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29. Traube
THE CASTLE, AS pretty and fairy-tale like as it looked, was a fortress indeed. Hills all around, boggy soil behind the lake, and rough roads surrounded it.
There wasn’t a single opening, gate, or door that wasn’t closely guarded by black-uniformed Nazis. On top of that, the bloody swastika, flapping from every corner, grated on my nerves. At night, the surveillance was even stricter with searchlights and vicious German shepherds roaming the grounds. Animals didn’t like da Vinci’s beasts to start with. If I ventured into the garden at night, the dogs would smell me miles away and raise the alarm. It didn’t mean I’d renounced all hope of an escape. It would take longer than I’d thought.
If I found a way out, I’d travel on foot. I could reach the Dutch border in a few hours, granted that Lukas didn’t catch me first. If Lukas’s tracking skills were anything like Roy’s, my chances of fleeing and being successful were slim indeed. The fact that they allowed me to walk around the castle with only a guard following me proved that Lukas was confident I wouldn’t be able to escape. And I was in Nazi Germany. Without valid documents, they’d throw me in prison, and it’d take only a moment for the police to figure out that the SS had arrested me last year. Then they’d kill me.
The only good thing was that Roy hadn’t shown. I hoped he didn’t, but I doubted he wouldn’t try to find me. Unless Connor had convinced him to wait. Murphy had been taken as well, and he was a more prominent prisoner than I was. He must know secrets more interesting for the Nazis. Perhaps Roy and Connor had decided to rescue him first.
On the other side of the castle, towards the Erft River, scaffoldings surrounded the ruins of another tower. Judging by the number of people working on it, the tower had to be twice the castle’s main turret. I paused, staring at the construction site. The memory struck me with a flash of light. Nathan had stolen the report I’d written on a dam the Nazis had built on the Erft River. That was why the name bothered me. Could the construction be a mill to produce beasts? Or some other weapon? My head spun, and I staggered on my feet. I sat down on a bench under a spruce and rubbed my forehead. Lukas and Nathan were helping the Nazis create beasts. We might soon be facing Nazi beasts. The guard following me didn’t bother to ask me if I was all right. He merely peered at me with a bored expression.
In the distance, the noises of the construction site thundered. Raven Park must be informed. Anxious, I stood up and resumed my walk.
I was slogging along the gravel path that snaked around the building when Lukas strode towards me, amber eyes aflame, fists clenched. I shrank back as his palpable fury stirred my beast. “What—”
“Listen carefully,” he said, taking my arm in his steely grip. He shot a glare at the guard who, after clicking his heels and bowing, left us alone.
“What is it?”
Lukas dug his fingers deeper into my upper arms. “Doctor Traube is coming. He’s interested in you as a beast. Do not leave my side. Do not accept to be visited alone by him, and above all, do not reveal what you can do. Nothing. Understood?”
“Lukas—”
“Yes or no.” He dipped his head, getting closer.
“Yes.” Hell, Roy and Lukas were definitely twins.
“Stay close to me.” He released my arms right when a man in a dark tailored suit appeared from behind a corner.
The man’s pomaded hair was styled with a partition in the middle that would have been comical if it hadn’t been for his cruel icy blue eyes. Dread lodged in my throat, but Lukas brushing my hand quickly shocked the fear out of me.
The doctor’s thin lips twisted in a smile worthy of a snake. “You must be Kristin.” His gaze roamed over me, leaving a dirty sensation behind. “I believe you’re like Lukas, yes?”
By now, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Nazis knew about the beasts, but I stifled a gasp all the same. I glanced at Lukas, who was staring at the man with poorly concealed hatred.
Another man in a Nazi uniform strode towards us, chomping on an apple. Rage flared up inside me, and my beast roared. Nathan winked at me, the juice of the apple moistening his lips. “Jolly good to see you, Kristin.” He mock bowed towards me.
“Unfortunately, I can’t say the same,” I gritted out. My fingertips itched as my claws threatened to come out.
Nathan shrugged and tossed the apple core towards the bushes. “Nothing personal. I don’t like Raven Park. Too many bloody rules. No freedom, and it’s a sinking ship, anyway. Glad to see that you’ve joined us.”
“I haven’t.” The words rasped out of me with too much of my beast’s growl.
“You can tell me the truth.” Eyes widening, the doctor stepped closer, removing his leather gloves. “I’m Dr Traube.” He stretched out a hand. I didn’t shake it, but he didn’t scowl at my rudeness. His smile didn’t falter. “It’s chilly out here. Why don’t we go inside for a nice chat?” Without waiting for my reply, he went inside, followed by two SS officers and Nathan.
Bloody Traube. Murphy had been right to be suspicious.
Lukas held the door open for me. “Remember what I told you,” he whispered. “And don’t think about Nathan. Don’t let him provoke you. He wants to lure your beast out.”
And he was succeeding. I had no intention of spending time alone with that doctor. As for Nathan though, it was hard to ignore the man who had nearly killed Roy and murdered innocent people.
Standing by my side, Lukas escorted me to a sitting room. Despite the blazing fire and the thick carpet, a cold shiver went through me. Traube sat on the sofa and patted the space next to him.
Hell, no. I perched on the armchair in front of him. Lukas remained standing next to me, like a bodyguard, while Nathan roamed around the room, looking at the tapestries and touching the vases.
“Tell me about yourself,” the doctor said, removing his coat and showing his uniform. He had to be a high-ranking officer, judging from all the insignias. “Were you born like this?”
Nathan had probably told him everything, but I wasn’t going to cooperate. “I don’t know what you mean.”
