In another man’s arms.
The next day I found myself unable to think of anything else but what had happened last night, feeling ashamed for so many things. But most of all, I hated the idea that Lucius was somewhere in the world believing that I was being unfaithful to him.
It was heartbreaking.
And Trice knew something was wrong, but I was thankful that he didn’t push for it, after the one time he asked me and my reply was a simple,
“I’m fine.”
After that we had all got up and started the day. I ignored the rumble in my stomach and soon found myself walking through the forest on our way to the castle. Naturally, my mind was everywhere and nowhere, because I knew I should have been questioning what was about to happen to me. But my mind was too busy torturing itself by feeling guilty and now, I was even more worried about Lucius. I needed to save him and the only single thing I had to hold onto was that I knew he was still alive, as my soul was connected with his. I also had a feeling that the witch needed me, and she was going to try and use Lucius as bait. It made sense, as she knew I would do anything to save him.
What she didn’t know, of course, was that I was currently on my way to be handed over to a ruthless King, one who for some reason wanted me, and saving Lucius was literally an impossible goal right now. But then, after obsessing about Lucius, I finally started to question why this King could want me. Which led me to believe that he needed me to bargain for something… or worse, could he be in league with the witch? Of course, I hadn’t thought of this until now, but seeing as she must have had allies down here, it would make sense.
Gods, if that was the case, I was so screwed!
After an hour of me silently looking worried, Trice put my behaviour down to the uncertainty of my fate and at what was about to happen next. Thankfully, along the way Gryph had scouted ahead and found a brook nearby, so at the very least I could drink away my thirst and throw a couple of handfuls of water on my face. The forest actually looked like one close to where I grew up and its beauty would have been more appreciated had my mind been free to focus on such things.
However, not far from the brook was the end of the forest and a sight that gave way to one even more impressive…
As we were now at the castle.
“Gods,” I whispered in utter awe as it was unlike anything I had ever seen before!
It was all made from a grey blue stone that looked carved out of an entire mountain, as its walls looked to be one seamless creation. The whole castle was surrounded by a separate wall, that was a series of wide arches. One so huge, each looked big enough to fit the pyramid of Giza inside of it, and there looked as if there were at least ten of them. All of which were connected by a battlement walkway and enormous turrets and corner towers. The biggest of which framed both sides of the entrance in hexagon shapes, with the highest arch in the centre and it was one that looked as tall as a skyscraper.
It was by far the most intimidating place I had ever seen and suddenly my heart started to beat wildly in my chest.
“I am not sure I can do this,” I muttered fearfully.
Both Gryph and Trice heard this and exchanged a knowing look, making Gryph look grim, telling me this didn’t mean good things. The loss of his smile never did. Nevertheless, Trice nodded for us to continue on and I ended up needing a little nudge from him to get me moving again. My legs felt as though they didn’t want to work…actually that wasn’t true, they did, they just wanted to put them to better use by running in the opposite direction as fast as they could physically move. And naturally, the closer we got to the building, the more this impulse wanted to kick in.
The castle wasn’t anything like I had ever seen before and being who my father was, then let’s just say that I had seen my fair share of castles. For starters, what was known as the keep and central building of any castle, didn’t look like it should. As for this castle it looked to be made up of many. Almost like a giant network of buildings surrounding a larger one at its core. This central building was surrounded by five other buildings, all the size and shape of skyscrapers.
They were connected by arched bridges and a series of covered parapet walkways hundreds of feet in the air, making them look like veins connecting to the heart of the castle. Although, from way down where we were, they looked far too narrow to be considered safe.
The buildings were of the same style and looked like some powerful sorcerer had just come along and dragged his upturned palms in the air, dragging with them the grey stone beneath his feet. Doing so until colossal shards had risen up, creating the buildings within the surrounding wall. Each were spiked and topped with pointed spires and pinnacles. Spiked iron was also a theme as it framed the battlements and the curtain walls, also topping the turrets and towers. This was with an interwoven lattice effect of iron strips, that almost looked like cages, and each contained a seemingly never extinguished flame. This sinister blue fire rose so high in the sky, I bet that it could have been seen for miles around.
But with this imposing sight of doom in front of me, it was of little wonder why I was a nervous wreck by the time we approached the gate house. Or should I say, guard house as that was precisely what flooded out of it now. Doing so the moment we could be seen approaching. But I also noticed that we hadn’t yet passed through a city like I would have thought, making me wonder where it was?
Trice took his domineering and protective stance in front of me, and stated in a firm voice,
“Th’ king is expecting us.”
They didn’t reply but they must have known we were coming as they simply formed a line either side of us and started to escort us through the arched entrance. They were dressed similarly to how Carn’reau’s army had been, only instead of black armour, this was more a dark grey, with tints of blue at the spikes. There were about twenty of them that walked us to the main part of the castle and as I looked up when walking through the entrance, I nearly stumbled. I would have fallen too, had it not been for Trice who steadied me.
“Easy, Lass,” he said before one of the guards snapped out,
“You’re forbidden to touch her!” Trice growled low the second a weapon was pointed his way and his hold on me tightened.
