Emery drove around the circle that lay in front of the doors and parked beside the stone-and-gravel path that led straight to the porch. Fox stepped out first and helped me. He leaned inside.
"Don't bother to wait for us," Fox instructed Emery.
"Very well, sir," Emery confirmed.
Fox shut the door and our ride drove off. He turned to me and offered me his arm. "May I?" he requested.
I looked around and noted it was the custom for the woman to take the man's arm. As the old saying goes, 'when in Rome.' I took his arm and he led me into the crowd that flowed through the doors.
We stepped into the interior and were greeted by a large, open-rafter, vaulted-ceiling entrance hall. The decor was stylish English with clawed side tables and Turkish rugs. Tapestries clung to the walls and depicted more woods like those on the gates. A grand staircase at the back of the room with a heavy wooden banner disappeared into the second floor. The steps ended in a semicircular platform that ran into the wood flooring. The walls were paneled in dark oak and created shadows in the corners.
The crowds loitered around in those corners. The men were dressed in suits and the women sported dresses designed in a more traditional fashion. Many of their heads turned towards us, and whispered words traveled around the room as we walked through the crowd.
"Is this the usual reaction when you enter a room?" I whispered to him.
"More or less," he assured me. "I am a rich man and, might I add, you are a stunning woman."
"I think it's the size of your wallet they're looking at," I quipped.
We stopped near the bottom of the stairs and separated. A soft chime of bells caught everyone's attention. Movement at the top of the stairs forced all eyes upward. A tall, black-haired woman of twenty-five appeared at the top. She wore a skin-tight, skimpy red dress that would have made Jessica Rabbit blush. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and put her hands on her hips. I noticed she sported long fingernails with ruby-red nail polish.
I didn't need three guesses to know this was Fay Morgan, and she had been the thief from the night before. She even wore the same cream-scented perfume.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I want to welcome you to my home. It's a pleasure to see all you're smiling faces." Morgan's eyes fell on us, and her lips curled higher. "I'm sure you're all dying to see my collection, so-" She clapped her hands. A pair of double-doors to our right opened, and she gestured to the entrance. "Feel free to view the pieces, but no touching or you might get the inside view of the Iron Maiden."
A soft ripple of laughter flowed over the crowd, and the guests moved towards the doors. Several of the male guests fluttered to Morgan like moths to a flame. They clustered around her and fawned over her assets-both physical and monetary.
Fox stepped in front of me and offered his arm. "Let's take her up on her kind offer and inspect the relics."
"All right." I took his arm and we turned to the doors, but I peeked over my shoulder at Morgan.
There was a gap in the male moths that allowed me to see Morgan. She smiled and winked at me. I whipped my head away and looked ahead.
"Is this really such a good idea?" I whispered to Fox.
"Nervous?" he asked me.
"I get the feeling we're spiders in a web, and the black widow is wearing a red dress," I told him.
"Morgan has been known to lure men into her web, but I don't believe that will be a problem you'll have to face, Miss Rogers," he teased.
"So you're okay with getting munched?" I returned.
"There's no need to worry. Her admirers will keep her distracted for some time," he assured me.
CHAPTER 3
We walked into the room and beheld a windowless room that was six times as large as Fox's office. The walls were covered in shields, tapestries, and crossed swords. Glass cases lined the middle of the room, and on them was a large assortment of Medieval dishes, clothing, and jewelry. The other guests formed a single-depth line around the glass cases, and we joined the procession. I peeked inside the cases, but the only stones I saw were precious.
Fox stood in front of me as we moved down the line. "What exactly are we looking for?" I asked him.
"You'll know it when you see it," he returned.
"How enlightening. . ." I grumbled.
Someone bumped hard into me from behind, and my gut crashed into the glass case. I spun around and growled at the careless person. The growl died in my throat as I noticed the red dress the person wore.
"I'm sorry about that," Morgan apologized. "The crowds in here are worse than I expected."
