by C. J. Pinard
Hecate made a scoffing noise. “Disgusting swine. He smells as if he’s been wading in orc dung.”
Angelique grinned.
The guard, mistaking her smile for an answer, began unlocking the door. “I knew you’d come around.”
“I haven’t,” she said coldly, backing up. “I do not wish your company.”
His eyes hardened. “You must also wish not to eat or drink?”
“I’m not hungry. Nor am I thirsty.”
“Nor desperate,” added Hecate, shaking her head. “The man is truly vile, isn’t he?”
Angelique nodded. “Indeed.”
“There you again. Talking to yourself. You’re going to regret not being nice to me,” the guard said with a cold sneer. “Some have waited weeks for execution. We’ll see how you feel when your mouth is so dry you’d be willing to swallow… anything,” he said, not breaking eye contact while grabbing the front of his pants.
“I’d rather drink rat piss,” Angelique replied, narrowing her eyes at him.
Hecate grinned. “That’s my girl.”
The vein in his forehead protruded and his face flushed crimson. “It can be arranged.”
She lifted her chin, but didn’t reply.
Whistling, the guard turned and walked away.
“Why are you putting yourself through all of this?” Hecate asked, looking around the cell in disgust. “The guard is bad enough, but this place is repulsive. I sense they haven’t taken your wand. You could leave whenever you want to.”
Angelique quietly told her about Gaylen and his plot to try and kill the Rothhavens.
She rolled her eyes. “His antics never surprise me. But, why do you care? I thought you wanted to take your revenge out on the king anyway? Have those plans changed?”
She chewed her lip and looked down at the ground. “I don’t know,” she said honestly.
Hecate sighed. “Let Gaylen kill Edward and then you can take care of the wizard afterward.”
“He means to kill Edward’s children, though,” Angelique replied. “You know I can’t allow that.”
Hecate made a tsk noise and shook her head. “You are far too soft-hearted, Angelique. I can’t believe you’re sitting in this cell just to save the lives of children who fear, and probably, if we’re being honest here, despise you.”
“I don’t care. No matter their feelings for me, they are still innocent children and don’t deserve to die. I will not sit back and watch it happen. Nor will I allow Gaylen to become king. Imagine what would happen to Syracuse if that despicable wizard sits on the throne? He would have entirely too much power.”
“Only for a short time. Segomo would eventually come for him. Especially in times of war—which Gaylen would surely bring upon himself.”
Angelique nodded. “Maybe, but too many would be hurt in the interim.”
“True.” Hecate touched her shoulder. “But, how does sitting in this cell help your cause? Why don’t you just kill Gaylen and be done with it? Or at least try, child. With the wand, you could have effortlessly taken him out by now.”
“I need Edward to know the kind of evil his wizard is capable of. Maybe then he’ll—”
“Want you back?” she asked, smiling wryly.
“No.” Her she narrowed her eyes at her mentor. “I would never wish that. I just want him to realize how much he’s wronged me.”
“And what if that never happens? Or, what if he already knows, but just doesn’t care?”
“Then… he is more of a monster than Gaylen,” she replied softly, hoping she was wrong.
Chapter 14
Hecate warned her again about the queen, and then left her. Afterward, Angelique sat down and stared warily at the entrance of her cell, wondering how long it would take before the goddess’s premonition came true. Unfortunately, she hadn’t told her if the queen would come for her directly, or send someone to do her dirty work.
Sighing, she pulled her knees close to her chest and shut her eyes. She could understand how Queen Lizbeth wouldn’t be happy to see her, but Angelique was truly trying to help her family. She didn’t want to hurt the woman, but there was no way she’d go down without a fight if it came to it.
She was so deep in though, she started when she heard the sound of heavy metal clanging together. She looked up to see the guardsman unlocking her cell again. She was surprised to see him was holding a tray of food. She stood up to defend herself, if need be, and watched curiously as he brought it inside, her mouth watering at the delicious smell.
