Jared brushed a stray hair away from her face and smiled. "Don't be frightened. You'll like it here. I can protect you...keep you safe." He shifted closer. "You just don't know how upset it used to make me, knowing that you were on the streets all by yourself. There's no telling what could have happened to you out there."

A single tear fell down her cheek. "But I don't...I mean...I've never..." Her voice trailed off.

"Don't worry about that," he rea.s.sured her. "I'll show you everything you need to know." He leaned in to kiss her, but Kat jumped up from the couch and backed away.

Jared's face flashed with anger, but quickly softened. "I understand. I've seen this before." He got up and went to his desk. "I have just the thing." Reaching into the drawer, he produced a small tin box.

Kat's eyes shot wide. "Please. I don't want daiva."

"All the girls use it," he replied. "A little bit won't hurt you, I promise. It will just make things...easier."

Kat moved behind the couch and picked up a small bundle. "Can't we drink this instead? I got it for you just before I came."

Jared frowned. "Did you now?"

She approached the desk and set down the bundle. Jared stared at it for a moment before unwrapping it.

He picked up the bottle inside and held it at eye level. "Harbor Fields," he remarked. "Twenty years old. Very nice." He studied the cork and seal carefully before removing them.

Kat laughed. "Do you think I'm trying to poison you?"

Jared took two cups from the cabinet. "Perhaps. We'll see soon enough." He poured the wine and handed her a cup.

Without hesitation, she drained it dry and let out an appreciative sigh. Her tongue ran over her lips seductively. "Mmmm! More please."

Smirking, Jared poured her another. He watched with eager antic.i.p.ation as she drank half of the second cup, her eyes staring into his the entire time.

"You're going to be quite popular," he said. Sitting down at the desk again, he patted his leg.

After another gulp of wine, she settled onto his lap.

"By the way. How did you get in here?" he asked.

"Don't worry," she replied. "Soon you'll know all of my little secrets."

Jared tried to kiss her again, but she put the cup to her lips to prevent him.

"Men don't like being teased, my dear," he scolded, kissing her exposed neck gently.

Kat giggled and hopped up from his lap. "That tickles."

Jared reached out, but she danced away and jumped playfully onto the couch. He stood up and took the bottle. After pouring himself a cup, he ambled across the room and stood over her.

"You know, Kat, some men don't like girls who aren't...how should I put it?" He pointed to her shirt. "Endowed with womanly attributes. Not me, mind you. I like it that way."

She lowered her eyes, her face flushing with embarra.s.sment. It was true that her body had only just begun to develop. Since it had, she had made a habit of wearing loose fitting shirts and blouses to hide the fact.

Jared slipped down beside her. "You can't be this shy when you're working. You know that, don't you?"

Kat met his eyes. "Don't worry. I won't be."

He drained the cup and tossed it carelessly on the floor. "Of course, if you please me, I may just keep you all to myself. Would you like that?"

She smiled sheepishly. "I might. What would I have to do?"

He placed his hand on her leg. "That's what I'm about to...to..."

His words faltered. Suddenly, his brow creased and his mouth twisted into a pained frown.

Kat's smile never faded. "Is something wrong? Don't you think I'm pretty?"

Jared leaned back. His hands were shaking and his face was turning deathly pale. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came.

She stood up. This time, she was looming over him. "I'm sorry, Jared. I don't think I'll be letting you put your grimy little hands on me ever again."

With eyes now wide with fear, he struggled to move but only managed to topple over onto his side. Kat lifted him back into an upright position.

"I have a confession to make," she said. "I did poison you. But it wasn't in the bottle, it was on it. You were done the moment you took the wrapping off and touched it."

Jared gave a soft moan. "Oh, don't worry," Kat continued. "The poison's not lethal. It will only paralyze you for a few hours. You see, I needed your full attention, and this was the only way I could get it."

