Beneath The Shadows of Evil... Torn

by Jolynn Raymond

  “Yes, Mistress. Is there anything else you’ll be needing?”

  Alliana looked at her sleeping husband again and a little smile appeared on her face. “No, I think I shall be just fine today, Thalia.”

  “Very good, Mistress. I shall return with your meal and then leave you be.”

  The woman was true to her word and slipped in a few minutes later with Alliana’s breakfast and then disappeared just as quietly. Alliana sat down and began to devour the feast before her with much gusto, ready to enjoy every morsel that her hungry son was demanding she eat, when the chamber door opened again. Alliana looked up, a bit annoyed that her wishes hadn’t been followed, and was surprised to find Natalya standing there looking a bit uncertain.

  A flash of anger set Alliana’s green eyes on fire as she looked at her closest friend. There had been much tension between them as of late, and though she had forgiven her husband when the facts of the matter regarding Hannah had been revealed, she wasn’t feeling so forgiving when it came to Natalya.

  There had developed a certain animosity between the two that broke Natalya’s heart and though she had pleaded with Alliana, her friend had remained steadfast in her anger. What troubled them went far beyond Hannah’s guilt or innocence, no their relationship was plagued by so much more. It was the fact that Natalya had taken Mikhal’s word, his side if you will, over Alliana’s. That fact had hurt Alliana greatly.

  Since the beginning, when Natalya arrived, she had been confident and at ease with Mikhal. She hadn’t felt fear around him and held an odd belief in his goodness no matter what Alliana had told her. This bond between her best friend and her husband caused both resentment and jealousy, no matter how Alliana had tried to fight it.

  She was the one who should be so carefree with Mikhal; she was the one he should confide in, she was the one he should ask opinions of. Not her best friend! Alliana felt as if Natalya had come here and taken up a place close to her husband, one that she should occupy herself, and it mattered naught that Alliana hadn’t wanted to play the role most of the time. Natalya shouldn’t be so close to Mikhal, period.

  She should fear him because Alliana told her of his horrendous acts. She should hate him for what he had done to Alliana. She should want to avoid him at all costs because he was a creature of the night, not agree to be his confidant and go with him willingly in times of trouble. Oh the whole thing just confused her and made her feel so very estranged from her dearest friend, and Alliana had taken that pain out on Natalya.

  “What is it, Natalya? I am having breakfast and won’t require your company today. Mikhal and I will spend the day together.” Alliana glanced over at the bed meaningfully. Yes the green eyed monster of jealousy was rearing its head and Alliana’s statement was a way to lay claim on her man even though she knew in her heart that Natalya wasn’t interested in Mikhal in that way at all.

  “I need to speak to you, Alliana. We both know what tomorrow is, tis a very important day. There are things we must discuss. Things I must tell you that were confided in me by your Godmother.”

  Alliana looked at her in shock. Twas to be the eighteenth day of her birth tomorrow. She had honestly forgotten. Time had become meaningless here within these walls and it was easy to forget the days when you were surrounded by darkness so very often.

  “I...” Alliana looked to the bed where Mikhal lay sleeping.

  “Come to my chambers, sweetie. We will have privacy there.” Alliana rose slowly and rubbing her back as she did so.

  “Are you alright? You look a bit peaked.”

  “I’m fine, nothing more than the usual pains, my back, my ankles. I shall be happy when my son decides to show himself.”

  Natalya looked Alliana over critically, noting that the babe seemed to be resting lower in her belly than just the day before. It had only been a bit over five months since she had conceived, but things were definitely not progressing normally. The child was one of magick, so anything was possible. She certainly looked as though the child had grown fully within her.

  “But no pains here?” Natalya indicated her lower abdomen. “No cramping or rush of fluid?” She and Alliana had been estranged as of late and Natalya hadn’t really had a chance to talk to her heart to heart about what was to come. Alliana was a bit in the dark about what to expect and that worried Natalya. It was very possible that Alliana wouldn’t recognize the beginning signs of labor.

