Bound by Roses (The Bound Series Book 1)

by Jonathan Lazar

  “Do you fear me?” She asked.

  “I would not have arranged for this night otherwise,” Saledii, informed the woman who leaned upon the thrones arm. Her eyes watched the woman lap up the drying blood. The woman’s tongue continued up Saledii’s arm. It was both rough and sensually soft. A smile, and the Wolf Queen gingerly flicked her tongue upon Saledii’s bare neck. Saledii whimpered. Tongue moved slowly up to the ear. There she nibbled slightly. Saledii let out a moan, and leaned in for more before the Wolf Queen exhaled. The breath against her bare skin sent sensual electric chills through her body.

  “You’re lying. I can smell the fear pouring off you. I can taste it. On your flesh, under the sensual desire you feel. It’s so very—intoxicating.”

  The Wolves on either side of their Queen sank to the ground and growled deeply. Their teeth glistened with saliva. Heavy footfalls could be heard beyond the dark courtyard. A sharp flick of their ruler’s head all but a single Wolf bounded over the fire. They howled as they flew. The soldiers screamed as Wolves overtook them. Armor clanked as soldiers fell. Weapons shattered. Saledii could hear the creatures gorge upon the soldiers flesh. She winced.

  “Was that necessary?” Saledii tried to leave her throne, but the Wolf Queen blocked her and forced her back down.

  “I thought it was time for a more, intimate conversation,” the Wolf Queen brushed her hand upon Saledii’s cheek. A shiver ran through her spine. She continued to sit tall and proud upon her throne. Unnerved eyes stared at the single Wolf that remained, its own eyes locked on her, “Now tell me, Lady Red, what I wish to know.”

  The lone Wolf flanked his Queen’s side. Teeth glistened with drool with blood lust in his eyes. Blood still fresh upon his chin from the dead Ministers. He licked his chops as he continued to stare deep into Saledii

  “And if I do not know the location of the spell book?” Saledii adjusted herself while the Wolf Queen caressed her cheek with a single finger. It did not linger, soon she was softly and gently moving down to Saledii’s neck. It was soft to the touch, almost electric in Saledii’s body. Saledii enjoyed the finger touch her; it was soft as her handmaiden’s. The creature’s knuckle felt the rushing blood of fear and anxiety that made the vein throb in timely beats. The finger did not stop moving. It worked its way under the spaghetti strap of her slip, where her nail grew sharp and snipped it in half with ease.

  “I have my ways of making people talk, my dear, Lady Red.”

  The Wolf Queen took a thick lock of Saledii’s curly, rusty hair and pulled hard. Saledii yelped. Neck exposed, with its pulsing vein, throbbing up and down as more blood rushed through it. Saledii fought, but was overpowered by the Queen’s paw upon her chest. Claws extended, and dug easily, and deeply into soft flesh. Four tiny rivers of blood trailed down Saledii’s chest. The beast could feel Saledii’s heart beat wildly.

  “And I do so much enjoy making my prey talk,” the Queen’s jaw extended, teeth long, and sharp. With a ferocious howl, she dug deep into Saledii’s exposed skin.

  Saledii screamed until her voice gave way with a crack. She cried, but the pain did not cease. The Wolves’ teeth dug deeper with every beat of Saledii’s heart. Blood soaked Saledii’s chest. Warm at first. In the breeze that blew from the courtyard, it quickly grew cold. The Wolf Queen removed herself and stared at the ghostly Saledii. Blood glistened down her arms and onto her once bright slip as it clung to her flesh. The blood continued to pour from the gaping bite.

  “Tell me,” the Wolf Queen spit some of Saledii’s blood to her feet. Mouth still dripped with the rest. She kept her paw upon Saledii’s chest, nails still dug, “where is the location of the spell book?”

  Saledii’s breaths shallow and hard, each accompanied by a spurt of blood. The voice that came from her mouth was harsh, “I do not. Know.”

  “YOU LYING BITCH!” The Wolf Queen stuck two fingers into the fresh wound on Saledii’s neck. Nails sharpened inside as she twisted around. Saledii’s raspy, cracked screams did not bother the Wolf Queen. Her warm tears added to the blood. Digging deeper the longer Saledii withheld the information. She hooked her fingers up and punctured skin. The Wolf Queen enjoyed listening as her prey suffers. It was melodic to her ears. Eyes closed she swayed her head back and forth before growling again, “I will not ask thrice. Now tell me!”

