The Champion

by H. P. Mallory

  This caused a fresh outbreak of giggles.

  Jolie looked amused. “In love?”

  “Yes. With that woman over there!” He pointed at Klaasje.

  Klassje covered her face with her hands and looked like she’d rather be anywhere else. Dureau sat beside her, looking furious, his arms folded tightly across his chest. I glanced up at Sinjin. He caught my eye and grinned in that devastating way of his, clearly enjoying the show.

  “Okay, Adam, that’s great,” Jolie said as she tried not to laugh. “But I have some questions to ask you.”

  He nodded again before leaning far back in his chair, his head hanging back.

  “Why did you come to Kinloch Kirk, Adam?” she started.

  “Bryn told me to come.”

  I could feel many eyes on me.

  “Did she tell you in your dreams?” Jolie asked.

  “Yes. She said I would be safe here.”

  “And does Luce know you’re here?”

  “No! He’d kill me if he knew.”

  That definitely had the ring of truth to it.

  “Are there others like you that will come here?”

  “I don’t know,” he said with a shrug. “Maybe.”

  “Adam.” Jolie smiled at him reassuringly. “Can you tell everyone how you got here?”

  “I came through the portal in the castle.”

  “The castle is in Scotland?”

  “Is this Scotland?”

  There was a round of snickers until Jolie held up her hand to silence everyone. “It is.”

  “Then the castle was in Scotland,” Adam said.

  “And how did you know about the portal?”

  “The man with Bryn told me.”

  “In your dreams?”

  Adam nodded, a silly smile on his face. His eyes were half-closed, and his head was tilted to the side. He looked as if he was about to fall asleep. Or off the chair. Or both.

  Jolie looked up at the assembled crowd.

  “Have we heard enough? Do you believe him? A show of hands, please.”

  Hands gradually started to go up until about three-quarters of the room had their arms raised. I watched as Jolie turned to look at Sinjin.

  “Oh, all right,” I saw him mouth, and he begrudgingly raised his own hand.

  I smiled at him, my own arm high above my head, and he rolled his eyes theatrically at me.

  Odran rose and cleared his throat. “If I may make a suggestion, yer Majesty?”

  Heads turned to look at him. Apart from anything else, it wasn’t like him to be so polite.

  Jolie beamed at him. “Of course, Odran. I welcome your contribution as always.”

  She was smart, my sister, taking his ego into account.

  “Ah propose a party sets oot without delay tae inspect the portal at Balmoral.”

  “Oh, you admit it exists now, do you?” Mercedes threw at him, her green eyes blazing with indignation.

  Odran ignored her. “Not only do Ah think we should verify his story. Ah happen tae think that the portal, if it exists, poses a real danger to our people.” Many heads nodded sagely. “If Luce is lookin’ for this Daywalker, he might well happen oopon the entrance himself. And that could put Luce an’ his army on our very doorstep.”

  This caused a lot of consternation, and urgent conversation broke out all across the room.

  What do you think? I heard Jolie’s voice ask in my head.

  Odran’s right. We should check it out right away. And post an armed guard on the portal at all times.

  “Can I have everyone’s attention, please?” Jolie started as she faced the room again.

  “Order!” Sinjin roared.

  The din died down.

  “I agree with Odran’s assessment,” Jolie said. “A surveillance party will be sent out immediately. Odran, you may lead it.”

  Odran nodded in agreement and sat back down, looking pleased with himself.

  “And Mercedes and Mathilda, of course. And Sinjin and Bryn. Rand.” She turned to her husband and gave him a look of pure love. There was a time when such a look would have made me want to puke, but now I just thought it was sweet. “Would you like to go?”

  Rand beamed at his wife. “Yes, I would.”

  “Okay. And Adam should go to show everyone where he came through the portal, in case it has closed up again. Klassje, will you go along to guard him?”

  “Absolutely not!” Dureau responded, sounding strangely similar to Sinjin.

  Klaasje frowned first at him, then at Jolie. “Someone else can do it.”

