Summoned

by Lisa E Parry

  “Are you showing me to my room then?” I asked to change the subject.

  Nick made an extravagant bow and held out his arm. “I am at your service, my lady.” Before I took his arm, I saw both Dorian and Oliver narrow their eyes at him.

  My first reaction to the palace was admiration: it was beautiful. White columns lined the corridors, and cream marble floors meandered throughout the halls like a shining, coalescing river. I simply gawked. The sconces held torches aflame, washing the corridors with a warm glow. We walked by a walled garden dotted with rose bushes and a flower I didn’t recognise - but it held a strong potency. I pulled in a little power to get a better smell of it and breathed out with a dreamy sigh.

  Everyone we met in the corridors was very formal in their greetings to us. Nick seemed to know many of them already. We finally reached my room and Nick opened the door for me. Dorian followed, but I found Oliver sitting in an ornate chair with his legs crossed.

  “Wow.” The room was huge with a very high ceiling and an enormous fireplace in which a crackling, spitting fire was already providing warmth. Candles had been lit and their flickering glow gave the room light and warmth. I walked to the four-poster bed to touch the curtains drawn to the posts and my eyes fell on Dorian leaning on the balcony speaking quietly with Nick. I rushed past Oliver and looked down from my own personal balcony upon King Aidan’s kingdom. A fresh cool breeze washed over me.

  The moon shone bright as the sky was clear. I saw the stars easily. With no light pollution to obscure the view, they sparkled down at us like diamonds. The sky above looked alien. The little knowledge I had of the night sky was useless as unrecognisable constellations glistened in an unfamiliar sky. Where are we? Was this Earth at all? Had it ever been, or will it ever be the Earth I called home? I doubted it. The hairs on my arms rose. All of a sudden, I felt alien in an alien world and I shook my head in almost disbelief at the magnitude of magic.

  My eyes lowered to the city. I saw the buildings reflect the little light provided by candles in windows and torches in the streets. Raising my eyes beyond its boundaries, I saw dominating, snow-capped mountains bordering the horizon with an ominous ghostly glow. With such little technology, had these people even discovered every inch of this planet? Had they scaled all the mountains, mapped all the coastlines, found every country? The mind boggled. What didn’t they know about their own countries? How did they feel with uncertainties like that?

  The air was cool, and the slight breeze slid over my skin like velvet. Uncertainty aside, I gripped the solid cold stones of the balcony and embraced a growing excitement.

  Dorian had been watching me. “I’m going to the barracks now. I’ll see you at the banquet in about an hour. Cheri will come for you.” He looked sad and those harsh angles of his face became sharper under the light of the moon. Is it my imagination or does he look alien here too?

  “That’s our cue Oliver,” Nick said with an understanding smile and retreated to the door, closing it behind him.

  “See you later.” Oliver said before disappearing.

  Dorian had me locked in his arms before I could blink and brought his lips down on mine. He kissed me as though it would be the last time. He was right though. When would we be alone again? His body seemed bigger in his chainmail and I had trouble getting my arms around him.

  “I don’t know when…” he started to say as he ran his fingers through my hair.

  “I know,” I grumbled and grabbed his head for another smooch.

  A knock came at the door. “Damnit!” I cried as we parted, and the look on his face was one of regret; but that need still shadowed his features.

  “I should go.” He took my hand as we walked to the door and shared one last kiss before we separated, and I opened it to let in my visitor.

  “Hey!” It was Viola. She nodded to Dorian as he walked solemnly out. I let her in and she suddenly had a case of verbal diarrhoea. “Oh my god, can you believe this place? It’s fantastic!” She moved past me to inspect my room. “Yours looks the same as mine, although Cheri has apartments. She has a seating room and then her bedroom joins onto that; they must definitely think a lot of her. I wonder how long she was here for before and why she was here and what she did?” Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she bounded around the room. Just watching her was exhausting.

  I thought about that. “Um, Dorian would know. I’ll ask him. You’ve changed your dress.” I noticed that instead of the red dress she had first worn, she was now in a plum coloured dress with a longer train and a modest square neck. She looked like an Elven Princess.

