“Vanessa, let me in. Do not do this.” He waited, but there was nothing but more of those hoarse sobs. “Vanessa, it is not what you think.”
No response. Tears pressed painfully against his the back of his eyes. He blinked hard several times.
“Vanessa.” His voice was harsh and painful.
He turned his back to the door and sank pitifully to the floor.
He dropped his head against the door and whispered, “I am sorry.” He knew it was not loud enough for her to hear, but he could not tell her through a door.
He would wait until they were face to face. He brought his hands up before him. They stung painfully and, turning them from side to side, he was shocked to see the blood that marred them.
Dropping them into his lap, he closed his eyes and listened to the never ending sobs that seemed to be wrenched from a body unaccustomed to such emotion.
He fought the tears that pressed unrelentingly at him, but he felt several slid down his taunt cheeks despite his efforts to stop them.
This was the breakdown they had all feared. It had come to pass because of him. How was he to face her now? Now that he had betrayed her, even unintentionally, once again.
The night slipped by as her tears chased him into sleep. His head turned in slumber, his ear pressed gently to the door, listening to her sadness even in his dreams.
Dreams that were now changed.
The same lovely face, the same dark black eyes, dagger cut still fresh, hung over him as it always had. The same sweet haunting voice.
But now the deep black hair hung loose around her beautiful face. It brushed against his bare chest erotically.
The drips that hit his injured shoulder were no longer blood as they had once been. They were now her tears. Tears so hot they seemed to burn him.
He reached to stroke the perfect cheek, as he had almost every night since it had happened, but she now was gone.
***
Verges sat in a carriage below Van’s chambers, her sobs drifting down to him. His heart clenched with each tortured cry. He was unsure what Rebeka had done, but he would take his revenge on her. He smiled savagely at the thought of her death.
Edward and Harry Hurtado cringed away from him. Harry sat as far into the wall of the carriage as he could make himself go, as far away from Verges as he could get. Edward sat in the seat facing them.
Both boys avoided eye contact and shuddered every time he moved. Verges smiled about this. His heart drummed with excitement, and the hope that this would soon be over. He wanted Eolian out of Van’s life, wanted her to live happy and free.
He glanced from one brother to next with disgust. He hated boys like this, bullies and tyrants, but they had done their job. The Hurtado brothers had carried out their part of the plan without a hitch. While Rebeka was distracting the household, they had absconded with the little day maid Amy.
Wrapped in a white sheet, Amy writhed on the floor of the carriage between Verges feet. The abduction had gone unnoticed as far as Verges could tell and now they only awaited Rebeka’s return.
The door opened and Verges tensed in caution. It was Rebeka. She slid into the seat across from him with a look of disgust on her face.
“What are you doing here? You were not part of the plan. I made sure of that.” Her voice was full of venom and anger, and he wondered momentarily if things had not gone as well as she had hoped inside the castle. He was sure it hadn’t and that pleased him.
“I know you tried to make sure, but things are not always in the control of a whore.” He smiled at her sharp intake of breath.
The carriage jerked to an unsteady start and she gripped the side of the seat. “How dare you.”
Verges ignored her outrage. He did not like her in the least and it was more than just her mistreatment of the woman to whom he had pledged his life and loyalty. He could feel the evil that seemed to wisp from her very being.
He relaxed back against the seat and forced himself to remain patient. He would enjoy her death, but it had to come at the right time and now, unfortunately, would not do.
Verges tensed again as they approached the guard house. His muscles and nerves tingling with readiness. The carriage stopped momentarily, but the guards let them go through without incident. He grinned, one more step toward victory.
He turned his attention back to Rebeka. Her look of fear had disappeared since she had come under the protection of Eolian, but he thought he could change that.
“You did not tell me why you are here. I do not need you,” she snarled at him, but the arrogant look fell away when he smiled. She recoiled and he could see the fear brimming right beneath the surface of her calm façade.
“I am here to make sure that you do as you were instructed and to make sure this—” He pushed his foot gently against the, now still, form on the floor. “—is delivered unharmed. I will not allow your hatred of that man and woman in there—” He jerked his thumb back toward the castle. “—to affect what the Knight of Fear wants done.”
Rebeka spun toward him, anger dripping thickly from her words. “How dare you?”
Edward and Harry tried to disappear into the shadowy corners of the carriage. They both stared at the clasped hands that lay trembling in their laps.
Hatred dug at Verges, and he snarled at her.
She flinched away, but did not stop speaking. “Eolian will let me do as I will with this little piece of baggage” She kicked the sheet sharply.
Amy’s muffled cry was barely heard. Verges relaxed some. She had lain still and silent for too long and he was beginning to worry that these two worthless boys had tied her gag too tight and she had smothered.
Rebeka waved her hand dismissively at him. “There is nothing you can do about it. She will die at my hands, just as that meddlesome Dark Knight will die at the hands of my master and lord.”
Verges could feel a cold anger chilling his blood. His chest tightened and he clenched his fists.
Rebeka began to laugh. “That woman is just worthless trash and will die without honor as she should.”
