"Lina, are you with us?" I stopped reminiscing. Czar tapped on my forehead and I slapped his hand away. "You didn't have to do that. You finger feel like a cube of ice. "I was thinking of when we first met Lucifer. Do you remember how he got his scar?"
"No."
"Of course. He said he was looking for a cure from the common cold and went through experimental treatment with a scientist from another country. Thinking of Kitten, I also think she was a part of the experiment. All that we know of her seems to fit the same erratic behavior of Lucifer."
"Kitten and James are dangerous. Not as bad as Lucifer, but they will kill us if they get suspicious. That experiment enhanced Lucifer's speed and endurance. If Kitten did the same, we can take her. She won't be a match for us." Czar was only concerned with the physical attributes of our opponents. Their mental capacity is what I am the most concerned with.
Czar looked at me. He touched my hand briefly. "We don't know what we are up against. Let me handle this meeting. You can go home."
"Czar, this is a business deal, we should both be here. I just feel uneasy. Something about our first meeting with Lucifer is bothering me, it seems relevant to this meeting." I started walking and Czar followed.
"The experiments mean nothing at this point. We need more information on what they are and how they affect the humans. Lucifer and Kitten are both nothing more than humans. Only Lucifer knows what we are capable of at this point. I do not think he would be foolish enough to share that information." Czar pulled his blazer closed and covered his gun. He never used it. He thinks guns are barbaric, but he liked to have it.
I looked up at the museum. It was beautiful. The building was large, about four stories tall. It was made of black marble. The style of building resembled the structure of the Taj Mahal, but more modernized for the times.
Our mayor decided to spend funds for the public schools on this museum. It cost more than the public schools the price of text books needed for all of the students in the city, but James promoted travel destination. It was sickening.
James and Kitten owned the whole museum. The city funded the project, but James, being the mayor, signed it over to himself in the middle of the process without the citizens knowing. James is a corrupt man. The governor, police and state reps refuse to step in. James was great at blackmail and everyone cared more about their political personas than the livelihood of the people here.
Czar pulled me close to him, "No harm hearing them out. Besides we have men on standby. They've already done their rounds I can send more backup." I looked at my cellphone and saw three text messages.
Czar took the phone from me and read the messages. He sighed and handed me the phone. It's been awhile since he's looked so concerned. "Hmmm…"
I looked at the phone and Lucifer had texted me. He wanted to take me and Czar to dinner after our meeting. He asked what he should wear in a second text. Czar was not interested in those messages, but the message after.
"Lina, we have to be careful. They have about fifteen confirmed associates with them. Maybe more hidden within the museum."
"Noted. Do you know why Lucifer killed Miguel? I don't understand why that was necessary. He's usually not irrational." I pictured Miguel's broken body and dead eyes on the floor. Yesterday, Miguel was just excited to tell me he was going to the nearest island with his pregnant girlfriend.
Czar was silent. I knew the death of Miguel didn't sit right with him. Miguel was loyal to a fault and often endangered the lives of Czar and myself to please Lucifer. That made him okay by Czar's standards because he was predictable.
I looked at him, but he continued into the museum. "You do know."
"After this meeting we'll discuss my theory." He placed his hand on my lower back as we continued our walk through the museum and I laughed. Czar would only keep this a secret from me if he knew I would overreact.
"Theory? So, we know nothing for sure. That's concerning." He patted my shoulder. "Hmm, Kitten said she just wanted to meet me, and James just wanted to exert his power and block off a wing for this meeting, I'm sure. He's a foolish man. But does the death of Miguel and this meeting have anything in common."
Czar smiled. "Of course, I have eyes and ears everywhere, but those eyes and ears can be bought. I take everything with a grain of salt and rely on fact. Let's hear what they have to say then go. We can handle all these issues later. Kit will be waiting for us."
"We can take her to dinner after our dinner with Lucifer."
Czar rolled his eyes host.
The ancient Egyptian exhibit stands out among all things. The sarcophagi made of pure gold with bios that clearly are meant to deceive people that aren't interested in ancient history. I laughed and continued walking.
Czar scoffed, "What the hell is this?"
The next room was lit up and a live orchestra was playing. Kitten and James were waltzing in the middle of the hall. Kitten dressed in a gown fit for the early 1800s. Czar stared at the couple dancing with disdain. Then James acknowledged us and made his way over to us with the smell of liquor on his breath. He wore a dramatic white wig with powder and blush on his cheeks.
