Chapter Fifteen: Kiss of Raine

 "Time to wake up, Katherine." Her eyes flew open, and she sat bolt upright. Vincent jerked awake in time to feel the wheels of the jet touch the runway, he looked over and saw her startled look.

 "What's wrong, Katherine?"

 She shook her head. "Nothing, I thought I heard someone talking to me."

 Sophia arrived with a small tray of hot face towels. She glanced over at Vincent and nodded. It had been the Dominus who had spoken to Katherine through the headset. "You heard the captain announcing that we have arrived in Geneva." She handed the warm face towel to Katherine with a small set of tongs. "This will refresh you."

 Vincent disappeared into the lavatory with his travel kit and nodded to Sophia to watch over Katherine while he was changing clothes.

 Katherine took the towel and pressed it to her face. There was a scent of mint in the moist towel as she pressed it against her eyes. She handed it back to Sophia, "Thank you. What time is it?"

 Sophia rolled her wrist and looked at her watch, "It's nearly four o'clock in the morning."

 Vincent reappeared from the back. He had changed clothes and looked freshly shaved. He smiled at her. "It's all yours, plenty of hot water left."

 "Your bag is waiting for you, so you can freshen up and change," Sophia told her then looked at Vincent, "The car will be here in about twenty minutes."

 Katherine went to the back of the jet and found her luggage sitting on a bench. She unzipped the side and pulled new undergarments out, and her bag of toiletries. She could probably manage a 'cat bath' in the lavatory. Sophia appeared carrying a garment bag. "Here are a change of clothes, they just arrived."

 Katherine turned around to see Sophia pulling several garments from the garment bag, including a light coat. "How?"

 Sophia shrugged her shoulders lightly, "Let's see if you like any of these clothes, shall we?"

 Katherine did like most of what had been selected for her. She decided on the dove grey trousers and a matching long raw silk tunic. At the bottom of the bag were several pairs of shoes that matched or coordinated with the clothes in the garment bag. Katherine took the flat loafers that were a near match to the trousers. Sophia hung everything on a hook, "I will be just outside if you need anything." She gave Katherine a warm smile and stepped out, closing the compartment doors with a click. 

 Katherine touched the raw silk tunic and smiled. Someone had excellent taste and knew the style of clothes she preferred. She went into the bathroom with her toiletry bag. She looked at herself in the mirror. She looked well-rested and the strain on her face was gone! She smirked at her reflection, "Money in the bank does wonders doesn't it honey!" she whispered and pulled her toothbrush from the bag along with a small tube of toothpaste. 

 At the front of the cabin, Vanderau stood waiting to disembark. Vincent met the Dominus' eyes. "We will talk with you mid-morning, yes?"

 "Yes," Vanderau said. "Let's push the time to 10:30 shall we? That will give Mrs. Tremeur time to prepare a light brunch before the call."

 "Of course," Vincent replied. 

 Vanderau glanced down the length of the jet where Sophia had taken up guard while Katherine washed up. He lifted a hand in farewell and Sophia waved back. He ducked out and spoke briefly to Francis who waited at the bottom of the stairs. A sleek black SUV pulled up and Vanderau got into the back. Coffee was waiting for him along with the morning newspaper. 

 Katherine emerged from the bathroom just in time to see the black SUV out the oval window, she took a closer look and realized that someone was leaving, and it wasn't the pilot, and she could hear Vincent talking on his cell phone in rapid French. 

 She was standing there in her underwear when she realized the Dominus had been on the plane with them! When had he gotten on? Where had he been? She quickly slipped on her new clothes and ran her hands down her arms. She felt wonderful in these clothes! She glanced out the window again and saw the SUV was gone and another black sedan was sitting in its place. 

 Sophia tapped on the compartment door, "Are you decent?"

 "I am!" Katherine called. "Just putting on my shoes."

 Sophia opened the compartment and stepped back as Katherine walked into the jet's main body, "You look grand!"

 Katherine smiled and then pointed out the closest window. "Who was that that just left? It was him -- the Dominus, wasn't it?"

 Sophia's smile broadened. "Yes, he joined us at Heathrow. He co-piloted with Francis."

 Katherine nodded. She turned her icy blue glare on Vincent, "Vincent!"

 "Uh-oh, what have I done now?" Vincent asked. He turned around and grinned appreciatively at her. "You look stunning, Katherine!" 

 "You didn't wake me up to meet him!" Katherine accused Vincent. "Why?"

 "It was not the time or the place to meet you, Katherine," Vincent replied gently. "He wants you to settle in for a few days and then you will meet. We will be speaking to him later on a conference call with the other members of the Sept."

