GRIPPED (Romance Mystery & Suspense Box Set)

by Abbott, Alex

  “I think we are speaking in circles,” Lena said. “Where are we? I think it would help if we knew where we were.”

  “You’re in Castle Blackfire,” Troy said. “The place you say you are from and the Clan you say you are a part of do not exist. I think you must be shocked. I’ll show you a place to sleep tonight and we can talk after you sleep.”

  Lena shook her head. “I can’t sleep until my people are safe.”

  “You’ll be no good to your people if you are exhausted,” Troy said gently. “Let me show you a bed.”

  “He’s right,” Ellia said. “Everyone I saw was following Sophia. If they want to follow their true leader, they’ll find the castle too.”

  “Alright,” Lena said. “But we have to go looking for them in the morning. I’d like people to know I’m still alive and fighting for them.”

  Troy led the girls to a small room near Remus’s tower. His sister Callie’s friends used it when they visited the castle. There were four small beds. “I trust this is to your liking?”

  “We’ll take it. Thank you.” Lena yawned again.

  “Have a nice sleep. Someone will be round in the morning with new clothes.”

  “Thank you again.” Ellia closed the door behind Troy. He went straight to his room and fell on the bed. He had only been sleeping for a short time before Tavis came in and threw on the lights.

  “Troy! Brother you are not going to believe this.”

  He didn’t even bother rolling over. “Not now Tavis. I am tired.”

  “Get up. You’ll want to hear this now before I go out again.”

  Troy rolled over and looked at the face was just like his own. Tavis’s brown hair was sticking every which way and he was stark naked. “You’re going back out?”

  “The wraith slipped through our grasp. There were more of them and the male that grabbed her was dangerous. We need more men to rid the woods of them.”

  Troy sat up. “I’ll go back out with you.”

  “Not at all. There are more of them out there. More who look like the maidens.”

  “Really? The ‘princess’ said there were more of her people out there.”

  “Didn’t she say the wraith was her sister too?”

  “She did.” Troy rubbed his face. “What do you make of that?”

  “Must be a crazy or there could be a wraith we’ve never seen before.”

  “We’ve seen everything on Manna.”

  “New things happen. Remember the beast-woman?”

  “Funny you should mention that. The maidens said they were from England too.”

  “What?!” Tavis ran his hands through his hair and walked to the window. “Are they beast-women too?”

  “Most certainly not.” Troy raised his eyebrows. “They thought we were…warlocks. I think that was the word.”

  “What’s a warlock?” Tavis said the word like it was a curse.

  “I have no idea. I think it’s like a witch. They thought I conjured you too.”

  “Crazies.” Tavis sighed. “I was hoping they were lost Eternal Sun girls. That brown-haired one would be perfect for you.”

  Troy made a face. “I don’t think a crazy is what I need.”

  “Why not. She’s very pretty.”

  “I don’t need my funny brother giving me dating advice.”

  Tavis grinned. “You’re just jealous I have an endless supply of beautiful men to keep me busy.”

  Troy stretched loudly. “I’m not jealous brother but it would be nice if there were more eligible women in Blackfire.”

  “Maybe the maidens aren’t crazy,” Tavis offered. “Maybe the wraith gave them some kind of sickness.”

  “That wouldn’t explain the exact things they were carrying on about.”

  “Maybe there’s some magical place in the clouds we’ve never heard of before. You never know brother.”

  Troy chuckled. “Yes, sky people. That must be it Tavis.”

  He shrugged. “I look forward to talking to them in the morning. I’m heading out now. You need to stay here. We can’t have our guest waking up to strangers.”

  Troy smiled. “You’re right that would be so rude of me.”

  Tavis patted his brother on the shoulder. “Enjoy your sleep. You deserve it.”

  Tavis turned off the lights and left Troy alone. Troy rolled over onto this back but couldn’t sleep right away. The brown-haired girl would have been a nice prospect if she hadn’t been crazy. He was running out of options. Even a Eternal Sun peasant would be better than the alternative he was looking at. Sky people. Maybe they lived in the woods or under the water. Troy hoped it was a wraith sickness or something Remus could undo.

