Stolen Heart (5 page)

Sheila Williams lived about another ten blocks away and Annika used that time to explain her situation to Kieran.  She told him it would be a quick in and out.  Sheila’s boyfriend would be gone for the night, she would only bring with her a small bag, and they’d escort her to
Saving Grace
.

Didn’t sound too complicated to Kieran.  “What happens when her boyfriend comes home and finds her gone?”

“He’s a real mean son of a bitch.  He’ll go crazy. She tried to leave him once about a year ago.  She went to stay with a friend.  He beat her so bad she was in the hospital for a week.”

Kieran was astounded. “Why isn’t this fuck-wad in jail?”

“Because Sheila refused to press charges. He threatened to kill her and she believed him.  So she got out of the hospital, and went home to him.  It’s the pattern an abused woman goes through.  A vicious cycle.”

“Is there any way he can find her at
Saving Grace
?”

Annika shook her head.  “No.  Our shelter is private and not disclosed to anyone involved in the system. I’m actually surprised you were able to find information on it.  I have it hidden under so many fake corporations, it should have been undetectable.”

Kieran heard the worry in Annika’s voice and wanted to reassure her.  “Don’t worry about it, Annika.  I only was able to find the information because of the vast financial resources I have, plus a little magic. 
Saving Grace
is safe.”

Annika looked at him skeptically and didn’t say anything.  He saw that her brow was furrowed with worry.

“Are you expecting any trouble from her boyfriend tonight?”

Annika shrugged her shoulders.  “Probably not.  When he goes out for the night, he usually stays gone. But if he does show up, he sometimes has a posse of thugs with him so be prepared.”

Kieran didn’t say anything but he wasn’t worried.  In fact, he’d been so stuck in his boring life lately, he’d probably welcome a fight tonight.

Finally, they arrived at Sheila and Monty’s apartment.  It was in a fairly bad section of the city.  There was garbage littering the street and iron bars on most of the windows.  After walking up two flights of stairs, Annika knocked on Sheila’s door.  After a few moments, it opened just a crack.  Kieran saw just a sliver of a black woman’s face peeking out, but he didn’t miss the horrendous bruise that covered the eye looking at them.

“It’s me, Sheila.  Open up.”

The door closed and Kieran could hear the inside chain being unlatched.  Then the door swung open and Kieran sucked in his breath.

Sheila Williams’ face was a patchwork of bruises and cuts.  Both eyes were blackened, with burst blood vessels in the white areas.  Blood was crusted in both of her nostrils and there was a cut running straight down the middle of her bottom lip.  Her right cheek sported a cut that was gaping open but it wasn’t actively bleeding.  Her eyes held such misery and sadness, it made him want to weep. And one thing Kieran was not…a weeper.

Kieran’s blood started to boil.  He couldn’t even imagine a man doing this to a woman.  Women were meant to be cherished, not battered.

Sheila took one look at Annika, who opened her arms up.  The beaten woman burst into tears as she flung herself into Annika’s embrace.

Annika hugged Sheila tight, rubbing her back and murmuring soothing words.  After a few moments, Sheila pulled back, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.  She looked at Kieran with suspicion.

“Sheila. This is a friend of mine, Kieran Dunne.  He came to help get you moved.”

“Hi, Sheila.”

She didn’t say anything but just nodded at Kieran.  She probably didn’t trust any man at this point, and Kieran couldn’t blame her.

“Okay, Sheila.  Let’s shake a leg,” Annika said.  “I don’t want to take a chance of Monty coming back.”

Sheila walked deeper into the apartment to get her bag.  Annika and Kieran followed her into her bedroom.  She had two large suitcases and a smaller duffel bag.  Annika took one look and started shaking her head.

“I’m sorry, Sheila.  But we can’t take all of that.  The room at the shelter is very limited and we need to move quickly.  I need you to narrow it down to one bag.”

“Oh, gosh.  Annika I forgot you said just one bag.  I was just so nervous when Monty left, I just started throwing stuff together.  Maybe this was a bad idea.”  Sheila was sounding panicky and Kieran noticed she was wringing her hands together.

