Hidden Princess

by M. A. Roth

  Wow, this is scary, yet amazing. “What do you mean by control? Do I have one?”

  My mother looks relieved at my response. “Control isn’t the right word, really. It’s more like working with it, and you should have one.”

  This was all very hard to believe. “What can you do?” I ask her.

  “My affinity is fire.” She raises her hands. “I promise I will show you tomorrow, but for now you need to rest.” Disappointment courses through me. I’m ushered to my room once the food is finished.

  “Can you just show me fire?” I ask my mum as we walk back to my room.

  “Sarajane I promise I will, just not right now.” She kisses me softly on the cheek. It’s nice to have her back, but I’m wondering now how much I really know my mother. The answers I’m coming up with are not much at all.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  BELLONA

  I am expecting Clive, Taurus and Felix back soon. I pace my room, waiting for their arrival. Excitement courses through my body. Soon I will have the girl in my grasp and then immortality will be mine. I examine my face in the mirror. Lines have started to show around my mouth and eyes. Aging is not something I take in my stride. Beauty is youthful. I grin at my own reflection.

  “I will fix that for now.” Locking my chamber door and retrieving my pendant from its box, I kiss the purple stone, then let my breath linger on it, causing the gem to come to life. The purple starts to swirl as if a tornado has erupted inside. Bethany’s soul swirls with the vortex, her face still frozen in horror. I place my lips around the stone and inhale deeply, feeling Bethany’s soul coursing through my body, my blood, making me look and feel more youthful. I open my eyes and walk back to my mirror. Raising my head, I examine my face more carefully this time. Yes, I look younger—no lines, just a flawless face. My sacrifices are paying off, but they only last so long and then I will show even more signs of aging again. I smile. Soon I will not have to worry about that. A knock at my chamber door pulls me away from my reflection. I open it and Taurus is standing there. “We have her, my lady.”

  I pull the door open fully for Taurus to enter. “Where are Clive and Felix?”

  He gives me a wicked smile. “I told them to guard the girl while I debrief you.” He reaches back and locks the door. I unclasp the silver broaches on my shoulders that hold my dress up and let it fall to the ground. I can see by the hunger in Taurus’s eyes that he is pleased. My breasts are firmer than before and my buttocks tighter. “Make your queen happy.”

  Taurus crosses the room and lifts me off the ground with one strong arm while placing me on my bed. He strips off his armour, black tunic and trousers. He is all muscle—he is what a man should be made of. I dig my nails into his back until I draw blood and he gasps in pain.. He bites my shoulder, pain shoots down my arm, and then he takes me. Giving me all of him, he thrashes hard,making my back arch.

  Afterwards, I dismiss him. “I will be down shortly. Have the girl ready for me.”

  “Yes, my lady.”

  I sit at my dressing table and brush my hair out. It is almost white, but not with age. I was just born that way. I leave my chambers and proceed to the holding cells. Clive is walking towards me. “Son.” I kiss both his cheeks. “You have made your mother very happy.”

  Clive tilts his head back, hunger for approval in his eyes. “I only live to please, mother.” I incline my head towards him and hold out my arm for him to take. Taurus and Felix stand on either side of the gate while Clive remains by my side. The girl is tied in the center of the room to a large wooden pole. She sits on the ground, her eyes alert, fear visible in them. Yet she just studies me as I study her. She has long, jet-black hair with a full fringe, large green eyes and full lips. She looks like Marta. This is the girl. I move around her in a full circle, saying nothing. Images of my childhood flash in my mind, stopping me in my tracks. Then they’re gone. I look at the girl. Sweat is trickling down her face as she concentrates. Is she making me remember? Impossible.

  My mother’s face is there then, humming a song as I look up at her craving for attention. I close my eyes. “Stop it.”

  Taurus is beside me then. “My lady?”

  I walk to the girl. “Stop it now.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she says while giving me a look that tells me she knows exactly what I am talking about.

  “What are you?” I have never seen a gift like this.

  The girl’s face softens, and she looks lost. “I don’t know.” She is telling the truth.

