by Marnie Cate
“I don't need your help. It is a bit too late for you to pretend you care,” Cedric snapped, shrugging him off.
Jameson had told me stories of the Vetur being sent to hunt her spiders. Horrible tales of men returning disfigured, and broken. None of them knew what the heart was for. But, Jameson knew why.
The same dorcha she claimed to love were held in the pit to feed on the desperate emotions of the Vetur. As adults, they were released to the desert, where they were hunted. The dorcha were stronger, and they fed on the dark emotions of the hunters. The fear and desperation made them even harder to kill.
When they were slain, Snowystra was delivered the heart. The consumption of it would make her stronger, more powerful for a brief period. Her need for it increased each time she ingested one. It was an endless cycle.
“Let him help you,” I begged. “Please, don't let your anger stop you from saving Eliza. Look at you wife. She didn't even look at your son. She will let us die in here if you don't get her what she wants.”
Eliza groaned, and lied back down. Writhing on the blanket, she rasped, “I feel her inside me. Her horrible magic is running through me.”
“Do what she wants, Cedric. Don't push away our only chance of surviving,” I pleaded. “Please, for me, Cedric.”
“For you, I'll let him help me,” Cedric said, hugging me. When he released me, Cedric gathered Eliza into his arms and kissed her. “Don't slip into the darkness. I'll return for you. We will be a family again. Me, you, our son.”
“My daughters,” she said.
“Yes, your daughters. Isn't that right, Mother?” Cedric asked.
“Of course, your daughters will be welcome in our home. We will be a family. Now, go save your son,” I said.
Gently laying her back down, he kissed her on the forehead. “Rest love. I will return soon.”
With a surge of energy, Cedric stood. He swayed as if he would topple over. Jameson took him by his arm.
“I'm going to hold onto you to support you,” he told him. “Struggle a bit. It will be easier to convince them I am taking you unwillingly.”
“Fine,” Cedric said weakly. “Just take me there now.”
When they reached the cell door, Cedric turned to me. “Take care of my wife and son, Mother.”
Before I could promise him I would, the cell slammed shut, closing us in with our fears and desperation. This time it was different. There was a baby in my arms. A reason to fight.
* * *
“He is going to die out there, isn't he?” Eliza asked.
“Don't be ridiculous. Jameson is with him. Now, sit up and feed your child.”
She looked at him with a blank stare, but finally complied. When I rested him in her arms, he immediately began to cry.
“He doesn't want me,” she sobbed, pushing him back to me.
“You haven't even tried. Remember, you are holding Cedric's son. He needs you,” I said, trying to reason with her. Still, she wouldn't accept him.
“He looks like Meg,” she told me. “Meg would be a good big sister, like Marina was.”
“Well, they will have the chance when we leave here.”
“She will never free us,” Eliza declared.
“You are wrong. She freed me for twenty years. Like me, you can find a bit of peace in the years she forgets you exist.”
“You can, also, sit and worry about when she will strike again,” Eliza replied. “What have you lost, because you were afraid, Blanche? You have given up hope of ever being happy. We have all paid a price for the magic they accepted.”
“Stop thinking, and feed you son,” I commanded.
She glared at me. “I can't.”
“Feed him or he will die, Eliza. You don't want to tell Cedric you are the reason he died,” I pleaded.
“I don't want him to have a life of suffering. I don't want him to feed off the dark Winter inside me,” she said.
“Look in here. I am sure Livia sent bottles for him,” I said, handing her the bag."
“See, even the broken Vetur know I shouldn't be allowed to feed him. You care for him. You have never abandoned your son,” she replied, lying back down.
Pain filled me. I could confess I was the reason Cedric had no magic. I could give her the last bits of the gypsy potion, and comfort her fears of passing it on to her son. I could, but I didn't.
Eliza could turn it around on me. She could turn me into the Goddess for my crimes. Death would be the best outcome, but even I was not naïve enough to believe she would not torture me first. Snowystra would demand payment for my lies.
