Author: catstark

From Protector of the Grey House:

She went Blitzkrieg, tore down the steps, and bellowed her wrath. There were more shots fired, which just fueled the woman’s passion. Mangled screams emanated from the dungeon, cut short by vampires dying. Less than a minute later Rebecca yelled up the stairs.

“Edwin’s yours, sir. He’s cowering at the top of the oubliette.”

Vincent was down the steps so quickly Ben and Anthony hardly saw him. When he passed a near naked Rebecca, he was no more than wind. Edwin fired at him to no avail. The ex-Captain was pressed against the wall before he could fire more than two shots. He screamed in pain as Vincent ripped off the hand holding the gun.

“It would pleasure me greatly to kill you now, but I will follow the rules and kill you in front of an audience.”

“You kill me; you’ll never find your bitch.”

“Vincent? VINCENT!” A familiar voice rang from the oubliette. In all the years Vincent had known the werewolf, this was the first time Charlie sounded happy to hear his boss’s voice.

Rebecca, ran to the edge of the hole, and leaned over as far as she dared. Relief flooded her very being. “Charlie!” Her voice turned upset. “I’m going to kick your ass when you get up here! Don’t you dare to that again!”

From Protector of the Grey House:

Nevertheless, the disquieting feeling was almost overpowering.

It subsided as the limo drew closer to the house and he let himself relax. Perhaps it was just anxiety. He pushed it to the side and allowed himself to rely on the women who ran his house. The car finally stopped, and the back door opened to reveal Lorraine a black silk robe. Vincent was the closest to the door and went straight for Lorraine. He kissed her on the cheek, and stepped back to admire her in her rather inappropriate outfit.

“Sire. Your warriors have returned.”

“There is blood if you need it.” She announced to the group at large. She linked her arm with Vincent’s, started him toward the house, and almost ignored the rest. “Come. Take me to bed and tell me all about it.”

The disquieting feeling a mere mouse of a whisper in the back of his thoughts, he picked Lorraine up, carried her into her house, and upstairs to her bedroom. She laughed delightedly the whole time. Behind them, a disgruntled Rowland scowled after them. Joseph, who understood Rowland’s feelings leaned forward and voiced his thoughts.

“When was the last time you shared her?”

“The last time he was here.” Rowland shared Lorraine’s bed for many years, as long as Vincent was on the other side of the country.

“Why not take another while he sleeps within your sire’s house?”

“Because currently, I don’t desire another.” Rowland walked into the house in search of blood. Joseph smiled to himself and followed the disgruntled vampire in as Anthony came up beside him.

From Protector of the Grey House:

The spot on the floor stared back up at her when she opened her eyes. She frowned, knelt, and touched the spot. Dried blood. She glanced further up the walkway and realized the irregular blood trail would lead the way. Natalia chewed her lip and wondered whose blood it was as she started down the hall. She heard her name being called through the wall as she followed the trail. She ignored it and jogged through the maze sure the voice was Joseph’s. Natalia knew he would be able to follow her through here. Probably created it with Vincent or for Vincent. To not lose her way, Natalia took a deep breath, and followed the blood trail.

It led to a door with another lit keypad. She entered Vincent’s code as Joseph bellowed her name in the room from the other entrance. The door slid open, and she took two steps in. She entered Vincent’s code into the next keypad and waited for the door to close as she bounced from foot to foot. She took a chance and entered a random set of numbers. The keypad blinked red. She waited for the light to return to normal, then entered in another random sequence. The keypad flashed red, then went back to its normal hue. She waited another second, then entered another set of numbers. This time the keypad flashed and went dark. Natalia closed her eyes, turned, and ran up the stairs. That ought to buy her a little time.

From Protector of the Grey House:

Mierka smirked. “What will you do? Do you wish to fight me? Will that make you feel better?” She ran her hand down his bare chest. “Fighting you is always such a pleasure.”

He bellowed and threw himself off the bed. Though Mierka was smaller and not as strong as he, when they fought, she won. As a small woman, she had learned to fight dirty. When she fought Vincent, she seduced him to distract him, get close enough, then would often kick or grab his genitals. She also learned a few grappling techniques to be able to grab onto the person she fought, and sucked their blood. It weakened her opponent and strengthened her. He wanted to fight but he wanted a fair fight. He growled.