  “Because of the banquet of course. Cheri said to wear our finest dress as the banquet is in honour of us. Apparently, all the Lords and Ladies of the kingdom have been invited and you know what that means? I’m thinking sexy bachelors and lots of dancing.” I walked to a large wardrobe standing on pawed lion feet and opened it to inspect my dresses while Viola babbled. I wasn’t in the mood for a banquet any more. My mind was still on Dorian…

  Not long afterward, I was walking with Cheri and the rest of our group to the banqueting hall. My stomach flipped with nerves as Cheri assured us that most people would be interested in speaking with her, Nick and Stephanie: they were known here and seen as ambassadors. Viola and I had decided to acquaint ourselves with a quiet corner of the room and watch the festivities away from the hustle and bustle. However, Viola wasn’t going to say no if someone asked her to dance.

  We were announced to the room when we entered, and I immediately felt really small. The room was huge and lined with chandeliers. Windows stretched from floor to ceiling and it looked like there were hundreds of people milling around. The women were dressed in the most beautiful gowns I had ever seen, adorned with gold and jewels of all colours of the rainbow, and the men in their finery looked proud and powerful.

  Silence stretched out as we walked timidly in. The King was the first to approach us. He took Cheri’s hand and escorted her further into the salon, at which Viola and I shared raised eyebrows. King Aidan was dressed in gorgeous, deep red velvet and adorned with a heavy gold chain draped from shoulder to shoulder. He looked every inch the powerful King and it still surprised me how young he looked.

  “Cheri told me he’s only thirty,” Viola whispered to me. “I wouldn’t say no.” I looked at her astounded. Jeez, he’s the King! Could she have set her sights any higher?

  As we followed, I felt hundreds of eyes pressing on me and I wanted to disappear – to somewhere obscure, away from their scrutiny. Dorian, my silent rock, was behind me and I sorely wished I could grasp his hand right now. My fingers flexed. We made our way to a buffet and I was thankful it was all food I could eat. For some reason I imagined raw food or stuff that I wouldn’t recognise; but thankfully there were steaming potatoes, vegetables and meats like chicken and beef. I ate a little, but nerves wouldn’t allow me to do the food justice.

  I was pleased with my dress at least. I wore a white chiffon style dress with short sleeves and a square neckline. The only jewellery I had adorned myself with was the sapphire necklace that Dorian had given me and, of course, the ever present silver filigree bracelet.

  As the night drew on, I had spoken little to anyone - to my relief -, and I was standing with Viola and Dayna when Warwick approached us. “You should hear what some of these people are saying about you lot.” He grinned with devilish green eyes. I had to admit he looked pretty damn good in his dress clothes of emerald green to match his hypnotic eyes.

  “You haven’t been talking about us, have you?” Dayna asked with an almost playful smile.

  Warwick’s smile broadened, but his eyes turned to me. “Of course not. I’ve been saying a little hello to the ladies.” He turned to a group of women who caught his eye, giggled and turned away. I rolled my eyes, even though a smile crept across my face. “I can listen in on any conversation in this room and believe me, the guys talk just as smutty here as they do in our world.” He cleared his throat and looked down. “
Incoming, two o’clock...”

  My heart jumped into a fast beat and I took a quick swig of punch from my goblet. Viola and Dayna looked just as wary. “Mmm, I love the sound of your fast-beating hearts,” Warwick said with a lick of his lips as Adhelm approached us. I felt relieved it was someone I already knew.

  I smiled at him, “Adhelm, this is Dayna, Viola and Warwick,” I turned to my friends. “This is Adhelm, the King’s sorcerer and advisor.” The foul taste of one of his infamous concoctions for my headache was still repeating on me, no matter how much I ate. Cheri had informed us we had to make introductions: it was an expected formality.

  Adhelm smiled that grandfatherly smile and I felt the tension ease a little, apart from Warwick. “Well met,” he held his hands open. “You all look like you belong here, may I say. Thank you for making the effort.” I liked his honesty. “You can show yourself my friend, we are no strangers to ghosts.”

