“There are simply too many holes in her tale. No dirt on her dress or hands, her lack of the stated roots or even any digging tools, the fact that it was night and that no human, especially a woman, no matter how foolish, would go out to dig in a field in the darkness knowing what creatures were about. That tells me she had more to gain from her venture.
“The way she literally snuck in, when she was unaware Lucian was watching her makes her look very guilty of more than being in Marishka’s chambers and in the fields, and most of all, she smelled of my sister. Lucian said Hannah reeked of Marishka when her hair spilled down.
“If she had indeed been looking at dresses, then all of her would have been tainted with the scent, but no, she was not. It is my belief that the girl quickly washed up when she arrived back her but was of course unable to wash her hair without being noticed in the kitchen. All of those things point to her guilt. All of them Natalya, and if I could just get my hands on her I could prove it.”
Natalya’s face became alarmed at his last words, for the demon was making its appearance in small ways. There were tiny creases in Mikhal’s forehead, and his eyes were no longer the brilliant shade of blue. She shrank back in her chair just a bit, not wanting to set him off, but alarmed nonetheless. Seeing her fear, Mikhal shook his head to clear it and grit his teeth, fighting back his beast and its need for retribution.
“I apologize, Natalya. It is not my intent to frighten you. I wish no harm to Hannah either, not yet anyway, not until I prove her guilt. The reason I wish to get her under my control is so I can use my magick to sense her true feelings. I was unable to earlier. There was far too much tension and fear flying around the room to do so without a doubt. If I could get her alone though, if I could be gentle and calm her fear just a bit, then her true feelings would come forth. I would know if hatred for me filled her and I would also know how she felt about Marishka. I would sense the treason in her soul.”
“Tis a complicated gift you have indeed, My Lord.” For the past few days I have been meaning to have a word with you alone to tell you that I have found a spell that would most likely undo what was done to you, now however...”
Hope sprang up in Mikhal’s heart. Natalya had found a way to rid him of the curse. He had no qualms about not having that particular talent to help him rule his kingdom. He’d been Lord for a hundred years without its aid, and he could be Lord for one hundred more if it meant Alliana would believe his love came from within and not from some spell. The problem was, now he did need it, he needed it to help in his struggle to bring Hannah to justice. Even so though, if he learned of her guilt using the spell he couldn’t use it as proof for Alliana without revealing the truth. Oh but he was entangled in a twisted web.
“What of you Natalya? What magick do you possess? Can you perform a truth spell to get the chit to confess to her lies?”
“I am more practiced in the art of herbs and healing My Lord. Tis possible, but I am not one who dabbles lightly in magick, even at a time such as this. Perhaps it is best for you to obtain proof and for me to protect Alliana in my own way.”
“I will honor what you think is best, but know that I may come to you in the future. As for now, I have men searching the caverns under the castle for my sister as we speak. We are going out at dusk to look beyond these walls as well, but if I do not find proof in the form of my devious sister and then persuade her to speak, I will be left with using my talent on Hannah and convicting the girl in that manner, or asking you to try your hand. Neither will please Alliana one bit.
“And to think I was ready for you to remove this curse just this morning. Now it must wait. This is a time of crisis and I need every weapon available to me to keep Alliana and the babe safe. She will simply have to come to terms with the fact that I changed in my heart of hearts, and believe that the spell did not make me love her.”
Mikhal stood abruptly and ran his hand back through his hair, clearly frustrated by all that had happened to drive him and Alliana apart once more. “Come, we must get back.”
Natalya rose at once and started for the door but Mikhal called out to her to stop.
“Natalya, whether or not you believe in the girl’s guilt, I must have you promise that you won’t aid in her escape.”
“Of course, My Lord. If she is in keeping with Marishka, she must be brought to justice. Your reasons for suspecting her are sound.”