“Get out. Get me blood and get me Natalia. I wish to,” he gnashed his teeth, “speak with her.”

You may or may not find the word different in this chapter, I’m not sure. I didn’t look. I decided I wanted to share something completely different today, just because. This is chapter twelve of “Evelyn of Kaymbria”. There are a lot of issues with the actions and psychology of this chapter. Very young warrior going into battle for the first time, doesn’t even pause when she kills her first enemy…
If I do publish this in the future (and I very much hope to) I believe I know how to change it so it doesn’t seem as odd, at least to me, that no one pauses after their first kill.
I hope you enjoy the chapter, regardless of the issues.

Evelyn of Kaymbria, Chapter Twelve:

Chapter Twelve

The next day was tense with waiting. Evelyn tried to calm her friends and her men down by singing, but not may people took the bait. No one wanted to talk let alone sing. After a few tries, Evelyn still sang, but mostly to herself. It lifted her spirits somewhat, but also kept her thoughts at bay. She was still thinking of Prince Kadin’s scar and why he may have allowed the cut to scar instead of using the healing salve. If singing old war songs out of tune stopped these thoughts, then she would continue to sing, even if no one else did.

Knowing that this day might prove to be the last for a lot of the men, all the cooks and their helpers were engaged in making dinner. Many cows and pigs were roasted. Bread in abundance was baked and many vegetables were cooked. Instead of having the men line up for food, the cooks, the nurses and anyone not needed somewhere else took plates to the men in the field. It took a long time, but the men were grateful for the fresh food.

The soldiers slept fitfully that night, and very few were placed on guard. There were scouts watching for the Thastin army. The Prince and the Generals didn’t think anyone else should lose sleep.

Morning was even more nerve-racking. The army packed up what they could and moved forward, each soldier with a look of grim determination on their face. Two hours after setting out, the Kaymbrian army met with the Thastin army.

Neither army had archers and most of both armies were on foot. When soldier met soldier, it was sword-to-sword, man-to-man. Each soldier had as much of a chance of winning as the man he was facing.

                                                            *****

Evelyn wanted to be further up, closer to the Thastin army, but as her training camp was the furthest away from Barsaw Plateau, they were nowhere near the front. Evelyn tried to keep her men together, but as time wore on and they came closer and closer to the front, it was each man for himself. Evelyn used all her skills, all her training to ensure that each man she met died. She used her gauntlet to block any blow that came her way, then stepped closer to the enemy soldier and slipped her sword into his belly or across his throat.

She lost count of the men she killed. There were too many, and they kept coming. It was fairly obvious though, that the Thastin army wasn’t as well trained as the Kaymbrian army. Evelyn didn’t understand this until a chilling voice rang out.

“Slave Dragons!”

The cry was repeated over and over. Evelyn looked into the sky and for the first time in her life, was terrified by the sight of dragons flying in the air. She took her fear and threw it aside. It was useless. She needed to keep her head about her as the dragons were blowing fire onto the battlefield. Evelyn tried hard to keep her eyes on the men around her, but her eyes were drawn over and over to the dragons above. Her eyes kept going to one in particular.

The dragon was a deep green with shades of dark blue on his limbs, wings, tail and neck. He was gorgeous and didn’t deserve to be under someone’s enchantment. There was a helmet wrapped around his head and leather straps holding a chair in place on his back. He was trying to fight his master but wasn’t quite strong enough. Evelyn didn’t know how she knew what he was thinking, but she did, and listened.

Not only did she listen, Evelyn called out. She aimed her thoughts at that dragon in particular and screamed as loud as she could in her mind. I CAN HELP YOU! COME TO ME AND I WILL RELEASE HIS HOLD ON YOU!

The dragon had been heading away from her. After her words, it turned sharply and headed back her way. Evelyn looked around her to make sure she was safe and realized that no one was paying attention to her. Good. She turned her attention back to the skies and watched her dragon as it swooped down. She saw an interesting image in her mind and followed it. She held her sword in both her hands above her head. Her right hand gripped the hilt and the protected left gripped the blade. The dragon blew fire near her, then grabbed her sword with his claws. Evelyn held on for dear life as the dragon flew higher into the air.

