by T. S. Ryder
Suddenly, the hooded man took out a long silver dagger which he had been carrying at his belt and stabbed the maid in the neck. The woman dropped dead, dark blue blood spilling from her neck. The guard behind her lunged at the pilot, but the hooded man was too quick for him. He stabbed him in the chest, and he, too, fell to the floor: dead.
Ella screamed and struggled to get out of her seat, but she didn’t know how to unlock the restraints. She knew the man would come for her next and the thought made bile rise up in her throat. Yet, the man put his dagger away and came toward her. He bent over her and injected something into her neck. She felt the warm fluid burn her skin. Her vision blurred instantly and her head spun. The man went back to his seat as he started tapping at the console, revving up the engines. The last thing she could remember was the distant humming of the space craft’s engines as she fell into oblivion.
***
“It’s done, my lord,” the hooded man said, bowing low.
Keralth stood with his back to the assassin, staring out of his chamber’s windows. It was midday, and the King’s body had been found. The news had reached the Council members and they were planning to meet with him to discuss what should be done since the heir to the throne was still in exile. Keralth had deftly taken things into his own hands and started the preparations for the funeral, declaring that the city would mourn the King’s death.
Things would have been a lot simpler if he could simply steal the Draco’s eye, but that was futile. The Eye’s magic wouldn’t work and the object became useless if taken forcefully from the bearer. It was supposed to be willingly handed over to the new successor. “You didn’t encounter any problems?” Keralth asked in his raspy voice.
“There were these two obstacles, my lord. She wasn’t alone. She came with a maid and a guard. I had to eliminate them,” the assassin explained.
“I hope you cleaned up the mess. I don’t want any suspicion rising here,” Keralth said with a vicious glint in his eye.
“Yes, my lord,” the assassin replied.
“And you have secured the woman?” Keralth turned, his amber eyes glaring at the man.
“Yes, my lord. She is locked up on the Dark Moon, in the most obscure of cells. Nobody can get in, except the person who has access,” the Assassin said hastily.
“Good, good,” Keralth said as a sinister smile curved his thin lips. “You will be rewarded. You may leave now.”
Keralth sat down with a drink in his hand. So far, things were going according to plan. He took a swig of his wine.
He knew the woman had awakened the Draco’s Eye. He could sense it. Now was his chance – he could use the woman to get the Eye from Darilth. He twisted the stem of the glass in his hand. Darilth is weak, he thought, and he would do anything to save his mate.
***
Ella woke up and blinked in the dark. The air was cold and stale as her eyes adjusted to the dim light. Her head reeled, pain throbbing at her temples when she tried to get up. Her whole body was stiff from the cold. Her mouth was dry. She sensed that she was no longer in the aircraft. She tried getting up again and a wave of nausea hit her. She bent over and threw up. Her breathing was getting labored. The effect of the pills must be wearing off, she thought.
Where was she? Images of a hooded man killing the maid and the guard flashed through her head. She shuddered and tears streamed down her face. She had no idea how long she had been unconscious.
She was still getting her thoughts together when she heard the creaking of the metal door and someone put a tray down on the floor. Through the dim light of the greasy lamp, she saw water and something that reminded her of bread on the tray. She made a huge effort to stand up. Her legs felt weak but she tried to reach the tray. Sure, there was some bread and water, plus some red breathing pills. They wanted her to stay alive, she thought. She drank the water and greedily ate the bread, ignoring that it tasted stale. She was too hungry.
Feeling a bit better after she had eaten, a thought crossed her mind. She was here because the King had found out about the marriage. She was probably awaiting trial. They would eventually kill her. Didn’t Darilth say that if the King found out they would be killed? That meant that they would kill him too. She hugged her knees, rocking back and forth as tears spilled down her face. She cried for a long time. Exhausted, she finally drifted into an uneasy sleep.
Several days passed – or at least that was what she assumed. She lost all track of time, not knowing whether it was day or night. She was served food twice a day, but nobody came to see her. She called out for help and tried asking the person who gave her food questions, but nobody replied to her questioning. Despair grew like a vicious weed inside her heart. She was sure that this was God’s way of punishing her. She had sinned. She had married an alien man and broken her vows. She began praying for mercy.
As time passed, her condition worsened. She was nauseous every day, and she began to wonder what was wrong with her. One day she felt cramps in her lower belly. Her body was bloated and her breasts hurt. Suddenly, a thought struck her. When did she have her last period? That had been back on Earth, just before Darilth took her with him. Her stomach twisted horribly and she shivered as realization hit her that she might be pregnant. She felt more alone than ever. Would anyone ever come to save her and her baby? Tears sprang to her eyes and she wished Darilth were there with her. Despair overwhelmed her and she stopped eating. She didn’t know how long it was before she fell unconscious to the cold floor.
The guard outside her door noticed that her food hadn’t been touched. He had been instructed to keep the prisoner eating. He went inside to check on her with his flashlight and found the woman unconscious on the floor. He called for help immediately.
***
Keralth gazed at Dr. Wyern with disgust when he brought him the news. After his father’s funeral, Keralth had assumed a temporary position at the court. He had persuaded the council members into believing that Prince Darilth had a hand in the King’s assassination and he had been summoned from battle immediately.
