Grishma (Necoh Saga)

by Kelly Blount

  “We’ll see you in the morning,” replied Lady Adeline with a sly smile.

  Sophie’s cheeks flushed and she quickly pushed through the doors of their room.

  Once in the dimly lit room, Sophie turned to Algid and kissed him deeply. He pulled her in closely and slid his hands around her waist. She tingled from head to toe. I can’t believe this is happening!

  They kissed and fell together into the bed in the center of the room. His hand crept up toward her chest, and her breath caught in her throat.

  His eyes met hers and he retracted his hand. “I’m sorry! I was getting carried away.” He cupped her face with his hands. “We don’t have to rush into anything tonight. I understand if you aren’t ready yet.”

  Oh, thank goodness!

  Trying not to appear too relieved, she kissed him lightly. “Thank you.”

  He smiled and pushed back a stray lock of hair. “You’re going to be mine for the rest of our lives. What’s a few more days?”

  She gulped. A few more days? I was thinking a bit longer. Eek!

  “Do you need help with your dress before we go to bed, my love?”

  Princess Sophie felt herself turning crimson. I’m so glad the lights are dim in here!

  “Yes, th—tha—that would be very nice. Thank you,” she stammered.

  He stood up first, then took her hand and helped her off the bed.

  “Where do I start? I’ve never undressed anyone before.”

  Sophie turned around. Her skin felt like it was on fire. “Um, my dress is bustled, you can undo that first. Then you can unlace the corset.”

  She could feel his fingers letting down the bustle and then loosening the corset on her dress. The beautiful gown began to slip down, leaving her standing in only her lacy bra and underwear.

  He moved her hair off her neck and kissed it delicately. Then his lips trailed down to her shoulders and back. The tingling increased and she arched her back slightly.

  “You are so beautiful,” he said in between kisses. Taking her hand and leading her back to the bed, he pulled her toward him once again.

  She could feel her hands untucking his shirt and caressing his back.

  He managed to get his shirt off without interrupting their passionate kisses.

  Sliding down, he gently kissed her stomach and his fingers traced along the outer edges of her lacy underwear.

  This is too much. I can’t. Not yet.

  He could feel her body tense up. Pulling himself away was difficult, but he forced himself to do so. Looking Sophie in the eyes, he asked, “Is everything okay?”

  Every cell in her body screamed, “YES!” but her mind said, “No.”

  “I’m just a little nervous. I’ve never done anything like this,” she replied.

  “That’s okay, we can slow things down. It might be hard, though. You’re the most stunning creature in all of Necoh!”

  She smiled and looked into his eyes.

  “Here, turn around,” he instructed her.

  Following his command, she rolled over and faced away from him.

  He wrapped his arms around her and held her securely against his chest. “Goodnight, my sweet Princess.”

  “Goodnight.”

  Closing her eyes, she began drifting off to sleep when an alarming image popped into her mind. She was lying in another bed in the exact same position with someone else. The walls of the room were crude and made of stone. The image was so alarming that it caused her to sit straight up.

  “Is everything okay?” asked Algid.

  “Yes, it–it–it was just a nightmare.”

  Settling back into her husband’s arms, she closed her eyes and racked her brain. Where have I seen that image before? Why does everything seem so familiar?

  Questions floated around in her mind before she finally fell into a restless sleep.

  “Wake up, my love,” cooed Algid.

  Her eyelids fluttered open. “Huh?”

  She found herself staring into Algid’s deep, dark brown eyes. Smiling, she studied his face a bit more intently. He had the most dazzling smile she had ever seen and it was paired with two rows of perfectly straight, pearly white teeth.

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  “Yes, why do you ask?”

  “Well, you’re staring at me like you forgot who I am,” he replied, smiling his megawatt smile.

  “Oh no! That’s not it at all,” she said, blushing. “It’s just that you’re so handsome.”

  He rolled on top of her, holding himself up with his strong muscular arms.

  “Why thank you, my love.” He lowered himself enough to kiss her lightly and then pushed himself up and off of the bed.

