Envy (Protectors of the Elemental Magic Book 4)

by Marnie Cate

  “Sebastian?” I croaked.

  “Yes, I have decided to give him a strong name. Cedric is no name for a child of mine. This reminds me, Sebastian will need siblings. I have ideas in mind for your replacement of poor Roger. A heart attack at such a young age. Who would have guessed?”

  Turning her attention towards Laura, she snapped, “Birthing babies is such an offensive business. Laura, in the future, you should move quicker to have her cleaned up before I am called. I am sure you will have another chance to do it right. Practice will make perfect.”

  I bit my lip to stop from screaming at her. It wouldn't help. There was no point in fighting. Nothing could stop her. I could not save Roger, and now, I could not save my son.

  Snowystra continued to talk, but her words sounded like a strong wind of nonsense. It felt like she talked about her plans for my future for hours before she was silenced by the wails that filled the hallway. Turning towards the door, the girl rushed into the room carrying Cedric. He was swaddled in a long, white knit blanket and matching cap.

  “Goddess, the child,” the girl said, holding him out to her.

  Snowystra held her arms out wide, and swept Cedric into them. She rocked him with too much energy. He screamed harder.

  “Why is he crying?” she scowled.

  “He needs to be fed,” the girl said, nervously.

  “The problem? Send for someone immediately. Not the tunnel rats. Bring me one of my favorites from the cottages. I am sure one of them could provide sustenance to my child,” she said, handing him to the girl.

  “I could feed him,” I said, carefully. I kept my voice flat.

  His wails grew louder and Snowystra's eyes narrowed on me. “Fine. Give her Sebastian.”

  Nervously, I accepted him into my arms. Do not show him any love, I warned myself. He stopped crying as his cheek touched my breast. Eagerly, he wriggled before finally latching onto me and feeding. The emotions I had been containing broke loose, and tears of anger, defeat and intense love flowed down my face.

  Snowystra watched me intensely. Though I ached to smooth his hair and whisper loving words to him, I dared not. The only thing I could do was gently rub the small of his back, hoping he knew how I felt. After only a few minutes, she took Cedric out of my arms.

  “Take him to the nursery. She can go the tunnels,” Snowystra ordered coldly and stormed out of the room. My son wailed in protest as the girl obediently left the room with him.

  Snowystra's cold actions dried up my tears instantly, and hardened me even more. I would not cry for my son. Weakness would not save him. I would be strong, and I would free him.

  “Do you think you can walk?” Laura asked, offering her hand to me. “We need to move you to the infirmary for recent mothers.”

  Defiantly, I stood up, pushing her arm away from me. “I am perfectly fine.” I said, taking on a Drygen air of superiority.

  Without a word, Laura led me out of the suite and down a circular staircase. When we reached the bottom, we stood before a steel door. She pulled a bell rope, and a horrible screeching echoed. It was as if a steel drum had fallen into one of the cannery machines. A moment later, the door opened to a darkened hallway.

  “Follow me,” she instructed, and continued forward.

  “Where is that girl taking the baby?” I asked, trying to sound disinterested as she led me through the musty corridor.

  “He has been taken to the nursery in the castle. Don't worry. There are several nannies who will be looking after him. Everyone will be very kind to the boy,” Laura replied.

  “I am sure he will be well cared for by the Winter Goddess,” I said. “Not that I care. He is no longer my concern. I was just curious.”

  The corridor walls were made of thick dirt. It was as if the tunnel had been recently, and hurriedly, excavated. Roots and bits of rock were still embedded in the wall.

  Soon, we reached solid stone. As we continued on, every twenty steps or so, there was an opening with a makeshift cloth door. We passed by an entrance where the covering was open, and Laura quickly shut it, but she hadn't been fast enough. Lying inside, on a pile of blankets, I could see a young woman curled in a ball. Her dirty face was tear-streaked, and her expression was blank.

  When we came to a large set of wooden doors, Laura stopped and addressed one of the guards. “The Goddess wants her to stay in the infirmary?”

