"And you are certain that is what will happen?"
"I love Alliana, Natalya. My heart may be dead and I may not have a soul, but part of me is still a man, and that man cares for her beyond reason. She is my life and nothing can change that."
"Magick can go awry."
"I’m certain the Mage and those who supported him can attest to that. I was able to feel their duplicity at once."
"That is not what I mean."
"I know, Natalya. I know things can go wrong, but I must take the chance. I... I am pleading with you woman. Take back the spell."
Natalya stared at him, astonished; knowing just how very hard is must have been for him to utter the words he’d just spoken. "Very well. I will research this Empathy spell, and if it can be removed safely, then I shall do as you ask if I am able."
"And you will not breathe a word of it to Alliana."
"Make no mistake, M’Lord. If you do not tell her the truth in a month’s time after I erase the curse, I shall tell her all. I will not allow you to continue to lie to her. I have come to respect you as a man, Lord Arcos, but I am here for Alliana."
"Very well. I can abide by your terms."
Mikhal fell silent once more and Natalya made to rise, but he placed a hand on her arm, stopping her. "Tell me true, Natalya. Has Lucian been a gentleman to you? I put the mark of claim upon your neck for your protection, and that protection extends both to his words and deeds. He is not to touch you."
"We play a verbal game, My Lord. Truth be told, I find it fun to bait him. As for contact, the only time we touch is when we are upon his horse. You have no reason for suspicions. Besides, I am quite capable of handling that rogue myself."
"I believe you are, Natalya. And tell me of this... Samuel is it? Alliana said he was very hostile and raised his hand to you. If this is true I shall pay a visit to him tonight and show him the error of his ways. His miserable life will be over in an instant. How dare the imbecile threaten a Lady of this castle?"
Natalya paled at his words. "Oh no, please, My Lord. His family needs him, lazy lout though he may be. His wife will give birth any day and needs him to support the family."
"I can see to them, a few bits of silver each month, food taken to them daily. It would be best if he were killed to make an example to those who may wish to be insolent as well."
"Please Lord Arcos, it would shame the family to be kept by the Master of the land. People would shun them. I mean no offense but they wouldn’t be welcome any longer. Where would they go? What would Rowen do? I beg you to reconsider. Besides, what would Alliana think of your harshness? A man show’s mercy even to those who are not deserving, a monster kills without thought."
"You are wise to bring my wife’s feelings into play, Natalya. You know I would do nothing to upset her, though if this man were removed from the village I would allow her to visit once again. As it stands, she will not go back."
"But, Sire…”
Mikhal held up his hands, his eyes flashing, a low growl issuing forth, reminding Natalya that the man before her had a hidden inner fierceness. She understood at once that it was time to be silent. Not out of fear, but out of respect for the man before her. He was the Lord of the castle, and one simply didn’t argue with the Master on every turn. He accorded her many liberties, allowed her to speak her mind, but there were times to be meek as well.
"Yes, Sire."
"Alliana and I already had this argument, woman, and I refuse to have it with you as well. She stays here where I know she is safe. As for the imbecile in the village, I shall spare the life of this man, but only if he keeps his hands off you. I will be pleased when this woman you are tending no longer needs your services during the day. It troubles me that you must go to the village without Lucian for your escort."
"Does that mean my taking of goods will be put to an end when the babe comes as well?"
Mikhal scowled. He hadn’t thought of that aspect of her daytime journeys, but his words had frozen Natalya’s heart. She knew she had precious little time in which to get the medallion back.
"I’ve no time to think on that now. Perhaps you can go now and then, or perhaps you will have to take the things at night. Now I believe you have somewhere to be. Goodnight, Natalya. I look forward to hearing about your progress in regards to the curse."
"Yes, M’Lord. I shall begin tomorrow. Good night to you as well."
