Sacha looked ready to pounce on us. I prayed that she didn’t dare to shapeshift into a panther, again. Would Sacha take a risk and shapeshift in public?
No way. She wouldn’t dare. Although, she need not fear the Apolluon; anyone with a pistol would shoot her dead on the spot. She’d be riddled with bullets from the looks of it. Nearly every man sported a holster & a gun, as did a few women.
Bethany might’ve been considering this the notion of Sacha shifting as well. She stepped in front of me, shielding me behind her. I figured as long as Sacha’s eyes didn’t change from hazel to bright yellow then we might be safe, but you never knew with someone so evil.
“Your brother will pay with his life for attempting to kill my brother, but not before I kill you, and that pathetic excuse for an empress,” Sacha promised in a high shrill voice. I gasped as I heard her insulting reference of me. The nerve.
“Did you enjoy your nap Sacha? The bags under your eyes lead me to believe that you had not. Perhaps, you need another.” Bethany’s sneer and words caused Sacha to smile, but the liveliness didn’t reach those wicked eyes. To think, I had felt sorry for her and her twin when first hearing of their unfortunate beginnings.
“You’re wrong, Sacha. The debt is your suitors to pay,” Bethany informed, in a whisper that only Sacha and her posse could hear. It was obvious that Bethany didn’t want the town folk eavesdropping. As mortals they could never understand this conversation. I hoped for a quick exit out of this altercation but it didn’t look probable. Sacha’s backup was inching closer as if they desired to get a better look at me.
“Look at you,” Sacha said, giving me a once over. “Like a scared little rabbit standing there in your pretty little dress.” Sacha sneered, and then took a step closer. “I could kill you right now if I wanted to. But I won’t deny Victor that joy.” Sacha cackled, and her posse chuckled along with her. I gulped as I thought of being devoured by a panther.
“You? You are nothing. Neither you nor Victor will get a chance.” The anger in Bethany’s voice was detectable although calm.
Now Sacha stared both Bethany and I down. “You actually think that you are better than I am. Never forget that I know what your kind is capable of.
The both of you are no better than I am.” Sacha bellowed.
“Death will be your destiny if you continue to fulfill your boyfriend's orders.” Bethany declared fiercely,
“Ha!” Sacha’s wicked snicker had me on edge. I wanted to run and hide in the carriage. “Oh yes, you know my suitor very well. But she doesn't know you and what surrounds her.” Sacha pointed a jeweled finger at me. Probably all stolen, I figured, by her gang of thieves, or maybe she looted them herself. “But why should I care? As far as I'm concerned, you both deserve death.”
“I'm quite sure I don't know what you're insinuating, but as usual you’re proving to be a waste of my time.” Bethany hissed clearly passed the stage of annoyance. I was confused by what Sacha meant.
At first everyone stood around enthralled in what was transpiring between Bethany and Sacha. They all appeared to anticipate this gun – less duel, as if they had seen it before yet like a train wreck they couldn’t tear their eyes away. I knew that Bethany would never allow these people to see her lose control, and expose what she is. Sacha must’ve known this. But would Sacha be willing to expose her secret? Does she fear the Apolluon, or at least the frenzy that would take over this town if they knew what she was? I’m sure Bethany must wonder. Because If Sacha is foolish enough to shapeshift into a panther here, Bethany would have no choice but to react.
Sacha stood only a few feet away now, her stunning face was enraged with pure evil. She was thirsty for a fight. Bethany was still standing angled between Sacha and me, so I couldn’t see Bethany’s face although, I could feel the energy radiating from her body. She was almost vibrating.
“We are not that different, you and I.” Sacha gave Bethany another once over as she dared to step even closer. My heart was beating so fast, as I remembered the black stealthy panther that dove onto Bethany earlier. “We are going to kill to achieve what we want. You are devoted to your gods as I am devoted to mine.”
“I am nothing like you. You’re an animal, and out of control. Two things which I most certainly am not.” Bethany looked at Night Wind, who took his seat up front. She then pulled me forward towards the carriage; ending the conversation.
