Guilty Secrets (Campus Love and Murder Sorority Eyes Romance Book 1) (16 page)

"Me? I don't think it could work out."

Mai leaned over, and with her knuckles lightly rapped my forehead. She shook her head. "Is everything in there scrambled?"

I gritted my teeth and felt my hands clench into fists. "I'm fine."

"We speak the same language but everything is lost in translation."

I lost it. "Fine, you want to know why I don't let myself fall in love with the most gorgeous guy on campus?"

Mai tilted her head. "I'm listening."

I shouted, "Harry may be Madison's killer."

Mai's jaw went slack and bobbed up and down as if on the end of a bungee rope.

She said nothing and put her arms around me.

"How sure are you?"

"Pretty sure. Not a hundred percent, but enough to make it hurt."

Softly, she said, "How long have you known?"

I felt tears on my cheeks as I choked, "I suspected Harry before our first date."

She pulled away and stared hard at me as if I was mad.

"You went on a date with Harry knowing or at least suspecting he was Madison's killer?"

"I needed to find out for certain."

"And did you?"

I shook my head.

"So what now?"

I shrugged. "The killer will be at the Knight's ball."

"How do you know?"

"If I was the killer, I'd want to put a stop to the girl stealing everyone’s guilty secrets."

"The way they put an end to Madison?"

"Only this time, I'm ready for them."

Mai shook her head from side to side. "You have no idea what you're getting into, Robyn. Why don't you take what evidence you've got to the police? Let them handle it from now on."

"That's impossible."

"Why?"

"Every secret that I stole was on a thumb drive marked with the special symbol of the Knights of Kimberley."

"The cross sword and mask?"

I nodded.

"So Mai, that means the knights trade in secrets."

"Why would they do that?"

"That's what I need to find out before I go to the police. Until I know just how deep this conspiracy goes, I can't trust anyone. Not even the police."

"Not even me?"

"I trust you not to speak with anyone about what I just told you."

"It won't make any difference."

"What do you mean?"

"The Knight's Winter Ball. It's all for you, Robyn. It's a trap and no matter what I say to warn you, you're walking right into it."

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR

"Our carriage awaits."

Since I put on the scarlet silk princess ball gown two hours previously I couldn't sit down.

"Mai, I don't think I can drive Rust Bucket in this dress."

She laughed. "No, seriously, our carriage is waiting downstairs."

It was already dark when I peered through the living room window. A silver carriage like something out of a fairy tale and with a team of four horses had parked up outside the apartment building. The driver sat up top in red costume and huddled in the light snowfall. A footman waited patiently by the door of the carriage.

"Does everyone get this service?"

Mai smiled. "Would it make you feel less special if I said yes?"

I shook my head from side to side. "It's still out of this world. Who pays for it all?"

"The White King."

"Who?"

Mai avoided my eyes. "You'll see soon enough."

We took the elevator to the lobby and were met by a footman in Renaissance clothing of crimson velvet and a mask that covered all but his eyes and lips.

He opened the nearside door and lowered a set of steps. He took my hand and helped me up the steps and into the carriage. Mai followed.

We perched on blue leather cushioned seats, anxious not to crease our dresses. Despite my less than secret mission to confront whoever was behind the dark secrets of the Knights of Kimberley, I was totally seduced by the theme of the Winter Ball and attention to detail. Including the heated blankets for our legs and the warm air circulating our feet.

Mai fiddled with the clasp of her clutch bag. "I can't get it closed."

"What have you got in there, the kitchen sink?"

She giggled. Just my insulin shots. The needle won't fit. I didn't want to bring a stupid bag in the first place. I'm bound to lose it."

She raised the hem of her skirt up over her thighs and revealed her garter belt and suspenders holding up her silk stockings. She took out two vials of insulin and slotted each one under a garter next to her thigh.

"I've got nowhere else for the syringe."

I laughed and rolled up the hem of my dress revealing my own stockings tops held up by garters. I took the syringe from Mai and tucked it neatly under a garter.

