Within the Cards

by Donna Altman

  “I understand Dee, I want to love him, but I don’t know how. He wants the Ellie I was, but I’m not her.” I reminded her. We both moved to the bench at the edge of the garden, and we sat. She took my hands in hers.

  “Dear Ellie, you’re the same person. To him, you’re the same person. He loves you now, and he loves the Ellie before the spell. She is still part of you. You must find a way to move the moon's phase and let our grandmother come to help you. She loved you too.” Dee told me, as she looked deep into my eyes. Then she looked at the entrance of the garden. Dee’s tone changed. Then I realized why. Suzi was near. What was I going to do? She would be able to read my thoughts of Daught. Dee looked at me and waved her hand in front of my face. My thoughts of Daught vanished from my head. Suzi made her entrance as boldly as she always had.

  Suzi was scarier than I remembered. She entered the garden with a sound of thunder behind her movements. She peered in my eyes and then into Dee’s.

  “What have my sisters been talking about?” She inquired as she entered the garden. She touched one of the green ferns then rubbed her hands together. I couldn’t remember what we were talking about just before the thundering entrance. Dee looked at me, and she was proud that her spell had worked.

  “Hello Suzi, what brings you to the slum side of the mountain?” Dee spoke as she stood to greet her. Suzi stretched out her hand, and Dee knew she wanted her to kiss her extended fingers. Dee did as Suzi commanded. This made me sick to my stomach. Suzi leered at Dee. I could see the hatred she felt for both of us. She didn’t see either of us as sisters. We were just beings in her control. She was the wife of the Lords. We were mere witchyres that happened to be her relatives.

  “I have come to check up on you. I’ve had a feeling that you two were up to something, and I want to make sure I’m not going to have to punish you.” Her spoken words were evil. She turned to me and extended her hand. I couldn’t bring myself to kiss her stinking hand. I walked over to Dee and gave Suzi a smirk. She acted as if I didn’t do anything that bothered her, but I knew she was pissed. Dee interrupted.

  “Suzi, we would never try to go against your words. You know we wouldn’t do this. Listen to our thoughts and feelings. Ellie has just been telling me about the school she has been attending. She rather enjoys intimidating the humans.” We both laughed. Suzi looked at us as if we were invisible. She walked pass us and touched the Calla lilies that flourished against the boarder of the garden.

  I could tell Suzi was analyzing the thoughts of both of us. My thoughts were on feeding on the girl named Trish. I didn’t know why I resented her so much. Dee directed her thoughts to Suzi. She warned her that the Lords wanted a second wife, and if they knew that I was home, they would come for me. Suzi didn’t like this. Dee was proud of being able to put Suzi in her place. I was too scared of her to attempt this. Suzi knew she didn’t want the Lords to find out I was here. She didn’t want to share her throne with her sister. She turned to our direction and glared at us for a few moments before she spoke.

  “So Ellie, what have you been studying this time?” she laughed at the thought of my returning to school for the hundredth time. Her ability to belittle me hadn’t changed. I answered her.

  “Dee sentenced me to the dreadful art of government.” I spoke with the hatred that she looked for. I knew I had to give her what she wanted, so she would go away pleased that we were still lower than she. She began to laugh. Dee knew we were passing her test. Suzi wouldn’t stand for our doing anything that would embarrass the Lords or herself. She knew if the Lords found us to be disrespectful, her punishment would be as cruel as ours.

  “I hear we have a vampire held here?” She changed the subject and directed her question to Dee.

  “Yes, would you like to see the mongrel?” Dee inquired as she moved toward the entrance to the garden. She knew Suzi would want first-hand knowledge to report to the Lords. We followed Dee to the Dungeon. I trailed behind Suzi because I didn’t dare walk before her. Even though, I didn’t like her, she still ruled with the Lords. We made our way to the dungeon.

