by Tenaya Jayne
An ocean of pink clouds rolled slowly under the rails. Rich, velvety blue sky sprinkled with glittering gold stars filled her vision.
“How high are we?”
“This castle is built on the highest mountain peak in all of Mordian. Most of the time the clouds are here like this, but sometimes the breeze blows them away, and you can see almost the end of the world from here… Do you like the view?”
“I wish I could say no. But I do. It’s beautiful.”
“Does it make you happy to know it’s yours now?”
Tesla faltered. “Mine?”
“I told you, I’m never letting you go. This is your view. This castle is your home.”
Her heart wailed within her. What if he was right? What if she never escaped? She exhaled raggedly. “Okay…It makes me happy.” The words came out disjointed.
He frowned. “Try harder. We’re pretending remember?”
“Sorry.” The word was acid set on fire in her mouth. I’ll kill you. You sick, twisted, greedy bastard. You’re going to die. You’ll never have me.
Because she couldn’t say the words, because she couldn’t attack, frustrated tears began pooling in her eyes.
He looked at her from the side of his eye for a moment before facing her. His eyebrows rose slowly. “Oh, look at the hate in your eyes.” He smiled indulgently. “All right. You’re no good at this yet. I’ll forgive you. You can go where you like in the castle. I’ll leave you alone for a while, but I’m watching you. Don’t forget that. I see you wherever you are. Wander. I’ll put your dress on the bed.”
He let go of her hand and backed away from her a few steps. She held still. Was it a trick?
“Don’t be alarmed if you run into Peyton. He’s here to serve you. Whatever you want or need, just let him know. Tell me if he’s rude to you. He can be…bad tempered. There is no one else in the castle, except Iva.”
“Iva?”
He smiled. “Yes. You’ll like Iva. It’s hard not to.”
She watched him walk all the way to the end of the hall and turn a corner. Her heartbeat ratcheted up a notch, and her gaze darted around. All was quiet.
Wander. He said to wander. He was watching her. She must never forget that for a second. Her face must become a mask. Her eyes must flatten. She couldn’t afford to hand him any more power over her. He must not know who she really was, or how she really felt.
The marble under her feet was warm, the pale color comforting. She walked slowly past broad, open windows. Sheer floor-to-ceiling curtains danced in the sweet breeze blowing in. What time was it? The sky was dark, but perhaps it was always like that here. She passed columns and under arches. Her throat burned with thirst, and her stomach twisted with hunger. She still felt rather weak.
There were doors, but she didn’t try any of them. She walked slowly, her power picking at the collar as though it were a scab. She tried to force her will on it and make it retract its spikes. It was difficult to work at it without appearing to work at it.
A swishing of fabric slithered behind her. She turned. This must be Peyton. He smiled at her as though she were something to eat. He immediately gave her the chills. He was just as wrong as Lachlan, but he had a different flavor. He wanted things from her, not the same things Lachlan wanted, but just as dark. His hair was short and a light caramel brown. His eyes matched his hair. He was young and beautiful like Lachlan, but with a smaller build. He reminded her of a venomous snake.
“Are you Peyton?”
His smile widened. “Yes, Tesla.”
She stood still as he circled her once. His expression was passive, then he grabbed her roughly and shoved her against the wall, pinning her there with his body. Her muscles locked down. He pressed his fingers against the veins in her neck for a second then he backed up, letting her go.
“You really are part witch. A small part. But enough I guess. I’m sure we’ll be cloning you soon. After Lachlan’s had his fill of you first.”
She lifted her head defiantly. Unless he surprised her, she doubted Peyton was ever going to be her ally.
“Lachlan said you were to serve me.”
Peyton snorted. “He’s besotted with you. He’ll say anything right now.”
“He said to tell him if you’re rude to me. So, I guess your ass is in trouble.”
He laughed. She could tell he was genuinely amused.
“I’d worry about my own ass, if I were you. Play nicely, Witch, or it will be the worse for you.”
She smirked. “You don’t know whose daughter I am. I never play nice, especially not with slimy things like you.”
