Killer Queen [Book 1]

Chapter 41

I sat on a chair as Argent gathered me, Isaac, and Scott over to talk about the masked men. Allison was leaning against the wall in the office.

"There was something almost ritualistic about it—like it was looking right into his soul." Argent said from where he was pacing in front of us.

"That's the same thing it did to me." Isaac said.

"That's what they did to everyone." Allison said.

"Not everyone. They only came after the Werewolves." Scott corrected.

"And Lydia." Allison said.

"Anyone with a connection to the supernatural." Argent said.

"Then how come it didn't go after me?" I asked.

Argent looked at me. "I have a theory for that. Mind if I look behind your ear?" he walked behind me after I gave him the okay, and brushed aside my hair, looking behind my ear. "It's there."

"What's there?" I asked, turning around in my seat to look at him.

"The small brand. Because of the bond you placed on Isaac and you, what happened to him must have also transferred to you. That's the only explanation as to why they didn't go after you." Argent answered.

"Then who was the guy they went after in Japan?" I asked.

Argent sighed. "A Kumicho—a Yakuza boss. It was my first gun deal. I was only eighteen, and it was supposed to be a simple exchange...except Gerard left out the minor detail of the buyers being Yakuza. He wanted to see if I could adapt in the moment. Testing my ability to, uh...improvise."

"Or, your ability to survive." Allison added.

"The moment the sun came down, it was like they just materialized out of the shadows. They had swords—not curved like katanas, but straight, black steel, like ninjatos."

"What did they want?" Isaac asked.

"To get to the Kumicho. They cut down every living thing in their way." Argent said.

"Did they mark him like they did us?" Isaac asked.

He shook his head. "Not exactly..."

"What was he?" Scott asked.

Argent shook his head. "I don't know. But, there might be someone who does. There were a few others who survived that night. One of them was a man named Katashi. They called him "Silverfinger" because of an unusual prosthetic...and it looked like he was getting ready to take them all on himself. I've known for a while Katashi was in the country. I spent yesterday tracking him down."

"Didn't look like he wanted to be found." Isaac said.

"Not particularly, no."

"You think he knows what they are? Or what they want?" Scott asked.

"Maybe..."

"What if he doesn't want to talk?" Isaac asked.

"What if he doesn't even remember you?" I asked.

Argent opened up a wooden box and inside were two fragments of the silver mask. "He'll remember this. I know I didn't kill it—I'm not sure you can. But, I slowed it down long enough for us to get out of there."

"What was behind the mask?" Scott asked.

"Darkness...absolute darkness." Argent answered.

                                ========