In Your Shadow (22 page)

“There what do you think?” she hands her a mirror. Looking into her refection, she didn’t recognize herself. This woman was gorgeous, sparkling like a star.

“It looks wonderful Gloria thank you.” Handing her back the mirror.

It was already getting late in the afternoon and it was almost time for her to try her dress on.

Katie just sat on the edge of the bed with her mind on the stalker. Then John’s voice came into her head.

“I want let anything happen to you.” Taking a deep breath and looking over at Olivia. She was finally busy trying to put on her grown. Pink with white lace, it was very pretty but not ball material. Olivia was always an odd one. Nodding her head, she watched her zip it up on the side. This was the only time she was quiet if she had something to do.

“Well I am ready,” she turned and looked at Katie.

“You’re not, why haven’t you put your dress on yet.” Olivia’s said.

“I’m getting dressed, if you want to go on down stairs I will be right behind you.”

“Well alright, but don’t be long, I am sure Mr. Hot Pants is waiting.” She laughs.

“Olivia, I will be ready in a moment.”

Watching her leave the room she finished dressing.

Standing in perfection at the end of the stairs watching for her to come down. His arms behind his back his dark mask over his eyes. Waiting as the room filled up with people dressed in their ball room attire. Everyone had their mask covering their faces and looked like something out of a movie. Looking over watching the lavish dresses, his eyes caught someone at the end of the stair case. It was Olivia in the pink grown with a pink mask. She just let the air out of his balloon. That isn’t what he wanted to see, he looked behind her and still no sigh of Katie.

Olivia finally made it down to the bottom of the stairs with her gold ringlets handing down the side of her face.

“You look tasty.” She said staring straight at him batting her eyes with a slight grin on her face.

“Well I’m sorry but I can’t say the same for you.” Looking at the expression on her face. “You look nice.” He giggled under his breath.

“Nice, is that the best you can do, nice.” She said as she watched his eyes move to the top of the stair case.

She turned around and watched their eyes lock on each other.

He couldn’t believe what he was seeing, she was unbelievable, stunning. She looked like something out of a movie. There were no words that would fit it.  She took his breath totally away. His heart was pounding as his eyes lit up with passion. Her long dress with her white gloves and her peal silver mask. Waves of curls on the side of her shoulder. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. His body was on fire, more so now than ever before.

“This woman is every man’s dream. She’s a love story that was never told. The one I want to spend the rest of my life with.” He thought.

Katie stomach flutters at the sight of him, watching his eyes traveled down her body and back up. He was hot there was no question about it. His dark suit deep blue eyes, she was amazed. She takes a step toward him as she heard his intake of breath like he was breathing in her scent.

“Hello, Hello!” Olivia trying to get his attention.

“Whatever Mr. Hot Pants?”

He never turned and looked at her so she walks off and starts mingling in the crowd.

Katie stops right in front of him as he takes her hand and brings it to his lips and gently kisses it. Leaning into her, he catches the smell of her sweet essence. Looking though her eyes there is passion and seduction. Taking a deep breath trying to pull himself back. He knew that he would walking her back upstairs.

“Oh my dear you are stunning.”

Blushing a deep shade of pink.

“You are very handsome. It’s going to be hard for me to keep the woman off of you.”

“Oh know my dear, I told you I only have eyes for you.”

His mouth covers hers. Her eyes close as he devours her lips. This was nothing like the kiss she had before, this was deeper and with more passion. Pushing further into him, wanting to be closer. He deepens the kiss before pulling away.

“You taste divine” he smiled.

She puts her hand around his arm as they walk through the crowd. She was floating on air. Someone could knock her over with a feather at this point. She was glad she was hiding under her mask when she noticed everyone was looking her way.

The waiter hands them a glass of champagne as they continue walking to the edge of the room with all eyes on her. She seen her father dressed in a black tux a few feet from her. His eyes filled up with moisture as a large smile came across his face. Stopping in front of him, he took her hand and kissed it.

