“Tell me, sweet. Does this Gypsy witch make her own potions and tonics?”
“Oh yes, Mistress. The room next to her chamber has been made into a kitchen for that express purpose. No one is allowed to touch her things in there. I do not even tidy up after her.”
Marishka clapped her hands with glee again, her mood continuing to be on the upswing once more. “Perfect. I have a special herb that will put an end to her days and rid me of her once and for all. Andor, bring me the jar from the cupboard.”
The order was given off handed and without a thought. His station clearly reduced to that of a lowly servant whose purpose was to fetch things, instead of the trusted loyal companion he knew he was. Andor burned inside at the insult but remained mum. He knew his time would come. His dark Mistress would be his alone and this little bitch of a human would be no more. When he didn’t move at once, Marishka glared at him, forehead wrinkled, eyes flashing, and waved her hand at the cupboard.
“Go on, I showed it to you earlier.” Turning back to Hannah, Marishka continued to explain. “It looks like tea tree bark, but in truth is not, and when added to the tonic Natalya must be making for this human in the village, it will cause an explosion and fire. This will of course put an end to the Gypsy’s miserable life once and for all. Just think of it, all the bloody torn body bits; all the burning flesh as the boiling potion sprays out of the cauldron and onto her head, so delightful. She will cough and gag and scream as she burns and the Gypsy witch will be no more. How I wish I could see it.”
The pout once more took over Marishka’s face, making her dark beauty fade, replaced by the face of a petulant little girl. “But tis not to be. I shall have to be happy with her death. Being rid of her is the important thing. She is a danger to us. She has magick, and she will fight to protect Mikhal’s bitch and her brat. But you, my sweet, can change all that.”
“I can change it, Mistress?”
“Yes you, silly. You of course will be the one who exchanges the jars so the whole thing happens just as the voices say it should. You’ll switch them back as well so no one is the wiser as well.”
Hannah didn’t say anything. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to do as Marishka asked. She did. She desperately wanted to stay in her favor; it was just that doing the task would be hard if not impossible. She suspected that for some reason Natalya didn’t fully trust her, and getting near enough to the Gypsy’s herbs to do what must be done would be difficult indeed. If Natalya caught her in the special kitchen chamber, touching her things, she didn’t know what she would do. Oh well, it didn’t matter. She would go that very night while the Gypsy was on her nightly adventure with the vampire Lucian.
“Why so quiet pet? You don’t like mummy’s idea?” Marishka’s pout looked innocent enough but Hannah knew full well that the glint her Mistress’s eyes spelled danger.
“Oh no, Mistress. Tis brilliant and I’m sure it will work.”
“Of course it will. Andor, give Hannah the herbs. Simply switch them with the tea tree bark. Make sure you find the right one, they look and smell the same, and then the deed will be done as will the meddling Gypsy witch.
“Now then, as for the whore in my brother’s bed. She is another matter. The fairies have begun to whisper a plan for her as well. They aren’t finished yet though so I can’t tell you everything. One thing I do know though is this. You are not going to kill her, oh no, that will be my pleasure alone. Your job will simply be to get her here.”
“How, Mistress? I barely see her for fear of seeing the Master?”
Marishka laughed and the sound chilled Hannah to the bone and caused a sick feeling to rise up in her stomach.
“Why by making her come after her child of course.”
Hannah was completely enthralled once more, though fear still raced through her. She was beginning to wonder exactly what she had gotten herself into when she made a pact with the old Mistress of the castle. Well, it couldn’t be helped now. She was utterly devoted to Marishka, and Hannah knew that meant she had to see things through to the end.
“Yes, Mistress, I’m listening, what must I do?”
“By the time she gives birth, the other Gypsy will be long dead, and I doubt my brother will find any woman as skilled or as loyal. The new midwife will simply be there to do her job, not to protect my brother’s mate. When the babe is borne, the Gypsy whore will be very exhausted, you will make sure you are near, but not so near my brother can sense you.”
