Night Aberrations - An Adult Paranormal Romance (Night Aberrations Series)

by Nelson, JD

  —Chapter Eleven—

  Myrgjöl was waiting with the dragon when we arrived at the castle. She smiled and waved to us from where she sat rubbing the shiny blue scales of the beast’s belly. Nils was right. I could never be as cool as her.

  Kristian seemed confused at her presence, but bowed in her direction before he went up the steps, then turned around to face Soren. “I would like a moment alone with Emelie, if it would not offend.”

  Soren smiled tightly. “Of course, you have much to discuss. We will take the prisoner to his new home.”

  I curtseyed to my grandmother and allowed Kristian to lead me through the heavy front doors and into the eerily quiet castle. Once inside his chamber, I took my usual place on the settee and waited for him to start. Surely, he would have a lot of questions.

  He paced for a few moments, looking at objects around the room as if they were foreign to him and then sat down next to me. “Things are changed in the castle, it is almost unrecognizable.

  “You don’t remember any of this?”

  “No, I can remember hardly anything during my time with Freyr…I mean the imposter, but I do remember you, your eyes, and the smell of your hair. Are we married?”

  Well, that was unexpected. I hadn’t realized that he had lost some of his memories. “Um…yes, for a couple of days.”

  He nodded. “Have we consummated the marriage?”

  “No.”

  He seemed surprised. “Are you unwilling to bear my young?”

  “What? No. You didn’t want to mate until you were able to ask the harem to leave. You really don’t remember any of this?”

  “I only remember pieces of it,” he said impatiently. “Are you saying that I used the harem here?”

  “Yes, I’m haven’t seen it for myself, but you mentioned it quite often.”

  He walked out of the door and went into the next room, only to return seconds later. “Where are they?”

  “You moved them to another wing for me.”

  He ran a hand through his hair. “What did I become?”

  I took his hand and he looked worriedly into my eyes. “You were always very kind to me. I don’t know how much of it was the doppelgänger, but you did everything you could to make me happy.”

  He looked around, examining my things scattered throughout the room. “We share a room?”

  “You kept odd hours. I suggested we share a room, I wanted to see you more often.”

  “And you did this without anything in return?” He asked, skeptically.

  It was so hard not to get huffy with him for saying that after everything I’d been through today. “If you are wondering if I can be trusted, I can. I could have done any number of things to you while you were under his control, but didn’t.”

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know you at all. Just your face, I recognized you right away.”

  “I’m new at this, but I can show you everything that I’ve experienced with you through my eyes if you put down your shield. I’m half-Norn.”

  “Are you with Lady Myrgjöl? I was surprised to see her outside.”

  “I’m her granddaughter. Will you let me show you?”

  He hesitated. “Yes.”

  “Relax for me.” After what he’d been through, I knew it would be hard.

  He rested his head against the sofa. “I will try.”

  As I started to flood the memories into him, I watched his expressions closely. His eyes widened when I showed him the moment we met, and then became hooded as he saw me share my blood with him.

  “You were beautiful.” He whispered.

  “Thank you.”

  When I revealed the day Viveka dragged me from the room and then made sure I saw the harem, he grabbed my hand with apologetic eyes.

  “I’m sorry for that, Emelie.” He said, utterly disgusted with himself.

  “Don’t worry. That was one of the worst of the memories. Things got much better after that.”

  He smiled slightly and nodded for me to continue.

  At the memory of our unplanned wedding he actually grinned—until I got to the wedding night, then he had to put a pillow in his lap.

  I flushed, still embarrassed by my behavior that night.

  He reached up to feel his neck where I’d bitten him. “I’ve never been bitten before. It felt… good.”

  I savored that particular memory myself. “It was more than good and your blood still flows throughout my veins. My elemental magic is stronger than it has ever been.”

  I stopped the flow of memories, afraid to show him what was up next.

  “Is that it all you have to show me?”

  “No.”

  He took my hand this time. “I can handle whatever it may be.”

  It wasn’t him I was worried about. I reluctantly revealed the moments leading up to where we almost had sex, hoping he wouldn’t think badly of me for the way I’d begged for it.

  “We almost did.” He said quietly, almost to himself.

  “Yes.”

  I disclosed the argument with Soren to him and awaited his response.

  “My lady, I am sorry for what I’ve done. I do not know how I could have done all that I have. It is not within my power.”

  “No, but it was within Freyr’s doppelgänger’s power.”

  There was nothing left to show him other than when we rescued Katrine and woke him in the closet, so I did it quickly and hoped for the best.

  After a long moment, he said, “I owe you everything.”

  I shook my head. “You owe me nothing. You didn’t mean for this to happen. You only wanted a dark elf on your father’s throne. The creature is the one to blame.”

  “You were forced into this. I will not make you stay. You deserve a better male than me. You deserve your Fated...and your freedom.”

  “You are my Fated now.”

  “You can change that, can you not?”

  Could I? I had no idea “I don’t know.”

  “Myrgjöl will set things to right if the elders approve it. We will request an audience as soon as they will meet with us.”