Fox turned, smiled and bowed to her. "Good evening, Fay."
Morgan smiled at him. "William A. Fox, what a pleasure to have you join us. I bet a hundred dollars with a friend that you wouldn't come to your little sister's party."
"Sister?" I interrupted.
"I'm sorry to hear that, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world," he replied.
Her coy smile widened. "I'm glad to hear I rate so high on your esteem." She gestured to me. "But you must introduce me to your beautiful friend."
I whipped my head to Fox. "Sister?"
"Didn't I mention that small detail? I guess it must have slipped my mind," Fox replied.
Morgan playfully batted him on the shoulder. "My brother pretends we're rivals just so he can play the good guy. Now be a good older brother and tell me who she is."
"Miss Rogers, Miss Fay Morgan," Fox introduced us.
She held out her hand and smiled at me. "A pleasure."
"Hi," I replied as I shook her hand. I took the moment to study her and found there was some family resemblance around the eyes and mouths. Both pairs of eyes were sly, and the mouths teased the world.
Morgan backed up and inspected me. "That dress looks wonderful on you, and I sense a little help from my brother in its choosing."
"He helped a little," I admitted.
She laughed and wrapped her arms around one of my mine. "Nonsense. I can see his handiwork all over it. A simple flourish of style that catches the eye without looking too gaudy." I was pulled out of Fox's grasp and towards the depths of the room. Fox followed close behind. She paused and glanced over her shoulder. A sly smile graced her lips. "A perfect, tasteful distraction. Don't you agree, William?"
"I wouldn't dream of questioning your tastes," he returned.
"A smart reply," she complimented him. Morgan stepped in front of me and grabbed my hand that had the wrist bracelet. She lifted my hand and admired the bracelet. "A very unique bracelet." Her eyes flickered up to me. "I'm afraid it doesn't suit your dress or your beautiful skin, and it must be rather chafing. Perhaps you'd like a chance to sooth your skin in the bathroom. I keep a healthy stock of natural hand lotions on hand for any time my brother brings one of his tortured escorts."
"I'm fine, really," I argued.
She grasped my wrist in both her hands and pulled me towards the opposite end of the room where stood two doors identical to the ones of the entrance behind us. "Nonsense. Surely Morgan can let you out of his sight for one moment." She looked past me and smiled. "Isn't that right, William? You'll let us two women a moment alone to work on her wrist."
"Actually, there was a certain matter I wished to discuss with you," Fox requested.
We reached the doors and I saw they led to a hallway that traversed the depth of the house. Another hall ran the width of the house from one wing the other.
Morgan sighed and released my hand. "If you insist, but you can't keep me to yourself for long. I have other guests who are more appreciative of my attentions."
Fox smiled and bowed. "I have no bout, so I won't keep you longer than is necessary."
"Good." Morgan turned to me and set her hand against the small of my back. She pointed towards a thick door ten feet away. "The women's powder room is right there. Feel free to take as long as you like, and I'll be sure to leave William here when I'm done with him. Okay?"
I glanced over my shoulder at Fox. He gave
a slight nod. "I-I guess," I agreed.
"Good, now off you go." She pushed me and I stumbled towards the door.
Morgan pulled Fox to the left and towards the opposite wing of the house. They disappeared around the corner of the adjoining hall. I sighed and walked into the bathroom. The room was spacious, tiled, and clean. White walls surrounded me, and to my right lay a long counter with a row of sinks. A large mirror sat on the wall in front of the sinks.
I walked over and splashed my face with some cold water. My mirror reflection showed a tense woman. I ran a hand through my thick brown hair and sighed.
"How do you get yourself into these things?" I muttered.
"I'd like to know that, too," a voice piped up. My reflection was replaced by Morgan. I yelped and jumped back. She smiled at me. "There's no need to be afraid. I won't hurt you."
I swept my eyes over the long mirror and pressed my hand against the glass. It looked and felt like a mirror. "Is this. . .is this a TV?"