“A gift from the queen,” he huffed, looking irritated. He dropped the tray on the ground and left without saying anything another word.
Angelique looked down at the meal. Fresh bread, some kind of pottage stew, and a handful of red grapes. It was obviously not typical prison food. Licking her lips, she reminded herself that Lizbeth was trying to kill her. As hungry as she was, the food wasn’t worth dying for.
Noticing a rat heading toward her meal, she quickly picked the tray up and clutched it to her, but immediately regretted it. The food smelled so tantalizing, she began telling herself that Hecate’s visions weren’t always accurate.
The rat squeaked as if protesting the way she’d taken away its meal. Looking at the mangy rodent, an idea formed in her head. She placed the tray on the bed, grabbed the bowl of stew, and poured some of it on the floor. Then, she backed away.
The creature raced over and began inspecting it. Quickly, another one seemed to appear out of nowhere and then joined its friend, and soon both were blissfully and desperately nibbling on chunks of vegetables and meat.
Now… to wait, she thought, her stomach rumbling.
Hoping she was wrong about the food, mainly because she was starving, Angelique watched them closely. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for something to happen, and when the rats began to foam at the mouth and have seizures, Angelique became furious.
This is the thanks I get for trying to save your children?!
When the two rodents stopped all movement and fell dead on their backs, their limbs in the air, Angelique made a face at the disgusting rats.
“Guard!” she called out.
“What?” he growled, appearing at the doorway.
“I wish to speak to the queen,” she said angrily.
He grunted. “And I wish to be rich.”
Angelique scowled at him. “I mean it. I demand to speak to her. Now.”
He stared at her curiously. “On what grounds?”
“On the grounds that I’d like to thank her personally for my meal,” she replied coldly.
“What?” The guard looked at the tray of food. “It doesn’t appear that you’ve eaten much of it.”
“No. The rats sure enjoyed the stew, though.”
He stared at her in disbelief. “You fed rats your stew? If you didn’t want it, I’d have gladly eaten it.”
She moved out of the way so he could see the two dead rodents she pointed to. “And you would have ended up like them.” Angelique folded her arms over her chest. “Now, fetch me the queen. Tell her if she doesn’t come down here, I’ll make sure Edward finds out she tried to poison me.”
THIRTY MINUTES LATER, the queen herself stood on the other side of the cell door, staring at Angelique with contempt. “How dare you try and threaten me with lies,” Lizbeth gritted out coldly.
“How dare you try and poison me.” Angelique stomped her foot on the cold, stone floor.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the queen shot back, refusing to make eye contact with her nose in the air.
Lizbeth was a horrible liar. Or maybe she wasn’t even trying to cover it up. The look on her face told Angelique everything she needed to know.
“The stew you ‘gifted’ me was poisoned.”
Lizbeth’s eyebrow arched. “You’re obviously still standing, so I don’t know where you’re getting this from.”
“I didn’t eat any, you miserable wretch.” Angelique turned to the side and
gestured toward the dead rats. “They did, however.”
The queen wrinkled her nose. “Let me get this straight, you fed perfectly good stew to rats?”
“Yes, and obviously, the only thing perfect about it was the strength of the poison you used.”
Lizbeth snorted regally. “You’re wasting your time by accusing me of this. Slandering my good name. I haven’t been in contact with your food. If someone tampered with it, you’re barking up the wrong tree.”
“The guard said the meal was a gift from you,” Angelique replied, narrowing her eyes at the traitorous queen.
“Yes. I thought it was a decent thing to do, since you’re allegedly trying to help save my children.”
“I think I will implore the king to have you try out the Truth Stone, as well,” Angelique replied, biting back a grin. “That is… after I show him the condition of the rats who have eaten the food you sent me.”
Lizbeth’s face turned red with rage as she lunged for the bars, wrapping her pale hands around them. She pierced Angelique with a murderous gaze. “If you think for one bloody minute that Edward will do anything you request, you’re clearly just as much the delusional witch everyone believes you to be!”
