I move around her in a full circle, saying nothing. Images of
my childhood flash in my mind, stopping me in my tracks. Then
they’re gone. I look at the girl. Sweat is trickling down her face
as she concentrates. Is she making me remember? Impossible.
My mother’s face is there then, humming a song as I look up at
her craving for attention. I close my eyes. “Stop it.”
Taurus is beside me then. “My lady?”
I walk to the girl. “Stop it now.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she says while
giving me a look that tells me she knows exactly what I am
talking about.
“What are you?” I have never seen a gift like this.
The girl’s face softens and she looks lost. “I don’t know.” She
is telling the truth.
“What is your name?” The girl closes her eyes as if in
meditation. Lucian’s face flashes in front of me. The image
widens. I can see myself and I look petrified. He throws me on
the ground and the image ceases.
The girl’s eyes shoot open. “What do you want with her?”
Her voice is full of emotion as she pulls against her restraints.
Taurus moves to silence her rage, but I stop him. I am not
sure if she can harm us. I look at Clive. “Make sure she is tied
correctly. I don’t want her getting loose.”
Clive sneers. “Yes, this little girl could harm us.”
I give him a look of ice that silences him. “Check it now,
Clive.” I watch as Clive strolls towards the girl, smirking. He
moves around the pole that she is tied to.
Kneeling down, his face stiffens with anger; then he looks at
me. “She nearly has them off.”
The girl’s eyes are closed, her face relaxed. I am not too sure
what she can do, so I take a small step back. Clive is struggling,
trying to retie the knots, even though he tied them in the first
place. I can see the girl stretch out her fingers, but before I can
warn Clive, her fingers brush his. Clive howls back in pain,
holding his side. We all jump. It is over after a moment. Clive
is panting, staring at the girl with wide eyes. She is covered in a
layer of sweat, her energy drained.
“Taurus, tie her.”
Clive starts to protest, but I cut him off. “She has no power
left; she is drained.” Taurus reties the girl as instructed.
Clive gets off the floor. “You knew she would hurt me?” He
questions with hurt in his voice.
“Don’t be so petty, Clive. Is there a mark on you?” He lifts
his top, examining his side that is untouched.
“Taurus, lift her top up.”
The girl's eyes flutter open, the exhaustion visible on her face.
“Please” she pleads. When Taurus lifts her top, I know exactly
what I will see. Her swollen skin is black and blue with bruises.
The door leading down to the cell opens and Taurus leaves
to see who it is. When he returns, his face is sombre. “Sorry, my
lady, but you have a guest waiting in your chambers.”
I raise an eyebrow to invite Taurus to continue. He doesn’t
respond. It can only mean one thing, at last.
I leave and return to my chambers. “Ah, Liber”
He bows. “My lady.”
“Sit.” I gesture to the armchair beside the fireplace and sit
across from him. “You are late.”
“I know, my lady, but I was unable to leave,” he says.
“Proceed.”
“I was at the Amour Caves, guarding Marta.”
My face twists with disgust. “I knew he took her.” But I
didn’t need her now anyway.
“My lady, Tristan and Legis returned from the mortal world
with the child, Sarajane,” Liber says.
I rise abruptly. “That is not possible. Do not lie to me, Liber.”
His face freezes in terror. “Never, my queen.”
I go along with it, not sure what to believe just yet. “So tell
me about her?”
He swallows. “She is unaware of this world or her magic,
but she is indeed Marta’s daughter. The resemblance is visible”.
“Stay here, Liber. I will be back shortly.” I leave and return
to the cell.
The girl is still tied to the pole, her eyes closed. She must be
push me, child, or you will live to regret it.”
Her eyes drop closed. She is unable to keep them open, but her
cracked lips open slightly as she gives me her name. “Jessica.” It
is barely audible, but it is enough.
“You fools, she is not the one.”
Clive’s face turns a crimson red. “She is, Mother.”
I strike him across the face with all my force and he lands
against the wall. Blood trickles from a cut at the corner of his
mouth. “Do not lie to me,” I roar. “Taurus, explain.” I look at
him from the corner of my eye; he is still standing beside Clive.
“Sorry, my lady, I have no excuse.” He doesn’t flinch away
from me.
I leave and return to my chambers. Liber is still sitting there.
I start to pace the floor.
“My lady, she—”
“Hush, Liber. Leave.” He bows and leaves. I don’t need to
hear his babble. I have too much to do. I am leaving for my
secret chambers when a knock comes from the door and my
daughter Luna enters.
“Darling,, what a lovely surprise. But I am very busy.” I try
to keep the irritation out of my voice. I never know when she
may come in handy.
“Mother, I will make it brief. Where is Father? I have not
seen him around the castle.” She blushes slightly. “It is just… I
need to speak with him.”