He raised his thin eyebrows, his face masking passive again. “Lachlan is king. He said today was to be easy for you. Tomorrow is another story… You look horrible from your time on the rack, and that won’t do. So here’s my great service to you today.” He turned on his heel and strode away. He looked back at her over his shoulder. “Follow.”
She hesitated a moment and then followed him at a distance. He stopped at a white door. The door arched at the top and was carved with beautiful designs.
“As much as it pains me to let you in this sacred place, Lachlan wants you clean and refreshed.”
He opened the door, and then walked briskly away. The sweet smell of rain greeted her. Moist heat came through the door and caressed her skin. She walked slowly into the room, only it wasn’t a room at all. Not really. The marble of the floors and walls were a rich cream color. She was in a short hallway. Steam billowed at the end. She turned the corner and stopped short, amazed.
The room was circular. The ceiling rose thirty feet and domed upward in the same creamy marble. Light filtered through it as though the sun shone just over it, like a dim overcast day. Rain fell through the ceiling. There were no pipes. The water dropped straight through the stone. The floor plunged down in a bowl shape under the domed ceiling. What looked like thick brown fur covered the floor, absorbing the water. The fur shivered and moved lazily like an ocean plant swaying in the current.
Fascinated, Tesla knelt down and touched the fur with her index finger. The tendril wrapped gently around her finger. It felt like the softest velvet. A ripple moved over the floor from her touch.
“Hello.”
Tesla started at the voice and stood straight up.
“Don’t be afraid.” It was like the voice of the Heart, a strange, soothing mix, neither male nor female. This voice was softer and deeper than the Heart. A calm, murmur, but she couldn’t tell where it had come from.
“Umm…Hello,” Tesla said. “Where are you?”
“Here.” The floor rippled again.
She was surprised. The floor was obviously alive, but she assumed it was like a plant, not a conscious entity.
“My name is Iva. What is your name?”
Her breath came out in a whoosh. “Oh, you’re Iva. Lachlan mentioned you. My name is Tesla.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve not met anyone new for such a long time.”
“What are you?”
A chuckle vibrated through the misty air. “I doubt I could explain. What are you?”
“Lachlan’s prisoner.”
The fur bristled, and the air turned cold. Iva seemed to be displaying anger. “Poor thing. I, too, am his prisoner. He stole me from my world before he destroyed it, long, long time ago. I can only assume I am the last of my race.”
Her heart broke for the creature. She could only imagine how horrible that must be.
“I wish I had better words than ‘I’m sorry’… Is it okay if I touch you again?”
“Yes.”
She laid her whole hand on the fur this time. Again, tendrils reached up in a soft, wet, pseudo handshake.
“Would you like to stand in the rain? It will make you feel better.” Iva offered. “I can ease pain.”
The raindrops falling on the back of her hand were the perfect temperature to be tempting. She stripped off the silk wrap and stepped carefully onto the fur and under th
e falling water. The fur was warm and shivered under her feet as she walked down the slope to the bottom. She closed her eyes and exhaled. The raindrops massaged her shoulders and back. She felt relaxed and invigorated at the same time. A faint warning sparked in the back of her head. Perhaps this was a mistake. The water was fragrant, and she feared might be addictive.
Iva massaged her feet, sending her thoughts skittering away. It was the most peaceful and sensual experience she’d ever had, not to mention unique.
“Lay down. Let me love you better, my captive friend.”
She hesitated a second before shrugging and sinking down. The rain eased to a soft sprinkle as she laid face up under it. The rain mixed with the tears on her face. Iva touched her gently, coaxing out the heartache. It absorbed her sobs.
“I’m so sorry,” Iva said. “I would give you your freedom if I could. Sadly, this is all I can do for you.”
“Thank you. It’s not a small thing. I don’t feel so alone now.”
Iva purred. “Of course, I could kill you, if you would like.” The fur seemed to lengthen. It wrapped around her waist, wrists and ankles. It wasn’t painful.