 She was prepared to be angry but for some reason, she was not, instead, she was just confused. "I just don't understand why all the evasion."

 "I know," Vincent replied. "But you will understand soon, I promise you."

 She nodded silently and picked up her backpack. Sophia was ready with her luggage bag and her garment bag with the rest of the clothes that were brought to her. She handed those to Francis who put them into the trunk of the car with Vincent's bag. The garment bag was laid carefully on top. Vincent watched the proceedings from the open door of the jet. It was still pre-dawn with a faint pink blush in the eastern skies. He slipped on his suit jacket. He took the light jacket from Sophia and held it for Katherine. She dropped her backpack into her seat and put her arms into each sleeve of the jacket. Vincent slid it up onto her shoulders. The jacket was made from the same material as her trousers but lined in grey silk. She turned to Sophia who impulsively threw her arms around Katherine, "Safe journey, Katherine!"

 Katherine returned the hug, climbed down the steps of the jet, and shook hands with Francis as she reached the bottom. "Perhaps I'll see you again, Miss Van Dermeer."

 "Perhaps, thank you for a wonderful flight --- even though I slept through most of it!" Katherine said with a smile.

 Francis chuckled. "Next time we fly, you can take a peek into the cockpit, and see what I get to look at for most of the flight."

 "I'd like that," Katherine replied. 

 Vincent shook Francis' hand, went to the passenger door, and opened it for Katherine. It was a European model, and it was a bit disconcerting sitting on the left side with no steering wheel. She took the seatbelt buckle Vincent pulled around to her. She took it from his fingers, she glanced up at him, "Vincent, no matter what happens," she said her blue eyes darkening with concern, "I'm sure the Dominus doesn't blame you for anything." and snapped it in place.

 Vincent felt his knees turn to water and he sat down on the car's running board. His dark brown eyes were wide in wonder, "You heard my thoughts, Katherine!"

 Whatever had happened to Katherine, it was like a door closing. She shook her head as if to clear it and she sighed. "It's happening again,"

 Vincent frowned and then realized both Francis and Sophia were watching them. He stood and threw another wave to Sophia, got in, and locked his seatbelt. He pressed the power button and the car rumbled to life. "We'll reach Manor de le jeune fille du Soleil in a few hours." He told her, "Time enough for you to tell me what is happening to you again."

 She drew in a deep steadying breath and let it go slowly. "Well, it started up again about three years ago. Before that, I was in college about mid-way from an important recital." She paused and glanced over at Vincent. He was intent on the road, a frown drawing his dark eyebrows together. "Anyway, three years ago, I started having terrible headaches, migraine-like, but the kind that didn't go away even with medication. The night terrors started up again, nearly every night. I'd wake up screaming." She scoffed lightly, "It got so bad that Taylor started sleeping in the guest room. That's when he suggested the psychiatrist."

 "I see," Vincent said flatly, "Did he offer comfort to you?"

 "He saw it as a psychological problem," Katherine said. "He seemed to think that I was trying to distance myself from him, but I wasn't."

 Vincent grunted. Katherine smiled over at him. "It's okay, Vincent." She told him. "It's all over with now. So, tell me what was the name of the place we're going to?"

 "It's called Manor de le jeune fille du Soleil." He replied, glancing over at her.

 "Hmm, let me try and see if I can remember what that might be," Katherine said. "Sun maids manor?"

 "That is very close!" Vincent cheered. "The place is called, 'the Sun Maiden's Manor.'"

 "Vincent, can you tell me why the Dominus is so covert? He's been generous and I can't complain about the accommodations, but there is this feeling I keep having that I'm in danger."

 Vincent checked his side mirror and then the rearview mirror. The roads were clear except for a few cars at the airport and the motorway they drove on was all but deserted. He found a spot that was specifically made for viewing the terrain. There were no other cars or tourists, so they were completely alone. He pulled over and stopped the car. He glanced at the car's dashboard and nodded out the windshield, "It's a bit brisk out there, you want to stretch your legs?" 

 She got out and came to stand at the high railing that gave a panoramic view of the valley below. They had been traveling up into the low hillside and beginning to ascend the mountain ranges. It was chilly and the wind that blew made her skin tingle. "What I can tell you is that the Dominus is protecting you. As a Potential, you must remain beyond reproach. You cannot be compromised – even by the Dominus. So, he must limit his contact with you. None of the others in the Sept, even those with Potentials, can approach. If anyone did even inadvertently, they forfeit their chance to be in the oculus during the testing."