  He winked at her and smiled. “I’ll be right back.”

  She watched him walk across the room. His bare torso made her shiver with excitement.

  Ah! He looks so amazing!

  As soon as she was alone, she reached her arms above her head and stretched. Pulling the covers back, she hopped out of bed and quickly dashed over to a large dresser.

  Riffling through a drawer, she searched for something to wear besides sexy negligees. Finally, she found a silky black robe, but before she could put it on, Algid walked back into the room.

  “Wow,” he stammered.

  Feeling embarrassed, she quickly wrapped herself up in the robe and tied it shut.

  He approached her and wrapped his arms around her tiny waist. “You are even more beautiful in the morning light,” he whispered into her ear.

  Sophie giggled nervously.

  “Come on,” he said, “let’s go get breakfast.”

  Sophie and Algid joined the King and Lady Adeline at one end of an impossibly long dining table.

  Servants brought them fresh squeezed kuba juice and several delicious golden waffles with fresh whipped cream. Small dishes of lera berries were placed around the table for those who wished to top their already mouthwatering breakfast.

  Lady Adeline spoke up first. “Sleep well?” She smiled slyly and raised an eyebrow while looking directly at Sophie.

  Her cheeks went crimson and she looked down at her waffles. “Yes, we slept fine, thank you.”

  Her father cleared his throat. “So, are you ready for your departure tomorrow morning?”

  Oh my gosh! I’m leaving. I’m leaving everything and everyone I know. She looked down at her plate. “Not really. I have a lot to do today,” Sophie replied.

  “I’ll send Emlyn and Brianna to your room shortly. They will be accompanying you on your move and they should be able to help you prepare everything you’ll need in Dratun,” said Lady Adeline.

  “Thank you, Lady Adeline. Father, may I please take Boonum with me?” asked Sophie.

  A nostalgic look washed over the King’s face. “Yes, of course. That is, if it’s okay with Prince Algid?”

  He smiled and took Sophie’s hand. “Anything to make my Princess happy.”

  The rest of breakfast was uneventful and soon Sophie found herself alone with Brianna and Emlyn in her massive bedroom.

  “The wedding was beautiful!” gushed Emlyn.

  “It truly was the most exquisite wedding Necoh has ever seen!” agreed Brianna.

  “Thank you. I felt very special yesterday Although, I must admit, I’m getting quite sad at the thought of leaving everyone in Sumner. What if I don’t like living in Dratun? What if the people there don’t care for me?”

  “Oh, Princess Sophie, everyone in Dratun will love you! Especially your new husband!” said Brianna.

  Emlyn nodded her head in agreement. “I’ve never seen a man look at his wife with such love and adoration.”

  Sophie smiled. “I’m so glad you two will be joining me.”

  Brianna attempted to smile, but instead broke out in tears.

  “What’s wrong Brianna?” asked Sophie.

  “My mother, she works here in the castle and I’ll never see her again!” Brianna’s shoulders heaved up and down with her sobs. “I’m s
o sorry, Princess! I don’t mean to look like such a mess in front of you! I’m just going to miss her so much!”

  Sophie wrapped her arms around Brianna. “Don’t worry! We’ll make many trips back to Sumner! You shall still see her! In the meantime, you can write letters. I’ll make sure that she receives them!”

  “Do you really think we will come back to Sumner for visits?”

  “Oh course! Our two kingdoms are joining, and that means we’ll need to consult with my father, the King, on a regular basis! I imagine we’ll be traveling back and forth more than you think!”

  Brianna sniffled and then smiled. “Do you really think so?”

  “Of course! Now let’s get ready for our departure!”

  Chapter Eighteen

  IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KEEP track of time down in the dungeons. Ryder attempted to predict when the guards would patrol the cells and when the alligator man would stop by with his daily meal.

  “Okay, here we go,” said Ryder. Without further hesitation, he began a strenuous workout of pushups, running in place, and jumping onto his stone bed, then off again. Even though his muscles burned and his breathing became ragged, he kept going.

