Tempting Destiny

by Sela Croft

  The man was tall, so I had to look up at him. He had deep brown eyes and dark hair. By the look of him, he was in his mid-thirties. The bit of scruff he sported gave him a very masculine appearance. His shoulders were broad, and his arms were well muscled.

  “Hello to you,” he said. After removing his gardening glove, he took my hand and bowed. “I’m Jason Collins, the gardener.”

  “Good to meet you. I’m Mirela Godwin.”

  Jason smiled then his brown eyes sparkled, giving him a friendly look. “I heard that you’d arrived.” He put his hedge trimmer down to give me his full attention.

  “Word spreads fast, it would seem.”

  “Yes, and I make it a point to listen.”

  Having found another human, I would have hung around to talk. But a guard flagged me, requesting me to return indoors. It was disappointing, but I was hardly in a position to defy my hosts. “I hope we meet again,” I said, then strode toward the guard.

  By the end of the evening, I welcomed my privacy in the luxurious bedchamber. The events of the day had unfolded without any negative incident. There was a fully stocked library, which I’d spent a few hours perusing. Lunch had been a light meal in a parlor overlooking the front lawn. Then a guard had given me a tour of the castle, which took most of the afternoon. I’d dined with Iris again for supper. But there had been numerous others around, which prohibited any significant conversation.

  Lily assisted me to get out of the fancy dress I’d worn to the dining room. She was friendly enough and willing to talk. The thing was that she didn’t know much. She was efficient at her tasks, and nice enough, but not savvy about the inner workings of the castle.

  When Lily left and closed the door behind her, I felt very much alone. There was no one I could go to for help. Not one of those I’d met could be considered a friend. The pleasantness that was exhibited toward me was all for show. I’d been treated like a royal guest so far.

  Yet I wasn’t deceived. Iris and her crew had been instructed to pamper me. Instead of feeling like a welcomed guest, I felt more like cornered prey. For I had no doubt that the powers in charge would show up to take over.

  I dreaded that event and needed to prepare for it. As things stood, I was woefully ill-equipped. I needed to learn more about my hosts, and rapidly. I was trapped, waiting for my captor to make a move. There had to be a way to outmaneuver Silvain, and I’d best discover one before he returned to his castle.

  Dressed in a peach-colored satin nightgown, I crawled up into bed. The room was upstairs, so no one could see in. The curtains were open and the moonlight cast shadows over the furniture. One window was ajar, and I pretended that Draven would step through it.

  Yet that wasn’t going to happen. I gazed at the beautiful mural on the ceiling, thinking that it reminded me of a kaleidoscope. The flower in the center looked like an image that had fallen into place after twisting the end of the scope, so the crystals had settled into new positions.

  The outside gardens were closing in. Panic gripped me. I was a prisoner and there was no way out. The castle shifted, so the stairs distorted. I was unable to go up or down.

  Draven would rescue me. I called to him but there was no reply. Madly, I searched, but he wasn’t around. I’d been left all alone and had to save myself.

  Dark creatures loomed up from the depths, and I was terrified. There was no one to talk to, no help from any quarter. The moon shimmered in the sky, seeing all. But the course of events couldn’t be altered.

  I refused to give up. If Draven wouldn’t come to me, then I would go to him.

  I was powerful, so I could enter his dreams and speak to him. Only I couldn’t find him. He was hidden from me.

  Frustrated and afraid, I ran through the castle, bumping into guards and tipping over priceless vases. Iris loomed before me, her face contorted. Her voice was deep, and she spoke slowly, like a recording set on the wrong speed. “You…cannot…escape.”

  I shrieked then turned the other way, but I plowed into a vampire. His dark uniform covered his massive form, and his fangs distended. The gleam in his eyes terrified me, but not a soul heard my scream. I was alone…all alone.

  The next morning at breakfast, I ate by myself. Iris had other business to attend to, so sent her apologies. I couldn’t wait to get outdoors. After eating a runny egg on toast and downing a cup of coffee, I excused myself. The guards followed me outside but didn’t try to stop me.

