“I see you’ve already met the librarian, very well. This is the man I wanted you to meet with. It would seem you’ve beat me to it.”
“Was there something in particular I was supposed to be learning?”
His eyes were assessing me as he contemplated his answer. “Yes, as queen, you’ll be expected to know our traditions and history. That is where he comes in,” he said, pointing to Mateo.
“Ah.” He never ceased in his attempts to groom me into his ideal submissive monarch.
His smile was wicked and it turned my stomach to think of what he might have had in mind. He put me on edge by simply being around.
The two men prattled on with each other about gods knew what. I had stopped listening almost immediately when the topic had slipped in to the technicalities of preserving certain volumes. My mind was focused on the issues Mateo had presented to me. Why would I need to go to Drake? He was in Guinee because I’d thrown a wrench in his plans. He wouldn’t be willing to help me, would he?
The tiny scrap of paper Mateo had given me was clutched tightly within my palm. I was itching to read its contents. Whatever it was, I knew the Baron could never know about it. I needed the sanctuary of my room.
“Dear? Would you like that?” The Baron’s deep voice permeated my clustered thoughts.
My mind cleared quickly. “I’m sorry. What was that?”
Samedi’s disappointed face betrayed every ounce of his disdain for my behavior. His eyes raked down the length of my body before he tipped his head towards Mateo.
“You could learn much from the old man. I would like you to come back here soon. There is a great deal of knowledge for you to acquire before you take the throne beside me. The sooner the better.”
I didn’t need any additional time to mull it over because I knew that time with Mateo would be in my best interest. He felt like a kindred spirit.
“Yes, I think I’d like that.” I gave the prophecy keeper a small smile. His eyes crinkled at the edges, but his mouth was largely hidden beneath the mass of white whiskers that covered the lower half of his face. My gut was telling me that I liked him and I could trust him, though I knew that such a thing could be catastrophic. “I’m tired. I think I’ll head to my room and retire for a bit.”
The need to be alone and figure out my next course of action was spurring me on. Getting away from the Baron was also high on my priority list.
Samedi was eyeing me suspiciously, but relented and lifted his hand to escort me back to my room.
“It’s okay. I can manage it alone.”
I spun on my heels and stalked off, refusing to give a backwards glance. I didn’t think that I could hide my disdain for the king of the dead during another escort to my chambers. The pricking of magic under my skin was uncomfortable and I grew antsy to get away from him. I didn’t hear footsteps behind me as I made my way towards the door. The Baron wouldn’t have approved.
It wasn’t long before I had reached my destination, thankfully alone, and slipped inside without drawing attention. Catching the notice of Zelda was the absolute last thing I needed. The thick door clicked shut as I gave it a tug behind me. There was no way to lock the damn thing or stop anyone from coming in. I’d only seen one key for the door and that was in the care of my soon to be husband.
The very idea now repulsed me, knowing that one day very soon he’d be my other half. Samedi was a snake and I had no doubt that the servants and staff who had come and gone since my arrival were his little spies in one way or another. They’d be his eyes and ears when he wasn’t around, or so I assumed. It would’ve been the smart thing to do.
Stupid. Naive. I had been far too easily fooled by that man.
To gain my trust and manipulate me so I would play right into his waiting hands, he had made me see him in a different light. Anything to hide the cruel, selfish man underneath. There was something about him and the events that had unfolded which didn’t make sense. I knew he was up to something and whatever it was, I would play a large part in. Finding out what that was had to become my priority now.
I slipped into the bathroom and threw the lock as I went. Mateo’s note was clutched tightly in my sweaty palm. My fingers nimbly unfolded the piece of parchment and I turned it over to read its contents. The neat scroll of Mateo’s handwriting was finely scratched across the paper and confirming any suspicions I had been having.
Do not trust Samedi and whatever you do, do NOT marry him. Get out while you can.
