Scion's Avalon [House of Dracul 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by J. Annas Walker

  Elves were known for not telling lies, but they often skirted the rule by omission of key details. What they said may in fact be the truth. It was just a version of the truth. Cassy hoped they weren’t planning on leaving the net over her until later.

  As soon as she balled into a fetal position and remained still, two men stepped forward and lifted the net off of her. Where it touched her skin, the silver lifted burned pieces of flesh with the rings. She clenched her teeth together to prevent a scream from tearing loose.

  “Queen Mab will want to see you,” one of the men told her.

  Cassy looked up to see two pairs of amethyst eyes staring down at her. They wore their fine, black hair pulled back into braids. They wore forest-green short tunics, leather belts, and tight matching leggings.

  They took her by the arms and lifted her to her feet. The stretching motion pulled her healing skin, causing her to wince in pain. She felt her strength finish ebbing away, as if the sun was rising.

  The elves wore silver rings. The center stones grew brighter with each passing minute. Cassy assumed they were draining the rest of her powers. She would have no choice but to go along with the program, for the time being.

  Half walking, half dragging her, they took her up several flights of stairs. As they approached two massive ebony doors, they doors swung open to a large, cathedral-like room. The floor was made of the same stone as the rest of the fortress. Tall, Gothic-style windows stood open to a view of the mist-covered lake below.

  Elves in various styles of dress spanning the ages lined the long room. They parted, creating a path for Cassy and her captors. At the far end of the room on a single stepped platform sat a delicate-looking throne made of intertwined branches and vines. The occupant read from a scroll, paying no attention to the murmuring around her.

  Fine, straight, copper hair flowed from her head to pool in the seat beside her. Her peaches-and-cream skin looked flawless with thin features. Her ears protruded between the strands of hair. A diadem of gold dripped with pearls hanging from silver chains. It held her hair out of her face but allowed the rest to move freely.

  Her dress was of the same spider silk and of a similar cut as Nadia’s. The color had been dyed a deep, rich, royal purple. The dark shade made her amethyst eyes seem more brilliant. The long hemline hid her feet, but Cassy assumed the shoes would be dyed to match.

  Reaching the platform, the elf looked up from her scroll. She gave Cassy an appraising look. Laying the scroll down in her seat, the woman stood and stepped off the platform. She was tall. Cassy guessed around five foot ten inches.

  The two guards pushed Cassy onto the floor. She landed hard on her hands and knees. Rising up to a kneeling position, she refused to bow down before the elf queen.

  “I am Queen Mab, ruler of all fae and mistress of Avalon. Who might you be, vampire?” Her voice was like bells and birdsong, but soft, gentle even.

  “Princess Cassandra, Scion of the House of Dracul, daughter of High Prince Vlad Tepelus IV,” Cassy replied, giving her full vampire title. She thought under the circumstances, her father would not mind.

  “I see. A distinguished visitor. One who knows about protocol and yet, sneaks in like a thief,” Queen Mab said with venomous disgust.

  Anger poured over Cassy. How dare this woman judge her, calling her a thief? She held three born vampires in her fortress. The anger bubbled to the surface. Cassy had an overwhelming urge to punch Mab in the jaw. That would have shut her up. It took a few heartbeats to regain her composure.

  “A thief? Two of them wanted to be at home. I don’t understand why Nadia didn’t return, but she is the only one still here. I thought you people were all about free will, justice, and the truth. How is holding born vampires against their wishes free will?” Cassy tried to keep her voice even and calm.

  “They were sent here in their enchanted slumber. Josephine told us of their cruel treatment, sold like cattle into marriage to be brood mares. At least we would have given them a choice. They would have been revered like the treasures they are. You can’t tell me you are happy being forced to bear offspring for a man you care not for,” Queen Mab reasoned. She walked around Cassy in a circle. The guardsmen moved back to allow her full access to Cassy.

  “A choice? They came here asleep! They were still asleep when I found them. You could have woke them up and asked them. You wanted them to stay that way. But why? What were you waiting for? Unless this Josephine asked you to wait for a reason,” Cassy speculated.

