“One hundred years then,” said the lovely voice. “If he cannot find a whole life as a wizard, then I will open the gates of Heaven to him.”
“Thank you, Goddess.” Honor barely heard his father’s words.
“Worry not, beloved servants. In your castle in the Barrens, you will sleep until your son’s curse is broken or until one hundred years has passed. Until then, I will protect you and yours.”
Chapter Two
100 Years Later
“You bastard!” Gennie Mardell aimed her fist at the belly of her lyin’, thievin’ lover.
Caplan laughed as he knocked aside her hand. “We’re treasure hunters, darling. Only this time, the treasure was in our midst. Your value to the people of Old Mreben should please you.”
Laughter from her former compatriots rumbled through the dark, small room. Grec pinned her arms behind her back and wound rope around her wrists. She glared at Caplan, as his righthand man made damned sure the knots were tight.
After traveling and camping their way to the Barrens, a real bed in a real inn had been temptation itself. She hadn’t questioned Caplan’s decision to spend precious funds on the accommodations. No, she thought he wanted to make love to her on soft bedding. Though she’d been part of the Brotherhood for nearly a year, Caplan had only taken her as a lover a week ago. Night after night, he had fucked her everywhere -- the ground, the lake, and hell, even on the thick, wide branches of an Oola tree.
“You won’t find the wizard’s heart without me,” she said as hot tears welled in her eyes. “I’m a seer. Have not my dreams led you here?”
Caplan’s handsome face filled with both pity and amusement. “There hasn’t been a true dream seer in Haldania for more than a hundred years. Your so-called dreams are nothing but clever tales you’ve devised.” He shook his head, an ingratiating smile flitting along his full lips. “You think that I believed for an instant there’s treasure in the Barrens? No one who ventures there ever returns -- as you will soon find out.”
“I am a dream seer, you blind fool! And the wizard’s heart jewel is in the Barrens. I didn’t think your courage would fail you. What a coward you are, Caplan!”
The slap snapped her head back. Pain pulsed in her cheek as blood trickled from her mouth. Goddess-damn him!
“You think I let you take us to Old Mreben? It was my intention to come here all along. I sold you more than a month ago.”
It was as if Caplan had struck another physical blow. All the breath left her lungs and her knees nearly buckled. Only by iron will did she remain standing, but no amount of will could give her the strength to look her betrayer in the eyes. Caplan grabbed her chin and pushed his face close to hers. His gaze looked as black as the sin that stained his soul.
“Did you really believe I wanted you?” With the tip of his forefinger he traced the jagged scar from her eye to her jaw. “Oh, I will admit that I enjoyed your delicious little body.” He delved into her tunic and squeezed her breast. “But not even a fine set of tits and a lovely ass make up for having to stare at your ugly face.”
Gennie closed her eyes against the hateful words. Tears slipped down her cheeks, dribbling into the corners of her mouth and falling off her chin. How foolish to believe that Caplan had true affection for her. She’d been so desperate to belong somewhere that she had used her powers to find precious objects so she could join the Brotherhood. So what if the so-called treasure seekers were really just thieves? They hadn’t cared about her appearance or her past. For the last year, she had believed she was part of a family. And when Caplan seduced her, she thought she’d found if not love, at least the possibility of it.
“Grec, take her to the mayor. Get the rest of our money -- and hire a couple of whores. We all deserve some fun after such a long trip.” She felt Caplan’s hand weave into her short curls. He pulled her hair hard. “I need to get the taste of this bitch out of my mouth.”
A liquid-soaked, foul-smelling cloth was put over her face. Within moments, Gennie was unconscious.
“Would you like to order dessert?”
Melanie blinked. Dragged out of the story by the waitress’s question, it took her a second to re-focus. “Oh… uh, no. Just the check, thanks.”
After paying the check and leaving the café, Melanie wandered into the shopping district. Six blocks crammed with stores that sold food, clothing, art, accessories, handbags, and so much more. Viva Venus sat in the middle of shopper’s nirvana like the big diamond in the queen’s crown.