It seemed that my predicament was much direr than I had realized. Mateo must have known more than he let on. Maybe bits and pieces of Samedi’s plans…a girl could hope. His voice rang clearly within my mind as I recalled him telling me to seek out Drake and go to Guinee. He had said that the great battle was coming. Whatever the Baron was up to would likely have something to do with that.
I held the note in the palm of my hand and stretched out my arm. My heartbeat calmed as I concentrated and let my powers overtake me. Within seconds, the note was engulfed in a flash of fire and I dumped it into the empty bathtub to finish smoldering out. Wisps of smoke filled the space of the bathroom, I took my place near the door listening for any sign that I wasn’t alone anymore. Having seen Samedi’s temper firsthand, I had no wish to have it visited on Mateo or myself again for that matter.
The snick of the door handle brought me back to my senses. I was no longer alone and there was no time to do anything about the smoke and strong acrid stench of burnt paper. Shit. I decided that it would be the best route to leave the bathroom and act as though nothing was amiss. Slipping between the jamb and the door, I was faced with the worst possible scenario. The Baron stood expectantly in the center of the room, leaned up against the arm of the brown leather loveseat. His staff was propped between his wide splayed legs with his hand piled on top of the skull’s dome.
“Oh! I wasn’t expecting you. Do you need something?” I tried my hardest not to let any of my nerve into my voice as I asked. Nonchalance wasn’t exactly my strong suit, but I tried anyways.
Suspicion danced in his eyes. I was sure he was about to call me out on my bullshit. That was only if he didn’t outright barge into the bathroom to discover the treachery underfoot.
“Burning something?” His eyes shot to the bathroom and I put my hands behind my back, twisting them into my skirt in a futile attempt to calm my anxiety.
“Yeah, um…it’s silly, really. I write my wishes down then burn them so they’ll come true. Sort of a version of sending an email to the universe.” I left my explanation at that, knowing that I would ramble on and give something vital away.
“I see. Has it worked for you before?” His head was tipped like a curious dog while he inquired and sounded genuinely interested in my answer.
“A time or two.” A tiny grin spread across my lips.
Samedi stood, slipped around the end of the sofa and took a seat, motioning to me to join him. I wasn’t sure if I should or if I even wanted to be that close to him. However, my gut told me to play it cool and do as he bid. I had to bide my time until he was satisfied with whatever he was looking for and left.
Moving around the coffee table and the sofa, I sat down in the empty cushion next to him, but pressed myself flush against the arm rest. He seemed relaxed and at ease with our unique situation.
“Have you enjoyed your stay thus far?” he inquired calmly.
Thankfully, the scent of smoke was starting to dissipate.
I nodded. “It’s a bit lonely here though. I’m glad I met Mateo. Maybe we’ll get on well.”
“Hmm, yes. It’s a bit desolate here. You should visit the dead sometime. They can be a rather fun diversion.” His tone was absent of its usual humor and it made me think he didn’t much care about the dead one way or the other. Could someone like being utterly alone that much to not care for company to pass the time?
My thoughts were wandering as we sat there, each lost in our own thoughts, when an idea of epic proportions shoved its way to the f
orefront of my brain. “Would I be able to see my parents there?” I scooted to the edge of the sofa and sat straight backed while I eagerly awaited his answer.
“It’s not a good idea.” He lay his hand on my shoulder and my eyes met his sympathetic ones.
My stomach plummeted into my toes. I just wanted to understand why. In that very short moment, I had allowed myself to get my hopes up and now they were shattered.
“Why? I just don’t understand…”
Samedi’s fingers gently prodded my chin so I would meet his gaze. “They’re there, but they wouldn’t be like you remember them. They may not remember you at all and this place, these lands can twist them and warp them into something that’s almost unrecognizable.” His explanation made some sense, but I was having a very hard time reconciling his explanation against my memories of my parents. They’d been there with me in Drake’s dungeon as I lay dying from a botched escape attempt. My mother had comforted me and given me the strength to go on while my father healed me enough to survive the injuries. They’d been perfect and beautiful. Just like I’d remembered them being. “I promise you, you won’t like what you find there should you go looking. Save yourself the disappointment and heartbreak,” the Baron said as he brought my attention back to him.