"Let's just say nothing is as it appears," she replied. Her eyes flickered down to my bracelet. "Even with you."
I frowned and wrapped my hand around the bracelet. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"We both know what it means. You're a prisoner of William, aren't you? Some sad soul who's found herself indentured to him for all eternity?" she asked me.
"That's one way to put it, but how do you know about it?" I returned.
Her coy smile widened. "Oh, I know a great deal about William and his ways. He and I are-well, you can say we're old friends," she told me. She cupped her chin in one hand and studied me. "So what is your story? How did William happen to kidnap you from your friends?"
"How do you know he didn't come to me?" I countered.
She raised her hand to her side and snapped her fingers. An image appeared beside her that showed the 'Missing Persons' page of one of the local newspapers, the Local Times. My eyes widened when I beheld a picture of me among the likes of scraggly hobos and children.
"You were reported missing a few days ago by two of your friends, a Miss Dakota Belle and a Mr. Lance Wilde," she informed me. "They were worried about you when you didn't return their calls, and one peek at your empty apartment sent them running to the police. The police have been notified, but since there's no leads they don't have much hope of finding you."
I winced and looked away. "Lance. . .Dakota. . ." I murmured.
Morgan lowered her voice to a soft, soothing whisper. "You truly are miserable with William, aren't you?" she asked me.
I shook myself and turned to her with pursed lips. "Is there any way you can get a message to my friends? Just to tell them I'm okay?"
Her eyes lit up and she smiled. Her reflection stepped close to the mirror and her voice was smooth as silk. "I can do one better than that. What if I was to save you from William? To free you from his detestable servitude?"
"You can do that?" I asked her.
"As surely as I can deactivate that bracelet you're wearing," she assured me.
I lifted my wrist and studied the symbol of my capture. To be free again and among friends. It didn't seem possible. I frowned. It sounded too good to be true.
"Why should I believe you?" I questioned her.
She laughed. "It's not so much a matter of believing me as who you can believe the most. Take precious William, for example. I don't know what he told you to get you here, but you're nothing but a distraction while his servant searches my home and invades my computer system searching for his precious Cornerstone."
"That bastard!" I slammed my hands against the countertop on either side of the sink. My fists left deep impressions in the thick marble. "Damn it. . ." I cursed as I removed my gloved hands. One of the fingers caught on the rough edges of the hand-shaped holds and cut to my fur. "Sorry about the counter," I apologized to Morgan.
"It can be fixed. What really matters is getting you away from my brother," she insisted. "So do you want your freedom, or do you prefer to stay with William and be his dog for the rest of your life?"
Maybe it was too good to be true, but I wanted to try it.
"All right, I'll-" I yelped. Morgan slid out of the mirror and over the sinks to land in front of me. I stumbled back until I hit the door of one of the stalls. "H-how did you do that?"
She laughed. "I told you, things aren't as they appear. Now give me your hand."
I gave her the hand that was trapped by the bracelet. She lifted my arm and with her other hand she brushed her hand over the bracelet. I heard a metallic sound emanate from the machinations, and she dropped my hand.
"There. He won't be able to harm you with it, or stop you from escaping tomorrow," she told me.
"Escaping how?" I asked her.
"My helicopter will fly to the end of Indigo Towers opposite the castle at exactly ten o'clock tomorrow morning. William will only give us this one chance, so you must be there to meet it," she warned me.
"And then what happens?" I persisted.
She smiled, turned me towards the door, and gave me a little push. "Then you'll be free. Now go on before William suspects you've drowned yourself."
I paused at the entrance and turned to her. "But what do you-" I found myself alone in the bathroom. Morgan was gone. "Morgan?" I called. There was no reply. I rolled my eyes and exited the bathroom.
CHAPTER 4
Out in the hall I turned towards the collection room and ran a hand through my hair. "Too good to be true. . ." I murmured.
"What is?" a voice spoke up. I jumped and spun around to find Fox. He stood in the hall past the women's bathroom and stepped from the shadows.