In the air, Evelyn looked at the bottom of the dragon to see what she could do next. The leather strap for the chair was within her reach, but she was afraid to let go. She didn’t think she would be able to hold on to her sword with one hand. She took a good look at the dragon and realized that she might be able to use her gauntlet to grip the dragon’s sides. Its scales looked just the right size for the curved spikes.

yessssss………

The word was a breeze in her mind. He was communicating with her. Evelyn nodded, pulled herself up closer to the dragon, let the sword go with her left hand and quickly jammed the back of her gauntlet into the dragon’s side, closer to the back leather strap. He didn’t even flinch. Once sure the gauntlet would hold, Evelyn let go of her sword and swung over to the strap.

Evelyn missed on the first try but didn’t worry. She swung again and this time, she was able to grab the strap with her right hand. Once she felt secure, Evelyn pulled her gauntlet out of the dragon’s side. She stared for a moment, then nodded when she saw there was no blood. The gauntlet didn’t harm the dragon.

Carefully climbing hand over hand, Evelyn pulled herself onto the dragon’s back. She was facing the back of the chair. It was made of stiff leather and was fastened in front and in back to the dragon under its legs. The rider didn’t seem to notice it was no longer alone. Evelyn slipped her dagger out of her boot and approached the chair, crouched low. The dragon was silent in her head, but she felt that a quick slice across the throat would take out the rider. When she was right behind the chair, Evelyn took a few shallow breaths and assessed the situation. The man was leaning back in the chair, looking forward. His hands were held out in front of him, toward the dragon’s head. He wasn’t wearing any protective armor.

Once Evelyn realized his neck was very nicely exposed, she grabbed his head with her left hand, stopping his voice and slit his throat with the knife in her right hand. When his throat was cut from ear to ear, she grabbed him and threw him off the dragon.

The helmet. Please remove the helmet. It restricts my thoughts.

Evelyn walked carefully around the chair, looking around a little as she did. They were in the clouds, hidden from the other dragons and Enchanters. She nodded to herself as she straddled the dragon’s neck. When she was seated at the base of his neck, she lay down on his neck and scooted forward until her outreached hand could slip her dagger under the helmet’s strap. One quick tug and the knife cut through the leather strap. The helmet fell off the dragon, but before it could be lost in the clouds, the dragon threw fire at it and destroyed it.

“I can-”

Talk to me in your mind. I can hear you.

I can remove the chair if you want.

Please.

She nodded, turned to the chair and made quick work of the straps. Once the chair was flying of the dragon, she put her dagger in her belt. I’m Evelyn.

Draigone.

Though she felt this wasn’t his real name, she accepted it, remembering what Graedon told her some time ago. Dragons had their true name, and the name they gave humans to keep themselves protected. What’s next, Draigone?

We free the others.

A smile of intense pleasure graced her lips as she situated herself on his shoulders. She sat on his back and smiled as he dove through the clouds and headed toward the next dragon.

 I’m not able to move against the Enchanters.

Are you able to get me close enough so that I can kill them?

She could feel his smile and looked forward to the day she would see it with her eyes. I can get you close enough.

That’s all I need.

Their thoughts stilled as Draigone approached another dragon. This one was deep crimson. He looked larger than Draigone and more fierce, if only for his color.

Quintar is rather timid. Once you land on him, tell him I sent you. It will make him feel better.

Will the Enchanter hear me?

Yes, but I am quite certain you can kill him quickly.

Draigone was above Quintar, a little behind him. Evelyn pulled her feet onto Draigone’s back and readied herself to jump. She reached her thoughts out to Quintar on a hunch. She could feel his thoughts. He didn’t want to be under the Enchanter’s spell. Evelyn took her dagger out of her belt and held onto it tightly as she closed her eyes.

Stay steady, friend. I’m here to help.

Evelyn opened her eyes and jumped. She landed right behind the chair and didn’t hesitate. The Enchanter was getting up, but she didn’t give him a chance. She grabbed his head in her left hand and slit his throat with the dagger in her right hand. As before she threw the Enchanter off the dragon. Once the man was well away from Quintar, she crouched down, reached out to the strap at his back and sliced through it. She turned and cut through the front strap of the chair and held on to Quintar as the wind took the chair and pulled it off the dragon’s back. Evelyn smiled as it flew in the air and started on its long way back to the ground. She then turned and made her way to the dragon’s neck.

His thoughts were laced with terror. She sent the same message as before as she straddled his neck. Stay steady, friend. I’m here to help.