Looking through the bag, I found several bottles containing lavender-colored milk.
“Just give him the bottle,” Eliza ordered weakly.
“This will pass, Eliza. Try to rest,” I said.
I took Miles from her reluctantly. The memories of holding Cedric for the first time after I thought I had lost him rushed through me. I stifled the urge to cry.
Miles greedily drank from the bottle. As I fed him, he stared at me. He watched as if he knew my secrets. I knew I loved this child already, but I knew I could never let the Goddess see my love. I would have to wall off my love once again.
* * *
I didn't really know how long Cedric was gone. There was no way to track time in our cell. Waiting for him was painful. Not only did I worry about my son, but my grandson would soon be in trouble if Eliza wouldn't help. The bottles were gone, and desperation filled me.
“Eliza, he is out of milk. You will need to feed your son,” I pleaded.
“No, let us all die. Cedric is gone. He isn't returning,” Eliza replied, moving away from me. Her eyes were wild. I feared what she would do if he didn't return soon.
Sitting next to the cell door, I cradled Miles, praying for help to come. I would offer my own life to save his. I just had to figure out how to get him to safety. I would beg the next guard, give him anything he wanted.
As the cell door opened, I straightened up, mentally preparing myself. I sighed in relief when Jameson entered. But, he was alone.
“Where's my son?” I asked. My thoughts went to the worst scenario. He had not survived the desert.
“I'm here, Mother. I survived three days of hell, but I am back,” Cedric announced. He was walking on his own. He was tattered and bleeding, but he was alive. I could feel his Winter magic as he brushed against me.
Only three days? It seemed like weeks. Enough time away to restore his magic.
I handed him Miles. “Let me get you water. You look horrible.”
Cedric laughed, and took his son. “Grandmother thinks I look terrible. What do you think, son?”
Discretely, I scraped the last bits of the gypsy potion into the cup. I struggled to close the ring. The gem had come loose. I felt an arm on my shoulder.
“What is taking so long?” Cedric laughed. “What are you doing over here? I thought you were baking a cake.”
Clutching the ring in the palm of my hand, I turned and handed him the glass. “I wanted to make sure there wasn't any dirt floating in your water.”
Laughing, he drank it down quickly “Always trying to take care of me, Mother.”
“The guards have been especially cruel. The ice balls have been filled with rocks and dirt,” I explained.
Jameson scowled.
“It's ok,” I quickly said. “The rocks probably have nutrients we need.”
Cedric motioned to Eliza. “Is she ok?” he whispered.
“No, she wants nothing to do with Miles. She refuses to feed him. He finished his last bottle this morning,” I replied softly.
“She can't do this,” he said. His eyes blazing with fury.
“She had been through a lot. She is scared. Give her time,” I replied, trying to comfort him.
“I know, and I am sorry for leaving you, but I have found what the Goddess wanted. She will free us soon. Tell me how to help Eliza.”
“Just love her. I think she will return to us now that y
ou are back,” I told him. “Go wake her. Tell her you will never leave her again.”
“I brought her what she wanted. She will reward me for my effort,” Cedric said, patting the empty satchel. He kissed Miles on the head and returned him to me.
“Did she say we could go home?”
“She told me she would think about it, and laughed,” Cedric scowled.
“We need food, Jameson. The baby needs milk,” I informed him. She will not free us. It is another game.
“Oh, it is so vile down here. How disgusted you must feel,” Snowystra said from the doorway. “Isn't this sweet. The happy family reunited. The mother and son together again.”
“Goddess, what do you want me to do with them?” Jameson asked. Our eyes met. I knew he would find a way to keep us alive, but did I even want him to?
“Get them out of my sight. Return them to Starten. I have, once again, learned Drygen blood will never have what I need. I really should stop trying.”
I couldn't help hoping she would. I would sacrifice myself if it meant no more generations would be subjected to this cruelty.