  She saw the creature in front of her. He stood still as he lusted for the half-naked witchyre females that taunted him. She felt sick from his smell. However, she felt pleased at his agony. I heard her thoughts of him and the Lord's intentions. She saw him as a vermin, nothing more than a sewer rat. It sickened her to look at his kind because she hated hybrids. It was a hate that not even hell could stand the forces of her feelings. I knew the Lords didn’t intent on returning him to his clan. They wanted him ripped to pieces, and his parts spread over the earth, so they would never be able to pull him back together. The Lords were just waiting to see if the vampires could find the witch that held this information they didn’t want known about our kind. However, if they didn't know about Daught then what else could they have to hide? My mind began to wander.

  “Ellie, would you please leave me with Suzi for a few moments? I would like to speak to her alone.” Dee requested. I saw the look in her eyes. She wanted me to leave. I wasn’t upset. I was more than happy to get away from Suzi.

  “Sure, Suzi it was nice as always. Come back when you can stay longer.” I spoke to Suzi and then smiled at Dee. Dee still had an urgent look on her face.

  “At least that school is teaching her manners.” Suzi laughed.

  “No, that was us taking her defiant memory away.” Dee commented. Suzi continued to laugh an evil sound that flowed from her lips.

  Suzi had missed the sarcasm in my voice. She never did have any common sense. I looked at Dee. Her eyes warned me to leave. I did as she asked. I walked back through the long hallway that leads into the living quarters. There in the room, where we had our first conversation about Daught was the beam of light again in the sphere. My memories of Daught were returning. That was why Dee sent me away and made the light appear. She was protecting me again by hiding my thoughts from Suzi. She knew her spell was fading. I realized I had thought of Daught when I was down in the dungeon with Suzi and Dee. Suzi must have been to engross with the vampire that she missed my thoughts. Dee noticed them and sent me away so I would be safe from Suzi.

  Protected by the sphere of light, Daught was in my thoughts again. I wanted to be with him more now than I had before. The last time I saw him I made love with him, but told him it was just sex as if it meant nothing. This was far from the truth. I did have this feeling of love for him, but I didn't know what our life together was like before. I needed to know. I needed to be the Ellie that Daught loved so much. I wanted to be the Ellie that loved him. This spell had to work. It just had to work.

  The door opened. I held my breath. I knew once the person who dared to enter was in the room; they would know my thoughts. I waited with anticipation for the unknown person to enter. I felt myself release the breath. It was Dee, and she was alone.

  “Where’s Suzi?” I questioned.

  “She's gone for now.” She replied. “She was just checking to make sure we were still under her control. I think we convinced her. Ellie, if you’re going through with this relationship then you must do it soon. She will be back, and I fear the Lords will be with her.”

  “I’ll go now.” I told her. I needed to see Daught. I knew I’d hurt him, and I hoped he wasn’t mad with me for what I said to him.

  I was just about to leave when Dee stopped me. She turned and looked as she had when Suzi arrived. Her look showed concern with what she encountered. I knew something had just happened, and I feared Suzi had slowly caught the mishap of my thinking of Daught when I was in front of her.

  “They have found another vampire trying to enter the clan’s boundaries.” She said. She sniffed the air. Then her face turned frigid. I read her thoughts. It was Daught. He had come looking for me. Damn it Daught, why would you do something so stupid? Well hell why not? He was after all a vampire. They're known for not thinking things through before they acted.

  “Where are they taking him?” I begged. I got up and started for the doo
r, but Dee grabbed my arm.

  “To the dungeon with the other one.” She told me as she pulled me close to her.

  “I must save him, Dee.” I knew she would help me. She pulled me closer and wrapped her arms around me. I loved Dee, but all I could think of was getting to Daught.

  “Wait Ellie, I have a plan. Go to the dungeon and tell the females to leave. Tell them you want to have a little fun with the vamp. Once they're gone, I’ll instruct them to bring Daught into the dungeon. You’ll have to transport him when you vanish. I’ll say he escaped. I’ll have to kill the other vampire because he’ll know we helped him and try to use this knowledge to bargain his release.” She stated with fear. I knew this would be dangerous for Daught and me, but I also knew Dee would be in danger too.

