The Pariah Child & the Ever-Giving Stone

by Natasha D Lane

  The Queen raised a brow. “So after I have captured you and your companions, brought you to my home by force, chained and hurt your friends, you still show me respect with title?”

  Sarah gulped and nodded. “Yes. My parents raised me right.”

  “Mmm,” the woman said and tapped her chin. “Raised right or raised weak?”

  “Right, ma’am,” Sarah replied, the words clear and steady.

  The woman nodded, a sly grin creeping back to her face. “Tell me, Sarafina, do you know who I am?”

  She shook her head.

  “I am Queen Isabella, and my husband is King William of the Alclian Clan. Now tell me why you, my son and the witch have come to my land?”

  “I think you have my other friends, and I need them back,” Sarah said as she puffed out her chest.

  A melodious cackle broke from the woman’s lips. The crowd of her followers took suit and laughed along with her. Finally, she said, “And who says I have whoever you are looking for?”

  “People.”

  “Like who, child?”

  “I don’t think that matters much, ma’am. I know you’ve got some of my friends, and I want them back.” Sarah was trying her hardest not to be afraid, but the woman looked down at her like a monstrous giant that could gobble her up at any moment. She had become Gretel and Queen Isabella the forest witch.

  Sarah tore her gaze away and balled her fists. She thought of Skuntz and Gan. The old elf had given Sarah the bow because she believed in her. She couldn’t let Gan down now.

  The tall thin woman continued to circle Sarah, playfully twirling her fingers through the girl’s red hair. “And what if I said no? What then?”

  Sarah’s heart was beating fast now, still her voice did not falter. “I’m going to get my friends.”

  The Queen grinned. “So determined aren’t we? Strong willed. How adorable.” Giggles spread through the crowd, mocking Sarah. She felt like she was on the third grade playground all over again.

  “Now, before we get to the friends you think I have, let me take a guess,” the queen spoke, interupting the child’s thoughts. “Alexander probably told you a tragic story of how his brother died, their last words to one another and went on to explain how he became a wanderer? Am I correct?”

  Sarah sucked in her lips and sealed her mouth. The Queen shrugged. “Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Alexander didn’t tell you all of it. He left out a few details. The very details that would make you realize how his father and myself are the real victims.” She took a breath.

  “You are probably under the impression that the witch and my son are lovers, correct?”

  Sarah remained mute, though a bright blush crept into her cheeks.

  “Now that’s just cute.” The Queen smirked. “Well, before she had Alexander, she was the lover of his younger brother, my second son, Abel.”

  Abel. Alexander had barely mentioned him, and Sarah made it a point to never bring the topic up after the first time. The vampire’s eyes always became a little glassy when he talked about his brother.

  “Abel,”—Queen Isabella began to stroke the girl’s hair,—“was a good warrior. Agile, fast, strong, merciless. And then all of sudden he became...weak, sympathetic, feeling and connected to his prey. The change was subtle though obvious after time. My little boy. He would lock himself in his room for hours, go out on lone hunts. He was another person completely. So, one day, like any loving mother would do, I ordered his older brother, Alexander, to follow him.”

  “Stop,” Alexander whispered, still in the clutches of the vampire guards. “Don’t tell her.”

  “But why not, my son?” said King William speaking for the first time, his voice deep and thick. “Isn’t honesty one of your new beliefs? If you value your flame haired friend here so much, tell her the truth.”

  “Father,” Alexander breathed heavily, “Do not mock me.”

  In one moment the King was by Alexander with his hand around his neck. “No, do not mock me, boy!” The words came from his lips like acid. The king tossed him back and Alexander’s head hit the stonewall. His eyes became unfocused and unsteady. They glazed over, and he stared at his father with nothing in his gaze.

  Sarah cried out and ran toward Alexander, her arms outstretched. Before she could reach him, a guard had snatched her up. He held her arms pinned behind her back.

  Sarah gasped in pain as his grip tightened, stretching her muscles too far. The guard smirked.

