Page 10 of The Danger Kiss

Needless to say, neither the food nor the awkward conversations went down very well. I dreaded family dinners; they were always painful and unnecessary. Tonight, at least my grandfather would be there.

Looking at the clock once more, I got to my feet and took off my laboratory coat.

I still had time for a shower. Then fresh clothes. And the rest I just cover up.

***

It was completely dark when I walked the path up to the mansion.

Anybody who wasn't a Zola or a trusted servant would have strayed off the trail long since and plunged to his death from a height of nearly three thousand feet. There were about thirteen dummy paths that started out as soon as the mansion came into view, triple that upon reaching my greenhouse.

The real path to the mansion didn't have a properly visible trail. Instead, it was made up of unusual markers that the rest of the world would be too ignorant to notice.

In the day, the guides were rocks of a specific shape--a worn-down skull, an empty bowl, a clump of hearts. At night, there were the stars. One had to study both patterns, and memorize the trails impeccably. One wrong step meant certain death.

I arrived at the mansion ten minutes before eight.

Gudo was waiting for me on the front steps, flanked by three large statues. To his right was a lion and to the left a horse. Hovering above his head was a dragon with a long, curving body, glaring down on everything with beady eyes. All three stone creatures had expansive wings and hidden defense systems, including shields and thermal-detector firing weapons.

The butler, clad as always in his spotless black uniform, gave me a low, formal bow. “Good evening, Miss Blanca.”

“Good evening.” I ascended the steps and instinctively surveyed my surroundings, extending my senses, allowing them to be privy to any hint of danger.

"Please follow me."

The front double doors weighed about a total of three tons. Gudo opened it without any difficulty, using only one hand. He stepped inside and held the door open for me.

For the first time in months, I entered the house where I had grown up.

The foyer of the mansion had mirrors for walls, all angled towards the front door. Their positions could be manipulated by remote from a room in a higher part of the mansion, so the corridors could lead towards the correct rooms, or the multitude of traps activated throughout the house.

It all depended on who was entering.

My reflection on the multiple mirrors took me aback.

All I saw at first was a ghostly vision, with pale skin, dark hair and clothes the color of blood.

Then the light from the overhead chandeliers shifted, revealing a long red dress and red gloves on my now-pallid skin. My dark hair looked like a shroud.

What stood out from the rest were my eyes. A starkly dark violet against all the deathly paleness.

I turned away, hastening my steps to follow Gudo down one of the corridors.

Blanca Zola, deathly and reluctant, had come home.

For better or for worse, I had no idea.

three

The Mission

My grandfather, father and Rukko were already present when I arrived at the main dining hall. My father was seated at the head of the long oak table, in a large, imposing seat flanked by twin skulls, and he was the first to see me.

My father rose. Glancing in my direction, the other two followed suit.

It was quite disconcerting to be treated this formally, but, somehow, they have always done so.

“Good evening.” My voice sounded rusty.

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