 "I understand," Katherine replied, "It just seems so over the top."

 "Yes, but it is essential – everyone will do all they can to be beyond reproach," Vincent said. He saw her shivering and grinned, "So are you ready to get to the Sun Maiden?"

 "I am! It's colder up here in the hills than when we got off the jet!" She declared. Vincent saw Katherine back safely in the car and they continued on the roadway. They traveled through rolling hills and small communities and out onto a forested meandering road that slowly took them to a higher elevation. They were in a dense forest for much of the trip when Katherine suddenly remembered something.

 "You know Taylor recorded me during one of my episodes," she told Vincent. "When I played it for Dr. Prichard, he said it was gibberish, but I always thought it might have meant something."

 "Do you have it?" Vincent asked.

 "I do," Katherine said, "I have it saved on my phone." She drew her pack up and drew out her phone. She opened the file that held the recording. She frowned at it, the file was called, 'crazy talk'. She turned up the volume a bit, "I have to warn you, I'm screaming and crying at first then I calm down and start the gibberish."

 Vincent glanced over at her. "Let me find a place to pull over and then I want you to play it for me."

 "Okay," she answered, she was feeling nervous again, suppose Vincent thought she was crazy?

 "You are not crazy, Katherine!" Vincent declared as he pulled over onto the wide shoulder of the road. They both stared at each other in surprise.

 "Now you're reading my mind!" Katherine said and laughed lightly.

 Vincent smiled gently at her, "Go ahead, play it."

 As she had said, the recording was disturbing to listen to. She wept in terror and then when she began to scream it was as if she was being tortured! Vincent's heart pounded in fear and anger, how could the man just record the incident and not try to help wake her?

 Then she started speaking. "Mother of God!" Vincent cried out. "It can't be!"

 "Do you understand it?" Katherine asked.

 "Back it up to when you are speaking, and turn the volume up, Katherine." 

 She did and Vincent listened closely. He looked astonished at her as he listened. 

 "Does it mean something?" Katherine asked.

 "Yes!" Vincent said with barely contained rage. "How could he not have at least tried to find an answer for you?" 

 "It's okay, Vincent," Katherine said and placed a hand on his shoulder, "What language is it?"

 "It's a very old dialect," Vincent said, "I am not certain of what you are saying, but it appears that you somehow have the memories of the first elemental."

 "I have no idea what you're talking about," Katherine said then as Vincent was about to explain, she waved away what he was going to say, "But what do you make of it?" Katherine wanted to know. "What is happening?"

 "Best I can tell, there is a battle of wills going on," Vincent said, "Whomever you are battling, they are trying to dominate or kill you, I can't tell which. You call upon a primeval power, it is courting you, wanting you and you ask for its help. This entity grants the help, but it demands something from you in return. I do not know what the price was."

 Katherine laughed lightly but Vincent took her hand in his. He looked both fearful and awed. She smiled at him and then looked at the file name. "I guess I should rename the file."

 "Rename it, 'Kiss of Raine'," Vincent murmured. "Would you share the recording with me so I can find true answers for you?" 

 "I guess so, I do want answers," Katherine replied. "A few minutes of embarrassment is worth finding answers to the questions that have plagued me for such a long time." 

 He pulled his phone from the inside pocket of his coat and Katherine shared the audio file with him. When he received it he immediately forwarded it to several people, one being the Dominus. "There is nothing to be embarrassed about, Katherine," Vincent told her. "I promise you will have your answers!"

 They continued on a narrow road that slowly crept up the side of a large hillside up to a black wrought iron gate. A man dressed in a security uniform pressed a button and the gates swung back. Vincent cracked the window and the guard ducked down to look past Vincent to Katherine. "Welcome home, madame."

 Katherine leaned forward. "Thank you."

 Vincent drove the car slowly through the gates and then continued up the now red brick road to the manor at the top of the hill. Upon seeing it for the first time, Katherine was amazed at how huge the place looked. It was a castle – not a manor house! "Wow, this is amazing!"

 The car went around the circular courtyard and stopped at the wide bank of steps that led up to the front of the manor. Assembled on either side of the steps was the entire complement of people who ran the manor. Maids, butlers, house staff, gardeners, and the imposing figure of Mrs. Tremeur in a crisp charcoal grey dress with sturdy black shoes. Her white hair was swept up in a bun and her hands were folded in the sleeves of her jacket. The group of groomsmen, stable men, and women were banked on the other side of the steps. A man dressed for riding was about Katherine's age, perhaps a bit older, tanned by the sun, and watched everything with brown curious eyes. 