“I can stay in the tower room, M’Lady.”
“Such a smart pet. Yes, the tower room. After the birth, when she is asleep and Lord Arcos has left them alone, you are to steal the babe and bring him to me.”
“Mistress!”
“Hush. You will make me angry. It will be simple really. You shall steal the brat from his cradle and she will coming running after him and when she does, oh when she does, Andor and I will have such a sweet surprise for her won’t we lover?”
At this Andor began to laugh in a cold sickening way that made Hannah cringe as icicles crawled up her spine.
“Won’t it be lovely pet? Won’t it be perfect? The babe will be slaughtered.” At this Marishka licked her lips ever so slowly, making a show of how tasty his tender flesh would be. “And the Gypsy bitch will pay for what she has done, over and over, and over...” Marishka began to laugh as well and the sound rang out through the cottage, joining with Andor’s evil peals of glee and making Hannah wonder at the wisdom of her bond with the devil’s Mistress and rendering her quite speechless.
Chapter Fourteen
Mikhal knocked softly on Natalya’s door then stood silently, filled with unease and indecision. Only moments ago, revealing his secret to the woman inside had seemed like the right thing to do, but now... now he wasn’t so certain. He, the great Mikhal the Merciless, Lord Arcos who was Master of everything and everyone around him, was feeling vulnerable, and he didn’t care for the feeling one bit. If this was what baring his heart was like, then he thought perhaps he could do without it.
Having mulled it over, he almost turned and left, deciding Lords of the castle didn’t reveal their secrets to human woman, and they certainly didn’t go to them for advice, but then Mikhal remembered the reason he was here. Alliana. If he walked away now, he would always have to keep the secret of the Empathy spell between them. It would be there, like a wall that prevented them from truly being together because she would know. She would sense the fact that he was lying to her, as she already did, and that would stop her from letting down her defenses.
Knocking again, harder now because he knew this time what he was doing was right no matter how hard it was, Mikhal listened for Natalya to bid him entry. When no response came from within, he knocked once more, his demon chastising the man who was acting the courtly gentleman in his own castle.
"I do not wish for you to enter, Lucian. That should be apparent by my lack of response. I shall meet you at the stable in a few minutes when I am ready. Leave me be."
Mikhal smiled in spite of himself. She certainly was a spitfire with a mind of her own. There was no doubt Alliana and Natalya was cut from the same cloth. He imagined she was giving his first in command untold hours of grief every night with that sharp tongue of hers.
Shaking his head, imagining just how exasperated Lucian must be with the woman within, he opened the door and went in, clearing his throat to announce his presence. Natalya, who had not turned from where she stood, back to the door, fastening her cloak, called out a sharp retort over her shoulder unaware that she was berating the Master of the castle and not his first in command.
"I see you have yet to gain an ounce of decorum. Twas it not established on our first night that you would remain outside unless told you could enter? How dare you think you can barge in here and intrude upon my privacy?"
At this loud outburst, so like one his wife would deliver, Mikhal had to laugh out loud. Hearing him, knowing at once the horrid mistake she had just made, Natalya gasped, putting h
er hand to her mouth, and spun around, eyes wide.
"Oh! Oh, Lord Arcos. Forgive me. I... I thought..."
"Calm yourself, Natalya. It is very apparent what you thought. Has my first in command been causing you problems? He has been instructed to treat you in a Lady like manner."
Natalya stood for a moment, unsure what to say. Truth be told, the bantering between she and Lucian was hardly a problem. It was simply the way of their relationship. How was she to explain that to the man before her though? He had told her she would be treated with respect. Told her to tell him if anyone dared do otherwise, and here she’d been berating whom she thought was Lucian in a manner that spoke plainly that said his first in command often did not behave in a gentlemanly fashion. The thing was, it didn’t truly bother her in the least. In fact, she found sport in taunting him and having to think quickly on her feet to find suitable retorts to his sometimes-surly demeanor or caustic wit. The look upon his face when she managed to score a hit that disturbed his stoic façade was well worth any frustration he might inflict.
