Chapter 44: Unexpectedly Defeated

Malik’s POV:

“What do you mean someone’s taken Vanessa?” Malik growled into the phone.

“I mean I went to the hotel room to sit with her, and it was all torn up and she’s gone.” Aaron explained.

“Get down here to Lust. I’ve got something to show you.”

“What about Vanessa?”

“I’m showing you how we’ll get her.” Malik said as he hung up the phone and looked at Rylie as she came out with Katrina who was whining about how she felt naked and what not.

“Trust me, if I would have known who I was bringing clothes for, I wouldn’t have bothered to pick out something cute.” Rylie said as she shoved Katrina toward Malik.

“Change of plans.” He stated as he shoved Katrina aside. “Vanessa’s been taken, we go through with the plan tonight.”

Rylie’s eyes widened, “What?! They took Vanessa?”

“I’m just as confused as you are. But they’re not going to stop until I’m dead. They’re likely holding her hostage to brain wash her until she kills me.”

“Is the serum even ready to go?” Rylie asked.

Malik shrugged, “Only one way to find out.”

Aaron let himself into Lust from the door that Rylie came through. He took one look at Katrina and his eyes widened, “Malik…is this…”

“Katrina Owens.” Katrina sneered. “In the flesh.”

Aaron shook his head in confusion, “I mean…I had a theory she had to be alive since the gun was empty but…it’s true. You didn’t kill her.”

Malik shook his head, “I thought it only right that she sleeps where my family rests.”

Aaron looked at her with an amused look on his face, “You were smart Malik.”

“I wanted to kill her. I wanted to rip her limb from limb. But I figured there was going to be a day where I needed leverage against Alfred and so I decided to inject the serum into her heart and put her to sleep instead.”

“Maybe you can still get your chance after we rip those Balthazar twins, limb from limb.”

“We’ll see. Maybe we’ll keep her alive to grieve Alfred.”

Katrina stood there with her arms folded over her chest, “Can I change clothes again? I feel completely exposed.”

Rylie rolled her eyes, “Nope! No time to.”

Malik grabbed the gun and a pair of cuffs. He grabbed Katrina’s wrists and cuffed them behind her. “What are these?” she demanded.

“They’re handcuffs. Something they use these days to capture criminals.” Malik explained as he fastened them to be painfully tight against her wrists.

“Ouch! That hurts!” Katrina cried out as she wiggled her wrists.

“We’re all in some kind of pain. Now, let’s go pay a little visit to Alfie.” Malik smirked as he patted her back roughly.

They all went out to Aaron’s black SUV. Katrina rode in the middle of Malik and Rylie to ensure that she didn’t escape. She gasped as Aaron laid his foot on the gas and peeled out of the parking lot.

“What is this contraption? And why are there lights everywhere?”

They all ignored her questions. She kept asking them and seemed intimidated by the speed of the vehicle and no one took any sympathy on her. “I’m going to vomit!” she cried out.

“Oh, she might be carsick.” Rylie grimaced.

Aaron rolled his eyes and pulled off the road, “Malik, did you even give her anything to eat or drink since she woke up?”

Malik shook his head, “No, didn’t really think to as I don’t care about her.” He chuckled.

Rylie sighed out of annoyance and reached into her purse for a protein bar and small Gatorade. “Here…sip this slowly. This bar should help.”

“Thank you, Rylie.” Katrina said with genuine gratitude. She looked at her, unsure of how to open the bottle.

Rylie took it and opened it for her, “I forget you know nothing about this day and age.”

“No, I don’t. You seem to be the only one who cares to explain anything to me.” Katrina said as she took a sip of the drink. Her eyes lit up, “Oh, it’s so…fruity and a little salty!” she exclaimed with delight.

Rylie laughed a little, “Yeah, it’s got electrolytes in it. It helps restore fluids back into your body.”

“This is helping with the nausea. Thank you.” Katrina offered a genuine smile.

Malik shook his head, “Don’t let her fool you Rylie. If you knew what she once did to her own flesh and blood with Alfred, you wouldn’t want to show her any sort of kindness.”

“Who is to say my years asleep haven’t humbled me?”

“You’ll never redeem yourself with me. However, I guess we’ll find out when you see Alfred and he sees you.”

“Are you feeling better?” Aaron asked.

“Yes, I am.” Katrina replied.

Aaron nodded and peeled back onto the road. They’d reached the Balthazar manor within an hour. Malik walked behind Katrina while Aaron walked beside her, and Rylie was in the front. They knocked on the door and a new maid in a French maid outfit opened the door, “Lord Alec! Lord Alfred! They’re here!” she hollered.

Alec and Alfred came to the door and Alfred’s jaw dropped at the sight of Katrina. He wasn’t granted the chance to gawk for too long as Malik spun her behind him and he stood in front of her. “Where is Vanessa?” he demanded.

Alfred looked at Malik, a touch of humble in his smug expression, “What is the meaning of this? Who is the girl behind you?”

Malik shook his head and jerked Katrina back as she tried to make her way to the side of him, “Vanessa and Byron. Now.” He growled.

“I’m not giving you anything unless you let me see what you brought.”

Malik rolled his eyes, “Katrina was never dead.” He said as he pulled her back out in front of him. “Here she is, alive and well. Awakened from her four centuries long nap.”

Alfred looked visibly shaken as he pressed his hands to his mouth, “Katrina…”

Katrina looked at him, tears in her eyes. “Hello, Alfred.”

Alfred looked at Malik, “You really kept her alive all this time?”

“I knew someday I would have to have some leverage against you. Never had to use this card until you ordered my Vanessa to kill me.”

Alfred shook his head, looking unexpectedly defeated, as though he just did something he now regrets now that Katrina was standing in front of him. “We…we’ve done something to Vanessa.”

Malik growled low in his throat and Rylie pointed her gun at him, “What did you do?”

“She said we should let Byron die. In fact, she said she would do it herself. So, we locked them in a room together to see if she’ll actually do it.”