  The taller guard hovered over me. “Doubt this princess will last a day down here. You won't have your servants to wait on you here,” he sneered, showing off his ragged, animalistic teeth.

  “I'll take her to the infirmary,” a familiar voice called from the shadows. “It is time for the dorcha feeding in the west entrance. I suggest you both head there quickly before we have a massacre on our hands.”

  “Why don't you take care of the spider, and I'll worry about the girl,” the man spat.

  Whap.

  With a mighty force, Jameson stepped out of the shadows and punched the guard. His hit sent the man flying, and he crashed into the wall. Swearing at Jameson, he stumbled, trying to launch himself at his attacker. Instead of reciprocating the punch, he found himself back on the ground. This time, he was writhing in pain from the knife Jameson had stabbed into his thigh.

  “You will pay for this,” the guard growled.

  In one swift move, Jameson yanked the knife from his leg and picked the man up, holding him by his neck. “Shall I pay for it now, with your life?” Jameson's eyes blazed with fury. “If you would like to be a snack for the hungry dorcha, I could cut you up into bits.”

  The guard's face paled. “No. Put me down. I am sorry.”

  Jameson dropped him. As he lie crumpled on the ground, Jameson kicked him with extra force in the ribs. “You will stay away from her at all times. She is the Goddess' vessel. No harm shall come to her.”

  “If she is so important, then why has she been brought down here instead of being put in a cozy room inside the castle?” the guard questioned.

  Jameson kicked him again in the ribs. This time, I heard a cracking sound. “Do you have any more stupid comments to make? Never question the Goddess. I think you might be due a trip to the desert.”

  Two guards stepped out of the hallway.

  “Deliver him to the entrance, and do not let him return until he has filled two bags,” Jameson said.

  “Two?” the man screamed as he was being drug away. “You might as well kill me now.”

  The second guard, who had been at the door, said, “I'll take care of the dorcha feeding, sir.”

  Jameson nodded, and turned towards us. “The infirmary is full. She will have to be put in a room near it.”

  “But there are no beds, and the cold will be too much for her,” Laura objected.

  “She is lucky to have anywhere to sleep in the Goddess' realm. Are you done with your medical examination?” Jameson asked.

  “Yes, she just needs —” Laura began meekly before Jameson cut her off.

  “If you are done, I'll lead her to her new home,” he snapped, grabbing my arm roughly. “Come along, princess.” Turning, he growled at Laura. “You may want to run along before the dorcha decide to seek out some fresh blood.”

  Laura glared at him. “I'll check on her later. You better not hurt one hair on her head, Jameson.”

  “I have no interest in this used up human,” he spat as he dragged me away.

  Leading me down another damp hallway, he moved quickly.

  “You are hurting me,” I hissed.

  “You have no idea the pain you will be in if you don't shut your mouth,” he said.

  He stopped in front of a room with a real door, and pulled me inside. As he slammed the door, he pushed me against the wall. I began to object, but he clamped his hand over my mouth.

  “You will sleep here,” he shouted. He was talking way too loud for our close proximity.

  I understood when I heard the voices outside the door.

  A male voice said, “The girl who had
the Goddess' son is in there. Go further down towards the dormitory. There is space there for this one.”

  As their voices died off, Jameson slowly released his hand from my mouth, and replaced it with a tender kiss. “I am sorry, my love,” he murmured in my ear, and I began to cry. “I'll get you more blankets and try to make this more comfortable.”

  I slipped out of his arms and examined the room he had brought me. I shuddered at the filth and dirt. Stained blankets were piled on the ground in the middle of the earthen floor. No bed. There was a small table and single wooden chair. Something that looked like a makeshift toilet was in the back corner, but no sink. A jail cell would offer more. This was just four walls, and despair.

  “Why has she sent me here?” I cried. “I gave her my son. She already has plans to find me a second husband, and to take more of my children. Why is she not sending me home?”

  Jameson took my hand and led me to the rickety chair. “Sit,” he commanded.

  I folded my arms over my chest, and glared at him.

  “Please sit,” he said. “We don't have much time.”