  “What is your name?” The girl closes her eyes as if in meditation. Lucian’s face flashes in front of me. The image widens. I can see myself and I look petrified. He throws me on the ground and the image ceases. The girl’s eyes shoot open. “What do you want with her?”

  Her voice is full of emotion as she pulls against her restraints. Taurus moves to silence her rage, but I stop him. I am not sure if she can harm us. I look at Clive. “Make sure she is tied correctly. I don’t want her getting loose.” Clive sneers. “Yes, this little girl could harm us.”

  I give him a look of ice that silences him. “Check it now, Clive.” I watch as Clive strolls towards the girl, smirking. He moves around the pole that she is tied to. Kneeling down, his face stiffens with anger; then he looks at me. “She nearly has them off.” The girl’s eyes are closed, her face relaxed. I am not too sure what she can do, so I take a small step back. Clive is struggling, trying to retie the knots, even though he tied them in the first place. I can see the girl stretch out her fingers, but before I can warn Clive, her fingers brush his. Clive howls back in pain, holding his side. We all jump. It is over after a moment. Clive is panting, staring at the girl with wide eyes. She is covered in a layer of sweat, her energy drained.

  “Taurus, tie her.”

  Clive starts to protest, but I cut him off. “She has no power left; she is drained.” Taurus reties the girl as instructed.

  Clive gets off the floor. “You knew she would hurt me?” He questions with hurt in his voice.

  “Don’t be so petty, Clive. Is there a mark on you?” He lifts his top, examining his side that is untouched. “Taurus, lift her top up.” The girl’s eyes flutter open, the exhaustion visible on her face. “Please” she pleads. When Taurus lifts her top, I know exactly what I will see. Her swollen skin is black and blue with bruises. The door leading down to the cell opens and Taurus leaves to see who it is. When he returns, his face is sombre. “Sorry, my lady, but you have a guest waiting in your chambers.” I raise an eyebrow to invite Taurus to continue. He doesn’t respond. It can only mean one thing, at last. I leave and return to my chambers. “Ah, Liber”

  He bows. “My lady.”

  “Sit.” I gesture to the armchair beside the fireplace and sit across from him. “You are late.”

  “I know, my lady, but I was unable to leave,” he says.

  “Proceed.”

  “I was at the Amour Caves, guarding Marta.”

  My face twists with disgust. “I knew he took her.” But I didn’t need her now, anyway.

  “My lady, Tristan and Legis returned from the mortal world with the child, Sarajane,” Liber says.

  I rise abruptly. “That is not possible. Do not lie to me, Liber.”

  His face freezes in terror. “Never, my queen.”

  I go along with it, not sure what to believe just yet. “So tell me about her?”

  He swallows. “She is unaware of this world or her magic, but she is indeed Marta’s daughter. The resemblance is visible.”

  “Stay here, Liber. I will be back shortly.” I leave and return to the cell.

  The girl is still tied to the pole, her eyes closed. She must be still drained. I kick her awake. “What is your name? And don’t push me, child, or you will live to regret it.”

  Her eyes drop closed. She is unable to keep them open, but her cracked lips open slightly as she gives me her name. “Jessica.” It is barely audible, but it is enough.

  “Yo
u fool, she is not the one.”

  Clive’s face turns a crimson red. “She is, Mother.”

  I strike him across the face with all my force and he lands against the wall. Blood trickles from a cut at the corner of his mouth. “Do not lie to me,” I roar. “Taurus, explain.” I look at him from the corner of my eye; he is still standing beside Clive.

  “Sorry, my lady, I have no excuse.” He doesn’t flinch away from me. I leave and return to my chambers. Liber is still sitting there. I start to pace the floor.

  “My lady, she—”

  “Hush, Liber. Leave.” He bows and leaves. I don’t need to hear his babble. I have too much to do. I am leaving for my secret chambers when a knock comes from the door and my daughter Luna enters.

  “Darling,, what a lovely surprise. But I am very busy.” I try to keep the irritation out of my voice. I never know when she may come in handy.

  “Mother, I will make it brief. Where is Father? I have not seen him around the castle.” She blushes slightly. “It is just… I need to speak with him.”

