Night Kill (Private Investigator Andrew Knight Mystery Series) (28 page)

Andrew bounded off the bed and over to the dresser. He opened the drawers and searched for something to tie Ana up with. Andrew found a bunch of silk scarves. He tied several together to make them a bit longer. Andrew returned to the bed and secured Ana’s hands and feet together. He further secured Ana to the bed posts. And as a finishing touch Andrew tied a scarf in Ana’s mouth to keep her from calling for help. Once he was satisfied that Ana would be unable to escape, Andrew retrieved the coat and weapons. He strapped the belt back on, put on the leather coat and finished securing both sword scabbards on his back. Andrew slid the hood back on and took one last look at Ana. She was still out. Andrew walked to the door and unlocked it. He opened the door and peered out to see if the coast was clear. Andrew stepped into the hallway, relocked the door and closed it behind him. The sound of the heavy door, closing signaled the beginning of his search for Kara, Talia, and Wyatt.

Andrew crept along the dimly lit hallway of the third floor. Not a soul was in sight and he hoped that was a good thing. Andrew had tried several doors and found them to be unlocked. There were only four doors left to try. Andrew grasped hold of the door knob of the first one and gave it a twist. It was not locked. He tried the next one and it was also unlocked. Andrew quietly crossed over to the other side of the hallway. A sense of disappointed and doubt set in for a second as Andrew reached for the door handle. He gripped it firmly for fear of letting go and gave it a turn. It was locked! Andrew knelt down and reached inside the long coat. Andrew retrieved his lucky lock pick set that he had remembered to take from his duffle bag on the train. Andrew inspected the lock and removed the necessary picks.

Talia was lying in the bed when she heard some sounds coming from the door. She quietly slipped off the bed and over to the door. Someone was about to come inside, so Talia readied herself for an attack. Whoever it was; was going to get the surprise of their life. Talia heard the click in the lock and she poised for her attack.

Andrew slowly opened the door and stepped inside. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught some movement. Andrew immediately dropped to the floor as a fist swung to hit him. Andrew kicked out his foot and knocked the person to the floor. He jumped on them and pinned the person down.

Talia saw the door open. With all her might she swung her fist at the person, but instead, struck only air. The next thing Talia knew she was on the ground and the person had managed to pin her down.

Andrew took off his hood when he saw it was Talia.

“Andrew!” Talia squealed with joy.

Andrew offered Talia his hand. She took it.

Talia threw her arms around Andrew and squeezed him tightly.

“Okay,” Andrew announced that it was enough.

“What? Talia babbled. “How did you get here?”

“I will fill you in later,” Andrew said putting the hood back on. “We need to get Kara.”

They left the room.

Ana woke to find herself bound to her bed. She was pissed. How could a private investigator from Bayport, Wisconsin manage to out wit, out smart and out fight her knights? Apparently she had underestimated Andrew Knight as an adversary. Years ago during a training session Ana had dislocated her right wrist. Now any time she wanted to, Ana could dislocate it. Though it was painful, it was the only way to get out of her bonds. Ana closed her eyes and gave her wrist a sharp twist. She grimaced at the sound of her bones slipping out of place. With her wrist limp, Ana slipped out of her bonds easily and sat up. Now came the part she dreaded, putting her wrist back in place. Ana howled when she snapped her wrist back.

Ana quickly untied her feet and jumped off the bed and over to her walk-in closet. She undressed and immediately put on her knight’s garb. Ana slipped on her long coat and strapped on the scabbards that held her custom made, pearl handled, swords. They were a gift from her father when she took over as leader of the Knights of VanHelsing. Ana strapped on the belt with crossbow and arrows around her waist. Andrew Knight and the others were not going to get away. Ana walked out of the closet and closed the door behind her. She immediately unlocked the door and left her room.

Ana took off in the direction of the third floor to stop Andrew from setting Talia and Kara free.

Kara was lying on the bed when she heard the door open. She didn’t even bother to get up at first.

Finally, Kara sat up. She saw Talia being escorted in the room by one of the Knights.

“What do you want from me now?” Kara demanded.

