————————————-∞————————————-
Bolene stared at her cup without really seeing it. “Penny for them,” Lukine said. “As they say on Earth.”
“I’m just thinking about Trey. I can’t believe he walked out on us like that. We are his family.”
“He’s hurting. He’ll be in touch when he’s ready.”
“I hope so. Do you think Komi and Fox will manage to find him? And Nat? I’ve missed her since we came to Yong.”
“I have no idea. All we can do is pray to the Creator.”
They sat in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. Lukine broke it. “I have an idea. Let me take you somewhere. I have something to show you that will take your mind off Trey.”
He held out his hand and Bolene took it. He put his arm around her and led her out of the house. He gave an address to the ‘hover’ car he had been using since arriving on Yong. Bolene didn’t recognise it, but she knew it was on the other side of the city. It would take them a while to get there, so she settled down in her husband’s arms and closed her eyes.
He shook her awake when they reached their destination. “What’s here?” she asked.
“You’ll see. Come on sleepy head. Get out of the car.”
They were parked in front of a two storey house with large windows and a small garden out front. The lights were on downstairs. Lukine took a key out of his pocket and unlocked the front door. “I bought this place a few weeks ago,” he said. “Want to take a look around?”
Bolene was stunned. “Where did you get the money?” she asked.
“A generous benefactor,” he said as she entered the house and he closed the door behind her.
“Anyone home?” he called out.
“In the kitchen,” a female voice replied.
Lukine took Bolene’s hand. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
The woman had her back to them when they entered the kitchen and when she turned around, Bolene’s eyes widened. She took a step back, but Lukine was behind her, preventing her leaving the room.
“Bolene, meet Joonie. I know you already know a lot about her.”
Joonie didn’t look pleased to see Bolene. “What is she doing here Lukine?”
“Now that Lucy has disappeared, we need a different way to persuade Nat to come here at the correct time. Bo will be our leverage.”
“What’s going on?” Bolene asked. “Are you two having an affair?”
Lukine laughed. “Of course not. Joonie is practically my mother.”
“I don’t understand.” Bolene was shaking and could not keep the tremor out of her voice.
“No, my dear, you don’t. But you will. Take a seat. Trust me, you are going to want to be sitting down for this.”
Bolene was unable to prevent Lukine forcing her into a chair. He took the one opposite, purposely positioning himself between her and the door.
“Where to begin?” he said. He sounded like he was enjoying himself. “Firstly, my parentage. Fox’s father may not have sired him, but he did me. He had an affair a few years before Fox’s mother did and I was the result. He would visit me in secret and was a big part of my life growing up, until his death. That’s how I got to know Joonie.”
“Did you know Fox wasn’t your brother?”
“Of course I did, but Joonie didn’t, not until I recently told her. I knew Fox had no magic in him. My father knew as soon as he was born that he wasn’t his son. Why do you think he treated him so badly?”
Bolene couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Why didn’t you tell him?”
“And miss seeing what finding out that Nat was a witch did to him? I don’t think so. I sensed her magic the first time I met her. I had no idea who her mother was, but I knew she was a witch. I cannot describe the joy I felt when I found out they were in love, knowing how much they were going to hurt each other.”
Bolene was horrified. “Why do you hate him so much?”
Lukine slammed his fist down on the table, making Bolene jump. “Because it is his fault I had to marry you, his fault I had to move to Earth. Damn the Creator, how I hate that place. Joonie wanted me to keep a watch over Fox, just in case we ever needed him, and marrying you was the perfect way to do it.”
A tear rolled down Bolene’s face. “I thought you loved me.”
“Loved you? How could anyone love someone as ugly as you?”
“That’s a little harsh,” Joonie said. Bolene had been so focused on Lukine that she had forgotten Joonie was in the room.
“You’re not the one who had to live with her and her stupid family. They all make me sick. If it wasn’t for the sex, I don’t think I would have survived it.”
Bolene was confused. She and Lukine didn’t make love very often and on the rare occasions they did, it was far from satisfying.
Lukine saw her confused look and grinned. “Oh I’m not talking about the sex you remember, I’m talking about what you don’t. Nearly every night I have been doing whatever I want to you then taking away your memory. I put a spell on you so you couldn’t scream. We wouldn’t want to be interrupted by one of your brothers, would we. I’ve lost count of the number of times I had to pour the healing potion down your throat so there would be no evidence in the morning. Some of the things I made you do will make you feel sick if I told you about them. Did you never wonder why talking about sex makes you feel so uncomfortable?”
Bolene shivered and put her arms around herself. She wished Lukine would stop talking, but he hadn’t finished.
“You know those healing stones you have for when your muscles ache? The ones I put a warming spell on for you? I would often heat them so they would burn your skin on contact, then put them inside you. The look of pain on your face when I forcibly took you afterward was exquisite. It’s a shame you didn’t bring them with you. Tonight I’m not going to have to stop you screaming. There’s nobody here to come to your rescue. I am so looking forward to it.”
“Enough,” Joonie said. She knew what Lukine had been doing to Bolene, but didn’t want to hear the details. “Please explain how Bolene is leverage.”