Even though Melanie had no intention of using Venus’s credit card, she had decided to take the day off. Down the street was her favorite dessert place, Chocolate Addicts, which sold the best chocolate cake ever made. She’d buy a slice -- and maybe pick up a box of truffles -- then go home and finish reading Wizard’s Heart.
In between Chocolate Addicts and Quirks, which was an upscale accessory store, was something new, Madam Periwinkle’s Erotic Delights.
Melanie paused, drawn by the outrageous purple storefront. When had this store opened? Maybe Venus was right -- she really did need to get out more often. She studied the window display. On the left side was a three-tiered display of vibrators. The top one was eight inches and sparkly pink. The middle one was bigger, neon blue, and spiked, and the bottom one… oh, my. It was at least ten inches, purple, with a curved secondary extension for anal stimulation.
Embarrassment burned her cheeks, but didn’t stop her from checking out the right side of the display. A selection of edible panties, chocolate pasties, and flavored cock rings. Lovely. Finally, her gaze was drawn to the middle object.
The tiny sign proclaimed it “The Mask of Aphrodite.” The design was simple. It fit over the eyes and curved down the right side of the face. Black scrollwork outlined the sparkling edges. It was beautiful. But not for her. If she had planned to go to the opening of Club Mirage, maybe.
“Mask of Aphrodite,” she murmured, chuckling. Wouldn’t Venus get a kick out of that? She’d been named for the Roman goddess, who was really just a ripped-off version of the Greek goddess. Would the mask turn Mel magically into someone like her sister? Gorgeous and confident… drawing men to her side with only a smile and sexy flip of her hair. Yeah, right.
Still, a sense of unaccountable longing wound through her. She had the most insane urge to purchase the mask. Buy something outrageous and useless. Her stepsister’s words flowed through her mind.
Melanie shook her head. No. No way. She was not her sister. She didn’t have the looks, the bod, or the man-drawing confidence. It’s just the way life was. Not everyone could glitter like Venus. Most days, Mel was okay with being the boring, normal, dull one. And if she felt a little restless, maybe even rebellious, about her own nature, what of it?
Melanie turned from the display and headed into Chocolate Addicts. She ordered a slice of Devil’s Temptation, which had the most chocolate per square inch of any cake made, and a coffee. She took her sugar-and-caffeine sins to a small table in the corner and then pulled Wizard’s Heart out of her bag.
Gennie awoke in the darkness sitting on a wooden plank, her back pressed against a hard, rough surface. As the fog slowly lifted from her mind, she realized she was sitting in a moving cart. Her hands had been retied in front of her. Her roped wrists were attached to another rope, which threaded through a metal loop in the floor. She realized her tunic and tights had been traded for a long, blue robe. Her underclothes were gone and so were her boots. She felt clean, too, as if someone had washed her from head to toe. She even smelled good -- obviously, someone had anointed her with perfume.
“I’m sorry, m’lady.”
The whispered words came from a huddled figure less than a foot away. Gennie watched as the mass of rags unfolded into the thin form of a young girl. She looked over her shoulder and Gennie followed her gaze. A huge man sat in front of the cart, leading two oxen over the bumpy ground. Though it was dark, the white full moon shone on the ugly, scarred landscape. The Barrens. Her heart turned
over then started to thud violently. Caplan really had sold her to the townsfolk of Old Mreben as a sacrifice.
“Let me go,” whispered Gennie.
“Can’t.” The girl crawled close, her big, gray eyes staring at Gennie’s scar. “Papa says you’re a hero. You’re saving us.”
“I’m not a hero,” she said, fighting hysteria. “I’m a prisoner.”
“Well, you’re saving us all the same.” The girl patted Gennie’s arm. “Don’t worry none. Our wizard’s appetite ain’t for food. He’s a lusty one an’ coo-wee, handsome, too. You’ll have a fine ol’ time, miss.”
“If he’s so wonderful, why don’t the girls from the village assuage his needs?”
“That’s the problem. Married, betrothed, virgins. Thems all too willin’.”
Even though panic still burbled in her stomach, Gennie knew she wasn’t strong enough to free herself. With enough patience, she could either figure out a way to escape or she could convince her talkative companion to free her. “What about you?” Gennie asked. “Are you willing?”
