Authors: Sarah Bale
Okay, so they understood her.
She took a step closer to them, which also allowed Andrew to
be blocked by her body.
“Where I’m from we greet our neighbor with a friendly hello.
Hello. How are you gentlemen?”
The guards looked back and forth to one another. They had
obviously never greeted anyone but they hadn’t killed her either.
The leader spoke again, “We’re not gentlemen. I suggest you
stop whatever game you’re playing, lady.”
“Lady? See, you do have manners, sir.” She smiled, trying to
appear friendly and seductive at the same time.
Some of the guards farthest from her began to murmur and the
leader yelled for them to be silent. She took a chance to glance over her
shoulder and found that Andrew was almost inside the secret entrance. He was
bleeding and she realized the rocks were cutting him.
Turning her attention back to the guards, she took another
step toward them.
“We also have another way of saying hello to our neighbors.
Would you like to see it?”
The leader hesitated and she felt like cheering. Whether he
wanted to admit it or not, he was intrigued.
“Well?”
He nodded and she smiled again before pushing her cape over
her shoulders. She thrust her chest forward making sure all the guards were
watching. The corset she wore would limit how much of a show she could give
them but she was going to make the most of it.
Slowly, she pulled one of her breasts into the open. The air
was chilly so close to the water and it caused her nipple to bud. The leader
made a sound in the back of his throat and stepped forward. Taking it as a sign
he wasn’t going to kill her on the spot, she freed the other one as well.
The leader said something in another language to the man
nearest to him and jumped from the rocks, landing right in front of her. Her
heart pounded, not knowing what he was going to do.
“Hello,” he greeted her.
She realized he was playing by her rules so she responded, “Hello.
May I see your face?”
The man hesitated for a moment before removing his helmet. A
very attractive man with green eyes stared back at her. The only flaw on his
almost perfect face was a scar that ran along his cheekbone. Without thinking,
she reached out and traced it. The man actually flinched for a moment before
sighing and shutting his eyes.
“It has been so long since a woman has touched me,” he
almost whispered.
“Are there no other women here?”
“No. The mistresses do not want our eyes to stray.”
His eyes moved to her chest as he finished speaking. Oh boy.
Here she was, standing bare-chested in front of fifty-or-so men who hadn’t seen
another female in a very long time. Maybe the boob thing hadn’t been the best
idea. She started to cover herself with her arms when he spoke.
“Why are you here, my lady?”
“I’m here to save the man I love.”
The guard sighed. “It’s a lost cause. If he’s in the castle
then he will never be the same. I am sorry for your loss but you should go now
before it is too late.”
“I can’t do that. Without him I am nothing.”
The guard replied, “We were told to kill you the moment you
crossed the river. Does this not tell you something?”
“That they know I’m planning to rescue him.”
She had known the Witches would probably figure out her plan
but she didn’t care.
“Then that means they’re a step ahead of you. Did you really
think you could use a map from a man who escaped to get back inside? Didn’t it
cross your mind that they knew he had kept his map made of blood?”
Oh shit
.
She must have voiced the thought because the guard sadly
smiled. “Indeed. I find that I like you, my lady. Please go back across the
river and we won’t hurt you. As for your friend inside…well, he is lost. And
your other friend is about to find a similar fate.”
Andrew. She turned to make sure he was still there. Their
eyes met a moment before he disappeared, screaming in agony. She started to go
after him but was grabbed by her arm, stopping her from moving.
“As I said, you should go back across the river.”
The guards above her all but disappeared back into the rocks
as if they had never even been there. The man in front of her let go of her arm
and took a step back.
“The rocks that got you here should get you back. Please do
not try to rescue either of your friends. I do not want to hurt you, my lady.”
With those words, he left her standing there. The wind
howled and she shivered, reminding her that she was still bare-chested. She
knew the guard had been telling the truth. If she tried to go in the secret entrance
after Andrew, they would be waiting for her.
A plan formed in her mind. Closing her eyes, she tried to
summon Andrew as she had done at the brothel. A sharp, blinding pain in her
temples caused her to cry out and open her eyes. The Witches must have some
kind of mental shield that prevented her from summoning Andrew.
