Crap on a stick. I was dead. Before she tried to execute me, I would just grab Stephan and Dani and travel the fae lines. My grandfather would help me. I know he told me not to bring anyone else through the lines but under the circumstances, I didn’t have a whole lot of other options. My body started to relax at my half-ass plan. I’d always lived by the seat of my pants, and it had worked for me. It would work this time. They didn’t know I was part fae, and I could escape their clutches. I was five seconds away from practicing an evil laugh. I was losing it.
I released a small laugh that came out more like a nervous chuckle.
“Hey, are you okay?” she asked.
Standing up beside her, I made eye contact with Stephan over the crowd. He was looking intently at me. “Yeah. I think your brother is doing that weird Jedi thing right now.”
Looping her arm with mine, she skipped us over to a line that had almost fizzled out in front of the throne. She didn’t have a care in the world, meanwhile anxiety was pouring out from my pores.
When it was our turn, Akeldama gave us a feline smile. She silenced the thinning crowd so her voice could be heard. “Look, Stephan, your sister and your pet. Hello, Dani. It has been so long. Have you missed me?”
Dani’s eyes turned to slits. “The feelings I have for you couldn’t possibly compare with anyone else I know.”
Stephan intervened before Akeldama could say anything. “Shall we start?”
Akeldama returned Dani’s glare. “Begin the questioning.”
“Do either of you have any knowledge of the whereabouts of the Princess?”
Dani and I both said, “No.”
Akeldama was watching Stephan with as much scrutiny as he was watching me. His face betrayed nothing as he said, “Truth.” Then he asked, “Do either of you have any knowledge of anyone conspiring to kidnap the Princess?”
Again, we both answered, “No.”
“Truth your Majesty.”
“Have either of you seen the Princess while you have been here?”
For the final time, we answered, “No.”
“Truth, Dama.”
Akeldama made a shooing motion, already focusing on the vampires behind us.
“Apparently, someone has taken the Princess,” Dani said loud enough that the guard who was escorting us from the room heard her. He was to ensure that no one who hadn’t been questioned yet left with us. “This should get interesting.”
As we were walking up the stairs, I heard Stephan’s voice in my head. “Go straight to my rooms, and talk to no one. You and I have a lengthy discussion ahead of us, little one.”
I told Dani I wanted to wait for Stephan, and after she walked me to his room, she began searching his quarters in the same manner that he had done my room earlier. After she was done, she grabbed me and whispered into my ear, “I could feel your arm trembling on mine when we were questioned. I don’t know what you know, but if she knows he just lied for you, she’ll kill you both. Take it to your grave.”
When she released me, I took a step back and gave her a curt nod.
There were guards on every hall now and making sure the closest one heard her, she said, “They have the whole place on lockdown, but as soon as they find the princess, we can witness the wedding and go home.”
With a shaky smile, I said, “Sounds like a plan.”
As soon as the door shut, I crawled into Stephan’s massive bed and rested my eyes. The sun was coming up soon, and I couldn’t party all day like these old timers. The last thought before sleep came over me was Stephan was going to be so pissed.
Chapter Seventeen
A weight shifted on the bed. My head roared with the question, “What have you done?”
Rolling over, I grabbed a pillow and slammed it over my head. “That is a total violation of privacy.”
Stephan grabbed the pillow and threw it to the floor. “I’ll show you violation.” Without another word, he grabbed both sides of my head and applied a slight pressure. My body arched from the bed in discomfort as his hands heated. It felt like he was plucking things from my brain at an unbearable speed. Just when I was about to beg for him to stop, he released me.
“Why would you do something so stupid?”
Sitting up in bed, I glared at him. “As you saw, I didn’t entirely have a choice.”
He put his fists on either side of my legs and leaned in so close to me I could see my reflection in his eyes. “Why go in the first place? Couldn’t you just mind your own business for once?”
“I’m sure you saw that I didn’t intentionally go to—” Mindful that there could be ears listening through the walls, I said, “It was like I was pulled there. Maybe this thing… well, that one of three that I have going on makes me empathize with others more. It’s like my soul knew there was a need to help, and then there was this tug, and my mind relaxed, and then there I was… helping.”
He growled. “Don’t. Help. Anymore.”
“Well, by me helping, I found out that you know who has the you know what.”
“Of course, Akeldama has the key. Again, you’re not helping by telling me something I already knew.”
Before I could retort, there was a knock on the door. Stephan straightened. “Come in.”
Dakin stood at the door with an additional ten guards. He looked remorseful, which gave me a sick feeling. “Her Majesty is requesting both of your presence in her private library. For Gem’s sake, I wouldn’t let her stay in your bed again while you’re here.”
“Oh, but,” I sputtered, “it wasn’t like that. I had questions, and I wanted to wait up for him, but the sun came up and… for Pete’s sake. I’m still in my gown from last night!”
Dakin gave me a pitying look. “I believe you, but it won’t matter to her and Stephan knows that.”
I looked over at Stephan.
“It’s my fault I told you to meet me here, but unfortunately, he’s right.”
“I won’t say anything,” Dakin said. “But that doesn’t mean that she won’t find out.”