Natalya waited until Mikhal left then quickly gathered her things for her nightly journey with Lucian. She wondered if the Master had had similar discussions about her with the other vampire. Lucian certainly didn’t act as if he knew he was to keep his hands to himself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hannah stood in a recessed part of the corridor, clutching the jar of substitute herbs, watching as Natalya left her chambers and walked to the stables for her nightly trip to the village. She was shaking, her knees weak, sweat beading on her upper lip and under her arms, but still, she was determined to carry out the mission Marishka had given her. When Natalya had rounded the far curve in the hallway, and been gone for what seemed like an eternity of waiting for the anxious girl, Hannah came out of the shadows and lifted the lever on the door to the make shift kitchen and slipped in.
It was a large chamber, one meant for a person of high rank to occupy, but because Natalya was Lady Arcos’s dearest friend, she had been given the chamber when she’d asked for it as a kitchen for her potions. It was right next to her bedchamber and close to the Mistress’s as well, leaving Natalya always in close proximity of Alliana.
The bed had been removed, replaced by a massive table. The tapestries still adorned the walls, but most of the other decorative items and furnishings had been pushed back to make a large working space for the Gypsy.
On the table sat bowls of all sizes both wooden and earthen, along with jugs of oils, tonics, and jars of herbs, none of which were labeled in any way. There were also various mortars and pestles some filled and some clean. All in all, the entire area was a mystery to Hannah. She knew nothing of herbs and potions, and stood silently for a moment, daunted by the enormity of her task.
She turned to survey the rest of the room as she thought about how to proceed, how best to find what she needed quickly, only to be confronted by rows and rows of jars on shelves upon the wall, and hanging bunches of dried grasses and flowers dangling from the ceiling. Well at least she wouldn’t have to worry about those. Marishka had said what she needed would be in a jar, and it stood to reason that if she’d been using it often for a potion for the woman in the village, it was most likely on the table, where Natalya could have it in easy reach.
Hannah began to open the jars one by one, poking her finger inside and pulling up just a bit of the contents to compare it with what was in the jar she’d brought. Time after time she failed to find what she was looking for, but she persisted. She had to do this for her Mistress. She had to be the one to rid the castle of Natalya and make it safer for them when the time came to dispose of Lady Arcos and the child as well. Finally, the traitorous servant girl found what she was looking for. Her discovery did not bring her all the joy it should have however. What she sought was in a very large jar, but the jar she’d been given to replace it was much smaller. What was she to do? She couldn’t simply switch them. Natalya was certain to notice the change, and there was far more of the true bayberry in the jar than what she brought as well. If she mixed the two it would be impossible to remove the evidence of her crime, and the amount of the imposter herb might not be enough to cause a grand enough fire to truly kill Natalya as was intended. Oh she wished Marishka were here to tell her what to do in times like these. She wasn’t a thinker at all. All Hannah wanted was to follow orders and please her Mistress.
She stood, debating, worrying her lip until it almost bled, staring at the jar of bayberry, pondering her actions, when a noise in the hall snapped her from her trance. She backed up, into the shadowed recesses made by the wardrobe that had been shoved into the corner, and wa
ited with baited breath to see if she was to be discovered.
When the sharp sound of approaching boots upon the stone floor rang out louder and louder as the person or thing approached, Hannah almost swooned in her terror, but then the sound began to fade, and soon she was left in silence. Hesitating no more, knowing she had to get out of the chamber before she was indeed caught, she opened the jar of herbs she’d been clutching and dumped the contents directly on top of the true bayberry in the jar belonging to Natalya, whispering a silent plea that it would be enough as she did so. There would be no retrieving the evidence of her crime.
If it came into question and the Master saw fit to speak to her about it, Hannah knew she would be found out and most likely tortured and executed, but she had done it for Marishka. It had all been for her lovely Mistress.