“One more thing. Must you travel to the village each night and day? Is it truly needed? I worry for your safety. These recent developments make me wonder if there are other humans who have been lured to Marishka’s side. You are quite safe with Lucian at night, but you are vulnerable during the day.”
“My Lord, both trips are of utmost importance. Rowen is close to term and she needs me. Her husband is a brute. If it weren’t for my frequent visits he would go against my wishes and make the poor woman toil about the house or brutalize her, and she could very well lose her child. I made a promise to these women to be their midwife. I beg of you not to stop me now.”
“You may go. Simply keep your eyes open and a dagger tucked in the pocket of your cape. I shall put the servant guards on high alert and hope none of them have been plotting with my sister.”
“Thank you, Lord Arcos.” The worried look upon Mikhal’s face told Natalya he wasn’t at all certain his decision was a sound one, but she was grateful he’d made it nonetheless. “Shall we go?”
“Yes, of course. I am anxious to return you to Alliana.”
“I’m afraid she won’t be so very happy to have me return.”
“That is true, but we both know this conversation had to take place. Soothe her the best you can. I fully intend to take her on our nightly stroll this evening whether she likes it or not. I’ll try to smooth her feathers then. Perhaps I can get through to her.”
Natalya gave a small sad smile and Mikhal gave a weary one of his own in response. They both knew Alliana was far too stubborn to listen to a word either of them had to say. She had been hurt and the past had come back to swallow up all reason, clouding her view of things and eliminating any possibility that Hannah could in fact be a real danger.
Chapter Nineteen
Mikhal escorted Natalya back to Alliana’s chambers and then stood just inside the door watching his wife watch him. Her eyes were cold, her chin lifted in a haughty stance, her entire body screamed ‘leave me be’, as did the feelings he felt churning inside her. The problem was, he couldn’t leave her be. He simply couldn’t. Not without at least trying to reason with her one more time. Perhaps being able to talk to her without Hannah present would help.
He knew he’d been boorish and domineering during their past two quarrels, but also knew he’d had very good reason for acting as such. Even so, he wished to smooth things over with Alliana, if only just a bit. He wouldn’t argue, overly much about his feelings over Hannah’s deceit, he simply wanted to smooth her ruffled feathers and assure her that he would respect her wishes and that he in turn wanted her to understand his that he was going to have her remain under guard until he was absolutely certain Hannah posed no threat. That issue was not negotiable.
Alliana began to turn her back to him, dismissing his presence in favor of the needlepoint they both knew she despised, but his words stopped her. “I would have a word with you wife, in private. Come walk with me.”
Alliana turned as quickly as her swollen belly would allow, hands fisted, ready to do battle if he pressed the matter. “I shall not. I have no wish to walk with you. I have said all that needs to pass between us.”
“You may feel that way, Alliana, but I certainly do not. This isn’t a request, wife.”
“So now we are back to orders and demands from the high and mighty Lord?” Her eyes challenged him, as no woman should, her chin held high, her mouth a grim line. Mikhal admired her fire but loathed her willfulness at the same time, and his allowing of such behavior stung the pride of both the man and the demon.
“Alliana...” His low
growl and quiet tone made it clear she was pushing the bounds of what he would tolerate. He didn’t want to become angry, fervently wished to remain calm in fact, but it had been a highly stressful day, and her stubborn behavior was tearing through his restraint like a hawks talons through its prey.
She looked at him, saw how close he was to losing control, and considered for a moment allowing him to do so. He was a beast after all and the more she was able to throw proof of that fact in his face, the easier it would be to harden her heart once more.
She felt all kinds of a fool for allowing him in before. For letting him use his sweet words to woo her and get his way, for allowing him to make love to her, only to find he had simply turned to satisfying his evil ways by finding another innocent girl, one whom he now planned on terrorizing and abusing like he had her.
How many others had there been while he was being kind to her? How many others had suffered because he’d allowed her to wield her tongue and berate him and show her independence? She could hardly bear to think about it, but she had. She had been forced to, and the realization had made her ill. Now she had a chance to save just one, and she would be damned if he were going to make Hannah suffer because of her.
