The price of privilege

Chapte 4 :The mysterious Man

Kae couldn't sleep. Her first night in the huge house left her feeling lost and small. Every creak and groan of the house made her jump. She finally gave up on sleep and chose to explore.

The long halls were dark except for tiny lights along the floor. Kae ran her hand along the smooth wall as she walked, trying to remember the way back to her room. The house seemed to go on forever.

As she turned a corner, she heard sounds coming from behind a half-open door. She froze, not wanting to be caught sneaking around.

"We need to tell her everything," a man's deep voice said. "She deserves to know what happened to her sister."

"Not yet," Beckett answered. "She's not ready. The truth would put her in danger too."

Kae's heart raced. They were talking about her! She leaned closer to hear better.

"Sage trusted me," the deep voice argued. "I promised her I would protect Kae if anything happened."

"And you will," Beckett said strongly. "By keeping her in the dark until we know who killed Sage."

Kae's foot hit something on the floor with a small thud. The voices stopped suddenly.

"Is someone there?" Beckett called out.

Kae turned and ran, not caring if they heard her now. She ran down the hall, trying to find her way back to her room. But each path looked the same in the dark. Soon she was completely lost.

Breathing hard, she stopped in front of big glass doors that led outside. Moonlight streamed in, showing a beautiful garden beyond. Maybe some fresh air would help her think clearly.

The night air was cool on her skin as she stepped onto a stone walk. The yard smelled of flowers and salt from the nearby ocean. For a moment, Kae forgot her fears as she looked up at the endless stars overhead.

"Couldn't sleep?" a deep voice asked from the shadows.

Kae gasped and spun around. A tall person stepped into the moonlight. It was a man she hadn't seen before. He had dark wavy hair and the most beautiful green eyes she had ever seen. They seemed to glow in the darkness, like a cat's.

"Who are you?" Kae commanded, backing away.

"Caspian Black," he said, not moving closer. "I'm head of security here. And you're Kalliope Reyes."

"It's just Kae," she corrected automatically. "How do you know who I am?"

Caspian's mouth bent in a small smile. "Everyone here knows who you are. You look just like her."

"Sage," Kae whispered.

He nodded, a shadow passing over his face. "I worked closely with your sister. She was... special."

Something in his voice made Kae's heart beat faster. Had Caspian and Sage been more than coworkers?

"Did you know her well?" Kae asked carefully.

Caspian looked out toward the dark ocean. "We trusted each other. That's rare in this house."

"What does that mean?" Kae moved closer. "What kind of place is this?"

"A beautiful prison," he said quietly. "Golden chains. People come here for the wealth and power, but few ever truly leave." A cold feeling spread through Kae's chest. " Is that what happened to Sage? Did she want to leave?"

Caspian's green eyes locked on hers. "Your sister was afraid of something—or someone—in the weeks before she died. She wouldn't tell me what she found, but she was gathering proof."

"Evidence of what?" Kae pressed.

"I don't know exactly. But it had to do with Sebastian Wellesley and his son Orion. The man you met today."

Kae remembered the cold blue eyes of Orion Wellesley and shivered. "Why would Sage be investigating them?"

"That's what I need your help to find out," Caspian said, moving closer. In the moonlight, his face was all sharp angles and shadows. "Sage hid something before she died. Something important. I think you're the key to finding it."

"Me? But I didn't even talk to Sage for three years before she died!"

"Exactly," Caspian said thoughtfully. "She kept you away from all this for a reason. She was protecting you."

Kae felt dizzy with all these new questions. "From what?"

"From the same people who killed your mother," Caspian said,his voice dropping to a whisper.

"My mother died of cancer," Kae said immediately.

Caspian shook his head slowly. "That's what everyone was told. But Sage found proof suggesting otherwise."

Kae's legs felt weak. She sank down onto a nearby stone bench. "That's impossible."

Caspian sat beside her, close enough that she could feel the warmth of his body against the cool night air. "Nothing is impossible in this world, Kae. Especially not murder."

Kae looked up at the huge house looming over them. The windows were like dark eyes watching them. "If that's true, then I'm in danger too."

"Yes," Caspian agreed. "That's why I'm going to help you. But we have to be careful who we trust."

"Can I trust you?" Kae asked, suddenly aware of how alone she was with this stranger.

Something flickered in Caspian's green eyes—pain, or maybe guilt. "Not entirely," he admitted. "I have my own reasons for being here, my own secrets. But I promised Sage I would protect you, and I plan to keep that promise."

His honesty surprised her. "At least you're truthful about not being completely trustworthy."

The hint of a smile touched his lips. "First rule of this house: everyone lies about something."

"Even Beckett?" Kae asked.

"Especially Beckett," Caspian confirmed. "He's hiding the biggest secret of all."

Kae felt a strange pull toward this mystery man. Something about him made her want to trust him, despite his fears. Was it just because he knew Sage? Or something more?

"We should get you back to your room," Caspian said, standing and offering his hand. "It's not safe to talk out here. Too many ears."

Kae paused, then took his hand. His fingers were warm and strong around hers, making her heart jump oddly in her chest.

As they walked back toward the house, Caspian leaned close to her ear. "Meet me in the library tomorrow afternoon. Three o'clock. Tell no one."

Back in her room, Kae couldn't stop thinking about Caspian Black and his green eyes that seemed to see right through her. Could she trust him? Did she have a choice?

She went to the window and looked out at the dark yard where they had talked. A movement caught her eye—someone standing in the darkness, looking up at her window.

Caspian.

As if feeling her gaze, he looked up. Their eyes met across the distance. He lifted his hand slightly, then disappeared into the darkness.

Kae stepped back from the window, her heart racing. What had she gotten herself into?

On her pillow lay something that hadn't been there before—a small key with a note: For the truth about Sage. Trust no one else.

The handwriting wasn't Caspian's.