“He is gone on business and will be back shortly. Is that all?”
I raise an eyebrow.
She curtsies “Yes, Mother. Sorry for disturbing you.”
I enter my secret chambers from the winding stairs. Suis is
asleep in her cage. I don’t need her now, but she still might be of
some use, and she helped Marta escape so punishment is all she
deserves. I light all the torches, waking Suis.
“Bellona, please, I know nothing else.” I know she doesn’t;
she told me everything.
“Hush, I am busy.”
“Please.”
I kick her cage, making her jump back. “Be quiet, child, or I
will feed you to the demons.”
Her eyes widen with fear, making me laugh. I spread a large
piece of cloth in front of the altar and kneel down with the
knife in my hand. A bowl of water sits at my knees. I start my
incantation for calling Lucian.
The first time he came to me was an accident. I had called
upon the demons, but Lucian showed up instead. I knew the
moment I saw him that he was very powerful.
I slowly slice my left palm and watch as my blood falls from
my open hand into the bowl of water, each drop causing the
water to turn red. On the sixth drop, the hair rises on my neck.
He is coming. He always scares me, but I hide it as best I can.
I place my hand in the bowl to quicken the healing of my
palm. Lucian loves blood and I don’t need to entic
e him.
“Bellona.” A shiver of fear and pleasure runs through my
body as he speaks my name.
I fall on my hands, bowing. “My king.”
His long black tendrils lash out and grab my wrists, pulling
me up. When he retracts them, slime is all over my arms. Lucian
laughs when he sees the distaste on my face. He is in spirit form
tonight. Sometimes he takes human form and he is quite tasty
to look at, but his eyes are always blood red. He reaches out and
wraps his tendrils around my body, pulling himself towards me.
His red eyes move closer. I can hear Suis whimper with fear in
her cage. I don’t blame her. Lucian is terrifying. He has shown
me what he can do.
When he is beside me he flicks out a long black tongue that
is pointed at the tip and runs it along my face, cutting me.
He starts to lick the blood off my skin. I try to stay as still
as possible. When he is finished tasting my blood, I can see it
trickle into his eyes. “So what news do you bring me, Bellona?”
I clear my throat. “My king, I know where the girl is. I will
capture her soon and bring her to you.”
“Soon. I do not like that word. You see, I have waited for
centuries for this, yet you come to me with delays.”
I look at Lucian, feeling afraid. “My king…”
“I need that girl, no matter what force you must take,” he
says.
“Yes, my king”. I start to feel a bit braver. “Why, if I might
boldly ask?”
“To ask is very bold of you, Bellona.”
He takes human form, shocking me at how quickly he
changes. He grabs me by the throat and lifts me off my feet,
cutting off the air from my lungs. My legs dangle in the air. I
am going to black out.
Lucian throws me on the ground. “Do not disappoint me
again.” I lie on the ground, gasping for air. He kneels down
beside me. “I will not kill you, Bellona” I just look at him, still
trying to catch my breath. “I will strip your flesh from your
body and let you scream in agony. Just before you die, I will let
your flesh knit back together and then I will start all over again.
So you better do as you are told.” I rasp, “Yes my king.”.
Lucian’s head jerks towards Suis, who is wide-eyed with
fear. “You brought me a gift. How thoughtful.” She screams
as Lucian disintegrates into a fog and floats through the bars of
the cage. Once inside he takes human form. Suis screams again.
Lucian laughs. “Scream for me, child. Scream.” And then he
tears into her flesh.
I turn my head away as he rips out her throat. The sounds of
him tearing her apart make me gag. I lie there until the noise is
gone. When I look over at the cage, Lucian is no longer there,
but Suis’s organs are dripping from the cage bars. I vomit on the
floor, my throat now raw.
Once I make it back to my chambers, I wash and change my
clothes while putting on my pendant. I notice my hands are
shaking. I pour myself a goblet of wine and drink it in one gulp
while trying to calm myself. I can’t show signs of weakness.
I leave my chambers and find Taurus in the library. He rises
when I enter “My lady.”
“Sit, Taurus.” He sits back down. “I need you to get Clive
and bring him here. Also, make sure Felix keeps an eye on our
guest.” Taurus rises and inclines his head in acknowledgement.
“Oh, I don’t want her harmed.”
“Yes, my lady.” After he leaves, I have a few moments to sort
through how best to deal with the situation. The girl will be
heavily guarded. I need to flush her out.
“Mother, you asked for me?”
“Sit, son. There is something I need you to do in a week’s
time. I need you to go to the Amour Caves and scare Sarajane.
