He had to realize that I wasn’t faking. The sweat poured off my brow as though I had just stuck my head in an oven. Surely he must see my flushed face. I felt like I was burning inside; so hot, so very hot. He patted the sofa again and frowned at me when I hesitated. Then my sudden light-headedness made it easy to obey. I crumpled down beside him and muttered, “I’m so hot.”
“Oh, you’re hot alright, Scarlett,” he said, giving me a leering compliment. When I ignored him, he reached out and touched my forehead.
“You’re burning up,” he said, vaguely surprised. “Maybe you have the bird flu - get it? Raven… bird flu...” He started laughing hysterically at his own stupid joke. I set my face in a firm grimace, scrunching up my eyes and nose.
“What?” he asked rhetorically.
“You’re such an idiot.” I turned my head back and stared into the now dying fire, feeling weaker by the minute. Weird sensations began creeping up all over me: my heart buzzed in my chest, my eyes burned and watered, my skin was on fire, and I was woozy. If not for the fact that I was immortal, I would have feared my impending death.
What the flaming hell is going on?
I didn’t feel like myself at all. My skin felt as though I had been sunbathing at the equator - without sunscreen, and my vision became a bottomless pit where not even a pinprick of light could penetrate. I remember the sensation of falling forward, but I don’t remember hitting the floor. And as I was falling, the deepest, darkest blackness I had ever known enveloped me. The fire crackled one last pop, and I heard Rohan groan, but then a dark, hollow silence took over all my senses.
A few moments later I found myself sitting on a park bench, confused and full of questions. I glanced around and saw people; at least, they seemed to be people, until I looked more closely. Not one of them moved. All were in a state of immobility - like mannequins, frozen in mid-gesture. A male posed in a walking position: one stiff leg out in front, the other rooted to the sidewalk, and his large hand held a blue travel mug. He wore a dark jacket with a gray turtleneck shirt. Across the walkway, seated on another bench, a female - dressed in a bright-pink tank top and shorts, with a white scarf tied around her neck. She sat up straight and rigid, as though fastened to the bench; her hands clasped together and her feet crossed under the seat. Although she appeared to look directly at me, her synthetic eyes gazed through me, vacant and unblinking. Her red lipstick gleamed brightly, but her lips looked like rubber and her face held no expression other than the blank, dead stare that fashion models wear while posing. She had wide pink bracelets on both of her wrists, and even her shoes were pink.
Behind the pink lady, I spotted three black puppies on the grass, all posed in carefree positions. One of them lay on his back with his paws playfully in the air, one had an orange rubber ball in its mouth, and the third acted as though someone had just tossed him a Frisbee, and he stood high on hind legs, ready to catch it. Beyond the puppies, the whole park area appeared to be fenced in, but as I stared from afar, I realized that each fence post was made of thick green stems, and all along the top of each stem were smiling sunflowers all in a row, coming together to meet at a green, thick, plastic-looking gate that opened to a roadway. I felt like I was trapped in an over-sized dollhouse; everything around me was unreal and artificial, a rigid imitation of real life.
Looking to my right, I was surprised to see another mannequin sitting beside me. He wore a drab, blue shirt and dark pants, and hanging out of his pocket I spied a set of car keys. His head was cranked toward me, staring straight into my eyes. His face was white as chalk, his eyes lined in heavy black liner, and his smiling mouth was blood red, much like the ugly clown I had met at the gathering. If not for the fact that I was sure this was a dream, I might have been frightened. But instead, I was curious. I reached over and pushed a finger into the face pointed at me, and my touch left a deep, goofy-looking depression in the white rubbery cheek. It was quite comical and I began to giggle.
On my lap I discovered a purse that was partially open, revealing some of its contents. I saw what appeared to be the same set of keys that the white-faced man had, and glancing over, I saw that his pocket was now empty. Observing the purse again, a bright green compact caught my eye, which I grabbed up and flipped open. Shards of glass spilled out; the mirror was half-broken, but I could still see my reflection. My amusement turned to horror when I saw that I looked exactly like the life-sized dummies all around me. My dark-lined eyes held no expression, blushing-pink cheeks exaggerated, and mouth enlarged like red wax lips, shiny and imitation, just like all the rest of the world I found myself in. My mirror image also revealed a wide silver choker around my neck.