  There had to be more to this than what she knew. It did not make sense. Keeping them under the spell went against everything she knew of the elves. Ronan had said it was wrong to save the elves at the sake of the born vampires. Everything clicked into place.

  “You need them. You’re dying out like we are, and you need them to help you get your numbers back up. If they thought there was nothing to go home to, they would want to stay here. You get your help, they get a new home, and the born vampire lines would end. The remaining houses would fall,” Cassy said softly. She placed a hand over her mouth and one over the concentrated humming. Suddenly she felt homesick. Not for home, but homesick for David. A fat, pink-tinged tear rolled down her cheek and dripped onto the floor.

  “Out all of you! Out now!” Queen Mab shouted furiously at her court.

  Chapter 12

  “Is there any way to wake her up?” David asked Finn. He was looking down at the peaceful woman who had not moved an inch throughout the chaos.

  “It usually requires the person who cast the spell to lift it. I don’t know this Kyle. The magic feels fae, but not leprechaun. Goblin, maybe? That woman said he was missing. We may have to carry her. It will look suspicious going down the street like that,” Finn replied.

  “Damn. For once, why can’t the fairy tales be true? But that would still require a prince to pucker up and do the job. If her husband is in on this, he isn’t likely to do the job, now is he?” Every word was filled with sarcasm. He put his hands on his hips and started planning on how to get them back to the portal.

  Finn gave David a smile and wink. A chipper laugh roared out of him as he clapped his hands and danced in a circle. He stopped and said with a happy expression, “There is your answer!”

  David was not amused. He glared at the leprechaun and gave a huff. “Pfff…What answer?”

  “You. You are the answer,” Finn said cryptically. He still wore the goofy grin, despite David’s glare.

  “I don’t get it. Cut the riddles and just spit it out already. That Jo chick could be back any minute. We need to get back to the portal by sunrise. Some of us don’t do well in the daylight,” David reminded him.

  “Fine, fine. It’s better if you come to the answers on your own, but you’re right. We don’t have time for you to get it,” Finn agreed.

  David scowled. He was not sure if Finn was doing what was asked or insulting him. Either way, they needed to get out the basement. He motioned for Finn to keep talking.

  “You married a princess. Her father is essentially a king. Right? That makes you a prince!” Finn practically shouted and danced around again.

  David’s scowl melted into slack-jawed disbelief. He had never thought of himself in those terms. Hearing Finn say it out loud made the idea real. He was a prince by marriage but a prince nonetheless. If the stories held even a shred of truth, Elisabeta’s spell could be broken.

  David leaned over her and kissed her cheek. Nothing happened. He looked at Finn and shrugged.

  “It has to be the kiss of true love. Seriously, don’t you read?” The little man rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. He tapped his foot impatiently.

  “But I love Cassy. I don’t think I could ever think of anyone else that way,” David admitted. He was starting to think the idea was a failure.

  “You give up too soon. There are all different kinds of love. She is your sister-in-law. Do you love her as a person, as a member of your family? Do you love her because your mistress lov
es her? Those are all real and true loves. Think of her in those terms and kiss her on the lips. The magic needs to pass from one to the other in that way,” Finn explained.

  David looked at Elisabeta. He saw her waist-length auburn hair and heart-shaped face. For the first time, he thought of her as a woman of great inner beauty and not as Max’s beautiful wife. He thought of all the stories Cassy had told him about her kindness. She adored Elisabeta, whom she referred to as Liz. It was Liz who made it possible for Cassy to reach him before her father could act on the death sentence he had been given. She had encouraged Cassy to complete the magical bonding that created one soul in two bodies.

  David thought of Cassy’s love for the woman in front of him. He felt his heart open and knew he could love her as a sister. Warmth spread over him. He leaned in and gently pressed his lips against hers. The warmth passed from him and into her.

  Color rose in her cheeks as the magic took effect and then faded back to her natural pale. Her breathing picked up, and she yawned. She blinked several times and tried to move.