  Four

  Lena slept fitfully. Were the Council really done with them? That punishment seemed small compared to the crime. She was missing something. Why would the Council send them to this Manna place? She sat up in her bed with a start.

  “Ellia wakeup!” She got out of her bed and shook her friend. “Wakeup!”

  “Just another minute. I’m so sore Lenny.” Ellia brushed off her hand.

  Lena flipped the mattress and sent Ellia crashing to the floor. “Get up! Something is wrong!”

  The anger on Ellia’s face melted into worry. “I can’t do magic still! What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing like that.” Lena went to the window where she could still see the purple moon was still in the sky. “What was our punishment?”

  “Huh?” Ellia said stupidly. She rubbed her back and arms. “I’m so sore. This is awful.”

  “The Council was going to punish Sophia and her people. How did they do it?”

  “Using magic.”

  “No. Ellia think. If your mother wanted to punish you, she had the nanny spank you. How did the Council spank us so to speak?”

  Ellia screwed up her mouth. “They took away our magic.”

  Lena shook her head. “No, Sophia can still use her magic. She almost killed us with it. We’re both still glamoured so we have to have some magic.”

  “You’re right.” Ellia touched her face. “What was the punishment then?”

  “I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking you.”

  “Alright, we’ll talk it out together. Two heads are better than one and all.”

  Lena nodded. She sat on her bed. “We aren’t in England anymore. The people are speaking a strange language.”

  “Unless there’s some small island I’ve never heard of I agree. I don’t think we’re in the new world either. There are no castles.”

  “I don’t think the Dark Continent. The people are the wrong color.”

  “The language is wrong too. All the languages there are easy to understand for me. I have no idea what this is.”

  “You haven’t heard it in the rest of Europe either?”

  Ellia shook her head slowly. “I’ve never heard anything like it. I’m surprised we even understand them really.”

  “Maybe they’re some kind of lost tribe of supernaturals? They say they aren’t warlocks but they have to be some kind of magical super.”

  “I haven’t heard of anyone conjuring a dragon before.” Ellia lay on her stomach facing Lena. “Maybe they sent us back in time?”

  Lena’s brows rose. “You sound very calm about that possibility.”

  “We can get back. If Sophia has her magic and we’re with warlocks or fae now, we’ll be able to figure out a way back very soon.”

  “Would they do that? Make it so easy? Sophia and all the others will be very mad when they got back. She would burn the whole world down.”

  “The Council doesn’t always make good decisions. They did punish us all for Sophia’s mistake.”

  “Not all of us,” Lena said glumly. “Prescott is just fine and dandy I’m sure.”

  Ellia sat up on her elbows. “What?!”

  “Sophia says the he and the two others are traitors. They helped the Council do whatever this punishment is. They sold us all out.”

  “That rat!
That scoundrel! How could he do that to us?! He was supposed to be our king!”

  “I don’t think he’s interested in being King anymore.”

  “Wonderful.” Ellia turned onto her back. “Why do they claim they are not warlocks? Do you think they’re out killing our people?”

  “I don’t think so. Troy seems trustworthy. I don’t think he has any idea what we are.”

  “A warlock who’s never heard of a fae? Impossible. I think they’re hiding something. They are a clan after all. Humans haven’t done the clan thing in decades.”

  There was a knock at the door and a woman popped her head in. “You’re awake.”

  She came into the room holding an arm of dresses. Ellia took one and held it up. It was long and the material was light. It was nicer than Troy’s pants and shirt from last night. “It’s a little old fashioned but it’ll do in a pinch. Thank you.”

  “Will you be back to wake up for first meal?” Lena asked the woman.

  She looked confused. “I’m here to bring you to the dining hall? Did you not sleep last night?”

  “It’s still pitch black out there. We usually eat when the sun comes out for the day.”

