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When I couldn’t take it anymore, I darted to the side and pushed open a glass door, listening to the chime of its operation as I stumbled indoors. From the looks of things, I’d entered a coffee shop. Men attired in drab suits sat hunched over cream-colored, steaming cups, reading yellowing newspapers. A faded whiteboard hung on the wall behind the counter, the plastic finish peeling and cracking in real time as I watched.

A woman with shiny black hair stood behind the register, wearing a patent leather bodysuit that matched her hair. I think my eyeballs nearly fell out of my head at the contrast between her and the backdrop. She smiled brightly and said, “How may I help you?”

CHAPTER 11

Kiam

Throwing caution to the wind, I ran back to my house, tossing the bone fragment on top of my desk. My necktie felt like it was strangling me, and I loosened the knot before ripping my suit jacket off. I tossed it on top of a stack of books; the force knocking the pile over. A puff of dust stirred in the air, highlighted by the candlelight.

Irritation at my own haphazard ways scratched at the back of my skull. I knew my habits were unbecoming for a person of my stature, but what was the point in being superficial? I knew where all my shit was.

Except for Brittney.

I nearly sent the computer mouse flying across the room. Brittney wasn’t mine, so when did I start thinking of her that way?

Did I want her to be?

Rubbing my temples, I took a deep breath and then focused on the task at hand. If anything could locate her, the software I’d written and engineered would. The magical properties I’d infused it with made my product highly sought after due to its speed, reliability, and accuracy. The fact it occasionally worked across dimensions made it invaluable.

The one place outside of my reach was the First Realm, but I knew that wasn’t where she would have ended up. Being a human-born vampire made it difficult even for me—and that was with a special enhancement. The very enhancement that sent my blonde doll into the ether.

That left either the Fourth or the Second. The Fourth was more likely, due to its nature of grabbing wayward or deceased humans that had even the slightest association with supernatural beings or magic. It was also the locale most like here, her home Realm, so it would make sense on multiple levels if that was where she ended up.

No matter where I looked, I couldn’t see her. Not on my computer monitors, not in any of my crystal balls, nor was I able to pick up an energy signal. I’d mistakenly thought it would have been easier since she handled the bone with the illicit, magical dust on it.

My blood pressure was rising, no matter how hard I fought against it. I was losing hundreds of years' worth of progress with controlling my vital signs over my inexplicable worry for this woman.

The urge to contact one of my few friends welled up within me. Josiah would be a voice of reason and remind me to plan out a search, step by step. Micha would likely throw a fit and encourage me to run in blindly and burn everything to the ground. Lukas would lecture me and demand to know why I let her get away in the first place.

None of that would be helpful right now and besides, everyone was busy with their own responsibilities. Plus, it was likely my secret would come out, and I hadn’t yet figured out how to handle the ramifications of my actions. I’d been a bit busy, myself.

The only other place Brittney could have disappeared to, within reason, was the Second Realm. The chances of her surviving intact were slim and instead of comforting me with the knowledge my secret would then be safe, a deep fear filled me. I hadn’t meant to let her worm her way inside my head. This wasn’t just about the possibility of her working for the Kakians anymore and I was at a loss to know what to do about it.

There was no way for me to know now what her intentions were, or if she transitioned on purpose. She may have had help, though I hadn’t picked up any errant signals around the pit. The energy could have been disguised, and it wouldn’t be the first time I’d been fooled. A kind face could be deadlier than the most grotesque.

Scanning the deserts and forests of the Second revealed nothing of note, outside of roving hordes of the lower classes of demons and what appeared to be a renovation of the barrier wall around Lukas’s castle. I switched to examining the Realm’s metropolis, hacking into its security cameras to preserve my energy instead of channeling it through the programs.

I searched street by street, sticking to the main thoroughfares and then I saw it. A wavering in the atmosphere, an impression that couldn’t be explained other than to say it was soft and light, with a determined streak buoyed by vanilla and amber. It had to be Brittney. The aberration was centered around a small business.

The woman seemed like she was okay, as I wasn’t picking up any panic. This was almost as strange as the fact she’d vanished in the first place. Much to my dismay, I found my fascination digging a little deeper.

My home in the Second hadn’t been visited by me in quite some time and honestly, I’d been missing the change of locale. Very specific reasons kept me away, but it appeared I’d be back sooner rather than later. It wasn’t that I thought I’d be subdued in some way, but rather that I didn’t want to be bothered. Not until I was mentally prepared. I would have been already, but an extraordinarily soft skinned woman interfered with my plans. More than once, now.

Raking my hand through my hair, I attempted to strategize. How was I going to stop whatever Brittney was doing without giving myself away? Highly aware that I’d repeatedly failed to kill her, frustration rattled my brain. Ending her short life was the smart thing to do and would ensure the longevity of my own.

Perhaps I could have a little taste and then dispose of her. My home in the Second was ideal for such activities. It was hidden, private, and guarded by enough wards and spells to split open the structure of the Realm itself should it be breached.

I was highly disciplined, motivated, and a master of my craft. Success came to me easily, due to my habits. Getting Brittney out of my system would be accomplished through a series of brief, well-planned tasks. Then, I could get on with my life.

After I touched up my makeup with a wave of my hand, I transitioned myself to my other home.

* * *

The pile of rubble appeared just as I left it, and I couldn’t detect any signs of any type of disruption- not physical or magical. The absence of shoe or handprints in the orange dust that stirred around the ancient, crumbled walls and broken glass set my pulse at ease.

A hidden entrance, covered with a veil of magic, brought me to the interior. The wall sconces lit as I passed them by, and I headed straight to my workstation, the expansive wall of electronics buzzing to life when I came within three feet of them.

Wi-Fi signals could be tricky, here in the Second, but my use of the Realm’s rubies ensured I was better off than most. Technically, my methods were illegal and reserved for royalty, but the demand for my services gave me an unspoken exception that I took liberal advantage of.