“Come on, Trice, let’s nae lose sight of why 'ere here now,” Gryph said trying to get Trice to let me go and after a few tense seconds, he finally did. Then we continued on walking, doing so now along the footbridge. One that would have made me queasy had I been made to walk near the edge. This was because instead of a moat filled with water surrounding the castle, it looked more like an endless abyss that naturally wouldn’t allow you to see the bottom. Although, the constant fog that seem to rise up from it was most likely the reason it gave it this ominous appearance. But like I said, I was thankful to be walking in the middle, as it meant I was as far from the edge as you could get, seeing as it was as wide as a four lane highway.
We were escorted through the main part of the castle, and what you could class as the largest keep, with doors that looked made by giants. Thousands of large iron rivets decorated the two black doors that opened on our arrival and they were so big that colossal redwood trees could have passed through upright. The hinges were also incredible and were a series of black iron points and curls that framed the top and bottom of each door.
Once inside the grandeur continued, only at the very least in a slightly less severe way. Long lengths of crimson cloth as wide as banners hung down the walls and held symbols and what looked like a demonic crest at the centre. One admittedly, I barely took notice of, as I was more focused on the doors at the end that mirrored the ones we’d just walked through. Doors, that I knew would lead us into the throne room. I knew this because as they started to open, that was the very first thing my eyes met.
Because there now, in front of me,
Was the King.
My steps almost stopped completely as I saw the dark figure sat upon the throne. The doors opened fully to a pale arched space that reminded
me of a marble cathedral and instead of an altar at the end, raised steps led you to only one place…
A demonic throne fit for a ruthless King.
Although, I hadn’t expected the King to be covered in a cloaked jacket, looking more casual than I expected. Although, saying this, he still wore armour, just solely on his arms. This was made up of silver polished plates of smooth steel, which rolled down from large shoulders like waves crashing towards his elbows, ending with curled edges. A bare muscular chest was on show as the sides of his cloaked style jacket were left open and the pointed hems reached the ground either side of his legs which were covered in simple trousers made from some sort of animal hide.
However, his brutal features said he was anything but casual and as he raised a gloved hand to motion me forward, I sucked in a deep breath. Because this silent order told all the guards to suddenly point their spears at us, telling us what to do next.
“Keep going, Lass, I am ‘ere wi’ ye.” Trice’s voice behind me gave me strength and I took another deep breath and continued to walk down the great hall, one framed with even more of his army. It was also one where the decoration was sparse, telling me the King obviously didn’t have time for frivolous furnishings.
There was also no one other than his guards, as I had to admit, that I expected at least the sight of some of his repressed kingdom, all down on their knees being forced to adore such a rumoured ruthless King. But there were only his guards, ones that were stationed closer to his throne and dressed slightly different, to signify his personal guard no doubt. Crimson red armour gleamed as if they had each been coated in blood and I tried not to let their towering appearance intimidate me. Especially knowing that those massive swords could no doubt cut through me like butter. Ones they held pointed at the ground and I knew they could quite easily be turned on me at any moment.
“Ah, so finally this is what all of the fuss is about…bring her closer now, for I am curious,” the King said making me frown and question if he knew who I was or not, as why would he be curious?
When I didn’t move, the King nodded to Trice to be the one to step up and take charge. I knew this when he gripped the top of my arm and whispered down at me,
“Just do as he says, Lass, and this might be over quickly.” Then he walked me up the steps and the closer I got, the more of his face I saw. Like the warm bronze skin tone, dark hair, full lips and almond shaped eyes that were incredible. Eyes that were now staring back at me in a questioning way. They were light olive green with a strange amber starburst at the centre that circled the darkness of his pupil. He was also annoyingly handsome but then, was I really surprised.
Everyone else seemed to be in this damn place!
The throne he sat on was all darkness compared to the light in the room and was made from what looked like thousands of demonic horns in different sizes. All were curved in the direction they naturally grew, being placed and positioned so it suited the purpose of a King sitting there. They were all black and highly polished with razor tips of gold plating, as if they had each been dipped before being set into place.
“M’laird,” Trice said as he approached making the King smirk,
“Ah Trice McBain, I have to hand it to you, you’re certainly resourceful and a man of your word, for when you say you can deliver, well, you weren’t’ wrong.”
“And me brother?” Trice said getting straight to the point.
“Alive,” the King replied, making Trice visibly take a breath, obviously relieved, as I also did the same.
“Although naturally not everyone was pleased to see him, but I am sure you understand why, given the circumstances,” the King said making Trice grit his teeth, no doubt now worried about what state he would find his brother in.
“Now come here, girl,” the King demanded and after receiving a little nudge from Trice, I did as I was ordered to do. But then, as I made it to the top step, I stumbled and stupidly fell into the King’s lap, meaning he had no choice but to catch me. I sucked in a startled breath and slowly looked up to find him grinning down at me. Only then his cunning eyes left mine and narrowed the second his gaze travelled down my shoulder, as if something offensive had caught his eyes. Then they didn’t just frown, they hardened dangerously.