  Lena was afraid the girl didn’t understand her. She should have listened to her mother and practiced her communication more. She relied on Ellia too much. Thank the stars she had her now.

  The woman looked out the window. “The sun won’t be out until tomorrow. Do you fast for all three days of night?”

  “Three days of night?” Ellia repeated.

  The woman nodded and back out of the room. “I’ll wait out here until you’re ready to go down.”

  “I think we’ve frightened the poor girl.” Lena looked at the door. “Three days of night?”

  “That only happens a few places in the world. We have to be very close to the edge of the world.”

  “Haven’t you been to many of those places?”

  Ellia nodded and bit her lip. “I have. None of them speak this language and none have a purple moon.”

  They put on the dresses and Lena opened the door. “We’re ready now.”

  “This way.” The woman led them down stairs and corridors. “I’m Alexia by the way.”

  “I’m Lena and this is Ellia.” Lena didn’t want to say more and frighten the poor maid. She would save her words for Troy and Remus.

  The dining hall wasn’t as grand as it sounded. Lena was expecting closer to the main Northland’s Fae manor. At the very least, she had expected something like the country manor dining room. They had all called it a hall and it was just that. Much more like something the Vikings would have eaten in. There were rows of tables and many people sitting at them. Troy was sitting at the head table with a man who looked exactly like him.

  “Twins!” Ellia said excited. “I can’t even tell them apart. How exciting!”

  There weren’t any twins in their tribe. Lena had ever only seen two sets of twins in real life. One pair was human and the other the children of a werewolf and a human. Now she could say she had seen a pair of warlock twins…if they were warlocks.

  “Thank you Alexia.” Lena sat down across from Troy and Ellia sat next to her. “So you are twins.”

  Troy nodded. “This is my brother Travis. You met him last night.”

  Tavis stood up and bowed deeply. “Wonderful to meet you ladies in the flesh.”

  “We didn’t meet him last night.” Ellia smiled at Tavis. “I would have remembered meeting such a handsome man.”

  “I wasn’t a man last night.” Tavis said. “You met my dragon.”

  “So you conjured the dragon!” Lena said. “How did you do it? I’ve always thought it was a rumor.”

  Tavis laughed. “I just shifted. It really wasn’t that spectacular.”

  “Shifted?” Lena asked. “You mean you’re a werecreature? How did you conjure the dragon then?”

  “I think he’s say he was the dragon.” Ellia put her hand on Lena’s leg under the table. “They’re were-dragons.”

  “Impossible!” Lena looked from one brother to the other. “You two are very funny. I understand you don’t want to share the spell with me. Where’s Remus?”

  “He’ll be here in moment. You can serve yourself if you’re hungry.”

  Lena looked at the food on the table but none appealed to her. She took a small amount of fruit and some orange juice. She took a sip and nearly spit it out. It tasted funny. She swallowed it down with a grimace and quickly smiled. She didn’t want to offend her guests.

  “Not a fan of sermu juice.” Tavis made a face. “I hate the stuff but Troy loves it.”

  “It’s an acquired taste.” Troy said. “I have news of your people.”

  Lena let the sermu juice pass. “What is it? Have you found more?”

  Tavis nodded. “I found about a handful of them last night when I went back out with my men. Remus is looking at them now and that’s why he’s delayed.”

  “How are they?” Ellia asked. “Are you sure they’re loyal to Lena?”

  Tavis tilted his head. “They seemed fine. Most of the ones we saw went with the hag. She was fine by the time we came across her not an hour later. I’ve never seen a wraith heal that fast from my fire.”

  “We aren’t wraiths. We’re fae.” Lena reminded him. “Sophia is a very powerful fae at that.”

  Tavis leaned forward. “Fae you say? What is that exactly?”

  Lena was at a loss for words. What was a fae? Was he serious? She looked at Ellia for assistance.

  “We’re a supernatural race. Much like yourself.” She smiled unsure. “You know, we can cast spells like a witch but our magic comes from the elements around us.”

