Thin Ice 7 - Echoes of Reckoning (23 page)

Ian sighed deeply before answering her.

“
You’ve been having bad dreams,” he told her as she frowned deeply, not recalling any nightmares since she’d been back from Atlantic City.

“
You obviously don’t remember, but you cry out a lot in your sleep,” Ian told her still patiently watching her.

“
I didn’t know,” she said absently the Pure spell screaming in her psyche.

“
I just want to be sure everything is okay baby,” Ian said sweetly.

“
I’m fine Ice, I’m not sure what was going on,” she answered honestly, doing a plausible job of keeping the tremors from showing outwardly.

“
Are you staying put while I’m away,” Ian asked, raising an eyebrow.

Kaitlyn chuckled knowing he was alluding to her Atlantic City trip. “Ice, I’ve been good, so why are you tripping on me,” she asked still smiling slightly.

He sighed a bit acknowledging her statement. She hadn’t gone off the deep end and killed anyone since Ananda, though she’d beaten a smart mouthed gym employee almost unconscious the other week.

“
I don’t plan on going anywhere,” she added as he nodded slightly.

“
I’m making another move,” Ian began again as Kaitlyn nodded slightly waiting for him to enlighten her.

“
It’s time for me to go back home,” he said evenly and she immediately tensed.

“
Atlanta,” she asked praying he said no.

“
Yes,” Ian replied and her heart began to race.

She could see the drama starting all over again. Him and Tariq at each other’s throat, her right in the middle again. Kaitlyn didn’t want that. She liked things just the way they were right now; lots of space and distance separating the two mortal enemies.

“
Why Ice,” she asked diplomatically.

“
Because I love the city and there is definitely money to be made there,” Ian returned, leaning in and kissing her lips.

He didn’t know Tariq and his crew were already in the city, but he would soon, Kaitlyn thought as she returned the kiss.

“
You and the girls won’t need to move until I get everything established again,” he told her sweetly, kissing her neck now his breathing becoming ragged, his arousal evident.

After they made love, Ian showered and dressed. “I’ll be back in a few days,” he told her, leaning down and kissing her lips again as Kaitlyn continued to remain in bed.

“
OK, be careful,” she told him calmly as Ian smiled and assured her he would.

Kaitlyn heard him go down the stairs, the garage door lifting and closing again moments later. Yawning widely she closed her eyes and quickly drifted into a deep sleep.
“Who is this daddy,” Lauren asked looking at the photo of the beautiful woman. Carlo smiled as he came and lifted his daughter, placing her on his knee. She was nine years old. “This is your grandmother, Piper,” he answered as Lauren nodded. “Is she in Heaven,” the child asked innocently. Carlo’s face darkened but he didn’t yell. “No,” he said simply as Lauren remained quiet. “She’s still here,” Carlo said moments later as he rocked the nodding child in the chair they sat in. “Huh, she’s here daddy,” Lauren asked sleepily. “Oui,” he said simply. Lauren didn’t understand the word he’d used but she was too sleepy to ask him what it meant or what language it was. Carlo began to sing to her. It was something he did every now and again. His voice was soft and melodic and the songs always put her to sleep. He was speaking the language again as he spoke in her ear.

