The Deadly Alliance (The Deadly Alliance Series Book 1)

by Megan Bradish

  Chapter 16

  “Blair?” I hear my name being called, and I force my eyes open. I’m back in my room now, and I’m no longer in pain.

  I look down and see all my bruises had faded away, and my mind is clear. I look around the room, it’s dark, cold. Blood stains the walls and the floor. That can only mean…

  I quickly turn my head and see Marjorie is standing next to me.

  “Marjorie,” I say as I leap from the bed. “Marjorie, I didn’t think you were coming back.”

  She gives me a sad smile. “I’m here now. And I’m so sorry for what has happened to you.”

  “You saw?” I ask. This is still so strange to me. How is it that she’s here?

  She nods “Yes.”

  “I should have listened to you. I should have run when you told me to,” I confess.

  “I understand, Blair. If someone would have come to me like this when I was alive, I’d have a hard time believing it too.”

  Her words make me shiver. When I was alive. “So the dream I had…about your death. It’s really how it happened?”

  “Yes. I was trying to scare you enough to leave. I didn’t want the same thing happening to you.”

  “I tried to stop him. I tried to tell you to run, but you didn’t hear me,” I cry.

  Marjorie comes to me, placing her hand on my shoulder. “I saw you, Blair. But it had already happened. There was nothing you could have done.”

  I nod, knowing she’s right. I didn’t know how I expected to stop something that had already happened years before. But I had to try.

  I’m not startled by her presence anymore, so I’m able to better take in my surroundings. I walk to the blood stain on the floor, and the spattered walls. It looks fresh, as though it just happened. “What is this?” I ask. “You died in the woods. Not here.”

  “It’s Elias’ first victim,” she says.

  I stiffen at her words. “His first victim? How many have there been?” I ask frantically.

  “Just the two…so far.”

  “But I thought you were his only other wife?”

  “Yes,” she nods. “This girl was a Harlot.”

  “A…you mean he…?”

  Marjorie nods again. “More often than you’d like to know. Elias was so patient with you for many weeks. Have you stopped to ask yourself why?”

  So that’s why he was so patient for awhile. He’s had women in his bed this whole time, giving him what he wanted. I cup my eyes in the palm of my hands. How could I have not seen this?

  “He’s very good at hiding his behavior…when he wants to,” Marjorie answers my question.

  I narrow my eyes at her. “How do you do that?”

  “Read your mind? I don’t know. Death is a strange and lovely thing.”

  “Lovely?” I ask, raising a brow.

  “Indeed.”

  I don’t question it because it’ll just leave me with more questions. My head is spinning enough

  I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. “So why here? Why do you always bring me back to this specific time?”

  “I don’t make that decision. It just happens this way.”

  “And why do I have to go to the corner of the room to wake up?” I shiver as I remember the feeling of being ‘stuck’ the second time she came to me, unable to wake from what I thought was a terrible nightmare.

  Marjorie thinks for a moment. “I’m not entirely sure of that either. My best guess is it’s some sort of gateway to the afterlife. I can only reach you through that corner. And you can only wake from that corner.”

  I stare at her, confused. How any of this is possible is beyond me.

  “This is all new to me too, Blair,” she says when I don’t respond.

  I look down at my trembling hands now, and I’m able to take a good look at myself. Every bruise, and every cut, are gone now. It’s like none of this ever happened.

  “And why am I back to normal? My bruises are gone,” I point out. I know I’m asking a lot of questions. It has to be irritating. But I can’t help it. I need answers, because none of this makes any sense to me.”

  “Your body isn’t here, Blair. Only your mind. I can only come to your subconscious. And the only way for that to happen is when you’re sleeping.”

  “And you can make me sleep whenever you want?”

  Marjorie gives a small smile. “Guilty.”

  I laugh, despite everything that has happened. “Perhaps you could avoid that when I’m around people?”

  “Yes. I am sorry about that. It was urgent. I had to try to stop you from marrying him.”

  I nod and look to the floor. “Slap me the next time I don’t listen to you.”

