by D. N. Leo
"Capability,” Madeline said.
Ciaran shook his head. "Two and two. This doesn't help at all. Your grandfather said your sixth sense is your talent. What is it saying at the moment, Madeline?"
"I told you—it’s capability."
Ciaran nodded. "Okay. I’m pulling my leader’s weight. We’re going for capability. Based on that, I’m voting for George. That leaves us three scenarios left to work with—one, two, and three."
Ciaran hoped his decision was right, and he wasn’t biased toward George because he was one of the LeBlancs. He had a lot of confidence in George. Although they didn’t always agree on different issues, having a brain like George's in any committee was always a treasure. They had done enough business together for Ciaran to know this.
"Between Chloe and Daniel, I'd go for Daniel. Is that a fair choice, Zach?"
Zach nodded.
"Then number one is out of the picture,” Tadgh said. "We don't know Daniel. But given Jo's situation at the moment, I'd go with him."
"Same with me,” Madeline said.
"Dan is a good selection. You'll know it when you meet him,” Zach said. "Jo is brilliant. But the Zodiac—I mean, Kyle—is evil. We don't know if we’ll ever see the same Jo again."
Ciaran nodded. "We agree on number three then? George and Daniel?"
Everyone nodded. Ciaran entered three into the computer.
One minute passed.
Two minutes passed.
The monitor flashed a red light.
They couldn’t believe their eyes. The red light blinked, mocking them.
Ciaran shook his head. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Tadgh touched his shoulder. "Don't worry, Ciaran. We’re in this together. It's not your fault. I’m sure we’ll grow to love life here in this ice haven."
Zach sat on the floor, leaning against the wall. "I hope they like my music here."
Madeline hugged Ciaran and gave him a kiss. "As long as we’re together, I don't care where we live."
The door slid open and the queen sauntered in. The same smile was still on her face. "Well, we have accommodations to suit your tastes and keep you comfortable."
She approached Ciaran. "It's an honor to have the LeBlancs in residence. You may call me your White Queen now."
She reached out her hand for Ciaran to kiss.
Ciaran bent down and held her hand to kiss. Then he suddenly pulled her toward him, grabbed a dagger with his other hand, and pressed the blade against her neck.
"I've never before used a woman as a shield, but we can't stay here. The computer did not say we failed. We must have another chance. What was the right answer?" Ciaran asked.
"If I was scared of your weapons, do you think I'd let you carry them around in my castle?" the queen asked.
"I don't care. We have to pass. We get out of here, and you live. Otherwise, I'll slit your throat. I will get my people out of here at the very least."
Ciaran pressed the dagger harder against the queen's throat. A stream of blood ran down her neck and onto her white dress.
"I’ll ask you one last time, what is the right answer?"
"Three."
"That's what we entered, bitch! Why did we get the red light?" Tadgh said.
The queen looked puzzled. She stuttered.
"She didn't even check our results!” Zach gasped.
"She wanted us to stay here. She faked the computer's response,” Madeline said.
"I'm going to have a word with your Host,” Ciaran told her.
The queen exhaled and whirled around at an incredible speed. The motion spun Ciaran out and into a wall.
“You won’t make it out of here. You are mine,” she said threateningly.
The queen stopped spinning and charged at Ciaran. He stood up quickly and swung his two daggers. There was a scream, and the queen vanished into a wall.
Footsteps shook the castle. Bloodcurdling screams were everywhere. Hellhounds howled and white ravens squawked. White bats flooded in from the outside.
The ice castle began to collapse. The white walls, pillars, and ceiling gave way. The floor beneath them shifted and broke apart into chunks of ice. They were standing on a huge raft of ice on a dark river.
Ciaran had seen this before in his subconscious. The dark water was underneath. Once they got below the surface, he would not be able to break the ice himself to come back up.
The floor tilted toward the water. It was so slippery.
"Don’t fall into the water!” Ciaran called out to Tadgh and Zach, who were hanging onto the edge of the ice at the other end of the room.
The walls of the room caved in. They heard the roar of water from a waterfall. But there was no waterfall in the castle. It was the water from the melting snow splashing between the walls and the corridors.
They were on the verge of moving from stage two to stage three, Ciaran thought. He screamed over the top of the noise. "We are moving into stage three—the Red stage. This is a spiritual stage. We are looking for the sign of a phoenix to pass to stage three. Stay true to yourself . . .”
A gigantic wave of ice water poured into the room and wiped away everything and everyone.
Ciaran held tight to Madeline’s hands for as long as he could, but under the icy water, everything went numb. He didn’t know when she slipped out of his hands. He didn’t know how many times he hit the ice rocks.
It was dark. Ciaran couldn’t see Madeline, Tadgh, or Zach anymore.
Chapter 25
Madeline woke in a cold stone room. She sat up and tried to gather her bearings. It was a round room that looked like a tower. Medieval-style torches hung on the walls, shedding enough light for her to see the door and figure out that she was locked inside.
A tiny and useless window was located near the ceiling. She couldn’t even tell whether it was day or night by looking at it. She couldn't be in another castle, could she? If she ever got back to New York, she swore she would never visit another castle again.