Kaitlyn was moaning softly as she slept the dream shifting as she fought to wake up and the darkness held her fast in its grasp.
“Please Carlo, I don’t want to do this,” Lauren pleaded as he dragged her downstairs to the room. “Hush,” he hissed angrily. She was trembling violently as they arrived and he pulled out the things he needed. There were the feathers and bones, the small brass bowl, empty for now. “Give me your hand,” he told her looking directly into her eyes. Terrified Lauren did as she was told, Carlo’s eyes black and lifeless as he stared into her soul. She screamed as the pain came, looking down at her now bleeding hand. Carlo cut the same slit into his own palm, their blood running down their hands and into the brass bowl. “The blood consumes,” he said quietly as Lauren bit her lip and tried to stop the tears flowing down her cheek. “Piper,” he began again. “Piper,” Carlo called out as the room developed a sudden chill and Lauren began to tremble. “Isn’t she beautiful mother,” he asked speaking to someone. She was too scared to lift her head. Lauren simply endured and prayed it would be over soon. “Yes Carlo, she is our blood, our seed,” the feminine voice returned. The sound made Lauren’s head jerk upward as her eyes found the woman from the photograph, her grandmother. “Cordrey,” the woman said softly as Carlo smiled. “That’s your blood Lauren,” he explained patiently. Lauren thought she was dreaming or she’d finally gone insane. There was no way the woman was here. “That’s our family, the beginning of our liaison with him,” he told her as Lauren shook her head no. “Yes, Lauren, our family, your blood is promised immortality,” Carlo told her as the woman moved closer to her and she shrank away. “Don’t be frightened little one,” Piper said softly, her hand reaching out and touching Lauren. The fingers felt like ice, chilling her body to the core.

Kaitlyn was thrashing now, tossing back and forth in the bed almost as if possessed. Her body was desperately trying to wake from the nightmare but her mind had taken full control returning her yet another time into the darkness.
“No, please,” Lauren cried, falling to her knees. “Baptize her,” Piper told Carlo as he smiled, nodding his understanding. Lauren heard the noise, recognizing the cries, but in too much of a daze to actually process what she was hearing. “Blood of Cordrey, now Cisneros, will always reign. Will always speak. The blood will destroy our enemies and cover our kindred, Tonight we give our sweet Lauren over to it, now and forever,” Carlo recited in the perfect French, Piper swaying hypnotically as he spoke. “You can never run from who you are, from what you are, or from the blood,” Carlo spoke one last time before Lauren heard the scream of the chicken as he decapitated it, the blood spraying all over her, warm and sticky. Lauren curled into a tight ball on the floor trying to block the horror of what she felt. “Drink,” Carlo told her, holding the brass bowl with their mingled blood inside. “No, Carlo, daddy, please,” Lauren cried. Her stomach was lurching and she felt the bile in her throat. She felt his hands in her hair, pulling her head backward painfully. Carlo pulled until she opened her mouth to cry out, pouring the blood down her throat. Lauren began to wretch. “NO,” Piper screamed placing her cold hand on Lauren’s throat and guiding the vile mixture downward. She passed out then, feeling nothing else.
Kaitlyn’s mind finally surrendered control as her body jerked upward the sweat drenching her as it still ran over her body. She blinked looking around gathering her bearings. Her cell vibrated and she irritably grabbed it, still breathing hard the dream far too vivid. ‘I’m coming for you,’ the message read. Kaitlyn frowned slightly thinking the message was from Tariq’s girl, playing on his phone again. The second message made her scream shortly and drop the phone onto the floor. ‘Blood of Cordrey, now Cisneros, will always reign.’

*****

Tariq was putting up the last of his clothing. He’d moved into one of the safehouses on the east side of the city, leaving Cyiarra and Hasaan on the other side of town. She’d of course gone through hysterics as he left, but Tariq couldn’t take it anymore. He couldn’t keep pretending he wanted to be with her when he didn’t. All his heart wanted, had ever wanted, was Kaitlyn. Even though he’d moved out Tariq knew they couldn’t be together the way they used to be. She unfortunately was still with Ice. He pushed the thoughts aside refusing to let it ruin his otherwise good mood. He grabbed the final box lifting it to put it on the shelf in the top of his closet, when the bottom came undone and the contents spilled to the floor.

“
Shit,” Tariq mumbled, sighing deeply as he set the box down and got on his knees picking up the contents.

There were mostly old papers and various memorabilia in the box and he was quickly stacking it together to put back inside when he saw the photo and his movements stopped.

The smiling couple was staring back at him as Tariq felt the hurt mixed with anger rise. He picked up the picture eyes still glued to it.

“
Mama,” he said softly regarding the woman.

His jaw clenched and the love was replaced with raw anger as he regarded the man.