“Katie you look so beautiful. Come let’s get some pictures together.”

He leads the way to the garden were the photographer was waiting. They shot a few pictures of her with John and then with her father. 

Taking a sip of her champagne she was looking for a place to hide she hated big parties. John had his arm around her waist holding her close to him. He wasn’t about to let it go. The music was playing across the intercom as the couples were dancing. John sets her drinks down on a table and leads her to the floor. With his arms around her waist, she wraps her hands around his neck. Spinning her around a few times pulling her back into his body. She was in heaven, on top of the world. Her heart beating to the music.  With his head against her neck she could feel his hot breath breathing against her neck. Sending chills down her body.  She was into him so strongly she didn’t see her father come behind him. He tapped on his shoulders as they stopped swaying to the music.

“I would love to dance with my beautiful daughter.”

“Of course sir, but I have to say it is hard to pull away.”

“Yes I can see why.”

John moved off the floor and kept her in eye view watching her move around the floor with her father. The crowd was heavy it was getting harder to see. He moved to another spot but could only see her back. Suddenly he seen someone walk up to Daniel and they stopped dancing. He then started moving though the dance floor headed towards Katie.

A man walks up and taps Daniel on the shoulder and interrupts there dance.

“Excuse me sir, someone needs your attention in the kitchen.”

He stood five 8 and was medium build. He was wearing a black top hat and a dark mask that came down to his nose. You couldn’t tell who he was.

“Excuse me darling, let me see what’s going on. I will walk you back to John.”

“No need, take care of the issue. I will find him.”

He kisses her hand and walks into the crowd. Katie goes to turn around and the man grabs her arm and pulls her into him.

“Excuse me sir, but I have to go.”

He holds her tighter ignoring her request. She tries to push away but his grip was too hard.

“Sir, I told you I have to go.” She demanded.

He never said a word as she looked into them deep dark brown eyes. Trying to push against him, but he had a firm hold.

“Katie I would like this dance.”

Surprised that he knew her name her heart started to pound hard as fear set in.

“That voice, I heard it.” She thought.

“Let me go now!” her voice more demanding as her body started to tremble.

“No, I told you I want to dance, besides the more you resist the tighter my arms get.”

Holding her so tight she could barely breathe. Taking shallow breaths trying to push against him. Her eyes were looking around to see where John was. 

“Let me go?” Her voice much louder now, she was livid.

“Oh Katie I will never let you go. All I ever wanted was you. Can’t you understand that.”

Now her heart was racing faster, panic went through her like fire.

“Who are you? How do you know me? What do you want?”

Her body was trembling with fear when a thought crossed her mind.

“Could he be the stalker?”

She looks at his face and he has a slight grin, like he is looking though her soul.

“Tell me who you are!”

“Oh my dear I have known you forever, if you only knew what I have done for you.”

“Then tell me?” Her voice scratchy.

“Oh my little shadow. I know everything about you. Your favor color, your favor food, everything. Hum! Don’t you go to bed at 10.15 every night.”

Katie eyes filled up with moisture as she trembles harder, he knees shacking so hard she could barely stand up. She knew then that he was dangerous, and if she didn’t get away from him, something bad was going to happen. The fear of her being in his arm frighten her more than then the flowers he had left. 

She reaches up and tries to grab his mask so she could see his face. He grabs her hand and holds it down to her side with so much force it was cutting off her circulation. Fighting the tears that were forming in her eyes she looked over and finally seen John in the corner of her eye.  He was pushing his way through the crowd. He was almost to her.

“Tell me who you are, what is your name?” Trying to distract him.

He laughed under his breath and his eyes became narrow as he looked at her with cold dark eyes.

“I know that laugh, why can’t I remember who he is?” She thought.

“Let me go are I will scream.” Her voice loud.

“Well scream, you think anyone is going to here you over the music. Look around Katie no one is paying attention. They are too drunk to realize what is happening.”

