“Get away from us, you blithering piece of –”
He waved her insults away. “Has he passed?”
Theresa couldn’t feel his pulse. She couldn’t see his breathing.
There was no warmth in his lifeless body.
“No, he hasn’t passed,” she snapped back. “He’s just resting. He’s very –”
The sound of another match being struck. “Very weak is what he was,” Lafayette remarked. “Honestly, the pure lack of intelligence in the barbaric mind. I shall write about him in my memoirs. A Conquest of the Minds, we’ll call it. And you were here to see it. My very best of friends. Finally, you will see that love is fleeting, where friendship can –”
Moldark suddenly leapt up from Theresa’s embrace, smashing the match out of Lafayette’s hands, the pipe crashing along after it.
Lafayette’s eyes peeled back, wide and fearful, a forced smile emerging from his lips.
Moldark bit down on Lafayette’s neck, his blood spilling, his arms waving about in the air.
“Stop him!” Lafayette shrieked. “Theresa! My friend…”
Moldark threw him to the ground, savaging his entire body with blows.
Theresa moved in closer, her gaze locked on Lafayette. “You were never my friend,” she said.
He feigned confusion at first, as Moldark got to his feet, both their shadows cast over him.
Then the look on Lafayette’s face disappeared.
He started grinning. His nose scrunched up. His whole face was twisting into something ugly and demonic.
No more masks.
No more layers.
Moldark lifted his boot over Lafayette’s head, and then smashed it into oblivion.
CHAPTER SIX
Relief. At the sudden, swift end of Lafayette, the West House vampire.
The hidden enemy was no more.
Moldark staggered away from his remains, Theresa following, trying to show support.
Moldark’s knees hit the ground again.
“Just tell me now,” Theresa said, her hands on his shoulders. “You’re gonna make it, right? You’re going to get it through this. Before was just an act.”
Moldark shook his head. “I don’t tell lies.”
“There must be something we can do. We just have to wait it out – wait for you to get better. Just go to sleep now, I’ll keep watch to make sure no one else comes.”
Moldark stared at her, his gaze tired a weary. Then he looked beyond her, a brief moment of hope in his eyes snuffed out. “Too late,” he choked out and slumped over.
“Moldark,” Theresa said shaking him. “Moldark…”
She glanced around.
There were riders above them. Lafayette’s men were on the cliff’s edge near the plantation looking down at them. Sharp, piercing winds chilled the skyline, as Theresa’s field of vision twisted around to the river.
More soldiers.
Lord Fane’s men.
“Help!” Theresa cried. “He needs help!”
One of the men walked to the brink of the river, and beckoned her forward.
She looked back to Moldark and saw he was losing consciousness. She got up and hurried across the rocks and stood near the river opposite the soldier.
“Nurse Chantley?”
Theresa’s mouth fell open. “Uh – yes.”
“The Princess requires your presence.”
“Where is she?”
The soldier tipped his head upward. Theresa followed the surface of the chasm she’d climbed down with Moldark earlier, all the way to the top where she saw Emberlynn’s figure mounted on a steed with soldiers all around her.
“Come along then,” the soldier said. “Don’t dawdle. The Princess doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
Theresa stared at him. Her lips quivering inward.
“I know,” she said.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Hurrying up the side of the chasm, Theresa went over some of the things she was going to say. She knew the Princess might be upset with Lafayette’s demise and she wasn’t fair even on a good day, but given her affliction and the general events that had taken place tonight, Theresa hoped there would be some leeway.
Emberlynn was still on the horse when Theresa finally made it to the top. Theresa noticed immediately that her usually golden hair had turned snow-white, and her face was sickly and pale, with purple veins sprouting around her neck.
She had a black raven sitting on each of her shoulders.
“Some night you’re having, Nurse Chantley,” the Princess remarked upon Theresa’s approach. “Feel free to unburden your feet, if you like. You might want to kneel.”
Theresa stopped.
Their eyes locked together.
“No,” she said. “I’m okay here.”
The Princess broke her stare and looked up into the sky.
“I assume you saw the smoke,” Theresa said. “That’s how you were able to find us.”
“You made it rather easy.”
“Did you see what happened to Lafayette too?”
Emberlynn nodded.
“Are you upset?”
“I’m alive. Which is more than I can say for you.”
Theresa blinked. “Are you ready to bury the hatchet? Can we both just look past what we’ve done to one another?”
“No,” Emberlynn said.
“No?”
“Your man is hurt, is he? He’s not getting up.”
“He took a fall recently.”
“Did he?”
“Lafayette pushed him off the edge of that cliff.”
Emberlynn looked to where she was pointing. “That is quite a drop.”
“Indeed.”
The Princess shifted in her saddle. “Lafayette’s lieutenants have seized the Southern Kingdom. We were also able to convince most of Moldark’s men to fly under our banner. They belong to us now. He has nothing.” She reached into a pouch behind her and pulled out a potion. “This here was made by Lord Fane. It will restore a vampire back to full strength. If I give it to you, then he will live.”