  “He is gone on business and will be back shortly. Is that all?”

  I raise an eyebrow.

  She curtsies “Yes, Mother. Sorry for disturbing you.”

  Once she is gone out of my sight, I make my way to my secret chambers. When I descend the winding stairs I can see Suis, she is asleep in her cage. I don’t need her now, but she still might be of some use, and she helped Marta escape so punishment is all she deserves. I light all the torches, waking Suis.

  “Bellona, please, I know nothing else.” I know she doesn’t; she told me everything.

  “Hush, I am busy.”

  “Please.”

  I kick her cage, making her jump back. “Be quiet, child, or I will feed you to the demons.”

  Her eyes widen with fear, making me laugh. I spread a large piece of cloth in front of the altar and kneel down with the knife in my hand. A bowl of water sits at my knees. I start my incantation for calling Lucian. The first time he came to me was an accident. I had called upon the demons, but Lucian showed up instead. I knew the moment I saw him that he was very powerful. I slowly slice my left palm and watch as my blood falls from my open hand into the bowl of water, each drop causing the water to turn red. On the sixth drop, the hair rises on my neck. He is coming. He always scares me, but I hide it as best I can. I place my hand in the bowl to quicken the healing of my palm. Lucian loves blood and I don’t need to entice him. “Bellona.” A shiver of fear and pleasure runs through my body as he speaks my name.

  I fall on my hands, bowing. “My king.” His long black tendrils lash out and grab my wrists, pulling me up. When he retracts them, slime is all over my arms. Lucian laughs when he sees the distaste on my face. He is in spirit form tonight. Sometimes he takes human form, and he is quite tasty to look at, but his eyes are always blood red. He reaches out and wraps his tendrils around my body, pulling himself towards me. His red eyes move closer. I can hear Suis whimper with fear in her cage. I don’t blame her. Lucian is terrifying. He has shown me what he can do. When he is beside me he flicks out a long black tongue that is pointed at the tip and runs it along my face, cutting me. He starts to lick the blood off my skin. I try to stay as still as possible. When he is finished tasting my blood, I watch as it trickles into his eyes. “So what news do you bring me, Bellona?”

  I clear my throat. “My king, I know where the girl is. I will capture her soon and bring her to you.”

  “Soon. I do not like that word. You see, I have waited for centuries for this, yet you come to me with delays.” I look at Lucian, feeling afraid. “My king…”

  “I need that girl, no matter what force you must take,” he says.

  “Yes, my king,". I start to feel a bit braver. “Why, if I might boldly ask?”

  “To ask is very bold of you, Bellona.”

  He takes human form, shocking me at how quickly he changes. He grabs me by the throat and lifts me off my feet, cutting off the air from my lungs. My legs dangle in the air. I am going to black out. Lucian throws me on the ground. “Do not disappoint me again.” I lie on the ground, gasping for air. He kneels down beside me. “I will not kill you, Bellona” I just look at him, still trying to catch my breath. “I will strip your flesh from your body and let you scream in agony. Just before you die, I will let your flesh knit back together and then I will start all over again. So you better do as you are told.”

  I rasp, “Yes my king.”

  Lucian’s head jerks towards Suis, who is wide-eyed with fear. “You brought me a gift. How thoughtful.” She screams as Lucian disintegrates into a fog and floats through the bars of the cage. Once inside he takes human form. Suis screams again. Lucian laughs. “Scream for me, child. Scream.” And then he tears into her flesh. I turn my head away as he rips out her throat. The sounds of him tearing her apart makes me gag. I lie there until the noise is gone. When I look over at the cage, Lucian is no longer there, but Suis’s organs are dripping from the cage bars. I vomit on the floor, my throat now raw.

  Once I make it back to my chambers, I wash and change my clothes while putting on my pendant. I notice my hands are shaking. I pour myself a goblet of wine and drink it in one gulp while trying to calm myself. I can’t show signs of weakness.

  I leave my chambers and find Taurus in the library. He rises when I enter “My lady.”