  “Now, my child,” the Queen grinned at the redhead, “Let me finish my story. You are a good little girl, aren’t you? If not, I may have to teach you some manners.” She waved her finger at Sarah.

  “No,” Sarah snapped. “Alex is hurt. He’s going to die.”

  Queen Isabella rolled her eyes. “So dramatic. Listen, or you’ll end just like him.” Again her voice had become stern and harsh.

  “He’s your son!” the girl screamed. “How can you –”

  “Sarah,” Serwa’s voice cut through her tantrum. She pronounced each word while widening her eyes at the girl. “Listen to her. Alexander will be fine.”

  “B–” Sarah began.

  “I said,” the witch’s eyes flamed their golden brown, “listen.”

  Sarah gulped.

  The Queen cleared her throat. “As I was saying, Alexander followed his brother only to discover that our little Abel had a love! A love named Serwa, who had not one single drop of vampire in her. He had fallen in love with his meal. Apparently, he found her on one of our family hunts, and for whatever reason, he did not kill her. When Alexander saw them together, he immediately came back and reported to me. My son was planning to elope with the witch. I couldn’t believe it, so I arranged for her to be captured as the prey for one of Abel’s classes. He did exactly the opposite of what I thought he would do. When it came his time to kill, and she was presented to him, he couldn’t do it. Do you know what he did instead?”

  Sarah didn’t answer. She watched Alexander from her peripheral vision. His eyes were still vacant.

  “He saved her. He saved her like she was one of our own. So, of course, he was punished then he died in our last clan war. I would say he died like a true vampire, but no true vampire would fall in love with his dinner. Soon after, Alexander fell into a depression over his brother’s death. He began to show the same symptoms as Abel. Lone hunts, isolation, very quiet, you know. And then he just left, gone without a word, only a single-page letter for his mother to cry over. Now do you see?”

  Sarah still watched Alex. She wiggled her fingers and rocked on her toes, anxious to be by his side.

  “I said do you see, child?” The Queen moved in front of her.

  Sarah snapped her eyes away from Alex and gazed up. “See what?”

  The Queen frowned. “How I am the victim. Because of this vile wench, I lost two sons. My clan, lost two princes and two future kings. My husband and I grieved for years. And now the only son I have is back, yet he won’t even greet me with one sliver of love. I am the true victim here, don’t you see?” She moved down close by Sarah’s face waiting for a reply, nodding slightly to herself and eyes wide in expectation.

  “Actually, if you think about it Alexander is the reason Abel is dead,” the King spoke to Sarah, though he did not look at her. “If he had never told on his brother, Abel would have run off with the witch and avoided both the punishment that weakened him and the war that killed him. Turns out it was the same day he planned to run away with her. However, we all, especially Alex, forced him to fight.”

  “Yes,” the Queen nodded. “Do you see? Do you understand, child?”

  Sarah forced down the ball in her throat. She hated lying; her parents hadn’t raised her to make it a habit. Still, beyond all that, her parents had raised her to be loyal. She wouldn’t betray Alex.

  She took what she thought would be her last breath.

  “No.”

  All signs of playfulness fell from the Queen’s face. She placed a hand
on Sarah’s shoulder and squeezed. Her eyes grew very dark, and her skin seemed to crawl.

  “Well, then, I guess there’s no point in keeping you alive.” The Queen released the girl’s shoulder and raised her other hand, revealing nails that had grown several inches long. Her hand came down fast.

  Sarah closed her eyes and felt a chill travel up her spine followed by a strange feeling of relief.

  “Look at her Sarah. Do not be afraid to look,” the mist creature’s voice came to her again. Sarah opened her eyes. And just like that the Queen’s attack came to an abrupt halt.

  “Your eyes have changed.” She stared at the child for a moment and then pulled her hand to her side.

  “I thought without the stone you held no power. How does it live within you?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sarah said.

  “Perhaps, the story is true... You may be of some use to us.” The Queen turned to her guards and nodded at Alexander and Serwa. “Take them away.”