When I heard a finger snap, I turned my gaze toward the sound and peered down the length of the tree lined walkway. No one was there; just an empty pathway with trees. Nothing moved - except for me, although my movements were slow and mechanical.
The sudden urge to run became overwhelming, but my body stayed glued in position, and the more I struggled to free myself the more over-heated I got. I felt strangled and smothered. Gasping for air, I attempted to turn forward, but it was nearly impossible. I couldn’t even blink. It seemed I was doomed to exist as a mannequin with no choices at all. No free will. As I stared out at this horrible dollhouse world I found myself in, welded forever in time and space, slowly and steadily, everything went black again.
A loud snap woke me.
Has someone moved me?
I was now lying down on a sofa; it was too soft to be the park bench. At first I was afraid to open my eyes but then the familiar smells began to surround me: the scent of a smoky fireplace, musty old furniture, decaying food. I heard more snapping and opened my eyes to see Teivel looming above me, his ugly pitted volcano face inches from mine, his black bulging eyes studying me. He grunted a guttural sound which seemed to indicate happiness at my return to reality, and within moments Rohan was beside him.
“Scarlett, you’re back with us again,” Rohan said. “Not that I would have let your unconscious state keep me from my ultimate goal,” he added with a wicked grimace. His smugness was disgusting.
At first my racing thoughts were scrambled.
Is this a dream, or was the mannequin world the dream?
With all that was at stake, I would have preferred the fake world over this one, but as my mind cleared it became more and more obvious, I was no longer in the dream world.
I sat up slowly, and felt a tightness and slight stabbing pain pressing into my throat. “Oh no you didn’t!” I yelled. My hands flew to my neck and, with horror, discovered the new metal collar - tight and choking - exactly like Teivel’s.
“I just thought you’d like to try it on for size,” Rohan sneered, “to see how my friend Teivel felt.”
I looked up again and saw that Teivel still wore his collar, but now he grinned from ear to ear knowing he was not the only pet in the house.
“Why do you think you need to control me like this?” I asked quietly, afraid and unable to speak any louder than a whisper. “There is nowhere I can go; the dogs are loose, and the place is fenced in. Please don’t make me wear this thing.” I sounded raspy; my new necklace was far too tight.
Rohan came closer, put his hand on my shoulder, and said, “Just relax, Scarlett. I will remove it as soon as you prove to me that I can trust you.”
“And what do I have to do to prove that?” I already knew what he expected of me, but the whole prisoner concept itself was horrible enough. And now he had to rub it in, making me feel like a shackled dog.
Rohan sat down next to me, patted my knee, and smirked, “You’ll see.”
“Right. More games,” I said, staring down at the floor, feeling defeated.
“Oh the games we will play, Scarlett. In time I believe you will enjoy my company. I’m not such a bad guy. I’ve gotten a bad rap, is all. If anyone ever took the time to really get to know me, they’d see.” His tone was cocky and arrogant.
I glared at him in disbel
ief and then I looked up at Teivel who still stood there at attention, a stupid grin on his face, his protruding eyes gawking at me idiotically.
“Why does he just stand there staring at me? Can’t you get him to stop?” I put a finger on my collar and gave it a slight tug.
Shrugging off my questions, Rohan went on, still talking about himself. “You know, once I become Regent, a lot of things will change for the better. This ridiculous idea of paying donors must end.” He sneered, and then added with a savage eagerness, “I like to hunt for my dinner.”
Now it was my turn to ignore him. Dismissing his non-civilized ideas and his delusional aspirations, I asked, “So, what just happened to me? Am I sick, or what?”
“You must have fainted,” he sighed, impatient and probably angry at my lack of interest in his ridiculous ambitions. “You were out for about ten minutes. Why, are you still hot?” He leaned in trying to touch my forehead again, but I recoiled with a jerk.