  “That, I will.” She said from behind us.

  “Grandmother?”

  She ignored me. “Kristian, though your alliance with the abomination caused countless deaths and strife, the kindness you showed my blood, even when you were possessed by such an evil creature, proves that you, too, deserve happiness.” She winked. “And your freedom.”

  I grinned at her. “Eavesdropper.”

  She feigned innocence. “Who, me?”

  “No, the other eavesdropper in the room.” I said, sarcastically.

  “Well, there are so many others listening, I wasn’t sure.”

  Kristian and I glanced around, searching for whom she could be referring to. I didn’t sense anyone. “Who do you mean?”

  She pointed to the corner of the room, near the ceiling. “The electronic eyes, they are ever vigilant in their sentry.”

  Kristian looked confused. “What is electronic?”

  Oh yeah, he was only familiar with technology from the mid 1800’s. “It’s called a camera. It takes images of us as it is happening; it records us. A camera takes a current of energy called electricity to make it work.” I wasn’t about to go into an explanation of batteries. “Any item that you need electricity to make it work is called an electronic.” I pointed at the lamp. “This is an electric lamp.” I turned it on, taking in his surprise and then unplugged it. “The electricity comes from the outlets built into the wall.”

  His face was alight with wonderment for the briefest of moments, before he remembered about the camera. “Who will see what is recorded?”

  Good question. “Some cameras put their recordings on things called DVD’s. Some send it to a place where someone can watch it as it happens.”

  “Which of those is this one?”

  “I’ll check, just a second.” I went to get the embroidered stool I’d used to reach the other camera and brought it in.


  “Let me help you.” Kristian gently pried the stool from my hands with a horrified look. “You should have asked me to get this for you. A lady carrying furniture, how odd this time is.”

  “Thank you.” I climbed up and just as I suspected, it was a closed circuit type of camera. We needed to know where the cables led.

  “It’s not DVD. We need to find out where the viewing room is. Myrgjöl, do you know where the camera leads?” I suspected she did.

  “Yes, but I only know it because I saw it in your mind a few minutes ago.”

  “What?” Why did Myrgjöl have to say everything in riddles? Wouldn’t it be easier if she just told me where it is?

  “It would be easier, but I want you to figure it out yourself. It’s the only way you’ll learn, you know.”

  I was flustered. I’d been all over the castle except for the new harem. Where could it possibly be?

  Wait a minute. The old harem had a locked door, didn’t it?

  “That didn’t take long.” She clapped her hands. “This is exciting. I feel just like Sherlock Holmes.”

  “Who?” Kristian asked, bewildered.

  I laughed at her excitement and explained. “It’s a character in a series of mystery novels. Follow me, Kristian.”

  Once in the adjoining room, I caught Kristian, out of the corner of my eye give an involuntary shudder. What had happened to him in here? He had the same dead-eyed look that Katrine had when we found her.

  Myrgjöl popped her head in the doorway. “I’ll leave you now. Kristian, I will rouse the council and have them available for you when you want to speak your suggestions of punishment. It is your right. A more deserved retribution there has never been, in my opinion.”

  The second she disappeared; Kristian began to crumble.

  “My apologies, Emelie, I cannot be in this room. I feel…I have to leave here.”

  He stepped out into the hallway and I followed him, looking for others who might overhear. “I know this must be hard. How can I help you?”

  He struggled to speak for a moment, tears springing to his eyes. “The chamber returns horrible memories. I cannot go in there again. At least, not yet.”

  I pulled him into my arms and held him. I didn’t know what else to do. To my surprise, he didn’t recoil as I thought he would. He simply buried his face in my hair and let go of everything he’d been holding in. Thank goodness, the castle had been abandoned. He wouldn’t want anyone to see him like this.

  My hair was wet with his tears when he finished and I couldn’t bring myself to give a damn. He hadn’t shielded his thoughts while I held him and the things he was remembering were atrocious. If anybody deserved a good cry, it was Kristian.

  The doppelgänger would be very lucky if he didn’t die by my own hand the next time I saw him.

  After a few minutes, Kristian wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and smiled weakly. “Thank you.”

  “There’s really no need for thanks, Kristian. You’re my mate. Any female would be there for her husband in his time of need.”

  “That is a falsehood. Not all females are as nurturing as you are.”

  He was right. After what the females of the harem did to him, I knew that elven females could be every bit as vicious as a male could.

  “You are my mate,” he continued, warily. “If you would… extend your kindness a bit further, I would ask that you view the recordings for me. I have to know who has betrayed me, but I cannot bear to view them myself. I can ask no other.”

  Revulsion and shame consumed me. How strange it was that only a few days ago I’d wanted to see what was on the DVD I’d stolen. Now, no way in hell did I want to watch. I’d seen enough horrible acts in his head to last me an eternity.

  “I will do this for you, but first I must confess something.”

  I watched his jaw clench and unclench before he said, “Go ahead.”

  “I have acted disgracefully, Kristian. I was so intrigued—okay, jealous, of your time with the harem room on our first night as a mated pair that I crept into the harem and stole the DVD that was left in the camera the last time it was used. It’s hidden under the carpet in your room.”