  Saledii’s hands gripped her throne’s arms, nails dug into the ancient wood. Blood from broken nails stained the grain. Sharp inhale; Saledii screamed at the pain, “There is a price. For what—You seek!”

  The Wolf Queen lessoned her grip from Saledii’s wound. Fingers slid out slowly, glistening, “There’s a good girl. Give me the spell book.”

  “I-I can only g-give you the B-bloodstone,” Saledii pleaded, her body began to shiver uncontrollably.

  The Wolf Queen removed her grip and extended her blood soaked hand towards Saledii, “Very well. The Bloodstone then.”

  Saledii was pale. She shivered from the blood loss that pooled, and poured like a waterfall off her throne. She fought through the agonizing, eye stinging pain and raised a hand above her head. Feeling around blindly with her fingers through the intricate mural of the Wolf Queen’s defeat by her father Lord Red. Saledii pushed in the radiant sun that jutted out slightly.

  A click.

  A rustle.

  A crack.

  A flash of scarlet light, and jewel, smaller than an orange, perfectly spherical fell into her open, blood soaked palm where it camouflaged so well it disappeared. Only a tranquil glow beating like heart gave away its location in Saledii’s blood. With great reluctance, Saledii stood, breathes deep and erratic. She swayed slightly. She shivered. Lush lips turned blue. Pumpkin eyes, with tiny pupils stared deep into the wide, dark eyes of the Wolf Queen. Human features disappeared in the firelight that still raged behind her.

  “My, what b-big ears you have,” Saledii commented, a hand holding the throne while the world spun rapidly, head swum with two faces before her eyes. The Wolf Queen merely smiled.

  “All the more better to hear the screams of our prey with, my dear,” the Wolf Queen jested, hungrily moving forward.

  “My, w-what big eyes y-you have,” Saledii wobbled, clutching the jewel tight, her own hand still dripped blood. Her eyes could barely remain open. The Wolf Queen began to blur. The room blurred. She shivered. She blinked. Saledii fought the tiredness that swept over her in warm, calming waves.

  “All the more better to see the Bloodstone with, my dear,” the Wolf Queen, with a half wolf paw, reached for Saledii’s hand.

  Saledii withdrew playfully and with a smirk looked at the beast, “then watch as I destroy it—BEAST!”

  With ease, Saledii smashed the Bloodstone upon the ground. Two shattered shards flew upwards, before raining down like red chunks of ruby. The two broken halves chimed like small bells as they danced around and spun upon the marble blood soaked floor. In the firelight, the halves lost their glow, and looked almost grey.

  The Wolf Queen’s snout contorted, and jutted forward. Teeth glistened brilliantly. She howled from the deepest part of her body. The words echoed throughout the room and beyond, “What have you done?”

  Howls resounded throughout Zhan’ding. Even the Wolf that flanked Saledii, howled deeply in despair for her treacherous act. Saledii, overcome by fear and exhaustion, fell hard into her throne. The blood splashed and ran wildly to the floor. Her skin grew paler with each passing moment; blood barely trickled down her neck. Shivers uncontrollable now.

  Anger and blood lust in her jade eyes, fur erupted across the Wolf Queen’s body. Arms extended outwards. Paws large. Claws glistened, ready to strike down Saledii. Fur ran up to her elbows. Bushed tail, swayed back and forth behind her. Her feet turned to paws, knees twisted in and around. Fur quickly covered the rest of her body. She stood monstrously huge over the pale and bloodied Saledii.

  “My Queen! She did not want her dead,” the Wolf came before Saledii and tried to calm his Queen.

  “Rose Red shou
ld have thought of that before shattering the Bloodstone!” The Wolf Queen stood upon two legs, chest covered in blood. With a swipe, she knocked the Wolf before her away. He flew through the air. His tiny body slammed upon the wall. Heavy steps and the Wolf Queen approached Saledii in her throne.

  “My, what b-b-big teeth you have,” Saledii’s eyes grew heavy. The world began to darken. Her head bobbed up and down.

  “All the more better to tear your flesh apart with, my dear!” The Wolf bellowed. She lunged with a guttural growl towards Saledii who could barely move.

  A bright, blinding light of grey, and aqua pushed the immense beast back. The colors swirled around the bright star-like center like mist. It followed the Wolf Queen and stopped a few inches from the beast. A deep feminine voice called from the center, pulsating as it spoke, “She will not be pleased, if Lady Red were to perish.”