  “Sit, Taurus.” He sits back down. “I need you to get Clive and bring him here. Also, make sure Felix keeps an eye on our guest.” Taurus rises and inclines his head in acknowledgement.

  “Oh, I don’t want her harmed.”

  “Yes, my lady.” After he leaves, I have a few moments to sort through how best to deal with the situation. The girl will be heavily guarded. I need to flush her out.

  “Mother, you asked for me?”

  “Sit, son. There is something I need you to do in a week’s time. I need you to go to the Amour Caves and scare Sarajane.Tell her you are her brother and Morrick is her father. Also tell her what her mother has done.” Clive smiles. I can see the wheels turning in his head so I have to give him a reward. “You can hurt her.” His grin spreads. “But don’t kill her.”

  “Yes, Mother.” Then his grin fades. “Why a week? Why not now?”

  “Because it would look suspicious if you arrive when Liber leaves. We need to keep him. I will have Liber leave messages that will help you convince her that Morrick doesn’t want her around. And then I will swoop in and be a forgiving queen and take her under my wing.” Clive takes out his dagger, a smile spreads on his face. “Clive.” I give him a cold gaze that wipes the smile away. “If you kill her…”

  “I won’t, Mother.” His smile reappears. “I will just have a little fun.”

  “You are dismissed, Clive.”

  He saunters to the door, still playing with his knife. “How do I get there?” he asks from the door.

  “Don’t worry. When the time comes, I will show you.” There are underground tunnels that connect the castle to the Amour Caves, in case the castle is ever ambushed again. Morrick was so stupid to bring her there. He knows I am well aware of the tunnels. I just hope he hasn’t blocked them.

  CHAPTER SIX

  SARAJANE

  The next morning, I change into travelling clothes. I overheard Morrick and my mother arguing last night. She wanted me and herself to go off and spend some time together away from here, but Morrick argued over our safety. He said leaving the confinement of the caves wasn’t safe as he couldn’t protect us elsewhere. My mother won in the end. I tuck my trousers into my boots as my room door opens. “You heard about this last night?” she asks as she examines my travel clothes with a hand on her hip.

  “The caves carry sounds,” I say while straightening my tunic and wrapping my cloak around my shoulders. “Ready?” I smile.

  My mother is dressed the same as me—black pants, boots, white tunic and a black cloak. We both look like spies. “Ready,” she replies, smiling back. As we pass the main room, Mu
m picks up a leather bag and we make our way out of the caves. The light outside is blinding. The air tastes like a fine wine. I drink it in deeply. I’ve only been in the caves one day, but in the small space it feels like it could’ve been days.

  “So where to?” I ask.

  “Take this and keep it in your boot.” I raise my hands as my mother hands me a dagger. I can’t carry a dagger around. More than likely I’d end up hurting myself. “Sarajane, we can’t go any farther unless you take it.” I take it hesitantly. It feels light as I weigh it in my hands. The blade is covered in a leather holder, the handle white pearl. I slide it into my boot; it feels uncomfortable against my ankle. My mother gets down on her knees in front of me and extracts the dagger. “In the side of all boots there is a holder for any dagger. It’s aligned with your ankle.” She slides the knife back in. It feels better, but I’m still aware it’s in my boot. Maybe it takes time to get used to it.

  We move at an easy pace, crossing the barren landscape that surrounds the mountains. Mum asks about Jessica and Dad. How they were the last time I saw them, and about Jessica’s school and Dad’s work. For the next hour, the conversation feels easy and normal. I can hear the sound of gurgling water nearby.

  “We will stop soon and have food,” my mother says while linking her arm with mine. We settle near the stream, and I take off my boots and socks. I dangle my feet into the rushing water and let the sun wash over me. My mother settles beside me, handing me bread and cheese. My mother throws me a sideward glance as I eat. When I continue eating she laughs to herself.

  “What?” I ask around a full mouth.

  “I really thought you would plague me with questions.”

  I finish my bread and wash it down with water. “I have lots of questions, but I thought you could start at the beginning. Like how you ended up back here?” Removing her own boots and socks, my mum dips her feet in the stream and relaxes her posture while closing her eyes.