"Well, Natalya, has Lucian’s behavior been cordial or does he need to be reminded in no uncertain terms how you are to be treated?"
"No, My Lord. Lucian has been fine. We... we simply ... At times we disagree but tis fine."
Mikhal saw a blush come over Natalya’s cheeks and his eyebrows rose. She saw his reaction, knew of its cause, and closed her eyes, fuming inside at herself and at him for daring to let on that he had noticed her embarrassment.
"Everything is as it should be, Lord Arcos. Is there something you wanted?"
Her question brought Mikhal back to reality like a splash of icy water tossed in his face. He sobered at once and indicated for her to take a chair. "Yes, there is something we need to discuss, something very serious. I am troubled, Natalya, and I believe you are the only one who can help me."
"Is it Alliana? Did something happen after we came home. She was fine all day M’Lord. I swear. She enjoyed herself immensely."
"No, tis not that, though we should speak of that as well. That and the man who is so vile in the village, but there is something else we must speak of. I would like you to hear me out first if you will, remain silent, do not pass judgment, simply listen, hear what I wish to say, and then tell me what you think."
"Very well, My Lord." Her curiosity was well piqued but she sat calmly, prepared to do as he asked and remain mute.
"Something happened to me before I brought you here, something that changed me for the better. The trouble is, I’m not certain Alliana will see it that way. I’m afraid she will think it is the only reason I am able to care for her, and that just is not so."
Mikhal hesitated, not sure where to begin. Natalya looked at him with clear eyes full of compassion. This was it she thought, here was the thing he’d been hiding. She’d know all along that there was something different about him, but now she would know for certain just what that thing was.
"Go on."
"Ever since I was turned into the creature I am, I was a heartless, cruel demon who fed not just on blood, but on pain and tears as well. It was my goal to be as depraved and vicious as I could be, for that was where I found the most pleasure. Nothing was too horrendous, nothing too vile. I indulged in any whim, and indulged Marishka as well, without a thought.
"When I first took Alliana from your clan, I treated her the same way I treated all humans. Oh there was a small bond there because she was my mate. I wouldn’t kill her no matter her actions, and because of the child I refrained from beating her, but I made her suffer horribly emotionally, and the demon in me relished her pain. I’m sure she has told you of all my heinous deeds."
Natalya nodded, what he said was true and there was no denying it.
"I used her body for my pleasure, making her feel pleasure as well simply because I knew it would break her heart for her body to respond to mine, and on the day she went to the village without permission, I punished her by taking her in my demon form at first. I used her, Natalya. Used her and spat vile words in her face about her body’s response, then left her alone and vulnerable.
"That night, after I had left, she ran away from me yet again, this time barefoot and half dressed, to cleanse herself in the stream though it was bitter cold. She didn’t think, couldn’t think because of what I had done to her; she just went without shoes, with no cloak, running blindly to wash away my touch.
“I did that to her Natalya, I did, and I will forever be sorry, but something else monumental happened on that night as well that was both good and bad.
"When Alliana went into that water, when she fell and hurt herself, I felt her cry out. We are mated, bonded in a way humans can’t comprehend, and so I knew at once something was wrong. Much of my fear centered on the child then, but still, she was my mate, so I went on a frantic search for her. The beast in me needed to save its mate.
“During my search I came upon Marishka, the Mage, and Enid doing some ritual that I had no time for. My sister was ranting as usual and I simply didn’t listen, though now I know it twas a mistake. All I wanted at that point was to find Alliana.
"As I left the castle though, what they were doing became apparent. They were concocting a spell to cast upon me, a curse to be more exact, an Empathy curse.