Angelique smiled in triumph, holding the queen’s gaze. “What’s wrong? Are you afraid to hold the stone?”
Lizbeth gripped the bars tighter, rattling them in her white-knuckled fists. “Listen to me, you… you ginger-haired, gutter-slut-whore. I don’t trust you as far as I can throw you… and… and if you think for one moment I believe that you’re trying to save my children, you’re just as dumb as you look.” As if realizing how insane she appeared, Queen Lizbeth let go of the bars, stepped back, and smoothed down the tunic of her royal purple gown. After a deep breath, she plastered on her practiced smile, now not within arm’s reach of the prisoner. She licked her teeth while keeping her perfect lips mashed together. “Make no mistake, little witch, you’re not getting out of here alive. Whether it’s at the end of a rope, or the business end of a very sharp blade, death will be coming for you… and there isn’t anything you can do to stop it.”
“Edward—”
“Enough about my husband! He wants you dead just as much as I do. Are you really that stupid not to see it?” The queen kept her jaw set and her chin raised as the creepy guard kept watch. It was so quiet, she could hear a pin drop, and knew the other prisoners were listening in.
Flames of anger shot through Angelique, and she began to shake. “You’re nothing but a substitute for—”
Lizbeth cut her off with a humorless laugh. “You should have heard him laughing about how pathetic you are,” the queen sneered. “And that talk about you loving him. Really? Foolish little tramp.”
“He loved me,” Angelique said weakly. “He still does, and always will. You can’t take that away from me. From us.”
She snorted. “He loves that you’re stupid enough to let him arrest you.”
She had had enough. The queen wasn’t going to stop taunting her, and she needed to formulate a plan. Angelique heaved a heavy sigh and finally met the queen’s icy blue stare. “Leave me.”
“Leave you? I give the orders around here. Not you.” The queen smiled coldly.
Angelique turned her back on the queen, a sign of disrespect she knew wouldn’t be tolerated, but at that point, she just couldn’t care.
The queen wasn’t giving up, though. “You know, the guard fancies you, and he’s more your class. What’s your name?”
“Berake,” she heard the gruff guard reply.
Still, with her back toward the king, Angelique heard the queen continue. “I bet he’d keep his mouth shut if I gave you to him for the night. It’s amazing what some men will do for sex.”
Angelique spun around and stared at her in horror. The woman was a complete monster. “He touches me and I’ll tell Marcus; he’ll have you both arrested.”
The queen tipped her head back and laughed coldly. “I doubt it. Anyway, it will be your word against mine and of course… the Berake’s.” The queen called out for him.
He appeared by her side. “Yes, Your Majesty?”
She pulled him away from the cell and whispered something near his ear.
His face lit up. “Of course. Thank you, my queen.”
“You’re a good guard, Berake. I have a feeling you’ll be promoted soon,” she said with a smile.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” he said, beaming at her, and then bowing slightly with his hand on his belly.
“Just don’t forget our deal,” Lizbeth reminded him.
His face turned serious. “I won’t.”
Berake moved his gaze from the queen’s and quickly unlocked Angelique’s cell. He left the door open and then stalked toward the beautiful witch.
“Touch me and you’ll die,” Angelique threatened with gritted teeth, backing away from him.
“Oh, I’m going to do much more than that,” Berake replied with a lascivious grin, licking his lips.
Unable to take it anymore, she pulled her wand out, stopping the guard in his tracks.
“Whoa,” Berake said, raising his hands defensively.
Angelique pointed the wand at the queen. “I tried to help you, Lizbeth, but you’ve treated me horribly. Even worse than Gaylen. And Edward.”
Lizbeth stared at the wand in terror. “Where did you get that?”
“Do Not interrupt me!” Angelique roared.
The queen flinched.
Every cell in Angelique’s body hummed with rage. She wanted to strike out at the queen. At the guard. At Edward. Everyone.
