by Sela Croft
Even if I had, I didn’t understand how he thought that would do him any good. It wasn’t like he could observe my use of sorcery, then capture the ability in a bottle to be used later. Yet he seemed overly interested in my sorceress nature.
“Why don’t you unchain me?” I looked into his soulless eyes. “I’d be glad to demonstrate what I can do.”
“That’s clever,” Alban said. “But it won’t work. Anyone would fight back if unchained. If you are half sorceress, as I’ve been led to believe, you could free yourself.”
“And deprive you of torturing me?” I said. “Do you really want that? Consider it well before answering.”
I noticed that my comment had taken the king aback. I could almost see the wheels of his mind turning. My taunt had caused him to consider how much I might be capable of.
But the king wasn’t thrown off guard for long. He smirked, clearly still in control. “We’ll see how brave you are after this session. I have something special in mind for you.”
The king had an electrical prod in his hand. With a gleam in his eyes, he pressed it to my arm, and the electricity shot through me. His audacity irked me. The evil one thought he could do anything he wished, as though he was a god.
Only he was a devil, and I’d had enough. The recent memories of the humans he abused on a daily basis lit a fire within my heart. It wasn’t right, and someone had to do something about it. I railed against the oppression of those who were weaker.
Alban used his prod repeatedly, as if I was a science experiment. He wanted to see how much I could take, and how I’d respond. And he was about to find out. I’d suppressed my vampire nature since I’d been transformed.
I’d feared my darker side as Draven feared his. Yet that rage could no longer be submerged. Pushed beyond reasonable limits, I had sufficient provocation to justify my actions. Although I didn’t seem to need any.
My emotion surged, replacing rationality. Anger rose within me and, fueled by Alban’s cruelty, turned into a ferocious state of mind. Had I been freed of my chains, I would have torn him limb from limb. With my bare hands, I would have squeezed the life out of him.
There was nothing to hold me back. Pure rage ruled my mind and my actions. To my amazement, the emergence of my vicious side released my sorceress ability. No longer was it lost to me in my weakened state; instead, my power resurged with full force.
In a blind rage, I focused on a spot near Alban, and fireballs burst into existence. I created another and another. The guards rushed to put out the fire, lest Alban’s garments go up in flames. The king roared, but I refused to stop.
I searched the room for a heavy object. The place was barren except for a side table that Alban used as a place for his implements of torture. I’d honed my skill of telekinesis in recent weeks, and now it came to my aid. Thrusting my power at the table, I lifted it from the stone floor and tossed it at Alban.
The king ducked, but not fast enough. One of the table legs smacked into his hip, and he growled like a bear grazed with a bullet. I had no fear for my life, and nor did I care. Right then, I was pure rage. I’d become as much vampire as sorceress, and I had a thirst for blood—Alban’s.
Like a wounded animal, the king limped from the room to tend to his wounds. He could bluster and threaten, but when it came down to it, he was a coward. That was something to remember. The door shut behind him, and I stared at the wooden table askew on the floor.
Without the aggravation of the king’s presence, my ire began to fade. But I’d proven that I was capable of fighting back. Even more, I had to admit that I could be as vicious as I could be kind. But the horror of what I’d become didn’t affect me as it might have. I vowed to use my abilities to defend the innocent. I wouldn’t cower from evil but would wield whatever power I could muster to snuff it out.
Chapter 20 – Mirela
Before my strength subsided, I made an effort to contact humans in my vicinity. I had a sense that the servants were an important part of any solution. If I connected with them, there might be a way to work together. It was one thing that Alban wouldn’t think of.
The king considered humans as no better than animals. He deemed them unworthy of a future, so took the liberty of using them as he saw fit. I filtered data from a few humans in the next corridor. What I learned was appalling.
The humans who were palace servants were treated like cattle. They slept in overflowing rooms without beds. The stone floors were all that was available. The negligent treatment didn’t end there. Food was scarce, as no plants grew on the mountain.
Any food had to be brought in, and that was not a top priority for the king. If a servant didn’t die at Alban’s hand, they might die from starvation. Either that or from the extreme cold. But the king wasn’t concerned.
Humans were in abundance, so lives weren’t worth much. If one servant expired, there was another to replace him. No sane person volunteered to work at the palace, but the king wasn’t opposed to corralling them and hauling them to the estate.
I dreaded to think what was done with the dead bodies, but I only wished to know what I needed to. With the frozen environment around the palace, any dead would freeze solid anyway. And there was no sun to thaw the peak when spring came, because winter was the only season in the mountainous region.
My empathy for the humans soared. It hadn’t been that long since I’d been human, susceptible to the same conditions as they were. Yet I’d experienced pain, love, beauty. I’d valued kindness, gentleness, and tolerance.
The king held the power, but he was bereft of feeling. My heart ached for all who had to endure his abuse. I looked to the humans for help, but they needed mine even more. There was no one in the kingdom who looked out for their welfare.
I’d vowed that I would do so when I became queen. Yet that possibility was remote now. It was questionable whether I’d survive—although I knew that I must. Anger was a powerful motivator, and fueled my rebellion against injustice.