A single tear escaped my eyes before I swept it away. I hoped he hadn’t seen it; I couldn’t afford to show weaknesses.
“Well, thank you for the suggestion. I’ll take it under advisement.”
Part of me was afraid he was right while the other wanted to see it for myself, firsthand.
“Did you decide on a dress with Henrietta?” His voice was upbeat as he tried to change the subject to lighter topics.
“I did, but the situation got to be a bit overwhelming so we decided to finish things up tomorrow.”
My magic was bubbling to the surface again and my skin felt as though it was jumping with electricity. I tried to ignore it, but I couldn’t help but to rub at my skin.
Samedi held up his hand with his palm faced towards me. “Give me your hand, please?” I scrutinized the pale fleshy palm. His fingers were long and slender with their invitation. “Maya?” he prodded.
I acquiesced and handed it over for his inspection. The magic flowed hotly through my fingers; it tugged towards him. He held our hands about an inch apart at face level and an amused expression graced his handsome features.
“Don’t hold back. Just let it flow freely.”
The itch was beginning to burn and I quit holding it back. I pulled back the floodgates and let it all go.
The dam broke and the space between our hands grew warm and began to radiate a brilliant light. Samedi’s luminous magic was the most enticing color of violet and it moved like the slow waters of calm river. My own white and gray magic twisted between our open palms and intermingled with his. There was the faintest hint of concern at seeing my magic, but I brushed it aside to enjoy the wonder of it. My eyes had grown wide as I watched it. His magic flowed easily with my own and seeped into me. It was like a high, euphoric and it made me feel comfortably warm all over.
“That’s a wonderful sound,” Samedi said sweetly.
A small smile graced his full lips and I noticed that our faces were so close, mere inches apart.
“What is?” I inquired.
Suddenly, I had become shy and unsure of my own actions. I felt foolish for being anywhere near him after what he’d done.
“Your laugh. It’s sweet like nectar.” The smile never left his face and it grew broader to show the shallow dimples in his cheeks and the small crinkles that formed at the edges of his eyes.
It turns out, I wasn’t immune to his charms either and I found myself beginning to relax around him, despite how much I was trying not to.
Samedi coughed and sat up a bit straighter. “I just came to tell you that I’ll be leaving for a while. If you find that you should require anything, the staff and Mateo should be more than accommodating and help you in any way they can.”
“Where are you going?”
I was surprised by the hollow feeling that was forming within me. The loneliness and longing for human interaction was setting in again and the constant grey, depressing skies of the land would only add to the sensation.
“Well, people still die every day and I have a job to do. The dead are what keeps this place alive and running. Without new souls…this place would rot and fade into nothingness,” he said, gesturing to the walls around us.
It was the energy of the souls that created all of this? I hadn’t given any thought to the fact that the Baron would still have to carry out his normal duties as the Loa of the Dead, nor that those duties would take him away from his home and me. Distancing myself from the man and the softening of my feelings towards him could only be a good thing. I had my doubts that there was anything truly redeeming residing inside of him and I needed to remember that. His leaving could be the bright side of my predicament. I was sure that Mateo knew a considerable bit more than he could let on with Samedi home, and I would have to be careful. If this realm was run on the souls of the dead, did that mean the walls really did have eyes? He surely had spies everywhere.
“When will you leave then?” My tone was slightly clipped and matter-of-fact, hiding the fact that my mind was quickly filling with the many things that I would then be free to accomplish without the Baron watching my every move.
“I’ll be departing presently.”
I nodded. “Do you know when you will be returning?”
His eyes narrowed slightly, likely suspicious with the questions I was firing at him. “I’m not entirely sure, but a few days certainly.”
