by Marian Tee
Everyone in the dining hall groaned.
“That’s really foul play, Marcovici!”
“Yeah, dude, the rules are fucking clear. You gotta tell her what you are exactly before you make her your pet.”
“How about switching masters, girl? I’ll be good and honest!” The last offer came from a beautiful lesbian with a lilting voice.
The men booed at her. “Don’t cheat, Matilda. No using your siren song!”
Matilda laughed.
Seeing George was still gawking, Matilda winked. “Your first time to also see a siren?”
She nodded dumbly. “It’s my first time to see all of you.”
“I want to ask a question, little chick,” one of the wolves said.
George turned to him. “What is it?”
“Why don’t you seem afraid of us?” He looked at her intently. “You do not even seem disgusted. I have seen my share of human pets, and all of them were in it for the money. But mark my words. They thought we were disgusting and evil.” His voice dropped a notch. “You do not think we are monsters?”
She thought of Lady Beyotch, whose beautiful face hid the ruthlessness of a killer, the way she had so easily locked George and Desire in the attic.
Looking back at the wolf, George sniffed. “You are all a bunch of softies, if you ask me. Those fangs and horns and, umm, sharp fins don’t scare me. The human race has far worse monsters than you do.”
The crowd laughed at her.
“Puny humans,” another man hissed in disgust, and by his lisping voice she would make a safe guess that he shapeshifted into a snake.
“Yeah, so puny we created A-bombs that can destroy cities in the blink of an eye.”
“She has a point, lads,” a wizened man at the other end of the room cackled.
Ilie raised his hand, seeing that the questions would never end. “Enough, everyone. My pet has to eat as she still has another tiring night with me.”
“Showoff,” the vampire muttered.
Ilie looked at the crowd with a smug smile. “You all had your time with her. Now it’s my turn.”
Spoilsport. Selfish bastard. Damn marquis. Those were just few of the words thrown good-naturedly at him, making George smile as she sipped her soup. She had never been this popular with human folks before. But with this crowd, it almost felt like she belonged, making her wish she was non-human, too.
Maybe, maybe now that she was heartkeeper to a half-demon, she would finally belong.
“Are the others half-demons, too?” George blurted out, unable to stop herself from asking once again as her mind recalled Silviu’s two other companions.
Choosing his words with caution, he said, “The Galeré are all half-demons, yes.” He made no mention of Silviu being the Duke of Brimstone, knowing it was imperative that she remained unaware of exactly who Silviu was. There was always the danger of her being kidnapped before Silviu obtained her guardian’s blessing and in the event that she was forced to drink a truth serum, the girl would not be able to reveal just who she was heartkeeper for.
“So you will all need heartkeepers as well?”
He nodded.
“Have you found yours?”
He looked at her, just looked at her.
She froze.
He said harshly, “I hope not.”
****
Leaving behind the crowd, whose whistles and well wishes had George’s cheeks burning, Ilie escorted her all the way to the fifth story of the inn, pausing in front of the last door at the end of the hallway.
As she reached for the knob, she stopped, turning to look at him with a discomfited look on her face. “My name is…George, by the way. Just in case you didn’t know.” It was the best she could do as a peace offering, a way to make things less awkward between them.
Ilie said evenly, “Let’s go in.” It was clear that he did not want to talk about what he had just revealed in the dining hall.
She nodded, determined to follow his example.
Ilie opened the door, saw Silviu inside, and moved aside to let George enter.
Tension was etched on Georgina’s face, and Silviu knew exactly what it was about. He did not need to eavesdrop on their conversations, did not need to be a fly on the wall to know how his heartkeeper felt or how one of his closest friends struggled.
But for now – neither of them needed to know that he was aware of exactly what was going on.
Ilie Marcovici would never betray him, and neither would his beautiful Georgina. But even knowing that, it did not mean Silviu was impervious to the jealousy that raged in his blood. If he had a choice, he would never have let his heartkeeper spend the evening alone with another man – especially one who so clearly desired her.
George finally glanced up at him, her eyes unconsciously pleading for him to fix things.
Silviu calmed himself with that look, and his voice was pleasant as he said, “You had a pleasant dinner with Ilie, ma threa?” While George had her dinner below with Ilie, Silviu had used the time to spell-proof the room and ensure that even the smallest sound wouldn’t be able to escape its walls.
Seeing her hesitant look, Silviu said gently, “It is okay to speak now, milady. Nothing will escape this room.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank the fuck.”
Ilie and Silviu’s glances met, the tension in the room breaking as they shared a moment of sheer exasperation.
“I don’t envy you with this stubborn little piece of baggage, Silviu.” Ilie’s words were half meant. “You’d have to wash her mouth with soap every second.”
“Werewolf humor is so not fucking funny,” she retorted.
He winced at her words. “You can just refer to me as a wolf, milady.”
“Werewolf is a term that’s derogative to their kind,” Silviu explained. “It’s similar to…calling a purebred a mongrel.”
Her eyes lit up and she said to Ilie with unholy glee, “Werewoooooolf.”