A hot white flash of rage burst across Verges’s thoughts. He lunged across the seat. Agile for his size and massive bulk, it took him half a breath to pin her beneath him.
Her laughter died even before his hand wrapped tightly around her throat. There was a scream from one of the boys, but he did not know, nor care, which.
His anger was barely harnessed as he tightened his fingers. The tips disappeared into her soft skin. “There are a lot of things Van may not have, but honor is not one of them.” He watched in rapture as her eyes began to glaze over.
Leaning himself tighter against her, he pressed his face to hers. The terror in her eyes as she struggled against him made him smile.
This evil woman had caused much hurt to Van. Rebeka was not the first to fall for inflicting pain on the Dark Knight and she would not be the last. If all went well, many would fall over the next few days.
He smiled a deadly grin up at the boys as the last of her breath caressed his cheek. They could not take their eyes from him now.
Without a word, or any warning, and careful not to step on the struggling woman beneath his legs, he shot his massive paws out. Sausage-like fingers gripped the sun reddened neck of each boy. To keep them from calling out or struggling, he slammed the hard heads together, smiling as the blood ran down their smooth cheeks.
Keeping pressure for a few heartbeats after he could no longer feel the pulse thudding beneath his palms, he tossed them against the side of the carriage without a second glance.
Carefully he pulled the small bundle off the floor and onto his lap and removed the sheet.
Her eyes were wide with fear as she looked into the liquid brown eyes, recognition filling them. She stopped struggling. A soft joy tickled at Verges’s heart when she lay calmly in his arms. He was still amazed that this small girl trusted him.
Pulling the gag from her mouth, he smiled at her. “I will not hurt you.” He held
her gently, not undoing any of her bindings. Not yet. He still had to use her as a pawn to get to Eolian and he could not free her now. Not after so much had been risked to get her.
“I know. I am one of Van’s girls, right?” She jumped at his laugh.
“Nay, not exactly, but it amounts to the same thing. Her girls are mistresses. You are her friend. Are you hurt?” He held her tightly to keep her from seeing the three bodies behind her. He didn’t want her any more frightened than she was.
“Mistresses? But Van is a woman?” she gasped in shock.
He smiled and shook his head. “I will let her explain that to you. Now I need you to trust me. Can you do that?” He watched her eyes darken. “Van trusts me.”
“I do also.” She looked him square in the eye, unwavering, to show her faith and trust in him. What do you want me to do?”
“Do not act as if you know me. Show fear of me. It is important for you to do that.” He did not want to hurt her, but he had a sinking feeling that he would have to. “I hate to do this, but if you cannot pretend fear, you will fear me for real.” He tightened his grip painfully as her breath caught, just to make a point. He saw the fear linger in her eyes.
He released her and she gasped for breath.
“I will not hurt you if you are a good actress, but your life, mine, and Van’s all depend on your performance. Do you understand?”
She nodded. Her eyes showed fear, but not nearly as much as he had hoped. He prayed for her sake she would not make him demonstrate his power. He did not want to hurt one of the few people that trusted him, that made him feel like...less of a freak.
“You have to stay tied. Do as I tell you and I will help get you out of here unharmed.”
The carriage came to a stop. Quickly he replaced the gag and wrapped her tightly again. Stepping out of the conveyance, he tossed her roughly over his shoulder.
“Aye, I will send word for you and the boys at the Inn,” he said to the dead woman who lay with her neck bruised and swollen.
He slammed the door and turned to the driver. “Take them directly to Doveslane Inn. You are to see a woman there by the name of Annette. Bring her out to the carriage and she will see to Miss Constance’s safety.”
He began walking to the small cabin, listening to the rumble of wheels disappear into the distance.
He thought back to the trip he had made to see Annette before meeting Rebeka at the castle. He had taken her upstairs, but not for what most men did. He had never used her in that way.
He needed her from time to time and considered their relationship one of necessity, which meant she was off limits to his rampages.
She had agreed to dispose of the driver, and the bodies. She would do as he said, not because of the gold he had given her, but because she was terrified for her life and that of her family. She was loyal to him because of fear and fear alone.
He had always thought fear was the ultimate power, but now he wasn’t so sure. If someone better came along to protect them, the fear would vanish, then no power.
Van had done much to convince him that fear was not the biggest power. He laughed gently and adjusted Amy across his shoulder. The Dark Knight’s reputation was built mostly on fear, but she had been the one to make him realize that friendship and a loyalty based on respect and caring was better than fear.
That was a bond worth dying for and one that no one bigger or stronger could take away. The only way to lose one’s loyalty was due to your own actions, not those of someone else.
Verges pushed everything from his mind when the broken down shelter came into view. He stepped through the door and pushed it closed behind him.
“Verges, where are the others?”
He felt his unwilling passenger tighten at Eolian’s deep voice.
“Miss Constance was afraid of what would happen here and took the boys to the Inn to protect her. I said we would get her when it was all done.” Verges, none too softly tossed his bundle onto the floor in the corner of the shelter. He did it as a show for all watching as well as a reminder of what she was supposed to do. He only hoped she listened.