“Ten minutes? That’s not fainting, that’s passing out!” I wanted to call him a name, cuss at him, reach over, and slap his face off; but the choker I wore reminded me not to. “Why would that happen? I thought we weren’t supposed to get sick.”
It was amazing that I was able speak so calmly to my captor, but I was quite concerned about how weird I felt, and I needed some answers. None of this made any sense, and as he sat there looking as stupid and mute as the life-sized dummies in my dream, it became more obvious; he had no idea what was wrong with me either.
He’s as useless as a freaking mannequin is.
I didn’t feel hot anymore, but my head still hurt and I was getting thirsty. “Can I have something to drink?” I asked, swallowing hard and very much aware of the suffocating grip wrapped around my neck in the form of a dog collar.
Rohan snapped his fingers, and Teivel shuffled into the other room, returning a few moments later with a tall blue mug.
A blue mug?
He thrust his arm forward, giving me a close-up view of his dirty, long fingernails and his thick grimy hand. Disgusted by the sight, my thirst nearly abated. Although his act of kindness was forced, I was afraid to reject it, and accepted the mug. I peered inside cautiously, smelling the sweet familiar aroma I not only craved, but also began to require. Whatever it was that was wrong with me, this would be the only thing on the planet that would actually help me. I held my breath, just in case the mug itself was coated with unwashed entities, and drank down three large gulps. Instantly feeling refreshed, I perked up a bit and sat up straight.
“Thank you, Teivel.”
He waited patiently as I drank, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was thirsty as well, or if Rohan had put the collar to use, jolting him into thinking he was full. Rohan snapped a finger, and Teivel left the room, his head hanging. If he had a tail, it would have been tucked between his legs like the pathetic ugly mutt that he was.
The Ambrosia gave me enough strength to ease some of my fear and I asked, “How long ago did you kidnap Kathy and how will she get home now?”
Rohan casually leaned back into the couch and stretched his arms out along the top edge. Putting his feet up, he slammed his boots on top of the marred coffee table, which, no doubt, ended up in its current condition from this exact kind of treatment.
“That wasn’t your friend,” he scoffed, and a self-satisfied look crossed over his face. His head bobbed up and down smugly as he explained, “She was just a model - doing a little acting. Quite a good job on the makeup, I must say. Well, that and a darkened room and I could have had you believing she was anyone.”
My face crumpled in disbelief as I closed my eyes trying to bring back the image I had seen in the library. “But...she... How...did you...” I couldn’t seem to form a complete sentence as I stammered incoherent sounds, and then blurted out, “You tricked me? That was all fake? You bastard!”
“Frankly, my dear, yes I did.” His fingers tapped the top of the couch annoyingly, and then he slid closer to me. “And, it worked, didn’t it, Scarlett?”
My mind whirled. I had been tricked into this situation; played like a fool. Kathy was safe and sound back in Rhode Island. I was so angry, so flaming mad; I could have ripped his head off and pitched it into the fireplace. I felt my sweater lying next to me, cautiously reached for the pocket, pulled out the green bottle, and hid it between the couch cushions. I began to wonder what else he lied about.
Was his whole scheme nothing but a deceptive head-game?
I tugged at the collar, furious at his manipulations, and yelled, “You are such a jack-ass. Take this damn thing off of my neck! Right now!”
He laughed and fumbled with the silver remote, but before he knew what was happening, I snatched it out of his hands. He grabbed for it, but I squirmed out of his reach and hurled it across the room. It shattered into a million pieces, some of them landing in the fireplace. Even though the fire had died down, some of the smoldering embers were hot enough to melt the wires inside the remote, sending a wisp of acrid smoke into the air. The stench of burning plastic was actually an improvement over the rancid odors already stinking up this disgusting place.
Rohan jumped to his feet glaring down at me, his expression matching my own fury. “What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing? Are you insane?”
As he turned to glance at the melting remote, I reached for the bottle and smashed it on the corner of the coffee table, sending shards of green glass every which way, but also leaving me with a very sharp dagger-like object. I jumped to my feet holding it out in front of me, and yelled, “If you come near me I’ll slice your neck. It may not kill you, but it’ll slow you down and you know it.”