  “No, nothing like that, I would have told you.” Alliana’s tone became a bit defensive and Natalya backed off. There would be time later. Right now they had to discuss the significance of Alliana’s birthday.

  “Yes, of course you would have. Whatever our differences, I know you love your son. Come.”

  The two women went to the chamber next door, closing the door quietly behind them, Alliana wishing for her husband to remain sleeping. What they were about to discuss was not for his ears. If she were to share what Natalya told her, it was going to be on her terms when she was ready. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Mikhal; it was simply that she knew she might need time to adjust to whatever was going to happen to her. Mikhal had no idea when her birthday was, so he would be none the wiser.

  Alliana sat at once with a grunt as little Mikhalen gave her a ferocious kick in the ribs, and then looked at Natalya expectantly. “So tell me what is going to happen to me tomorrow.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Within the hour, Natalya had told Alliana everything she knew, and explained exactly why she needed the medallion around her neck at the stroke of midnight or shortly thereafter. Alliana went back to her chambers with her head spinning. There was so much to take in, so much she didn’t understand, so many questions.

  What would she do with her powers? What should she do? She could use them to kill many if not all of the residents of the castle that was certain, but was that what she really wanted. Yes she hated them. They were uncouth, disgusting evil things that fed on her kind, but what of her husband. He wasn’t one of them, and this was his home, his kingdom, and what of her clan and their happiness? Oh the questions and the decisions were buzzing inside her. Add to that the way she felt today, edgy, restless, achy and altogether in a foul mood and she simply decided she couldn’t deal with it right now. Besides, who said she would have to use her new powers at once simply because they were bestowed upon her. Perhaps she could practice in secret, and use them on an as needed basis.

  Satisfied with that thought, Alliana walked for a time in the confines of her room, and then finally grew weary and lay back down with her still sleeping husband once more.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  While Alliana was dozing off with Mikhal once more, Natalya was deciding between making potions or doing needlework. Neither option appealed to her a great deal, but Lord Arcos had requested that she limit her visits to the village to the nighttime as much as possible these days. The breech in security that Hannah had caused had shaken him deeply, and he wasn’t certain if Marishka had other human spies who could be about and ready to set upon her as she made her daily trip.

  And so, here she was, trying to decide on which mundane task would keep her mind off Alliana and what was to come to pass tomorrow on the day of her eighteenth birthday. Well, what was to come to pass with the help of the medallion that was, if she could procure it. The problem was, Samuel had taken to refusing to leave when she made her visits unless Lucian were with her, and she had no need to go to the cottage next door to speak with Bethany alone.

  As fate would have it though, her luck was about to change. Just as Natalya had decided that potions would be the more productive way to pass her time, she heard a faint cry for help from far below in the courtyard.

  She froze, listening, and then heard it again, and this time was more certain than ever that it was the voice of a child who was calling out. Not sure if the voice belonged to that of a human or demon child and not caring either way, Natalya made haste below, rushing down the stairs to the great room and crossing it on sure feet just
as two minions were pulling a sobbing Bethany out of the shade surrounding the doorway and into the castle.

  “What is the meaning of this? Release that child!”

  The vampire’s glowered at her, already tasting the tender meal in their clutches. The Master had said they weren’t allowed to raid the village, but had said nothing of giving safe passage to any serf foolish enough to come to the castle. The terror in the girl’s blood would be a delicacy they hadn’t been allowed as of late.

  “I said release her.” Natalya stood tall, eyes flashing, and hands on her hips, not backing down an inch. She was a Lady in the castle and she would be listened to. “Do it now or I shall fetch the Master. He is asleep with his wife and I doubt he shall be pleased at this intrusion.”

  The pair snarled once more, their eyes telling her exactly what they wished to do to her.

  “I suggest you obey the Lady’s commands. She should not need the threat of the Master to get you to do as she bids. Take your hands off that child.” Natalya had turned at the sound of Lucian’s voice and now watched as he walked slowly towards her. Their eyes met, and hers flashed a small look of irritation at his intrusion, she had been doing just fine, but then she relented and her gaze softened. What mattered was the child.

