Duty and Deceit

Chapter 27

Kaia-

If Roxas thought he could romp around with this 'Lady I' after kissing Kaia senseless, he had a kick to his crotch coming for him.

'Just a kiss' her blood boiled when she remembered his words. Goddess, she wanted to kick him anyway just for that alone.

She stood before the Lotus Grove Villa, the moon already starting to set down the other half of the sky. Yes, she'd waited till midnight before coming here, to give him the benefit of the doubt, to see if he really had the audacity. Turned out, he did have the audacity, since he'd been gone the entire day.

Her hands were shaking with rage. Oh, once she'd get her hands on him, he'd rue the day he'd decided to stalk her.

The gates were closed, leaving her no option but to jump over the walls.

Kaia had come prepared this time, donning one of the few female masks Roxas had likely made when he was younger. The mask didn't fit her like a glove, since it was made to fit Roxas's face. But she should be alright if no one looked at her twice or for too long.

Surprisingly, there were no guards in sight, leaving the front lawn deserted. The front door was locked. Kaia had half a mind to bang on the doors to ruin whatever mood Roxas and Lady I were trying to create.

Lady, I will gouge your eyes out if you lay them on my man!

Had Kaia finally gone insane over a man? Most likely.

She walked around the premises, peeking into the ground-level windows, only to find empty bedrooms. She spotted several coaches parked in the back of the villa. A soiree?

That sated her a bit. Roxas wasn't rendezvousing with Lady I. He was just here for the information she'd mentioned in the letter.

But why would he need to stay for multiple days?

She thought back on the kiss, how Roxas had completely avoided her over the past few days. Perhaps he just needed his space from her, likely staying at Hadi's or Nara's place for a few days.

She could get behind that.

She sighed, about to turn around and leave, peering into a window one last time. Just as she was moving back, her eyes landed on a body sprawled across the carpeted floor, a pool of blood underneath him.

She stilled.

That's not something a normal party would have.

She smashed a giant rock through the window, stopping for a few minutes, trying to discern any approaching footsteps before she opened the window and jumped in, her shoes crushing the broken glass underneath, her dagger gripped tight.

The man seemed to be in his mid-fifties, his hands sliced off. Red paint was smudged across his lips, as though he'd been kissing a woman before someone stabbed his back.

Just as she stepped over his body, the door opened. The man froze at the sight of her, a mop and bucket in his hand. As soon as his mouth opened to scream, Kaia threw her blade at his head. The man dropped like a log.

She dragged the man into the room, peering out the door to see if anyone else was coming. When all she could see was an empty hallway, she slipped out of the room. If Roxas was still in the villa, she hoped to find him at the party.

Curved hallways crossed over each other in confusing ways, multiple forks coming up in her path. A drunken man must've designed this place, for after an hour, Kaia ended up exactly where she'd started.