Theresa stared at her as she began to chuck the bottle up in the air, before catching it and repeating the process.
“You want this, don’t you?” Emberlynn asked.
Theresa nodded. “May I –”
“May you what?”
“May I please have it?”
Emberlynn’s head tilted side to side. “Beg me.”
“What?”
“Get on your knees and beg me for it.”
Higher into the air.
Catching it with a snap.
Theresa got her knees. “May we please have the potion, Your Highness?”
“Mmmm…” Emberlynn said, considering. “You really want this huh?”
“Yes.”
“How badly do you want it?”
“We want it,” Theresa grumbled. “Stop teasing.”
Emberlynn frowned. “You don’t want me to tease you?”
“I – I just – can we –”
“You don’t want to be my kitten?”
“No, I –”
Emberlynn tossed the potion to the left of her. Before it hit the ground, Theresa leapt out at lightning speed, catching it in her grasp. She rolled across the grass, standing up as the soldiers blocked her path.
“Give it here and I’ll see that he gets it,” the Princess asserted.
Theresa glanced back at her.
“We’re going to have a problem Nurse Chantley, if you refuse to obey me.”
Theresa winced. She found herself wandering over, letting the potion go into Emberlynn’s hands.
“That’s a good little kitten,” the Princess mused.
“I don’t care what you do to me,” Theresa said. “But you better make sure he lives.”
Emberlynn threw the potion up into the air again, this time one of the ravens catching it and flying off over the chasm towards Moldark.
Theresa turned away from the bird back to her old
mistress.
“Of course he lives,” Emberlynn said. “You both live. The fun hasn’t even started yet.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
She could have the Southern Kingdom. She could have the West, and the East if she was able to take it. She could reclaim the Warlock’s Keep and continue Lafayette’s campaign across the lands, as long as no one else was hurt. No one who didn’t deserve it.
Theresa didn’t need crowns or kingdoms to find her eternal happiness. She didn’t care where they wound up, as long as she was with Moldark. As long as they were free.
But would such a meagre request be granted by the woman before her? In what conceivable scenario did Theresa think the Princess would let them go?
They were going to have to fight.
Moldark surfaced a short time later, staggering up the chasm’s walkway and into the circular space where Theresa found herself surrounded by the Princess and her soldiers.
“How is that then?” Emberlynn asked. “Are you feeling better, Moldark?”
The raven returned her shoulder.
Moldark grunted.
“Speak up please,” Emberlynn pressed. “I didn’t catch that.”
Moldark grabbed hold of Theresa’s wrist and attempted to exit the circle. They were blocked by the soldiers.
“Get out of our way,” Moldark growled pushing two of them over.
Swords were quickly drawn and brandished.
“Wait!” Emberlynn cried shrilly. Her horse trotted along after them. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Just leave us alone!” Theresa shouted back at her.
“Moldark!” Emberlynn demanded. “Face me at once!”
They continued along the side of the road, ignoring her.
“That’s my property you’re walking away with. Do you wish to be charged with petty theft?”
Moldark stopped. He let go of Theresa’s hand. “What did you say?”
“Moldark,” Theresa began. “Let’s not –”
“I’ll have you both strung up in the town square,” Emberlynn threatened, trotting over. “We’ll put you on top a boiling fire. We’ll roast you on a spit.”
A heavy hand from one of the soldiers came down on Moldark’s shoulder and he quickly turned, seizing the man’s sword and slashing his throat in one swift motion. Then he turned for the Princess and bounded towards her.
Theresa realized what was happening before Moldark did.
She saw it in Emberlynn’s eyes. Her face.
Her expression.
Moldark was in midair with the tip of the blade centimeters from her chest when the Princess’s hand lifted. A wave of electricity shot out sweeping Moldark away across the road past Theresa, the sword flying away further than him.
“Stop it!” Theresa cried rushing to Moldark’s aid. She got down on the ground with him, trying to lift him up. “Leave us alone!”
Emberlynn trotted on towards them.
She was holding a ball of yellow light in the palm of her hand.
“What is this witchcraft?” Moldark gasped. “You were not bestowed with –”
“Shut your mouth, vampire,” Emberlynn scolded. “Or I will shut it for you.”
They got back to their feet. Stared at her.
Waited.
“That’s better,” Emberlynn said. “Now. We still have your horse somewhere. I request that you ride back with us to the plantation. There are matters to attend to.”
“No,” Moldark said.
“No?” Emberlynn snapped back. “I’m not sure I –”
“Theresa and I are done with you. If you oppose us we will fight you to our last breath. Witchcraft or not.”
“Oh,” Emberlynn murmured. “I didn’t know you felt that way.”
There was a brief silence. Emberlynn gently moved one hand over the other, to reveal a dark, circular object.
Theresa squinted, trying to see it.
Emberlynn threw it up into the air and the ravens caught it – one holding the right side. The other holding the left.
They flew over to where Moldark and Theresa were, swooping down at them.
Moldark waved his arms wildly at the birds, while Theresa retrieved a stick from the ground to bat them away.