Quintar’s thoughts calmed down, but he was still uncertain of her actions. He liked that the chair was gone. He hated the chair and preferred to feel the human on his back. It made the connection stronger. Evelyn smiled at the dragon’s thoughts and removed her gauntlet. She clipped it to her belt and ran her hand along his neck as she scooted closer to his head. He sighed at her touch. When she was close enough to the helmet, she cut the strap, pulled the leather off and grabbed hold of Quintar’s neck as the dragon shot up into the clouds and through them.

Evelyn burst out laughing when she realized there was nothing but pleasure in the dragon’s mind. He was free, or close enough to it. She let him fly through the clouds and higher, then held on even tighter as he dove back down. Knowing the dragon would never listen to her, Evelyn reached out with her mind to try and find the other dragons. Draigone was hiding as he didn’t want to be seen by the other Enchanters. Evelyn didn’t blame him. She left him alone and found another willing mind. By a stroke of luck, or perhaps Quintar was listening and didn’t want to let anyone know, he was approaching the willing dragon.

Evelyn watched as they approached the dragon and saw that it was dark blue with shades of green. Its coloring was the opposite of Draigone and Evelyn wondered if he was related to Draigone. She shook her head and let the thought go. When all the dragons were free, she would ask them many questions. Now, she would free her mind of such clutter.

Quintar slowed down and leveled out when he was out of the clouds. Evelyn was able to steady herself and prepare herself for the next jump. She was no longer holding Quintar’s helmet, had lost it in his show of exuberance, but she still held her dagger. The flight had also caused her to slide back down his neck until she was at the base of his neck, sitting on his shoulders. The dragon was parallel with the ground, which meant Evelyn could sit on his shoulder. She took her gauntlet off her belt, pulled it onto her hand and made sure it was very secure. Evelyn then sheathed her dagger back into its place in her boot and moved her right leg over the dragon’s neck to position herself to jump.

When they were over the willing dragon, Evelyn jumped. The Enchanter must have seen her coming though and the dragon moved to the left, away from Evelyn. She was going to miss the middle of the dragon’s back, but she still had her gauntlet.

As she passed the dragon’s side, Evelyn held her left arm out and held on to the gauntlet with her right hand. The gauntlet caught on the dragon’s scales and threatened to rip off Evelyn’s arm. She was making a fist with her left hand and was holding on tight to the strap with her right. She could feel the dragon’s pained thoughts and knew it could feel hers as well. She ignored her own pain and grabbed the leather strap of the chair to keep herself from falling. Needing a better grip, Evelyn slipped her arm through the strap, trying to loop it around her arm. Once she was holding on very well, she lifted her left hand away from the dragon, and realized she had to use more force. She tried again and knew without a doubt that she was going to harm this dragon.

Pull free child. I’ll heal.

It wasn’t the words that surprised Evelyn, but the fact that the voice in her head was feminine. This dragon was female. The shock wore off and Evelyn did as told. She held on tightly with her right hand, lifting herself up as much as she could and yanked her left hand up and out of the dragon. Though blood didn’t pour out of her scales, the dragon was bleeding. Evelyn felt remorse but shoved it aside to concentrate on getting onto the dragon’s back.

He knows you’re coming.

Evelyn nodded but didn’t respond in any other way. She was starting to feel sleepy. Evelyn closed her eyes and listened to the voices surrounding her. The dragon was encouraging her, pleading with her to be careful. Then there were other dragons: Draigone and Quintar, joyous and exuberant. She heard her own thoughts as well, plotting what to do next. Then there was an unknown voice, a hard but quiet voice, telling her it was time to sleep. Evelyn opened her eyes but didn’t see anything. She was focusing her attention on that voice. It was not wanted. Her eyes closed again, and she narrowed all her attention to that one voice. When she was completely centered on the voice, she shoved hard, with all her thoughts, throwing the voice out of her head. Above her, the Enchanter grunted in pain.

She didn’t waste any time but pulled herself up with the leather strap and threw herself onto the dragon’s back. The Enchanter was standing by the chair, hand held out towards her, lips moving. He was starting another spell. Evelyn stood as quickly as she could, facing down the Enchanter. His lips were moving faster, but she couldn’t hear his voice. Evelyn curled her left hand towards her body and swung up, spikes facing him. The spikes on the back of her hand caught under his chin. She continued to pull, using every ounce of strength she had. When his bottom jaw pulled off, blood gushed and splattered against Evelyn.