Mai laughed and tossed the clutch bag across the carriage.

Our carriage took the lakeside road. After ten minutes we slowed to a stop. “Last chance to change your mind and turn back, Robyn.”

I wound down the window and stuck my head out. We had approached at the college side of a bridge. Mai explained it was a checkpoint of armed guards that prevented anyone crossing over from the Kimberley University side of the lake and onto the property owned by Kublai Khan.

The guards were also in costume and masks. All black. One guard opened our door. And the cold air rushed in.

He held up a small device and politely explained it was a retina scan. Whilst he wouldn't be privy to our identities, the machine was remotely connected to a database that was.

A laser from his device read our unique eye patterns. Satisfied we were invited guests he closed the door and waved our driver through the crossing.

As the carriage rolled on over the wooden bridge my stomach back flipped like a gymnast at the Olympics.

Mai whispered, "There's no turning back now."

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE

Through the swirling lake mists I was now able to see where we were headed. Brad was right when he said a place was being constructed. It seemed to cover the entire Kimberley Island.

Twin white towers rose up from the center of the lake like two Moon bound rockets. As we traversed the lakeside road and began to approach the palace from the front, it became apparent that the twin towers were separated by a series of smaller towers. Surrounding them was a high white wall.

Taking us on the final stretch of our journey was a two lane bridge that spanned the frozen lake from the shore line to the floating palace. I wound down the window for a better view.

The carriage rolled along wheel tracks until we reached a large forecourt of carriages. Guests were escorted from their carriages by footmen, before the carriages rolled away in the opposite direction.

Our carriage stopped. The door opened and the footman lowered the steps for us. I took his hand and gingerly stepped onto... ice!

I couldn't believe it. The bridge and the palace standing before me were both made entirely of huge blocks of ice.

I turned to Mai, "This is what all those trucks have been delivering?"

She smiled and nodded. "Quite a sight, isn't it?"

"I must be dreaming."

We were directed by masked ushers into the palace.

Mai giggled, took my hand and led me under a series of arches to the main doors. We followed a group of masked guests and entered a vast chamber. A ball room.

We walked between two rows of dozens of masked men in costume. One row was dressed all in white. The other row in red.

Their uniforms were a mix of Renaissance leather pantaloons, thigh high leather boots and silk shirts. These were overlaid with intertwining layers of thin micro mesh steel. Emblazoned on the center of their chest armor was the symbol of the Knights of Kimberley: a grotesque mask and two crossed swords.

Their masks were three quarter length and fashioned like bizarre Venetian ball masks of hideous expressions contorted with pain down to their solemn lips.

Each held a sword aloft. Forming an archway. I realized it was supposed to be a guard of honor, but walking under their archway made me shiver more than the touch of the ice permeating the soles of my shoes.

Mai whispered, "The red knights of the Queen and the white knights of the king."

"A friendly rivalry?"

"You'll find out later."

Each lined up to be presented to a woman dressed in red and a man dressed in white. Both wore masks that covered their entire faces, but for their eyes and their lips.

Mai whispered, "The Red Queen and the White King. Our hosts."

Eventually the line shortened and the Red Queen held out her hand. I recognized the large emerald on her finger.

He smiled. "Good of you to accept our invitation. I'm sure after your long journey the festivities will enlighten you."

"I'm sure they will too."

I was then presented to the White King.

His one blue eye and the other brown were unmistakable. Kublai Khan.

The White king Kublai Khan bowed extravagantly and kissed my hand.

He leaned in and whispered, "So the end game begins?"

"It does indeed, your majesty."

CHAPTER FORTY SIX

Under a high ceiling of Gothic arches of ice, the first thing that shocked me was how many guests there were. Some three hundred, all in masks and costume.

When the impresario called for everyone to stand in two lines, opposite their prospective partners, to make ready for the grand march, I realized that I was the only one who did not have a partner.

