Crimson Bird 3

by L B Keen

  Fi’s head jerked up as she shook her head. She crawled over to Bird, grabbing onto her robes. “No, please, don’t send me away! Princess, please, forgive me. Forgive me, I was wrong. Please!”

  Bird didn’t speak, nor look at her as Dua walked forward and reached down, pulling Fi’s hands from her gown. She didn’t move, she only stood with eyes closed, facing the wall. Once the door shut on Fi’s cries, she reopened her eyes and asked one question, “Essa, can you reverse it?”

  Essa solemnly nodded. “I can, but it will cause undue stress for you and the child. Also…,” she hesitated.

  Bird looked at her. “What?”

  Essa inhaled deeply before continuing. “Is it true that you do not remember your dreams?” she asked, her eyes were dark and probing. “I asked Mother about your condition and she said that she’s only heard of it happening to those who are mated to someone who is enduring some form of torture. It is a warning of sorts that is triggered when a siren’s mate is in danger. The siren takes on half of the suffering in order to ease their mates own suffering.”

  Bird stared at her incredulous. “I am not mated to anyone, Essa. I—”

  “Have you shared intercourse with anyone recently?” Essa asked, cutting her off, her question demanding Bird answer truthfully.

  Her lashes lowering, Bird could only think of one man… the only man, a vampire prince who was also the father of her unborn child. If what Essa said was true, then the bond her mother had believed was broken had been renewed.

  Thoughtfully, Bird turned her gaze towards the glassless window and smiled humorlessly. “Surely the gods are enjoying a hearty laughter at my fate.” Turning her gaze back towards Essa, she grinned, a hard look in her eyes. “It would seem I must return to Britain post haste.”

  “Britain?” Essa repeated, confused.

  “Yes, it would seem there is where I will find my husband.”

  Jorin arrived in R’or just as the sun peeked over the edge of the mountains he’d just traversed. The city was still sleeping and thin trails of smoke arose from the tall chimneys as the residents slowly awakened. Jorin had come to a conclusion on his return, and that was that he would be forced to ask help from one of the nobles of the palace. But aside from his clue of the Spaniard, he hadn’t any idea of who he could and could not trust.

  As he drew closer to Talon’s lodgings, he was surprised to spot a palanquin seated in front of the entrance. Stopping before the gate, he dismounted, glancing at the royal guard who stood stiff and silent before it. Grabbing his horse’s reins, he passed them and entered the courtyard.

  He paused when he saw a cloaked figure standing there. Suspicious, he silently approached. Not making a sound, he reached out, only to be just as surprised when said figure turned sharply and grabbed his wrist in a tight hold. He met narrowed, purple eyes and a delicate face he knew all too well. The Princess of Katari glared at him. Her cheeks were thinner and there was an odd look in her eyes as she glared up at him. Her eyes held no fear.

  “Who are you?”

  He forced himself to relax. “Should I not be asking you said question? After all, you are the one who broke in.”

  Bird frowned. She didn’t know why she felt this man was familiar as she’d never seen him before. “I am looking for someone. He was to ship off two weeks ago, but I have come to find out his valet still remains. Why is this?” she demanded.

  Jorin leisurely glanced at the hand that still held his wrist tightly. “It seems the Princess of Katari hasn’t any manners. She doesn’t even greet those in her presence.”

  Noticing where he pointedly stared, Bird quickly released his wrist, her eyes narrowing with suspicion at his naming her title. “How do you know I am the princess? Have we met?”

  “No, not formally,” he answered simply, rolling his wrist. Clearing his throat, he added, “I am sorry to inform you, Princess, but my brother is no longer here.”

  Her frown deepened. “Where is he, if he has not returned to Britain?”

  “Well, in truth, I’ve come from where he is currently being held prisoner.”

  “Prisoner?” she repeated faintly. “And you did not rescue him?!” she demanded.

  “It would have been hard, as he was taken to the Black Prison. Only those who carry Octine’s royal sigil may enter,” Jorin explained simply. He motioned to the carved plaque of gold that had been mounted on the belt Bird wore. “Something… similar to that which lies on your belt.”