“We contact Trey, letting him know exactly what we will do to her if Nat doesn’t show up when and where we want her to. If he isn’t with Nat, he will know how to get in touch with her. She and Bo became good friends. She won’t let us kill her.”
Joonie smiled. “Good plan. But didn’t you say Trey had switched off his communicator.”
“He’ll switch it back on and call his darling sister. He’s mad at her right now, but won’t be for long. I know him well enough to know he’ll be in contact once he calms down. As a backup plan we can always send Nat a fire letter. We have no idea where she is, but she’s bound to go to her house sooner or later, so send it there.”
Joonie reached over and placed her hand on Lukine’s cheek. “In some ways, you are so much like your father.”
Lukine took her hand and kissed the back of it. “We will get him back. Nat will agree to help out. Having two witches with the same blood casting the spell, along with me, will make it powerful enough to work.”
“I know.” She took her hand away. “I’m going to bed.”
“So am I,” Lukine said. “You might want to put a sound block on your room. Bolene and I are going to have a little fun.”
Threats
Bolene curled up into a ball and sobbed. She no longer hurt, thanks to the healing portion she had begged Lukine to let her take, but she would never forget the agony she had been forced to endure. Her screams had made her throat raw.
She compared the man she married to the one she had just spent the night with and failed to reconcile them. Her Lukine was a gentle person. From the moment they met he had been kind and considerate. The man he had become was sadistic; he was a monster.
She couldn’t believe that it had all been an act, that he had only married her so he could be close to Fox. She wouldn’t let herself believe it, des
pite his words and his actions.
She didn’t want to think about the things he had made her do, but she was unable to prevent herself remembering. Her stomach churned and she ran to the bathroom, only just making it in time to vomit into the sink.
When there was nothing left in her to bring up, she slid to the floor. She rubbed her wrists. There were no longer any marks from where he had tied her to the bed, but the emotional scars would never heal.
She wanted to return to bed, to hide under the covers, but she didn’t have the strength to move. She was still lying on the floor when Lukine went looking for her a while later. He forced her to get dressed and join him and Joonie in the sitting room.
“Bless the Creator,” Joonie said as soon as she saw her. “What did you do to her?”
“Anything I wanted to,” Lukine said. Joonie looked disgusted by the comment.
“Get the poor woman something to drink.”
“Certainly. What would you like?”
“Coffee,” Bolene said. She needed the caffeine.
Lukine grunted. “You must be joking. I won’t allow that disgusting Earth drink in my house. I will get you a proper demon drink.”
“I truly am sorry,” Joonie said as soon as Lukine left the room. “I don’t know where his mean streak comes from. Definitely not from his father. If he were alive today, he would not tolerate it.”
“If you really gave a damn, you would let me go, but you won’t, will you?”
“No. I need you. With you as my hostage, my daughter will hand herself over to me.”
Lukine returned and handed a cup to Bolene. She didn’t thank him. She wanted to throw it in his face, but was scared of the repercussions.
“You should send the letter,” he said to Joonie, who nodded. She placed the necessary spell on the paper, then wrote her instructions. When she burned it, it would appear in Natasha’s house. Now all they had to do was wait.
“What makes you so sure she will come for me?” Bolene asked Lukine. “The last time we saw her she said she never wanted to see any of us again, or have you forgotten?”
“She’ll come. She likes you. A lot.”
“That was before I betrayed her, before we all betrayed her. She believes I prevented her from saving Lucy, that I was willing to let Lucy die.”
“And she’s right.” Lukine’s words stung, not least because they were true.
“She won’t come,” Bolene said quietly.
“I want you to write a second letter,” Lukine said to Joonie. “To Fox. He will definitely turn up. He is devoted to Bolene. He loves her like a sister.”
“Why do you want him there?” Joonie was not opposed to it, she was just curious as to the reason.
“Firstly, I want him in chains, kneeling at my father’s feet when we bring him back to life. Secondly, knowing that you have Bo and are doing who knows what to her is going to be torture for him. I want his next few days to be a living hell.”
“Don’t you think he is already suffering enough?” Bolene cried out.
“No, I don’t.” He turned to Joonie. “Will you do it?”
“I’ll think about it.”
————————————-∞————————————-
“So what did you do on Yong, seeing as you weren’t looking for my mother’s spell book?” Natasha asked as they ate breakfast.
“Other than Soolin, you mean,” Komi said. Fox glared at him. “Sorry. That was uncalled for.”
“No, it’s okay,” Natasha said. “It doesn’t bother me. We were not together then. I’m glad Fox found someone to help him get over me.”
“I wasn’t trying to get over you. I was just using her. I pretended it was you I had in my bed.”
Natasha was horrified. “That’s awful. Nobody deserves to be treated like that.”
“She did cheat on him,” Komi reminded her.
“That’s not the point. I didn’t think you were like that Fox. How could you be so cruel?”
Fox shrugged. “I was lying to you and hated myself for it. Maybe I just wanted to have another reason to despise myself.”
“Change of subject,” Lucy said. “I need to go home and get some things. Any chance you can create a ‘door’ for me Nat?”