"Do you have to be lurking everywhere?" I growled at him.
"I'm sorry. When you didn't come out I began to worry," he replied as he stepped over to me. He grasped my shoulders and looked me in the eyes. "Is everything all right? You seem tense."
"W-what? Oh, yeah, everything's fine. I just-well, just had a dizzy spell. Must be all this musty stuff," I commented. I wiggled from his grip and waved my hand in front of my face. "Smells like a crypt or something. Anyway, did you find out anything from Morgan?"
"I'm afraid the meeting was short and unproductive. She says she knows nothing about the theft," he replied. "What are you getting from her scent?"
"A one-hundred percent match, along with her fingernail polish," I added.
"Then it appears our hostess is lying to us," he commented. I heard a soft beep from his phone, and he answered it. "Yes? I see. We'll meet you there." He closed and pocketed the phone.
"Who was that?" I asked him.
"Aldus. He has the car out front, and under the circumstances I think it best that we leave," he suggested.
"Already? But you just got here," Morgan's sweet voice chimed in. She flew from her collection room and joined our little tete-a-tete. "Can't you stay just a little longer? I've barely had any time with your delightful young friend."
Fox smiled, but shook his head. "I'm afraid it can't be helped, but thank you for this evening. It has been most. . .educational."
"Then this is farewell, and I hope to see you both very soon," Morgan replied. I noticed her eyes flickered to me and her smile widened.
We left her company and the house. Emery waited for us outside, and in a few minutes we found ourselves several miles from Morgan's estate.
"What did you find out?" Fox called to Emery.
"Not much, I'm afraid, and she was aware of the intrusion," Emery warned him.
"That's fine. Where's the fun if both sides don't know the other is playing?" he mused.
"You and your sister need healthier hobbies," I quipped.
"Think of it as a chess game, and information is the pawns," he suggested.
"There may be one pawn you might find interesting, sir," Emery added.
"Show it to me," Fox ordered.
I turned to see Emery tap a few buttons on the dash. A small, short table slid up from the floor between Fox and me, and a hologram was projected from th
e surface and two feet into the air. The hologram showed the interior of a forty-floor office building complete with all its schematics. There was everything from the plumbing to the sink disposal drain in the hologram.
"It seems our evening wasn't a complete disappointment," he commented.
"Where is this?" I asked him.
"Nowhere, at the moment," Emery spoke up. "The office building is a prototype."
"What's so important about an office building? Most of them are just steel and concrete prisons for workers," I commented.
"The blueprints show that this building has the most sophisticated security system ever devised. It rivals even those of the castle," Emery told me.
I snorted. "Yeah, we saw how good that was yesterday."
"A minor slip that won't happen again," Fox assured me.
"How did it happen in the first place?" I persisted.
Emery turned his head slightly towards me. "Mr. Fox's sister made us of their shared genetic code and accessed the security panels to deactivate many of the alarms."
"That's enough, Aldus," Fox warned him.
Emery faced straight ahead. "As you wish, sir."
"I'm just wanting to know in case your sister pays us another visit," I scolded Fox. "Besides, I was part of the distraction so Emery could get this stuff, right? I've got some right to it."
"And you were an excellent distraction, but I'm afraid this is a family matter," he countered.
I folded my arms across my chest and turned my face away from him. "It's always some new excuse not to tell me anything. . ." I muttered.
Fox raised an eyebrow and his eyes fell on my torn glove. "You seem bothered. Did something happen that I'm unaware of?"
I tucked the torn glove under my other hand. "Why would anything be bothering me? I'm just a werewolf who's chained to a psychotic billionaire who's out to get his own sister," I listed off.
"All my precautions are for your safety as well as those around you," he insisted.
I turned one eye to Fox and glared at him. "You try being fitted with a cattle prod and see how well that excuse works on you."
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline the offer, but as for your future with the bracelet and collar, they may not always be a part of you," he told me.