  I had trouble shaking off the nightmare. The images had been too vivid, the fear too real. What I’d seen had the feel of a premonition, not just random scenes. I walked to the gazebo and sat down, needing a chance to think it through.

  I’d had premonitions a few times in my life. As a young girl, I’d had the dream that had revealed a prophecy in its entirety. It had foretold my future, one that my mother had been quick to reject. A singular thought surfaced from the rubble of my dream.

  If Draven wouldn’t come to me, then I would go to him. That was the driving force for me. It was my reason for being, my path to destiny. I’d been determined to enter his realm, and I had done so.

  I could achieve my new aim as well. Draven was closer than he’d been before. He was in the very kingdom where I sat. For the first time since he’d gone missing, he was within reach. That was the message from the dream: I must go to him.

  The dream foretold of many dangers. But I wasn’t about to let dark creatures or intimidating vampires stop me. I couldn’t deny that I was afraid. But I refused to be derailed. Draven was my soul mate, and I was his. I’d crossed boundaries and defied death to be with him. And I would do so again.

  I looked up to see Jason staring at me. “Would you prefer to be alone?” he said.

  “No, just the opposite,” I said. “Please stay. I could use a friend.” I wasn’t sure why I considered him so, but it seemed appropriate.

  Jason leaned against a pillar of the gazebo. “You’re the most interesting guest that we’ve had in a while.”

  “Surely you exaggerate.”

  “Not at all.” Jason smiled. “You’re the loveliest, that’s for sure. But usually, we entertain warlords, soldiers, or vampires of various distinctions. I can’t recall having a lady as our guest.”

  “I imagine ladies are afraid to stay here.”

  “With good reason,” Jason said. “This is not a hotel, despite the finery you’ve witnessed.”

  Jason seemed like an honest sort, and I needed someone to confide in. “Can I tell you something?”

  “I wish you would.”

  “I’m not really a guest…more of a captive.” Jason didn’t look surprised, so I continued. “I was abducted from the human world and brought here. I imagine the master of this castle has a use for me, but I’m hoping to avoid it.”

  “How may I assist you?”

  “It’s enough to know that you’d be willing to,” I said. “For now, the best thing you could do is give me information.”

  “Such as?”

  I stood and walked over to Jason. “I have a mission. It’s not so important what happens to me, as it is what happens to the man I love.”

  Jason’s brown eyes showed his understanding.

  “Draven, the leader of the Guardians, is the man I’m referring to.” I paused. “I’m desperate to learn what has happened to him.”

  “I’ll tell you what I can,” Jason said. “As I mentioned, I tend to listen. I expected your arrival before you appeared. I’d heard rumors of your kidnapping and was aware that Silvain places value on possessing you.”

  “I’ve gathered as much. Although I’m not clear on how he plans to use me.”

  “It won’t be good, whatever it is.” Jason hesitated. “I’m going to trust you, because you’ve trusted me. I’ll tell you what I’ve heard, though it’s not much. Rumor has it that Draven had been captured, and was being held and tortured in one of Silvain’s prisons.”

  My heart sank. Torturing a vampire had to involve horrendous acts. “I fear for him
. Do you know if he is still alive?”

  “The most recent gossip was about Silvain’s intention to coerce him to betray the Guardians. If Draven was dead, then I suppose that would no longer be possible,” Jason said. “Possibly, your love still breathes. For how long, it’s difficult to say. I haven’t heard any more about him, since the news of his capture.”

  I realized with horror that I was an ace in the hole for Silvain. If he couldn’t force Draven to give into his demands with torture, he might succeed by threatening to kill me. And he would have to, if he planned to gain advantage over through me. As I certainly wouldn’t ally with him or deceive Draven, no matter how much hospitality he showered upon me.

  CHAPTER 20 – MIRELA

  Lily continued to provide personal services. She helped me dress, styled my hair, and chatted about the kingdom. Her friendliness couldn’t be faulted. She seemed authentic in her interest in my welfare. One evening, as she assisted me to get ready for dinner, it occurred to me that I knew very little about her.