  Suddenly, the door creaked open loudly and one of the guards entered the cellblock with a bright torch.

  Ryder, covered in sweat dropped to the floor and began rolling back and forth. “Oh no! Watch out! King! No, don’t! This is terrible! The King, the King has been lost!”

  The guard walked to Ryder’s cell and yelled, “Be quiet!”

  Albie spoke up. “But sir, he is a vision seeker! You must bring him to the King at once!”

  “I’ll do no such thing,” sneered the guard.

  “But sir, you will be hailed a hero! You alone shall be responsible for saving the King’s life! Didn’t you hear what the boy said? Someone is going to kill the King!” said Albie.

  The guard brought the torch closer to Ryder.

  Make him believe you! Make it count!

  Rolling around on the floor, he moaned, and then yelled, “Oh, no, the King, the King is gone! No! Stay away! Stay away from Princess Sophie! You can’t kill her, too! I won’t let you!”

  The guard’s face changed from disbelief to pure panic. “Are you sure he’s a vision seeker?”

  “Of course I’m sure!” snapped Albie.

  “Eh, boy, hey, boy! Wake up! Tell me of your visions at once!”

  Ryder immediately sat up straight as a board and his eyelids shot open.

  “Ah!” The guard jumped.

  “It’s terrible. The King will be assassinated tonight and they are going to try to kill the Princess as well!”

  The guard pondered his choices and then said, “All right boy, if you truly are a vision seeker, tell me, what is my name and why am I working down in the Dungeons of Sumner?”

  Um, that’s a real good question and I don’t have the slightest clue!

  Albie cleared his throat, “Sir, I mean no disrespect, but that isn’t how it works. Vision seekers just receive visions, like one would receive a letter from a messenger.”

  “Is that true, boy?”

  “Yes, sir, it is.”

  “Well, then you better come with me,” said the guard, still unsure of his choice.

  “Calla! The keys! I need them at once!”

  “Sir, the visions, they cause fever and weakness. I’ll need your help getting up,” stammered Ryder.

  “Yes, yes, very well then,” said the guard.

  Bursting through the doors, Calla scurried toward the guard with a large ring of keys in her hand.

  Seizing the keys, the guard opened the cell and reached for Ryder, but before he could grab him, Ryder rolled out of the way, forcing the guard to step into the dingy cell.

  “What the hell?”

  Without giving the guard time to utter one more word, Ryder pulled roughly on the guard’s extended hand. In the process, he managed to pull the guard into the cell with him.

  “Here!” urged Calla as she pressed a small knife into Ryder’s hand.

  Putting it to good use, Ryder stabbed the guard in the shoulder and then shoved him to the back of the cell. Once the man fell, Ryder kicked him swiftly in the groin and wrapped his arms around the guard’s neck.

  The man’s body went limp. “Let’s see how you like living in this putrid dungeon!”

  Snatching the keys from the unconscious man’s open hand, Ryder quickly stepped out of the cell, turned, and locked the door.

  “You did it!” cried Albie.

  “Way to go!” Lant added.

  Ryder felt a smidgen of hope building deep inside his chest.

  “Thank you, Calla, we couldn’t have done it without you,” said Ryder.

  Ryder gave the keys back to Calla and she busied herself with opening each of the cells in the dungeon.

  “I’m going to release the rest of prisoners. I’ll be right back. In the meantime, you may have to handle another guard. Can you do that?”

  “I will try my best,” said Ryder.

  Pidifer, Lant, Kroy, and Albie all surrounded Ryder.

  “What’s next?” asked Albie.

  “Well, we still need to rescue my sister and my mother, rescue Brooklyn, or shall I say Princess Sophie, find Cridifer’s statue and have my mother fix him, and then kill Grishma. Other than that, not much,” said Ryder with a slight smile.

  “Sounds manageable to me,” replied Pidifer with an even bigger smile.

  Creak. The door opened and everyone’s smiles evaporated.

  “What’s going on in here?” bellowed the alligator man.

  Ryder turned and readied himself for the attack.