“It’s okay.  I want you to calm down.  It’s going to be fine.  Let’s go ahead and open your bags up, and choose what you need.”

Tears welled up in Sheila’s eyes but she nodded.  Kieran watched Annika kneel down beside Sheila and they started repacking one bag.  He stood in the bedroom doorway, watching the women.  Annika moved swiftly and assuredly.  Sheila was a trembling mess of nerves.  He couldn’t imagine the courage it was taking for her to do this.  And he was beyond impressed with Annika.  She knew just what to say and what to do to handle the situation.

Kieran went on alert as he heard someone sticking a key in the front door and rattling it.  Annika and Sheila heard it too.  He heard Sheila whisper fearfully, “It’s Monty.”

They all heard the door open and then close again.  “Sheila!  Get your ass in here girl.” 

Kieran eased the bedroom door closed and looked around.  The bedroom window had a fire escape.  “Annika. Take Sheila and get down the fire escape. Now.”

“What about you?” Annika whispered.

“I’ll be right behind you.”

Annika crept to the window and slid it open. It didn’t any noise but the sounds of New York City poured in. Beeping cars, sirens, music.  Kieran stood by the door.  He heard Monty yell again for Sheila, and he sounded pissed.

Annika got Sheila to the window and was pushing her out.  He watched as she started her way down the fire escape.  Annika stuck a leg through but before climbing out, looked at Kieran. “Come on.  Let’s go.”

“On my way.”  Kieran started walking to the window and had just reached it when the bedroom door burst open.  An enormous black man stood there.  Kieran could only assume it was Monty.

“What the fuck you doin’ in my house?” Monty yelled as he reached into the back waistband of his pants and pulled out a gun.  “And where’s Sheila?”

Holding the gun on Kieran, Monty looked around the room then he bellowed. “Sheila!  You better get in here, you bitch.”

Kieran held his hands out and to the side, so as not to look like a threat.  “Sorry, dude. But Sheila’s gone. And you aren’t going to get your mangy hands on her again.” 

Monty’s eyes narrowed and he turned the gun sideways as he pointed it at Kieran.  Kieran supposed he thought it made him look gangster style or something. 
What an idiot
.
Didn’t he know that messed up your aim?

“You are so dead.” Kieran knew Monty was close to pulling the trigger so he fired up his magic and sent a wave of concentrated energy to the gun.  It heated up fast in Monty’s hand, the metal grip flaring red. 

Monty screamed in pain as his brain processed his hand just took a major third degree burn and the gun fell to the floor.  Monty was now bent over at the waist, moaning and looking in bewilderment at the blisters that covered his palm.  Kieran used the opportunity to drive an upper cut into the man’s jaw and he went flying backward into the wall.  He watched in satisfaction as Monty slumped to the floor, unconscious.

Stifling the urge to kick the bastard in the ribs, Kieran turned toward the bedroom window.  Annika was still there, watching him.  “Nice work,” she said.

“Thanks,” he returned with a grin.  “It wasn’t my best, but it got the job done.  Now let’s go get Sheila settled into her new home.”

***

A knock on his hotel door pulled Kieran from his thoughts.  That had to be Annika.  He had been waiting for her for over an hour.  He had escorted her and Sheila to
Saving Grace
and then left so that Annika could get her settled in.  Annika promised she would meet him at his hotel as soon as she was finished.

Walking over to let her in, he found his pulse picking up. He wasn’t sure if it was because he was excited to see her, or dreaded seeing her.  She was probably still pissed at him, even though his help tonight had been well received.

Swinging the door open, his breath caught briefly.  She was just as beautiful as ever.  Her glossy black hair was causally mussed around her delicate face.  She was wearing a cream colored henley t-shirt and olive green cargo pants.  Hiking boots accompanied the outfit.  She was definitely dressed for travel.

“How is Sheila doing?” Kieran asked.

Annika gave a grim smile.  “She’s okay.  One of the staff is going to take her to an urgent care clinic to look at those injuries she had.”

Kieran shook his head.  “I just don’t get it.  How can a man do that to a woman?”