Now, he looked at the doctor as if he had tasted something rotten. Ella’s pregnancy was a serious problem.
“You’re certain?” Keralth asked as he sat on his father’s throne in the courtroom.
“My lord, her pregnancy has been confirmed. I have the test reports right here,” Dr. Wyern explained.
Keralth held up a hand to silence him. “Can you terminate it?” he asked.
The doctor winced. “I’m sorry, my lord, but she carries a hybrid – half human and half Drakonaar. Her pregnancy is at a stage where an abortion is not possible without risking the life of the mother,” he said, hesitating.
“And you know who the father is?” Keralth asked him although he knew the answer.
“Yes, my Lord. It’s Prince Darilth,” the doctor said. “My lord, she requires immediate medical attention because her anatomy is not built to carry a Drakonaar fetus. It’s progressing faster than the normal human gestation time and she might not survive after delivery.”
“You do whatever it takes, Doctor. Just keep her alive,” Keralth grunted reluctantly.
“But, my lord, we must move her...” the doctor began.
“She stays where she is. You take whatever supplies you need and treat her there,” Keralth said with a finality in his tone as he dismissed the doctor with a wave of his hand.
Darilth would be here in a few days and then he would take action, he thought.
Chapter Seven
Betrayal
Prince Darilth gazed at the band he kept in the black box. The Draco’s Eye glowed when he touched it. He put it on his wrist and felt its power surge through his blood immediately. He paced the length of his quarters in the spacecraft anxiously. He checked on the ring he wore, which was a communicator as well. A holographic screen projected from his ring. There were no messages from the guard who was supposed to take Ella to R13. According to his calculations, she should have reached home by now. He was still
a few days away from his destination. He contacted his housekeeper then, and his heart thrummed madly in his chest when she told him that Ella never reached the house. His chest constricted terribly as he raked a hand through his hair, worry gnawing at him.
His ring blinked and, quickly, he checked the message, thinking it was from his housekeeper. His heart sank when he saw the message from the Council Chief.
I am sorry to inform you, Prince Darilth Rothgar of Iovis, that your father has been assassinated. You are required to leave all tasks at hand and return immediately to the Rothgar Castle.
Confusion and rage boiled his blood and he poured himself another glass of wine, taking a swig. What was going on? Was the castle under attack? And where was Ella?
He quickly ordered his commander to set the shortest course for home. He again tried contacting Keralth, but all communication with the castle had been lost. He couldn’t wait to get to the castle.
***
He attempted to get a message through to his brother telepathically, but it was being blocked for some indecipherable reason. All other forms of communication with the castle had been lost. He was stuck till he reached his destination.
It took them another few months before they reached Iovis. When Darilth’s ship landed on Iovis, he was still in the docking area when the guards came for him.
“What is going on?” Darilth demanded, his jaw clenched, as the guards held him.
“Prince Keralth wants to see you, my lord,” the guard said.
“Yes, I would like that,” Darilth said, annoyed by their behavior.
Darilth immediately saw how Keralth had changed, haughtily sitting on the throne. He caught the sinister gleam in his amber eyes and a chill ran down his spine. Darilth tried reading his mind but he was still being blocked.
“Welcome home, brother,” Keralth hissed.
“Keralth,” Darilth said, his voice low and seething.
“I have news for you, brother,” he said. “I take it you’ve heard that our father was brutally murdered. I’m afraid to let you know that all the evidence says that you are responsible.”
“What?” Darilth said shocked.
“The council has made its decision, Darilth,” Keralth hissed, his gaze chilling Darilth to the bone. “You will be tried for the murder of Kind Rezelith the III.”
“I will talk to the council myself! Somebody’s been feeding them lies,” Darilth said, his heart beating faster and rage pumping through his blood.
“Guards, arrest him,” Keralth ordered. Four guards came forward and put him in shackles.
It was in that moment that it dawned on Darilth what Keralth was doing. He gazed at his half-brother and saw the madness in his eyes. Then, suddenly, he thought of Ella. Keralth must have been aware of her whereabouts. His breathing became labored as he tried to control his rage. His fists clenched as he instinctively pulled on the restraints.
“Where is Ella, Keralth?” Darilth said, knowing where things were going.
“What’s the hurry, brother? I’ll tell you when you get comfortable in the dungeons,” Keralth hissed sarcastically. He sounded like a maniac.
Darilth knew it was futile asking him anything further.
They locked him up in the Dark Cell deep down below in the castle’s dungeons. A lone guard stood at the door. He looked like an old man, but that was an illusion. He was a demon who thrived on the prisoner’s misery.
The guards chained him at the far end of the cell and left him alone with the demon. Darilth could already feel the pressure building in his head. Soon it would turn into a searing pain that throbbed at his temples, making it impossible for him to think clearly. All Darilth could think of was Ella as he tried to block out the demon’s force telepathically.