“I shan’t go with you husband. You will use my absence to have the guards come for Hannah. Tis only a ploy, and I am not a fool.”
“Alliana, I gave you my word that the girl would not be touched.”
Her face became ugly with scorn as she looked at him, eyes shooting daggers. “Your word has become meaningless to me once again.”
“Be that as it may, wife, you are coming with me. Natalya will be here to protect your precious Hannah.”
Alliana looked over at her friend of many years. The one whom she had trusted, the one whom she had loved, the one whom she now felt betrayed by.
“You have worked some type of magick on her and she has been blinded to your deceit. She has not felt your wrath, has not suffered under your hand. Natalya doesn’t know you like I do.”
“And you wife do not know me as Natalya does. Perhaps you should listen to her.”
The comment stung Alliana, as Mikhal knew it would and part of him wished he could take back the bitter words, but his pride cried out in victory. Alliana stared at him, furious, speechless, so he continued.
“You, wife, have been blinded by your past pain. You are not able to see that I have changed and that I have your best interest at heart. Your eyes see only into the darkness of your first weeks with me. What of the rest Alliana? What of...” His voice trailed off as he felt Natalya’s pity and Thalia’s shock from where she peeked from the bottom of the tower room staircase, and neither emotion sat well with him.
“I will not have this conversation here. Come with me now, wife. Hannah has Thalia and Natalya to watch over her, and I shall keep a guard in here to watch over them as well. Then we both should be happy.”
“I shall never be happy. Not here, not with you, never again.”
“That shall remain to be seen. Come. I do not wish to carry you from here nor do I think you want me to, Alliana, but I shall.”
“I go only because I must, but I wish for you to know there is only hatred in my heart for you.”
Mikhal made no comment; there was nothing to say. Her statement wasn’t true, a woman who merely hated wouldn’t be feeling such pain and betrayal, but he couldn’t share his knowledge with her. He would try and soothe her feelings with those sweet words she said were mere lies though, for he wished above all else to have his loving wife back.
She stiffened as he took her arm and his heart died just a little more inside. Only a day ago she had melted into him when they were near, now she shied away. All he could hope for was that time, kindness, and tangible proof of Hannah’s guilt would rebuild the trust between them and let her feel once more the love that had been budding in her heart.
He made to move but Alliana held back, and he feared more of an argument, but she simply turned to where Thalia was half hidden by the shadows. “Thalia, you are to scream the rafters down if anyone so much as puts a foot on those stairs. Hannah is to stay put.” Then, turning back, Alliana made one last effort to pull her arm free, which Mikhal easily rebuffed, then walked with him out the chamber door, determined not to even look at him, let alone listen to his lies.
He led her to the chamber next door just as he had led Natalya there a few minutes ago and sat her in a chair before the hearth, all without speaking. While it was true his wife could probably stand to stretch her legs, and that he planned to continue their nightly walks, at the moment she looked tired. The strain of the day had obviously taken its toll on her and it showed. Her face was wan, her eyes looked weary, though they certainly still held the ability to flay him alive, and there was a slight slump to her shoulders. As he watched her, Alliana closed her eyes and leaned her head back into the cushion of the chair, then ran a hand over her swollen belly, making it even more clear how very exhausted she was.
“What is it, husband? My back is sore, my feet ache, and your son has been kicking me sharply all day. He is well aware when I am distressed, and lets me know it doesn’t please him. I’ve no wish to engage in battle with you any longer. Perhaps you should let your babe declare victory over me and be content with that.”
All thoughts of Hannah flew from his head at her words, but then Mikhal stopped himself before he went to Alliana. Was this a ploy to make him change the subject? No, he felt no deceit coming from her, only the weariness he saw when she first sat down. Moving closer, Mikhal knelt before her wanting to reach out, to soothe her aches, to rub her back and feet but she put up her hands in a defensive manner.