  “Alright. Who can we get to guard the prisoner, then?”

  “I will do it,” shouted Dureau, a look of grim determination on his face.

  “Are you sure?” Jolie raised an eyebrow. “I don’t want any trouble.”

  “I can assure you, Queen Jolie, I am quite capable of controlling my impulses.”

  “So be it. We have our surveillance party. Everyone, please make your preparations and meet outside this building in one hour. I declare the meeting adjourned.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Sinjin

  I must say I was delighted at the opportunity to bring the Maserati for a spin—it had been quite a while since we had been acquainted, well before my sojourn to the United States. And the presence of only two seats meant it was just Bryn and me—no unwelcome passengers to put up with. If I was lucky, she might caress my thighs with those magical fingers of hers.

  She turned to look at me. Those seductive eyes, that sexy smile. I was sure she was about to make such a suggestion.

  “Sinjin?”

  “Yes, my tempest?”

  “When the baby comes, you’ll have to get rid of this car.”

  A wasp stinging me would have provoked less of a reaction. I swerved and skidded in abject horror.

  “Sinjin, watch out!”

  I slowed to a halt and stopped the vehicle in a layby.

  “What are you doing?!” Bryn actually had the temerity to look angry with me.

  “I am stopping!”

  “Why?”

  “How can you ask me that?”

  The princess looked as me as if I had taken leave of my senses.

  “Um,” she started, her eyes wide.

  “How can you make such a statement to a man and expect no reaction?”

  “I was only pointing out that we’ll need a bigger car when the baby comes. It’s a perfectly reasonable thing to say.”

  “Reasonable!” I could not comprehend what I was hearing. “Do you have any appreciation whatsoever, my dear hellion, for the miracle of design and engineering that this automobile represents?”

  Bryn stared at me for a few long seconds. Then she started to laugh. Laugh! And I do not mean a mere chuckle. The little minx rolled about in her seat, clutching her belly, as if I had just made the most hilarious of jokes. Although it was true that I was a most amusing companion when I so chose, I did not appreciate being laughed at in such a manner.

  “What is so funny?” I demanded.

  This merely provoked even further mirth. My tempest grabbed my face between her two hands and planted a kiss of great passion on my mouth. This, I most definitely did not mind. I would put up with being the butt of all her jokes if this proved to be the end result. I had commenced returning her kiss with equal passion when she suddenly broke away.

  “Oh my God!” she said.

  “What is the matter, my dear?”

  “Give me your hand again.”

  I allowed her to grasp my hand and place it upon her slightly swollen abdomen.

  “Can you feel it?” she asked as she looked intently into my face, her eyes wide with excitement.

  “Feel what?”

  And then I did.

  “Good Lord. Was it the sprog?”

  She nodded, the most spectacular smile upon her face, her eyes filling up with tears.

  “It was our baby moving, Sinjin.”

  I must confess that I felt quite overwh
elmed myself.

  Bryn

  We weren’t the first to arrive at Balmoral, despite Sinjin driving at his usual breakneck speed. That was something else that was going to have to stop when the little one arrived. But I’d save that conversation for another day.

  Odran and Rand were already at the portal, Odran scoping out the joint none too discreetly. He wasn’t doing a good job of keeping his voice down, either, clearly unworried that the guards would hear him.

  “How about keeping it down to a dull roar, faery?” Sinjin’s tone was scathing.

  “Why, what are ye scared of, vampire? Ye think ye cannae handle the guards here?”

  “I merely have the wit not to bring unnecessary trouble upon myself,” Sinjin responded.

  “Aye, because yer sceered.”

  “Oh, will you two please stop waving your penises around!” I said.

  Sinjin and Odran both gave me indignant looks.

  Rand laughed. “Bryn is right. We’re all on the same side here, and we have an important task to carry out. Let’s focus on that.”