  “We never have much time, Jameson,” I replied, sitting. I sat not because he ordered me but because I was exhausted.

  “She wants the dorcha to feed from you,” he said.

  I gasped. “What? You are going to let her feed me to them?” Pushing past him, I lunged for the door.

  Jameson blocked me. Self-preservation kicked in, and I began to scratch and punch him.

  “Stop,” he said softly. He wrapped his arms and one leg around me, holding me still. “Listen to me. You are not going to be eaten by the spiders. She cast a spell, which allows them to gather your emotions. The more desperate and defeated you feel, the quicker they feed.”

  My body went limp. I had no more fight left in me. Kissing my cheek, he whispered. “She won't keep you here long. Please, don't resist.”

  A banging on the door sounded.

  “Lie in the blankets now,” he pleaded.

  When I lied on top of them, I gagged at the stench. Guilt washed over his face, but quickly disappeared as the door opened and a young man entered. He was wearing tattered, black clothing, which made his translucent white skin glow. His eyes were a midnight black, surrounded by dark circles, and his teeth were sharp.

  “The pit is ready for the women.” Pointing at me with long, dirty nails, he said, “This one looks too sick to be taken. We should wait for her until tomorrow.”

  “Yes, Cerin, we can't take this one. The weak human just had a baby and is falling apart. They are not strong like the Vetur women,” Jameson snorted. “Who knows what the Goddess sees in this one. Gather the rest. I'll be there soon.”

  “Should I send for a medic?” the boy he called Cerin asked.

  “I think some tumma uni is needed here.” Jameson held up a vial filled with black liquid, and dangled it. Turning away from Cerin, he snarled at me. “Are you going to play nice now?”

  Oh, we are putting on a show. “Yes, please don't hurt me,” I begged, and covered my face as if I was crying.

  “Go now, unless you want to deal with her. The Goddess wants her unharmed and she's a fighter.” Jameson held up his arms and showed the bloody scratches from me.

  “No thanks. She is all yours. I hate to have to hit girls,” Cerin replied.

  “Lucky for you, I don't mind,” Jameson grunted.

  Cerin shook his head, and left. As a door clicked shut, Jameson knelt beside me.

  “I'm sorry I had to say all those cruel things. You know I didn't mean it, right?” he asked, smoothing my hair. “I just needed us to be alone. I need to finish talking to you before I'm summoned.”

  I turned away from him.

  Sitting next to me, he continued to run his fingers through my hair. “I'm going to find a way to save our child from her. I need you to trust me though.”

  Sitting up, I said, “I have no choice but to trust you.”

  “Drink this,” he said, offering me the thick liquid.

  “What is it?”

  “It is a sleep medicine.”

  I pulled the lid off the bottle and drank it. I wanted to forget it all right now. Gagging on the bitter taste, I rasped, “Our son is so strong. He looks like you. I can't let her destroy him.”

  “I thought he looked more like you,” he said, putting the vial to my lips, encouraging me to take another drink.

  I took a long sip. This time, an icy liquid filled me. My vision became blurred, and my baby boy's eyes flashed in front of me. “I love you, Cedric. She won't stop me. I will come for you soon,” I whispered before everything went black.

  Chapter 18

  I woke to the smell of cinnamon and vanilla. An old woman hovered above me with a plate of pancakes. Like the others, she had dark hair and eyes, but her features were more human. Her fingers were neatly manicured, and her black hair was smoothed into a neat braid.

  “You need to eat,” the older woman said, offering me the plate of food.

  Accepting it, I noticed I was no longer lying on blankets. They had been replaced with a small, lumpy mattress with a scratchy, but clean, wool blanket. My clothing was also different. I had been brought here in a pink nightgown, but now, I was dressed in a warm flannel gown and heavy socks.

  “Thank you. What can I call you?” I asked, trying to keep the smallest bit of civility from my upbringing.

  “I am Livia. You are Blanche. Eat your food while it is warm,” she said.

  Her words were not kind, but they were not cruel. As I began to eat, the woman knelt next to me, and tugged at the top of my shirt. She shoved a piece of cabbage down the front of my nightgown to cup my breast. The slight touch ached.