She knelt in front of him. "When you imagined me on my knees, I bet this wasn't what you had in mind." She rested her chin on his leg and grinned spitefully. "And to think I used to be so scared of you. It makes you feel good when women are afraid, doesn't it? I've seen the way you smile when you beat your wh.o.r.es b.l.o.o.d.y and make them beg for you to stop."

Kat reached down and pulled a short dagger from her belt. Jared renewed his attempts to move, but his efforts were futile. Slowly, she dragged the tip of the blade along his inner thigh, stopping just before the outline of his manhood.

"Is this what you wanted to put in me?" she asked.

Again he let out a moan, his eyes begging for mercy. She clicked her tongue. "What's wrong, Jared? Afraid I'm going to cut it off?"

She pressed the blade down until it pierced his flesh, but only slightly. "Is this what gives you the right to hurt women? This tiny piece of useless meat? Is that where your power comes from?"

She pulled the dagger away and stood up. Jared breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

"Lucky for you, I'm not as cruel as you are." She walked to his desk and took a coin purse from the drawer. "You don't mind, do you? I'll need some extra gold after I'm gone."

At that moment heavy footfalls could be heard coming down the hall. Jared's eyes darted to the door and then back to Kat. A few seconds later there was a knock. The door slowly swung open to reveal Brutis, now dressed in a black leather vest and pants. He stepped inside.

Jared glared at Kat triumphantly.

"Are you not done with him yet?" Brutis asked.

"Give me one more minute," Kat replied.

Jared's triumph instantly turned to sheer terror.

Brutis frowned. "You sure you can go through with it?"

Kat's eyes settled on Jared and she flashed a wicked smile. "I'm sure."

Brutis gave a sharp nod and left the room.

"I should have mentioned it earlier," Kat said, once he had gone. "Brutis really didn't care too much for what you wanted to do to me. It didn't take a lot to convince him that he would be better off running things around here." She folded her arms. "Didn't it occur to you that someone must have let me in here? I'm a good thief, but your office has a very good lock."

She walked slowly across the room and sat beside him. "Right now you might be wondering why I'm doing this. Why have I gone to all this trouble? Well, the reason is simple. After two years of living in fear. Two years of beatings. Two years of dreading the day I would become a woman...I feel I owe you something. And after all a princess always pays her debts."

She took a moment to gaze at the dagger gripped lightly in her hand. "Goodbye, Jared."

In a single swift motion she slit Jared's throat. The poison kept him from jerking and sputtering as the blood poured from the wound and soaked his shirt. Kat stood up and watched impa.s.sively as the light faded from his eyes.

She thought about the moment she had plunged the dagger through Hank's neck. After that she'd been unsure of how to feel. This time it was different. This time she would not be tormented by regret and uncertainty. This time...it was justice.

Kat wiped the dagger on Jared's pants and put it away. She gave one final glance over her shoulder just before leaving the room. Jared's blood was now pooling at his feet.

She sneered hatefully at her one time boss and abuser. "Goodbye...and good riddance."

Chapter Seven.

Ethan shielded his eyes from the morning sun that was cresting the top of the buildings. He took a deep cleansing breath. Even the stench of the city was preferable to the smell of stale beer and vomit that permeated the air inside the Hareesh headquarters.

A tall thin man wearing a green cloak with the hood thrown back was waiting in a wagon a few yards away. His black, stringy hair and narrow set eyes made him look almost sickly and frail.

Specter prodded his captives forward. "Don't let his looks fool you," he said quietly, reading Ethan's expression. "Thaddeus is about as deadly as they come."

"You think they'll give us a problem?" Thaddeus asked him when they drew closer "Not if they want to see tomorrow," he replied.

"We won't cause you any trouble," a.s.sured Jonas.

Ethan could almost see the wheels turning in Jonas' mind. For a short time they would be unshackled in order to pa.s.s through the city gates without raising suspicion. But he doubted they would remain free for very long after that. Whatever they were going to do, it would need to be done before the chains were put back on.