“Look at the useless shell of a human lying on the ground, selfishly sleeping as someone else cares for her son. The child, who should have been mine,” Snowystra scoffed. “She is full of my magic. I can feel it from here. Why does she not hold her child?”
“She doesn't want him,” I answered. “I think she has been broken, Goddess.”
“Broken?”
“She has no spirit. I think it will be soon that she will leave this world.”
“Then, leave her here. I will feed her to my dorcha,” she laughed.
“Goddess, I think that would be ill advised. I think Danu would come after you,” Jameson counseled.
Snowystra turned on her guard. Grabbing him by his throat, she pinned him against the wall. “Why would I worry about her coming for me? You have seen how weak and pitiful she is. Neither of my sister's power even compares to mine. Let her come. I will slaughter her in front of the Council.”
“Yes, Goddess,” Jameson said, trying to breathe. “But, I have heard she has grown stronger. This would fuel her. She would be forced to come here.”
She dropped him. Jameson gasped for air.
“Always in my way,” Snowystra spat. “One day, they will not be. My sisters, those magic stealing branches of myself, keep me from reaching my full power. Fine, take them out of my sight. This time, if there are any children, I don't want to hear about them until we know if they have magic. I can't get my hopes up every time, only to be let down.”
“Yes, Goddess. I will remove them immediately.” With those words, Jameson enclosed us in a flurry of snow.
The cold wind whipped around us. As the snow faded, we were at the front door of the mansion.
Chapter 28
Cedric held Eliza in his arms. She was pale and lifeless. He pleaded for her to wake up.
His desperation angered me. Weak. His love for her will end him, I thought, yet, again. My bitter thoughts were interrupted when we were greeted by the staff. Looks of worry and confusion flooded their faces.
“What a surprise, Mrs. Drygen. It must have been wonderful to spend four months by the ocean,” Hazel said. The middle-aged woman opened the door wider, and stepped out of the way. “We had not received notice you were returning from your beach home.”
“Eliza had her baby. As you can see, she is unwell. She needed to be in our home,” I responded coldly.
“Oh, I didn't know she was expecting.” Hazel's eyes fell on the lifeless form in Cedric's arms. Her eyes widened in surprise. “Should I call for the doctor?”
“I will tend to her, and she will be fine.” I handed her Miles. “It's more important that you look after my grandson. You do know how to take care of a baby?”
Cuddling him, she smiled down at the infant. “Of course, do not worry about your small one.”
“Miles. His name is Miles,” I snapped. “Have the bassinet moved to your room immediately. Eliza will need quiet if she is to heal quickly.”
“Of course, Mrs. Drygen.” Hazel nodded her head at me, and rushed away.
A moment of fear filled me. I had let her take my grandson away. Before I could reconsider, Stephen stepped out of the shadows, interrupting my irrational worries about Mile's safety.
“Should I get your luggage, Mrs. Drygen?” he asked.
“Cedric already took care of it,” I lied.
Stephen was smart enough to know I was lying, but wouldn't question me. “Very well,” he nodded.
When we arrived in Cedric's suite, Jameson was waiting for us. I turned to him, and said, “We need to get help for her. Bring her mother quickly.”
“She will know what to do,” Jameson agreed.
“No, she will just take her from me,” Cedric cried.
“Cedric, she will die if we don't get her help,” I pleaded softly.
Cedric looked wild. “There has to be someone else.”
“The gypsy,” Jameson suggested. “I'll bring the gypsy. She will know how to help her.”
“Yes!” My son's desperation turned to hope. “Thank you, father.”
“You better go fast. If not, I will get Mae myself,” I ordered.
* * *
The passage of time was marked by the grandfather clock as the minutes ticked by loudly. It felt like hours since Jameson had left. Cedric rested next to Eliza, whispering to her. She didn't respond to him.
“What is taking him so long?” Cedric asked.
“Just let me die,” Eliza rasped.
Cedric cupped her face in his hands. “No, I'll not let you go. He went to get help.”