Ilie scowled. “Are you sure this brat is someone you want to be your heartkeeper for eternity?”
Silviu sighed. “Ilie---”
She scowled right back. “I am not a brat! You’re the one who’s being all bratty! Just because you’re a marquis and he’s not doesn’t mean you can pressure him into not making me his heartkeeper!”
He sighed again. “Georgina---”
“I’m over 900 years old, little girl. You are the brat here.”
George opened and closed her mouth several times.
Fuck, Ilie thought, seeing the shock that leeched the color off George’s face.
Silviu said grimly, “That is your cue to leave, milord.”
I am sorry, Your Grace.
It is my fault. I did not broach it with her in fear of how she would react.
Ilie opened the window, turned into a wolf, and jumped out.
Silviu walked towards the window and as he reached to pull it shut, he heard Georgina ask in a halting voice from behind, “Are you as old as he is?”
“Yes.” He turned to her.
Instead of fear in her eyes, there was…excitement.
“When you told me you didn’t want me staying mortal, I thought it meant you just wanted me to have some kickass powers like those wings and that sword and my own Granite.”
“Granite is the only one of his kind in the world,” Silviu said heavily.
Her eyes widened. “For real?”
He nodded.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” She bit her lip. “But going back to what I said…does that mean I’ll live as long as you guys when you get Lady Beyotch’s blessing?”
“Yes.”
“Do only heartkeepers get turned?”
Silviu frowned, seeing where this was going. “Georgina, it is not---”
“I lost my parents and that almost killed me, Silviu. There are people…who depend on me and I don’t want to lose them, too.” She sat on the bed, feeling like her knees were about to give out on her. She hadn’t liked thinkin
g of her family back home because the thought of them without her hurt.
“When my father died, he left me an inheritance that was unfortunately tied by Chalysian laws. It means I can’t inherit until I turn 25.”
“And that would be?”
“Still a few months away. The thing is, if Lady Beyotch marries me off to someone with the right pedigree, she would be entirely within her right to do so and the court won’t challenge it. But I know she’s going to choose someone she can control, and that means I won’t ever get to touch my money.”
“What do you need the money for?”
“For the rest of my family. There are four of them - Rage, Knife, Dark, and Storm.”
Silviu’s brows shot up. “Those are their names?”
She shrugged. “It’s what my mom calls them. They’re very old and weak, but they’ve been with me since forever and when I was forced by Chalysian law to return here, I told them to stay in the States and wait for me. I wasn’t sure how they’d be treated here, how I could help them if I was under someone’s rule so...” George laughed painfully. “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.”
She looked up at Silviu pleadingly. “They’re my family. I want to care for them the way they cared for me when I was young.” She swallowed. “If you can turn them, too…”
“It is not done that way, ma threa. I’m sorry.”
“What do you mean? Can’t you just bite them or something?”
“No. Only demons and angels are immortals, Georgina. And we can only make immortals those whom we mate. Of course, in the past, there were also the nymphs and satyrs, but their lines were purged and all that’s left of them are the Woods.”
“So when you say the Woods of the Wraiths, you mean it literally?” she whispered.
“Yes. The trees there contain the souls of the nymphs that had perished and the bones of the satyrs that had been buried in its grounds. They are the first line of defense of Brimstone against attackers.”
That basically meant a forest full of vengeful ghosts – not to mention being the hunting ground of the good “civilized” non-human citizens of the kingdom. And she had actually risked her neck to take photos of it?
George, George, sometimes your stupidity amazes me, her know-it-all conscience said.
Silviu crouched down in front her. “Have your family come to Chalys. Write them a letter and once they are here, I will keep them under…our protection.” He almost said his, but chose not to since Georgina still did not know the truth about him.
“Are you sure?”She tried not to sound so hopeful. “You know that…” She swallowed. “I’m not exactly the marquis’ favorite person right now.”
“Do not think of that. Just write and I will make sure they will be safe with us. Trust me, ma threa. I always have your best interests in mind because you are my heartkeeper.”
The words were bittersweet, but she refused to dwell on why it was so.
George bit her lip and looked at him calculatingly.
Silviu tried not to smile.
“I also have a friend. Her name is Desire, and she’s…”
He sighed. “Yes, you may write to her, too.”
She looked at him calculatingly again.
He was exasperated. “I cannot have everyone under my protection, Georgina.”
“But what about the people below? They don’t…they seem too poor by Chalysian standards.”
“They are outsiders, not born here in Chalys. It is against our rules to take in those who left.”
“But---”
“That’s a discussion for another day, Georgina. Choose your battles carefully.”
She really didn’t like those words. It was as if he decided which battles she could win or not, and that meant she was really meant to lose them all in the first place.
Fucking arrogant bastard, George thought. She started to argue when Silviu suddenly stood up, his face becoming taut. She started to speak but he shook his head sharply.
I sense imps, Silviu told his Galeré.
After another beat, Mihail answered. Yes. They are not far. They are being led by the bats.