Sighing, she put herself back in the corset. It was time to
come up with a new plan. And the king was going to help her whether he wanted
to or not.
Lexi made her way back to Sapphire City. The hairs on the
back of her neck prickled and she knew she was being watched. When she reached
the gates, they opened silently, inviting her in, but she wasn’t fooled. They
didn’t want her there. In fact, several guards waited with scowls on their
faces.
“We are to escort you to King Loren. He is expecting you.”
“Do I have a choice?” When no one answered she said, “Didn’t
think so.”
The guards formed a circle around her and led her through
the streets. People watched from their windows and she noticed that several
homes had blue smoke coming from their chimneys.
“What makes their smoke that color?”
The guard nearest to her replied in curt tone, “They burn
vinca to honor the dead. Since there have been two deaths that affect Sinoda
the fires have been fed extra.”
“Two deaths?” she echoed.
He met her eyes. “Yes. Ian and Andrew.”
“They aren’t dead.”
“They are all but dead and that’s all that matters.”
She was silent as they walked the rest of the way. How could
they give up on Ian and Andrew so easily? Was their loyalty so little for the
men who led them? They reached the palace and she saw King Loren waiting for
her with his arms crossed across his chest.
She was about to speak when he lifted his hand and struck
her face. White pain exploded across her cheek and she held back a cry.
“You stupid girl. Not only have you caused me to lose two of
my best guards but now you bring trouble to my palace. How dare you.”
Hot tears filled her eyes and she tried in vain to blink
them away.
“You are a monster. I can’t believe you’re going to leave
Ian and Andrew there to die.”
“You will leave my palace immediately and pray that the
Witches will be swift in killing you.”
Lexi shook her head. “I won’t leave. If you want me gone
then you’ll have to remove me.”
King Loren snapped his finger and two of the guards who had led
her through the palace grabbed her by her upper arms.
“Take her away and make sure she isn’t let back into the
city. Kill her if she manages to sneak in. And make sure no one helps her.”
Lexi tried to fight but the guards held her tightly as they
dragged her from the palace. The windows were empty as they made their way
through the city. No one would be able to help her even if she wanted them to.
At the gate of Sapphire City, the guards let her fall to the ground.
“If you try to come back we will kill you.”
She wanted to laugh at the irony. For the second time that
day, a guard threatened her life. She stood and turned her back on the city. If
she couldn’t find help there, then she would retrace her steps until she found
someone who would help her.
The Enchanted Fields were ahead and they hummed with energy
as the flowers shook and erupted. This time there were plenty of people around,
waiting for the flowers to set off their drug. Why had Ian not seen it before—that
they were being fooled?
She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn’t notice
someone blocking the path in front of her until a hand grabbed her by the arm.
She tried to pull away and realized it was Hank.
“What are you doing? You’re supposed to be at the Witches’ palace.”
Her eyes narrowed and she asked, “Is that what their plan
was when you led us into a trap?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know. All I know is, you’re the only one
who can save him.”
“I tried to save Ian and led Andrew right into a trap. That’s
why I’m out here. I need help because apparently I can’t do anything right.”
Hank closed his eyes and replied, “I’m not talking about
Ian. I’m talking about Brian.”
“I don’t know a Brian—”
He cut her off. “I know you don’t, but I do.” His eyes
scanned the fields and he nodded as if deciding something. “Do you trust me?”
“Uh, not really.”
His lips lifted into a smile. “That’s fair. Would you trust
me long enough to show you something that may help you save your Ian and my
Brian?”
At this point, he was probably her only hope. There was no
telling how long it would take her to get back to the compound. And even if she
made it, there was no guarantee she would get help.
She nodded. “Okay.”
He began walking and she followed him. They were getting so
close to the fields that it was starting to make her nervous. Moans filled the
air as people got high and she was afraid she would inhale some too.
As if sensing her thoughts, Hank said, “Don’t worry. I won’t
get that close to the fields. It wouldn’t do me any good for you to be
overcome.”
“Thanks, I think.”