  “Where do you live, Lily?”

  “Oh, here, ma’am. I have a basement room.”

  “No one harms you, I trust.”

  Lily shook her head. “I’m needed as a maid. Each human has a use, and mine is not to feed the vampires…if that’s what you were wondering.” She raised her chin. “I’m not a blood slave.”

  She’d offered much more than I’d asked. It was unsettling to consider what human slaves were expected to do. “Do you have a family?”

  “This is my home,” Lily said. “My parents and brother died when I was very young—or so I’m told.”

  “You don’t remember?”

  “I was a baby when I was taken in,” Lily said. “I was educated in my role early. It’s all I’ve known. I suppose Iris is like a mother to me.”

  I shuddered at the thought. Iris didn’t strike me as the motherly type. “I’m sorry, Lily.”

  “Oh, don’t be, ma’am.” Lily smiled. “I’m not unhappy. After all, for humans…there are much worse circumstances.”

  I didn’t doubt that but wasn’t sure I was prepared to hear more. “Shall I go to dinner now?”

  Lily took me to the dining room, where Iris waited. I took my seat, noting her expression. I’d secretly been refining my skill of reading thoughts. For a long while, Iris had closely associated with vampires. I assumed that was the reason her mind had been difficult to access.

  Yet I’d managed. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking all the time. It wasn’t like listening to a radio station. But I got bits and pieces that were useful. As a result, I’d become uncomfortable in her presence.

  While Iris smiled and exhibited pristine manners, she seethed with hatred. That had been a shock, causing me to question my perceptions. Yet the impression persisted. What she said was quite in contrast to what she thought. I found the duplicity alarming.

  “I thought we’d have a drink before dinner,” Iris said.

  “That would be nice.” The waiter next to the table filled our wine glasses. “It’s good of you to join me at meals, so I’m not all alone.”

  Iris pursed her lips, her effort at a smile. It was clear that she’d rather not be with me.

  “I’m curious about this world,” I said, “and you’ve told me much. It’s interesting that meals are served at predesignated times and that I’m escorted to my room for sleep a few hours after the evening meal.”

  “Why is that strange?”

  I sipped my wine but kept my eyes on Iris. “It’s dark in Lumea, every hour of the day. The moon shifts and changes, yet I haven’t sensed a regular pattern. Or not one that would indicate daily changes. So how do you know if it’s morning or night?”

  “The kingdom has a significant human population,” Iris said. “It’s customary. The traditional pattern of daily activities is comforting to the species, so is maintained in our realm.”

  In her answer, one important fact was revealed. There was a sizeable number of humans, which meant that I wasn’t as alone as I felt. “I’m sure you don’t accommodate all humans,” I said, trying not to show adverse emotion. “I assume that some are treated better than others.”

  Iris swirled her glass. “Not all deserve to be treated equally.”

  Images flashed in my mind, of humans screaming and blood dripping. I blinked and blocked it out. Just because I could read thoughts, it didn’t mean that I always wanted to.

  In discreetly reading the minds of Iris and other servants, I’d quietly accumulated information. All that surrounded me was a ruse, intended to mislead. My inquiries were met with a cover story that had been put in place to keep me clueless.

  Each person, especially Iris, was adept at not revealing information. When I wanted to know something, the issue was politely sidestepped. By mentally compartmentalizing, they’d hidden the truth, so their thoughts weren’t revealing.

  But other times, the person slipped up, not realizing that I perceived it. Over the days that I’d been in captivity, I’d gained bits and pieces of information. At that rate, though, it was going to take far too long to learn all that I needed to know.

  And no one seemed to have knowledge of Draven. It wasn’t surprising that the service staff hadn’t been told. But I would have thought Iris would have been included, since she ran the place. If she had a sense of the situation, she hadn’t been thinking about it, because I couldn’t pick up anything on the subject.