“You’re right, and I’ll tear your beautiful little head off, and eat it for supper.” Sacha said as I ambled to get into the carriage. “I am feeling a bit hungry.”
Sacha said as she narrowed her eyes. A malicious smile spread across her lips, sending chills up my spine. Her gang chuckled eagerly. They wanted to attack us as bad as I wanted to escape. “You got lucky this morning. How long do you think Victor will allow you and your family to babysit the little Queen here?” Sacha added.
“You shouldn’t make idle treats, and Victor’s only concern should be how long Evan will allow him to breathe,” Bethany said over her shoulder as she inched toward the carriage. Sacha couldn’t help herself, and lunged like an animal at the mention of her lover’s name, making me wonder if perhaps she was the out of control side to the double headed coin.
It was as if I was weightless in Bethany’s firm grasp as she shoved me into the carriage. I slammed up against the opposite side door, “Owww…” I yelped. Bethany had already boarded when Sacha landed on the very same spot where Bethany had just been standing. Sacha was fast, but Bethany was faster. When Bethany got into the carriage, she didn’t seem the least bit concerned about my shoulder which was throbbing with pain, but only for a second. Now the pain was gone. I loved this healing power. I was still stunned by Bethany’s strength. She had practically picked up my entire body by my one arm.
Luckily the carriage had somewhat concealed the displays of power both girls had revealed. I don’t think any of the town folk saw anything with the huge carriage blocking the way. I hoped. The town folk, who were too nosey to go on about their business, stared in what I guessed to be fascination, as Sacha and her sidekicks completely surrounded our carriage, blocking Night Wind an escape route.
From the window of the carriage, I watched one of Sacha’s gaunt looking sidekicks. He stared at me with evil steel gray eyes as he blew kisses at me, winked, and began mouthing the words ‘I’m going to kill you, bitch’. I turned away instantly, as he laughed. He scared me, yet I wanted to offer him a home cooked meal. He was skin and bones, and didn’t look like he could kill a fly.
Suddenly the sidewalk grew dark then black, as if a storm was approaching. I automatically knew what was happening, and panicked. It was the Apolluon shadows. They moved in slowly, causing a distinct overcast shadow of claws and arms that began reaching out toward Sacha, her entourage, and our carriage. Bethany’s eyes were opened wide. She saw the shadows too, and knew that we had to escape that very second.
“Night Wind, NOW!” Bethany yelled. Night Wind commanded the horses to take off, trampling one of Victor’s disciples.
I peered out the back window of the carriage, through the velvet curtains. A feeling of déjà vu came over me. Images of the foreboding shadows, which I had witnessed for the first time from out the back window of my parents car. It was the same. They crept up the way they had crept up behind Victor, reaching out to consume him with their claws. All of a sudden chaos broke out. The town folk began running in all directions. They saw the shadows too. They fled leaving their carriages, jumping on horses, or seeking refuge in the shops, saloon’s, and pretty much anywhere indoors. I could hear their screams loud and clear from inside the carriage.
“Run, Run!”
“Grab the children”
“Save yourselves from the black shadows!”
“The shadows will devour you whole!”
They knew. They all knew. They were deathly afraid of the growling and clawing shadows. They had seen the Apolluon and knew what they could do to anyone within their talons reach. Sacha
’s eyes bulged as she observed the Apolluon shadows that quickly approached her, and Victor’s other disciples.
She didn’t warn them. She didn’t try to save them. She only saved her herself. She sprinted with accelerated speed as her posse dispersed behind her. I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if they didn’t get away in time. Maybe the shadows would swallow them up.
I got to see it first hand as Night Wind spun our carriage around. From a distance, the evil shadows looked like dense and shapeless black smog on a chase. The scrawny one who had mouthed those unforgettable and obscene words to me only a few seconds ago, lagged behind. His skinny legs tried to speedily carry him away and escape when the Apolluon grabbed him and tossed him around in the air.