With that thought in mind, filled with relief that her task had been done, Hannah slipped out of the kitchen chamber and back to her own quarters. She needed get her cloak and to go back to see her Mistress. It had been a very hard thing she had just done, and she needed Marishka’s loving touch. Everything would be all right if her Mistress would just love her and tell her she’d done the right thing; nothing else mattered but making Marishka happy. She hadn’t done exactly as she’d been told, but she had done her best, and Hannah just knew it would make Marishka pleased.
Her footstep were swift and sure as she raced down the corridor and up the stairs to her tiny servant’s room at the top of the castle. Breathless, she grabbed her cloak, pulling up the hood to conceal her face, and then peeked out of the door to make certain her departure was not being observed by prying eyes.
Heading down the back stairwell, Hannah ran and then finally slipped out into the night, a smile upon her face and a mantra upon her lips. "I’m coming, Mistress, I’m coming."
Chapter Fifteen
Lucian rode slowly, one strong arm curled around the woman fast asleep in his arm, the other carefully guiding the horse up the steep path through the darkness. Her scent filled his nostrils, her heartbeat his ears, her loveliness his eyes whenever he chanced a look, and most of all, oh most of all, her warmth pressed against his body.
He’d watched her subtlety all night from the corner of his eye as she worked. Watched how she moved with such grace and surety. How she held herself with such confidence, how she tended each woman with sincere kindness, how her hands, so slender and elegant, were so very capable, but most of all, he watched how she pointedly ignored him as if he were a nobody, not worthy of a second glance. And so now, while she was unaware, he watched again.
He knew the thoughts that were filling his head and stirring his blood were not ones he should be having, but she was just simply so desirable even if she acted as if she cared not for him. For all her lowly heritage you would think she were the princess of Hungary with the airs she put on, but those airs hadn’t dissuaded him one bit.
She had fire and beauty and intelligence, much like her friend the Mistress had, and it was a rare combination in a woman. It was one he decided he liked, and he was a man used to getting the things he liked. The problem was, she wasn’t cooperating and that made him want her all the more.
Lucian knew that if she would simply open up to him, if she would stop being so damned stubborn and allow him to sway her with his charms, then he could introduce her to the realm of pleasure. The vehemence with which she fought for her independence told him that she’d had a domineering husband who cared not for her needs and that she saw no benefit in succumbing to his lust, but he saw what lay beneath the surface and knew how wrong she was. All he needed was to put that fire she used to flay him so often to good use.
The trick was to tame the fire, not put it out. So many men did not understand that or simply didn’t care. But Lucian was not one of them. He wished to capture the spark that burned in Natalya’s soul, and then stoke it so the flames engulfed her in the heat of passion. That was the way to handle one such as this. Only a fool would treat her like a sack of meal and leave her to lie like ice in one’s bed, and he was most definitely not a fool.
The moon broke from behind the clouds as he pondered her, and Lucian took another long look at this woman, this Natalya, who had suddenly entered his life and turned it upside down. As he did, the horse stumbled. They both jerked forward then back, Lucian pressing Natalya tightly to him to prevent her from tumbling to the ground as they did. Her head fell, lolling against the crook of his arm as it encircled her waist, then back as the horse regained its footing, but she didn’t wake. Instead, she murmured in her sleep, lips parted as if ready for a kiss.
Lucian gazed at those lips, at her face, her perfect, milky white skin and fiery hair. He’d never seen such hair. It was the same russet color of a fox, and even in the darkness the coppery strands shimmered. His eyes traveled back to her lips then lower, intending to take his fill of her curves while she couldn’t reprimand him for his roving eyes, but before he could, they spied the one thing that prevented him from ever truly touching the woman before him, his Sire’s mark upon her neck. Dream of her though he may, she was forbidden.
The twin punctures that marred her skin were a warning to all that she was claimed, and any of his clan would know by whom. It would be very unwise indeed to lay a hand upon Natalya, not simply because it broke all the laws of their kind, but because the man who laid claim upon her would tear open the throat of anyone bold enough to violate their unwritten law in an instant, if challenged.