  “Wh–where am I?” She yawned deep. “David?”

  “Yes, Liz, it’s me. Can you walk? We need to get out of here. I promise to explain everything later. Right now we have to get moving,” David told her. He helped pull her into a standing position.

  She stumbled forward, putting a hand on her forehead. “Oh, I’m a little dizzy,” she said.

  David looked down at Finn. “Is this normal?”

  Finn watched from a moment more before replying. “Yes, but it may be worse, if she is pregnant.”

  Liz shot the leprechaun a heated look. “Who told you? I just found out. No one is supposed to know until we were sure this time it was going to be okay.”

  David put his left arm around her waist and wrapped one of her arms around his neck. He kept the .45 out, leaving without a free hand. He waved at the door with his gun.

  “Finn, we’re going to need to get out. Come on Liz, let’s go!” David ordered.

  Liz shook out her long, dupioni-silk skirt. The light- and dark-green threads shimmered in the florescent light. She kicked off her high-heeled shoes and tested her weight.

  “I think I can stand on my own now. Thank you, David,” she said with confidence.

  Finn just nodded, turned to the door, and released the barrier. He scurried out into the hall, muttering the incantation David had heard him use to find the magic trail. The pale-gold ribbons reappeared, leading the way out the front door.

  “You have a choice, mistress. Climbing up walls in that dress or using the front door. What is your pleasure?” Finn gave her the choice.

  “We have to let these two go. They are going to make a beeline for the police station. If anyone is between us and the front door, they’re going to know something is up and come looking,” David added.

  Liz reached down and ripped most of the lower part of her skirt off, tossing it onto the rollaway bed. She started for the door but stopped just past the bound men. She turned in a blur, fangs extended. She dived at Burly, sinking her fangs into the first bit of exposed flesh she found.

  David tried to pull her off of him, but she was lost to the bloodlust. There was no getting her back. He decided to leave her to it. Elsewise, she may turn on him by accident.

  Burly kicked and squealed beneath her, pleading with David to save him. Slim wriggled to put some distance between him and Liz. The movement only drew more attention to himself. She drained Burly and moved onto Slim. He shouted as she drew blood from his neck. Stopping short of killing him, she broke the bloodlust.

  Sitting up, she wiped the blood from her mouth on her sleeve and smoothed out the remnants of her dress. She seemed thoroughly embarrassed. She looked at the half-alive man and then back at the dead man to her left.

  “I am sorry about that, really. I just couldn’t help myself,” Liz apologized. “I swear. I’ve never had that happen. How long have I been here?”

  “We think three weeks. Can you leave now?” David hoped her answer was yes. They needed to get moving now more than ever.

  “Oh, yes. Lead the way,” she said, getting off the floor.

  Finn lifted his arms to be picked up. David slung him onto his back. Lacing his stubby fingers around David’s neck and short legs around his ribs, he was ready to go.

  “In case we get separated, we are going to the elevator shaft at the end of the hall. Then up until we see the ribbon of magic. Follow it up the stairs to the roof. There is an invisible door in the wall. The air in front of it shimmers. Just walk into it. You’ll see some out on the roof. Slide down the outside of the building to the next roof. Leap to the next and go down to the alleyway below. The portal will take you to the Council of Covens estate in Asheville. Vlad is waiting for you there,” David instructed her.

  They ran to the shaft. Liz made her way up the side ahead of David. For a demure lady, she was a very graceful climber. She stopped, clinging to the wall by the floor with the pale-gold ribbon and waited for him. Shouts could be heard from below.

  “What the fuck!”

  “Where is she?”

  Jo’s voice mingled with the others. “Find her! Get her back! Without her, we have no plan!”

  David left Finn on his back and crawled out of the shaft. He let the little man down as shots rang out. Someone was shooting up the shaft at Liz. He reached back and pulled her to safety.

  Not really aiming, he popped off a few rounds to provide cover fire. It worked. The heads looking up the shaft ducked back into the corridor below.

  “Run!” David shouted.