“Not yet, please,” Tesla said evenly.
Iva let go. “The offer stands if you lose all hope and prefer death to your life here.”
“That’s oddly comforting, Iva.”
“Would you like to swim now?”
“Um…sure. How?”
The rain turned into a deluge and filled the bowl-shaped floor in a minute. She floated on the surface.
“That’s nice. Thank you.”
“Shall I change the light?”
“What?”
The ceiling and walls darkened to a deep black, the veins in the marble glowed green. Green sparkles lit up in the water around her. Ambient music drifted in the air. The notes were soft and benign, but her heart clenched. X.
She sobbed once and let it go, shutting her heart off. Tesla swam a few laps around the sides. “Thank you, Iva. I think I should get out now. I can’t let my guard down anymore.”
The water began to drain. “Good luck then. Please come back soon.”
“I’ll try. If I’m allowed.”
Fluffy towels hung on hooks on the wall. She took one and dried off before combing her fingers through the length of her hair. The rain continued to fall, and the room lightened back to the cream color. She put the towel back and wrapped the silk around herself again. She shivered as she gazed at Iva. Everything she’d seen and experienced in Lachlan’s castle was a sensual nightmare.
Pleasure did not equate to happiness. Old as he was, it seemed to her that was something Lachlan didn’t know or understand. He said she could have anything she wanted, except her freedom. She knew he would lie to her, but on that point she believed him. He would and could give her anything she asked for. A gorgeous palace, clothes, jewelry, power, status, anything and everything in such abundance. Her memories of the metal flower X made her, shivered in her mind. It was nothing, a trinket, with no intrinsic value, and yet it was worth more than everything Lachlan had to offer.
“I’ll come back…” she whispered to Iva as she left.
The hall was empty as she stepped out the carved ivory door. The breeze blew in around her, flattening the thin fabric against her body. It was horrible. Her skin responded the sliding touch of the silk regardless of her thoughts or feelings. He was going to do more of this, she assumed. Everything he gave her, everything about this place was designed to seduce. She needed real clothes. Turning around, Tesla walked back the way she came, looking for Lachlan’s bedroom. Hoping desperately he wasn’t in there. After two wrong doors, she found the room again.
She exhaled the breath she’d been holding. The room was empty. A black river of silk lay on the bed for her. She scowled at the dress, not that she was surprised it was something like this. She grabbed it and slipped it on as quickly as possible. It fit perfectly. The back dragged along the floor in a short train. She’d have been freezing if it wasn’t so warm in the castle. Spaghetti straps held the low scooping front up and crossed once over her back. The collar hung so low and v’d between her breasts, making the lightning flower over her heart totally exposed.
Sighing, she moved to the huge, gold-framed mirror on the far wall. Tears began pushing behind her eyes. She didn’t want Lachlan seeing her like this. She acknowledged, without ego, that she rocked this dress. She looked like sex on a stick, which, of course, had been his goal.
Tesla turned from her reflection and left the room.
Lachlan watched her from behind the wall again, his arms crossed. Peyton leaned against the wall, not even attempting to hide his irritation.
“What do you think?”
“I’m ready to hurt her,” Peyton said.
Lachlan smirked. “Of course you are. The first time has to be the worst. Then the anticipation she’ll have for her time with you will be heightened after that. Do you have a plan?”
“Yes. I just need to construct the apparatus. It will be ready tonight.”
“Perfect. I want to see it when you’re finished. Tomorrow morning, she’s all yours. At least for a while.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to rape her?”
Lachlan smiled broadly. “She’s got your blood heated now, does she?” he mocked.
Peyton blushed a little and looked away. “I hate her. I want to make her scream and watch her eyes fill with terror.”
“Nothing has changed since yesterday.” Lachlan’s tone went cold. “She’s mine. Don’t touch her sexually.”
He shrugged. “Whatever.”
“Go work on your torture device. Get her screams that way. I’ll find you later.”