She was trying to fight the tears from running down her face as she stared into the dark hollow face behind the mask.

“Did you kill Mitch?” Her voice loud angry.

He laughs so creepy it sent chills down her spine. Then he lowers his face to her ear and kisses the top of it. A tear rolled down her cheek as her eyes saw John just a few feet from her.

Trying to push from his grip, he was to strong. Suddenly, as he looks into her eyes he freezes for no reason. He grabs her arm and drags her behind him. Trying to pull away from his grip she almost tripped over her dress. With one hand holding the side up the other foot caught the hem. Pulling back against him to catch her balance she manages to break free. Turning quickly around John was standing a few inches from her. Falling into his arms he grabs her waist and pulls her to him. Tom looked back for a second before he quickly turns and pushes his way through the crowd.

“Go to your dad!” He demands.

Katie couldn’t’ move she was frozen from fear as she watch John chase after him. Tom bumps into a couple and it cause his hat to fall off. Looking hard in the crowd hoping he would turn around so she could see his face, but he disappeared behind the crowded room.

Tears rolled down her face. Trembling in fear as her mind went back to Mitch.

“I can’t go through another nightmare again. I can’t let him kill John to!”

She pulls her dress up with both hands and moves through the crowd. She moves as fast as she can to get to her father’s office. Swinging the door open, the room was empty as she slams it behind her. She runs to his desk and pulls out the bottom drawer and there laid his pistol. Checking to see if it was loaded. There were six bullets in the chamber she hides the gun in her dress. Taking her shoes off she runs to the foyer looking for John. She sees him running behind the man towards the front door. Moving quickly though the crowd and out the door. There she saw them on the ground locked into each other with fist flying. John rolled over and the man was on top of him. Katie pulled out the gun and pointed toward the sky and pulled the trigger and fired one shot. The man breaks free and starts to run. She points the gun at him and shots. He tumbles and hits the ground hard. Her ears were still ringing from the shot. She stood there in shock and couldn’t move, her arms out straight holding the pistol out with her finger still on the trigger. John moves behind her and puts his hand around her hand and lowers the gun.

The gun hit the ground, she looked up to where the man fell and he was gone. He managed to get away.

“Wait here I will go after him.”

“NO! Please don’t.”

He could see the state she was in so he pulled her into his chest as she reaped.

“What is going on?” Her father voice heard from behind them.

“Katie are you alright!”

“Yes daddy I am fine.” Looking up into his eyes.

“The security guard came and got me and said you had a gun.”

Katie looked over and seen one man pick the gun up off the ground. They were looking around the yard to see if they could see anything. Katie was listening to John as he was filling her father in on what was going on. She watches John point to an area where Tom had fell.

“Katie why didn’t you tell me what was going on!”

“I don’t know daddy. I didn’t want you to worry.” She said as a tear rolled down her eye.

“Don’t ever keep something like from me again?” Daniel was so angry of the fact she could have got killed.

“I will be right back stay here with John. Do not leave his side do you hear me?” Her father voice firm and loud.

She watched him walked across the yard to were the security guard was stand. Daniel stopped as he noticed there was blood on the ground. He was shocked that she hit him.

They followed it to the parking area and it disappear. There was nothing put an empty place were a car use to be.

“Damn!” Daniel looked over to the officer that was standing in front of him.

“Sir we will catch him. He hasn’t got far.”

Daniel turned and seen her daughter in Johns arms. He was holding on to her tightly. Walking slowly back to her he could see she was trembling. She turned her head to look at him but never said a word.

“He’s gone, but we will find him. Let get your two back in the house and shut this party down.”

“Sir, and officer tabbed him on the shoulder.

“Yes.”

“I think you need to see this.”

“I will be right back take Katie in the house.”

“I am coming with you Daddy.”

“NO! Go inside.” He answered her quickly not giving her a chance to debate it. 

John lead Katie back into the house, they walked over to the bar and he poured her a stiff drink.