Humans had been second-class citizens in this realm. On occasion they’d had tolerable treatment. I thought of Kerrie at the Draven’s castle and others. But that good fortune hadn’t extended to the multitude of humans who served throughout the kingdom.
If I could manage an escape, didn’t they deserve to be freed too? It was all quite distressing. I should have been concerned about getting out of Alban’s grasp. Yet there was more to consider. The travails of his servants weighed heavily on my mind and conscience.
There were so many of them. I read one mind after the other, trying to figure out what to do. The situation seemed so bleak, as the king hadn’t been defeated in many centuries. There was little to support the hope that he would be.
Two of the humans were more alert than the others, and I learned that they’d recently arrived. I focused on them, noting that they were as incensed by the king’s treatment of others as I was. The humans were Curtis and Emma, husband and wife.
As part of my telepathy, I was able to place thoughts in a human’s mind. I didn’t often do so, as many might find it alarming. Others would assume that the thought was theirs, that it hadn’t come from any outside source.
Curtis picked up on my communication, but instead of ignoring the nuances, he zeroed in. I was able to converse with him mentally. First, I assured him that I was friendly, then I told him who I was. He’d known of my arrival. News of my incarceration had spread quickly.
He felt so helpless, stuck on top of the icy mountain and enslaved by the king. He was concerned for his wife, yet had no control over her duties, or how the king would treat her. I assured him that I would try to talk with Emma.
As it turned out, his wife was as perceptive as he was. She had only been at the palace a short while, so fared better than some. She told me that many other servants weren’t in good shape. The weeks of poor conditions had been overly stressful. They were in a subdued state, and not strong enough to resist.
The king was easily annoyed, and punished without con
sideration for any defense. At the palace, Emma was in a constant state of anxiety. She was grateful that she didn’t have children, because she’d talked to women who did. The children had been left behind, since they weren’t of use to the king.
I supposed that sparing the children’s lives was a pardon from a short, unendurable existence. But I had no doubt that their parents missed them horribly. I proceeded to converse with Curtis and Emma. It was clear that they wished to escape as I did.
Each of them shared what they could about the layout of the palace, and about the number of guards they’d seen. I had a better idea of how things looked outside the boundaries of my prison cell. I tried to calm their concern about my welfare.
Rumors of my treatment had spread throughout the staff. The humans had lived elsewhere before their enslavement, so knew of the Guardians. It had been daunting to learn that I’d been captured, as they didn’t know what that meant for the future of the kingdom.
The humans hadn’t feared Draven as they feared the king, so had hoped for the victory of the Guardians. Yet the life-threatening conditions around them had ruined their morale. It seemed that hopelessness abounded.
I couldn’t make any promises, but I assured Curtis and Emma that I wanted to help. In response, the couple vowed to join any escape attempt, and were confident that they could lead the others. It was heartwarming to hear, yet I didn’t have a strategy.
So as not to alarm the guards, the couple resumed their duties, but I promised to get in touch again. I now had a bigger problem than I’d had upon arrival in this hell. There were more lives to be concerned with than mine.
I tried to fathom the significance of that. I felt morally compelled to save the humans, although I might die in the attempt. The more I thought about it, the more I was certain that I had to get the servants out first. Many were weak or near death already.
It was imperative that any human in the royal court be ushered to safety. Even if I accomplished that—which was far-fetched anyway—there was no guarantee that I would survive. No matter the option I considered, there was no good answer.
My greatest desire had been to be with Draven. I’d dedicated my life to that goal. Now it appeared that I might be forced to give up what I wanted most. There were many more lives at stake than mine, so for the greater good, I’d have to forgo my own happiness.
But the answer wasn’t that simple. I might give up my life, be willing to sacrifice for others. But I had an obligation to Draven and to the kingdom. I’d long held to the belief that the immortal prophecy had spelled out my destiny.
I was meant to save the kingdom with Draven, then rule as his queen. That all seemed like a dream now. Such things were easy to conceive of, but were proving impossible to achieve. Plus I’d changed dramatically.
It had been natural to be kind and good when I’d been sheltered in safety. But what about now? I’d just experienced my own dark side. If I would have ripped Alban apart, what else might I be capable of? The fairy tale that I’d recited since I’d been young no longer seemed real.
To rule as king and queen, Draven and I would have to defeat the power that terrorized the kingdom. Yet there seemed to be unending roadblocks on that path. Now I had to make a difficult decision.
I could utilize the support of the servants and make my escape the top priority. With their assistance, my chances were better. But could I do that with a clean conscience?
Love for Draven filled my heart. He was my other half, and I couldn’t envision living without him. He felt the same; he’d told me many times. I was his betrothed, his future queen. Yet I was stuck with a dilemma.
I cared deeply about the servants, whose only mistake had been getting captured by Alban. Compassion welled within me, making me realize that I hadn’t lost my human qualities after all.