Annika shrugged her shoulders but looked pointedly at Kieran. “Who knows the minds of men?”

Kieran snorted.  Leave it to Annika to turn the tables on him.  “Well, at least she’s safe tonight and hopefully will never have to deal with that again.”

Annika nodded and walked into the living area.  “Yes.  And she’s very grateful to you for laying Monty out.  If he would have caught her going down that fire escape, he would have shot her dead.”  Annika paused and it looked like she was struggling to say her next words.  “And I’m grateful too.”

Wow!
 
An actual exchange of nice words.  Miracles never cease.
  “Well, I was happy to help.  And I also hope that you see I’m not such a bad guy.”

Annika just raised a perfectly arched eyebrow at him in skepticism but didn’t say a word

“Fair enough.  Clearly I still have some ass-kissing to do.”  He thought he saw the corner of her mouth quirk upwards and he took that as a good sign.  “Let’s sit down and talk about plans.” 

He swept his arm into the suite, indicating for her to come farther in and take a seat.  “Would you like something to eat or some coffee?”

“I’m good.”  Annika plopped down on the sofa.  “So what is the plan?”

Kieran sat at the other end of the couch and turn toward her.  “The Scepter has been stolen and brought to the AltVeritas of Balvraine.  Are you familiar with it?”

Annika nodded.  “I’ve been there.” 

Kieran waited for her to say more but she didn’t.  “It would help if you could expound on that.  If you’re going to help me, I could use any information you got.”

Annika shrugged.  “It was when I was younger.  I don’t remember much.  I know it’s a very small AltVeritas though.  Mostly desert.”

Kieran sighed.  “Well, the information we have is that the ruling family is in possession of The Scepter.   They are called the Moldevines.”

“Why did they steal The Scepter?”

“Who knows.  But is a very powerful magical object and in the wrong hands, it could become an immensely dangerous weapon.”

“Well, what if their intent to use it is pure?  What if they don’t intend to use it for malicious means?”

“Isn’t that sort of beside the point, Annika.  They stole The Scepter and it doesn’t belong to them.”

Kieran swore he saw something like guilt flash across Annika’s face but then it was gone. “Point made.  So do you have a basic plan?”

“I think we keep it simple. Travel to Balvraine and have you infiltrate the palace while glamoured.  You figure out where it is kept, and then we both go in and get it.”

“Sounds easy enough.  But I’ll need some materials to help with my glamours.”

“What sort of materials?”

“Certain herbs and potion ingredients.  I can get them in Myridian.  We can make a quick stop there first.”

Kieran was astounded.  Myridian was the country in Vyronas that Annika’s family ruled.  He never would have thought she would return there.  His information on her was that she had severed all ties with her family and had been disinherited.

“I have no problem with you needing to get supplies, but you’re okay with going to Myridian?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”  Her tone of voice was cool.

“Because you left and to my knowledge have never returned.  Because your father has disinherited you.  I figured there was some bad blood.”

Annika eyes flashed.  “What happened between me and my father is none of your business.  The topic if off limits.  Besides, I don’t intend to visit him.  Just get the supplies we need.  Quick in and out.”

“Okay, no problem.  Are you ready to go?”

“Sure.  The sooner we can do this, the sooner I can get back to my normal life.”

Annika and Kieran both stood from the couch.  Annika grabbed her back pack and Kieran did a quick walk through his suite to make sure he had everything.  He picked up a black leather satchel and walked over to Annika.  She wouldn’t look him in the eye.

He put his hand under her chin and she flinched slightly.  Holding firm, he lifted her face so she looked him in the eyes.  “I’m very sorry I had to use such strong methods to get your cooperation.  Truly.  It’s my hope that you can forgive me.”

Annika didn’t say anything but held his gaze.  Sighing, he released her chin.  Reaching down, he took the backpack from her in an effort to be gallant.  He linked his fingers with hers and said the incantation that would take them to Myridian.

Returning to Myridian was tough.  Annika had not been back in about a year.  Contrary to what Kieran may think, she did try to come back from time to time to visit her Aunt Mary.  Mary was her mother’s sister and had quite a bit involvement in helping to raise Annika.