  We all turned at the sound of a car approaching. It was Mathilda’s old jalopy. She refused to replace it and called it her “silver lady.” It stuttered to a halt and the occupants got out: Mathilda beaming her usual smile, Mercedes looking determined and eager, Dureau appearing shaken, probably due to the effects of Mathilda’s erratic driving, and Adam, looking dazed and confused, the mead starting to wear off.

  “Okay, so we’re all here. How are we going to do this?” Rand asked, taking charge in his own inimitable way. The trouble was, I realized, that this group was chock-full of people accustomed to taking charge. How was that going to work out?

  “Well, the last time, Sinjin placed a glamor on the guard and we all slipped in that way,” said Mercedes.

  “I could jist as easily do that,” Odran declared.

  “Do not put your faery abilities up to mine,” Sinjin said.

  “Oh, for God’s sake.” Mercedes spat at them both. “Try and rein your egos in for ten seconds!”

  “This is getting us nowhere,” Rand interrupted before turning to face Sinjin. “Sinclair, if you wouldn’t mind doing the necessary?”

  “Certainly.”

  Sinjin strode over to the nearest guard station, the rest of us following at a short distance.

  “Good evening, kind sir,” he said to the guard stationed there. “You are going to allow us entrance without any unnecessary questions.”

  The guard stepped back as we all walked past him, a silly grin on his face.

  “Let’s hope it all goes as smoothly,” Dureau remarked.

  He, at least, had seemed to drop his fierce rivalry with Sinjin. Maybe because he was too busy focusing on Adam, whom he shoved onward every now and then, none too gently.

  Men!

  We kept to the trees, as we had done the last time, since it had worked for us then. We mostly moved quietly, the odd petty argument breaking out every now and then. Darkness was closing in. I reached for Sinjin’s hand, and he clasped his fingers around mine. His flesh was warm, as it mostly was nowadays from the effects of my blood. This realization made me feel even more bonded to him.

  We were almost at the tower now,the one with the coat of arms displaying the two unicorns, where we’d tried to open the portal before.

  “Is this where you came out, Adam?” Mathilda asked, turning to him.

  He pointed to the tower. “Yes, over there. Around the other side, I think.”

  We all circled to the south side of the tower, careful to keep to the shadows.

  It was almost completely dark now. The castle was floodlit in places, so the section of the tower where the unicorn coat of arms was displayed was lit up. Our little group stopped walking, and we all looked at one another, uncertain as to what to do next.

  “Is this the place, Adam?” Mercedes questioned. I could tell she wanted to believe him— wanted to believe in the portal, and that her attempts to open it had been successful.

  Adam nodded, although he appeared confused, almost as if he was beginning to doubt himself.

  “It looks a bit different, though,” he said.

  “There’s nae portal here,” Odran said gruffly.

  “I hate to agree with Odran,” said Sinjin. “Believe me, I really hate to agree with Odran. But there is clearly no portal.”

  “Everyone!” Mathilda turned to us, opening her arms expansively. Her face—actually, her entire being glowed—her long silver tresses appearing to move of their own accord.

  “I am surprised at you. We are all magical beings here, every last one of us. And yet you do not appear to believe in the power of magic, its ability to make the impossible possible. Believe!” she cried out emphatically.

  As if some force had heeded her words, a strange grinding noise could be heard. It sounded distant at first, almost like far-off thunder. But then it grew closer and louder, until it became obvious that it was coming from the tower.

  “What is that?” I frowned, gripping Sinjin more tightly.

  Mercedes’ hands flew up to her face in apparent delight. “It’s the portal! It’s opening!”

  We all stood back and watched as the stones of the tower began to glow. At first, I thought it was my eyes playing tricks on me, but after a minute or so, the light was undeniable. The noise was louder, too, almost as if an earthquake was going on inside the building.

  Just when I thought the rumbling couldn’t get any louder, a split seemed to appear in the building itself. Light spilled out, blindingly bright, through the jagged opening, which was gradually expanding. We all shielded our eyes, as if from the sun, with Sinjin, the night dweller, seeming to find the experience the most uncomfortable. He let out a gasp, which meant he was in pain. I pulled him closer to me, wanting to take away his discomfort and at the same time craving the security of his body.