The Enchanter made a noise that was trying to be a scream but failed as his lower jaw was now attached to Evelyn’s gauntlet. She smiled wickedly, grabbed his shirt with her right hand and swung him around to throw him off the dragon. He continued to make that odd noise all the way down. When the noise stopped, Evelyn looked at her gauntlet. The man’s jaw was still attached to her gauntlet. She snorted, then pulled the flesh and bone off with her right hand, letting it drop over the dragon’s side.

Evelyn crouched down and started to the dragon’s head.

Leave the helmet. The spell around it is not as strong. You have killed enough of them. The other enchanters are trying to weave a spell against you. We must stop them.

Get me close enough and I will.

Evelyn. Thank you.

Thank me when this is done, madam dragon.

Eisian.

Evelyn nodded at the name but didn’t say anything else. She was watching the two dragons that were left. They were getting close to the pale yellow one with a pale orange stripe that seemed to run from the top of his snout all the way to the tip of his tail. He was a sunrise barely touching the horizon. Eisian fed her the dragon’s name and some information on him. Shahar was the youngest of the five and the most likely to try and get free of his hold. The Enchanter riding him was the strongest of the five. He might be able to throw a spell at Evelyn to stop her before she was able to kill him.

Evelyn smiled a wicked smile as a thought slipped into her mind.

Can you fly beyond them?

Yes, but why?

Let me keep my thoughts to myself. If they’re still connected to you, they may be able to hear you and I. Just fly past them, get ahead of them.

As you wish.

Eisian flapped her wings and they climbed into the skies, toward the clouds. When they were just above Shahar, Eisian tucked in her wings and soared down to stop about two of her body lengths before him. Evelyn jumped into action, grabbed her dagger and sliced through the front leather strap of the chair. She then scurried to the back strap and waited. The chair was threatening to fly off the dragon’s back; all it needed was release. Evelyn waited as she looked behind her to Shahar and the Enchanter. Knowing she was doing something exceedingly stupid and not caring, Evelyn took a deep breath, grabbed the leather strap, and wrapped it around her left arm before cutting through it with her dagger.

The wind tore the chair off Eisian’s back and hurled it and her into the air, right to Shahar. The dragon ducked at the last moment, allowing the flying chair to catch on the Enchanter and his chair. Evelyn grabbed the Enchanter’s shirt, the only thing she could find that wasn’t hidden under the flying chair. She found her footing, let go of the leather strap and grabbed on to the Enchanter’s chair. She was on his right side. Once the errant chair had flown off him, he stared hard at Evelyn. His lips weren’t moving, but Evelyn knew he was casting a spell. His crystal clear blue eyes showed nothing but death. He was planning on killing her.

Evelyn smiled and the look in his eyes changed. She grabbed him around the neck with her right hand and hit him hard with her closed left hand. When her fist was past his face, she brought it back and felt an incredible glee as the spikes ripped his flesh from his face. He was still alive and let the spell he was trying to cast go.

The spell hit her, and she could taste it. There was a metallic tinge to the spell, bloody and cloying. Her eyes grew wide as she felt the spell trying to grab her heart to still it. Evelyn closed her eyes and shoved the spell away as violently as she could. She was able to cast it aside only because it wasn’t fully formed. Evelyn knew if she had come a moment or two later, the spell would have been finished and she would be dead. The thought stopped her, but only for a very short time. Once the spell went past her harmlessly, she focused on the Enchanter and gave him a wicked, terrible smile. The hard look in his eyes broke and she saw fear. Glee enveloped her, and she hit him again with her closed left fist. Every time she pulled away, she ripped more and more flesh. When his nose and part of his face pulled away, she knew he was dead.

Evelyn picked up the body and unceremoniously threw him over Shahar’s side. She then crouched and went to the back strap, unsheathing her dagger as she went. The back strap and front strap of the chair were cut, and the chair was off the dragon in mere seconds. With that done, she turned her attention to the dragon’s head.

Do I cut that helmet off now or after your last friend is free?

Now. I want the satisfaction of killing the last Enchanter myself.

The heat of his words surprised Evelyn, but she didn’t let it stop her. She crawled to the base of his neck then scooted up his neck as she had done with two of the other dragons. She cut through the helmet’s strap quickly and pulled it off his head. She tossed it out in front of him and like Draigone, Shahar lit the helmet on fire.