Mai whispered, "Don't worry, an usher will dance with you."

A small orchestra began playing a slow waltz from their raised ice stage.

I stood like a lemon at the back of the line. The ladies took the arm of the gentlemen on their right. They glided across the ice. I glanced to my right for my partner, but no one was there.

"Ma'am, may I?"

I glanced over my shoulder as an usher took my hand. He wore a plain mask with a single tear drop running from one eye. He was dressed in blue crushed velvet and boots that covered his muscular carves. His uniform was topped by a thick leather sash that dropped from one shoulder to the opposite hip and supported a thin sword in a short scabbard.

Apparently, even the Help came armed to a dance in these parts.

There was something alarmingly familiar about his sandalwood cologne.

I breathed a sigh of relief. "You may be so kind, Sir."

"No need to call me Sir. I'm not one of those idiot Knights."

As the front of the two lines reached the orchestra, it fanned out. The first couple to the left, the second couple to the right and around the circumference of the circular ballroom they waltzed.

As we reached the front, my usher took both my hands and pulled me close to him. He spun me around and guided me to the left.

"Your first ball, ma'am?"

The idea that I could dance and converse at the same time was absurd. Nodding was also out of the question if my shape, turned out slightly away from him, was to be maintained.

"I'll take that as a yes, ma'am."

As Mai and Brad whirled by, Mai caught my eye and winked. Brad seemed more appropriately dressed less like a Knight and more like a pirate after a hard night's thieving and debauchery. It was a kind of sexy look. Far more so than my preened and posing in pantaloons dance partner.

But I had to concede, thanks to the skills of my partner's masterful lead, I completed my first full circle of the ballroom mostly without incident. Just the odd light collision due to my dim witted refusal to be led. Or my ignorance of the subtle pressure points of his hands. Or, it had to said, my inability to know my left from my right.

After a few minutes of clinging manically to his strong protective arms, I finally felt brave enough to open my mouth without dancing both feet into it.

As the usher spun me around the floor, I looked up at the smooth high walls of ice. I noticed a series of balconies carved into the ice and connected by a spiraling staircase of ice descending to the dance floor. Each balcony seemed to contain groups of V.I.Ps watching the proceedings. The uppermost contained the Red Queen.

She watched me with an intense interest and not without considerable scorn.

I began to feel dizzy with all the spinning.

"What's your name, sir?"

"Names are not permitted, ma'am."

"So what do I call you?"

I detected a slight mocking tone when he replied, "After midnight, you can call me anything you like."

"What happens after midnight?"

"Assuming you get out of here alive, you turn back into a pumpkin."

I felt my eyes bulge and stared hard at his eyes. "Harry? Shit!"

"Remember to smile. They're watching."

"What the Hell are you doing here?"

"There was no way I’d get an invite so I had to get imaginative."

"How?"

"Just say I imagine the original owner of this monkey suit will will wake up tomorrow with a headache."

"So you're not a Knight of Kimberley?"

"You'll have to settle for a humble usher, ma'am."

"Stop with the ma’am. So if you're not a part of all this, what are you doing here?"

"Same as you. Trying to find Madison's killer."

I felt a tap on my shoulder. I glanced around and into the eyes of the White King.

"Cutting in."

I glanced at Harry who had stopped and bowed before the White King.

The White King took my hand.

"Robyn, allow me to give you a personal guided tour."

"Thank you, majesty."

I knew then I was about to learn the deepest, darkest secret of the court of the Kimberley Knights.

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN

"So you want to know my secrets?"

"I want to know who killed Madison."

The White king led me away.

We followed couples as they left the ballroom and vanished into a sequence of antechambers delving deeper into the Ice Palace.

The entrance to each chamber was marked with thin translucent sheets of fine silk. Deep fur rugs draped the floor of each chamber. Guests began peeling off their gowns and writhing in various stages of undress on the rugs together.

"This is your secret? Orgies? You blackmail them? For what? You're already rich."

He smiled.