Chapter 3
Kenzi was leaning against the wall, her tiny, ever-freezing body warmed up by the licking flames of the fire-place inches away. The only thing she really appreciated about this grand, tomb-like mansion of a house, that was more of a status thing that a home, was the open fire, especially when she could put it to another use. She flipped through the billfold, pocketing the notes and peering closely at the driving license – now she had a name, a birthdate and an address for her furry acquaintance of the eventful night, though she doubted the address was still valid and was fairly sure the birthdate was a fake by a couple of centuries – you never knew with the fae. She scrolled through the contact list on the cell – empty names without a face to put to for her – but grinned when she saw a number listed under Tammy. Could it be the vicious female fae Tamsin that struck fear even into her all-mighty sister's calculating heart? Another name, however, caught her eye and made her cringe with the sudden shot of pain – Hale.
As if on cue, the sound of the footsteps that could only belong to the bearer of the name made the girl turn away from the fire, her initial plan of chucking the wolf's incriminating possessions put on hold for the moment.
"My mistress," the soft, rich baritone called to her, "Are you tired? A glass of wine, perhaps?"
"I told you to call me Kenzi," she shrugged a shoulder – the times when the sight of this beautiful smiling face made her heart skip a beat and filled her with joy were long past, what it evoked now was a deep sadness and a sense of irretrievable loss.
"My Queen insists I call you mistress," Hale seemed genuinely upset by this but unable to question or oppose.
"Oh, I forgot, the Queen's orders override mine – fair enough, I am not the one with the scientific knowledge and a supernatural girl-friend with magic blood to turn everyone into moronic lackeys," Kenzi groused hollowly, knowing full well her words didn't really register in the man's enthralled brain. The blank stare Hale answered her with was unnecessary confirmation.
"Scratch that!" she sighed resignedly, "and bring me a glass while you're at it." She hesitated, watching the man pour the drink and fetch the glass with a happy smile. To ask him what she wanted to ask was dangerous – if Lauren chose to pick his brain he would sell her out in no time and with no realization of the act Still, she had to try, with the cell tucked into her pocket and burning a hole in her curious soul.
"I want you to try and remember your friends from before you came to serve my sister," she put a hand on his chest and effortlessly caught his full attention, "Entertain me. Someone I didn't know or hear of when we were together."
The young siren frowned in bafflement, "Someone? Could you be a bit more specific? I had a lot of friends I didn't introduce you to."
"Sure, cos that would be awkward – a human girl-friend for such a privileged fae like you were," Kenzi couldn't hold the bitterness out of her tone.
"And it would be dangerous for you, my mistress," Hale explained seriously, "Some of them simply wouldn't have approved, but some could've hurt you."
The girl gulped down half of her glass and the burning helped her to choke down the emotion. Catching her breath, she went on with her interrogation, careful not to mention the wolf directly.
"Tell me about those who were really dangerous," she finally came out with spurred by the recollection of the bared set of fangs in an unfriendly furry muzzle.
"Val, my sister, is easily the most dangerous," the siren smiled fondly, "Not by the nature of her powers but through her utter lack of motive in implementing them – so whimsical. And my childhood friend Glenn, who at my sixteenth birthday set fire to my birthday cake, unfortunately for the stripper who was inside it. Thanks Gods, Hella the water fairy was handy…"
For a heartbeat Kenzi had to tune out the litany and washed down the rest of her hurt with the rest of her wine but the next thing she heard almost caused her to spit it back.
"And my buddy from my police days – Dyson the wolf-shifter, that one could fight tooth and claw, and a fist if need be. He once KO'ed a human colleague in a supposedly friendly boxing round because the dude had had a case of wandering paws around a street girl in the holding cell," Hale recited from what remained of his memories, "We used to be kinda tight before he hooked up with a bitchy blonde called Tammy or something. And when I met you, he was less than supportive about it."
"Because I am just a worthless human weakling," Kenzi smiled at the irony. "Still not above being rescued by one," she added to herself.
"Because he said you would only get hurt," the siren corrected and the girl's unvoiced regret about saving the arrogant dog was no longer a regret.
"He was right," she stated and pushed her now empty glass at Hale, "A refill, s'il te plait, and Hale, if Lauren asks what we were talking about tonight, what are you gonna tell her?"
"That you asked me about my old friends," the siren replied sincerely striding over to the bar cabinet and returning with the requested drink.
"Exactly," Kenzi swallowed the ruby liquid in several angry gulps and looked up into his dark handsome face to order, "And now that I am fuzzy enough, take me to bed."
Lauren, her face an arctic mask of resent, was standing over the pile of clothes which were the only thing left of their prisoner. Vex burst back into the cell, sweating, panting and cowering all at the same time.
"He managed to escape through the back door, my Queen, that was somhoe left unlocked, turned human and climbed the fence," he reported, "Our unit is searching the area but apart from a few blood stain he hasn't left much behind."
"He is most probably galloping at the good 40 mph accorded to him by nature right now," the doctor stated drily, "And I don't rate your chances of recapturing him high, you imbeciles! What I am much more interested in is how he could've freed himself from the cage? It seems unbroken – simply open. Who opened it then? And who left the back door unlocked, come to think of it?"
The Mesmer was wringing his hands in front of himself, his head bowed so low his chin practically brushed his chest. "We will conduct an internal investigation and find whoever is responsible for such gross negligence," he vowed heatedly.
"We can start with you," Lauren's tone, though calm, carried a threat that sent chills down the fae's spine.
"I am a stupid useless Mesmer but I am loyal to you, my Queen," he wheezed, looking at her imploringly.
"I know," Lauren shook her head, her anger still brewing but changing direction, "But you should've hurt the wolf more, so that he couldn't have run."
"The door could've been negligence but the open cage is betrayal and there can be no traitors among my staff," she mused aloud, "There is only one person who could've got hold of the keys and has the free will to pull something like that. But why?"
The blonde squared her shoulders against another weight settling on her and flicked her wrist at Vex. "Go with the search unit," she commanded without much hope, "And I'll deal with the domestic problem."
Author's Note: A biggest thanks to all the guests who left a review – sorry guys, can't reply in person. Trying to update asap though I am soon nearing a couple of forks in the road which might take some thinking over. Hope you're enjoying it anyways!