  “No,” Sarah shouted and moved toward Alexander. He remained limp with his eyes clouded over. The guards pointed their weapons at Sarah. She ignored them and moved Alexander’s head onto her lap. Blood ran and stained her skirt. She pushed the hair from the back of his skull, but there was no wound for the blood to flow from. As she reached down, she saw that her hands, too, were covered in lines of blood. So were her arms and legs. She looked up at the guards, hoping maybe one of them could explain where the blood came from.

  They only smiled at her cynically. She turned to the Queen who was already walking over to Sarah with a mirror in hand.

  The woman bent down beside Sarah and frowned. “Oh, my, dear what did you think was falling from the tunnel ceiling?”

  “W-what?” Sarah managed to say.

  Queen Isabella shook her head. “Sometimes we like to use our meals as decorations.” She showed Sarah her own reflection.

  In the mirror was a girl painted from head to toe with blood that was not her own or Alexander’s. Sarah reached one hand out to feel the glass, to make sure it was real and not some sort of illusion. The glass was solid; the girl’s eyes grew wide in the realization. An evil cackle broke from the Queen’s lips in unison with Sarah’s scream.

  Chapter 16

  The dungeon was dark and moist. The floor was cold on Sarah’s now bare feet as the guards dragged her along the ground. She didn’t resist, knowing at this point it would only make things worse. All she wanted was to be back home in the tub with hot steamy water washing away all the blood covering her. All the evil, all the wrong, all the sin.

  Serwa had been silent since they met with the Queen, which only made Sarah feel more alone. Alexander hadn’t woken up yet, and Sarah wondered if he ever would. The dungeon was surprisingly quiet. She expected every cell to be full with scrawny deformed figures that the vampires had been keeping for their own amusement. Instead every cell was empty.

  Maybe they’re all dead, Sarah thought. This place has death all over it. A hopeless feeling burrowed within her. If the vampires killed all their prisoners, then Jacob and Solar would be dead. Guilt weighed her down like an anvil.

  Jacob wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Sarah. She wasn’t even angry with him anymore. If he wanted to take Elaine to the dance he could. Maybe he and Sarah were only meant to be friends. All that mattered now was that he was in danger and needed to be rescued.

  “Welcome to your new home,” laughed a guard as he tossed Alexander and Sarah into one cell. Four other guards placed Serwa, still in the black chains, into the cell across from them. With whispered chatter, the guards turned down the corridor and disappeared. Sarah lay on the dirt floor and tried to breathe. She needed a moment, only a moment to take in all that had happened. Their situation was not good, especially with Alexander unconscious.

  What can we do? Just lie here and die? The thought made Sarah gag.

  “All right, girl, that’s enough of that,” Serwa spoke in a commanding voice. “Time to get up and stop whining.”

  Sarah didn’t respond. It was dark, so she could barely see the witch moving in the shadows.

  “Child, if you want to make it out of here you better stand. Are you going to let that batty old queen beat you? Just over some spilled blood. I thought you were stronger than that.”

  Sarah shook her head and remained quiet.

  There was a grunt and a thump in Serwa’s cell followed by a howl of pain. Sarah stared into the cell’s darkness but couldn’t make out anything.

  “You stupid boy.” The witch’s voice was full of burning anger. A flickering green light illuminated the small cell. Sarah shrouded her eyes and, then, peeked from behind her hands. Above the witch’s left hand, a green light hovered. In her other hand, she held a boy by the collar. Her face was twisted into a snarl and Serwa held the flickering green light inches from the boy’s face.

  “I do not enjoy surprise attacks, little boy.” Her voice was acidic. “Perhaps, it’s time that you –”

  “Serwa, no!” Sarah leapt onto her feet. She ran to the bars holding her in and grasped them, trying to peer into the cell across from her. “Jacob...?”

  The boy who was ripping at Serwa’s hand turned to her. “Sarah...?”

  “Jake,” she yelled and reached her arm out, wishing she could touch him, happy that Queen Isabella was a liar.

  Serwa let him fall to the ground whispering something about how it was his lucky day. He scrambled to the bars and reached out toward Sarah.

