Chapter 23 TWENTY THREE
Silas took a deep breath, pacing the room whilst keeping an eye on me. He was making sure I didn't run, he knew it, I knew it, even Ezio knew it.
they saw me as a flight risk, and hell, I was. I would run from them the first chance that I got.
“You need to be more careful witch, if the wrong person heard you, both you and the prince would be in grave danger.” The Caprotti vampire warned me, though it was something that I already knew.
I was aware that our connection was dangerous, that others would want to use me against the prince, ensure that I gave away his weaknesses. Yet, even with being in his mind, I could see none, I could find no weakness; though I suspect that was because he was masking them from me and I didn’t blame him.
I wasn’t exactly showing that I was trustworthy, I had betrayed him already, I had tried to run and then I had told Berus’ apprentice that we had the mind link. I understood his anger, even slightly welcomed it, it was much better than facing the can and gentle person he was trying to make himself out to be. He was a monster, and I needed to remember that. He was NOT my friend. He never would be.
I searched the prince’s mind, finding my answer almost instantly, they had been placed into a holding cell, one that blocked all magic; and that is where they would remain until the trial. The trial where Silas’ council would decide their punishment for disobeying their prince.
But could he allow them to live now knowing what they do? Could he allow them the chance to betray him?
“I haven’t decided on the best course of action yet.” He said within my mind, our connection strong.
I moved to sit with my legs beneath me, looking around the chamber as Silas paced; the large canopy bed the centre piece of the entire room while a single wardrobe and a set of doors stood at the other side. It was bare for a vampire’s room, though I wasn’t sure who it belonged to.
I once again wiped away the tears that slipped from my eyes, my mind thinking about the only person who had shown me kindness, the only one who had smiled at me to be nice; not because I had a certain power.
“Please don’t kill Blanche it wasn’t her fault. Berus is controlling her.” I whispered aloud, nervously looking away from the prince; “Without his magic, she will be free; he would no longer be able to control her.”
Ezio piped up, speaking before the prince had a chance to respond. “You want us to spare her? She is the reason you were attacked by Berus, or have you forgotten that?”
The prince rubbed his temples, taking off his red cloak and flinging it onto the bed before he knelt in front of me; humming slightly. “Why do you want to save her?”
I thought for a moment, needing an answer that a vampire would understand. “She is more useful under your control than dead; necromancers are difficult to come by.”
“We have others.” Ezio interrupted, Silas raising his hand to silence his ally.
“What’s the reason you don’t want me to kill her? The real reason, I don’t want you to tell me what I want to hear, I want you to tell me the truth. If you lie again, I will show neither you or Blanche mercy.” The prince warned me, his fiery eyes locked onto mine.
“Because she shouldn’t die for my mistake and … She is the only one who has been kind to me, the only one that doesn’t care about my power! She betrayed you because she had no other choice, not because she wanted to know our secret.” I whispered, determined to do all that I could to help her,
I didn’t want to be responsible for her demise. Or anyone else's. But Berus deserved everything he was going to get, i would kill him myself if I could.
but I'm not strong enough for that.
“The truth is always better than a lie.” Silas said, turning towards the Caprotti vampire. “Call it off, I don’t want Blanche’s memory wiping. We may still be able to find some use for her.”
“You are listening to a witch over your closest advisor?” Ezio asked, scowling down at me as he spoke.
the prince growled, a primal and animalistic sound. “No. I have simply taken into consideration what the child has said, and I have made my own decision.”
“Very well Sire.” The Caprotti vampire replied through gritted teeth, quickly moving to exit the room; but not before he looked back at me; his eyes furious.
“He doesn’t like me.” I sent to the prince through our mind link to ensure it wouldn’t be heard; carefully using the bed post to rise to my feet.
Silas laughed within my mind, “He doesn’t like any witch.”
“That doesn’t fill me with confidence about him. I do admire his devotion to you, could I ever be like that?” I asked, only just realising what I had thought and sent via our link.
“Why Fraulein, I do believe you can in time, once you see I’m not your enemy.” His sincere response catching me slightly off guard.
“You killed my mother; I would say you are the enemy.” I thought, not realising what I had said until it was too late; a small gasp escaping my lips.
“I understand your feelings but your mother attacked me first. To begin with I had no intention of taking her life.” he growled slightly, sending his real intention swirling through my mind.
He was telling the truth, he wasn’t going to kill her, not until she attacked him; until she broke the rules and rebelled.
Yet she saw it as though she had no other choice, she believed he would kill us both because my father had tried to run with us a few years prior to that.
It seemed as though the entire situation was a mess, neither side knowing what the other had planned and no one taking the time to find out. I sighed, if my mother had only waited, she might still be here, yes; she would be a slave to the prince as I am. But she would still be alive.
“It seems that mistakes were made on both sides.” I sent back to him; my eyes locked onto his.
He nodded, this time speaking aloud. “Perhaps.”