Free Robin Jarvis-Jax 02 Freax And Rejex by Robin Jarvis

merrymaking.”
    The Jill of Spades grinned cruelly and turned the dagger in her hand, admiring the sunlight flashing over the blade.
    “Hold!” the Jack of Clubs ordered. “The Ismus wishes her unharmed.”
    “That Ismus is a sick, psycho wack-job!” Kate blurted. “You kids don’t know what you’re doing!”
    The teenagers ignored her. Everyone had heard a car approaching. They turned and saw the SUV stopping at the edge of the wood. The three Black Face Dames got out and strode towards them.
    The bodyguards seized Kate roughly. They pulled her to her feet and dragged her over to the car. There was no point trying to struggle against them.
    The Ismus was leaning casually against a wheel arch, his arms folded.Behind the vehicle, a large crowd, dressed in their Mooncaster best, was waiting in expectant silence. The reporter saw many parents of the newly arrived children among them. She wondered what was happening back at the compound. What was the Ismus really up to? What did he really plan to do with those poor kids?
    “Miss Kryzewski,” he hailed her. “How ill-mannered of you to leave the festivities without bidding adieu.”
    “Oh, gee,” she replied sarcastically. “Did I forget my goody bag?”
    “You left before the reading commenced.”
    “Yeah, well, that’s one treat I can skip. Thanks for having me. I had a real swell time. Now tell your Jolson homies to let go of my arms.”
    The man merely smiled back at her and held out his hand. One of the Harlequin Priests stepped from the crowd. With a reverent bow, he handed him a copy of Dancing Jax .
    “The plan was for you to hear the sacred text read by one of our greatest Shakespearean actors,” he told her. “In a more intimate, cosy setting than this. But I do believe yours is the better choice. Let it be alfresco. It’s such a lovely day.”
    He nodded to the crowd and every single one of them took a copy of the book from a large pocket or bag and turned to the first page in unison. It was the most chilling and sinister sight Kate had ever seen.
    “You can’t do this!” she shouted. “I’m an American citizen! You have no idea how severe the consequences of your actions here will be. My country will instigate full and major punitive measures on your skinny ass!”
    The Ismus chuckled mildly. “After the glowing report you’re going to send in about this wonderful weekend?” he asked. “I very much doubt that, Miss Kryzewski.”
    “They having snowball fights in hell today? Cos that’s the only time I’ll be doing anything you want.”
    The man’s chuckle turned into a full-blooded laugh.
    “If you only knew how droll that was,” he told her. “But no, you will do just as I ask. Why else do you think I invited you back?”
    Kate pulled and tugged at her arms, but the bodyguards gripped her more fiercely than ever.
    “Now shall we begin?” the Ismus asked. “Are you comfortable? Perhaps not, but you will be very soon. I promise.”
    The woman glared back at him. “You won’t convert me so easy,” she growled. “Come on – bring out your best Shakespeare guy, let’s see what he’s got. Personally I always thought your actors were overrated, only good for playing bad guys in dumb action movies. I’m a Pacino girl through and through.”
    “I guessed as much,” the Ismus replied. “That is why I thought it would be more amusing to have someone more familiar read to you.”
    He rapped his knuckles on the SUV’s roof. The rear door opened slowly and a tear rolled down Kate’s cheek when she saw who got out. She screwed her face up and turned away.
    “Hello, Sam,” the Ismus greeted him.

T HE YOUNG CAMERAMAN smiled shyly, the lids of his glassy eyes blinking sleepily. Then he tore another impassioned bite from the grey, slimy fruit in his hand. The livid juices had already stained his chin.
    “Here’s the book, Sam,” the Ismus said. “It’s time for Miss Kryzewski to join us in the Realm of the Dawn Prince.”
    Sam