  “Sarah...I’m so glad to see you. I thought they caught you and put you in another dungeon.”

  “I’ve been searching for you and Solar this whole time. Where is she?”

  “In the caves below us. The cells here weren’t big enough to hold her.”

  “What about Nettle?” Sarah hadn’t seen the fairy since before she had fallen in the well.

  “She disappeared. I’m not sure where she is,” he said. “What happened to you? How did you escape the elves?”

  Sarah shrugged. “When we crashed, I must have been thrown somewhere they couldn’t see me.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re safe, but I never wanted to see you here.” Jacob pulled back from the cell bars and sat cross-legged on the floor.

  “At least I’m not here alone. I’m here with you, Serwa, and Alex.”

  “Serwa?”

  She pointed to the space beside him. “She’s Serwa. Alex is in here with me. They’ve been helping me look for you and Solar.”

  “That and then some,” the witch remarked with a huff.

  Jacob looked at her. “Real friends don’t mind helping one another. Makes me wonder what you actually did for Sarah.”

  There was a sharp intake of air. “Watch your tongue, boy, or you may just lose it.”

  Dear, Lord...

  Sarah let out a shaky laugh. “I guess formal introductions should be made. Jake meet Serwa, Serwa meet Jake.”

  The two stared at one another, eyebrows raised in scrutiny, then nodded in minimal approval. Sarah rolled her eyes.

  Alexander groaned from the corner, and she looked at him.

  “Serwa, is Alexander going to...his wounds haven’t healed yet.”

  “Yes,” the witch said reading her mind, “he’s going to be fine. It’s taking him a little bit longer to heal because of his lack of blood. I couldn’t give him much when we were traveling up here. But if I were you, child, I would be less worried about him and more worried about myself.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Sarah, Alexander was only mildly delusional from hunger at your first encounter,” she said and gestured toward his still figure. “Why do you think they placed you in a cell with him and me in here with this brute?”

  “I hope you’re not referring to me,” Jacob growled.

  The expression on Sarah’s face changed. She grasped her cell bars and stared at Serwa.

  “They want him to kill me.” The words stumbled from her frightened lips.
<
br />   “Oh, there’s your brain! Where has it been hiding?” Serwa took a seat on the wall across from Jacob. The green light went out.

  “Serwa?” Sarah peered into the darkness.

  “Hold on, let me concentrate.” The witch took a long breath. In a moment the green light was hovering above her hand again, though it was smaller than before. Serwa turned to Sarah. “Isabella knows who you are, and she must know the stone’s gone missing. If she knows, the rest of Lyrica knows as well. That’s the only reason she kept your friends alive. It’s the only reason she’s keeping us alive too, at the moment. She’s hoping somehow you will lead her to the stone so that she can use it.”

  Sarah shook her head. “But if I’m dead I won’t be able to lead her anywhere.”

  “True.” The witch nodded. “But if the legend is true, you also have the ability to call the stone.”

  Her eyes fell to the ground. “I don’t think –”

  Serwa raised a hand. “It’s within your power, but the issue is you don’t know how to do it willingly. Only in extreme situations, say when a certain vampire is draining your body of all its blood, your instinct will take over and call for the aid of the stone. Similar to when you and Alexander first met, right?”

  Sarah hadn’t thought about that day in a while. She preferred to avoid the memory actually, but Serwa had a point. Sarah hadn’t asked the stone to help her. She’d been trapped and knew there was no way of escape, so she screamed. Only then did the stone react.

  “So, you had the stone all the guards were talking about?” Jacob asked Sarah.

  “I’m sorry, Jake. I had the stone, and now it’s gone. I should have told you I had it. We got separated so fast and...I didn’t mean for you to end up here.” She dug into the palms of her hands.

  “Hey,” he called to her. “It’s okay. I followed you down the well, remember? It was my choice. Sarah, look at me.”

  “I promise I’ll get you home, Jake.” She stared at his face that was melting into the shadows as the green light began to fade. “It’s my responsibility.”

  He smiled. “Then, I guess it’s my responsibility to make sure you get home safe, too.”