“
Are you dead yet,” he asked aloud, not expecting an answer as he regarded his father, Aarick Taylor, in the photograph.

Tariq had fought long and hard to push his father out of his memory. He’d long since forgotten about any family ties he had when he left Tariq in the care of his maternal aunt, Emin, years ago.
Probably married again, had more kids, and said fuck Tariq,
he thought as he contemplated using the scissors that sat nearby to cut his father out of the photo. In the end he didn’t, but only out of respect for his mother’s memory and recalling how very much she’d loved the man. Tariq retrieved a roll of duct tape, re-securing the bottom of the box and placing all the papers back inside. The photograph he placed on the very top finally closing it and putting in his original intended spot.

His cell rang and he smiled seeing Kaitlyn’s number. “Hey baby,” he greeted her sweetly.

“
Hey Riq,” she returned and he heard the uneasiness in her voice.

“
What’s wrong KiKi,” he immediately asked, praying she wasn’t having drama with Ice or that he’d found out about their affair just yet.

“
I just needed to hear your voice, bad dream,” she replied and he breathed a little easier.

“
I’m here baby,” he told her gently. “I can fly up if you need me too,” he added as she sighed quietly telling him she really did need to see him.

“
Ice is gone for a few days, Louisiana,” she explained.

Tariq smiled telling her he would fly out this evening.

“
I’ll book your room,” Kaitlyn told him as he acknowledged the plan.

“
What about your girl Riq,” she asked sensitively.

Tariq assured her everything would be fine and he would explain once he saw her.

“
I’ll be there soon baby, okay,” he told her as they prepared to disconnect.

“
OK,” she replied sounding much more at ease.

They said their goodbyes and hung up as Tariq made his flight reservations, Kaitlyn made his room reservation, and King Diesel prepared his next move having heard the entire conversation through the wiretap he’d installed in her cell phone.

20

Ryan was joining Ian taking care of business in Louisiana, but he had to handle some things here at home first. The knock came at exactly 11:50AM and he relaxed letting the housekeeper answer.

“
Hello ma’am,” she greeted Nikki pleasantly. “Please come inside,” the woman offered, the slight accent in her speech.

Nikki thanked her pleasantly walking inside, Rayne holding her hand.

“
Hi daddy,” the little girl greeted seeing her father finally, relaxing on the love seat, watching TV.

“
Hey princess,” Ryan greeted her smiling as she ran into his arms and he hugged her tightly, kissing her cheek.

“
Did you have fun with mommy,” he asked no hint of irritation in his voice.

Rayne assured him she and her mother had a great time together.

“
When are we all going home again,” the child inquired in all her innocence, having no idea the turmoil her parents were experiencing.

“
We’ll see princess,” Ryan returned without further explanation.

Rayne accepted the explanation for now, moving out of his embrace and turning to her mother.

“
Come sit down with me and daddy, mommy,” she called out climbing onto the love seat beside Ryan.

Nikki glanced at Ryan who was regarding her with a calm expression.

“
Just for a minute honey,” she told Rayne sweetly, walking into the room and sitting down on the sofa adjacent to them.

“
No mommy, come sit here,” Rayne cajoled.

She wanted them to be like they were at home, when they would all sit together and enjoy TV, laughing and playing with her in the middle. Swallowing hard Nikki opened her mouth to try and explain to Rayne why she couldn’t when Ryan shot her a look. Checking herself she rose coming over and sitting on the other side of Rayne.

“
Good,” the child said simply, returning her attention to the set.

Nikki’s mind was racing as they sat and said nothing to each other. Rayne sang along with the various musical offerings the program offered, Ryan tickling her intermittently. Nikki had to admit she missed the closeness they used to share; the ease with which they simply existed together.
When did it all go wrong,
she wondered as the show ended and Rayne announced she was going to her room. Nikki gave her a hug telling her she loved her as Rayne returned the sentiment.

“
I’ll call you later and see what time I can come get her again,” Nikki told Ryan finally regarding him now.

“
Can we talk first,” he asked evenly, looking directly at her.