I was beyond relieved to be leaving that horrible place and couldn’t wait to hear Udora’s voice. To see her face. And to get her out of here. “Here.” Mathis moved his hands around behind me, and just suddenly he was putting a blanket over my shoulders. I didn’t know where it’d come from or where it’d been, but it was around me now. I cringed a little at the thought. We headed out of the chamber through the press of dangling bodies. I brushed close to one and noticed that there were black veins marring her skin and strange egg-shaped lumps under her flesh. All the women looked at me with pleading eyes. Their mouths moved but no words came out. And the heat…that incredible heat. It made it hard to breathe in here. The sense of suffering was so heavy that it was almost a dank feeling in the room. Grief, pain, mourning what they’d lost. I hadn’t felt it coming in but now it seemed like my senses were heightened. All I wanted was to get out of here with my friend. We came to just
I stared at his profile, disgust written over my face. He yanked the chain, and it pulled the cap open. Dousing her in cold water. A raging outpouring that hit her roughly enough to make her body dip under the pressure. He dragged rough hands over her body. Smearing away the dirt and filth that had stained her skin so darkly. She put her forehead against the tile. Feeling some deep emotion, she wasn’t expressing. Fear? Disgust? Revulsion? I couldn’t tell. All I saw was submission. He caught her shoulders and flipped her around. She pulled her head back from the water and tipped it to evade having the cold water flooding into her face. He roughly scrubbed down the front of her. His hands brisk enough that her whole body moved with each scrubbing touch. Her small breasts bobbing and the soft tissue of her belly adjusting. He’s being far from gentle. He acted more as if this was an inconvenience than something that was bringing her pleasure. It seemed very different from how h
I had plenty of time to consider Mathis on the long trek to Beddinton. I’d never met someone so evil and conniving. How could someone possibly become that? “What did he say to you?” I blurted. Bethanie gave me a fast look. “What?” “In the Wash Room. Right before we left. What did he say to you?” She looked at me and for the merest moment I’d have sworn her eyes turned even darker. Shining as they flooded with tears again. Whatever it is. It’s too much for her to repeat. “I couldn’t describe it to you.” She said in her rough voice. “It’s something you’d have to know to understand.” What the Hell does that mean? I didn’t want to know. *** We somehow made it to Beddinton before the early hours of the morning. I was jumping at the sound of every rustle. Wondering if some dreadful creature was going to take a bite out of us, or worse, Mathis had changed his mind and come for us. I saw the edge of Beddinton. Where rock walls bordered the road into the village. Signalling that yo
Veline smiled as if I’d caught her. Which I did. “Clever Dear, aren’t you?” It seems rather common sense to me. “Common sense isn’t that common, I fear.” She said dryly in answer to my unspoken comment. “But what is obvious is that you were in a state of hypnosis, able to be swayed by spirit and by your own energy. And all of that, led you here.” I frowned at her. “To this sacred place.” She gestured around us. To the strange flat rocks forming the clearing here. And the odd green of the grass. The vibrant wildflowers which seemed to form a perfect frame around the circle as if somehow, they could make a barrier, people couldn’t cross. But I had. “What is this place?” “Now that, My Dear,” She lifted a pointed finger. “is the correct question.” *** “It’s called The Mending Vale. This is where ancient witches used to come to help gather energy from each other. Or to heal any one of them. It’s why you came…To be healed.” “How can this place heal?” “Because every witch who’s
“Has he hurt her? Like he did me? And all those others?” “Not yet.” Veline sobered. “But he will if you don’t return. He is a twisted creature of his word. Though he may distort those he says…Be careful with that, My Dear.” I took her cautioning to heart. I had already observed him twisting his words to let Bethanie go rather than my friend. “And if I can find out what he is?” Then what do I do? “If he can be stopped, we’ll help you. And we’ll send word to the King of Creatures to come hunting.” She nodded slowly. Adding. “If it is safe.” “If he can be stopped?” “We’ve never been able to yet.” Veline’s mouth tightened. But you’re something different. She came over to me and I straightened as she caught my wrists and pulled my arms up to examine them. “I see none of his roots taking hold on you yet. We have time.” “Roots?” “Look at the other girls when you go back.” When not if. That made my stomach sink. I couldn’t imagine subjecting myself to that manner of suffering and de
“Why do you always send the missives to the Warlord? Do you know what he is?” Someone asked. Another Undine from behind Veline whispered. Peeling free of a bit of grass to stand and face the prettier woman. This one had dirt along her back and strands of grass growing from her feminine figure to mask what she was. “Because, Germaine, despite what everyone thinks of King Detry’s Commander he is the King of Creature’s greatest defender. He protects our lord. And he can only do that if he can assess the dangers of where the King of Creatures goes.” “Does our King know he does so?” “He knows his birds are redirected to Warlord and that Warlord sends him the messages. He doesn’t know why. But he trusts his brother.” “They’re brothers?” Germaine queried with lifted brows. “Our savior and that destroyer?” “Judge not a man when you know not why he does the things he does.” Veline cautioned. Bouncing her finger to send the bird off. *** I followed a tiny narrow trail which looked like
I reached the edge of the cleansing pond and his hard grip caught me around the ribs and wrenched me from the safety of the water. No! Put me back. And in a flash, I was on the ground, in the dirt on my back. His hands were everywhere. Caressing over me expertly. That nearly reverent touch smoothing along my legs as if they were his favorite part. He dropped his mouth over mine in an all-consuming kiss. His tongue invading my mouth in the same way I knew his cock would soon be invading my body. No! I’ve just healed. Just banished your abhorrent touch. Let me go! But despite all the screaming of my mind, my body was a wanton. My hands caressed over him. Pushing at his shirt to bare his browned flesh and trying to pull him down over me. How did anyone ever believe he’s that old Magistrate? Nothing about his stature, movements or build indicated old. But I reminded myself that what I was seeing now wasn’t what passerbyers saw on the road. They see something else. I glimpse the re
I found myself standing in Mathis’ Wash Room. My body projected in spirit form. Knowing I couldn’t touch anything or strike him. But somehow he could see me. Had known I was there. How can he see me? “Now, the question is, how did you get here?” He asked thoughtfully. His hands lifting from the water to catch the sides of the tub as he leaned forward to assess me. “I didn’t bring you here.” He tilted his head to eye me. “And I didn’t invite you. So...How’d you get to me?” Feeling very afraid and assessing the intrigued look on his face I gathered my courage. Sensing that I needed to take advantage of this tiny moment of his confusion to react powerfully. So I said the only thing that came to mind. “Let it be a lesson to you.” I hissed. “I can reach you when you least expect it!” *** His hand shot out of the tub, and he stretched to reach me. Can he even touch me? I took a step back and hunkered as I tried to figure out how to get out of this room. Where I’m cornered. I sc