Annika’s mother, Brianna, had been a brief shining star in Annika’s life.  She died when Annika was only six years old and Aunt Mary had moved into the royal palace to help care for her.  Annika’s father, Renard, was a decent enough man.  He didn’t dote on Annika but he didn’t ignore her either.  He was a workaholic but at least he made sure he had dinner with Annika and Aunt Mary every night.  For the next five years, Annika’s life was stable.  Aunt Mary became her surrogate mother and she enjoyed a nice, easy going relationship with her father. 

But as is the way of life, things change.  Aunt Mary met and fell in love with a traveling businessman.  Within a year, they had married and Aunt Mary moved away.  Annika still visited her aunt a great deal, but it wasn’t the same as having Aunt Mary in her life every day.  And without her aunt, Renard Foss felt that Annika was suffering without a constant female presence in her life. 

Renard had not made any attempts to re-marry after Brianna died.  She was his one true love and he knew love like that was not possible again.  It was easier to have Mary move in and take over the raising of Annika. But now with Mary gone, Renard felt he had no choice but to marry…for Annika’s benefit.

Annika snorted to herself when she thought of that. 
For her benefit.  Ironic
.  You see, Renard was not picky about who he married, and within three months of Mary’s departure, Annika found herself with a  new stepmother and a stepbrother.  And at eleven years old, Annika’s life became a living hell.

Not willing to dwell on the past further, Annika did a quick glance around Myridian.  They had entered town through the main gates and it was bustling with activity.  It had not changed much over the years since Annika had moved away.  The streets were paved and the sidewalks were bricked.  All of the businesses and houses were built in the traditional Vyronasian style. Slate stone walls, thatched roofs and open windows were all that was needed for the temperate climate. 

“Where do we need to go?”  Kieran asked.

“My aunt’s house.  She lives near the outskirts of town.”

“She has the supplies?”

“Yes, plus I can check in on her and see how she’s doing.  That is if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.  Has she lived here her whole life?”

“Most of her life. She has just recently moved back.” 

Annika’s mind drifted as they walked.  She was excited to see Mary.  She was a mother and a friend, the one bright light in Annika’s dark life.  There had been more than one occasion that Annika had lamented Mary’s choice to move back to Myridian.  It meant that Annika could not visit as much as she would like to.  Her memories here were just too painful to allow her to spend much time in this dimension.  Maybe she would talk to Mary again about moving to New York.  Then she could leave this hell-hole of an AltVeritas behind forever.

***

Clearly, Annika wasn’t up for much conversation.  He suspected it would be like this their entire time together.  He’d change that but not now.  He had noticed that she was completely on edge, tension radiating off of her. She clearly did not like being here. 

Kieran followed as Annika walked quickly through town.  People stared at them, given that their clothing was unusual.  It wasn’t that they had never seen clothing from The First Dimension, but they didn’t see it often.  It usually meant visitors were in town, and that was always interesting.

Annika kept her head down and continued her swift walk.  She clearly didn’t want to be recognized.  Kieran followed, taking in the city.  He had been to Myridian before, on several occasions actually.  But places changed all the time and he always kept an alert eye as they moved through town.  Military training he assumed.

As Annika made a left turn down a narrow street, she ran straight into a man.  He supposed it was because she had been keeping her head down and had not really looked where she was going.    Kieran watched as the man brought his arms up to steady Annika and he felt his blood boil.  His first thoughts were that no one was to touch Annika…unless it was him. 
Now where did that come from?
  Kieran had never been possessive or jealous. 

Glaring at the man, he noted he had blond hair that was slightly balding on top.  He had made the dreaded fashion mistake of using a comb over to hide it, which of course, made it all the more obvious.  He was tall and lanky, and dressed in wealthy attire.  His arms held onto Annika’s shoulders, a move that caused Kieran’s fists to clench. 

Annika looked up to the man, probably to mutter an apology, but when her eyes made contact with his face, her whole body stiffened.  Kieran instantly went on alert but the man’s face split into a huge grin.  “Annika?  Is it really you?” 