The boy screamed at the top of his lungs in agonizing yelps that sent shivers up and down my vertebrae. His long gangly arms reached out to anyone or anything in a futile effort to possibly save him from meeting Cerberus at the gates of the Underworld. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a chance; his date with Hades was set. The Apolluon shadows growled like hungry beasts, and then sunk into the ground looking like a black abyss in the dirt road. They dragged Victor’s shrieking disciple into the earth along with their obscure murkiness.
I pitied him, and almost wished the gods would save him, but I knew better than to conjure up such an improbable notion. I couldn’t help wondering though, if and when the disciple returned to the earth, as one of the Apolluon vampires to hunt for blood at dusk, if he would retain the memory of those he once knew.
Nineteen
Smothered
We violently bumped along the uneven road back to the house, and I finally stopped staring out the back window.
“Will he return as an Apolluon shadow?”
“I’m sorry, who?” Bethany seemed a million miles away from the carriage we rode in.
“Victor’s disciple, the one who was just gobbled up by the shadows.” I couldn’t help sounding annoyed as I anxiously waited for an answer.
“Hmm…,” Bethany murmured, with her eyes closed. “Only if Hades finds him worthy. From the looks of him, I doubt it. Hades likes them thoroughly evil. He’ll probably go straight to hell.”
“Oh my God.”
“Gods.”
“Right,” I sighed.
“We’ve arrived.” Bethany said. The gates had been left open for our return. Night Wind pulled the carriage up to the entrance of the large estate.
“Are we still going to the seamstress?” I asked, as I took Night Wind’s hand and descended down the carriage.
“I will have her pay us a visit tomorrow afternoon. For now we must stay indoors.”
I didn't say another word until we were in the foyer of the house. We removed our hats, gloves and gave them along with our parasols to Sun Paw and Moon Rose. I followed Bethany into the parlor. She walked over to the bar, poured herself a glass of wine from the crystal wine jug, and took a seat on the long chaise. I felt like I could use a glass myself, but no offers came my way. I sat across from Bethany on the velvet sofa and stared at her. She was staring out the window, but her mind was miles and miles away from the here. I stared at her intensely.
“It was that one…time. He had looked… exactly… like him.”
In a low whisper that no ordinary person could have heard, Bethany spoke in a voice that sounded like a scared child; shaky and unsure.
“How could I… have known…? I should… have… ,it was…not …Nikolas. But even the kiss had …felt the same. Victor must have told her, and now Sacha knows that… he and I… made love.”
All the while Bethany’s mouth never moved, and her eyes never left the window. I was hearing her thoughts, intruding on them. I was sure of it, and blown away by what I was hearing. Bethany and Victor?
No way!
But it was exactly what she was thinking. Something about her not realizing that it wasn’t Nikolas she had made love to but Victor, because Victor had looked just like Nikolas? That’s crazy. I must have it all wrong. It doesn’t make any sense. How could Victor look just like Nikolas?
I thought about some of the things that Sacha had said to Bethany.
Oh yes, you know my suitor very well.
That must be what she meant by knowing Victor very well. Obviously, no one knew about this, and Bethany must’ve been hoping that no one ever found out. She was shocked that Sacha knew. I decided not to bring it up. I wouldn’t know how to. For now I’d rather not let Bethany know that I have gained the power to hear her thoughts even though I have no idea how to turn it on or off. Something else Sacha had said was also bothering me.
… she doesn't know you and what surrounds her
I had to know what she meant by that. No sense in beating around the bush, I thought.
“What did Sacha mean when she said that I didn't know you, or what surrounds me?” Bethany almost jumped when she heard my voice. It was as if she had no idea that I was still in the parlor with her. Her pretty face darkened as if one of the dreadful shadows had just passed in front of her. She stared directly at me, and then sighed with fake exhaustion.
“Oh Cordelia,” Bethany sighed, a second time. Did I detect a hint of annoyance? “You can't take anything that cheap tramp says seriously.”
“It didn't sound like just anything. It sounded like an accusation to me.” I responded, getting a bit annoyed. I was going to get to the bottom of this whether Bethany liked it or not. Her track record on the truth had been kind of shaky as of late. I got the feeling that she was withholding something.
