Lucky and the Killer ✔

Sean and Sarah

For the first time in a long time, Sean felt weak. He stared over at the dusty, black rocks he'd collected on top of the dresser. It could have been charcoal. They scattered around the wood like black diamonds—silently reminding him of the lengths he was going to for her. They were shadows. Well, what was left of them anyways.

"You're awake," Sean glanced over at Sarah as she blinked in the empty den around them. Sunlight slipped in through closed curtains and made particles of dust dance down to the dim floor.

"I need you to open the portals," Sean said with a flat voice. He picked up one of the black stones and twisted it around in his fingers. It was pure energy, but they didn't glow.

Sarah watched his eyes rim with tears and rubbed her face to wake herself up. That was right: he took her away from Bella and made her tell them where Helix was. That was right. He was King's father. King was there.

"Where's King?" Sarah yelped as she sat upright. "What did you do to King!"

"He left," Sean said, but he kept his eyes on the rock in his hand.

"You're lying!" Sarah screamed. "King wouldn't leave me here."

"He wouldn't?" Sean asked, turning around this time. "Why wouldn't he? You're not Lucky. We all know she's the only one who actually means anything to him."

Sarah bit back tears and stared around the quiet room. Paintings hung in gilded frames and silk flowers lay in dusty vases on wooden pedestals by the doorways—like the house gave up on life. King wouldn't leave her. Yeah, King loved Lucky, but he wasn't...a bad guy. He wouldn't just leave her.

"That's not true," Sarah said.

"Then, where is he?" Sean held out his arms in a shrug and went back to inspecting the rock. "He's gone again."

"Then, everyone...just left me here? He just left me here with you?"

"I am his father," Sean shrugged. "Perhaps King knows me better than I thought."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean," Sean said as he sat the rock back down, "that he knows I won't kill you."

"You were gonna kill me?" Sarah yelped.

"No," Sean said. "I have no reason to. It would not benefit me in any way. I want nothing from The Kingdom except that the gates remain open. So, I'll ask again. Open the gates."

"I already told you," Sarah groaned. "I don't know how."

"You're at your full power whether you realize it or not," Sean said as he sighed and sat down on the couch beside her. "I guess I can teach you."

"Why?" Sarah spat. "Why would I open them for you?"

"It's not for me," Sean said. "It's for her. It's always been for her."

"Her?"

"King's mother," he sighed and laid his head back. The stucco on the ceiling dripped down like tiny, even stalagmites: his personal, polished cave. Could it be that he was actually tired?

"His mom?" Sarah asked again. "I didn't think he had a mom."

"Ha," Sean laughed. "In a way, he doesn't. You see, little empress, I'm keeping her alive."

"What do you mean?" Sarah asked as she scanned the room for any way out—not that it mattered. She wasn't even sure where she was.

"You're afraid," Sean said as he opened his eyes and hung his head over his shoulder to look at her.