Eolian shook his head with a look of pitiful disgust on his usually calm face. “I thought she might want to watch. That is the problem with women. They are weak. Weak of body and of mind.” He snorted. “I had thought she was different.”
Verges said nothing.
“Did they retrieve the right one?” Eolian didn’t wait for an answer before unwrapping the small woman. She looked frightened and Verges forced himself to calm. “Aye, it is the right one. I checked her myself when they got into the carriage.”
“My dear, did this beast hurt you?” Eolian’s voice was calm and slightly soothing.
It had always given Verges the chills, because he knew what lie beneath that façade.
Without an answer she scooted away from him.
“You had best answer my questions, my dear, or I shall have to make you...uncomfortable,” he informed her, but she still said nothing. “What is your name?” Nothing. “Verges, pray help me.”
With a deep breath, he walked past the knight to Amy’s trembling frame. There were too many men standing in the small room to do much of anything. He so wanted just to throttle the man before him. He could not, and besides, that would only be a temporary solution.
He had thought of it often, but knew that another would just step in and take his place. There were too many warriors just waiting for their opportunity. Nay, they had to destroy him as well as a large number of his followers.
The only options he had available to him now was to send a message. That and that alone was all he could do until help arrived.
He walked toward Amy. She feigned fear, but while her body seemed frightened her eyes showed trust.
That would not do and he had warned her. He grabbed her by the hair and roughly pulled her to her feet.
Pulling her tightly against him he slid his massive hand across her breasts, giving a hard squeeze. One that he only released when he saw the fear and she began to fight in earnest, her body and her eyes now reflecting the same terror.
Eolian walked up behind him and Verges tensed when he felt his warm breath against his cheek as he leaned close to Amy’s face. “Now I asked you your name.”
“Amy...Amy Devant,” she nearly yelled.
“Now, that was not that hard was it?” He caressed her cheek. “I have only one other question for you and then you will go with Verges here.” He patted him on the back companionably and Verges fought a shudder of revulsion. “You will spend the night with him. I think I shall give him this honor. He has worked hard for me.”
Amy’s frightened eyes widened and the color drained from her face.
Eolian smiled. “Now my last question. Do you think the Dark Knight will come to rescue you? Are you important to her?”
She spit at his feet.
Verges cursed silently and lifted her off the ground by her hair. She screamed, her hands flying up to grasp his wrists. His mouth crashed down onto hers.
She kicked against him and tried to close her mouth, but he slid his tongue into it before she could. Regret swam through painfully and he once again prayed, to no one in particular, that this would soon be over.
He grasped her round bottom and pressed her tight against him, holding her there until the laughing men had walked from the cabin.
The instant the door clicked shut Verges released her. She wiped at her mouth and then opened it to scream. He knew she meant to accuse him of lying and betraying her. He wrapped his fingers around her throat cutting off her air supply. Whatever words she was going to throw at him died beneath his grasp.
“Be careful what you accuse me of if you want to live. I still mean to help you.” He let his grip soften, then fall away, when she made no move to scream. “I warned you about what would happen. Now, I hope I will not have to make any more examples, but I must play my part as well as you.”
“You could at least say you are sorry,
” she whispered through her tears.
“I am sorry.” He grinned. “Though I did enjoy the kiss. Devon Horacio is a lucky man to be getting you.” He laughed at the shocked look on her face.
“How did you know, did Van...Nay. She would not tell anyone.” She pulled away from him.
“I know much. Now get some sleep. There is no telling when he may be back. I will keep watch and awake you if they are coming this way.”
Verges jumped in surprise, but did not turn to face her, when her low voice sounded. “If this is how you treat someone who is under her protection—” She took a deep breath. “What would you have done if I did not have that protection?”
He did not answer.
CHAPTER 28
Van awoke slowly and tried to open her eyes. They were swollen and sticky from the long night of tears that had besieged her. She scrubbed at her face and could feel the heat baking off her. The fever was worse. “Well, hell,” she said softly to the empty room.
She moved her arm. It hurt, but she thought the infection seemed somewhat better, though she didn’t take time to look. She pulled herself from the bed, every muscle screaming at her to lay back down and go back to sleep.
She ignored them and dragged herself to the night basin. Washing her face, she stretched.
Amy had not come in to awaken her yet, so Van thought she had some time to pull herself together before she showed up. If she shows up, Van thought bitterly. After throwing the table at her last night, she might decide that avoidance would be a good option until things calmed down.
Van decided brandy was the first order. Drinking heavily, she felt stronger, able to ignore both the physical and emotional pain.
She pulled on the hated undergarments and covered them with a proper and frilly dress. Then, feeling numb inside, she sat before the large mirror to apply the thick and itchy powder that she had come to hate.
Smearing it along the unscathed side of her face, along the center of her nose, and down her chin, she sighed. What was she going to do? She had agreed to allow that woman stay in the castle and apparently Peter had taken her up on it.
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