  “The thought did cross my mind,” she teases.

  I smile up at her. She really is a beautiful girl. Her hair is long and blonde. Her frame small and fragile. Her face is soft, innocent. I wish she were here, not just in my dreams, but in life. I know we’d be good friends. We do have a lot in common after all.

  “It’s time for you to wake up now, Blair. Tobias has made you some broth. Try to eat,” she says.

  “But I have so much more to ask you,” I say.

  “I’ll be back. Wake up now.”

  Before I can say another word, she disappears into the far corner.

  Remembering before that I couldn’t wake up until I went to the corner wall too, I slowly walk over. I touch the wall, its concrete cool and soothing on my hot skin. How was it that just my mind was here? I could feel everything. Nothing about death made sense to me. If that is what this was. I still wasn’t totally sure how any of this worked.

  I slide down to the floor, like I had the few times before, and I can feel myself coming back to life, coming back to consciousness.

  I wake to the aroma of beef broth filling my nostrils. I have forgotten the last time I ate, for I have no idea how long I was sleeping for.

  When I open my eyes, Tobias is staring at me with his gentle eyes. His brow was furrowed as if he were confused about something.

  “Tobias,” I whisper.

  “Your majesty. How are you feeling?” He asks.

  I realize I’m not as sore as I was when I fell asleep, and I finally feel like I can breathe again. I reach up to touch my throat. The swelling has gone down.

  “Better,” I say in a small voice. “How long was I asleep?”

  “For a few days, your majesty. You were plum wore out.”

  I nod, and stare down at the broth bowl. Tobias gives a soft smile and lifts the bowl to my mouth. I graciously accept, as I swallow down the whole thing, admiring the salty and savory taste that touches my dry tongue.

  As I lay back in bed, I think of my last night with Elias. How could I have not seen that coming? Of course I had my suspicions, but I lead myself to believe that I was making it all up. I didn’t want to believe any of it could be true. But I was sorely mistaken. I know now, that everything I was worried about was in fact true. Elias is a monster, a cold blooded killer.

  I have never felt so violated and humiliated in my life. I am Queen Blair, the daughter of King Julien. How could I have allowed something like this to happen to me? I let my guard fall after building it up for weeks. I allowed my husband to do terrible things to me. I let him assault me and tear me down to nothing. I’ve never felt so ashamed of myself, disappointed. But how could I have stopped it? I was only one woman, and Elias was much stronger than I. I curse myself for not taking the dagger with me. I’ve kept it on me every day since it was given to me. I’ll forever regret the one night I didn’t.

  “Tobias, is she awake?” I hear Elias’ voice. My heart beats fiercely in my chest as my breath quickens.

  “Uh…yes, your majesty. She…she just woke,” Tobias stammered.

  “Oh my dear Blair,” Elias says as he strides over, sitting on the bed next to me.

  He grabs my hand and I quickly try to pull it away. He tightens his grip, refusing to let me go, as he stares wildly into my eyes. My knuckles p
inch together and I wince in pain. “My love, we will find who did this to you. Do you hear me? He won’t get away with this,” Elias says.

  I grip his hand just as tightly, challenging him as I raise my head to his. “Yes. We most definitely will, dear,” I say in a cold tone. He wouldn’t be getting away with this. And to pretend like someone else did this to me, was almost laughable. Who did he think he was fooling?

  Tobias glances over at me, worried. He goes back to tidying his desk pretending like he isn’t paying attention to us, but I know he is.

  Elias grips my wrist now. “We won’t stop until we do,” he says with a wicked smile. I want nothing more than to reach up and slap his face. To hit him as hard as I can.

  I have never felt so strongly about harming someone until I met this vile man. He has made me almost crave hurting him, and getting my revenge. I would stop at nothing until I got it.

  “Well,” Elias says in a booming voice as he stands. “Now that I am reassured that my queen is alright, I’ll let her rest.”