He took one step toward me, but I held my ground, flashing my knife-like weapon at him. He stopped in his tracks, and said, “And how do you think you’ll get that thing off of your neck now?” It was obvious he was pretending to look calm and in control.
“I’m quite sure I can figure it out. You really are stupid. You didn’t think this through at all. If you’re going to trick someone, you shouldn’t give anything away before the right time.” I now understood why I had dreamed about the mannequins. Touching my shiny collar, I asserted, “It’s nothing but a useless piece of metal without the remote, isn’t it?” I pointed toward the other room where Teivel had gone and said, “I guess you didn’t realize that your other pet gave me the real stuff in that mug. I feel stronger than ever!”
He glared at me in disbelief, shaking his head. Cautiously, I backed up to the front door, opened it wide, and waited, still not quite sure what I was doing. A moment later the three dogs came running from around the back, snarling and growling. I stood my ground again, keeping my eyes on Rohan as he watched me incredulously. Crouching down low to the floor I held out my arm. One by one the so-called vicious dogs came whining to me and licked my hand. “Just as I thought - fake guard dogs!” I gave Rohan a disparaging grin while shaking my head, pointed at him and said with a mocking snort, “You - are such a fraud!”
He suddenly lunged at me. Without a second thought, and with all my strength, I jabbed my weapon deep into his neck. Keeping a firm grip on the green shard as it pierced his skin, I sliced down and then pulled upward, making an uneven, jagged gash. Blood spurted the minute I drew back. He grabbed his throat in shock, cursing, trying to stop the gushing red stream. I turned and ran out the door, headed straight for his car, jumped in, and locked the doors behind me. He hadn’t noticed, but when I seized the remote from him, I also grabbed his keys.
Rohan caught up to me in an instant. Frantically, I started the engine. Groping wildly at the closed window, he tried to smash it with a fist, but all he managed to do was smear globs of blood all over. Still clutching his bleeding throat, he stared at me, enraged. Glaring at him in triumph, I knew he’d have to take the time to replenish himself now. And in his weakened condition he’d never be able to expend the energy it would take to follow me. He wasn’t very smart at all. Once again, he hadn’t planned things ve
ry well.
I rammed the car into gear and sped away toward the gate. Lucky for me, this vehicle was an automatic. With one swift movement, I reached up to the visor and clicked on the remote, and the gate swung open letting me out of my prison. I raced down the bumpy driveway just as the morning sun began to glimmer behind the trees. Checking the rear view mirror, I kept an eye on Rohan as he stood motionless in the middle of the driveway; mouth agape. Both hands on his neck, he dwindled and faded in the distance as I turned off onto the road.
For all I knew I could have been speeding in the wrong direction, but it didn’t matter. As soon as I could find a public place, I’d get my bearings, call Emrys, and he would come to me.
I felt around the collar on my throat and finally found two little buttons in the back. I pushed and plucked at the buttons, but to no avail. After putting several miles between Rohan and me, I pulled over to the side of the road. Turning the rear view mirror on myself, I slowly rotated the collar so that the buttons faced forward. Examining it closely, I realized that all I had to do was locate a device to fit the small keyhole which was hidden just between the two buttons. I turned off the engine, pulled out the key ring, and sure enough, there was a small key that looked the same size. Within a moment’s time I had the strangulating collar off, hurled it out of the window, restarted the car, and sped away.
After passing a petrol station, some of the landmarks started to look more familiar. I believed the town of Ashford was just ahead, and it was only a stone’s throw from Folkestone. We had passed through both towns on our trip to London, and if I remembered correctly, perhaps I wasn’t as far from Ravenswynd as I had thought. I decided to keep driving on the main highway and call Emrys when I got to the next town, since this was where my memory was vague. I hadn’t paid enough attention to know how to get from Ashford to Folkestone, or for that matter, which road to take the rest of the way home.
The Ravenswynd Series - Boxed Set Page 46