Trying to maintain her control, she gritted her teeth and said in a very low, quiet tone, “I’m through with trying to help you, you queen bitch. In fact, I think Gaylen is right… the Rothhavens’ reign needs to come to an end.” Without breaking eye contact, Angelique tapped the wand against her thigh and regarded the queen and the cretin of a prison guard carefully. “You know, I don’t want Gaylen to rule the country, though. It wouldn’t be right.” She stared at the queen, and an evil smile lit up Angelique’s lips. “If your bloodline runs out, however…”
“Angelique, I feel there’s been a misunderstanding,” the queen stammered, her lip trembling. “Perhaps I should apologize?”
The redheaded witch suddenly had an idea. A truly wicked, but deserving one. If none of Rothhavens could bear offspring, the royal family would eventually disappear for good. There would be no heir to the throne after all of Edward’s sons passed away. Angelique knew it would take one powerful curse to make it happen, and the Wand of Aberdeen could definitely do it. The problem was that such an enormous task would probably break her wand. She would be left defenseless against Gaylen, and in the end, she would probably hang.
Too angry to care, she raised her hands in the air and closed her eyes.
“From this day forward, no maiden will be fertile, or able to bear children for the royal Family Rothhaven. Their bloodline will die out and their reign will end,” she declared, her wand shining so brightly, it lit up the entire cell.
“No!” gasped the queen, covering her mouth in horror. “What are you doing? Think about… think about all of the innocent people you’re going to hurt. My sons never did anything to you. Nor my daughter… please…”
The little girl with the kittens popped into Angelique’s head. She’d been the only one kind to her in all of Syracuse, not to mention how nurturing and sweet she’d been to her pets. Angelique knew in her cold heart that it would be cruel to deny the little redhead motherhood. “Except for Mariselle Langer,” she whispered under her breath. “Just as she loves her kittens, she will one day be a mother, if she so desires, and after she turns eighteen. But… not to a Rothhaven.” Angelique thought hard for a quick moment and continued her curse, “Although it wouldn’t be entirely impossible.” She smiled to herself, adding an outlandish clause. “Mariselle can produce an heir for the Rothhavens, but… but… first she must have relations with each and every one
of the brothers, after which the curse will ultimately end.”
“No!” the queen screamed, falling her knees outside Angelique’s cell, her face in her hands.
When Angelique was finished, a beam of blue light shot out of the wand, the force so powerful that the witch went flying backward and hit her head against the wall.
Chapter 14
Mariselle, who was sleeping next to her mother Katrina in one of the guest chambers, woke up to find her moaning in pain.
She sat up. “Mother, what’s wrong?”
“Bellyache,” Katrina rasped, holding her lower stomach.
Worried, Mariselle touched her shoulder gently. “Are you going to be all right, Mama?”
Her mother moaned again and began to cry, tears streaming down her pale face. She tried in vain to shake her head no, but then collapsed back on the bed, her eyes screwed shut tightly.
“Should I find Papa?” Mariselle asked, her own eyes filling with tears. She’d never seen her mother in so much pain, and it was terrifying.
Katrina gasped and then panted, trying not to show her pain. “Maybe…” she tried to catch her breath, “you should.”
Mariselle scrambled out of bed and headed for the door, her kittens chasing after her. Just as her hand was about to push the door open, her mother called out to her.
She turned around and saw that Katrina’s face had relaxed. “Mother?”
A look of relief swept over her mother’s face, and then she sat up. Katrina blew out a breath, her hand still on her lower abdomen. “Oddly enough, my daughter, I think the pain has passed.”
Mariselle said a silent prayer as she began to make her way toward her. “So, you’re all right, Mama?”
“Yes. I believe so.” She reached her hand under the covers and pressed her hand to her belly. “It must be my monthly. I’ve never had cramps like those before, though.”
Mariselle was confused. “Monthly? What is that, Mama?”
Katrina pushed the covers away and rose out of bed. “It’s something that will change you from a child to a woman.”