He gave him a little bow and left. Lachlan hesitated a moment. Tesla was probably hungry. Food was next. Music, dinner, and soft promises. He’d begin her seduction. He licked his lips and reminded himself to be patient. A small smile lifted his lips as he considered what angles he’d start with… His smile grew larger. He’d push her so skillfully until she was the one asking for it.
Chapter Seventeen
Time was an oily, trippy dubstep in the Everpath. The longer he was there, the less X felt time. He pushed through his exhaustion, adrenaline fueling him onward. He just kept going. Opening doors, glancing in for a second, waiting for the stones to speak that yes, he’d found the right place. Tesla hadn’t spoken to him again. He knew she was alive. He could feel her in the mark on his hand.
After his first few hours, the new levels of power the Heart gave him, began to wake up in small degrees. The first thing he noticed was his vision. It was still not clear, but it was improving. His eyes burned so cold, he no longer felt it.
X pushed the next door open. Black smoke curled out. His hands lit up like explosives without his consent. Twenty hands reached out, grabbed him, and hauled him into the blackness. The hands on him were half rotted, insubstantial and vanished as soon as the door slammed shut behind him. He landed in a barren wasteland. Jagged grey rocks jutted out of the ground like broken tombstones. Grey rocks and black smoke completed the dreary landscape. Ghosts of a strange race drifted in the smoke. A demonic rumble vibrated out of the haze in front of him. Red glowing eyes looked at him as a monster rose up from the smoke. Over ten feet tall, it looked down at X with a delighted glint in its eyes and laughed. The laughter was the resonance of the dregs of hell. Excited, hungry, and pure evil.
For one second X was bemused, then he threw his head back and laughed. His laughter silenced the monster and it blinked at him confusedly.
“Insane mortal,” the monster rumbled.
X wiped a tear of mirth from his eye. “Oh, goodness. What’s your name?”
“You ask my name?!” It roared, outraged. “None can know my name! No lips can speak it.”
X laughed again. “So, you don’t remember your name. That’s fine. I’ll call you Fluffy. And by the way, you’re coming with me.”
The monster blinked at him again a few
times and cocked its head to the side. “I am damned to this place eternally. As are all of us. You as well. There is no escape.”
“Not me. I’m leaving now. I have to save my woman. You’re coming with me. Obey me, when I call you. Attack my enemies, when I order you, and you’ll have the chance at another future.”
“Lies!” It hissed.
“You’ve got nothing to lose. Pledge your fealty now.” X held up his left hand, where he kept the stains. “Say it! I’ll give you a chance when I’m finished with you. You’re coming with me, like it or not. Disobey me when I give you an order and I’ll set your black soul to the wind.”
It heaved a great sigh then went down on one knee in front of X. “I swear.”
X pulled the monster into the stone. “Good boy, Fluffy.” He looked at the group of hovering ghosts. All their eyes were on him. “Anyone else want to come?”
Three quarters of them moved forward. They were not the stains the monster had been, just old trapped souls. He pulled them into his right hand with the other souls he kept. X turned around and easily saw the door out. He was back in the Everpath in a blink, feeling quite good about that little detour. He’d added nicely to his arsenal. Fluffy was quite the intimidating addition.
Maggie clung to Merhl. “I don’t want you to go.”
“I don’t want to, but I have to. I wish I could take you with me.”
“Well, why not? I can wait for you in Regia as easily as I can here. I’m not afraid of the wizards. I’m only afraid of being apart from you.”
Merhl rubbed his head. “I don’t know what to do, but I have to do something. I have to get back and tell Rahaxeris what’s happened to Tesla.”
Maggie pushed up on her tip toes and pressed her lips against his. “Please take me with you. Please.”
He groaned and held her tightly, shaking his head. “I can’t risk it. Nothing can happen to you, Maggie. I wouldn’t live through losing you. I’ll go and be back very quickly. I promise.”
She let go, nodding her head, resigned. “Hurry back to me.”
He hauled her up in his arms and kissed her mouth. He couldn’t hold on, but it felt impossible to let go. “I’ll be right back…I s there anything else to see in your stone?”