“For all of us to go home,” Talia answered.

“We’re prisoners,” Kara retorted.

“Do you want to or not?” He removed his hood.

“Andrew!” Kara couldn’t get off the bed fast enough. She jumped on him and they both fell to the floor. Kara smothered Andrew with kisses.

“Okay,” Andrew pushed Kara off. They stood up.

“How?” Kara asked with curious eyes. She looked around. “Where is Nick?”

“We need to find Wyatt and get the hell out of here,” Andrew said. He put the hood back on, “I will explain it all once we get out of here.”

The three companions walked out of the room and went off in search of Wyatt.

The lower floors were quite opposite of the third. There were several Knights about and it made Kara and Talia very nervous. Andrew had come up with the cover story that he was taking them to be interrogated. They must have believed him, for the others left them alone.

As they walked along, one of the Knights followed a few paces behind. Either they did not believe the cover story or it was for another reason. Perhaps they wanted to make sure that Andrew did, in fact, take them to the interrogation room.

Andrew was aware of them being followed. He whispered for the girls to remain calm and just keep on walking. They did as Andrew instructed and remained silent as they walked along. When they reached a side passageway, Andrew told them to head in that direction. Andrew had them press up against the wall when they had gotten to a bend in the passageway. When the Knight that was following them reached the bend, Andrew struck! Within seconds he knocked out the person and had them on the floor. Andrew removed the person’s hood to reveal it was a young man who looked to be no more than seventeen or eighteen.

“That’s Wyatt,” Talia blurted out, but immediately covered her mouth.

“Holy crap,” Kara added. “Now what?”

“He must have recognized Talia and decided to follow us,” Andrew surmised. “Otherwise he had no reason not to believe our cover story.” Andrew said disappointedly. “Unfortuantely the only way out of here is by helicopter, and none of us know how to fly.”

“I know how to fly,” Kara announced. “I have my pilot’s license.”

“You do?” Andrew and Talia said at the same time.

“Like yeah,” Kara repeated with a head bob.

“So how do we get Wyatt and us out of here?” Talia looked to Andrew.

“We make a break for it,” Andrew answered. “Andrew knelt down and lifted Wyatt over his shoulder. “Let’s go.” Talia led the way to the to the helicopter area as the others followed.

The full moon was just peering over the majestic mountains. Ana was getting angrier by the minute. When she got to the third floor, she discovered that Andrew had already freed Talia and Kara. The next person he would search for was Wyatt. Ana smiled that there was no way out of all the knights at Gothica Andrew would be able to locate Wyatt. Ana walked over to the window and cast her gaze upon the moon. She could almost feel the light as it fell upon her. Ana closed her eyes for a moment to draw it in as if it was an elixir for her soul. She opened her eyes again and that’s when Ana saw Andrew and the others on the helicopter pad. Ana cursed and departed the room at a full run. There was no way she was going to let them escape.

Kara opened the door and climbed in the pilot’s seat. She began the preflight sequence. The whine of the rotors coming to life filled the night air. Andrew slid the side door open and put a still unconscious Wyatt inside. Talia stood beside Andrew, keeping watch and soon her fears were realized. A small army of knights were approaching their position with Ana in the lead. Talia shouted at Andrew, but the wind and the noise from the rotors drowned her out. She watched in terror as Ana and the knights loaded their crossbows. Talia gave Andrew a shove and when he turned, Andrew saw the army of knights.

“Get inside!” Andrew tried to push Talia to the open door. She instead spun around and faced Andrew to shield him. As each arrow struck, Talia moaned as her body jerked. When it was over, she lunged forward and Andrew caught her in his arms. Her eyes looked hollow as she stared up at Andrew.

Talia brought up her hands and gently, lovingly and cupped Andrew’s face. She drank in the sadness it showed.

“Do you know what true love is Andrew?”

“No,” Andrew’s answered, tears clouded his eyes.

Talia strained as she rose up. She drew closer. Andrew and Talia’s lips came together in one last, tender, loving kiss.

“Sacrifice,” Talia whispered as their lips drew apart. Talia was gone.

“Andrew!” Kara screamed. “We have to go!”