  She blinked. She loosely remembered being told by Fadi in the past that all royals wore such a plaque sewn into their clothes so the common folk would know to whom they spoke to. She had often left it in her chambers, as she was given to roam the city alleyways and empty deserts beyond the gates.

  Coming to a swift conclusion, she lifted her hopeful gaze to the man she still knew nothing of, not even his name, and said, “Take me there. I will have him released.”

  Jorin blinked, taken aback by her swift demand that he take her to the prison. He was also reluctant as it took two nights to get there and he’d just returned. He would rather rest.

  His lips parted, ready to make his status clear on their current situation when another voice spoke from behind them. “Kahlia, what is taking you so long…” The voice trailed off when Jorin turned, meeting a soft gaze the color of lilac. The young woman blinked, obviously surprised by his presence. “Who is this you are speaking with?”

  Bird walked passed the silent male, over to Essa. “He knows of Talon’s whereabouts and will be leading us to him. Dua!”

  A large warrior, who wore heavy robes and had one eye covered walked through the gate, barely making a sound. He gave a short bow before speaking. “Yes, princess?”

  “We will be taking a short travel to the Black Prison. Alert the men and only bring with you a small retinue. We will have to travel swiftly. It should only take a day’s ride, as we will be using the waterway to reach the prisons.”

  Jorin blinked. He’d forgotten that fact. He shook his head, rubbing along his face. He was far more tired than he’d assumed. It wasn’t surprising as his days had been filled with searching for his brother, and fighting gahiji hadn’t helped either.

  “Will you be accompanying us?” the princess finely asked, her attention returning to him. “It would help us greatly.”

  Join frowned. “I will, but… are you not curious as to who I am?”

  “I am,” she said frankly, “but it is more important that Talon is saved. Discovering your identity can be spared for a later time.”

  He couldn’t help but smirk at her words. Releasing the reins of his horse, he allowed it to wander off. One of those in the stable would eventually find it. Walking towards Bird, he gave her his name and identity. “I am Jorin, second prince of the British empire.” He stopped in front of her as her eyes widened at his name and title. “And it would seem you are the woman my foolish brother was drinking over.”

  He was Jorin? Bird thought silently as she observed him from behind. He was Talon’s second brother, the favored second prince, whom all of Britain had believed to be dead. She couldn’t bring herself to believe it, though there was something oddly familiar about him.

  All royals carried themselves with such an aura, a weight that caused lesser men to cringe away from them. The small vessel they rode rocked, the wood creaking as they traversed the underground waterway.

  She hadn’t thought it would be easy to get the captain to take them, as they had had to pull him from a tavern but the man had easily folded under the weight of her sigil, and a few gold coins. The vessel was large enough to carry horsemen and supplies as it had to be able to carry a large amount of prisoners and their guards.

  The underground waterway was more of a cave that held a flowing river and the water glowed as if the moon had dropped pieces of itself below. The high ceiling had been rounded and now reflected the light from the torches. The sloshing water drew her in as the vessel sliced through the water smoothly.

 
“Do you love my brother?”

  Turning her eyes away from the water’s dark surface, Bird met Jorin’s piercing stare with a bland one. “And if I were to say no, what would you do?”

  “I would do nothing,” Jorin said. “I would, in truth, enjoy the idea of my brother being tied to a shrew.”

  Bird couldn’t help but smile at his name calling, though her smile held little humor. “Oh, and if I do love him?”

  “I would still be happy. That would mean you are his weakness, a weakness I would, and could, take advantage of.”

  She tilted her head at that remark. Though she still smiled, she narrowed her eyes. “Your mistake is that you believe me weak, Vampire.” Her voice became softened, as she felt Essa rest a staying hand over hers in her lap. “Your assumption is what would make you foolishly challenge me, as you’re doing now.”

  Jorin lifted his hands. “I meant no offence. I only wished to know what pushes you to rescue my brother, that is all.”

