“I’d better get going. I’m not as young as I used to be.” He smiled. “Thanks for tonight, Elle.”
“You are welcome, Lord Creptone.”
“Clive, please. We are lovers now.” He raised his eyes playfully once and I smiled.
He left.
I didn’t want to sleep in my bed now that two men had been frolicking in it. So I just grabbed one of the pillows that had fallen on the ground and a blanket that was on the bed and lay on the Victorian sofa that was in front of my window.
It was so dark outside. The sky, once again, was starless. It was only the moon that shone bright. What messed up place was this where they killed children in a feast and fed them to Wyverns. Why couldn’t these people leave? Did they have some border thing, stationed heavily with guards? It was the only thing I could think of.
THE NEXT DAY I was dead tired. I hadn’t slept much since I got here.
Too many things swirled into my mind – bad things – and I had two weeks left to prepare me for my first nightmare feast. How am I going to not fail at this? I didn’t know. I couldn’t see the silver lining around this cloud either.
There was no silver lining.
“Elle, is it?” A male voice spoke and I found Seymour entering the library where I was trying to read.
“Seymour.”
His entire being was making my skin crawl as he walked closer and came to sit in the chair closest to me. “So how was your first night with big old daddy?” He wrinkled up his nose.
“None of your business.”
He huffed. “I can show you a better time.”
I pretended to read my book again and hoped he would see that I wasn’t interested in him.
“I remember a promise you made, if I let the other one stay, you would do anything for me.”
“Didn’t your father tell you to stay away from me?” I said, still pretending to read.
I could see the smile on his face grow wider. “He did, but I love a challenge.”
“Well, I don’t. Plain and simple is my game.”
“C’mon, Elle. My father is old. He can’t give you the same love I can.” He licked his lips. It was disgusting.
“I said no.” I looked at him sternly and he smiled again.
“Suit yourself, but just remember, I always get what I want, one way or another. Getting everything handed to you on a silver plate, well what is the fun in that?”
I didn’t like the way he said it. It was as if he was threatening me, to take what he wanted with or without his father’s consent and that, I really didn’t like at all.
“Good for you,” I simply said. “Now, I really want to finish this book if you don’t mind.”
His bit his lower lip. “You really have a big mouth on you.” He slapped the book out of my hands and I flinched. “Or maybe it’s just a tool you use, hoping it will make you seem fiercer than you really are.” He came closer, so close that I could feel the breath from his lips next to my cheek. He tugged at my dress.
“Stop that,” I said through gritted teeth, “or I will call your father.”
He smiled again. “Soon.” He winked and opened his mouth to say something else but another voice interrupted us. It wasn’t Clive’s.
“Seymour, we need you to help out with a little bird.”
Seymour smiled and I turned around to see who it was that had come to my rescue. My heart ached, as it was the guy that could’ve been Blake’s twin.
“Billy, come here.” Seymour gestured toward us without breaking his gaze from me.
My heart thumped in my chest as this Billy was walking toward us.
“This is Elle, my father’s… bird.”
“She’s the girl from the farm? They sure do clean up so nicely.”
My skin crawled again.
“But it’s like you said, Seymour, she’s your father’s bird. You remember what happened to Mark.”
“Screw Mark, he’s dead. This one, I really, really want.”
“Soon, now let’s go.” Billy spoke with a stern voice and Seymour gave him the eye.
“Please.” Billy’s tone was softer, more pleading.
“Soon,” Seymour sent a kiss my way, “my little bird.”
He got up and they both left. I let out a huge breath and wanted to cry. This was not good. Who was this little bird they spoke of? Annie?
I put the book down and rushed out of the library. Annie just had to be fine.
I ran around the entire house searching for her and after an hour I finally found her cleaning a room.
I closed the door and flung my arms around her and started to cry.
“Oh, Elle. What happened? What did Lord Creptone do?”
“It’s not him. It’s Seymour. Who is Billy?” I had to know.
“I saw him earlier on with a girl. Almost your age. It’s not good.”
I closed my eyes.
“Who is he?”
“He is the guy I told you about. The one I know on the Council. But he is just as sadistic as the rest of them.”
“He actually came to my rescue.”
“Don’t, please. I know he is gorgeous Elle, but he is far from boyfriend material or keeping you safe. He would do anything they tell him to.”
I nodded. He wasn’t Blake. Blake was dead. He’s not Blake, Elena.
“What did Seymour want, Elle?”
“He doesn’t care about me being his father’s.”
She flinched.
“I know that is not good, but his father…”
“Seymour doesn’t give a shit about his father’s rule. The word around here is that Lord Creptone killed his son-in-law for raping his previous mistress. She was so badly assaulted that she passed a couple of days later.”
“She died?”
“Men are bastards, Elle. Tell Lord Creptone, before it’s too late.”
I nodded. “I will, tonight.”
“Okay.” She looked at me. “Has he told you about the feast yet?”
I nodded. “I have no choice but to go.”
