Page 173 of Dark Souls

“You’re the SIA agent. What do you suggest?” I growled, tapping my fingers against the steering wheel. “Do you think he has people working for him on the premises?”

“I doubt it. If Hana is truly here, he wouldn’t risk anyone else knowing.”

“Then I guess we are climbing over.” I opened the car door, stepping out and peering down the isolated, dark road. Not a car or person in sight. “Grab him and let’s go.”

“You think I can jump that gate with this prick on my back?” Ronnie asked in disbelief.

“Yes. Ronnie. You can.”

He huffed, opening the door and grabbing Wesley from the back. Slinging him over his shoulder once more, he followed me towards a large tree by the side of the road and watched me jump into the top branches effortlessly.

Ronnie crouched and then kicked off the ground, finding a branch with one hand and swinging himself up onto it, dragging Wesley’s body with him. He looked surprised and elated at his new skill.

“Wicked.”

I leapt onto the high stone wall and jumped down the other side onto neatly trimmed lawns that sprawled all the way up to a huge detached Victorian house. A thump by my feet drew my attention and I looked down to see Wesley’s battered body rolling as he regained consciousness from that fall. Ronnie landed in a crouched position next to him.

“He’s waking up. Let’s get him inside and tie him up before he makes a run for it,” Ronnie suggested, hauling Wesley up once again. We zoomed up to the house, used Wesley’s front door key to let ourselves in and stood still in the dark hallway. There wasn’t a single sound in the house. I couldn’t sense anyone either.

“Hana?” I called out with my heart in my throat. Silence. Shit. “Tie him up in there.” I pointed to what looked to be a living room with brown leather sofas, an old fireplace set among deep green walls. I moved around the room, looking for any photographs or clues about who this man was. There was nothing but a few crime books and decorative ornaments. The place was cold. Just like the man who lived in it.

“The fuck…” Wesley’s groan had me spin around just as Ronnie tied the last rope around his torso, having ripped off his shirt and blazer to ensure it burned against his skin. His hands were bound behind the chair with SIA silver cuffs that were strong enough to hold a vampire who wasn’t of a superior bloodline.

“Lesson number two.” I grinned, approaching him slowly, my leather boots echoing across his wooden floors. “Never trust a woman wearing fishnet tights. We are psychopaths.”

“Who are you?” he growled. He rolled his tongue over the empty space where his front tooth used to be and hissed, glaring at Ronnie.

“Someone you really shouldn’t have fucked with.” I crouched down between his legs, pushing his thighs open and digging my nails into his trousers. I kept digging until I felt my nails completely embedded into his flesh, causing him to cry out. So fucking weak. This was going to be fun. “Where’s Hana?”

“I don’t know what you’re–”

I removed one hand from his thigh, grabbing his face and allowing my nails to dig into his cheek instead. They sunk into the soft flesh, causing small wounds that seeped with blood as I forced him to look at me. “Where’s Hana?”

How the fuck does she know about Hana? Who is she? I need to get to the safe.

His eyes darted over my shoulder to the desk behind me.

“You have no idea who you are dealing with, sweetheart,” Wesley sneered, a bloody smirk on his face.

I laughed, a slow, sadistic sound as I shook my head and released his jaw. I sat down on the leather sofa directly in front of him as Ronnie nodded at me, silently communicating that he was going to check the entire house. Once he left the room, I placed one leg over the other and gave Wesley my best resting bitch face.

“Oh, I think I do. In fact, I think I know exactly who I am dealing with. Hector Polken. Nephew of The Devil. I know that you are aware of the existence of two Demonksi Upirs and one is living under your roof. I know that you and your uncle control them to commit heinous crimes because you don’t have the power to do it yourselves. You keep them as slaves for your own greed and ambition. An act that is punishable by death by the crown.”

He hid his shock well, but not well enough. He cleared his throat, narrowing his eyes. “You have no physical proof of that.”

“I don’t need physical proof.” I smirked, staring into his eyes as his mind raced with thoughts of how he could try to get out of this situation. All pathetic and stupid ideas until one interesting one stuck. He was going to summon Hana’s demon. I stood up, walking over to where his eyes had shifted after the thought.

His face filled with panic as I stood behind his desk, bending down to open the cabinet underneath to find a safe.

“What’s the code?”

3781

“Fuck off,” he spat. “As if I’d tell you.”

“You just did.” I laughed, typing in the code and watching him squirm against the ropes when the heavy door clicked open. Inside, I found stacks of cash, some weapons and a large velvet box. I pulled out the box, opening the lid as all the colour drained from Hector’s face. A stunning sapphire crystal attached to a silver chain gleamed up at me, radiating magic and power.

“You’re Ilaria Romano Black,” Hector growled, finally making the connection. “The Princess that can read minds.”

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