  “Yes. She does need her rest. She’s still on the mend. But she’s incredibly strong, your majesty. She’ll have no problem recovering from this,” Tobias said.

  I smile. Was he challenging the king?

  Elias narrows his eyes. “Yes, physician. I can see that.” He looks back at me once more before storming out the door.

  I finally let out a breath, trying to soothe the rage that is consuming me. I look up to Tobias and he is looking at me cautiously.

  “Are you alright, your majesty?” He asks.

  “Fine. Why do you ask?”

  “Well it’s just that-“

  “Hey, I’m back. Was that the king I just saw leaving?” Lucien asks as he enters the room.

  “Yes,” Tobias says quickly. “Her majesty has awoken.”

  Lucien quickly looks over to me, relief crossing his face. “Your majesty,” he says, bowing his head.

  “Sir Lucien,” I say.

  He hesitates before walking up to me. My heart flutters as he draws closer. Is it possible for him to be better looking than the last time I saw him? God, he’s the most gorgeous man I have ever laid my eyes on.

  “You’re looking much better,” he says.

  “Yes. I think I’m finally on the mend,” I say with a smile.

  “I’m really glad to hear it,” he says softly.

  He’s watching me with the same fire in his eyes. The same fire that brings me to my knees. What was it about this man? In less than a second, he was able to draw me in, without even saying a word to me.

  Tobias is still fidgeting around at his desk and I know something is bothering him. He’s been acting strange since I woke up. “Tobias, is anything bothering you?” I ask.

  Tobias looks up to me, perspiration forming on his forehead. “Your majesty?”

  I sit up, looking at him. “Well it’s just that I’ve never seen you act this nervous. Something is bothering you, so what is it?” I needed him to trust me enough to tell me that he knew Elias did this to me. I heard him and Lucien talking about it when I passed out that first night. They both suspected, and I needed to hear them say it so I knew I wasn’t alone. I know I have Milly and Adelina on my side, but I need to know I have at least some people who live here on my side.

  “Your majesty, I really think this should be discussed at a different time. When you’re alone,” he says in a small tone.

  I look up to Lucien who is now shuffling his feet, waiting for me to ask him to leave. “Lucien can be here for whatever it is you have to say. I trust him.”

  Imagine that. I really do trust him. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever trust anyone here.

  Tobias looks to the door, making sure no one is coming in and then slowly walks to me. I can tell he’s even more nervous now as he fidgets with his fingers. “When you have those fainting spells, do you see anyone?” He asks abruptly.

  I freeze in place. “Why would you ask me that, Tobias?”

  Tobias sighs and looks to the floor. “It’s just that…you…well you said a name when you were sleeping. A name that I haven’t heard in some time. It’s like you were talking to this person.”

  I gulp. I said her name. I must have. Milly and Adelina heard me say her name too. “What…uh…what name did I say?”

  “Marjorie,” he says. Lucien snaps his head up to look at Tobias and then to me. Confusion and horror clouding his eyes.

  “Marjorie as in…” Lucien begins.

  “As in Elias’ dead wife?” I finish his question.

  They both gawk at me as if I had a third eye. What’s the sense in trying to hide it anymore? I trusted Lucien, and the way Tobias was talking to him about Elias, I have a feeling I can trust him too. Otherwise Lucien would have never brought it up to him.

  “Your majesty, how do you know about her?” Tobias chokes.

  I bite my lower lip, taking a deep breath. “She came to me my first night here. Those fainting spells? They’re her coming to me. At first I thought I was going mad, and it scared the hell out of me. That’s why I didn’t want you to examine me any further that first day you came to me. I was afraid of what your diagnoses might be. I couldn’t have that, seeing how I was to be queen. But then, Marjorie showed me her death. She showed me the night in the woods, as Elias killed her with the arrow. She showed me as Elias slung her over his shoulder, taking her back to the castle. I saw everything, Tobias. I saw the horror on his mother and father’s face. I saw you, as you took her body. I saw everyone covering up all that had happened, and I don’t understand any of it!” When I stop to catch a breath and forcefully wipe the tears from my eyes, Lucien slowly sits down next to me, gently grabbing my hand. I instinctively wrap my fingers around his and stare into his eyes. Now, I can finally catch a breath, so I continue, “After that, the next few weeks were fine. Elias acted like a perfect gentleman, and even though I could never force myself to be attracted to him, I tried. And it was going well. So I thought again that I made it all up in my head. I was already worried about it, because there were whispers of how she died back at Myrkdovia. But that night Lucien found me, I knew without a doubt, that I wasn’t crazy. That Marjorie really was coming to me.”