But they kept coming.
By the time Theresa actually made contact with one of them, they’d managed to drop whatever the object was over Moldark’s head.
A look of terror shot through his eyes.
Theresa hurried to remove the collar but a bolt of lightning from Emberlynn blew her away from him.
Moldark went to go after her.
“Stop,” the Princess commanded.
Moldark stopped.
“Turn. Face me.”
Moldark turned and faced her.
“Yes,” the Princess said quietly. “You’ll do, Moldark. You’ll do just fine.”
CHAPTER NINE
Theresa couldn’t explain what had just happened. The Princess had gone full-fledged out into the darkness, aided by two birds that looked suspiciously like the Davorin twins – and now she also appeared to have magical powers that rendered both she and Moldark powerless against her. As if the Collar of Obedience wasn’t enough.
The Soldiers brought forth Moldark’s horse and they set off together with the rest of them, galloping through the dead of night road. Dawn itself, was only a few hours away. They should be done for now, they should be going home, they should be released. What else could the Princess possibly want from them?
Their ride was fairly short – right back to the Plantation. Although without the collar Moldark may have steered them off course or started lashing out, but as Theresa’s fingers went to prise it away, Emberlynn had quickly ridden alongside her. Staring. Knowing.
Daring.
There was no way out of this.
The Plantation had come to life since their departure. Pinks and purples and reds glowed brightly on the horizon. The colors changed. Overlapped. Went in and out of each other.
Theresa at first thought perhaps there was more sorcery at play, but as they drew closer it became apparent the lights were part of festive decoration, for some type of celebration.
Emberlynn rode ahead when they reached the gates and waited for the squad to ride on with her, signaling for Theresa and Moldark to dismount.
“Everyone is here, so we’re good to go,” the Princess explained. “I have servants waiting for you inside who will see that you’re properly fitted. When you’re both ready you may come out back to the garden where I, along with everyone else will be waiting.”
“What’s happening?” Theresa asked, but Emberlynn rode off leaving the question unanswered. Moldark walked past her up the steps to the main building. This place was supposed to be abandoned but it seemed in the last half hour or so Emberlynn’s servants had their best to fill it with activity and life.
Moldark pushed the double doors open, Theresa hurrying after him.
“Moldark,” she said.
He continued on through the heated entrance.
“Moldark,” she tried again.
He reluctantly turned.
“Bend down,” Theresa said. “Let me get that thing off you.”
Moldark looked confused a moment, then he bent down on one knee. As Theresa put her hands to the collar he immediately seized her wrists and pushed her away with all his might.
Theresa fell to the ground in a heap. “Hey!”
Moldark looked down at his hands in disbelief. Then a vacantness touched his eyes.
He turned away from her.
“Moldark!”
A manservant appeared and opened a door on the right and Moldark walked through it, bowing his head at the archway.
Theresa got to her feet, helped up by someone from behind.
When she turned, she was overfilled with joy.
“Maxine!”
Maxine put a finger to her lips. “It’s best if you don’t draw attention.”
Theresa glanced around.
She saw soldiers moving through other areas of the house. Servant girls scuttling away.
“Come on. We have to get you made up.”
“Made up for what?” Theresa cried as she was yanked down the hall.
“For the wedding.”
CHAPTER TEN
Maxine was able to get rid of the other servants lingering around the dressing area, so that she and Theresa could be alone. A closet full of spectacular shimmery dresses was opened and put on display for Theresa to choose from. Without paying attention, she picked a dress at random, eager to advance the conversation.
“I don’t understand,” Theresa said, stepping out of her clothes. “Who is getting married?”
“The Princess obviously,” Maxine answered. “That’s why we’re all here. Didn’t she explain it to you?”
“No. We’re – we’re enemies.”
“Really?”
“Why do you sound so surprised? You know what she’s done to me all these years.”
“It’s just, it’s just –”
“What?”
Maxine stopped, her face pale, clutching Theresa’s selected dress in her arms.
“Sorry,” Theresa said. “I didn’t mean to yell.”
Maxine walked over, handing her the dress. “You’re to be the only bridesmaid.”
“She said that? Emberlynn wants me to be her bridesmaid?”
Maxine nodded.
Theresa began putting the dress on. “So who is she supposed to be marrying?”
“Lafayette.”
“But he’s dead. Moldark killed him.”
“I also heard the Warlock’s here,” Maxine said.
“As in Lord Fane?”
“That’s what I heard.”
“But he was a block of stone the last I saw of him.”
Maxine shook her head. “I thought you would know more about it than me.”
Theresa finished dressing. Maxine attempted to put some flowers in Theresa’s hair before Theresa stopped her. “Why are you even here? Did Emberlynn just start ordering everyone around after I left with Moldark’s men?”
“It was Lafayette calling the shots. I heard him talking about some teleporter or something. Said he would be to use it in order stop Moldark. And anyone else that got in their way.”
Game of Vampires: A Reverse Harem Serial (Part Five) Page 2