  Troy crossed his arms. “Magic? Interesting.”

  “You do magic!” Lena said. “You conjured the dragon.”

  “I am the dragon.” Tavis said softly. “I believe you called me a were-creature. Like the beast woman who came from your realm a few years back.”

  Ellia squeezed Lena’s leg hard. Lena licked her lips. “I’ve never met a were-dragon before. I’ve never even heard of it before.”

  “I imagine not.” Remus sat down between Lena and Troy. “I’ve just looked at the rest of your people. Very interesting. So how did your sister put up that wall my dear?”

  Lena shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about?”

  Remus looked at Tavis. “Have you not told her yet?”

  “We wanted to see what they would say this morning,” Troy said. “It appears they really are clueless or they are excellent liars.”

  “What would we be lying about?” Ellia asked serenely.

  “If you mean to do us harm or not,” Tavis said. “You could have been sent by Queen Hera to punish my brother for defying her wishes.”

  “We have nothing to do with this Queen Hera,” Lena said earnestly. “We served under Queen Maria and now we have no Queen. I am the only royal my people have now and I was never crowned the new Queen.”

  “Oh we believe you.” Remus patted her hand. “I’ve spoken to all of your people separately and they all say the same thing. All the ones we have are loyal to you too Lena.”

  Ellia sighed. “Thank god. We don’t want one of Sophia’s people here.”

  “Sophia.” Troy repeated. “That’s your sister Lena correct? Is she a princess too?”

  Lena shook her head. “We’re only half-sisters. She’s not a royal.”

  Tavis took a drink of purple liquid. “Well that sister of yours has somehow walled us off from part of our land.”

  Her magic must have returned completely for her to be able to do something that major. Lena was jealous. She still couldn’t do anything. She was as useless as a human or a non-shifting were-creature. Hopefully, some of her people would have some magic. She didn’t want to be stuck depending on the kindness of these were-dragons or whatever they were. She didn’t trust them quite yet.

  “Sophia has walled herself away?” Ellia laughed. “Wonderfu
l! She can’t do any damage if she keeps to her side of the wall. Let her and the rest of them rot there. I hope they starve.”

  “Unlikely.” Troy’s voice was hard. “There are very fertile forest grounds on that part of the land. I don’t know how she did it but I want it reversed.”

  “Why don’t you go and ask her to take down her wall then?” Lena said flatly. “We can’t do anything about her. I’ve never been able to control my sister.”

  “Use whatever she did to pull up the wall to take it down,” Tavis said.

  “It’s not that simple,” Lena said. “I’d like to see my people now.”

  “Are you refusing to take down the wall?” Troy asked annoyed.

  “I can’t take down the wall.” Lena glared at him. “I have no magic.”

  “How can your sister have magic and you don’t?”

  “I have no idea. When we got here, my magic didn’t work.”

  “She’s telling the truth.” Ellia chimed in. “I can’t use any magic either.”

  “I think we should go talk to the rest of their people.” Remus stood up from the table.

  “I agree,” Lena said. “Lead the way please.”

  Five

  The women were acting strange. They hadn’t even had breakfast and were already up and going. Remus led them to where their people were housed. Tavis and Troy hung back while they reunited.

  “Sister will be back soon.” Tavis reminded Troy.

  “I know.” Troy sighed. “Any chance she would reconsider her stance on the Eternal Sun knight?”

  “Not a small one in hell.” Tavis confirmed. “Pity he isn’t into men. I would snap him up in a moment. Any chance you would reconsider your opinion on the queen Hera?”

  “Not a chance in hell.” Troy savaged. There were tears among the fourteen greeting the supposed princess and her maiden. He wasn’t sure what the relationship between the two girls were yet. They were obviously more than subject and royalty. Lena depended on Ellia to do most of the translation already. The two seemed more friends than anything else.

  “What say you of the fair princess now?” Tavis wondered.

  “I’m not sure still,” Troy admitted. “I would like to trust them. They all seem so helpless. It would be a pity to have to execute them now.”