  The Wolf Queen stood before the swirling mists, claws still extended. Snout foamed in rage, “Stay out of this Fairy!”

  “It is my place to intervene when necessary,” a masculine voice called out.

  “And what if she died while attempting a desperate escape?” The Wolf Queen snarled, huffing violently. The swirling mist lessened in intensity as it approached Saledii, silently as a spirit.

  “Then allow the hope of escape,” Saledii felt two eyes pierce and stare at her as the mist spoke, “Run! Run fast! Run hard!”

  “Who are you?” Saledii barely awake asked.

  “RUN!” The mist released a shriek that curdled Saledii’s blood, and made her heart race. What little blood left leapt from the wound upon her neck.

  The Fairy rushed the Wolf Queen, while an extended fiber of swirling mist pushed her away. The Fairies mist blanketed the room with smoke. It enveloped the Wolf, who coughed violently. Saledii with heart racing, held onto the arm of her throne for support as she stood. The Wolf Queen bit and clawed at the mist, but it did not move. Saledii wobbled at her throne. Her eyes could barely make out the mist. Dots of light seemed to sparkle throughout. Saledii could not tell if it came from the Fairy, or from the blood lost.

  The mist pulsated one last time, before its thickness began to dissipate. “Run you fool!”

  Without wasting another moment, Saledii ran as best she could. Her bare feet slipped upon a trail of blood. She fell forward roughly. She crawled her way through the unbarred entrance to the tower stairs. Climbing to her feet she attempted to take two at a time. Breathes short and difficult. Lungs burned. Eyes stung. Darkness clouded the edge of her vision. Head swirled. She continued to shiver. A hand tried to contain what little blood exited her neck. Her blood soaked slip clung to her body, and restricted her movement.

  Fires raged across the city. The city bells continued to chime deeply.

  “I am coming for you!” A deep howl resounded up the stairs. Saledii stumbled into her chambers. She slammed the door closed before she hobbled to the balcony. The pain was numbing.

  “You can run child, but you cannot hide the fear on you!” The Wolf Queen sped through the thinning mist on all fours. Claws dug into the stairs with such force that she tore away stone. She launched full speed through the chamber door. It splintered off the hinges. The two heavy wooden doors crashed towards Saledii’s bed. She herself stood weakly upon the balconies railing. She swayed when the wind blew. Arms close to her chest, she shivered uncontrollably. Slip, blood soaked clung to her body tightly. Skin white as snow, lips pale and blue. Both Saledii and the Wolf Queen locked gazes.

  Time froze between the two. There gaze almost eternal. It was the Wolf Queen who on all fours crept forward slowly that broke the unending gaze. Her hair stood on ends and her teeth glistened in the pale moonlight. Eyes glowed like fireflies in the darkness, “Come off child. Before something unfortunate were to happen.”

  “What you seek I know, but you shall never have,” Saledii closed her eyes and fell. Gracefully backwards off the railing, weightlessly through the sky she seemed to plummet.

  The Wolf Queen hurtled forward but could only watch Saledii’s fall. The last line of the House of Red fell for eternity. An eternity that ended abruptly as her fragile, pale form impaled on Gozan’s out-folded hands. The Protector caught she who needed protection. Body broken. Saledii’s eyes open at impact. Her body convulsed and quivered as the light of life left her beautiful pumpkin eyes. The life left much faster than had she been killed by the Wolves’ own claws.

  With one mighty deep howl into the dying city, the Wolf Queen leapt over the balcony herself. She landed gracefully on all fours before the broken Saledii. She stared at the young woman. Bones pierced tender flesh. Limbs hung awkwardly. Torn slip danced in the Wind. What blood remained ran like mighty streams down her limp arms. Drops dripped from her fingertips. The Wolf Queen’s companions leapt over the dying tapestry flames. Besides their ruler it dropped the two halves of the Bloodstone. The beast’s eyes locked low as he winced back,

  “What can be done about the Bloodstone, my Queen?” The Wolf sat and bowed his head low as the Wolf Queen approached the dull, broken stones. She sniffed them. She moved them around with her paw.

  “If the Witch wants information. She will repair the pieces. Prepare to leave.” The Wolf Queen stated.

  “But our orders?” The Wolf barked.

  Her bright jade eyes shone in the darkness a fierce fire, “Lady Red revealed that it was not here. Our orders are complete. Prepare to leave.”