Kieran watched Annika.  Her face held recognition but was filled with fear and revulsion.  She immediately started struggling with the arms that were holding on to her.  The man didn’t seem to understand that she wanted to be let go.

“Annika!  It’s me…Mason.”

Annika continued struggling but had not spoken a word.  Kieran stepped forward.  “I think the lady would like you to let her go.”

The man turned his attention to Kieran, giving him a snide look, but then dismissed him just as quickly.  Still not letting Annika go, he actually tried to pull her in for a hug.  “I’ve missed you so much.”

Kieran’s alert went to alarm as he watched Annika really start to freak out. She started twisting from the man’s grip.  Kieran reacted instantly.  Drawing his fist back, he let it fly, catching the man right across his cheekbone, knocking him backwards.  In the next instant, he grabbed Annika so she would not fall to the ground with her captor.  He immediately wrapped his arms around Annika to soothe her. She was trembling violently, her face pressed into his chest, her hands gripping the front of his shirt.  Kieran glared down at the man on the ground who was now starting to sit up, rubbing his face.  Kieran was satisfied to see it was already swollen and bruised.

“How dare you strike a member of the Royal household,” the man said.  “I am Mason Foss of the House of Foss and you will pay dearly for that.”  Mason stood up from the ground and threw his shoulders back.  He was eyeing Kieran with menace.

“It seems to me that I was rescuing a lady that was being attacked by a member of the Royal House of Foss.”

Mason started sputtering.  “No one questions a member of the House of Foss. No one!!! I’ll have you brought up on charges of….”

But before he could finish, Annika pushed out of Kieran’s arms and turned on Mason.  Her voice was like ice. “You may live in the House of Foss, Mason, but you do not bear the name.  My father never adopted you and you are nothing more than a leech on our family.”

“Annika, surely you don’t mean that?”  Mason truly sounded aggrieved.

Annika took a deep, steadying breath and let it out slowly.  Kieran watched as she leveled those violet eyes on Mason.  She seemed in control now but he stood close to her just in case.  “Mason, if you come near me again, I will kill you. And before you ask…yes, that is a threat.  Now, I am here to have a short visit with my aunt and then I will be leaving.  I suggest you go about your pitiful excuse of a life and leave me alone.”

Kieran stood at the ready to lay Mason out if he so much as made a move toward Annika.  He watched Mason’s eyes turn to ice.  Gone was the man attempting a warm reunion with who Kieran assumed was his stepsister. 

“As you wish.”  His voice was cold and brittle.  “But remember, there was a time you didn’t spur my hugs.”  He gave her creepy grin then walked away.

Annika watched Mason leave and once he was out of sight, she visibly shuddered.  Kieran noticed that her hands were shaking but she didn’t say anything.  He was not really sure what just happened.   He didn’t know what to say to her, seeing as how he was not her favorite person in the world.  Just as he was about to reach out and offer a comforting hand on her shoulder, Annika spun away from him and lurched over to the side of the street.  She bent over at the waist and vomited.

Kieran automatically stepped over to her and held her shoulders.  She kept heaving and heaving, until she finally was spent and nothing else was coming up.

Straightening her spine, Annika looked at Kieran and whispered a quiet thank you.  Her cheeks were red and he knew she was embarrassed over the situation.

“Don’t worry about it.  That Mason looks like a real creep.  Made me want to throw up too.  Pompous ass.” 

Kieran’s attempt at levity worked and Annika gave a small laugh.  Kieran knew there was a disturbing story between those two but he would not ask.  It was Annika’s place to explain if she wanted.

“Are you okay?”

Annika nodded.  “Yes, let’s get going.”

Annika took off walking again and Kieran followed.  Thinking back on the entire exchange, Kieran could not believe the vulnerability that Annika had exhibited.  Sure, she may have the face of an innocent angel, but she had quite the tough exterior.  But what he had seen a bit ago had been pure terror on her face.  It pissed him off that this man would cause her to feel that way.  He felt very… protective toward Annika.  And that didn’t settle well with him at all.