“Yeah,” Stephan scoffed. “Because you are so honorable.”
Dakin gave him a level look before turning on his heel. Stephan walked beside me, as we headed to the private library. He grabbed me by my elbow and didn’t let go of me as we walked through the halls and down the steps.
Interesting. Akeldama in a private library. What could she possibly be reading from her collection? How to make someone bleed internally in three seconds flat?
I gave him a questioning look, and he replied in my head. “Being summoned by Akeldama is very seldom a good thing. If it comes to it, use your fae magic and leave and go to your grandfather.”
It was sweet to think he was willing to take the heat for me, but there was no way I was going to leave him.
I was mainly a big ball of sweat by the time we reached the queen’s library. My confidence was at an all-time low; I didn’t feel like I was in control, and I had a sudden suspicion that everyone in this room was out to get me. I was literally a self-help author’s dream reader.
Akeldama sat on a chaise lounge in front of a roaring fire with her servants and her guards scattered around the room, waiting to be at her beck and call. When she smiled first at Stephan and then at me like the cat that had not only ate the canary, but played with it first, I knew she had somehow figured out the mystery of the missing princess.
Dani was soon shuffled in, and my heart sank a little at the sight of her as she came to stand next to us. I could barely hold onto the princess; how was I going to carry both Stephan and Dani through the fae line?
Akeldama’s gaze covered every inch of Stephan before she met my eyes. “There is someone demanding entry onto my estate, and do you want to know why she is on her way up here right now?”
Stephan seemed bored. “I’m sure I have no clue, Dama.”
She slowly stood and did that eerie walk thing where she appeared to be floating across the floor. She circled the three of us like a hawk above its p
rey. “This woman gained entry because she says she has some golden information about your pet here.”
At the knock on the library door, Akeldama said, “Do enter.”
Dang that gypsy to heck. I knew I shouldn’t have overlooked her evil ways just because she killed some murderous ants. The witch, Athela, came bustling in the room wearing vibrant colors and lots of jewelry that made a clanging sound as she strolled.
I wondered if Stephan had ever pondered that maybe his taste in women was so atrocious that he should just swear them off entirely. Honestly, they might be the death of him. And me.
Akeldama went back over to the chaise lounge to sit while Athela stood proudly flanked in the middle by two guards. “What is your name, witch?”
“Athela and I have information that you might find useful about the young vampire, Stephan’s friend, and all I ask for is a place in your court, and of course, some monetary gain.”
“Of course.” Akeldama gave her a searing look. “Perhaps. If the information is worth it, we will find you a spot amongst us.”
“Not just a spot. I want to have a trusted spot in your inner circle. I want Stephan to be made to go through with his end of the bargain by making me his wife with your blessings, and more importantly, your protection.”
Well, that conniving, back-stabbing traitor. What was her plan? She couldn’t possibly think that she could get close enough to the queen to kill her, and even if she did, then what? The man she forced to marry her would be content with ruling vampires with her? One word—delusional.
“That’s a lot of demands.” Akeldama studied her with something very close to disgust. “A bargain, you say? What has our dear Stephan got himself into I wonder? I’m assuming all of this has to do with the princesses disappearing?”
Athela’s beautiful face scrunched up in confusion. “No, I know nothing about that. However, I do know that… that—”
Athela grabbed two fistfuls of her dark, curly hair and pulled, groaning. Then she let out a scream that seemed to go on forever, and the only thing keeping her on her feet were the two guards on either side of her. She started convulsing and slobbering more than a St. Bernard. I began to move towards her, but Stephan put a hand on my arm, holding me in place. I was the only one in the room who appeared genuinely shocked or seemed to care that she was dying right in front of us.
What shocked me even more was when her body succumbed to the pain and she passed out, Akeldama started clapping.
“Bravo, Stephan. Bravo. I haven’t seen that trick successfully pulled off since the last time you did it. Do tell, what was the witch about to reveal that you didn’t want anyone knowing?” Stephan didn’t say a word, which made Akeldama smile even more. “Pet, what do you think she was about to say?”
Dani and Stephan had not moved an inch. “Um. That Stephan was a bad lay?”
My mind was reeling. Did Stephan just short-circuit this woman’s brain?
Akeldama’s head dropped back with laughter. “No, that couldn’t be it. I’ve been there, done that, and wouldn’t mind a repeat. Try again, pet.”
“I don’t know if I should say…”
“Come, pet, sit next to me.” Akeldama slid her feet off the chase lounge and patted the seat next to her, but I couldn’t move because Stephan still held me by my arm. “I won’t hurt her, Stephan. Come, pet.”
Obediently, I went and sat beside her. “Now, tell me, pet, what was it that she was about to say before Stephan here fried her memories?”
Fried her memories? As in all of them? I would worry about that later. Right now, I had to sink or swim, and I was a helluva swimmer. “Well, you see, I’m not really supposed to tell anyone,” I said in my sweetest southern accent.
She started playing with my hair. “Oh, but you can tell me anything.”