  Picking the Bloodstone halves back into her mouth carefully she darted off into shadows. The second Wolf, alone, howled into the burning night sky. The howl danced upon flame and fire. Upon ash and ember. It carried upon the Winds that blew. His was followed by howl after howl. They came from all corners of the city. As the howls ghostly song faded, the Wolves fled Zhan’ding.

  They left the city destroyed, and dying. Enough remained alive to tell the tale. Zhan’ding would burn throughout the night.

  One.

  The cool sea breeze washed over the majestic, glistening white stoned city of Ashok Orai. Lights from the streets, and homes twinkled in the twilight, a cluster of fireflies that danced stationary dances. The now silvery moon shone its approval down over the vast city as she too watched the lights flicker. Marguerite White, skin white as snow, hair the color of a raven’s feather and lips redder than the rose, stood upon the High Tower and looked out. The High Tower crafted of the whitest stone, a beacon and symbol of hope to the city, and all those that can see it upon the vast countryside. Marguerite stared down upon her prosperous city, upon all that had been built over the vastness of Ages. She inhaled the sweet and slightly salty sea air as it blew around. A smile and a sigh of contentment crossed her face. She stood a silent sentinel over her city. She was the last of the House of White.

  The Winds suddenly changed their direction. They wanted to warn her. Silent vigil of appreciation vanished. The sweet scent of the sea air that filled Marguerite's nostrils faded to what should have been the softness of the Hessen forest. Tonight, the smell of leaves and of life was different, and strong. It was the stench of burning, the stench of blood, and the stench of death. It was a foul combination that blew over Marguerite’s fair nostrils.

  Her eyes pulled away from the city gaze to the horizon. The plains were dark, the forests outline even darker. The stars in the sky gave way to an orange and red pulsing glow, a dying star behind the trees. Billowing black smoke rose. The moon itself became clouded. For even she did not want to see what transpired outside of Ashok Orai.

  “Rose Red,” Marguerite’s heart sank.

  A fair voice cried out behind Marguerite, “My lady!”

  A young woman, who could have been her twin, but black hair longer than her own and eyes violet to Marguerite’s hazel. She stopped at the balcony. Next to Marguerite, both gazed forward.

  “Yes Kaniz, I have seen it. Just now,” Marguerite was cold and distant as she spoke.

  “What does it mean?” Kaniz asked ebony hair blew back in the Wind wildly. Her white gow
n was not immune to the Winds either. It fluttered softly near her ankles. Barefooted, with a golden chain that wrapped thrice around the ankle. A silver rose charm dangled softly.

  “Only our darkest fears,” Marguerite tucked hair behind her ears, heartbeat rapidly in her chest. Her ears could hardly hear the wind blow.

  “The House of Red falls,” a gruff, powerful voice called from the shadows behind the women. He was giant, easily dwarfed the two women, muscular with scars that crossed his cheeks from years of fights. Stubble littered his face. His nose slightly off-kilter from being broken and set improperly too many times to count. The man’s thick auburn hair was nearly colorless, but not dull. Wisps of thick hair peaked out from his low shirt collar. Deep-set eyes were the color of the sea at dawn. He joined Marguerite and her handmaiden at the balcony. The orange glow intensified the longer they watched. The sky grew darker the longer they stood. Time had no meaning to those standing there.

  “What can you tell me, Avarice?” Marguerite turned her attention to the older gentlemen. The way the Wind blew, she could smell his strong natural musk. It always sent a quiver down her knees. It intoxicated her senses, and set fire to her loins. She longed for him to enter her, right there. She adjusted to the Wind as he adjusted, so that his scent would not be lost to her own senses. She blushed when Kaniz stared at her.

  Avarice leaned into the balcony. His large sand paper hands gripped the delicate marble like an egg. He sniffed lightly three times before he inhaled the air deeply. Avarice tried to acquire as much of the blood, death, and fire as he could. He inhaled until his lungs were full. Avarice held the air until his lungs burned. He exhaled with a monstrous and disappointed groan,

  “We are too far away. But they are losing, Marguerite.”

  Understanding without a single word uttered, Marguerite removed herself into the tower. There in the darkness she gripped a thick white gilded rope made from three individual ropes that had been braided together. She tugged. A bell, four times the size as she, rung out. The great bronze bell, emblazoned with two mighty stag whose horns were bound by roses, rang out into the night air of Ashok Orai thrice. Letting it rest for a moment, she pulled. The bell rang thrice more.