Free Vampire Wake (Kiera Hudson Series #2) by Tim O'Rourke Page A

headed down the stairs.
    I followed her to the next landing. Just before we headed down to the hallway, I pointed to the staircase that led into the ‘forbidden’ right wing, as Mrs. Payne had liked to call it. Although the light wasn’t great, it was better than the candlelight from the night before. Despite Mrs. Payne’s warning that the right wing was a no-go area, I could see that someone had been up there this morning. I looked at Kayla and could see that it hadn’t been her. Whoever it had been was male, was right-handed, and had carried something heavy in their left hand, probably a breakfast tray, which they’d had difficulty balancing. But why would they have been taking a tray load of breakfast into an area that was forbidden and who had it been for?
    “What’s up there?” I asked Kayla.
    Hearing my question, Kayla almost seemed to falter on the stairs and she gripped the banister as if to steady herself. “Oh, we don’t go up there. No one does,” she said without looking back at me.
    Really? I thought to myself. “Why not?” I pressed, as I followed her down to the large circular hallway.
    “Mother says it’s too dangerous,” she said. “It’s structurally unsafe or something like that.”
    “Have you ever been up there?” I asked her, not wanting to let the subject drop.
    “Not since I was a kid,” she said. “It’s been like that for a long time now.”
    “Never been tempted to take another look?” I asked, but before Kayla had had a chance to reply, Mrs. Payne had appeared in the hallway.
    “Kayla,” she said, her voice sounding frustrated rather than cross. “You know you should be at your chores by now and you still haven’t had any breakfast. What would your mother say?”
    “I don’t know and I don’t care,” Kayla shrugged as she passed Mrs. Payne without even looking at her.
    “Kayla!” the old woman snapped. “That’s no way to speak -”
    “It’s not Kayla’s fault she’s running late,” I cut in.
    “Whose is it then?” Mrs. Payne asked, eyeing me up and down. As she did, I noticed white flecks of something in her hair.
    “It’s mine I’m afraid,” I smiled. “I’ve been talking to her in my room – just getting to know her.”
    Kayla turned back and looked at me with suspicion.
    “Well, Kiera, Kayla has rules that she must -” the old woman started.
    “I’m sure Lady Hunt wouldn’t have minded just this once. I was keen to get to know Kayla,” I said. “After all, I think it’s what her mother would have wanted.”
    Offering me a smile that looked like a crack in a plate, Mrs. Payne said, “Yes, you’re probably right. Lady Hunt did ask you here to keep an eye on Kayla.”
    “I am right here, you know!” Kayla snapped. “You don’t have to talk about me as if I wasn’t. And besides, I’m sixteen for Christ’s sake, I don’t need anyone looking out for me!” Then, staring in my direction, she added, “Especially not some stressed-out cop!”
    I took her spiteful comment on the chin. After all, I’d been called worse, so I smiled at her.
    “Kayla, that’s no way to speak to Ms. Hudson. She’s a guest in this house, so you show her some respect!” Mrs. Payne scolded her.
    “She’s getting paid, isn’t she?” Kayla came back.
    “Don’t you dare be so ill-mannered!” Mrs. Payne said, her voice sounding cross. “You apologise right this minute young lady!”
    Kayla just looked at me, huffed, and then putting in the earphones, she switched my iPod back on.
    Cheeky-little-cow , I smiled inwardly.
    “I’m so sorry about this, Kiera,” Mrs. Payne said, and she looked genuinely embarrassed.
    “No worries,” I said. “I’m sure Kayla and I will become the bests of friends.”
    “We’ll see,” Mrs. Payne said, and tutted in the direction of Kayla.
    Changing the subject, I said, “I was wondering if I could get some breakfast? I’m starving.”
    “Of course, my dear,” she smiled. “Come with me.”
    The kitchen was,