  “Revenge,” Bird said. “That is why I will save him, why I will marry him, and why I will return to Britain as his wife.”

  Her gaze was sharp, and she didn’t wilt under her own searching gaze. This woman… he could understand why his brother desired her. She held a well-sharpened sword within her, and when she dropped all emotion from her face, he had no doubt she would fulfill each and everything she’d pronounced she would do.

  Still, he was curious. “Your revenge, who is it you seek it from?”

  She didn’t answer right away. In fact, it was a long moment before she answered. Her eyes darkened as she thought over her question. Bird had clearly, in the beginning, known who she wished to hurt, but as they drew closer to save Talon, she was growing less sure of what she wanted.

  “Everyone,” she said finally, which caused Essa and Jorin both to stiffen as they hadn’t expected her to answer after such a long pause. “I seek revenge on everyone, but… that is impossible, isn’t it? Now, I merely wish to avenge myself against my fate, my destiny. I wish to regain control of my life. Saving Talon is what will give me the ability to do so.”

  Hearing this, Jorin nodded as he turned his attention forward once she dropped her gaze from his. He wondered if his brother knew how ruthless the woman he desired truly was.

  Chapter Eight

  Boeca hadn’t believed it when one of his guards had knocked on his chamber door with an alert that a royal was demanding to see the vampire prince. No one was supposed to know the man was even here. Jumping from his cot, he quickly pulled on his boots.

  “Who is it you said was here?!” he demanded. The messenger repeated that they had not as of yet identified the noble. Standing, he grumbled as he shoved his shirt into his pants. His charcoaled lined eyes narrowed as he marched across his room and grabbed up his uniform jacket. “Did they say how they learned of his presence?”

  “No, sir. We thought it best to get you before we asked them any questions.”

  Muttering a curse, Boeca quickly traversed the twisted hall, and exiting, he ran down the steep stairs. He’d grown accustomed to it over his long years of working at the Black Prison, one of the worst and best post. Worst for its location, best for the silver that crossed his palms to help make certain people disappear. But, as he arrived at the main gate and saw the retinue of royal soldiers and the two figures who wore cloaks, he realized maybe it wasn’t his luck to be in charge at that time.

  Finished pulling on his uniform, he called down, “Who goes there?!”

  A soldier rode forward; he was large and wore no shirt. Instead, his sheaths and leather breastplate were all that covered his upper half. “Her Highness has come for the vampire! You will open the gates and allow her entrance!”

  “There is no vampire here!” Boeca immediately retorted, feeling a nervous sweat build. The torches in the gate sconces flickered as a foul mountainous wind blew up. The desert stretched all around this mountain range. “I do not know of who you speak.”

  “Do you not?” another spoke, riding forward. He came into the light. His golden eyes appeared like fiery rubies and his sardonic grin caused Boeca to shift. “Then you would have no issue with us searching your prison if what you say is true.”

  Boeca blanched at that and glanced over his shoulder at his captain, whispering, “Where is he being held?”

  Lifting a hand, his captain moved forward and whispered, “He’s in the pit. It gets the most sun there.”

  Boeca smirked then. There was simply no way that those below would be able to find him then. The pit was the deepest place of the volcano and it also boasted a view of the sun so the person within slowly grew dry, like bacon. He turned back and looked at those below, his voice turning sly. “I will allow you to enter and search, but if you do not find anything, I will immediately report this to the king,” he yelled down.

  “I don’t like the look of his face,” Jorin muttered to Bird. He frowned. “He seems too sure.”

  “I agree,” Essa added, riding forward, her eyes troubled. “If they have hidden him, how will we be able to find him? This prison is famed for its maze-like halls. Even a gahiji with all his tricks could not get out without a guide.”

  Bird was silent for a long moment before she lifted her leg and dismounted. Landing heavily in the ground, she moved in front of her party. Dua shared a glance with Essa and Jorin before they, too, dismounted and stood behind her.