She tried to use some kind of glamour on me, but my fae magic fought through it. I nodded like I believed her, and was entranced by her. There was such a strong power radiating from her I was certain if I were a hundred percent vampire, I would have been groveling at her feet by now. Submissively, I said, “I’m not a good vampire. What I mean to say is, things aren’t coming as natural to me as they should. Stephan thought the witch could make a spell to bring out the vampire in me.” I let a tremble color my voice. “He said that being weak meant death to a vampire.”
“Hmm. Yes, this is true. Witches are worse than the Valkyries when it comes to shiny things. And we all know that witches trade their charms and curses for monetary gain, so what did he promise her?”
“Power. She wanted the power of being married to him.”
“Hmm. Does he care about you so much, pet, that he would promise his hand in marriage just to make sure no one knew that you were weak?”
Still pretending that I was in a daze, I said, “He made a promise to my family that he would take care of me.”
Akeldama’s hand tugged on the strip of my hair that she had between her fingers as her head whipped toward Stephan. “I guess frying her memories was easier than a future wedding and divorce?”
Stephan just shrugged.
“Well, this is all very interesting. I was hoping the witch was coming to me with information with my daughter, but I do find this entertaining.” Akeldama trailed her hand down my arm, leaving red marks where her long nails scraped the skin. “And you are right; we do hate weaknesses so much so we flush them out. This will be a good lesson for Stephan for he should have never interfered. So, pet, it would seem we have time on our hands until my beloved daughter is returned to us, and with the estate on lockdown, I fear the vampires will grow bored. No one has ever said I was an ungracious host. Tandi, you will provide them entertainment.”
“I’m sorry?”
Ignoring me, she said to Dakin, “Put the bind on her. After all, we don’t know what magic the witch bestowed upon her.”
Dakin retrieved something gold and shimmery from a box. He placed the cold metal around my upper arm like a cuff, and it magically tightened almost to the point of pain. The metal seemed to have liquid gold in it that continuously moved in a clockwise motion.
“What is the meaning of this?” Stephan demanded.
“This, my dear, is to nullify whatever charm your witch invoked on your pet here. We wouldn’t want her to have an unfair advantage over the other vampires who don’t need magic to have strength. Tandi, I do hope you make it through the first contender.”
“First contender? What are you talking about?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought it was clear. Dakin will be going around asking the vampires if they would like the chance to eliminate you one on one. You each will get a weapon, of course. Honestly, once the word is out about how weak you are, there will be a mob of vampires lined up to torture and kill you for sport. Plus, this way is more entertaining for the rest of us.”
Dani came over to us and sat next to me and reaching over, she squeezed my hand.
“Akeldama you cannot do this,” Stephan roared.
“Hmm. I think I can and I will. While I have been out building an army, what have you been doing, Stephan? Living quietly at home baking cookies? Your power might rival mine, which infuriates me to no end because I made you! However, you having the same strength as I proves that we were made for one another. Until the day that you admit you belong by my side ruling, you will obey me because I have many backing me. Not you.”
I could feel his emotions boiling off of him. I jumped up from the couch and blocked his path. This time it was me who grabbed Stephan’s arm as he took a step forward. I could still vanish through the fae lines. The cuff around my arm cancelled out the charm that was in the bracelet, so the time here would be different for me than wherever I traveled to, but I couldn’t do that. Even if I successfully brought Dani and Stephan with us, Akeldama would eventually find us. And I would have to give up on my quest of discovering who was behind Greta’s death and the key that could destroy earth. No, I would stay and fight. And I would win.
“W
hen will the first match be?” I asked, shocking Akeldama.
“Tonight. Dakin will instruct some of my servants to make the courtyard ready. The upper outside balcony is truly the best place to watch the spectacle. Everyone will have a good view.”
“Whatever pleases the crowd,” I murmured.
Akeldama made a shooing motion with her hands. “Leave me now. Go and love on your pet, Stephan, like this is her last night.”
She was still laughing as we walked out of the room. The good news was she didn’t know that I was part fae and ghoul. The bad news was I was probably going to die. This sucked.
Chapter Eighteen
“I can’t believe you fried Athela’s memories. And I remember you saying that it wouldn’t hurt her. What the heck, Stephan?”
“Usually, I can sneak into a mind without them ever knowing I was there and it doesn’t hurt. If time is of essence, then unfortunately they feel it, and as you witnessed, I didn’t have time,” Stephan said.
“You should be glad that he fried her memories,” Dani said. “At least this way she is in too much pain to be any fun for Akeldama to play with, and she will kill her quickly.”
“She’s going to kill her?” I screeched.
Stephan made a motion for me to lower my voice. “Of course, Akeldama is going to kill her. Athela was dead the moment she came in here, trying to bribe the Queen of Vampires. There is nothing we can do for her.”
“And why would you want to?” Dani asked. “She was about to sell you up the creek.”
It seemed that everyone who we came into contact with was malicious. We needed to get out of this place.
“We could go. I could travel the fae lines with each of you,” I said to a pacing Stephan and a quiet Dani once we were back in my room.
Dani flopped back on my bed. “Sooner rather than later, she would just find us. I’m surprised she hasn’t found her daughter yet. By the way, where is she?”
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