He rose to his feet and I followed. Scrutinizing me intensely for a second, he dipped his chin and waited. For what exactly, I wasn’t sure. I was definitely not the curtseying type.
“Good luck,” I said, sticking my hand out for him to shake.
His eyes went back and forth between my hand and my face with a peculiar expression before he wrapped my dainty hand in both of his large masculine hands and gave it a light squeeze. He was plainly not shaking my hand in return.
Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode out of my quarters, leaving me alone once again.
I stood statuesquely still, not fully sure what to do with myself. The tingling sensations of magic surging within me had receded with the departure of the king of the dead. I missed the feeling a bit, however. The whole thing still perplexed me. Why would I respond to him so strongly without seemingly any effort on his behalf?
I plopped lazily back down onto the sofa just as a loud rapping sounded at my door.
“Come in,” I called out, not ambitious enough to get up again and be the gracious hostess.
The door groaned loudly as it swung open. Henrietta’s round face poked around the edge. She warily glanced about until she spotted me.
“There you are…you alright, miss?” She slipped into the room, giving the door a closing shove behind her as she made her way to me.
I wasn’t really in the mood to deal with more wedding details. The urge to be completely alone for a while was damn near overwhelming, but none of that was her fault. So, I did exactly what I was expected to, I plastered the fakest smile I could on to my face and was as gracious and charming as I was capable of mustering up.
“I’m alright, and yourself?” I inquired sweetly.
“We have to finalize your measurements and decide on a few other details, however, if you don’t feel up to it…” The concern was still evident on her kind face.
“No, that’s quite alright. Let’s get this sorted…I mean, better sooner than later, right?”
Her expression changed instantly and she clapped her hands together twice. As if that was the signal, the flurry of dressmakers and assistants carrying heaps of cloth poured into the space that had just been my room.
I inhaled deeply and got up, and followed Henrietta into my bedroom. They had already set everything up so my room n
ow resembled a bustling wedding salon.
Over the following several hours, I was bombarded with decisions pertaining to my veil, fabric type, and flowers. None of which I could give a damn about. It wasn’t like I actually had a say in anything other than what I would be wearing. Henrietta had informed me that everything else would be taken care of and such things were not worth troubling someone of my station with. While grateful for the small mercy, it still left a bitter taste in my mouth.
A small pang of sorrow struck my heart at the notion. I would never have the experiences I had dreamed of, nor the groom of my dreams. I was a pawn in a game where the players were unpredictable. I was helpless to change my situation. Biding my time and waiting for the chance to present itself was my only option. I might have been a weakling in that realm, but I wasn’t without my own devices.
Sitting alone in my room after the bustle of the wedding planners had left, I was exhausted beyond reason. My mind began to wander over everything that had changed over the last week since my arrival. It occurred to me how utterly screwed I was. I didn’t have a clean out.
Then there was Rhys, my paramour and now forbidden fruit. The tiniest part of me wanted him to rescue me from that hellhole. He’d be my knight in shining armor and I’d be his damsel in need of rescuing, but that was my reality and fairy tales didn’t happen. There’d be no happily ever after for me.
Tears slipped down my cheeks freely, filled with the sorrows of losing everything I’d held dear and lost. If only I could see them all again and make sure they were alright…
My eye’s felt heavy and my body began to feel weightless as I drifted down slowly to the depths of dreamland.
A warm, black blanket enveloped me. I felt like I were floating, yet I was unable to really gain my bearings. Time didn’t exist, and for the briefest moment, I didn’t have a care in the world.
I felt free.
A light flickered in the distance, reminding me of the lightning bugs that used to flit about my backyard growing up. The glow was tiny and hazy, not unlike a lighthouse on a foggy night. The shining orb itself was unclear, yet it was slowly getting larger and growing in intensity. No…that wasn’t quite right. I was moving towards it!
A Soul's Surrender (The Voodoo Revival Series Book 2) Page 4