  * * * *

  “What do you know of our problems? You’re an outsider, an intruder. I was promised Elisabeta, but instead I find you disrupting our plans!”

  Queen Mab grabbed Cassy by the hair with one hand and lifted her off the floor. She was surprisingly strong for so thin and delicate a woman. Cassy held onto her wrists but was unable to pry herself loose. Mab chuckled at the failed attempts to get free.

  Mab held out her other hand, saying something in what sounded like Gaelic. The last medallion and the protective amulet flew from her pockets. The strap caught the amulet, but Mab grabbed the amulet and yanked it free of her belt loops. The fabric gave a snapping and ripped free.

  “What have we here? An elf-made charm and a junk trinket.” She threw them on the floor and smashed the opal under her heel. “What to do with you now is the question. Should I send you to the dungeons? Spell you into being my slave? Or maybe I should just feed you to my dragons.”

  “Stop!” A familiar voice shouted from the far end of the throne room. Nadia was awake.

  “Let her go,” she commanded with real authority. It was the first time Cassy had ever heard her use a loud, hard tone. “I said to let her go.” A scowl marred her usually expressionless face. “She is the Scion of my liege lord. I cannot allow you to harm her.

  “Why, Nadia Seinsheim, it is good to see you awake,” Queen Mab greeted her. She sounded glad to greet another guest. The faux sincerity was nearly convincing. She dropped Cassy and made a small bowing gesture to Nadia. She made a hissing noise as another person entered the room behind Nadia. “Ronan. I should have known.”

  “You cannot usurp free will, Mab, not even to save us all,” Ronan said. He sounded exactly like he had in Cassy’s dreams. Only, this time his lips moved. “This is not the way.”

  “You would have us pollute Avalon with tainted blood just to save some genetic flukes? We can use them and correct a past failing in one swing of the sword,” she countered.

  “Humans are not tainted, Mab. It is the way we always did things. This time it just needs to be on a larger scale, not a random act as in the past. Our only other alternative is to recall all our elf brethren of half-blood or more and return to the old ways. There is another way. Kidnapping and trickery is beneath us. You know this to be true,” Ronan replied.

  Cassy was still weak but getting somewhat stronger in the absence of the silver. She craw
led away from Mab, who nudged her with a foot and caused her to fall forward. The humming in her core fluctuated and shifted painfully. Cassy gasped, clutching her middle and rolling onto her side in a fetal position. For a moment, she felt sick. Her fangs dropped into place as she snarled at Mab. She glanced up to see Nadia watching Mab. Ronan was giving her a confused look. She saw knowledge replace the confusion.

  “As you did not go back when this wretch attempted to take you, am I to assume you would like to stay? We would give you a place of honor at our court. You would be a treasured guest, a free woman. No man could barter and trade you like cattle ever again,” Queen Mab offered Nadia. She still did not look down at Cassy. Those amethyst eyes remained on her prize.

  “If you had asked me, I would have said yes. I have been unhappy at home for a number of decades. I’ve dreamed of getting away, of finding my own place in the world,” Nadia replied.

  “And now? Could I hope you will choose to remain with us in Avalon?” Mab’s tone was bordering on impatient. It was clear what answer she wanted to hear. Her eyes flickered to Ronan, who seemed to be standing guard over their ideals of choice and freedom. Cassy got the impression if Mab tried to force the answer she wanted, Ronan would create more problems for her than she already had.

  “I don’t think I can be happy here, knowing I was going to be tricked into giving my consent freely. The trust is gone. I want to go home. I know I’ll never be the same, now that I can admit this to others as well as myself. The changes I seek will have to begin with me returning home and making my own path,” Nadia answered.

  Ronan moved around Nadia and quickly came to Cassy’s side. He helped her to her feet, placing a hand over the one she used to clutch her middle. The fluttering energy eased back into place and quieted down to a slow, steady hum once more.

  “Fear not, Cassandra. All is still well,” he whispered in her ear as he held her back against her chest. “The magic is there waiting for you and David when you get home.”