  We all frowned at him just before Oliver popped into existence at Warwick’s side. The vampire cursed then rubbed the back of his neck.

  “Interesting, I thought that mark would have disappeared on you.” Adhelm indicated the scar encircling Warwick’s wrist. We all gaped at him and I saw Warwick tense every muscle in his body. Does he know…?

  “Don’t worry, I shan’t tell a soul what you are, my friend. I understand you are honour-bound to look out for Melissa and I believe you. There are not many of your kind here and they are more animal than human. I suppose in your world you are marginally more advanced. The last vampire I came across didn’t even look human.”

  Warwick’s eyes fixed on Adhelm, but it had no effect on the old man. Instead he turned to Viola. “My dear, it is an honour to meet you.” He took her hand and kissed the back of it, “Marvellous race you are; you look like a descendant of the Queen herself.” Viola’s cheeks pinked, and I heard her murmur ‘Thank you’.

  “I am told you have done great things with the ‘House of Haunting’? What a fantastic idea! I wish I could see it, but I think I would be little too out of place in your world.” Adhelm finally turned to Dayna and she laughed a little.

  “I can’t imagine you in a pair of jeans Sir,” she said and looked at Oliver. Oliver plucked at his jeans and gave him a wink.

  “Oh dear, I fear I do not have the figure for those,” he admitted making us all laugh. I mentally pictured Adhelm wearing jeans and looking thoroughly uncomfortable. With the help of the punch I fell into a fit of the giggles.

  Adhelm watched us laugh with a twinkle in his eye. Suddenly his head snapped to face the door. I caught it and watched him curiously as he drew in power; his aura shimmered, and I got a little taste of the amount of authority he had over power. That sobered me instantly and without further thought I pulled power in and reached out to see what he had sensed.

  Adhelm turned back, “You must rest; let it go.” With a swift goodbye he left us and walked straight to the King.

  We cast curious looks between us and then I noticed the King’s red-haired guard signal the others. He spoke with them in a corner of the room and then they made an escort around the King. Owen, Ian and Neil joined their witches and Dorian stood by my side.

  “Melissa…” Dorian began, but he was interrupted. The doors blew inwards cutting him off. Wood splintered to shower the crowd and women screamed. Dorian and Warwick stood in front of me to block my view and then they pushed me back to the wall. Through the towers that they both were I managed to peer between their shoulders a little.

  A serene looking woman stepped calmly into the room and steadily scanned the crowd. She was shockingly beautiful with golden hair flowing down to her hips and a slim figure in a black velvet dress. When her eyes passed briefly over me I shivered: they were black, cold and unfeeling.

  “Well, well. You have hidden them well, haven’t you? I can’t find the others.” Her voice was like silk as it penetrated the silence, but with a deadly command…

  I gulped, for I knew whom she meant. We were the ‘others’ and she didn’t seem very pleasant. Was this the woman challenging their world and then threatening to take over ours? Two men flanked her dressed from head to toe in rusty old armour. I couldn’t see their faces. Actually, I didn’t want to when I heard harsh animal guttural breathing and growls reverberate from inside their helmets. My heart began to pick up its pace. What are they?

  “King Aidan I demand you show them to me!” she screeched. My mouth hung open at the manner in which she had spoken to the King.

  King Aidan stepped forwards with Adhelm at his side plus ten guards surrounding him. “I shall not Etheldreda. Why are you here? Are you willing to state your intentions and to negotiate?” I immediately felt respect for Aidan. His voice was strong, without wavering, and he kept his composure. The only sign he was affected were his clenched fists at his side.

  Etheldreda spat on the floor, “I am not here to negotiate! Show them to me!”

  “No,” came the king’s simple reply.

  Etheldreda pointed at one of the men in the crowd, I recognised him as one of the elderly Lords, and he fell to the floor writhing and crying out. Warwick leaned back to block my view. I guessed he knew what my response would be, and he tried to stop me. He was right to know how this would affect me. I had been forced to watch too many people struggle in pain and unable to do jack shit to help. My breathing started to quicken as no one came to the elderly man’s aid. “Why is no one helping him?” I whispered furiously.

