Unleashed Fury (BloodRunes: Book 1)

by Laura R Cole

  *

  Jezebel called Devon into the library after catching Gryffon consorting with that little snippet of a girl. She raged to him for the better part of the afternoon.

  “How dare he?” she sputtered. “How dare he talk to that whore right underneath my nose! After everything I have done for him!” She paced the room, her skirts swinging wildly about as she turned. “And the damned ball. He didn't even dance with me. In front of all those people. And then there was him.” Jezebel felt the heat within her rising at the thought of her confrontation with Jonathan. Who does he think he is being so rough with me and acting as though he's more important than me? Me! I can hardly believe it! How can that fat little slug of a man dare to presume such a ridiculous thing? I deserve to be at the palace and have little puppets like him at my beck and call, not have them running around acting like they're worth something. This thought train reminded her of Lord Carlon and his support, distracting her from her rage. She paused in her pacing. Although she had been embarrassed by failing to realize that the support was a result of the Order's influence, it didn't change the fact that she had the support for a Council seat! She felt her anger dissipating slightly and she dismissed Devon.

  He left without a word. She poured herself a glass of wine and saluted herself with it in the mirror to celebrate her imminent Council seat. Who cares about Gryffon anyway? Soon I will be on the Council and moved into the palace. There, I'll have my pick of the highest nobles, rich and powerful men throwing themselves at my feet. Not good for nothing, wandering…she felt herself spiraling back into her rampage once more and instead focused on Lord Carlon. Although his support alone did not guarantee her a seat, it certainly would give her an excellent chance. If I can just get Father to see the light. And it just might be possible with Lord Carlon backing me. Her father would have to see that she had a chance to get the vote with Carlon behind her. Once he realized this, he wouldn't risk her gaining the seat without his support. Backing her also implied he was giving her permission. And he wouldn't want his little baby girl to gain anything unless he says it's okay. She sneered mockingly. Once I have that power...I'll make him beg for things.

  The little wench had the misfortune of entering the room just then, obviously under the impression that it was empty. Jezebel jumped at the chance to disabuse her of this notion. “Well, well, well,” she sneered. “If it isn't the little Golden Girl, hard at work.”

  “My lady,” she squeaked out in a surprised voice and then stammered, “I was just returning this book I borrowed.” She held the book out to Jezebel instead of placing it on the table where she had been about to put it.

  Jezebel took the book and, never taking her eyes off the girl, proceeded to rip page after page out of it. The girl stood there dumbfounded, watching her stupidly as she tore the book apart. “You call this taking care of a book?” Jezebel demanded when there wasn't a page left intact. “How dare you mistreat my property like this after I was so nice to let you read it? You probably can't even read. You probably just look at the pictures. No doubt you have absolutely no concept that this book,” she shook the offending item, “was worth ten thousand coppers. Do you have ten thousand coppers to repay me with?” The girl stared at her with eyes so wide Jezebel thought that they might pop out of her head, but other than opening and closing her mouth a few times like a fish, she seemed unable to respond. Jezebel shook her head at her in disgust, and snorted. “Typical. You lowborn sluts are all the same. Devon!” She screamed this last word shrilly and waited, watching the growing fear of the girl.

  “Yes, my lady?” he queried after looking the situation over with interest upon his arrival.

  “Ah Devon,” Jezebel purred. “I need you to lock up this miscreant before taking her to the Hall of Justice to be judged. Just look what she did to my book that I so nicely let her borrow. Can you believe that one of my own servants would do that to me after all I do for them?” She held out the book for him to see.

  He took it carefully, eyeing the torn pages strewn about on the ground. “But I didn't do it!” the girl burst out in an appeal to Devon, looking completely bewildered. He simply shook his head at her.

  “No one is going to listen to you,” Jezebel told her in a quiet voice, “and now you'll find out what they do to whores like you. Get her out of my sight, Devon.”

  Devon took the girl by the arm, ignoring her protests, and led her out of the room. Jezebel smiled to herself, listening to the pleading of the girl as Devon led her away. She took another sip of wine, and the tingling sensation as it slid down her throat added to her general feeling of satisfaction.