“What are you saying, Cordelia? Do you believe Sacha over me? She’s a pathetic slave to an evil predator who wants you dead, might I remind you. I mean... are you serious?” Bethany challenged. She opened her eyes really wide, and stared at me in disbelief, as if I had defected to the other side.
“You haven’t said anything, so I don’t know who or what to believe. Are you going to answer my question, or would you rather I make my own assumptions?” I said replaying Sacha's choice of words in my head.
…she doesn't know you and what surrounds her
…she doesn't know you…
…what surrounds her
The words were deliberate and precise. She definitely meant something by them.
“I have already answered you.” Bethany sat up. “I don't know why Sacha said what she said. Certainly you can't expect me to enlighten you on what goes on in that sadist mind of hers.” Bethany tried to clarify, but only ended up sounding evasive.
“Really, Cordelia, this conversation is ridiculous?” Bethany was being defensive and intended to make nothing out of what Sacha had implied; that I may not know the truth about the Ischero family.
I wasn't buying her ambiguous answer for a second, but I decided to back off for now. Perhaps, Sacha was just blowing smoke in my eyes, although I doubted it. It’s not that I don’t trust Bethany; it’s just that I know that Bethany isn’t telling me the truth right now. The look in Sacha’s eyes had been intense and evil, but not exactly dishonest.
Why would Sacha care if I was safe or not? It was as if Sacha had a score to settle with Bethany. I’d bet that Victor made Sacha aware that I hadn’t regained my memory, so maybe she thought discrediting Bethany, to me, would hurt her. She was right. Bethany watched me very closely from her spot on the chaise. She still tried to look poised, but I knew that our conversation had left her a bit ruffled. I decided to change the subject.
“Sacha knew about the shadows,” I said. “The second she knew that they were there, she panicked and fled.”
“The Apolluon doesn’t discriminate, and yes, Victor’s gang is quite aware of the Apolluon’s increasing presence. They know that Hades is not allowed on this earth, and they are aware of how powerful his’ disciples are. We only hope that Victor doesn’t notify Hades of the death of the queen vampiress.”
Bethany and I locked eyes as I realized that she knew what happened last night too. It was my turn to sigh. “If Victor makes a pact with H
ades, then the Apolluon will come straight for us.”
“Then they’ll kill us,” I whispered to myself.
“Indeed, once they know our aura and exact location. Only you can defend us against them and Hades…”
“What? How am I supposed to stop Hades?”
“You won’t have to. Hades cannot see what transpires here on earth, and is forbidden to rise above the realms of his Underworld, as per his pact with Zeus and Poseidon,” Bethany said, confidently. “Therefore, Hades sends the undead souls to track us. But the Apolluon cannot see an Ischero until they feel the aura of power. Our fight is with the Apolluon.”
“I see.”
“Sometimes I wish the Apolluon could terrorize the traditional way. Strictly Smith & Wesson.” Bethany said, with her eyes closed. “But obviously that would be useless to them since bullets cannot harm us. I’ve heard that when they overpower you it feels like fire, burning you to your soul. Since you haven’t regained your memory, we must get to Victor first.” I didn’t believe Bethany meant to make me feel helpless, but I did.
“How do we do that?”
“We must locate his hiding places. He’s rumored to have several.” She said sighing while ringing a small bell which summoned Moon Rose. After a few moments, Moon Rose entered the parlor, and her expression was blank but pleasant enough, I guess. I smiled, and tried not to appear as if I had overheard her harsh words of warning to her sister regarding me. She smiled back, but it was forced, and never reached her eyes. The eyes told the truth, and Moon Rose was cautious of me.
Bethany told Moon Rose that she wished to take a bath before dinner. Moon Rose quickly departed, and went upstairs. Bethany got up slowly, and started to leave the room but not before turning around to say one last thing.
“Cordelia, please try not to hinder your chances of regaining your memory with foolish thoughts. Sacha was trying to distract you. Remember who your family is, and where your loyalties lie.” There was a trace of malice in Bethany’s voice that I had never heard before. We stared at each other for a brief moment before she spun around and walked out of the room.
Betrayal Page 28