Free Chronicles of Darkness: Shadows and Dust by Andrea F. Thomas, Taylor Fierce Page B

I will find
Kyrian." Dexterously, she climbed up the pole. "The view is great
from here."
             A mere
heartbeat later, she discovered Kyrian among the crowd. Skylar climbed down,
and ran towards her brother. In her hurry to reach him, she tripped over a
loose cobblestone and crashed right into an unsuspecting woman, whom she
flattened beneath her.
             "Oh
Mademoiselle, that... I'm so very sorry. Wait, let me help you up." Skylar
hurriedly scrambled to her feet to assist her hapless victim.
             Chalice sat
up and brushed the long, blond hair out of her face. She scrutinized the girl
up and down with her dark brown eyes. "Can't you pay more attention to
where you are going, child?"
             "I-I'm
sorry... I was in a hurry... because... my brother... and..." Skylar
stuttered, nervously.
             "Alright,
alright. I'm still alive. Nothing happened, except that all my purchases are
scattered on the street." Chalice spat, annoyed.
             Skylar knelt
down and began to pick up the packages. As she did so, her loose hair slipped
to the side, revealing the nape of her neck.
             Chalice
gasped and bent over the girl to get a good look at the tattoo. 'Hmm. The
head of a lion. I've seen this sign before. But where?'
             She jerked
back from her thoughts as the girl, happily smiling, showed her the now filled
basket. "See, Mademoiselle? Everything is back where it was before."
             "Skylar!
Thank you, God, I finally found you! Where the hell have you been? I was so
very worried about you!" Kyrian exclaimed relieved, embracing his sister
tightly.
             "Where
do you think I've been?" Accusing, she stabbed at his chest with her index
finger. "I've been searching for you everywhere! One moment, we are
sitting in the puppet theater watching Beauty and the Beast . The next
thing I know, you're gone, without saying a word!" Skylar indignantly
explained.
             "I told
you that you needed to wait for me!" Kyrian retorted, angrily. "I was
just looking for some food! But, it doesn't matter anymore." His anger
faded, somewhat. "The most important thing is I found you." Then, he
noticed the blonde woman, who was looking at them, completely enraptured.
             "Mademoiselle?
Is something wrong?" Kyrian asked.
             "Wha...
what..." Chalice stuttered, still caught in her trance.
             Kyrian was
concerned. "Are you alright? You seem to be a bit confused. Is there
anything I can help you with?"
             Chalice
smiled sweetly. "No, everything is fine. I think it's just the
after-effect of the little crash and fall I took."
             Skylar
blushed, embarrassed, hung her head, rubbed her neck and whispered, "I'm
really sorry. I didn't do it on purpose."
             Kyrian drew
his brows together, narrowed his eyes and looked at his sister. "What have
you done, now?"
             "Monsieur,
please, I assure you, I'm fine. It was just a little mishap," Chalice
interrupted quickly, giving him a beaming smile.
             "Oh,
alright. That puts me at ease," Kyrian said and returned the smile. Only
then did he notice her beauty and grew bashful.
             "Well,
it is late, and I have some more errands to run. Au revoir." She turned to
leave, but hesitated when Kyrian asked, "May I ask for your name,
please?"
             Chalice
flashed the handsome young hunter her most flirtatious smile. "I'll tell
you mine, if you tell me yours."
             He
straightened his back and puffed up his chest. "I'm Kyrian Leosol, new to
town."
             "Splendid,
Kyrian Leosol, new to town. My name is... Christine. I hope to see you again,
soon." She waved goodbye, winked at Skylar and disappeared into the crowd.
             The girl
looked at her brother, who was staring after the woman with a silly grin on his
face.