The Tycoon Beast

PART XIV

Kendra spun around in her seat and grabbed the door handle. The glow of the mirror returned. A bolt of blue light flew from the bits of glass and stabbed her in the back.

"Kendra!" Siell yelled.

Kendra's eyes widened and her mouth opened in a soundless scream. She fell backward. Siell dropped the mirror and caught her to pull her into his arms. Her eyes closed and her head lolled to one side. He could see her erratic breathing as her face scrunched up.

The door flew open and Alberto stuck his head inside. Siell whipped his head up. "Take us to Ficious!"

Alberto nodded and shut the door. He procured a duplicate key from his pocket and hurried into his seat. In a few moments they were speeding down the road.

In the rear seat Siell pulled Kendra into his lap and against his chest. Her spasms ceased, but her breathing was still fast and shallow.

"Kendra," Siell whispered. She shuddered and shook her head. He gave her a shake. "Kendra, wake up. You have to wake up."

"No," she moaned as she rolled her head from side-to-side. "No, not the blood. Oh god, no. No! Don't kill him!"

Kendra's eyes flew open. They were devoid of sight. The scream built up inside of her poured forth. It was a long, hollow wail that made Adrian flinch. He grabbed her shoulders and turned her so they faced each other.

"Wake up!"

Kendra blinked. Her instincts told her to struggle in his grasp, but her efforts were weak. "Let me go!" she insisted.

He shook his head. "Never, but tell me what you saw. What made you scream?"

Kendra shuddered and turned her face away from him. "You. You were covered in blood. There was-" a sob escaped her lips, "-there was blood everywhere, and you were smiling." She whipped her head to him and tears slid down her cheeks. "You just stood there and smiled!"

He gave her a solid shake. "It was a dream! Only a dream!"

She shook her head and squirmed in his hold. "It wasn't a dream, it was the truth! You kill people without caring about it! You killed those men, and you probably killed Blake, and no my father's

going to go to jail for that!"

Siell frowned. "What about your father?"

She paused her struggles and glared at him. "My father had a heart attack because the police came and accused him of Blake's disappearance! It's all your fault my father's in the hospital!"

His shoulders fell and he pursed his lips. "I see."

Siell opened his hands. Kendra scooted back into her own seat and looked to the window. Her eyes widened as she watched the world pass by through the tinted windows. She patted her pocket and felt the hard impression of the key against her hip.

Kendra looked to Siell. "How are we moving?"

His usual sly smile slipped onto his lips. "Alberto always carries a spare key in case the need should arise."

She glared at him. "You tricked me into this car, didn't you? It was all for my tears, wasn't it?"

He shrugged. "I admit I needed your tears, but I would never pass up a chance for your company."

She spun around and grabbed the handle. A few pulls told her it was locked. She frantically pressed the unlock button, but there was no familiar click. Kendra glanced over her shoulder to Siell. "Let me out!"

He shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't allow that, at least not yet. You see-" he leaned forward and picked the mirror from off the floor where he dropped it. The remaining bits of broken glass were blackened. "-I have a vested interest in this mirror being repaired. I was told the tears of an innocent maiden-your tears-could repair it. It appears I was misinformed, and I don't like that."

"Then find someone else and leave me out of it!" she snapped.

Siell pursed his lips as he studied the broken mirror. "I wish it was that simple, but I'm afraid you're in the thick of it now. We must go see the good doctor and find out why he lied to me, and what exactly happened to you."

The color drained from Kendra's face. "What do you mean?"

He held up the mirror so the empty face stared at her. "As you know, this mirror is no ordinary trinket. The light that struck you came from the last bits of its magic that remained. We must find out what side-effects you may experience and how to return the powers to the mirror."

Kendra's pulse quickened. "Side-effects? What kind of side-effects?"

He lay the mirror on his lap and shook his head. "I couldn't begin to guess, but the doctor may know. We'll wait for him to give us the diagnosis."