“Those feasts are bad. Whatever you do, just pretend you are having the time of your life, please.”
“I know, Annie.” I sighed and hugged her again. “I was so worried that you were the little bird.”
Annie started to giggle. “Believe me; they don’t want me for that purpose.”
“Why not? You are beautiful!”
She just scrunched up her nose. “I’ve got two more rooms to clean then I’ll come around later, okay.”
I nodded.
“Be careful Elle, if you see any of Seymour’s men, go to a place where there is staff, please. I know a small part of him fears his father because of what happened to Mark. And tell him, please.”
“I will, I promise.”
“Okay, got to go.”
“Bye.”
Annie left the room and I took another deep breath and left after her.
“TELL ME PLEASE, I need to understand this. As I remember, you didn’t want anything to do with her?” Emanual asked as we rested for a while on top of a mountain peak. Both of us were in our human form, butt-naked looking down on Paegeia’s beautiful landscape. The sun was busy rising over the entire scene. It was gorgeous.
“I can’t. It’s not what anyone thinks it is. It’s not an instantaneous kind of thing.”
Emanual squinted as he looked at me. “That does not make any sense.”
I chuckled. “It’s not supposed to make sense, Emanual.” I sighed. “It’s actually kind of beautiful.”
“Okay,” Emanual said in such a way that it made me laugh. “The darkness?”
I smiled, playing with a twig in my hand. “Gone.”
“So you don’t feel anything dark?”
“Nope, just worry upon worry, and being useless.”
“Blake you are not useless.”
“I used to hear her thoughts, Emanual. Now, not a peep. She used to drive me insane.”
“Her thoughts?” He raised his ey
ebrows.
“Yeah, and the bond wasn’t even that strong yet. Now it’s the only thing I pray for, a sign, but nothing. I don’t even know if she’s okay.”
It was silent for a while. “You know there is another way, but it usually only works with bonds that spend centuries together.”
I stared at him. “I could hear her thoughts, Emanual.”
Emanual chuckled. “Why do you think I brought it up?”
“What is this other way?”
“If you want a sign, it’s going to take a lot of practice Blake.”
“What is it?” I sounded frustrated and annoyed at the same time. I would do anything just for a sign of life.
“Close your eyes.”
I looked at him for a few seconds.
“You want a sign, yes or no.”
I closed my eyes.
“Now listen for your heartbeat. And I mean really listen, Blake.”
I did what he said and tuned in my hearing. It was hard as my heartbeat was beating so softly that the only thing that could pick it up was an EKG. “Do you hear it?”
“Not yet. What does my heartbeat have to do with this?”
“Just wait, tell me when you hear it.”
I took a deep breath: nothing. “Just tell me.”
“It has to be done in steps Blake. Now try again.”
“Emanual, I don’t have all day. Just tell me and I’ll practice.”
He smiled. “Okay, but remember there are no short cuts Blake.”
“Just tell me.”
“If you hear your heartbeat, and I mean really hear it as if it’s lodged in your ears, then you need to tune in more. You will pick up another heartbeat – hers.”
I just stared at him. “You serious?”
He smiled and nodded. “I have tried it for years, think I succeeded once but it left me with a mother of a headache for days. To be honest, if you can’t even hear your own heartbeat…”
“Shut up. I’ll get it right.” I closed my eyes again and really gave it everything I had. I didn’t know how long we sat there, but nothing came. Not even a soft beat.
“Blake, don’t push yourself too hard. It will come when you are ready.”
“I’m ready now.” I needed to know if she was okay.
“It’s going to take time. Be patient.”
I nodded and sighed again. “Thanks, Emanual.”
“It’s a bit far-fetched thinking that you would be able to do this at all at your age, but it’s worth a try.”
I chuckled. “Not for that. For the past two weeks. It was stupid to think I could do this alone.”
“If you haven’t noticed that by now, Blake then you are seriously blind. I care for her too, and if you weren’t the dragon...” He shook his head with a huge grin on his face.
“Better get rid of those feelings extremely fast.”
He pushed me away and roared with laughter. “I’m joking, but for what it’s worth, I’m glad that you will finally be there for her when she appears.”
“If she appears.”
“Just do me one favor please, no more Creepers?”
I chuckled.
The vibe turned from playful to serious.
“Why did you do that?” Emanual asked. “Go so near them.”
I shook my head.
“Was it a death wish?”
“I don’t know.”
“Blake.”
“I know, but it is different now. I don’t know if I can live in a world where she doesn’t.”
“Then wait for real proof, like a body whose heart isn’t beating.”
I looked at him with concerned eyes.
“I’ve seen how hard it is to carry on with life without our riders. I don’t even want to imagine how hard it is for a Dent. It’s as if we can’t function normally without them. They have it so easy.”
I chuckled again. “And they don’t even know it.”
He slapped his hands and got up. Finally, break time was over and I dived off the cliff first and transformed in the air, with Emanual close behind me.
HE DAY OF the feast was finally here. I’d really tried every tactic there was in the book to not go. But Clive knew that I was only pretending. I was getting good at that, but he always saw my process, so it was not easy to fool him.
