Chapter 21 TWENTY ONE
Blanche was waiting in the room, a steaming hot bath in the far corner, and a spare gown laid out on the mattress.
Silas gently placed me onto the ground, his fiery eyes watching me as I felt him probe my mind, searching for any sign that I may run, that I would disobey him and break the rules.
I forcefully pushed him from my mind, crossing my arms defiantly as I stared back at him; Blanche visually confused by our silence. How dare he think he can just search my thoughts whenever he pleased? I wouldn’t allow it, I didn’t trust him, not now I knew his plan.
He only wished to use me, and if I didn’t work to the standard he wanted I would die, so why bother being nice to him? It wasn’t going to get me anywhere. I knew that it was foolish to be stubborn, especially towards my master, but I couldn’t help it; I didn’t want to be his slave, and I would make that clear. Whether I died for it or not, he needed to know that I wasn’t the perfect witch that he wanted me to be.
“Blanche, wait outside.” He ordered, slamming the door once she had left and turning back towards me; his tone dark and commanding. “How dare you defy me?!”
“I am not defying you!” I shouted, taking a step towards him as I spoke; standing my ground. “I am protecting what little privacy that I have.”
Silas stormed towards me, striking me across the cheek as he spoke; something strange coating his tone. “I admire your tenacity, but it will get you nowhere. I suggest that you learn how to behave, my patience only goes so far.”
I placed a hand over my cheek as it throbbed, shocked by the amount of pain I felt from one simple strike.
Why did these creatures have to be so strong? It felt like my cheek was going to fall off.
My heart raced slightly, but I still refused to allow him to enter my mind, shaking my head in frustration when he attempted to break in by force; managing to send him barrelling back into his own brain. To both of our surprise, I shouldn’t be this strong, not without training, and certainly not within a few days. But I was, and I could block him from my mind should I wish to, and he couldn’t stop me, my mind seemingly as powerful as his own.
The prince smirked, “Your mind is progressing already, you are strong for a witch.”
I frowned, why was he so happy? Why did my abilities make him so curious, so anxious to see more? I was only a witch, and I had always been told I wasn’t a powerful one, so why now? Why were my powers developing so quickly? I took a step back, slightly dizzy as the mind block put a strain on my body, making it difficult to stand; to concentrate.
I collapsed onto my knees, a small trickle of blood slipping from my left nostril as I wiped it away with my hand; Silas taking in a sharp breath.
Prince Bancroft stormed out of the room, his voice echoing in from the hall. “Clean her up, I will be back in four hours to check on progress.”
Blanche came rushing into the room, her eyes wide as she noticed the blood that now oozed from my nose; instantly realising what had happened. “You mustn’t put such a strain on your body so soon!” She scolded.
Did he leave because of the blood?
I tried to stand up, though my legs failed me, the blood ensuring that I began to panic. I had never suffered from nose bleeds before and I didn’t like it, I wanted it to stop; but how could I break the barrier I had built to keep Silas out?
Without it I was vulnerable, he would be able to see all of me, things that even my parents never saw, my deepest secrets and biggest fears. But how could I stop the barrier from falling? I could barely hold my own weight, let alone force my power to continue so strenuously.
“Luna. Relax. If you continue like this, it will only get worse.” Blanche warned, helping me to my feet.
I leant against the witch, not knowing what else to do, my own body failing me. “I can’t, he will see my thoughts.” I whispered.
She frowned, looking down at me as she helped me undress and get into the warm bath; her eyes littered with confusion. “What? Who will see your thoughts?”
“The prince.” I said without thinking, my body slipping easily into the water.
Blanche frowned again, unsure what I meant. “What do you mean the prince will see your thoughts? Witches can't mind meld with vampires.”
I thought for a moment, realising what I had done, the problem I had now caused. “I... I mean he can... He can see my thoughts because he is so powerful.”
“That is not how it works Luna, vampires can only hear the thoughts of other vampires, and certain witches can hear the thoughts of other beings; but never a vampire. That is unheard of. Such a thing cannot be possible, how can you hear him in your head when you are living? You are not one of them.” She questioned me; her mind deep in thought. “You are not telling me the full story.”
“I have already said too much.” I whispered, washing myself as quickly as I could before exiting the bath, pulling the new gown over my head.
“You need to speak to me; you need to tell me what is going on so I can help you.” She murmured, taking a step towards me as she continued. “I only want to help you Luna, please tell me.”
“I can’t.” I said slowly, taking a step towards the door as I heard footsteps coming down the hall, hoping that it was Silas.
I opened the door, about to ask the prince for help, to apologise for allowing my tongue to slip as it had done; only, it wasn’t him.
Berus stared down at me, his eyes dark and hateful as he shoved me back, my petite form crashing into the floor whilst I gasped; knowing that I was in trouble. He shut the door as he entered the room, smiling softly at Blanche, ensuring that I saw the pass of affection enter their eyes. Were they together? Was that even allowed in such a place? Or had it been as Silas had said, had the warlock used his power on her and brought her back from the dead? Using her.
I removed the barrier I had created in my mind as quickly as I could, hoping that Silas would sense my apprehension and fear, though everything was silent; Berus was blocking it somehow. Ensuring that I couldn’t use any ability against him, but what did he want from me? What was he going to do?
He had a new staff, one larger than the other that the prince had broken, perhaps one that was more powerful. He began walking towards me slowly, taunting me as though I was his prey, my mind screaming out for Silas, and yet; going unheard.
I opened my mouth, wanting to scream out for help; though I could only whimper as Berus forced his hand over my mouth, muffling my cries for help. He forced me back into the floor, placing the staff against my chest, and that’s when I could feel it surging, his staff could drain aura. Bleed a witch dry without even lifting an inch of magic. But how had he come across such a thing, how had he managed to keep it under the nose of the vampire prince? I sobbed mutely, the pain excruciating as it drained my very essence; ripping it from my body by force.
My eyes became heavy as I saw the warlock smile wickedly, knowing that he had won, that there was nothing I could do to stop him. I was dying...
“Rest now Luna, the afterlife welcomes you.” He whispered in my ear, his voice soft and soothing.
Perhaps if I just closed my eyes for a moment, rested as he said I should; maybe then it wouldn’t hurt so much. A thundering bang assaulted my ears, pulling me from the spell I had been placed under, the door to the chamber flying into Blanche as she screamed, crashing back into the wall. Berus was lifted away from me in the next second, his frail and yet muscular form smashing into the wall next to his apprentice; the staff being pealed from my chest.
“Fraulein, can you hear me?” I heard from afar, my eyes struggling to adjust to the torch light.
Am I dead?