"You know, we haven't heard a single sound since we got out," Butch said.
"So?"
"It's night and hundreds of undead live within these walls."
Kiara stilled and did a slow spin. "You're right. Where did they all go?"
Footsteps echoed up the stairs.
Kiara dropped on all fours and crawled under an accent table, rattling the vase of lilies perched on top.
Butch frowned. "Genius. No one will see the girl in the bright yellow nightgown."
"I don't have many options, do I?"
"A little magic would be extremely useful right about now."
"Very funny. Would you just hide before someone sees us?"
"Kiara?" a deep voice boomed.
"Ugh," Kiara groaned. "Busted."
CHAPTER 5
Bane stood a few paces away, several suited bodyguards at his flanks. He was a giant of a man, tall and thick, an intimidating mass of muscle. Despite the paleness of being a vampire for centuries, his skin was still dark enough to make evident his mixed-race ancestry. The bastard son of a French nobleman and his Haitian slave was all Kiara remembered, and she did not know how she knew that much. He was also the queen's right-hand man, although Kiara found little right about him.
Bane's midnight blue silk dress shirt stretched ever so subtly across his torso, just in case anyone failed to notice his immense size. He hitched his black trousers and scratched his heavy beard, which was always neatly trimmed.
"Bane!" Kiara rushed toward him.
Bane scowled in irritation. "What are you doing out of your cage, you tiny twit?" He patted the top of her head, easy to do since he towered at least a foot taller.
Kiara knocked his hand away. "You're a stupid . . . nitwit."
"Excuse me?" Bane raised a warning brow.
Butch pinched Kiara's arm.
"Fine." She rolled her eyes. "There's an intruder sneaking about the house. I think it's Oleander, and I think he came to kill me. You'd better call more guards."
Now it was Bane's turn to roll his eyes. "Great. Brain still on meltdown, little one?" He sighed. "So much for Dr. Lyons and all his useless hours. I'd be much more useful helping get your memory back."
"That's against the rules," Kiara said.
"So is breaking out of your room," he countered. "If Oleander really was here, there'd be no slinking quietly through the corridors." His smile turned dark. "The Butcher of Britain. The Flayer of France. Europe's finest executioner. Slaughtering entire villages-men, women, children-with so many slices of the scythe. Oleander always makes a splash. With gallons of blood and piles of body parts." He made a dramatic gesture of wiping away a fake tear. "I really miss those days."
"You miss killing?" Kiara asked.
"I miss the excitement of the unknown," Bane said wistfully. "The world has become such a bore. We should spar again, you and I. That always cheers me up."
"Doesn't cheer me up. Last time you gave me a black eye."
"Exactly," he smiled. "And the time before that, I gave you two black eyes and broke your arm. You should be thanking me."
"Why?"
"Because it shows you're improving, little one. With my help. How else are you going to learn? Leontes won't spar with you. He just plays stupid kid's games, like hide and seek." He shook his head with disdain.
"I don't think they're stupid," Kiara said.
"Because you're not right in the head. So, you and me, in the gym tomorrow? Let's say around-" He stopped to sniff the air and frowned. "Why do I smell zombie blood? What did you do now? I am not cleaning up another one of your messes."
"It wasn't me. It was the assassin."
"Of course it was," he said, thoroughly annoyed. "So what is it tonight? Another bad dream? Or are you hallucinating again?"
"Lie," Butch said.
"No." Kiara gave Bane a formal salute. "My mind is fit as a fiddle."
Kiara winked at Butch. He groaned.
Bane glanced at Kiara's side and shook his head. "Who is it this time? The old cowboy? He is a favorite of yours. You should hallucinate someone handsome and charismatic like me rather than that old fart."
"Hey!" Butch said, highly offended, then muttered, "Well, ain't no matter. Don't care what a dumb Sasquatch like him thinks anyway."
"Sure you don't," Kiara said.
"No sass from you, missy." Butch gave her an anxious glance. "And don't look at me. I'm not real!"