Alliana was also claimed, mated in fact, and that hadn’t stopped Marishka, but she was mad, too dull witted to keep her from crossing the line. Her insanity had taken away her sense of duty to her brother and her own kind, for even vampires held loyalty and respected the laws that had been handed down over the thousands of years of their existence. What she had done had been shocking, a complete insult to their Master, something that simply wasn’t done, and he despised her for it. Lucian knew he would never betray Mikhal in such a way, never, so be it in lust or in anger, for Natalya was a little spitfire, he knew he would never lay a hand upon her.
Sighing, his loins yearning for something he couldn’t have, he shook off those thoughts and pulled his eyes away from the woman who was tormenting him, but it didn’t do much good. She was still very much there, making his every sense aware of just how appealing she was. Pity he wouldn’t even be able to find a woman to warm his bed that would ever come close to having her charms. None he had seen in the castle could match her looks, wits, or fire. True he could bring any woman’s body to life, but only a few held the passion that could set a man nearly ablaze with a lust so powerful it exploded deep inside.
Oh there were beauties a plenty, but not a red headed wench was among them. Because of this, he feared the woman in his arms would haunt his dreams for a long time. He wasn’t used to unrequited lust, and the unfamiliar feeling made his demon’s rage burn inside him, but all he had to do was glance once again at the mark upon Natalya’s neck for it to be tempered.
The bite mark of his Sire was like a bucket of icy water splashed in his face, shocking him back to the reality of his situation. Natalya was far out of reach and there she would stay. That didn’t mean he couldn’t bait her and have a bit of sport during their nightly rounds though. Fire from her eyes and wit from her tongue would have to suffice since he was unable to enjoy the passion of her flesh in his bed.
Frustrated, needing to get home so he could at least attempt to sate is lust with a willing maid, he kicked his mount, causing it to startle, then bolt forward, waking Natalya from her dreams. She looked up, confused for a moment, and then remembered where she was and stiffened.
“Be silent. We are almost home. You won’t have to tolerate my presence for much longer, at least until tomorrow night that is.” Natalya held her tongue, not because he had ordered her so, but because she was tired and not in the mood to spar with him any longer. When they reached the castle she jumped down before Lucian or the sleepy stable boy could lend assistance, and hurrie
d away towards the main doors, leaving her protector staring after her in the courtyard, an amused look upon his face.
He watched her for several long moments and then began his own way into the castle when something lying on the ground caught his eye. Curious, he went forward and spied one of Natalya’s gloves upon the cobblestone. Lucian retrieved it with a smile. He couldn’t let the Lady go without her things now could he?
Knowing it was a flimsy excuse at best, but more than willing to take it none the less, he entered the castle and headed to Natalya’s chambers, slowing his steps just a bit to give her time to remove her heavy cloak and perhaps just a bit more. The claim stopped him from touching it was true, but looking was an entirely different matter, and a somewhat undressed woman with fiery hair was a delectable unexpected treat indeed.
He paused yet again outside her door, allowing more time to pass, and then knocked softly. Every part of him, demon and man felt he had the right to simply enter, but he knew she was to be treated like a Lady, that had been made quite clear by his Master, and therefore he had to show her this simple bit of respect.
“Come in Hannah. These laces are hopelessly tangled.”
Lucian smiled. Could it be she was already in her under things? He knew a proper gentleman would retreat and allow her privacy, but he simply didn’t have the will power. Besides, he was quite adept at untangling the laces of an unwieldy corset. While it was true he still held onto some of the manners instilled in him by his upbringing, the man in him and the demon who lusted wished to see as much of the delightful Natalya as possible. Let her berate him, let Lord Arcos reprimand him if it came to that, it mattered naught. This was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
He opened the chamber door to find her facing away from him, finger working madly on the knotted strings that held the bodice of her gown in place. Pity she hadn’t even managed to remove the heavy gown, he’d been hoping it twas what lay beneath that befuddled her, but this would do.
Beneath The Shadows of Evil... Torn Page 20