  The reptilian man reached up and brushed his scraggly gray hair out of his face. “Well, well, it appears we have a prison break. You know what I do when there’s a prison break?”

  Silence permeated the air.

  The monster laughed an evil laugh. “No one knows? I’ll gladly tell you, then. I murder every single prisoner that’s out of their cell and the key holder! Now, who’s first?”

  Ryder stepped forward. “Sorry, that’s not going to happen.”

  “Oh really? And who’s going to stop me?”

  “I am,” replied Ryder.

  Laughter erupted from the beast yet again. “Oh really? That’s the funniest joke I’ve heard in a long time!”

  Without another word, Ryder clutched the small knife and charged the malevolent monster.

  The beast quickly grabbed a battle-axe that was secured to the wall with a worn strap of leather and braced for the attack. Ryder picked up speed and held the knife in front of him at an angle. When he was within striking distance, he ducked and somersaulted forward.

  Catching the hideous guard by surprise, Ryder sprang to his feet and thrust the knife forward. The beast roared in pain and kicked Ryder with his large webbed feet.

  Ryder smashed into the nearest wall with such force that he dropped his knife and struggled to catch his breath. Taking advantage of his weakened opponent, the beast ran toward him like a linebacker.

  The crunch of their bodies colliding was sickening. Ryder dropped to the floor in a crumpled heap. Towering above him, the guard lifted the battle-axe high above his head. “Any last words, you pathetic piece of garbage?”

  Ryder’s vision was hazy. The end was coming and he couldn’t defend himself or his friends.

  I’m going to die.

  Suddenly, a cry of anger and pure desperation filled the air. “It’s your turn to die, Aligore!”

  A nauseating squelch was immediately followed by a loud gurgling noise.

  Ryder’s vision began to clear and he saw a deadly spear sticking out of the monster’s chest. Blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth.

  The beast fell to his knees, revealing Calla standing fiercely behind, clutching the other end of the spear.

  Aligore’s breath became ragged and he began to cough a deep, hacking cough.

  Ryder got to his feet and stood above the
beast. “Looks like the only one that’s going to die today is you.”

  Aligore chuckled and coughed up a mixture of spittle and blood. “That’s what you think.” More coughing and more blood spewed from the alligator man’s mouth. “What you seem to forget is that Grishma will never let you escape the castle.” His breathing all but stopped. Then the beast sucked in one last deep breath. “You and your little friends are as good as dead!”

  The final sounds of death escaped the monster’s mouth and his eyes rolled back into his head.

  Cheers erupted from dozens of prisoners.

  “Calla! You saved my life!” exclaimed Ryder.

  “I’ve been wanting to do that for a very long time,” said Calla.

  “Kroy! My love!” Pushing through several prisoners, Kroy’s wife emerged.

  “Elsa! My beautiful wife!” The couple embraced one another and kissed.

  Ryder and his fellow prisoners smiled, enjoying a fleeting rush of happiness. “Okay, we need a plan. There’s no way we can all sneak out of this place the same way. Plus, I don’t want to put anyone else at risk here. I need to go rescue my mother and my sister, kill Grishma, then escape the castle.”

  Several prisoners gasped and Elsa asked what most were thinking. “Are you crazy?”

  “I have to save my family and keep them safe. The only way I can guarantee that is if Grishma is dead,” answered Ryder.

  The freed prisoners murmured amongst themselves.

  Lant spoke up. “I’m not sure how much time we have, but I think we best throw Aligore’s body in one of the cells and lock the door. Perhaps the next guard won’t notice that we’re missing.”

  “That’s unlikely, but I agree, it’s best to put his body in a cell. We’ll need every second possible,” said Calla.

  It took Ryder, Pidifer, and three other prisoners to pull Aligore’s body into the closest cell. Before they locked it, Calla bent down and took a second set of keys off Aligore’s belt.

  “Calla, is there anyway to sneak everyone out of the castle safely?” asked Ryder.

  “There’s one route that will lead us through the kitchens and out into the alley nearest the stables.”