Andrew ignored her and gently laid Talia down. He finally turned to look at Kara. “Get out of here.” Andrew closed the door as Kara was still screaming at him to get in.

Kara saw Andrew gingerly lay Talia down and let loose the belt and drop it to the ground. Her eyes widened in further disbelief as Kara saw Andrew withdraw the twin swords from their scabbards. Kara kept shouting at Andrew. She couldn’t believe that he was going to take on Ana and her army of knights. They were trained killers! Kara was crying so hard she could barely see the instrument panel. She wiped her eyes and grasp hold of the throttle and the engines roared to full power. She would take off and then circle back to pick up Andrew.

The helicopter started to rise to the heavens. Kara turned the helicopter about and she saw Andrew, who was just about to attack. That’s when Kara also noticed the knights on the parapet above. They were loading wall mounted ballistas! Just as she turned the helicopter, they fired the first volley. Six highly deadly bolts rushed towards the helicopter. Kara forced the helicopter lower and they harmlessly flew by. Kara saw them make adjustments and reload for another volley, so she headed towards the valley and trees below. A second wave screamed towards the defenseless helicopter. Kara felt a sudden violent shudder, pieces of metal and black smoke shot past the side windows. They had hit the rear rotor! The controls went heavy in Kara’s hands. The helicopter was spinning as Kara tried to gain control. The trees and snowy ground drew closer and closer!

Ana couldn’t believe that Andrew was going to charge their position. She ordered her knights to remove their belts and make ready for Andrew’s attack. He was truly a fool to take them on. These were the best of all her knights; her elite guard. Ana let her belt drop as well and drew her own blades.

Andrew gave his battle cry and jumped up into the air. As he came back down, Andrew hit the first two with devastating kicks. Their heads snapped back with a sickening sound and they flew to the ground dead. Andrew landed and with his swords struck two more even before they could raise their own swords in defense. Andrew was in a fight to the death. The anger raging inside Andrew made him strong and unstoppable. The clashing of steel and the sounds of cracking bones echoed across the walls of Gothica. Two more knights charged into the mêlée. Andrew twirled about and drove his blades into their chests. Blood flowed and covered the grayish stone of Gothica. Andrew smashed and kicked his way amongst Ana’s elite. Finally, the last knight tumbled down and joined the rest of his fallen comrades. Andrew stood tall amongst the bloody and broken heap. He looked up in the sky just in time to see a barrage of steel tipped bolts fly towards the helicopter. Andrew recoiled when one of the bolts slammed into the rear rotor. It exploded, sending pieces of metal flying amongst streams of black smoke. Andrew saw the helicopter plunge towards the forest below.

Ana stood still. She was in shock. Andrew had defeated her knights; her very best! There Andrew stood victorious amongst the bloody heap he had created. Andrew Knight had to die!

Ana readied her pearl handled swords and charged at him. Andrew was distracted and it gave Ana the advantage. She was nearly upon Andrew and flew in the air and smashed into his back. Andrew sprawled to the ground. Ana brought both blades down but Andrew rolled over and blocked with his own. He jumped to his feet and swung at Ana, who blocked and twirled with a spin kick. Andrew blocked and drove his blades at Ana. She blocked with one and attacked with the other. Andrew met each with his own. Ana spun and hit Andrew with a powerful kick to the back. He fell forward, dropped, and rolled to his feet. Ana, with her blades ready to strike, rushed towards him. Andrew was ready. With one sword he slashed through the flesh of Ana’s leg and with the other, thrust it into her shoulder. Ana stumbled and let loose her swords which clattered to the stone ground. She rolled over to see Andrew towering above her.

“The Knights of VanHelsing will live on,” Ana was defiant. She closed her eyes and waited for Andrew to strike her down. Andrew rendered Ana unconscious instead with a blow to the head.

Hours later, after the battle with Ana and her knights, Andrew finally had the courage, and took Talia’s body into his arms. He looked up and searched the parapets. There was no sign of any knights. Andrew carried Talia inside the castle. He ascended the stairs to the third floor of Gothica and looked for a place to lay Talia’s body.