His natural scent was of soiled socks. His soul reeked. He was fat and short, with dull green eyes. James voice was deep and lacked any hint to the amount of alcohol he consumed, "You two have to get dressed for the meeting. Classic masquerade attire is required to discuss business." Czar and I stayed silent. "Mr. Credence and Mrs. Credence will take you to your respective rooms."
Czar spoke, "I will not leave her alone."
Everyone was silent, "Well if you'd like to dress together that's no problem at all." James towered over Czar by at least five inches and two hundred pounds, but Czar didn't seem fazed by the physical disparities.
My eyes were drawn to Kitten. She said nothing. She just smiled and stared at us. Her appearance seemed blurry, even though she was only about 20 feet away. Her appearance seemed to be shifting. I couldn't smell her scent. Even from this distance, I should smell something. What the hell is she?
"We'll go to the bigger room." Czar's voice was barely audible. I listened, but I tried to get a clear image of Kitten, but all I could see was her smile.
The Credence's took us to a big room fit for a celebrity superstar during a big budget movie production. My eyes were drawn to the dress, the dress was beautiful. "Wow. What if we set up a night like this for our workers to enjoy?" My mind whirled with the possibility of a ball. I watched as the Credence's stared at us awkwardly. Czar noticed and waved them out of the room.
Mr. Credence bowed out, "I will be back with your attire sir." He left the room and Mrs. Credence bought me a cup of tea. "If you need any help, I will be outside."
Czar walked her to the door, as I hurried to take my clothes off. I touched the fabrics. Silk and Egyptian cotton greeted my fingers. The gold and blacks merging beautifully together, then, I saw it. A corset.
Czar snickered, "I can help you put it on."
I looked at it again and then down at my frame, "No, I'll go without." I finished stripping my clothes off and listened as Czar turned around. "We need a vacation."
Mr. Credence opened the door. He glanced at me and quickly turned, "I'm sorry ma'am. I didn't know you were undressed." He bowed backwards and Czar went to retrieve his clothing.
After Mr. Credence left, Czar and I changed in silence. I examined Czar's outfit, much like a mixture of King Henry VIII and Benjamin Franklin with a dash of Lady Gaga. I laughed, "You'll look dashing! The colors really bring out your eyes." The blues and pale yellows definitely were flattering on him, he chuckled and continued to fasten his pants.
"It's been about 8 months since we had a vacation. Are you interested in breaking the streak?"
I looked up to see Czar smiling at me and the look he gave me was definitely a change from his normal professional glare. I straightened my back and walked over to him. He wrapped his arms around me and I pulled him in for a kiss. Instantly, I got lost in his icy essence. The softness of his lips melted my fears. The taste of citrus and mint filled my mouth and I craved more with each second. He pulled me closer and his smell engulfed me, I was completely lost in him.
There was a knock on the door. Mrs. Credence's voice called out to us, "Kitten and James are ready for you two, but please take your time."
I looked down at my undergarments and sighed, "After this meeting, we will continue."
Czar smiled and kissed me on the lips, "Absolutely." Czar helped me into the corset and I finished dressing. His hands were soft and gentle.
"All done. You look really…umm…old fashioned." Czar laughed. It almost made me dislike him.
I smiled. "Well, hopefully I won't have to wear this for too long. Let's get this meeting over with so we can have real fun, and get home to Kit." We walked towards the door. It was locked. "Mrs. Credence, we are ready to come out."
My eyes widened, I immediately pushed Czar back and shoved him to the floor. The damn corset made me slower, and the fall painful. The barrage of bullets flying over our heads reminded me of the time Czar and I got caught in the rain, but this was more deadly. We moved low on the floor. Czar motioned me towards a corner where he had come a few days earlier to plant weapons. I sighed.
The bullets were still flying and Czar and I patiently waited for them to stop. They wouldn't have an effect on us, but we didn't want them to know that, especially if we were being monitored.
The bastards weren't even smart enough to sweep the building before we met or they could have just left these here to make us feel secure. There were about a dozen more people stomping their way through the museum towards us.
Czar tapped my shoulder. He motioned to the door. He was ready to just barrel out and kill everyone. I nodded.
Before we got to the door, the room was filled with a strange smoke. I inhaled and felt my body succumbing to the fumes.
"Cza…"