“I do not wish for you to comfort me, My Lord. I only spoke the truth in hopes of convincing you to leave me be. You claim concern for me and our child, now would be a good time to show it.”
“Alliana, how can you say that? I know in your heart you don’t doubt how I feel for you and our son. It would tear my heart out if anything were to happen to either of you and I wish I could be the one to suffer your discomfort. I have done everything in my power to make you comfortable and to see to your every need. I refuse to allow you to throw that in my face. Be angry over Hannah if you must, but do not question my sincerity or my love when it comes to you and little Mikhalen.”
“I am but a brood mare who...”
Mikhal rose and spun around, needing to break something, anything, to lash out, to assuage his rage. “Stop it, Alliana! You stopped being that the moment I made you mine. That is if you were ever even that to me at all. Twas my own bravado that said those hurtful words, not the man inside me who admired your beauty and spirit from the moment I saw you and who fell in love with you when I held you in my arms.”
“You make is sound so sweet now, Mikhal, but it wasn’t. It wasn’t at all. It was painful and horrid. You took me when your beast was free. You had a child killed in my name, you...”
Mikhal grit his teeth and ran both hands back through his hair to keep from sending the earthen vase crashing to the floor.
“I admit to it all and I have apologized time and again. I have also shown you in as many ways as I know how that I have changed. I love you, woman. Open your eyes and your heart and you will see that once again. Your past is stealing the truth from your eyes. You refuse to listen to me about the servant girl because you can’t get past your own hurt but you have to try, Alliana. You have to try for the safety of our son.”
“I have listened to your lies, Mikhal. Your sweet pretty lies and they’ve made me weak and stupid, but no more. I was a fool. I thought you had changed, but that isn’t true. You’ve only changed towards me. Tell me husband, what do you do when you are not with me? Who do you murder? Who do you rape? Who do you torture to satisfy the beast you so admirably keep at bay in my presence?”
“I do none of those things wife. I have changed. You have changed me. I am a man now, the monster is gone.”
“Tis not true and you know it.”
&nb
sp; “I know I have not raped a woman, have not instilled terror in my victims, have not tortured.”
Alliana said nothing, just stared with steely eyes.
“What of the gifts to the village? What of my not harming that lout who dared to raise his voice to you? What of...”
“What of your meals, My Lord? Who dies to fill your belly? No matter what, you commit murder each day.”
To that Mikhal had no answer. He couldn’t deny it, and they both knew it. He was a vampire and he fed on blood, human blood. On the other hand, he had done so humanely, never instilling the terror that made the blood so much sweeter, never raping, never causing pain, only the first burning slice of his fangs followed quickly by death, but she wouldn’t understand the difference, not now.
His silence said enough for her, and Alliana struggled to her feet, pushing mightily down on the arms of the chair to help her rise, practically snarling at him to leave her be when he made to help her.
When she was finally up and steady she walked towards the door, leaving him looking after her, at a loss for words, stunned by the turn of conversation, aching in his heart.
“Alliana.”
“I can see myself back to my chambers. Please leave me be, Mikhal. I want nothing from you.”
“That I cannot do, wife. It would take an army to keep me from your side.”
“Then I would summon them if I could.”
“Be that as it may, I will see you soon.”
She said nothing else, simply stood tall and went out the door, leaving a very silent and morose Mikhal the Merciless in her wake.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The search for Andor and Marishka went on long into the night, without fruition, but Mikhal put his all into each moment, determined to find the pair. Then, at last, they found the cottage; the moment Mikhal the Merciless caught the fresh scent of his sister, Andor, and Hannah, he flew into a rage. Mikhal tore it apart looking for the pair, searching for any place they could be hiding, to no avail, but then he did discover something, something vital.
Beneath The Shadows of Evil... Torn Page 27