Kill Or Be Killed

Chapter Twenty-Five

Scale Number: 1

After leaving the motel, stopping for breakfast, they finally hit the road. Only stopping to continue their routine of stopping every hour or so in order for her to stretch, making sure her fast healing muscles weren't stiffening.

They didn't reach the place in South Diamond until the sun was already setting again.

An electric current seemed to dance along Cat's skin at the sight of it. For some reason she was excited as Kalayavan pressed down on the gas pedal, entering the lower part of the sector.

The sky had dimmed so the iron gas lamps that lined the streets were lit, causing an ominous light over the buildings on either side of the main stripe that led through several businesses. She took in the little town with her wide sparkling eyes, the place had a magical feel that sent a shiver down her spine. Each shop looked like it had been teleported through time from another century. All well kept like a perfectly preserved painting.

Growing on the horizon in front of them, at the very end of the road, about a mile or so out of the small town was Blackrook. The estate where this Christopher lived.

"There it is," Kal took her hand in his and gave it a faint squeeze, "When we get there, you have to leave the talking to me." He hadn't meant for it to come out harshly, but with how defiant she could be it was hard for him to hide the dominant master that was itching just underneath the surface. "Keep close to me, at all times, no matter who else offers to escort you around," he continued, planning in case someone was going to plan on getting her alone.

It could be to get information on the deadly assassin, or worse, thinking they could leverage her life in an attempt to blackmail him. He wasn't sure she was completely ready for this life, and he didn't want anyone filling her head with ideas. These people were dangerous, but they also knew he was even scarier and that it would be a very bad idea to make an enemy out of him.

"Do you understand me, young lady?" He squeezed her hand again, trying to get her attention for a second time.

Her eyes were locked ahead, "Is that it?"

"Blackrook," Kal nodded his head once, "Yes it is. Now, are you listening to me or not?"

"Yes, I'm listening," she huffed out, sounding slightly irritated. "I meant, are those the only rules?"

He glanced over, slightly shocked by her sudden change of mood, but she didn't meet his gaze. Was she contemplating how he would kill her again? A thought that only irritated him. Probably wondering where it was he'd brought her exactly, her imagination was more than likely over working again. It wasn't hard since the place before them did look like something one would see in a movie, belonging to a lord in a drug cartel.

A fence crafted of beautiful stone and reinforced steel surrounded the sprawling lush estate lawn that stretched out further than the eye could see. A ways off, buildings and statues dotted the land; fountains, a staff house, and several structures that housed the tremendous amount of equipment necessary to maintain the mansion and grounds. The estate house itself was an absolute marvel, a story upon story of a Renaissance styled marble that had been imported from the far reaches of the lower Zones in the lower continent. Open balconies and terraces dominated the upper levels, while arched walkways connected the first floor to the midnight gardens surrounding it.

It looked more like a castle or sinister compound than a place for someone to live.

Shaking away the negative feeling as he maneuvered the SUV forward to buzz the button on a post outside of the guard house at the side of the gate's opening.

A middle aged man in a dark uniform stepped out of the shed, coming over to the minted glass as Kal rolled his window down. "Can I help you sir?" It was obvious by the man's tone and the way he eyed the both of them, that he had no intention of helping them if he found out they were unexpected guests.