 Vincent came around and opened the passenger's side door and as Katherine swung her feet out he held out his hand to her. Mrs. Tremeur stepped up as Katherine exited the car. She executed a little dip of a curtsy, "Welcome, Ms. Van Dermeer."

 "Thank you, Mrs. Tremeur." Katherine returned.

 "Come," Mrs. Tremeur said extending her hand and arm to the house staff. "Meet the staff of Sun Maiden."

 Mrs. Tremeur rattled off a long list of names, Katherine would never remember, but when she got to Katherine's chambermaid, Collette, she would remember this young woman who was barely out of her teens. 

 Then the stablemaster came up the steps, took his hat off, and bowed. "Madam, I am Etienne Moreau, stablemaster."

 Katherine nodded to him and then he rattled off the names of the men and women who worked in the stables. Just before Mrs. Tremeur dismissed them all, Katherine turned to them from where she stood at the top of the steps. "Thank you for coming out so early in the morning and welcoming me to the Sun Maiden. It will take me a little while to learn all your names, but I will."

 Collette came to Mrs. Tremeur for her instructions. "Take madame to her suite and get her settled. Would you care for a café or tea?"

 "Café would be grand!" Katherine declared.

 Mrs. Tremeur clapped her hands, and everyone immediately disappeared to deal with their errands. Katherine was suddenly reluctant to leave Vincent and glanced back over her shoulder at Vincent, and he winked showing her a warm flirty grin, "You go settle in and I'll see you in a little while, Katherine. I won't be far away."

 Katherine nodded and followed Collette into the grand entrance hall and looked up at the ornate wooden beams and plaster molding. It was a palace! They went up the wide staircase and down the hallway to one of the bedroom suites she remembered from the photographs. Collette spoke to a young man who carried Katherine's garment bag and carry-on luggage. They spoke in quick French, and he bowed and left, closing the door behind him. Collette showed her through her suite of rooms. When they got to the walk-in closet Katherine was awed. There waiting for her was a complete wardrobe!

 Everything imaginable was there. All in her size, all styles that she liked, and in a variety of colors and materials. Katherine walked through the closet and went from everyday wear to more formal dining clothes. Then there were riding outfits and shelves with folded yoga pants and tops. Several pairs of running shoes. By themselves on a tall rectangular shelf were tall riding boots and hanging next in a spot to their own, black dressage jackets and hats and the distinctive red hunting jacket. It seemed a little much for someone who was potentially only going to be around for two weeks!

 The large bedroom had a massive tester bed with crème-colored bed curtains and ivory fringe. The bedspread was embroidered with flowers and butterflies. Everything was opulent and lavish. How could anyone be anything but happy living in a small palace? Still, even as Collette was drawing up a bath for her and setting out new lounging clothes and slippers Katherine felt the prickle of doubt. But so far, absolutely nothing had happened to make her feel even remotely in danger. She turned in a slow circle and took in her surroundings. 

 She pushed the thought and dismissed the voice with a shake of her head. Two weeks. Just two weeks in a luxurious little palace somewhere outside of Lake Geneva. What could be difficult?

 Collette left her to bathe. She sank into the deep scented warm waters of the bath and soaked away the last cobwebs of her trip. Then she dried and put on her lounging pajamas and robe. Stuck her feet in the lambswool slippers and padded out into the sitting room where Collette had set coffee service and a flaky croissant with real pats of butter. Collette had unpacked her carry-on and plugged in her laptop and phone to charge. When Katherine sat down she picked up her phone and turned it on. There were six text messages and one telephone message. She looked first at the text messages, they were from Taylor, and all six messages said the same thing, "Don't do this, Katherine!" Even thousands of miles away he was still telling her what to do! She deleted them.

 The phone message was from Mrs. Ellis, and she listened. "Hello, Katherine! Tell your young man I said thank you for the extra help. I'm going to be going out a bit more now that I have a driver. Bingo is this Saturday afternoon and I plan on winning the kitty! Have a great time in Europe!"

 She chuckled and decided to save the message. Maybe she would play it for Vincent later. Collette went in and quietly gathered up her towel and garments and tidied up the bathroom. Then she excused herself and disappeared. "I will return when it is close to brunch with Mr. Thys."

 "Thank you, Collette." 

 "You are welcome, madame." Collette returned with a nice smile that made her look even younger than she was.

 Left alone, Katherine opened her laptop and waited for the Internet dongle to find and make a connection. It was password-protected. She'd have to wait. She sipped her coffee and ate her croissant. Even with the strong coffee, she still drifted off.