  “How will you explain?” I pleaded. She touched my lips with her finger to hush me. I looked in her eyes, and I felt safe. I knew she wouldn’t let me down.

  “Just do as I say, then make the moon blue soon. It’ll be our only salvation.” Her voice was calm, but clear. She hugged me tight and then she vanished from the room.

  I went to the dungeon as Dee told me. I had to convince these guards to leave. I had to do it quick before they arrived with Daught. As I walked into the door, one of the female guards met me. She had a snarl that flowed with venom.

  “What do you want?” She hissed and rolled her eyes at me.

  “Leave now.” I commanded. I thought my voice would be shaky, but it was firm and full of conviction.

  “Who are you to tell me what to do?” The female guard hissed back at me. She put her hands on her naked hips. I saw the vamp from the corner of my eye.

  “I’m the sister of the one that controls your being. If you value your life, I would do as I say.” I scolded her and pointed toward the door. “I want to play with this creature, now leave me to my fun.” I held up my hand as to silences her. She looked at me with hatred in her eyes. She didn’t trust me. We were pretty even now because I didn’t trust her either. She continued to stand without moving.

  “Now,” again I commanded and raised my voice this time to make her understand I was serious. She hissed and rolled her eyes at me.

  Both females grabbed the clothing they had let fall to the floor in their attempts to drive the vampire crazy. They dressed and left the room as I’d told them. I was alone with the mongrel. He smelled like a sewer. This wasn’t the scent Daught emitted. I knew Daught was different that first day in class. The mongrel hissed at me. I saw the questions in his eyes, but Dee would kill him so he wouldn’t be able to tell others of my escape with Daught. He opened his mouth and it made me sick to my stomach. His breath smelled worse than he did.

  “What are you doing little witchy?” he asked. “Do you want to be a bad girl and have some fun with a vampire? Do you want to have fun with someone that can make you feel good?” He stuck his tongue out and lashed it back and forth at me. He stood in front of me behind the vibration shield, totally naked. His body rippled with muscles, tight and tense. He was extremely attractive for a vampire, but the stench offended me more than his firmly excited appendage. I thought of him as scum, stinking, rotten scum. I smiled at him. I wanted to hurt him and drive him over the edge. I remember this was the feeling I had toward Daught the first time I saw him in class. Just as this vamp, I thought he was crazy.

  “What? You want me to come in there with you. Tell me what you would like to do to me.” I teased him. I walked seductively in front of him. I knew this would drive him wilder than he could bear. I was right. He tried to break the invisible bond and fell to the floor. I laughed at this pathetic mongrel.

  When I heard the door to the dungeon open, my heart sunk to the ground. I was scared that Dee was unable to convince the male guards to let her take him. She was the leader of the clan and didn’t normally do labor work. They pushed Daught through the door and behind him came Dee, but the male guard followed her. Daught looked into my eyes. He could see the terror and fear they held. I felt brave with others in the outside world. I never feared anyone. However, this was different we were within the witchyre clan’s walls. I was here, and my hidden creation stood in front of me. His body showed signs of the beaten from the other witchyres. My eyes couldn’t stand to see what they had done to him. For a moment, I froze with fear. I feared the leaders of the witchyres, the Lords and my sister Suzi. Suzi hadn’t been gone long, and I feared she would know the upheaval and return before I could escape with Daught.

  Dee looked at me. She knew I would do whatever I had to do to save him, just as I’d done so many years before. She informed the guard to put him behind the vibration bonds. Daught could read my thoughts. He knew I was going to do something to save him. As the guard attempted to push him toward the other vampire, he thrust backwards and loosened his bonds. The guard started to use his magical powers on him, when Daught turned toward him. He read Dee’s thoughts that told him to pretend to cast a spell. He did what she told him. With the guard’s attention on Daught, Dee was able to reverse the magic of the guard, which bonded him instead of Daught. She told Daught with her thoughts to hold me hostage, and for him to announce he would use his powers to kill me. He followed her thoughts again. When I was in Daught’s arms I snapped my fingers, and we both vanished. The male guard couldn’t believe his eyes. He looked shaken. He yelled for help, before Daught and I disappeared. His help came late because they entered the dungeon just in time to see our vanishing act.