“It won't help. I can feel her darkness rushing through me. Please, just let me die before I become —”
“No, you have a son to care for,” I insisted.
“I have daughters to care for, but I am no good for anyone,” Eliza cried, sitting up. The exertion was too much and she crumpled forward sobbing. “She will never leave us alone.”
“You can't give up, Eliza,” Cedric said, holding her.
“We are the last of the protectors. It has to stop now,” she cried.
Sarah Andrews and Genevieve Silver were dead. While Michelle Elliott had disappeared and was presumably dead. That was true, but Eliza was wrong though. Not everyone was touched by the darkness. Sarah Sands and Mae Veracor not only remained alive but they were untouched. It was just the curse of those who were, or loved, a Drygen.
“There is nothing we can do about what has happened in the past,” I said. “You will get better. We will figure out how to keep your children safe, together.”
Eliza lied back down and covered her ears with a pillow. I smoothed her hair from her face. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I had grown protective of her. She represented the daughter I had always wanted.
“Why have I been snatched from my sleep,” Miselda growled as she suddenly appeared in the room. Dressed in a white nightgown with puffy sleeves, her gray hair was wrapped in a colorful scarf.
“Forgive us, Miselda, but Eliza has given birth to the child and she is not well,” I said, rushing to the woman. “She was hemorrhaging and Snowystra used her Winter to heal her, but we have been in the tunnels of Snowstrum with no one to care for her.”
“How long has it been since she gave birth?”
“I don't know,” Cedric replied. “Seven days in Snowstrum, so maybe, forty days?”
Miselda's eyes darkened at his answer. “More like one hundred and twelve days. Let me examine your wife. Where is the child?”
“He is with the maid,” Cedric answered quickly.
“Go get the child,” she insisted.
Cedric nodded and, without delay, rushed from the room.
The gypsy inspected Eliza from head to toe. She frowned, but did not convey her thoughts. When Cedric returned holding Miles, Miselda held out her arms and took my grandson.
When Eliza saw them, she began screaming. “He can't b
e here. Go! Take him away!”
“Hush,” Miselda said, blowing a fine dust into Eliza's face.
Eliza collapsed.
“What did you do?” Cedric cried. He rushed to her, and held her tightly
“She will be calm while I look at your son,” the gypsy responded nonplussed.
Ignoring him, Miselda picked up a throw blanket and stretched it open on the dresser. Lying Miles down, she began to examine him. He watched her intently as she flexed his legs and checked inside his mouth. He didn't fuss or refuse any of her actions.
She clenched her jaw as if she was in deep thought. I stood closer to her, looking down at Miles. He was a beautiful baby. Would he grow to be a handsome man?
“His magic is strong,” she whispered.
Reaching into the bustles of her gown, she held up a white pouch. “This should be given to him every day in his milk.” Holding up a purple bag, she said, “This, once a week.”
Our eyes met. She was giving us a way to stop his magic.
“What is this?” Jameson asked.
“Herbs to fight off the effects of where he was kept.”
“The Vetur children do not need your herbs,” he argued.
“They are born there. Their parents are born there. They are not impacted like a mortal child.”
“All of you will need to take herbs to fight off what has invaded you…especially Eliza,” she said, looking to the bed.
Eliza was awake now, and staring at Miles, who I was now holding.
“Eliza must rest,” Miselda said sharply to Cedric, “But, I need to do a more thorough inspection. The men must leave.”
Cedric reluctantly left after promising to return soon. When the door closed, Eliza began to cry. “The darkness will consume me.”
“You will heal, but time will be needed. I would not have known you gave birth if it weren't for the child,” the gypsy said as she finished her examination.
Eliza closed her eyes. Soon, her breathing was soft and shallow. I grabbed her hand, trying to wake her up.
“Let her sleep. I can treat her, but Winter magic is strong inside her,” Miselda warned.
“Just heal her, please,” I begged.
“Why do you care about this woman?”