From Protector of the Grey House:

“More impact this way. You don’t understand what’s going on here, do you?” There was a small smile on his face, which was a vast difference from his hyena smile.

“He died saving my life, she wants me here to mourn.”

Vincent continued to give her his slight smile, then placed his arm around her lower back and steered her toward the stairs. She held onto the box as if it held delicate roses. They walked silently to their sitting room. Once inside Vincent took out his remote and shut down the surveillance equipment. He let her lead the way through the bedroom and the bathroom, and turned off the recording equipment as they went. He opened the door for them but allowed her to travel through the maze and to his bedroom without him. All the dangerous items had been removed from the tower room. She was allowed in the room, but only to retrieve the sword or return it.

From Protector of the Grey House:

Morgan easily took the bait. Self-conscious men usually did. He rushed Natalia, thinking to kill her, but never reached his target. Natalia used the staff that leaned against the wall next to her as a bat and used Morgan’s head as a baseball. The CRACK! as wood hit bone echoed in the room. Morgan staggered, fell back, healed, and readied himself for the next attack.

“You owe me blood, bitch.” He was hunched over slightly, as if about to charge. Natalia leveled the staff in both hands.

“I owe you nothing.”

“You broke my neck. When you broke Lorraine’s neck you fell to your knees and offered her your blood, so she could heal. Bow to me and give me what I deserve.”

“Lorraine was worth healing.” Natalia moved away from the wall, toward the center of the room where there was more space.

“It’s a House LeGris rule. You said so yourself.” He started to circle her. She let him.

“Yes, but you’re not of House LeGris.” She saw Vincent smile over Morgan’s shoulder and smiled back.

“Neither was she.”

“House LeGris exists because of Lorraine.”

“Give me your blood!” His bellow echoed in the room.

“Come and get it.”

The shoes she’s wearing? I have them.

From Protector of the Grey House:

“Help me!”

“Go to Hell.”

When she dressed earlier, Natalia had the urge to wear her favorite boots. They were a deep rich red, made from hard leather with a steel toe tip. She wore the boots whenever she was headed for a fight as they were almost weapons unto themselves. She was delighted she had gone with the impulse as she prodded his fingers with the inch thick, hard rubber soles. His face turned to pure terror as she very slowly and very carefully stepped on his fingers and ground his bones with her boots. He and the creature below him howled in unison as pain, then fear, echoed in the oubliette. Franklin fell when she stepped onto his other hand. Her smile was pure pleasure when she heard his bones crunch. He apparently didn’t know how to fall.

From Protector of the Grey House:

“Don’t. Until you can sustain the damage I am capable of, do not bite my jugular.” His words growled past her face, a chill wind threatening her cheeks.

“I thought to deter your passion until we arrived home.” Her voice was too innocent as was her look.

“Tell me another, weaver of tales.” He growled into her neck, to chill her jugular. She shivered in anticipation, and desired his bite. She cried out in frustration when he pulled away and sat back down on the seat. She glowered at him as she propped herself up on her arms.

“Which is it, Vincent? You act as if you’re going to ravish me despite my predilections against it at this time. Then warn me against enticing you.”

He gave her a hyena smile from his seat. She shivered: prey caught in a predator’s lair. “I plan on worshipping you, love, but I still would prefer waiting until we were in our bedroom, as there is more space.”

From Protector of the Grey House:

“I feel as if you’re trying to distract me.”

She shook her head. “No, this is part of the last few days.” She turned to regard him as she leaned against the wall by the window. She crossed her arms. “I found my way into the private area. I wanted information on Vincent and knew he spent his time there while in the club. I spoke to many people, including you.”

As she spoke as he shook his head. “You weren’t that memorable.”

She gave a short, almost inaudible laugh. “I hypnotized you.”

He stared at her as the news sank into his mind. He shook his head once, and tried to continue the conversation. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Do you believe me?”

“I’m not sure I do.”

Natalia nodded and stood taller as she continued her tale. “I’ve done it a few times after coming here. Vincent knew about it each time. It wouldn’t surprise me to find out he sent you to me that night to see if I could hypnotize you.”

Anthony revealed nothing as he stared at her.

She stared at him intently. “You’re taking this well.”

“I’m leaving that alone for later consideration. There’s more here than this story.”