Madeline couldn’t remember much except for the cold water and rocks of ice that kept hitting her. She remembered the dark water and Ciaran's hand slipping away from hers.
Where was everyone?
A white dove landed at the hole she called a window. It cooed.
Madeline smiled. "Got something for me?" She couldn’t believe her eyes when the bird flew in and landed on the floor next to her. There was a note attached to its leg.
"You've got to be kidding me." She took the note.
"Coming in to get you. Hang in there. Tadgh & Zach."
But where was Ciaran? What did it mean? She would hang on. There wasn’t much else she could do. She tried to recall what Ciaran had said about this stage and plan for what might lie ahead.
This was a stage made more for Ciaran than anyone else. It was a stage for the king to prove he was purified and consummated with his queen. It was a stage of rebirth. Also, it was a very sexual stage, whatever that meant.
Was she his queen?
What if he consummated with the wrong queen?
She wouldn’t mind if he had to have sex with someone as a requirement for this stage. But consummation was far more than having sex as far as she was concerned. It was a sexual act between soul mates. It required love.
Damn! She sounded more and more like Ciaran by the second.
She didn’t want to think anymore.
Madeline bit her finger for some blood and wrote on the note. "Will make it out. Wait." She tied the note to the dove's foot. “How cinematic,” she grumbled to herself. “The next thing I’ll see is a dark prince in this black castle.”
As soon as the bird left the room, she heard footsteps. The heavy door slid open, revealing a magnificent dark prince. She glanced around to see if there was a computer in this room, reading her thoughts and conveying them to the hologame designer.
This wasn’t a hologame. But it wasn’t real, either.
Madeline swore to God that this prince existed only in fairy tales.
He had an aura that could stir every woman on Earth’s loins. Madeline shook her head to clear it.
First, she was not on Earth. She was sure of it. Second, if she was a little stirred up because of the personification of sexual magnetism standing in front of her, she was sure every other woman would be, too. She was no exception, and it was not an act of infidelity. Third, infidelity only applied to married couples or people who had made vows. Ciaran and she had yet to make any promises to each other. And fourth—
"You look pleased. I wager you like the idea," the prince said.
"Huh?"
"I asked if you’d care to join me for dinner."
"Okay." Madeline glanced at the window. No bird. No message.
"Where am I?"
"The Red Castle."
"Are you the king?"
He laughed. "No, I'm the prince of this castle. We do not have a king."
The prince placed his arm supportively around her waist and led her to a long corridor lined with guards.
She was sure there were real people hidden beneath the lifeless steel armor. This felt a little like Lumley Castle. The difference was that instead of having Ciaran, she had a dark prince. It may have suited her teenage fantasies, but it did not suit her now. She knew what she had to do.
They entered a large medieval hall. A long dining table was covered with a feast large enough to feed all of the inhabitants of New York. She sat opposite the prince. He raised a pewter goblet to her. Madeline guessed that it held wine. She did the same.
"How did I get here?" Madeline asked.
"God brought you to me."
In her mind, Madeline rolled her eyes. "I understand. But how exactly did you find me?"
"You were washed onto the shore from the White Castle. That was a nasty one, wasn't it?"
"Were there other people with me?"
"We found you and Ciaran. My sister is taking care of him. He is doing fine."
The statement assaulted her brain like a cannonball. His sister was taking care of Ciaran? In front of her was a prince, and that made his sister a princess. And she was now caring for the King-to-be of Eudaiz. What would a princess do to become a queen? Madeline heard herself snarling inside. Sexual stage, my ass!
She pasted a gracious smile on her face and looked at the prince.
“You knew we were coming?" That was such a rhetorical question, Madeline thought.
"Yes. We received information about your arrival. You, Ciaran, and the two monkeys in the bush."
"Two monkeys?"
"Tadgh and Zach, right? They ran into the bush as soon as they landed.
Madeline nodded. "So we're friends. We're your guests, right?”
"Of course. We receive travelers now and then who pass through the Daimon Gate. You want me to send for your other two friends?"
Madeline nodded. The prince sipped his wine and signaled his guards to retrieve Zach and Tadgh.
This is too easy. What are you up to? Madeline narrowed her eyes.
The prince gestured at the food. Madeline stabbed her fork into something that looked like either a very large grape or a relatively small tomato. The prince cut into a piece of grilled game bird. Madeline prayed it wasn’t her messenger dove.
"Based on the information I received, Tadgh, Zach, and yourself have passed the Daimon Gate at an individual levels. The only person who has yet to go through the final transmutation process is Ciaran."
"You're saying that I am free to leave the Daimon Gate right now?
"Yes."
"What's the catch?"
"What do you mean?"
"It can't be that easy. What do you want from me?"
The prince smiled. "I wish my sister had a fraction of your knowledge."
"I wouldn't call it knowledge. It’s life experience."
The prince nodded. "We haven't had many passengers from Eudaiz. It has been a while actually. We have many from other universes. My sister is fond of Ciaran. And I am fond of you."
Madeline raised an eyebrow. She did not like what she was thinking. This stage had obviously high sexual connotations.