  Surprise lit his face. “Truly?”

  “Yes, I’ll show you.” I made a beeline to the nightstand, retrieved the disc, and handed it to him. “I’m sorry.”

  He looked at what he held. “DVD för att visa Kristian.”

  “Pardon? I don’t speak Swedish.”

  “It says, DVD to show Kristian.”

  I figured it would say something of the sort. As soon as I picked it up, I knew that it was the disc Kristian had mentioned to me before, the one that showed him as the aggressor.

  He handed the disc back to me. “I believe I have…seen this one.”

  He would never see it again. I knew how to dispose of the disc just by touching it too. I held it tightly between my palms and watched in awe as my magic grew blindingly bright before reaching its zenith and sending the disc into particles, so fine they’d never even dirty the rug beneath our feet.

  “I’ll go see about the rest. Do you have a key to unlock the door…never mind, I’ll take care of that too. I’ll be back in a while, why don’t you shower and get Viggo to find Lina, she’ll make you something to eat?”

  He took the hint to leave. “I will do that. Thank you, Emelie.”

  “No thanks from you, remember?”

  He smiled, nervously. “I will try.”

  I watched him until he was out of sight and then grudgingly dragged myself to the “Harem Room.” I hated even being in here. Seriously, if these walls could talk, I really hoped it was in a dead language.

  Unlocking the door proved to be as simple as a thought. Getting into the complex computer system was not as simple. I tried every combination of words and numbers I could think of and still couldn’t figure out the password. Okay, it was time for some super mind reading ability. I scanned the castle for signatures. The females of the harem were still here and still ignorant of Kristian’s reawakening. I scanned their minds and found that they all knew the password. Longlivetheking.

  Those. Fucking. Bitches.

  Soren needed to know about them now. I’d already seen some of what they’d done to Kristian. Not one of those traitors would ever know freedom again. I would make sure of it.

  I concentrated on Soren and found him on the grounds with the rest of the warriors. Soren, is the doppelgänger safely stowed?

  He answered, simply. He is.

  Instant relief filled me. That’s great. Can you please see that the harem, all six of them, are arrested immediately.

  It shall be done with haste. Is everything okay?

  His voice seemed strained; he was worried.

  I’m fine, but I think Kristian will be terribly scarred. I sent him to shower and to eat while I take care of some evidence. I’ll be with you soon.

  See you then, love.

  I hoped that would appease him enough to keep him from checking on me for a while. I didn’t know how long this would take. I typed in the password and waited for the computer to boot up.

  It took forever—so long that I thought the computer was broken. Just when I was giving up hope, it came to life with a chime of the Windows logo. I threw my fist in the air. Victory!

  In one click, I was rewarded with a meticulously detailed documents folder, full of damning confirmation that was conveniently dated and labeled. How nice of them to make it so easy for me. I’d make a point to thank them for it later.

  I didn’t even bother clicking on any of the icons, the video snapshots serving as icon pictures were bad enough. Nope, I went straight to the folder labeled financial. That folder would yield who was really behind the treachery going on in this castle. I was proved correct. The whole group of them was listed alphabetically with their bank accounts information right beside their names. Huh. I didn’t know elves even used banks. Soren would need help with this one.

  Soren?

  Yes, />
  Can you get the guards from the grounds to help you round up the hird? All of them, with the exception of Axel are to be arrested. It seems that the doppelgänger is not the only one with an agenda for Kristian’s future.

  I see. This will take some time. I’ll call to you when it’s done.

  Okay, be careful.

  He laughed. Again with the doubt?

  You know I have no doubt in your strength. You were able to put me in my place yesterday. I know you are a lot stronger than you’re letting on.

  Maybe.

  Well then, go get those assholes.

  I’m already on it.

  Someone was missing from all this, an intricate key—Viveka. She was involved somehow. I could sense it everywhere. I just needed concrete proof to have her arrested. She was very crafty, finding her trail wouldn’t be easy.

  I needed to think carefully. Viveka would play a huge role in this. After all, she’s the perfect accomplice. She is a means of entry into the castle, she has an axe to grind with Kristian, and she is a total bitch. Viveka wouldn’t have much to gain, just money and the satisfaction of seeing Kristian humiliated every night, but she’d probably have done that to him without any incentives at all.

  I clicked around for the better part of an hour, even though I knew it would be fruitless. She was squeaky clean. There was no trace of her ever doing anything, which probably meant she was the one who maintained the computer. It also meant that she’d definitely try to cover her ass when she found out Kristian’s lucidity was back. We just had to catch her in the act.

  Soren’s mind touched mine.

  Emelie,

  Hi, how’s it going?

  He laughed. Oh, you know, just relaxing by the poolside.

  Funny. Did you capture all of the hird?

  They are all imprisoned except for one. The exception gave Nils a black eye and he went wolf on him. He was taken to the infirmary. I don’t know if he’ll ever walk right after today.

  Okaaay. That’s…lovely. Guess what?