  Natalya mumbled a quick but gracious thank you then turned, just in time to catch Bethany as the child hurled herself into Natalya’s arms with a sob.

  “Oh, Mistress Natalya. I thought I was to be eaten for sure.”

  “Hush, child. What brings you here? You should know it’s not safe. It was a foolish thing to do to be certain.”

  “Tis Aunt Rowen. Her pains have begun and she is frightened.”

  Natalya felt fury fill her. The cowardly Samuel should have come to the castle to fetch help for his laboring wife instead of sending his niece. What had he been thinking? More and more Natalya wished her conscience could give into Lord Arcos wishes of killing the man, but then Rowen would be without a provider and the child without a father. Pitiful as the man was, it was a simple fact that a woman needed a man to survive in this world.

  “We shall go at once. Come, we have to get my things.”

  “Natalya you can’t go. The Master issued his order that you were to remain here unless I was with you for protection.”

  “It twasn’t an order, Lucian, it was a request. Rowen needs me and I will not let her down. Not now when she is on the verge of giving birth.”

  Lucian glowered at her. Her stubborn behavior knew no bounds. He knew he shouldn’t allow her to go. Should restrain her by force if necessary, but he also knew she’d never forgive him. They had been tending Rowen for this very reason and now it was time. One couldn’t tell babes to remain in the womb until it was convenient.

  “Very well. I shall round up the servants while you get your things.”

  Natalya had taken Bethany’s hand as he was speaking to her and had already begun to race up the stairs with the child in tow. She called back over her shoulder as she went though, making him even more furious.

  “There is no time for a carriage and an escort! This is bound to be a difficult labor. I shall ride and you can send the servants in my wake.” Her words faded as she rounded the corner of the corridor at the top of the stairs, and Lucian shook his head in disbelief. She was a wild one for certain, and he couldn’t help admire her spirit even if it did rile him up every time they were near each other.

  Turning, he headed for the inner recesses of the castle. It would take him sometime to gather up Natalya’s usual guards. He didn’t wish to send any strangers with her. Not on this day when evil lurked all around them.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Unbeknownst to everyone, there had been a small figure with large eyes that missed nothing, watching from the shadows as Mikhal took the guilty Hannah away to her fate in the early hours of the morn, and now he saw as the other Gypsy, Natalya, left with her bag to go to the village unaccompanied. He had waited for as long as possible, bursting with this information, and now that the sun was about to set again, and he knew what he must do.

  Slipping from the castle as the last traces of the killing rays slipped from the sky, Elias headed to the cave where his new Master was hiding. He had important things to tell. The servant girl Hannah had been taken from the safe confines of the Gypsy bitch’s chambers and questioned below by Lord Arcos, and oh had her tongue loosened when she had. Her words had flown through the castle by way of gossip, and now it was time to tell Andor.

  Marishka’s plan had been discovered, and Mikhal the Merciless was furious. It was said that he would be out again that night searching for his wayward sister, but Elias knew there was still time to warn Andor. He’d stayed hunched in an alcove near the Gypsy’s door, waiting for Lord Arcos, but the Master vampire hadn’t appeared. He was still with the human thing he had taken to his bed.

  Elias raced sure footed through the forest and arrived at the cave just as Andor was leading a somewhat befuddled and very outraged Marishka inside. He paused for a moment, out of sight, to listen, knowing it was wrong, but unable to help himself. He despised the woman who had made him. She’d been so very cruel. Hurting him night after night, all in the name of the gypsy bitch. If he could hear a bit of her misery, then he’d happily do so, so he tuned a keen ear their way and stayed where he was.

  From the first words he heard, it was clear that Marishka was most unhappy at what Andor had done to her, and the fact that she was, made the boy smile.

  “How could you?” Marishka’s shriek echoed in the small cave, causing the bats that hung from the ceiling to stir restlessly.

