The Underground City of Cinders

Chapter 14

The car had barely stopped moving before Dimitri slammed it into park and wrenched his door open. Chase followed close behind him. They took the steps two at a time as they ran to the front doors of the hospital. There was a petite brunette sitting at the front desk. She was startled as Dimitri slammed his fists down on the counter, "Where is my mother?"

Chase could see she was visibly shaking. She looked back and forth between the two men standing in front of her, "I'm sorry?"

"Lareina," Dimitri huffed, "Where is she?"

The brunette shuffled nervously with the papers on her desk, "She came in earlier. I haven't seen her recently. The last time I saw her she was talking with a red haired woman."

Panic flashed across Dimitri's rigid features, "Where did she take her?"

The frightened girl turned her attention to the computer, "I... I'm not sure. The woman isn't on any of our patient charts. Is she visiting? Perhaps... they are taking in her office?"

Dimitri knew the way and without saying anything more he stormed down the hall. Chase mouthed a silent 'Thank you' to the girl before rushing after Dimitri. It was tough for Chase to keep up with Dimitri as they sprinted through the darkened halls. Dimitri slowed to a halt as they stepped up to a pair of large doors. Chase glanced at the plaque on the wall. He peered over at Dimitri and watched as he took a deep breath before pushing the doors open. There was a woman sitting behind a grand, mahogany desk. She was studying a large pile of papers sprawled across her desk in every which way. She smiled without taking her eyes off the files, "I should have known you would be here sooner or later Dimitri. Come to pay your mother a visit?"

Dimitri sneered, "You know exactly why I am here Mother, where is she?"

Lareina stood from her desk and slithered over to Dimitri, embracing him, "There you go again hurting mommy's feelings. Why don't you sit so we can have a chat?" She scanned over Chase for the first time, "I see you have brought a friend. This is momentous."

Dimitri could have laughed out loud, "He isn't a friend. We have similar interests."

Lareina waved her hand over a leather couch but neither man sat. She shook her head, "Fine, we shall get straight to business." She sat back down at her desk and folded her hands together, "You're here for the girl and I know that. It is a shame it had to come to this. If you had just followed my orders, like the good little boy I know you to be, I wouldn't have had to set Miranda loose on her."

Dimitri's heart sank, "The woman you sent after us?"

She nodded, "She was a huge disappointment when she returned empty-handed. I gave her the chance to redeem herself, to follow the orders you disobeyed."

Dimitri's body stiffened with a sense of dread, "Where is she?"

Lareina took a long strand of her silver hair between her long bony fingers, "I couldn't tell you to be honest. You know we try to keep things quiet here. I couldn't risk the patients finding out what we were up to. If you must know I left her in the morgue but there's no telling where Miranda has taken her." Dimitri immediately turned on his heel and left the room. Chase began to follow but was stopped by Lareina's voice, "What's your name?"

Chase turned back to face the alluring woman, "Chase."

She pondered for a moment, "Ah Chase... a mentor, are you not?" He nodded and she continued, "I have heard about you Chase. There aren't many things I don't know about in this city. You like it here?" Chase was hesitant to nod again. She smiled, "Well I am pleased to hear that. Being a mentor puts you in a very advantageous position at the moment. You welcome many of the new members to the city and you have access to files not many people can get their hands on. I would like to extend you an invitation... A job if you will. All I need from you is the occasion bit of information."