***
Darilth woke up with a start as cold liquid splashed his face. His was stripped naked and his eyes hurt when he tried to open them. Hot, searing pain pierced every part of his toned, muscular body where deep wounds had been inflicted on him as torture. He was a warrior – he had been trained to bear wounds, but this was the kind of torture specifically meant to hurt him. He was strong – still standing while others in his place would have long succumbed to the wounds. His left eye was swollen with bruises as dark blue blood trickled down his face. His long, silver hair was a mess. A few strands were matted to his forehead and jaw, drenched in blood. His breathing was erratic and shallow, like that of a dying man. He wondered how long he had been unconscious.
Mustering all his strength, he opened his eyes and saw Keralth standing there, dressed in his finest robes, as a guard stood outside waiting. The demon guard was nowhere in sight.
“So, finally, we can talk,” Keralth said, dryly.
“Wh-where is Ella?” Darilth whispered. It took all his strength to say those few words.
“Oh, I thought you would never ask,” Keralth said in a vicious tone, a smirk curling his lips. “The dark moon has her.”
“No... No!” Darilth’s voice broke. “You ca-can’t do this to her! Get her out of there!” His breathing became more labored and his voice hoarse as his chest constricted terribly. Something inside his heart broke, then shattered. The physical pain from his wounds was practically numbed when compared to the tearing of his heart.
No... Please, not my Ella.
The dark moon is a terrible, terrible place. She won’t survive it... Mekarth wailed.
“What... do you want...Keralth?” Darilth said wearily, his breath coming in gasps.
“Draco’s Eye, Darilth. Give it to me and Ella will live,” he said.
“You know... you can’t wield the power of the Eye,” Darilth said.
“Oh, I can, if you willingly entrust it to me. When the judge convicts you of murder, I will be the next successor,” he said with an evil smile plastered on his face.
“The Council will never agree to it,” Darilth replied.
“They will, brother, when I present to them the assassin who will confess to have killed the King,” Keralth seethed.
“I ... I want to see Ella alive and safe... I want her safely transported back to her home planet. Only then... will I give you the Eye,” Darilth challenged him.
“Oh, that won’t be needed. Your little whore is pregnant and dying. Remember how Father told you that she was weak – not good enough for you? Too bad, really, that you didn’t listen.”
“Do not speak of my wife like that, Keralth!” Darilth hissed through clenched teeth, breathing hard as his hands closed into fists and his knuckles turned white.
“Think about it, Darilth. She doesn’t have much time left. You had better decide which one you want to keep: the Eye or the woman.”
“Keralth... Please... have mercy on her... She’s pregnant. She won’t survive there...” Darilth begged, desperate to save his wife. She was carrying his baby, and she was in such a terrible place. His father had been wrong. She was a strong woman. Strong enough to produce an heir.
Keralth laughed and left without another word, the cell door closing behind him.
Darilth would never have given Keralth the satisfaction of gloating over his misery, but as soon as he was gone, he collapsed. Suspended by chains, his whole body sagged. Tears streamed down his already blood-streaked face, and sobs wracked his body. Excruciating pain seared his head as he thought of her suffering. He coughed up blood while trying to catch his breath.
No, No, No! Ella, Ella... I’m so sorry...
And far away on the Dark Moon, Ella dreamed of Darilth. He was bound in chains and severely wounded and he was crying out her name in misery. She wanted to take him in her arms and comfort him but an invisible wall was in between them. She was helpless. She woke up in the dim light, shivering as cold sweat beaded her face. The first thought that came to her mind was that he had been captured in battle by the enemy and was a prisoner of war.
***
Darilth didn’t know how long he wallowed in his grief, crying out her name in the dark, trying desperately to reach h
er telepathically. He knew it was all futile. He went numb.
Darilth, get a grip! You must think clearly if you want to save her! his inner dragon said fiercely.
He pulled against his restraints, jaw clenched, and took a deep breath to regain control. Mekarth was right. He must do something if he wanted to save Ella and the throne. His mind raced as he thought of a way out. Then, he thought of the witch. Merelith! Yes, she could help him if he could summon her.
But there is one problem. The demon never sleeps. He will sense if we try to contact someone telepathically outside these walls! Mekarth reasoned.
He had a point, thought Darilth. He looked at his hand. He still wore the ring. His captors didn’t know that it was a secret communicator, undetectable for demons. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought of it before. He turned it in his hand and pressed the core. A holographic screen appeared right above his hand as he deftly tapped a message and pressed send. Now all he had to do was wait.
Chapter Eight
Merelith
Merelith was an old friend of the royal Rothgar family, tall, beautiful, and red-haired with bright green eyes. She was a shifter too, but of a different kind. When she got Darilth’s message, she knew something was seriously wrong and immediately headed out to his rescue.
The night was cold and silent when a sleek panther snuck down into the dungeons. Silent as ever, it stayed softly in the shadows, sensing the demon guard’s presence. The panther shifted and there stood Merelith. The demon suddenly sat up. Merelith had cloaked her scent but the demon was sharp enough to sense a presence there. Still in the shadows, she quietly whispered an incantation and blew shadow dust from the palm of her hand toward the demon. The demon instantly fell asleep. Only powerful magic could make a demon fall asleep, but Merelith was no ordinary witch. She had years of experience. She had to hurry as there was little time before the old man woke up.