  “It was to protect you, Mistress. That is all. I wished for you to be safe.”

  “It was safe enough for you to come here, why not for me? I could have walked as well?”

  “Mistress I was not certain where we could hide when I placed you where I did. I knew the journey would be hard and could be hazardous to one so delicate and beautiful as you. I...”

  “You buried me! Put me in the ground! I woke and thought my brother had found me and placed me there to punish me for all eternity.”

  “Forgive me, Mistress. I gave you the milk of poppy. I though you would sleep until I was able to come for you.”

  “You are not forgiven, Andor. Mummy is very displeased. You shall have to make it up to me.”

  Andor, much as he did desire her and wish for her forgiveness felt her agitation grating on his nerves. Did she not understand the gravity of their situation? “Forgive me, Mistress. I shall do what you deem necessary to gain your favor once more, but not now. Now I need to see to your comfort and to find us food.”

  “How dare you tell me how things shall be done? While it is true I hunger, my need for your pain is greater. I demand you offer me retribution. I demand that you...”

  “Mistress, please.” Andor felt a burning ball of rage inside him. Why couldn’t she understand all he had done for her? Why couldn’t she see what he needed to be doing now? Because she was a crazed vengeful bitch that only thought of herself that was why.

  The thought hit him hard and it shocked him but he waived it away. Yes it was true, but it was of her nature and he still loved her as much as his kind could. She was his Mistress, his maker, and he would remain devoted, though right now he needed to retain the upper hand. They didn’t have the time for her rantings.

  Marishka looked at him, fire blazing in her eyes, ready to fly at him but he continued to speak in a hushed calming tone.

  “You may flay me to your hearts content after I have procured us food. If you do not allow this, then we shall go hungry, for your wrath will take its toll and I shall be unable to hunt. Perhaps a dose of your lovely potion would calm your nerves, Mistress.”

  Marishka thought on the matter. She didn’t like it one bit. She was furious that he’d buried her no matter the reason, hated the cave he’d led her to, and couldn’t believe he was defying her. Still, she was ravenous and she did love her milk of poppy.

  A
s quickly as it had begun her fiery rage turned to a less volatile pout of irritation. “I suppose I could eat first, but then my dear pet, you shall pay for burying mummy.”

  “Yes, Mistress. Of course.”

  Elias heard the calmness of Marishka’s tone and decided it was time to make his presence know. He crept as silently as possible back through the woods, and then approached again so they wouldn’t know they had been overheard. Appearing in the cave mouth, he beamed at Andor, refusing to look at the hated Marishka, and announced happily.

  “I have news, Master. Important news.”

  Marishka shrieked at the sight of the child and the fact that he had called Andor, Master. The child was her toy and the affront was simply too much for her dignity to bear. If she couldn’t hurt Andor then she certainly was going to take her rage out upon the child instead. She flew at him, intent on doing just that, but Andor stopped her, grabbing her about the waist and hauling her back, kicking and screaming.

  “Release me you fool. What are you doing? How dare you? I am your Mistress. Give me the boy. I want the boy!”

  The rage that had been building up inside Andor boiled over. Yes he loved her, was devoted to her, but the time had come for an uprising of sorts. Andor had known in his heart for a long time that his dark Mistress was unfit to rule. She’d never be able to command those in the castle, but he, he could.

  Oh he would do so with her at his side, he would even place her back into the position of spoilt Lady and indulge her every whim no matter how vile or grotesque, but he was the one who would have to take control here if they had any hope of conquering Mikhal the Merciless.

  “Stop it. Stop it this instant, Marishka. Listen to me. We need the child. Didn’t you hear him? He brings news. Your precious Hannah was caught and he is all we have now, so silence yourself.”

  Shocked at his words and his treatment of her, Marishka did stop. It was more because she was too stunned to do much else and because Andor’s arms were like bands of steel around her body, pinning her arms down, than it was because she was listening to reason, but she shut up nonetheless.