Let us meet at the Woods. We cannot risk wasting time joining forces, Ilie said.
Adrijan nodded. I will create a distraction if they come.
A pebble struck the window behind Silviu.
I am afraid you must start that distraction now, Adrijan. They are already here.
Silviu gripped her hands. “You must make your way to the stables. Granite will be there waiting for you and he will take you to the Woods. I must stay here and prevent them from getting to you.”
Outside, the night was quiet and still – too much so, and Silviu’s alarm communicated itself with her. She asked desperately, “Why can’t we go together?”
“You are not yet immortal, milady. Your safety is my utmost concern.”
She shook her head jerkily. “I’m not totally useless in a fight. I can---”
“You will only make me worry, and that can kill me. Now go, and whatever you hear---do not look back, do not come back, do not stop running.”
Silviu pulled her face down for a rough and passionate kiss. “Be safe, my heartkeeper.”
She kissed him back, her heart knocking against her chest rapidly. “You too,” she whispered against his lips.
The moment she stepped out of the room, she heard the windows exploding and the familiar screeching sound of demon imps.
George ran. Behind her, there were more crashing noises, like doors being thrown against the wall, more glass windows shattering. When she reached the foot of the stairs, she threw open the door to the dining hall.
The raucous laughter stopped, a silence falling over the crowd as they stared at her.
She almost begged them for help, but she stopped herself. What the hell was she doing, getting them involved with her shit? George started to turn away when the bartender said, “Human, come in.”
George shook her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t. I’m…”
“We will help you.”
Her eyes widened.
Behind her, the sound of screeching became louder.
The bartender barked, “NOW!”
And then she heard it, the sound of jaws snapping, the rasp of saliva as the imps located their target.
“Don’t mind if I do,” George muttered as she hurried inside.
Chapter Eight
Bats here in Chalys on a moonless night.
Random fact: Did you know that bats leave in such huge groups that they can sometimes show up like mega storms on radar screens? o_O
#funfacts #imsosmartitskillinme #bats
War broke out in an instant, with the creatures on her left and right shapeshifting as the imps rushed in. Bottles were hurled, claws flashed, fangs sank into flesh, and there were screams, hisses, and growls.
She hated that she had brought destruction to them.
She fucking hated it and she didn’t care what Silviu said. She was going to fight alongside them.
George grabbed the bottle next to her and was just about to charge into the fight when someone gripped her wrist. “Settle down, young lady. This is not your fight.” It was the bartender, and he was briskly taking his apron off.
“It’s my fight---”
“No. You have a bigger fight to finish. You are the heartkeeper, aren’t you?” He pulled her with him towards the kitchen.
“I…uh…”
“No need to lie, we hear things first, being demons ourselves.” The kitchen was yet untouched but the maids and cooks inside had a fierce light of battle in their gazes, knives clutched in their hands.
“Keep them away,” the bartender ordered.
George let out a horrified gasp. “No! Just run---”
The kitchen maid she had spoken to earlier shook her head. “This is the only home we know, dear. We fight for what is ours.” She pointed to the back exit. “Now go. Your horse is waiting for you.”
Outs
ide the exit, Morton the bear shapeshifter was waiting with an impatient looking Granite. “I never knew that one as this still existed,” Morton exclaimed in wonder.
The bartender helped her up on Granite’s back.
Inside, the sounds of battle had already reached the kitchen. Morton bowed to her. “It was nice meeting you, heartkeeper.” He charged forward, transforming himself into a rampaging bear by the time he crashed into the kitchen, leaving a bear-shaped hole on the wall.
The screams reached her, and George’s fingers tightened around the reins. “I have to go back.”
“If you want to save them – if you want to save us, make the Duke change the rules and take us in.”
“But I don’t even know---”
The bartender slapped Granite’s back and he neighed before galloping off. His wings spread out by the time they reached the road and they were airborne in the next moment.
Still the screams reached George, and tears stung her eyes at the carnage she was leaving behind – the carnage she had caused. Oh God, was it her fault? Had she drawn attention to herself when she had been noisy during dinner? She should have just fucking shut up.
Granite neighed, his head twisting down.
George followed Granite’s gaze and realized they were looking down at one of Silviu’s friends, the black-haired man with ebony eyes. “Let’s go to him!”
She had already abandoned dozens inside the inn. She was not going to abandon another one.
Mihail looked up at the sound of beating wings, thinking it would be Silviu but instead it was Granite with the duke’s heartkeeper on his back. “Go!” he said harshly.
She shook her head fiercely. “Come up and we’ll fly to the Woods together!”
“You have your orders! You must fly---”
“Will you stop wasting our fucking time? I’m sure they’ve told you I’m stubborn to death! Either come up here with me or we’ll both die!”
With a curse, Mihail limped towards her and swung himself up, grudgingly accepting her hand and even more reluctantly impressed at the way she didn’t make a sound as he nearly crushed her fingers in the process.
As they started to ascend, she asked, “What happened to you?”
“Another tangle with the archdemon,” he said shortly.