  Dinner proceeded with less-than-stimulating conversation. Iris had filled her mind with trivial facts, so entertained me with useless stories—ones that were likely made up, anyway. I was relieved when the meal ended so I could retreat to the silence of the library.

  Besides the gardens, the library was the only place I found solace. It wasn’t as large as the one back home, but it was interesting. I discovered books about Lumea, its history, and geography. I devoured the information, certain it would be useful.

  Yet there was no mention of secret things, such as war strategies or Silvain himself. It was as though the writings were propaganda, intended to portray an acceptable image. The duplicity was not unlike most history books. But I found it frustrating, as I’d hoped to learn more.

  That night I went to bed, hoping Draven would appear. The more nights that went by without contact, the more bereft I became. My existence at the castle was a living nightmare. I was in a prison, as effectively as if I’d been locked in a cell, without access to the key.

  The next morning, I skipped breakfast and went outside. The pressure of captivity was making me crazy. It was like the drip, drip of a faucet, slowly wearing away at my nerves. The artificial calm wouldn’t last, and not knowing when disaster would erupt was pushing me to the edge of insanity.

  It was unnerving that the vampire guards watched me wherever I went. They seemed especially alert when I was outdoors. Although I didn’t see why, since I couldn’t go beyond the invisible barrier. Their glowing gazes didn’t hold curiosity or interest. The looks were menacing, which didn’t help my frame of mind.

  It struck me that I was outside, but I wasn’t out at all. I had no real freedom of movement. If I did, I’d have taken an excursion to see more of the kingdom. But that was forbidden. I wasn’t a guest, even though I was referred to that way.

  The rose garden looked especially lovely, and I bent to smell a yellow rose. Its fragrance was delightful, reminding me that not all was bleak. I gazed at the moon and the shimmery stars, finding it reassuring that I could depend on their brilliance.

  There wasn’t much else I could depend on.

  Jason was fertilizing some plants, so I went over to see him. We’d talked when we had the chance, without abusing the opportunity. I feared that if my captors sensed I was getting too friendly, I’d be forbidden to speak with him. My life was controlled enough. I was unwilling to give up the one connection I deemed valuable.

  “Hello, Jason.”

  “Mirela…good to see you.”

  Jason was in good spirits, and
I wondered if tending the garden was good for the soul, as it had been for my mother. I was reminded of her vegetable garden, but pushed the thoughts aside, as I couldn’t deal with sadness. I hoped that one day I’d see her again.

  “Your garden is admirable,” I said. “It thrives, even without sunlight.”

  Jason removed his gloves and shook them out. “The garden has been nurtured in darkness,” he said, motioning toward the flowerbeds. “The trees, the flowers, the shrubs—all grow well here. The plants thrive on starlight.”

  “That’s amazing.”

  “Probably more for you than for me.” Jason picked a white rose and handed it to me. “Lumea is all I’ve known. But I’ve heard about the earth above.”

  I was intrigued. “Would you care to sit with me for a moment?”

  Jason followed me to a bench, then sat at the opposite end. “I’d like to take credit for all you see, but I have a crew to manage it.”

  “I haven’t seen anyone.”

  “They work while you sleep,” Jason said. “That way, you’re not disturbed.”

  “How long have you tended these gardens?”

  Jason wrinkled his brow. “It’s hard to say. I don’t track time closely, like you do. The days and nights blend together.”

  “Yes, I’ve noticed that.” I folded my hands in my lap. “Is gardening your chosen career?”

  Jason laughed. “Very few things are chosen in this world. But I am fortunate to hold the position as head gardener.”

  “What about your family?”

  Jason’s expression turned dark. “All dead.” He looked away. “I shouldn’t burden you with my past.”

  “Please, I want to know.”

  “My parents died long ago. They served as blood slaves, so their life expectancy was limited.” Jason looked at me. “It’s good that my botany skills are valued. I’d dread to think that I was only useful to satisfy vampires’ thirst.”

  “I’ve wondered about that,” I said. “There are many guards. They must have to…eat.”