  “What are you doing?” I cried out, swatting her away.

  “Put this in the other. It will help with the swelling. You will need to nurse soon,” she said.

  “She took my child. I have no need for this.” I motioned to my chest.

  “Finish your food, and we will talk about the situation you've gotten yourself into,” she replied, holding out the cabbage again.

  The icy leaf had lessened the pain so I succumbed to the indignity of putting vegetables down my gown. There would be no doctors to care for me or servants to attend to my needs. I would have to trust someone here. Maybe this woman?

  “Just so you know, I didn't get myself into any situation.”

  “You are in the Winter Goddess' tunnels. You got here somehow.”

  “I am the result of a Goddess' gift of elemental magic, and now, she has taken my child.” I brushed a loose tear away.

  Nodding, the woman wore a somber look on her face. “Yes, Snowystra does do horrible things for power.”

  Her eyes turned from black to a charcoal color as she stared at something behind me. I turned to see what she was looking at, but nothing had changed in the room. I could not see what fascinated her. The room was empty, except for the mattress and table.

  “You will not be here long,” she finally said.

  “But, I have to stay here. My son is with her,” I insisted.

  “He will be gone soon.”

  The food I had just ate rose in my throat. “What are you telling me? Is he sick? Is she going to kill him?”

  “You must eat. We must go to the pit soon, or we'll both end up in the desert.”

  “If I lose my son, I might as well go to your desert. I have nothing left to live for.”

  She laughed at me. “Do you want to deal with the creatures of the Sephorian desert? You wouldn't last the night. Go on, tell the head guard you are sick of being here. Jameson enjoys delivering people there personally.”

  I glared at her.

  “I saw the scratches you left on him. I think he will be delighted to drop you off and let the spiders eat you.”

  “He deserved it,” I said carefully.

  “Do not anger him. He is Snowystra's favorite, and he has a cruel streak.”

  “She warned him not to hurt me at all,”
I said. A sudden need to find my child filled me. “I have to go to my son. I have to get out of here.”

  “You'll do nothing of the sort. You will, however, do as you are told. You will take your elixir and sleep. You will help feed the motherless babies. You will go to the pits. You will continue to do this until she releases you.”

  “Then what will happen?”

  “I can't answer that. I'm sure she has plans for you, but then, she will release you when you are no longer useful.”

  “Why are you being so cruel?”

  “I only speak the truth. We will stop by the showers to clean you up. Then, I want to have Laura examine you.”

  “She's here?” Was Cedric with her?

  “She's delivering a baby. There are always children being born.”

  If there were so many children being born, why did she want mine? I closed my eyes, wishing I could turn back time.

  * * *

  The stench from the bathroom overpowered me, but I forced myself to use the facilities, not knowing when I would be brought to one again. The shower was nothing more than a hose. At least it was dark. Thankfully, I could not see what the stall looked like.

  The soap I'd been given to use smelled like peppermints. The few minutes of cleaning gave me a bit of peace, and slightly rejuvenated me. After drying myself off and redressing, Livia delivered me to the infirmary. We arrived just as Laura held up a small black-haired newborn.

  “Your son,” Laura said, handing the baby to the mother. “No need to cry. She will not take him until he's two years old. You will have plenty of time with your child.”

  Seeing this woman being given her child was like a punch to my gut. I felt my skin grow hot. I bit my lip, trying to stop the words I wanted to scream, but my attempt at restraint failed.

  “Why is she allowed to keep her child for two years?” I asked with no regard for who was around us.

  Fear filled the mother's eyes, and she held her child tighter. Laura leaned down and whispered something in her ear. The woman nodded, and then cast a look of pity at me.

  “You don't want her to hear you've been questioning her.” Livia wrapped her arm around me and pulled me close to whisper, “Your child is expected to be something special. Her child has been given a short reprieve from his certain death sentence. The Vetur children are little use to the Goddess at this age. The little ones can't be taught to fight until they can walk, until they're potty-trained.”