  Lifting her hood, Bird closed her eyes as she spoke. “I… did not think there would be someone as foolish as you.” She lifted her chin as she opened her eyes. They were so cold and knifelike that they managed to cut through the dark of the night. “I didn’t think anyone with the blood of a siren would dare disobey a command from a descendent of R’or and Octine.”

  The man above the gate scoffed, crossing his thin arms. His sun-darkened skin added to his weasel-like appearance. Despite his uniform, Bird felt he fit the role of a thief or pirate.

  “Essa, am I able to use my magic?”

  Hearing her question, Essa tensed, her eyes narrowing. “Kahlia, your magic has yet to settle. It is still working against the curse.”

  Glancing over her shoulder, Bird asked once more, “Am I able to use it?”

  Seeing the look of determination in Bird’s gaze, she gave a reluctant nod.

  Turning back to face those who stood above, Bird released a sigh. She hadn’t been taught properly by her mother, so she did not know many spells, but she would show her power, even if it were limited.

  Opening her cloak, she revealed the sigil and with her gloved hand, she jerked it from the belt. Lifting it, she did the one thing she knew she could do: let go.

  Jorin and Dua felt it, admittedly; an urge to obey and an urge to bow before her. Jorin fought it tooth and nail, the tendons in his neck popping out as his left hand tightened on the pommel of his sword. While simultaneously, Dua and his retinue of soldiers went to one knee.

  Closing her eyes, Bird embraced the familiar heat spreading through her limbs. A fire grew from within as she tapped into her bloodline. She could feel it, her soul spreading out across the sand and rising over the mountain. An invisible wind whipped up, catching the edge of her cloak as it ripped it from the ground. The sound swirled and those above shifted nervously as the high gate doors began to shake.

  The ancient song wrung out in her head, as her fist tightened on the sigil, and with a muttered word, a flame exploded from her palm, its burgundy light flickered and jerked back and forth in her palm. Lifting it above her head, she spoke, her voice echoing within and without.

  “I… command… you…” All those stiffened as they felt weights land on their shoulders as if night’s arms had reached out and held them in place. Their expressions turned blank as their eyes dimmed. “Siren, bring me my vampire.”

  Without a sound, all those above retreated, their booted feet sounding thunderous as those above hurried to do her bidding. She lowered the flame and turned to the two who stiffly stood before the door, her eyes nar
rowed. “Open the door.”

  With jerky movement, they did and the gate doors made a wrenching sound as they slowly pulled aside.

  Satisfied, Bird turned fully around and closed her hand, killing the flame, though her eyes shined brightly like violet. “Let us enter.”

  Jorin released a gasp. At some point, he’d fallen to his knees. He glared, red face and sweating from where he knelt. “What was that?! What did you do to me?!”

  She looked at him emotionless. “I did nothing. You are well. You are in pain because you chose to fight it. Next time… do not fight; it will only be painful.”

  With that, she whipped around and marched towards the gate, Essa, Dua and the rest of the retinue following.

  Finally coming to his feet, he spat out that he would shove his sword in her chest if she ever did the same again, before following them. He had had his fill of masters and he would not be forced to have another one.

  The mindless man met them, stopping before the one who’d shown his clear reluctance to their entry. Bird spoke, “Take me to him.”

  He gave a short bow, his eyes still mysteriously empty. Turning, he led them into the dim hallway that was lit by the torches in the sconces. Flickering, they gave little light. Jorin reached out, grabbing one off the wall. Though he had easy way of it due to his vampiric nature that gifted him sight at night, it would throw those around him off if they didn’t have light.

  As they were led deeper and deeper into the volcano, the hall grew narrower and narrower. She was slowly growing panicked. As they drew closer, she felt her heart begin to beat frantically. She squeezed her hand, her nails biting into the flesh.

  She had wished for revenge against him; had she done this? Had her wish, her blind rage and anger caused such a horrible thing to happen?

  The male leading them paused before a wall, and lifting a hand, he waved it. The wall shook hard before it slowly disintegrated.