To Have A Heart (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 7)

“Mrs Cummings is nothing short of a witch,” Mallory hissed in disgust.

“Just focus on getting back inside where it is warm. Don’t make a run for it now. They will send the staff after you and make you disappear, just like they did with Jemima.”

“She is dead, isn’t she?”

The answering silence was unnerving.

Mallory was glad that the stranger didn’t reply. The vocal confirmation would only add to her fears about her own future survival.

With one last look around the garden, Mallory turned to look at the house. The door, as black as Mrs Cumming’s dress, stood out like the open maw of a mouth.

“The gates of Hell indeed,” Mallory whispered.

There was no answer from the man.

“Hello?”

Once again, Mallory wondered if he had left.

“I am still here.”

“I am not going to sit here and wait to be murdered.”

“You won’t be. You will be fetched.”

“By my captor.”

“No. By someone who is going to get you out of here. When he does turn up, trust him. He will keep you safe.”

“Who is he? Who are you?”

“Just wait.”

“Please. Just tell me. How long do I have to wait?”

Mallory waited but the wild wind swirled around her and brought with it an acute silence that was deafening. She sniffed and shivered and studied every nook and cranny in the garden but was painfully aware that she was now definitely all alone. All alone, scared, confused, and now more determined than ever to make a break for freedom regardless of what the man said.

With the washing now pegged out, and her basket empty, Mallory reluctantly returned to the house. When she was about to close the door, though, she spotted what she felt was a route she could take when she did try to escape.

“At nightfall,” she promised herself before quietly closing the door.

CHAPTER TWO

Callum cupped his hands over his mouth and blew into them before making a noise that was decidedly owl-like. He then waited for an answering call. Without moving, his gaze slid slowly over his surroundings. Covered from all sides by trees, he was relatively certain that the patrol slowly stalking the perimeter of the large house beyond the trees hadn’t seen him. They were, however, still far too close for him to be able to relax, so he stood, watchful and wary, while he waited for his contact to arrive.

Several minutes after his hoot, Callum sensed he was no longer alone. He was still surrounded in silence, but the air shifted and became almost palpable while the small hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Callum tensed and waited for the attack. Without moving, his gaze slid swiftly over the woods once more, searching out the danger that had turned the atmosphere within the dense woods sinister.

Damn, he is good.

“For the love of God, don’t do that,” Callum breathed with a disgusted huff when his gaze landed on a man who was standing just three feet behind him.

Callum knew who that shrouded figure was even when Sir Hugo had his face almost completely obscured by the thick muffler and large hat. The only person Callum had ever met who could move so silently through woods was the boss of the Star Elite; Sir Hugo. It was unnerving that even when Callum acknowledged his presence, Sir Hugo didn’t move or speak. He appeared beside Callum silently, like a ghoul, and remained unnervingly still for several long and tense moments. It was only when Callum glanced over his shoulder that he realised Sir Hugo was watching a guard approach them.

Neither man moved while they waited for the unsuspecting guard to amble past on his half-hourly patrol. When he had disappeared, Sir Hugo turned around and glided into the darkness. Callum cautiously followed him and made sure he stepped into his boss’s footsteps, so he too made as little noise as possible.

“We have a huge problem,” Sir Hugo began without preamble when they had found a place sufficiently distant from the house that they could chat without being overheard.

“What?” Callum eyed the house.