Kendra turned her face toward the window and grasped the handle. Her hand trembled as her mind conjured forth terrifying images of her becoming a monster like the man who sat beside her.

The car ride was very long for all the occupants, but at last they arrived at the home of Dr. Ficious.

Alberto opened the door and Siell stepped out with the mirror in his hand. "Stay with the car," he commanded his servant, and Alberto bowed his head. Siell half-turned to the open door. He stretched out his hand to the small figure that glared at him. "I am trying to help you."

Kendra's eyes narrowed. "Only to help yourself."

"The situation has changed. Let us see if you have, as well," he persisted.

Kendra pursed her lips but slid out of the car, ignoring his outstretched hand. She followed Siell up the walk to the split-level door. Siell raised his hand, but the entrance flew open. Ficious stood in the doorway with a frown on his lips.

His eyes flickered from Kendra to Siell. "I told you she was supposed to come alone."

Siell held out the scorched mirror. "The situation has changed."

Ficious's eyes widened. He took the mirror and flipped it over in his hands. His bushy eyebrows crashed down and he stepped to the side. "Get in."

Siell walked inside and Kendra reluctantly followed. She jumped when Ficious slammed the door behind them. He marched up to Siell and wagged the mirror in the taller man's face.

"What the hell have you done now?" Ficious snapped.

Siell arched an eyebrow. "I merely followed your instructions and administered a tear of an innocent maiden onto the mirror. The results were shall we say explosive."

The doctor narrowed his eyes and jerked his head toward Kendra. "How'd you get the tears from her?"

"I-"

"He tricked me into getting into his car and crying," Kendra spoke up.

Ficious's face darkened and he returned his attention to Siell. "Is that true?"

Siell smiled and bowed his head. "I submit to the lady's wording of the event."

Ficious poked the top of the mirror into Siell's chest. "Then it's your fault it's broken again and-" He paused and turned the mirror so the face stared back at him. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. "The magic. What happened to the magic?"

Siell nodded at Kendra. "I believe it entered her body."

Ficious spun around and surveyed her. Kendra stumbled backward until her back hit the door. He swept up to her and waved his free hand over her body. The doctor straightened and pursed his lips. He glanced over his shoulder at Siell. "You're a complete fool. The magic's in her now, and there's nothing to do with it but teach her how to keep it from destroying her."

Kendra's eyes widened and she shook her head. "No! Whatever's in me I don't want it!"

Siell frowned. "Surely it can be removed."

Ficious shook his head. "Not this magic. It's found a soul it likes and has fused with it. The only way to remove the magic now is to kill the girl and transfer the orphan magic back to the mirror."

Kendra's legs shook so hard her knees buckled. Siell leapt forward and caught her before she reached the ground. He lifted her into his arms and carried her over to a wooden armchair covered in books. Siell kicked off the books with his foot and lowered her onto the seat. She leaned over and clutched her head in her hands.

Siell turned to Ficious. "How will this magic affect her?"

Ficious shrugged. "How the hell should I know? I'm not the i***t who tried to trick an innocent into doing what he wanted." Kendra lifted her head and showed off her red eyes.

Siell narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips. "My intention was only to-"

"I don't give a damn what you meant to do," Ficious interrupted him. He pointed a finger at Kendra who flinched. "What you did was force energy into the mirror, shattering the fragile glass and forcing the magic to find another container. This young woman."

Siell's eyes followed the old man's finger and his gaze settled on Kendra. He studied her tear-stained face for a while before he closed his eyes. His sly smile slipped onto his lips and he chuckled. "I see. Well, in that case, I must make amends for what I've done." He strode over to the seated young woman and smiled down at her as he offered her his hand. "Will you allow me to do this?"

Kendra blinked up at him. She leaned back and furrowed her brow. "You'll help my father?"

He chuckled. "And yourself, an important item you often forget."

Kendra glanced past him at Ficious. "There's nothing you can do?"

The old man shook his head. "Not a thing. This magic's too strong for my powers."

"All the more reason why you should let me help you find someone able to help you," Siell spoke up.