Tell her you are her brother and Morrick is her father. Also
tell her what her mother has done.” Clive smiles. I can see the
wheels turning in his head so I have to give him a reward. “You
can hurt her.” His grin spreads. “But don’t kill her.”
“Yes, Mother.” Then his grin fades. “Why a week? Why not
now?”
“Because it would look suspicious if you arrive when Liber
leaves. We need to keep him. I will have Liber leave messages
that will help you convince her that Morrick doesn’t want her
around. And then I will swoop in and be a forgiving queen and
take her under my wing.” Clive takes out his dagger a smile
spreads on his face. “Clive.” I give him a cold gaze that wipes
the smile away. “If you kill her…”
“I won’t, Mother.” His smile reappears. “I will just have a
little fun.”
“You are dismissed, Clive.”
He saunters to the door, still playing with his knife. “How do
I get there?” he asks from the door.
“Don’t worry. When the time comes I will show you.”
There are underground tunnels that connect the castle to
the Amour Caves, in case the castle is ever ambushed again.
Morrick was so stupid to bring her there. He knows I am well
aware of the tunnels. I just hope he hasn’t blocked them.
Chapter Ten
Saskia
(Sarajane)
The next morning, I change into travelling clothes. I
overheard Morrick and my mother arguing last night.
She wanted me and herself to go off and spend some time
together away from here, but Morrick argued over our safety.
He said leaving the confinement of the caves wasn’t safe, as he
couldn’t protect us elsewhere. My mother won in the end.
I tuck my trousers into my boots as my room door opens.
“You heard about this last night?” she asks as she examines my
travel clothes with a hand on her hip.
“The caves carry sounds,” I say while straightening my tunic
and wrapping my cloak around my shoulders. “Ready?” I smile.
My mother is dressed the same as me—black pants, boots,
white tunic and a black cloak. We both look like spies. “Ready,”
she replies, smiling back.
As we pass the main room, Mum picks up a leather bag and
we make our way out of the caves. The light outside is blinding.
The air tastes like a fine wine. I drink it in deeply. I’ve only
been in the caves one day, but in the small space it feels like it
could’ve been days.
“So where to?” I ask.
“Take this and keep it in your boot.” I raise my hands as my
mother hands me a dagger. I can’t carry a dagger around. More
than likely I’d end up hurting myself. “Sarajane, we can’t go any
farther unless you take it.”
I take it hesitantly. It feels light as I weigh it in my hands.
The blade is covered in a leather holder, the handle white pearl.
I slide it into my boot; it feels uncomfortable against my ankle.
My mother gets down on her knees in front of me and
extracts the dagger. “In the side of all boots there is a holder for
any dagger. It’s aligned with your ankle.” She slides the knife
back in. It feels better, but I’m still aware it’s in m
y boot. Maybe
it takes time to get used to it.
We move at an easy pace, crossing the barren landscape that
surrounds the mountains. Mum asks about Jessica and Dad.
How they were the last time I saw them, and about Jessica’s
school and Dad’s work. For the next hour, the conversation feels
easy and normal. I can hear the sound of gurgling water nearby.
“We will stop soon and have food,” my mother says while
linking her arm with mine. We settle near the stream, and I
take off my boots and socks. I dangle my feet into the rushing
water and let the sun wash over me. My mother settles beside
me, handing me bread and cheese. My mother throws me a
sideward glance as I eat. When I continue eating she laughs to
herself.
“What?” I ask around a full mouth.
“I really thought you would plague me with questions.”
I finish my bread and wash it down with water. “I have lots
of questions, but I thought you could start at the beginning.
Like how you ended up back here?”
Removing her own boots and socks, my mum dips her feet
in the stream and relaxes her posture while closing her eyes.
“When I left, I truly believed I would never see Saskia again.
So I never told you of it.” She gives a small laugh and glances
towards me. “Would you have believed me if I told you this
existed?”
“No. I guess seeing really is believing.” My feet start to get
cold so I pull them out and let them dry in the sun’s rays.
“I was out walking Charlie when I was taken. I recognised
Taurus, the queen’s guard, and knew I wouldn’t be able to
escape. I thought I knew why they had come for me, but it
turned out differently.” My mother falls into silence, but I’m
holding my breath.
“Why?” I whisper.
Her eyes are pleading, asking me to understand. A tear slides
free down her cheek. “I can’t lose you, Sarajane.” The fear on
her face makes me hug her.
“You’ll never lose me, Mum. I promise.”
Kissing my forehead, she wipes her tears away. “In Saskia,
we are matched with our husband or wives at the age of twenty-
five. Until then, you can’t take a lover.”
I want to laugh, but don’t. My mum’s face is pale now.
“That’s ridiculous.”
“It’s our way, but I broke the rules, as I was already in love