  This Etheldreda with hollow eyes wasn’t even looking at her victim; she was staring down the King. Another loud cry came from the poor man’s mouth and that was it, something snapped inside me and I took in so much power and in such a rush that I felt dizzy from it before I lashed out at her. It was an attack on her mind designed to sever the link of magic. She faltered, and her prey stopped screaming. Nevertheless, he lay motionless on the floor. Warwick whipped around to face me so quick I didn’t see it happen. Dorian turned to me in silent warning.

  Calm spread throughout my body and with an invisible force I pushed my two overprotective bodyguards away and stepped forwards. I wanted her to know it was me, so she didn’t hurt anyone else. All eyes focused on me as I let my green aura billow out around me like a burst of energy. To my satisfaction her underlings flinched and stepped back. She had got what she wanted: one of us to reveal ourselves by helping an innocent.

  “So, you are she - the sorceress whose power has been felt across the realities.” Before I realised it, we were both walking in a slow circle, measuring each other up. I sent out a tendril of power to feel she had a dam of magic waiting to be released on her first whim.

  “Don’t hurt anyone.” I commanded, but the voice that came from my mouth resonated with vibrations of unreleased power. I can’t watch anyone get hurt and just stand by. I won’t do it again. Viola caught my eye and a memory of her screaming out and clawing at her own skin, making it bleed, shot through my mind. One of many memories I was trying to suppress. I saw Dorian flinch; perhaps he had just seen my fleeting memory…

  I stopped when I was positioned in front of the unconscious Lord on the floor and she cocked her head to one side.

  “Join me,” she whispered as her cruel eyes bore into mine.

  I was shocked into silence. Was this why she had come here? She wanted me to join her ranks? I grimaced at the memory of Henrik’s attempt to make me do the same thing. It hadn’t ended well for him.

  “Do you know what happened to the last person who tried to make me join you?” I closed my eyes and in my rage I shot the image of Henrik in his last moments into her mind.

  I heard a pathetic noise escape her, which sounded like surprise; but when I opened my eyes again her lip had curled into a vicious smile. Someone was shouting at us, but I didn’t hear them. My fingers crackled as electricity threatened to ignite my own dress.

  “Kill her, Mandrake,” she ordered and one of her beasts lunged at me. Dorian and Warwick needn’t have bothered running towards the crea
ture known as ‘Mandrake’. I pointed at him and stopped his heart so fast that he fell forwards and skidded along the polished floor to stop at my feet and lie still, face down. If it had been human, I wouldn’t have taken such drastic measures, but I wanted to instil fear.

  Etheldreda lowered herself into a crouch and blue lights spun around her wrists. So, this is it, she’s going for the kill. Mandrake, her disposable minion, must have been a test.

  “Enough!” The voice was so loud and boomed inside my head that I pressed my hands to my ears in a knee jerk reaction. Etheldreda did the same and cursed the cloaked man standing behind her. I hadn’t noticed him. Was he there before? My vision cleared, and someone picked me up off the floor. When did I fall over?

  After spots that had exploded into my vision had retreated, the cloaked figure entered the room and my heart sank as I recognised with dread that it was Anarch. There he was in the flesh and standing before me. Etheldreda stepped closer to him and practically purred at him. They were in league together and the realisation that Anarch was joining forces with her to bring this civilisation down crushed me. He still had his deadly string attached to me. Was he going to make his claim now and pull on that string like I was some sort of puppet?

  He turned those vortex eyes on me. “Melissa, so nice to see you again...” He made a small mocking bow and then looked at Dorian. “You are looking well; I see she fixed you.” Yup, he was driving the point home. He had a staff with the skull of a ram mounted atop it and the same dark robes I was used to seeing him in. His long black hair hung down his face with slices of silver running through it. In his home reality, he seemed more menacing in the flesh.

  Cheri stepped forwards, flanked by Neil. “What’s going on? You requested our help, Anarch, which is why we came.”