Either losing Draven or abandoning the humans would be devastating. I wanted so desperately to be in my love’s arms once more. Yet I couldn’t live with myself if hundreds of people died when I might have saved them. If only I could have both…but I had to make a choice.
Chapter 21 – Mirela
My strength was waning, but every second counted. I’d antagonized Alban beyond belief, so I anticipated his return to my cell with dread. With what little time I had, I spent it making preparations. While lying on the table with my eyes closed, I mentally contacted Curtis and Emma.
There was a lot to arrange, and I needed more information. I learned a couple of important pieces of data. The first was that the Royal Army was housed in barracks behind the palace. The buildings were staggered down the back of the mountainside, so could not be seen on approach.
That was good, because his generals wouldn’t see any activity on the face of the mountain. For that, they depended upon the palace guards. I savored Alban’s lack of foresight, but only momentarily. It was a slight advantage at best.
The second vital piece of information was that Alban had a fallback. If his palace was under siege and it looked like all was lost, he had an escape tunnel. Most castles had such a passage, so it was good to know that the king did too.
The secret passage was meant for Alban’s use alone, yet the servants knew about it. The palace staff knew much more than their master gave them credit for. The humans I’d teamed up with were glad to share that insight. That hidden passage would be the best way for the servants to escape.
The trick would be in getting the staff past the guards and out of the palace without Alban’s knowledge—at least until they were in a safer area. My plan was flawed in many ways, and by no means assured everyone’s safety. But it was the best one available.
I’d have to make it work. I was more confident that the servants would live to see a better life than I was that I’d have the future I’d wanted. Having witnessed Alban’s reaction to sorcery, I was sure of one thing: I could certainly serve as a distraction.
Curtis and Emma were very resourceful, so assured me that they had their part under control. They’d set up teams with captains, so the stronger humans could assist the weaker ones. It would be an orchestrated effort that had a chance of succeeding.
Whether the humans could escape depended upon not alerting the guards until it was too late for them to stop it. Once the exodus began, things would need to move swiftly. I didn’t need to tell Curtis and Emma that, since they had much at stake.
But I did stress another point. I asked for their trust, and to have faith that I was in control. I went out on a limb to promise that, but I fully intended to come through for them. I told them that whatever they should see or hear, they should not fear it.
The humans went about their day as usual, while remaining ready for escape. In an unobtrusive manner, they formed into the smaller groups and paid attention to their team leaders. I reached out to determine if they were prepared. There was a risk that they’d panic, but so far that hadn’t happened.
There hadn’t been a second to spare, because Alban reentered my cell. He’d calmed from the ordeal I’d put him through, but anger still flared in his eyes. Instead of allowing him to get the first word in, I took control. “So, my king. You have returned for more.”
Alban’s laugh lacked the confidence that I’d previously witnessed. “You are still the one in chains, my beauty.”
The king looked me over, taking his time. I had no doubt that he considered me a weak female. Beauty had made me vulnerable on occasion, but I intended to turn it to my advantage. The less of a threat the king considered me, the greater my element of surprise.
“Ah, you flatter me, royal one.” I pushed aside any last shred of doubt, then took on an air of superiority. I’d gleaned from Selene that the king responded to sarcasm, so I’d do my best to accommodate him.
“You know you are beautiful,” Alban said. “But then, so are many others. That doesn’t make you special at all.”
“But you know why I’m special,” I said. “It’s not every day that you capture a hybrid. And the recent demonstration of my pow
ers should have convinced you of my value.”
“That does me no good, since you cling to Draven like a simpering child.”
“I think not,” I said. “Draven isn’t here, so I’m on my own. And you’ve shown that you are strong; you are the one in charge.”
“What are you implying?”
“If I stay on this table much longer, you’ll take my life—as slowly as satisfies you.”
Alban seemed to gloat. “It’s my prerogative. I’m your ruler.”
“I have no argument,” I said. “But I would like to make you an offer.”
Alban didn’t instantly react, but I observed a gleam in his eyes. “I’m waiting.”
“I have a choice,” I said. “I can die, which is pointless. Or I can use my sorcery for your benefit.”
“Why would you do that?”
I didn’t reply too quickly. This part was crucial. If the king didn’t believe me, then my ploy would be ended before it started.
“I want to live,” I said. “I’d like to save myself, and I see no other way to do it. If Draven was going to save me, he would have. I’m forced to negotiate on my own behalf. So, I’m offering you what you want…in exchange for what I want.”
“What do you want?”
I sensed that I had Alban’s interest. He’d sought to have sorcery on his side for centuries. At last, he had an opportunity. “I want to live in the palace unmolested for agreeing to be your court sorceress.”
Alban narrowed his eyes. “I’m not the trusting type. At the first opportunity, you’ll run off to Draven.”
“You have nothing to fear,” I said. “You are well protected, and I’d need to get past your guards. If I was capable of doing so, wouldn’t I have done that already?”
Alban seemed to relax a little. He wasn’t about to admit fear. I’d given him an argument that he couldn’t reject. “I’m not afraid of you. And it would seem that Selene’s skill exceeds yours, since she has practiced sorcery through the centuries.”
