“Don’t worry,” I whispered to her. “That’s the last time you’ll ever have to see him.” Then I left the same way I’d entered—through the bay window. I didn’t think the portal would be located inside the house. That meant he had to exit sooner or later.
I pulled my face mask down. As I hooked my belt to the clear wire I’d left dangling, cool, moist air penetrated the knitted fibers of my black body stocking. I already wore gloves, so I pushed myself over the window’s ledge. Amid the sound of nearby swishing waves, I propelled down the five stories. The evening darkness offered some protection. Unfortunately, the home’s security lighting cast away most of the shadows.
I’d scaled walls brighter and more visible than this with no problem, and this proved no exception. I floated to the ground undetected. The key was to stay close to the corner, move quickly and silently, without pause.
I unlatched the clear metal tether and crouched low to the ground as I maneuvered to the front of the house. Romeo’s car still sat in the driveway. I pushed out a relieved breath as the Morevv exited the house’s front door. I’d guessed correctly.
He didn’t go to the parked, empty Porsche, however. No, he strode purposefully to the wooded area behind the house. Confused, I silently followed, wondering all the while if I’d made a mistake after all.
Chapter 10
Romeo stopped in a small circular clearing at the edge of the property, away from the ocean and allowing me an unobstructed view of him. Over the years, other targets of mine had come to clear areas like this. I’d never known why; I hadn’t cared why. I’d always used the isolated surroundings to my advantage and struck. Perhaps I should have had more patience.
For a long while Romeo stood motionless, silently watching the darkening sky. Was he meeting someone? Did he suspect I followed? Or…was he expecting a spaceship? Perhaps the wordportal actually meant “ship.”
Minutes passed. I unsheathed my gun.
Brittle grass bit into me. Salt stung the air. Concealed by shadows and bushes, I crouched motionlessly, waiting as time continued to pass and nothing happened. Nothing at all. No one arrived. At least his movements didn’t indicate suspicion. I uncovered my wristwatch by pushing back my shirtsleeve. Three minutes after nine. I frowned. What or who was he waiting on? Did he expect to world-travel simply by standing there?
If Lucius were here, he’d grab Romeo and beat the answers out of him. I could do the same, I suppose, but that wasn’t always effective. I preferred to observe the other-worlder’s natural tendencies.
I only prayed my patience would be rewarded.
A quiet whistling sounded several feet behind me. A person? Merely the wind? Heart drumming with adrenaline, I shifted my focus, switching my aim as I searched the trees. No one was there that I could see. Leaves rustled, then stopped…rustled, then stopped…like the beat of a drum, ever increasing in intensity. Not wind, for I felt nothing on the ground. An animal?
Romeo didn’t seem to notice or care.
The sound steadily crescendoed to a thousand disharmonized screams, like blades screeching through metal. The noise ripped through me, tearing me apart inside. Pressing my lips together to cut off my own scream, I squeezed my eyes shut and dropped my pyre-gun, covering my ears with my hands. That didn’t help.
When I realized what was happening, I cringed. Solar flare. They always affected me this way. Humans never seemed to hear them, or feel the searing, violent bombardment of charged particles. Other-worlders always seemed to be affected. For most, the experience was a pleasure. For me, it was a nightmare. Flares were stronger out in the open, with nothing to obstruct their destructive waves.
I forced my eyes open, forced myself to watch Romeo. He basked in the sound, spreading his arms wide, welcoming the disharmony. Had he caused this? How? Why? I didn’t understand.
The wind kicked up, lifting and scratching like a desperate lover. Trees shook and rumbled ominously. A bright light pulsed in the purple sky. Too bright. Getting brighter. Getting closer. What was happening? What—
Romeo vanished.
One second he stood there, in the center of the circle, the next he didn’t. The screaming ceased. The light dimmed. The trees settled.
Gaining my balance, I shoved to my feet. My head whipped to the side as I searched for my target. I searched the entire clearing for tracks. None led away from the circle.
My confusion doubled.
I replayed the scene through my mind. The screaming, the wind, the lights, and the way Romeo embraced them. My eyes widened as realization struck me. He’d somehow traveled from one world to another through the solar flare. My God.
Knowing what he’d done, however, merely increased the number of questions I had. Why hadn’t I traveled with him? I’d been no more than ten feet away. I should have disappeared, too.
He was scheduled to return in two hours. I’d question him then. Brimming with anticipation, I settled into my hiding place. And waited for his return.
Eleven thirty came and went.
I should have returned to Michael by now, or at least called, but I didn’t dare move from this spot. I kept myself awake all night, well past the time allotted for the trip on Romeo’s daily planner. Another solar flare did not erupt, so Romeo didn’t return.
Morning brought the harsh rays of the sun, causing heat to envelope me. Causing the grass to stiffen. Maybe I’d miscalculated. Maybe he’d meant eleven thirty this morning.
I’d wait.
Sweat dripped down my face and chest. I wished to God I’d brought a canteen of sugar water. But this was supposed to be a quick job. In and out. So I’d brought no provisions for anything other than killing. One hour after another dragged by, the sound of the insects my only companion. I wouldn’t doubt if Michael had sent out a search party for me by now. The man did like to worry.
Eleven thirty arrived without any signs of a solar flare. Romeo, however, arrived right on schedule. I kept my gaze on the circle, and before my eyes, he simply appeared. No warning. Just blink, there he was.
Excitement and anticipation renewed, flooding me. He shook his head to orient himself, and I made my move. I jumped up from my crouch and bolted toward him, taking a controlled, don’t-fuck-with-me stance right in front of him. My pyre-gun locked on his heart. His eyes widened when he saw me. Covered from head to toe in black as I was, I looked every bit as menacing and deadly as I actually was.
Without a word of warning, I punched him in the nose to get his attention. His head whipped to the side, and blood poured down his lips and chin. “Where did you go?” I demanded.