  “How do you know?” Lucien presses as his jaw tightens.

  I stay silent for a moment. Do I really want to get into this? Do I really want to tell them what Elias had done to me? They already suspected, I know. But to confirm it, was opening up a hole I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to dig myself out of.

  “B-because. It was…it was him who did this to me,” I whisper.

  “He forced himself on you?” Lucien says in an angry tone.

  “Lucien, quiet yourself!” Tobias scolds as he too leans next to the bed. “Your majesty, my dear. Are you saying Elias did all of this?” He says in a frantic voice.

  I let a tear slip down my cheek, not bothering to wipe it away this time. “Yes. All of it,” my voice shakes.

  Lucien lets out a small growl as he grips my hand tighter. I look into his eyes and I can see rage coursing through him. Tobias stays silent, taking in everything I had just told him. His face is pale and he looks as though he might faint. His eyes pace back and forth fiercely, as if he is thinking of something important, or trying to figure something out.

  “Tobias,” I say, as I touch my hand to his. “Is this why you gave me the dagger? Please be honest with me.”

  “Yes,” he says in a voice so small, I barely heard it.

  “So you knew he was capable. What I saw in the dream was all real,” I say. It wasn’t a question. I already knew it to be true.

  “Everything you saw was real, your majesty. But I’m still trying to wrap my head around all of this,” he says.

  “Have you ever heard of anything like this happening before?” Lucien asks Tobias.

  Tobias purses his lips, and lets out a small sigh. “I’ve heard stories. I just always thought they were old tales past down throughout the ages.”

  “What are the stori
es?” I ask. I need to know how she’s coming to me. It still doesn’t seem at all possible. How could the dead speak? How could she come to me and seem so real?

  “It’s said that when one sees the dead, it means doom and heartache is likely to come. They’ll only show themselves when mortal danger is in our midst,” Tobias says.

  I raise a brow. “That sounds ridiculous.”

  “Does it?” Tobias asks. “Look what has happened since you’ve seen Marjorie.”

  He does have a good point. Marjorie told me that Elias was dangerous, and in response, I chose to shove here aside. I let Elias completely fool me into believing he was a good man, despite the many warnings I have received, not only from Marjorie, but the mysterious man in the corridor the night of my wedding. Why didn’t I listen? I was still skeptical of him, sure. But, not so much so where I was afraid he would kill me. He was so kind, so sweet. He was everything any woman could ever want in a man. Except for me.

  “So does that mean more danger is to come, seeing how I just saw her?” I ask. I shiver at the thought. What more could Elias possibly do? I didn’t want to think about it.

  “It is likely,” Tobias confirms.

  He sees the sickened look on my face and gently taps my hand with his. “Stay cautious, your majesty. Keep the dagger on you at all times. Never be around the king again without it, do you understand?”

  I nod, and let a tear slip down my cheek. How was I going to get myself out of this situation? How was I going to get away without Elias seeing? “I need to find a way out of here,” I say before I can stop myself.

  Lucien looks pained as he looks at me with sad eyes. “Back to Myrkdovia?” He asks.

  “Yes. I obviously cannot stay here anymore. I’m sorry to say, I can no longer be your queen.” I stand to my feet, expecting to be in a world of pain. But to my surprise, I do not hurt at all. If anything, I feel rejuvenated, refreshed.

  “Your majesty, you shouldn’t be standing!” Tobias says, but stops fussing when he sees how well I look. “How?”