“Sure. I’ll come with you. I should get some clothes if I’m going to be staying here for a while.”
“Or forever,” Fox said.
Natasha took his hand. “Or forever,” she agreed.
In the end, everyone went. In case the hotel was being watched, Komi and Fox drove to Natasha’s house. Fox phoned Natasha’s mobile as soon as they were inside and she created a ‘door’.
Lucy and Natasha went to their individual bedrooms to pack suitcases, accompanied by Trey and Fox. Komi wandered into the kitchen and noticed a note on the counter with Natasha’s name on it. He tried to open it, but couldn’t.
“Nat,” he called out. “What’s this?”
“What’s what?” she asked as she entered the kitchen. He handed her the letter.
“It’s a fire letter,” she said. “A witch or wizard used a spell to send this to me.” She tore it open and gasped. “Trey,” she shouted. “Get out here now.”
“What’s up,” he asked and Natasha gave the piece of paper to him. As soon as he read it, he took his communicator out of his pocket, but Natasha stopped him switching it on.
“Wait. We need to discuss this.”
“What’s going on?” Fox asked.
“Joonie claims to be holding Bo hostage and says that Trey has to contact her if he wishes to keep his sister alive.”
“How do we know she isn’t lying?” Lucy asked.
“There’s only one way to find out,” Fox said. “Trey, contact Bo. Do not mention that me or Komi are with you. Try to stay calm. Nat, she will know you are with Trey. Don’t give in to her demands or make any promises.”
Natasha nodded and Trey placed his communicator on the counter so everyone would be able to hear, then he switched it on.
Deep down, nobody had been expecting Bolene to answer when Trey said her name, but they all hoped that she would. “Trey, how nice of you to call me,” Joonie’s voice rang out.
“Where is my sister?” Trey snarled.
“She’s safe. She’s with me. Is my daughter with you?” Joonie was speaking in the demon language, which Natasha could understand, but not Lucy.
“I’m here,” Natasha said. “And please have the decency to speak my language. Lucy is with me and she has the right to hear what is being said. Though I don’t believe we have anything to talk about.”
“On the contrary, we have much to discuss. Bolene’s life, for starters.”
“Why should I care about that? She means nothing to me. Do what you want to her.”
“Nat!” Trey exclaimed. “This is Bo you are talking about.”
Fox grabbed Trey’s arm to get his attention. ‘Calm down,’ he silently mouthed to him.
Joonie laughed. “Oh daughter of mine, you are a good actress.”
“I’m not your daughter and I’m not acting.”
“Don’t listen to her,” Trey cried out.
Fox pulled him far enough away so he could talk to him without his words being picked up by the communicator. “Shut up,” he hissed. “Don’t say another word. Let us handle this. I promise you, we won’t let anything happen to Bo.”
“It sounds like puppy is upset,” Joonie said. “We both know you want to help Bolene, so stop the play-acting.”
“Why should I help someone who has been working with you all along?” Natasha asked. “It was Bo who let you know of my existence and gave you my address so you could poison Lucy, wasn’t it?”
“Actually, no, it wasn’t,” Lukine’s voice sounded from the machine. “That was me. I’ve been playing you all since the moment I met you. I inserted myself into your lives so I could keep Joonie informed as to what Fox was up to.”
“You bastard,” Trey shouted. “I’m going to ki
ll you for this.”
“No, you’re not. You’re going to be a good little puppy and do everything I say. I’m not sure if Nat is lying or not. Either way, it’s your job to persuade her to be where we want her to be, when we want her to be there. You don’t want to know what the consequences will be if you fail.”
“When and where?” Trey asked.
Joonie provided the location. Natasha had to be there before midnight on the evening before Alignment day, as the spell she was needed for had to be performed as early on Alignment day as possible.
“She’ll be there, even if I have to drag her there myself.”
“No, I won’t,” Natasha said. “And there is no way on Earth you can make me go. I would have to willingly create a ‘door’ and there is nothing you can do or say to persuade me to do so.”
“We’ll see,” Trey said. There was real hate in his eyes when he glared at Natasha.
Fox whispered something in her ear and she nodded her head. “How do we know that Bo is alive and unharmed?”
“I can assure you she is alive,” Lukine said. “As to unharmed, well that’s a matter of opinion.”
“Let me talk to her,” Trey said.
There was silence for a moment, then Bolene’s voice came through. “Oh Trey. Is that really you?”
“It is.”
“I never thought I would hear your voice again. Whatever they are asking for, don’t do it. Do not give them what they want.”
“Are you alright?” Lucy could not stop herself asking. “What have they done to you?”
Bolene’s voice was quivering when she replied. “You don’t want to know.” She paused for a moment, then said, “Lucy, look after Trey for me.”
“That’s enough,” Lukine’s voice sounded in the background then Joonie was on the line once more.
“As you can hear, she is alive. I will do nothing to hurt her until the appointed time. Lukine is a different matter. He’s her husband, so I have no say in what he does to her. I will assure you, however, that she will be at the meeting place at the arranged time and she will be alive and uninjured.”
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