Aislynn did not want to show this scoundrel how his words terrified her, but she could not keep her eyes from widening slightly.
He ran the tip of the blade down the side of her cheek, and then down, past her jawline. “I shall tie you up and then slice your perfect skin until it is reminiscent of how you have made me feel inside—torn to shreds and as hollow as your stomach shall be when I remove the contents and cook them for dinner.”
She was going to be sick. The images that he portrayed made her realize that she was completely out of her depth, that this man wasn’t just mad. He was completely deranged and utterly insane. It was all she could do to keep an even demeanor when she wanted to cry and scream. She could only imagine the sort of fright that Mia and Geneva, and perhaps Avery and Charlotte had all suffered at the hands of this murderer. He seemed to enjoy tormenting his victims and while he had not yet completed his threats with his previous victims, something told Aislynn that he would perform every sadistic act on her that he promised. This was not just about control or hatred. This went far deeper than that.
“I shall ensure that your name is never forgotten. You will be immersed in time as my greatest achievement. We shall celebrate victory together. Forever.”
Calm abruptly descended over Aislynn. She was no longer frightened to the point she was frozen in place. She knew she had to do something, to ensure this man was never able to hurt her, or anyone else. She had to put an end to his demented reign.
Lifting her leg, she set her knee in the vicinity of his nether regions. While it was apparent that she was not successful, the distraction was enough for her to slip free of his brutal hold. Tears came to her eyes when he reached out and grasped a handful of her hair, but she kicked backward and was rewarded with a grunt that sent the strands tumbling about her shoulders while her feet took flight and carried her down the Dark Walk. She was not going to die this night, nor give him the opportunity to enact his vengeance, or craft—whatever he wanted to call it--on her.
She turned a corner and found herself captured once again. This time she did not hesitate to strike out with everything that she had within her. “Blast it, Aislynn! Stop!”
It took a moment for the voice to penetrate her consciousness. When it did, she gave a cry of relief and thrust herself into Cordell’s arms. “The killer… is here… back there…” She pointed behind her, not surprised that she was so completely out of breath. She was starting to feel dizzy, as if she might faint, but she fought against it.
Cordell’s focus immediately flew behind her, and he handed her off to someone as he said, “Get her out of here.”
She wanted to call him back to her, but tears were starting to clog her throat, the shock of the killer’s words starting to make her realize how close she had come to death. “Come with me.” She recognized the soft, soothing voice of Lord Alton and her knees nearly gave out beneath her. She didn’t know how she had managed to find her way to the two allies she trusted most, but they had found each other and she was grateful that they had interceded. It was true she was not a damsel in distress, but tonight, she was certainly feeling the strain of being an actress on the verge of trouble.
Chapter
Eighteen
Cordell didn’t think that he would be fortunate enough to capture the villain, but when he spied the edge of a dark cloak fading into the shadows, he immediately gave chase. He burst into another path of the Dark Walks and effectively frightened a couple nearly half to death. No doubt the wild, crazed look in his expression was mostly to blame for the woman’s shocked gasp and their subsequent haste.
A thorough search proved to be fruitless and although Cordell was angry at himself for allowing the cretin to slip through his grasp yet again, as he began to retrace his steps, he happened to notice something lying on the ground. He walked over and picked up a discarded mask. While he didn’t usually concern himself with such inconsequential objects because they could be obtained at ease at many places in London, he clutched this item in his grasp because he knew it belonged to him.
“This is not over,” Cordell vowed to himself as he made his way out of the Gardens and found the viscount’s carriage.
After he climbed inside, he saw Lord Alton sitting next to Aislynn and attempting to offer some form of friendly comfort. She was hugging herself and seemed to have trouble meeting his gaze when he joined them. No doubt she was expecting him to be angry about her deception. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t upset about it but he was more thankful that she was unharmed and safe.
“He got away,” he announced, reading the unspoken query in the viscount’s gaze. He held up the mask. “But I got this.” He clenched the mask in his grasp and held it up.
He saw Aislynn shudder visibly, although her eyes were sparks of green fury when they lit on the item before she turned away. “It is his,” she confirmed harshly.
Cordell was not surprised by her hostility, considering the heartache the man had already put her through, but when Alton leaned forward and explained some of the shocking things that the man had said to her, Cordell wanted to go back to the Gardens and tear them apart until he found the bastard. “I will not let him get away with this.”
“I cannot blame you for your animosity,” the viscount agreed. “His actions are reprehensible. I would double my efforts to find another match. There has to be something I have yet to discover in the slope of the handwriting.”
“The man we are dealing with is calculated, cunning. He did not leave this behind by accident. He was sending a message.” Cordell clenched his jaw, furious at the situation, but more concerned for Aislynn with her quiet solitude near the corner of the carriage.
When they arrived at his townhouse, he wasn’t about to give her the option to return to Spades. It was too dangerous to let her out of his sight. He needed to be assured of her safety. Thankfully, this was one quarrel that he did not have to undertake.
“I do not want to go back to Spades.”
“I did not expect you to,” Cordell returned. He exited the carriage and held out a hand to her. She accepted it and stood on the pavement next to him. “Thank you for everything, Lord Alton. I owe you a debt.”
Aislynn reached into her bodice and handed him back the money she had borrowed. “I am glad I did not have need of these funds after all.”
With a slight smile, the viscount accepted the offering. “I would have considered it money well spent if it might have done any true good.” With a farewell incline of his head, he shut the door and his carriage set off into the night.
“I feel as though I could sleep for a week,” Aislynn murmured at Cordell’s side. “And yet, I am not certain I shall be able to rest at all.”
“I think we could both use a drink.”
He led her toward his study where he poured them each a bracing splash of brandy. He downed his almost immediately and was impressed when she did the same. She gave a slight cough. “Thank you,” she rasped. She held out her glass to him. “I’ll have another if you do not mind.”
“Not at all,” he returned softly.