“I’m not of age. The wizard is a gentlemen, he is. He don’t touch girls who aren’t old enough to marry. Another year and I’ll open my bed to him. ’Course, he only comes out during the wizard’s moon.”
“Why?”
“Don’t really know. When the moon is teal, the wizard is revealed.” The girl giggled. “Girls who want ’im to visit leave their windows open and keep a teal ribbon under their pillow. Then he chooses the ones he likes best and lies with ’em.”
“Sounds like a lecher.” Gennie pulled at her bonds. Damn. No way could she undo the knots or wrench herself free.
“Legend says the wizard is lookin’ for his heart. And the woman who finds it is the one who saves him from the curse.”
“Oh, so he’s cursed, too? Wonderful.”
“Ain’t been no wizards here ’cept him for a hundred years. I heard there’s a few left in the world, but they don’t come to Haldania.”
Since Gennie had heard the same thing, and knew magic to be very real, she couldn’t argue. She’d never met a wizard, though she’d run across witches and other magical beings every so often. It seemed as though magic in Haldania had receded, taking with it not only its foibles, but its blessings, too. Goddess knew this country was the poorest she’d ever seen.
And yet, these people had managed to pay Caplan a fair sum in the hopes she would assuage this lusty wizard’s needs. How much had they given up so that their women would be safe? What punishment would be given to this girl and her father if Gennie freed herself and ran away? What about the people of Old Mreben who feared the return of the wizard?
“I have nothing left,” she muttered. What difference did it make if she escaped? She had no family, no friends, and no home. The Brotherhood had abandoned her and her first hopes of love had been crushed by Caplan. There were worse fates than being the sexual sacrifice to a purportedly handsome wizard.
“How much longer?” she asked.
“Almost there.” The girl jerked her head to the left.
In the distance, against the black, jagged shapes of the mountains, Gennie saw the outline of a huge castle. She had never seen a real one before. Most village houses were made of mud bricks and thatched roofs. It was said only kings and wizards lived in stone palaces.
“Never brought no one to him before,” said the girl in an awed tone.
“Then how does your father know where to go?”
“Ain’t no secret where the castle is,” she said, “but most folks are too scared to travel in the Barrens. Momma tells me stories about the wizard’s castle -- how it used to disappear and reappear all over the place.” She shrugged. “Don’t do it no more.”
A few minutes later, they rolled to a stop. The huge man leapt from his seat and lumbered around the cart. He opened the back and unsheathed his knife. Looking at Gennie, he said, “Don’t cause no trouble, missy. We paid good money for you.”
“I didn’t see a penny of it,” she said bitterly.
“That’s between you an’ the Brotherhood, ain’t it?” He nodded as if she’d agreed. “I’m sorry it’s come to this, but we got to protect our own.”
“The Goddess says that showing kindness to strangers will bring blessings to a man and to his house.”
“You a priestess?”
She shook her head.
“Didn’t think so. The Goddess took her blessings from Old Mreben long ago. Sent us an earthquake a hundred years back that destroyed most of the city. My great-great-grandparents had nowhere to go. Lost everything, but started over all the same.” He cut her bonds then grabbed the length of rope that dangled from the knot on her wrists. “C’mon.”
Gennie did as he said because she had no other choice. Even if she managed to run away, where would she go? And to whom?
“Aidra, stay with the oxen.”
The girl nodded at her father and trudged through the thick, gray soil to stand near the big beasts. Gennie was forced to follow the man through the sludge-like earth until their feet struck a stone path.
His pace quickened and Gennie could only be grateful her ankles hadn’t been shackled as well -- otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to keep up. Ahead, she could see the thickness of trees and bushes. The sweet smell of lavender, roses, and honeysuckle weaved through the dust-clogged air. Moments later, they entered a gorgeous, lush garden. Had she been a free woman exploring a new area, she might’ve enjoyed the wild beauty of this place. Instead, terror raked at her with sharp claws. Cold sweat beaded her forehead and she felt so dizzy, she stumbled.