Specter pointed for Jonas to join Thaddeus in the front and Ethan to get in the rear. "Remember old man," he warned. "If you say one b.l.o.o.d.y word when we reach the gates, you'll get a dagger through your neck the instant after I gut your young friend."

Thaddeus snapped the reins and the wagon lurched forward. The closer they came to the gate, the more crowded the street became. Soon the wagon was moving at no more than a mere crawl. For a short time Ethan gave serious consideration to jumping off and making a run for it, but Specter was watching his every move. Besides, even if he was lucky enough to get away, he knew that it would likely be a death sentence for Jonas. He could not risk that.

It took them nearly an hour to reach the main gate. There was a line of several wagons and men on horseback on the right hand side of the avenue, while those pa.s.sing through on foot were to the left. Dozens of armed men, some city guards and others Imperial soldiers, were scattered about checking everyone's cargo and travel papers.

Specter whispered a curse. "d.a.m.n Imperials." He retrieved two pieces of folded parchment and gave them to Ethan and Jonas. "These are better than the trash you paid for. Even so, say nothing unless you're asked directly."

A city guard approached their wagon. He looked up at the group with a scowl. "So where are you off to, Specter?"

He jumped down, a broad smile plastered across his scarred face. "Nowhere special, Captain. Off running errands."

Ethan noticed him press something into the guard's palm.

"What's with all the soldiers?" Specter asked.

The guard shot a disdainful glance over his shoulder to where a group of Imperials were searching a large wagon. "You haven't heard? Some idiot killed three of their men the other day. Needless to say, they're not too pleased about it."

"What fool would do that, I wonder?" Specter responded, shaking his head.

The guard shrugged. "Who knows? Probably best that you're leaving the city though. Sooner or later they'll be at the Hareesh's door asking questions." He eyed Specter with sudden suspicion. "You'd tell me if you knew anything, of course."

Specter laughed. "You know I would. I always try to help you and your friends, Captain."

The man held his gaze for a few more seconds before relaxing. "I'd stay out of town for a bit if I were you. Things are getting pretty tense around here."

Specter nodded and jumped back into the wagon. The guard took one final look at the others and then waved them through.

Once beyond the gate, Thaddeus let out an exaggerated sigh.

"What's wrong?" teased Specter. "A bit too much excitement for you?"

He sniffed. "You're just lucky we didn't get searched by an Imperial. I doubt your gold and wit would have gotten us past one of them."

Specter grinned. "I'll take luck over skill any day."

"Where exactly are you taking us?" asked Jonas, breaking into their conversation.

"Thinking of escape are you?" scoffed Specter with obvious humor. "In that case, I'll tell you. I'm taking you fifty miles north to the Imperial garrison. Not that knowing this will do you much good."

He reached into a sack just behind the driver's seat. Ethan heard the clank of metal, and before he could protest, a set of shackles had been snapped securely around his wrists.

Specter leaned back with a look of smug satisfaction. "That's better. Flee if you like, old man. I won't even try to stop you. But you'll have to leave your young friend behind."

Jonas turned to look hard at Ethan.

Specter chuckled. "He's thinking about it, boy. Some friend he is."

Jonas' shoulders sagged.

Thaddeus was also amused. "Don't feel too bad," he remarked. "He wouldn't have really let you escape."

"Sure I would," said Specter. "The old man is worthless to me. It's the boy they want."

Thaddeus twisted around to face him. "And why would you say that?"

"That's not your concern," Specter replied sharply. "You're just here to see that the boss gets his cut."

Thaddeus grunted. "And mine too." He snapped the reins, pressing the horses to go faster.

For the next few hours they traveled in complete silence. Specter sat with arms folded, his eyes never leaving Ethan. Once again Ethan couldn't help but feel there was something familiar about the man. But he knew this was impossible. Not only would he have remembered meeting someone with such p.r.o.nounced scars and rough appearance, Specter was from Lumnia, so they could never have met before.

It was now well beyond midday, and Ethan could no longer bear the silence. "What happened to your face?" he asked.