional at hand-to-hand.
Kai had never seen anyone survive an attack by a jackal, and Ramos had killed two at once with ease.
He'd injured his hand, but as a vampire, it healed almost immediately. Minor wounds were nothing to a vampire.
The entire incident was handled and then sanitized, and they were back on their way to Coven DuCane within minutes.
He glanced down at the cuffs on his wrists and realized there would be no hiding anything from anyone.
Master DuCane would read him and know him in a glance.
He was a believer in Fate, and this was where his choices had taken him, so this was where he was supposed to be.
They entered, and he was grateful for Ramos; his contact and support were holding him up at present.
There were three men in the room; all were vampires.
Master DuCane was a towering figure of power and control with long black hair swept back over his shoulders and eyes that could pierce steel.
The other two were equally cold and terrifying.
They weren't here to welcome him to the Palace; they were here to take him apart.
"Come closer, Kai." The Master stated, and the use of his name spoken in such a deadly tone sent a chill down his spine.
Ramos squeezed his hands, and the chill subsided almost immediately.
He saw a look pass between the Master and Ramos; there was a question and an answer, but nothing was spoken.
The tension in the room, which had been unbearable, was now easing slightly.
He felt the pressure release and the heaviness on his shoulders went away.
Something had changed, but he didn't know what it was.
Everyone stood still as Ramos walked with Kai several steps to stand in front of Master DuCane.
Kai kept his eyes downcast; he knew that much was protocol, and honestly, he didn't have the fortitude to meet the man's eyes.