  Then, just as the light became unbearably bright, it stopped. And just as the noise became too loud, it stopped, too. All that was left was a big gap in the wall of the tower, like the opening to a cave. We all looked at each other.

  “What now?” I asked.

  “We go in. Explore,” answered Odran.

  “No,” said Mercedes. “We wait.”

  And there was something about the firm, calm manner of her words that caused everyone to listen to her.

  As it turned out, we didn’t have long to wait.

  Sinjin cocked his head to one side, benefitting from his super-human vampire hearing.

  “Are those … voices?”

  “Yes!” Adam sounded excited, and he stared into the portal, a strange expression on his face—one of confusion blended with hope. “It’s my people… I think.”

  The rest of us exchanged concerned looks.

  “What if they’re hostile?” asked Dureau.

  “What if they’re armed?” I added.

  “What if Luce is with them?” Odran all but shouted.

  “For pity’s sake, keep your voices down. This is a time for caution,” Mercedes hissed.

  “Mercedes is right,” said Rand. “We shouldn’t just stand out here in the open. We’re too exposed. Let’s shelter in that grove of trees over there,” he continued as he pointed to the place in question. “We still have a good vantage point. And anyone who has a weapon, prepare to deploy it if necessary.”

  We all did as Rand directed, not taking our eyes away from the opening for a second. I felt for my boomerang, and for the dagger concealed on my left calf. The voices were louder now, and it was clear there were more than a couple of them.

  My heart caught in my throat as the first figure emerged. It was a woman. She stumbled out into the clearing, looking bedraggled and exhausted. A young child—a boy who looked about four or five—clung to her hand. Two other women followed her, one limping slightly, the other gazing all around her as if in wonder.

  I began to move out from under the cover of the trees. Sinjin gripped my shoulder.

  “It migh
t be a trap.”

  I shook off his hand and continued to walk forward. The women saw me and stopped. Then they backed away slightly and huddled together.

  “It’s okay. You’re safe now,” I called out to them.

  “It’s the woman from our dreams,” I heard one of them say.

  More women were now emerging from the portal, some alone, some with children. There must have been close to twenty of them.

  “It worked,” I whispered to myself, awestruck over the fact that everything Dureau and I had worked so hard for was now yielding its rewards.

  “Welcome to Scotland,” I said to the women as they emptied out of the portal. Each one eyed me with hope—and fear. I well understood their worries—yes, they wanted better for themselves and their children, but they were cautious. As well they should be.

  I smiled and took the steps separating me from the woman closest to me. “You’re safe now,” I said as I reached down and took her hand.

  To Be Continued

  In

  THE CHANGELING

  NOW AVAILABLE!

  INTRODUCING THE HAPPILY NEVER AFTER SERIES!

  (Written under my reverse harem pen name, Plum Pascal)

  Fairy Tale Princesses Like You’ve Never Seen Them Before…

  10 Champions destined to defeat an evil that threatens to wipe out the land of Fantasia...

  SNOW:

  Hair black as night, lips red as blood, skin white as snow.

  Beautiful. Ethereal. Enchanting.

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  The Happily Never After Reverse Harem Series Features: Snow White, Goldilocks, Rose Red, Sleeping Beauty, Tinkerbell, Cinderella, Bo Peep, Belle, The Little Mermaid, & Red Riding Hood

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  SNOW

  ONE

  Neva

  Air escapes me in an undignified wheeze as I hit the unfinished hardwood floor, and I curl onto my side to minimize the pain of what’s coming next.

  The toe of Darius’ boot catches me in the ribs, just below my sternum, where he knows the bruises won’t show. Bruises don’t make money. And that’s what Darius is after. Even so, no man who’s entered the Wicked Lyre Tavern has ever had the chance to get a good look at my tits. No one except Darius, that is.

  But that’s the price of sharing the attic space above the tavern with him. I’m given three meals a day, and a hit of the only thing that makes living in this miserable place remotely tolerable.