“The Mage felt that it would make me weak in the eyes of my men if I had feelings and that I would no longer be able to rule the castle. Enid, well Enid was simply there and unable to stop them though she told them it was a mistake. Marishka in all her delusions thought it would make me feel how much she loved me, but instead it only made me see and feel how very much she loves herself and how selfish she is. Her heart is dead. Simply black and cold to anything but her own needs."
Natalya shook her head ruefully at the mention of Marishka’s true nature. "She is one I am glad I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting."
"Believe me. I hope you never will. She may be of my blood, but it would be for the best if she were long gone from these parts. Perhaps long ago she was a tender sweet soul, but that woman is gone forever.
“As I was leaving, I was hit with the spell, and in turn hit with the magnitude of Alliana’s pain. I felt it Natalya, and it made me want to die. Nothing in my existence had ever hurt me so badly. It rushed at me, enveloping me, and fell like a stone upon my heart and shoulders, crushing me.
"Everything I did to her, how she was suffering, how terrified she was, how dirty she felt, how angry and abused she felt. All of it hit me and made me fall to my knees. The Mage was correct that right then and there it reduced me to almost nothing. The pain was so intense I could barely move, but then it made me determined as well.
"As you know, I rescued her in time. Just in time though and that too chilled my heart. I brought her back here, warmed her, took care of her, and still, felt every bit of hatred and pain she felt. Nothing I did, nothing I said, made her feel any differently, and it changed me, Natalya. It made me see what I’d done. How wrong I had been to treat my mate that way, and it made me realize that I didn’t want her to feel like that ever again. My heart melted, Natalya. The spell and Alliana’s pain opened up the man inside me who had been caged by the beast for so long. It has allowed me to experience emotions again through others, but it hasn’t been the sole reason I have stayed the way I am.
"Part of me is still that demon and always will be. I am vicious and show no mercy for those who betray me. I rule here with an iron fist, but with Alliana, with Alliana it is different. Her happiness means everything to the man who lived all those years ago and the demon has in a sense come to accept her for how she is too."
After his long speech, Mikhal was silent for a moment and Natalya sat quietly, not sure if she should speak. Finally when Mikhal still sat and pondered what he was going to say next, she spoke up.
"Is this the secret Enid was going to reveal?"
"Alliana told you?"
"Yes, of course she did."
"What does she suspect?"
"She do
esn’t know what to think but it worries her. Tell me, M’Lord. Are you troubled because you think she will assume you only came to care for her because of the spell?"
"Yes! That is it, exactly. She has been grasping at reasons not to care for me, not to trust in me, and if she learns of the spell and its ramifications, she will say that it is the reason I love her, not any sort of feeling in my dead heart."
"But you do not agree?"
"No. I... there was, is, a mating bond. I know now that I cared for her before the spell, Natalya. I was frantic when she left the castle to go to the village that day. Oh I may say it was because of the babe but if I am honest, the man and beast wanted and needed Alliana. It made me crazed to think I had lost her.
“I thought she had run off and left me and it made me insane. Taking her by force in my demon form as punishment was wrong. I know that, but the reasoning behind my rage was because of how much I needed her and how much she meant to me."
"A man doesn’t hurt a woman he cares for in such a manner." She was reprimanding him and such a thing was truly unthinkable, but they had transcended the realm of Master and mere woman and had crossed the bridge into friendship.
"I know that, but my demon didn’t and sometimes my demon takes hold. Natalya I know if the spell were removed I would still love Alliana and the babe. I know I would, and that is why I’m here tonight. I wish for you to remove the spell. Can you? Can you reverse it and return me to how I once was?"
"So you can keep your secret forever? I cannot agree to that." Her eyes flashed anger. She wouldn’t be part of a deception this monumental. Let him threaten her, let him beat her. She wouldn’t take away the spell so he could keep this huge secret from Alliana forever. If these two were ever going to find love it was going to have to be because they trusted each other.
"No. I will tell her. I simply want to wait for a month or so to show her that I still was able to love her, and that in fact my love grew, even without the spell."
Beneath The Shadows of Evil... Torn Page 19