She lifted me slightly into the air. Her face was directly in front of me, blocking out everything. “Don’t threaten me, Jessie. I could hurt you.”
I didn’t answer, and she dropped me too. I didn’t have as far to fall as Marcus but it still hurt. She laughed and disappeared, no doubt going to make someone else’s life miserable.
“Are you okay?” Chase was there a second later and helped me to my feet. “That was something. How can she do that?”
I brushed dirt off of my skirt. I hoped it was just dirt. “I don’t know. She keeps getting stronger. We need some way to contain her or get rid of her. I’m out of answers.”
Chase put his arm around me as the rain that had been threatening all day began to fall. It made little spitting noises on the ground and the wind picked up, blowing the flags and banners around us.
We ran for shelter at the viewing stands as the cold rain became a downpour. The day was probably over for the Village. Some visitors would hang around, waiting to see if the rain let up. Most would just leave, even though that meant forfeiting their day ticket.
“Let’s go home.” Chase kissed the side of my head. “Maybe Wanda will keep herself busy for a while.”
We ran back to the Dungeon where we shared a small apartment above the fake jail cells that were open to visitors. Chase turned off the soundtrack of moaning and wailing from the plastic prisoners who lived in terrible conditions.
“Any sign of Wanda?” He kissed my neck and throat.
“No. Not yet anyway.”
“Good.” He started unlacing my blouse. “We need to take advantage of this time, my lady.”
“What if visitors come in?”
“We’ll pretend we’re part of the exhibit.” He grinned. “At least until I can get you upstairs.”
I yelped as he picked me up in his arms and laughed as he handed me the key to the door.
“Hast thou a problem with insufficient hands, Sir Bailiff?”
He playfully slapped my butt. “Not at all, Lady Wench. Open yon portal and grant us egress.”
Once we were inside the apartment, we were both laughing and busily removing our clothes, whispering silly things to each other as lovers do.
A knock at the door stopped us.
“Wanda?” Chase mouthed.
“She doesn’t knock.”
“Lady Jessie,” Manny called out. “Are you available? There seems to be a problem.”
Chapter Seven
Chase and I quickly hopped back into our clothes and opened the door.
“Fred the Red Dragon told me the police were here looking for me today.” He stalked into the room and turned around. “He said they want to question me further.”
“It’s worse than that.” Chase pulled up one of the small chairs we had at a tiny table in the corner. “Detective Almond issued an arrest warrant for you. The police get a little testy when you get away without answering their questions.”
Manny sat down hard. “I can’t believe this. There must be some mistake. I’ve never done anything wrong. I didn’t kill that despicable man. How did I get in this position?”
“It has something to do with not being able to find any records for you.” I sat on the bed. “You don’t have any ID. How have you gone through life?”
He wrung his hands and looked around the room as though it might provide inspiration. “No one can know who I really am.”
“The thing with being a prince, right?” Chase nodded. “Now might be a good time to drop that fantasy.”
“It’s not a fantasy, Sir Bailiff,” Manny protested. “And I must stay hidden—unless I want my father to come and drag me home.”
“What about the information you gave me for the employment application?”
“I’m sorry about that.” Manny smiled. “I wanted to work here so badly. I gave you false information, Lady Jessie. A friend of mine back home, who is very good with computers, took care of it for me. I hope you can forgive me.”
“You don’t have to worry about me forgiving you,” I pointed out. “The police have to get an understanding of why there’s nothing in the database about you.”
Manny heaved a sigh. His black eyes were tortured. “If anyone finds out I’m here, I’m doomed.”
Chase laughed. “Come on, Manny. I think that might be putting it a little dramatically. What’s wrong? Did you leave home with bad feelings? None of that matters in comparison to getting you out of this scrape.”
“Yes. I sneaked away from my home.” Manny’s demeanor changed. He actually looked regal and proud. “My father is the king of Zamboulia. I am his only heir.”