There was a trail that led away from the fields and Hank
took it. It was overgrown and Lexi prayed she wasn’t making a mistake.
“Most people don’t know about this trail. They can’t see
beyond the flowers and their desires.”
“How do you know about it?”
Hank glanced over his shoulder. “My desires have changed
over time. This is how I was able to be on the other side of the fields when
you and Ian were just going through it.”
A lone flower grew ahead and seemed to come to life as they
got closer to it. It bowed in the wind almost in a welcome of sorts.
“This is something else that most people don’t know. The
flowers tend to stray from the fields and grow on their own. If you know where
to look, you can always find one, even miles from this area.”
He reached down and plucked the red flower from the ground.
She held her breath, expecting it to release its powder but it didn’t.
“There are some things that you need to know before I show
you this. How much do you know about the queen?”
She honestly didn’t know very much and replied, “Only bits
and pieces I’ve heard. I know Ian feels responsible about something.”
Hank nodded. “They all think that my lover, Brian, was the
one who betrayed the queen. A note with his signature was found on the ground
at the last place she was seen alive. Ian blames himself because he was supposed
to be guarding her that day but he was handling some kind of personal
emergency.
“The day she was killed was the Witches’ way of sending a
direct message. They wanted King Loren to be afraid but he was not. Instead, he
waged war on them. So we have been at war all these years because neither side
can win and there is no end in sight. Not until you arrived, at least.”
She thought back to how angry King Loren had been with her.
Even though he didn’t think she was the One, it had still enraged him to find
out he was correct. And yet he had done nothing to try to win the war.
Hank went on, “Brian was sent to death for betraying the queen
and his country without even getting a trial. Oh they said they were trying him
but they didn’t. They killed each and every one of his precious animals and
then he killed himself because the sorrow was too much. I am sure if King Loren
knew how much he loved me that I would have died that night too.
“But there is something I recently discovered and that is
where you come in. My Brian is alive and he says you are the only one who can
save him.”
“How did you find out he was alive? Where is he?”
A gleam lit Hank’s eyes and he pushed his long hair from his
face. “That’s what I’m going to show you.”
He held the flower up and used his fingernail to cut the
root open. Slivery liquid oozed out and he motioned her to get closer.
“I promise you won’t be hurt. Just do as I do.”
He leaned down and inhaled the liquid. Eyes closing, he
pushed the flower into her hand. Ian’s warning danced in her mind. If she
inhaled, she would be addicted for the rest of her life. But what would she be
losing, really? She had nothing to go back to and she wasn’t sure of Ian’s
fate.
Taking the flower, she leaned forward and inhaled just as
Hank had done. The liquid burned her nose for a moment and then her throat
began to tighten. Hank’s hand wrapped around her arm and he pulled her to the
ground. Though he was far gone, he still didn’t want her to fall.
The earth felt different beneath her body. It was soft and
airy, just as it was meant to be. The sky above changed shades of blue to match
the chirping of the birds. Lexi took in a deep breath and was shocked when she
could smell Ian’s skin. Her head turned in slow motion as she looked for him.
But he wasn’t there.
Next to her, she heard Hank moan out a single word, “Brian.”
“I’m here my love.”
She was hearing another man’s voice but she couldn’t see
him.
“Lexi, I don’t have much time. I’m Brian and everything my
Hank has told you has been the truth. You have to come back to the Witches’ castle
and beat them or Ian will be lost. He is close to giving into them. Once he
does everything will be over.”
Hearing Ian’s name made her heart ache in ways she didn’t
know was possible.
“But I don’t know what to do. I tried to get into the palace
but was stopped by the guards.”
“Then you need to think outside the box.”
Everything began to feel different and she knew what she had
to do. She stood as the drugs left her body in a rush.
“One final warning. You will go through hell to get Ian
back.”
She replied, “I am willing to do whatever it takes. And I
won’t let you down.”
Hank was still on the ground, lips moving as if he were
talking to someone. He would never be strong enough to help her. A face danced
through her mind. It was risky but he might be the only one who could help her.
With a final glance at Hank, she turned and strode away.
It was time to start taking chances.