I also told him about his son, and how he’d harassed me in the library, which he took action upon.
I thought Seymour would back off, but it was as if his father’s concern and the threat of beating his ass was more gasoline fueling his desire.
I should’ve just kept my mouth shut.
I rubbed my inner left arm. It was still numb from where they’d marked me with the barcode. It was horrible and extremely painful. They’d brought in a Swallow Annex and he was expensive.
I’d thought that a Metallic’s spirit could never be broken, but I found dull and lifeless eyes when he touched my arm. His ability was strong, stronger than Constance’s. The heat was just a soft warm flush as if someone’s warm breath had brushed over it, and the pain was gone. The numbness hadn’t dissipated since.
I took a huge breath trying to keep this nauseating feeling I’d had for the past two days in the pit of my stomach. I didn’t know what to expect today.
Annie tried to fill in the missing pieces without me having to ask too many questions that would once again make her question where it was I’d come from.
The less they knew, the better.
A knock on the door made me jump slightly.
“Enter,” I said and Leana, my grumpy maid who never said a single word, entered.
“You are not dressed yet?” she barked.
“So she does speak.”
“Lord Creptone is ready to leave and you don’t even have your dress on. Come, come.” She spoke fast and with so much authority.
She grabbed my dress and literally pushed it over my head. It was tailor-made and fell on my body beautifully. Cleavage showed but Clive had apologized for that when he’d brought it into my room yesterday. Said it was the part I had to play, that he was crazy about breasts and all that.
It came with a huge sun hat and high heels. When I was done, I looked ten years older than I was. A pair of white gloves waited for me too.
I looked like someone who was going to watch the Derby, not humans fighting for their lives.
I took in a huge breath as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
You can do this, Elena. You are not going to fail. You can’t fail. There is nothing you are going to be able to do when you are stuck in the pits.
I didn’t think that I could do anything anymore. Sure, when I thought it was people from my Council that were behind this. But this wasn’t my Council. It was a Council filled with Wyverns and their king was the head – the decision maker.
I picked up the small purse that went with the outfit and I walked out of my room. I found Seymour’s eyes on me as he stood next to his father, waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs.
“You look exceptionally beautiful, Elle,” Clive said.
“Thank you, Clive.”
Seymour looked at the floor with his hands folded in front of his body, pretending that he wasn’t into me.
I hooked my arm into Clive’s.
“Tonight, I would like to spend some time with you.”
“Of course, no need to ask.” I smiled.
“It’s polite to ask a lady.”
I smiled again and walked toward the front door that stood wide open. Annie was one of the maids that stood by the door. She didn’t look at me but I knew how she felt about today. She was scared to death that I wasn’t going to return. I was still scared about that as well.
A beautiful limousine waited for us in the courtyard. It was funny how Clive still drove a limousine while most of the people here were either on bicycles or on foot. Horse carriages were something that were up North’s thing.
Clive opened the door and I climbed in first.
Seymour climbe
d in the other side and his eyes on my breast line and legs made me feel uncomfortable once again, as I knew what was going through that mind of his.
Clive finally climbed in and Seymour pretended to look out the window.
One day his father would catch him and hopefully he would do more than just give him a beating.
His daughter, Clarissa, was late and she just gave me a glare that could’ve killed me as she entered, but nevertheless, she looked stunning.
Clive shut the door and the driver pulled away.
The city was old, beautiful, but some places need a bit of TLC.
Annie and I had been allowed to go once a week to the market. The markets here were dull. Nobody loved what he or she sold. She showed me a structure where she used to live with her father as a child. It was now dilapidated, in ruins. Tears had filled her eyes that day.
There were plenty of beggars on the street, many were children, and when we stopped at a traffic light, Clive rolled down his window and handed a couple of coins to the kids close by.
It was as if Christmas had come early.
Christmas. What was Christmas going to be like in this place? It was in a couple of weeks, still, it didn’t look like they were celebrating Christmas as none of the decorations were up yet.
I stared out my own window and could see that Seymour stole glances at me as Clive’s phone rang.
He made gestures, rubbing himself without his father seeing, and licked his lips. He was beyond disgusting.
When Clive turned his head toward us, he would adopt a completely different posture, as if he had never done any of that.
I tried to ignore it, I really did. But if the day came where he was going to succeed, I was going to be in real deep shit.
Crowds were lining up and it was more difficult to get through them with the limousine.
“Here is fine, Edward. We will walk the rest of the way,” Clive said.
“You are kidding me right,” his daughter said and she shook her head.
“Elle, are you coming?” Clive held out his hand for me and I climbed out as carefully as I could.
I had to admit, it was good not having flashing lights going off in my face every time I got out of a cab or limousine.
It made me feel normal, or like a mistress, like I was supposed to feel.
We walked a couple of blocks, which was killing my toes, and found massive crowds lining up in front of a building that was grand. It reminded me of a huge football stadium.