This was when he grabbed me and before Trice could move, the King had spun me around and suddenly flipped up the back of my poncho before tearing down the back of my top. I cried out in shock but then when he touched a fingertip to my wound, I knew he had managed to tear straight through my clothes and the bandages with them. After this he gripped me tighter and hissed only word,
“Witch!” Then he suddenly shoved me forward so I went falling down the steps and was thankfully caught by Trice before I could break my neck. He held me in his arms and looked down at me with true pain in his eyes. Eyes that then closed the moment the King barked out an order and what was to become of my fate.
“Take this witch to the dungeon! For we will let the wrath of her executioner also be that of her judge when he returns, for he can decide which manner to end her life!” The King shouted making me gasp. Because that was when I realised the true depth of my actions. And I knew then that I had made the wrong decision. I should have run away when I had the chance. Because I had just let myself be led to my own death.
A death Trice now had no choice but to have a hand in, as he was forced to drag me away screaming, being the one ordered to take me to the prison. One where I was to wait until my sentence could be carried out.
Because Gryph had been right.
Now when Trice finally got his soul back, it would be tainted with my blood.
For now, I faced my fate because of him.
Now, I was to be executed.
Chapter 30
Prisoner
After this point everything became a blur as I was dragged out of the throne room with Trice having no choice but to take on the role of my jailor. He tried to calm me down, but this became an impossible task as I kicked and screamed my way through the castle. Then, just before the escort of guards could intervene, Trice had clearly had enough and pinned me against the nearest wall to shout at me,
“Fur fck sake, calm yersel’, woman!” Then as I screamed in his face,
“SCREW YOU!” he then decided the best way of dealing with me was throwing me over his shoulder and forcefully carrying me to the prison. And I didn’t give up, not one little bit! Not now I couldn’t help but see my death being by the end of a rope, unable to stop the image as this was all my mind would focus on.
To die how he had died the first time.
The only difference being that it wasn’t a death I was going to be coming back from. So, all I had left was my desperate need to fight, and I did. I hit him and kicked until he pinned my legs. I also didn’t once listen to a single word he said, as in my rage and fury, in my mind he had become the enemy. He had become the whole reason for me being here and what would soon be my death. And I wanted him to know it. To know what this was doing to me! Because why should I make it easy for him. Trice was about to get everything he wanted. His brother back, his soul, his freedom, meanwhile the cost of that would be my life.
But more importantly to me, the life of people I cared about!
I didn’t know where Gryph was, but if I had seen him then I would have shouted for him to help me, knowing how he felt about making this exchange.
It would taint their souls.
This was why, the second I felt myself being lowered to my feet, my reactions kicked in and I came up swinging. I punched Trice in the face so hard, it hurt my knuckles. I connected with his face and it was clear that he really hadn’t been expecting it. And it certainly did what it was intended to do, which was of course, for it to cause damage. He staggered back a step and looked so shocked, it would have been almost comical had the moment warranted it.
Then he raised his hand slowly to his now bloody lip and dabbed it before looking down at his own bloody fingers as if he couldn’t believe it.
Meanwhile, I was just left to watch this whilst panting through my rage, and not getting very far away from it. Then he shook his head to himself, as if he was still trying to make sense of what just happened.
“I guess ah deserved that,” he admitted rubbing his jaw and I snapped,
“That and a lot fucking more!” He swallowed hard and closed his eyes a second before telling me,
“I won’t let them kill ye.” I scoffed at this and said,
“Why, do you have an army you’re not telling me about?!” He frowned before telling me,
“I had no choice, Lass, he is me brother.”
“And if they didn’t have Vern, what then, huh?” I questioned and his face said it all, making me raise a hand and say,
“Yeah, yeah…and you’re blood bound, so I guess that’s a stupid question…well great, now you can just go and collect your souls and be on your merry way… I am glad it worked out for you and was worth it! Now you can just fuck off and leave me to face whatever execution they fancy…in a place like this, I can’t imagine they ever run out of ways to kill someone!” I threw at him making him angry, and he turned quick and hit out at the metal wall behind him, reminding me in that moment of Lucius.
“Damn it, Lass, twas never like that!” he roared making me snap back,
“No? Funny then, seeing as Gryph thought it would be, but hey, I was only ever a job to you, huh? Nothing more, I think were your exact words!” I lashed out at him making him flinch as he knew I was right.
“Lassie,” he said making me shake my head, knowing I couldn’t look at him anymore, so told him,
“Just leave.”
“Amelia…”
“LEAVE!” I screamed, this time because I couldn’t stand the sound of my name coming from his lips. It was Lucius’ right to call me that and his alone, so right now, it hit a nerve! And he knew it had, because his reaction was to turn away from me, as if he couldn’t stand the guilt. Which meant when I did finally look up at him, it was to find his back to me, tensed by the cell door as if he was torn. His hand gripped tight onto the metal frame like he was ready to crush it but holding himself back.
Kingdoms Of Hell: Vampire Paranormal Romance (Transfusion Book 7) Page 24