  Dee sent them away. She completed the task she intended, before the others arrived to see what she had done. She put herself at risk for us. I would owe her forever for saving Daught. She was truly my protector. With just a few moments to spare, Daught and I escaped. I worried what would happen to Dee, but I knew there was nothing I could do at this point.

  Chapter Seventeen

  ON THE RUN

  In a flash, we were back in my dorm room. I could feel Ellie shaking violently. I held her tight next to me, and this time she didn’t pull away. We stood for several minutes unsure of what to say to each other. Once she calmed down, I released my grip and looked into her eyes. If she could produce tears I would have to wipe her face, but it was dry. We couldn’t do this human act. She took a deep breath.

  “Why did you go to my sisters? You know they would have made me kill you.” She yelled at me with anger and with love in the same breath. She pulled away from me. She ran her hand through her hair as she glared at me.

  “I was under the impression from your letter that you could care less if I died.” I scolded back and turned to look out the window.

  “My letter? I told you I needed time, Daught.” She hissed and sat on the bed. Her words angered me. I turned to face her.

  “I had to find you. I will not exist without you.” I yelled. “I love you Ellie, and I’ve lived for a hundred years without you. I can't do this any longer.”

  I sat down at the desk as I leaned over putting my face in my hands. Then I felt her touch on my back as the electricity surged through my body. I lifted my head to look at her. I saw the disbelief in her eyes. She reached for my face. I hesitated and pulled back. I knew the power she held. She could turn me into a frog if she wanted with just a touch. She moved closer to me. I couldn't pull back any further. She blocked me. She was in front of me, and the window was behind me. She touched my face, and it felt gentle. I felt the warmth of her touch as she healed my wounds. I rose from my chair. Moving toward me, she pushed against me. Her body felt warm and inviting. I was a man, but I didn’t know what to do next. The last time we spoke, she was anything but gentle. Then again, she had risked her life for me at her sister’s lair.

  “You’ll never be without me again. I was coming back for you.” She tried to assure me as she smiled and ran her fingers down the side of my face.

  “You left me once before, and I waited then. I can’t do this again.” I dropped my face. I couldn’t look at her. She pulled my face to hers. Her lips touched mine. The electricity was stronger this t
ime, and I couldn’t resist her even though I knew she might be gone again in the morning. I felt the heat from her kiss. Our bodies must have levitated because I never knew we moved to the bed. We made love all night this time. Ellie was as much in attendance as I. I loved the smell of her. I loved the taste of her.

  I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the sun outside my window. I lay in bed looking into Ellie’s eyes for hours, kissing her lips. I never wanted to leave this place in time.

  “I know you don’t want to hear this, but I love you.” I told her as I kissed her lips. She smiled and then began to laugh wildly. I didn't understand her amusement. She looked at me and kissed me, but continued to burst out laughing uncontrollability. I sat up in bed.

  “Why are you laughing at me?” I scowled at her and pulled away.

  “No – No, Daught, I’m not laughing at you.” She could hardly speak for laughing. I looked at her with a strange look. I wasn’t sure if she was right. Maybe I was crazy and it had rubbed off on her.

  “It kind of appears that way. Now, who’s acting insane?” I said sarcastically. She tried to pull me closer to her, but I moved to the edge of the bed.

  She tried to control her laughter before she spoke, but the smirk of giggling still rang through her voice. She sat up behind me. My back was to her. She gravitated toward me and put her warm cheek against my cold skin. It felt warm. I closed my eyes trying to retain this feeling.

  “Excuse me I’m not the one that tried to enter a Witchyre’s lair. Now that’s certified.” She laughed. I forgot how strong she was. She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed tighter. She pulled my arm up to make room as she slid under it straddling my lap. She wrapped her legs tightly around my waist. I pulled her close and smiled.