The prince put his wine down. He moved toward Madeline's side of the table. He sat down next to her, using his finger to trace her jawline.
"This kind of beauty has never passed through my castle before. Are you married?"
Shit! She had been too busy to thinking about Ciaran and had totally forgotten that the sexual connotation thing applied to her as well. As long as she stayed here.
“No,” she responded.
He nodded and smiled. "I'm the prince of this castle. I can give my wife a very good life. This may not compare with Eudaiz. But we have peace, and we can live a lavish life. I am not sure what more a woman could wish for."
If she could have banged her head on the table, she would have. If she said no, he wouldn’t give her more information about Ciaran. If she said yes, hell, she didn’t know what would happen after that.
She grabbed the steak knife and cut into something on her plate that looked like meat. She just wanted a weapon in her hands.
Chapter 26
It was a hell that was labeled as heaven. Ciaran found it amusing. It was so trashy that he wouldn’t even put it in a game of the lowest caliber. He was walking through rows and rows of the most exotic and sexual displays possible. Everything imaginable was being offered to him.
All he needed to do was to take.
He strode along the corridor. The women surrounded him, enticing him. He pushed through to the door ahead. He’d nearly reached it when he felt a strong pull. He turned around.
The woman was Laurent, and she had tears in her eyes. She was the dearest friend of Juliette, the wife of his best friend. Her death was one of the deepest regrets in his life.
“Take me out of here. They locked me in here to entertain the guests. It’s worse than hell. Please, Ciaran, take me with you. For old time’s sake,” she whispered.
Ciaran paused.
She reached her hand out.
He wanted save her. He felt obliged to take her with him. He owed her entire family his life. He couldn’t leave her here in this brothel.
If there was one.
His mind clicked instantly. He was at the Red stage of the Daimon Gate test. He had to remember that. He scolded himself and turned away from the image of the woman.
He kept walking.
A bloodcurdling scream echoed behind him. He knew the creatures were torturing Laurent’s image. He couldn’t look back, or he would return to save her.
He kept walking.
More screams. More cries of his name. More begging.
Sounds of weapons slashing at bodies, claws tearing into flesh, and body parts being torn off.
Moaning, crying, cursing, and death wishes.
He’d prefer physical pain to this. But he put his head down, concentrated, and kept walking.
He reached his hand out to push the door open.
Madeline focused on her meal and ignored the prince’s rants about the lavish life he could give her should she agree to be his wife. “I’m sure it's wonderful to live here." She grinned.
"Would you like to?"
"I'm designated to be a Sciphil. I made my promise."
The prince shook his head. "It's a pity. You'd make a good wife. You're not betrothed to Ciaran, are you?"
"Oh, no. There’s no such thing in my world. Just out of curiosity, what does Ciaran have to do to pass this stage?" Madeline asked and mustered the most gracious smile she could.
"This is a spiritual stage. He must remain true to himself and be reborn by consummating with his queen."
Madeline knew this. It should be easy enough for her and Ciaran. Why should it be such a big deal? Why did the prince seem worried and doubtful?
"You think Ciaran won't pass? I saw concern in your eyes."
He smiled. "Thank you. It's very kind of you to notice. I’m worried about my sister. She wants to be a White Queen. She should have been one a lon
g time ago. Given you have just killed a White Queen, this is a perfect opportunity for my sister. But I'm afraid she wants it too much. She might rush it. And Ciaran is too damaged to be good for her."
"What do you mean by that?"
"The man is spiritually damaged. I don't think he will pass this stage. He doesn't seem to have a spiritual belief. If she consummates with him, he might be the wrong king."
Madeline shifted in her chair. How about her being the wrong queen? "You said consummate. Exactly when did they get married?"
"That's what I'm worried about. She couldn't get him to say the words. You are his Sciphil, his counsellor. You must know him. Do you know a way?"
Madeline swallowed a laugh.
"A way to do what?”
"Help my sister."
"Help her make him say the words? You mean to marry her?"
"It's just a ritual. He asks her to be his queen. They consummate. That's all she needs. She could do it with any other leaders from any other universe. It doesn't have to be Eudaiz, and it doesn't have to be Ciaran. She’s just stuck on him for some reason."
The prince looked genuinely concerned. Madeline took pity on him. She understood why his sister would not let go of Ciaran. That was the very reason he was hers. And she was going to make very sure it stayed that way. Her way.
"How was your sister trying to make Ciaran say the words, exactly? Knowing him, I couldn't think of anything that would scare him off easily."
"She didn't scare him. He was washed up on the shore with you. He had some injuries. She gave him something to soothe the physical pain—”
"She drugged Ciaran?” Madeline couldn’t help but laugh.
"It wasn’t a drug. It was an Inducer of the subconscious state of mind, where the spirit can be purified and transformed. She didn't know he would go down that deep, not wanting to resurface."
"You mean, he's in a coma?"
"Medically, it might look that way. But it is a spiritual transmutation process. It's not a coma. People choose the subconscious levels they want to go to and the level they want to come back to. Or to not come back to."
"So he didn't want to come back to your sister. Is that what you’re saying?"