“We’re here,” said the man. She saw flashes of guilt and pity in his eyes. “You won’t be killed. Wizard don’t want blood. Just… other things.” His gaze slid away. “Step up on the altar.”
She resisted his tugging on the rope. “And who will you sacrifice next month? And the month after that?”
“No one.” He yanked hard and she either had to fall or to move forward. She’d had enough of humiliating herself so she reluctantly joined the man on the top step. “You think we bought you ’cause you’re a woman and a stranger. Ain’t so. You got the gold hair and the half-moon scar. You travel with the Brotherhood and you have dream visions.”
“You believed the lies Caplan told you.”
“Has nothing to do with that snake’s belly. We know the prophecy. ’Sides, we paid a witch to confirm it. You will break his curse and he will leave our women in peace.”
Stunned by his revelations, Gennie meekly followed him up to the altar. The big, flat stone had gold loops on each of the four corners. On each loop was a long, gold chain that ended in a gold cuff.
“Take off the robe and lay on the altar,” he said gruffly.
Utterly dejected, she raised her arms. The man cut away the ropes. She jerked off the robe, dropped it on the ground, and climbed onto the cold rough-hewn rock. Stupid, Gennie. Fight! This is how you want your life to end? At the whim of a wizard?
She looked up at the sky and stared at the big, round white orb that looked like a diamond against black velvet. “The wizard’s moon isn’t until tomorrow night,” she said. “What kind of sacrifice will I be for your wizard if I’m starved and baked by the sun?”
“I trust the prophecy. We thank you, m’lady,” said the man as he snapped on each cuff. The gold felt unusually warm and seemed to flow around her skin. “Blessings upon you.”
Chapter Three
The brash ring of her cell phone startled Melanie out of the story. As she fumbled in her bag for the phone, she was amazed to note that she’d already devoured the cake, and her coffee was nearly gone, too.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Mel,” said Venus. “You’ve been gone nearly two hours. I’m so proud of you!”
“Ha ha.”
“You’ve never actually stayed gone before when I’ve kicked you out.”
“Do you need me to come back?”
“Hell, no. I just wanted to make sure y
ou weren’t shopping for metal spikes. You know, for your pit.”
“That was my next stop. The last place only had wood.”
Venus laughed. “You want to meet up later? I need to go dress shopping for the Club Mirage party. And I need to find a snazzy mask, too.”
“Have you seen that new shop by Quirks? Madam Periwinkle’s?”
“No. But it’s gotta be the size of a closet. I didn’t think there was any space at all between Quirks and Chocolate Addicts.”
Melanie frowned. Venus trolled the shopping district far more often than she did. If she knew nothing about the odd purple shop, it must’ve just opened. “I saw a mask there. Um… it’s pretty cool. I could get it for you.”
“Get it for yourself, sis. And come with me this weekend. We’ll do a full-day spa treatment, and then go wow them at Club Mirage.”
“I’ll think about it.” Melanie chewed on her lower lip. Venus’s disappointment was palpable. Her sis loved her and wanted Mel to be happy. As a concession, she said, “How about we meet for dinner and then go find you the perfect dress?”
“Woo-hoo! I’ll see you at six, okay? Kisses!”
Melanie hung up her cell phone and dropped it into her purse. She looked at the book. A few more pages wouldn’t hurt. Then she’d go buy the mask for Venus. Once her sister saw it, she’d realize it was perfect for her.
He scooped up the robe then hurried away. Maybe the wizard didn’t want the deaths of the villagers, but he’d certainly inspired their fears along with their jealousies.
Maybe she should’ve asked for a copy of the prophecy -- light reading as she awaited her death. Hmph. Was there really a wizard who sought the pleasures of willing women during the teal moon? Or was it merely youthful imagination and village gossips that kept alive a wizard who’d likely been dead for a hundred years?
Then again, she knew magic to be real. She believed in prophecies and she was, no matter what Caplan believed, a seer. In her dreams, she could see the future and the past. She could find in her dreams what was hidden in the real world. And she had used that ability to help the Brotherhood.
Melanie Unmasked Page 2
