Blue Moon (2 page)

“You’re being serious! I will not tell them this. Where are you, tell me where you are?” He asks, shaking my already sore arms in frustration.

“Angus, for my sake, please! I don’t know where I am.” I tell him, removing his hands from my arm’s and taking his stunning face in my hands.

“Please just tell them? I will be with Dallah tomorrow, she needs me
, and I need her. This was just Richard getting his point across.” I say indicating my face.

“No, I can smell blood all over you!”

He pulls my top over my head. I would have stopped him if I had the strength, and if I didn’t feel like I had broken every rib I have.

“It looks worse than it is.” I try to convince him, and as our eyes lock, I see the flash of brilliant red.

“I’ll heal you, and I will come for you, come nightfall.” He tells me eagerly.

“You can’t heal me or come for me. Listen to what I’m telling you,
I am staying with Dallah for a while, she needs me Angus, feel the truth in my words. I’m not afraid; I promise you I’m not.”

“I know you’re not scared sweet, but I am afraid for you. The Dark Prince is a merciless creature, even you being a Charmer is of no use around that man. Even If you could change him, it could take weeks, even months to make him feel differently towards you.”

A single tear escapes my eye as he speaks, not because I’m worried for myself, it’s for him, and the men I care for, knowing they are scared for me is a saddening thought. Nevertheless, I need to do this to be with Dallah, she needs me now.

Angus wipes the tear away as he looks at me intently.

“You came to me, over everyone you came to me.”

“I trust Parrise and the
Brothers’, but you are different Angus, you are a part of me.”

“
Ah, sweet...,” He tenderly strokes my cheek, “... The Brothers’ will not believe me, and Den most definitely won’t. Parrise and I left them at sunrise, everyone’s angry and scared for you.”

“I know it’s selfish, but you have to make them believe you Angus, I won’t leave her.”

“Ok, I’ll try, but you have to let me heal you sweet. I cannot let you go, knowing that you're in such pain?”

“No, you can’t Richard will ask questions.”

“You mean beat you for answers. AHHH, Zara this is ridiculous. I will rip his fucking head off his shoulders!” He tells me with a flare of rage, followed by a look of sympathy.

“I have to go. I will be back to see you Angus.” I tell him while kissing his cheek and hugging him tightly.

“Sweet Zara, please be careful?”

“I will Angus.”

Awaking in the morning, I feel like death warmed up, my body is bruised and swollen, and my heart still weak.

I don’t know what today will bring, but I need to get bathed and changed, as my clothes are covered in blood.

In the wardrobe at the end of the bedroom, there are dresses upon
dresses hanging up. The most beautiful dresses I have ever seen.

I don’t know whom they belong to, and I don’t really care either. I pick out a simple white body hugging dress that stops just
below my knees and comes up to my collar bone. The other dresses look too elegant for what the day holds for me, and unfortunately, there are no jeans or shirts.

Once showered and changed, I find a pair of cream open toed shoes in the bottom of the wardrobe; I’m now ready to find Dallah.

Getting to the door, I close my eyes and make a silent prayer that the door opens. It does. I swing the door open wide
, and look left to right cautiously; luckily, no one is around. Jogging down the long corridor, I jump in the elevator and press the ground floor button. The elevator is hidden by the fire exit, and I think it is meant for the staff here, but I had to take it, as I didn’t want anyone to see me coming down the elegant staircase. I’m hoping that when I get to the ground floor, I can find someone from the staff to guide me to where Dallah is.

Just as I step out of the elevator, I feel someone standing behind me. Turning to see whom it is I’m not surprised when I see Richard. He is wearing a very elegant suit, and white shirt that has the top three buttons undone, showing his hairless chest. Meeting his glare with a raised brow, he smirks at me knowingly.

“Where are you going Zara?”

“Having a look around,” I tell him smoothly, and then turn away from his glare.

“Well, let’s have something to eat together.” He tells me as he barges past me, expecting me to follow his lead.

“I’m not hungry, I want to see Dallah.”

Turning on his heel, he marches up to me with a cruel look of anger in his eyes.

“When I tell you to do something, DO IT!”

Wow! And I thought the Brothers’ were demanding. I follow him uneasily, as he has now turned from me, but I keep my distance from him. If I am ever going to get to Dallah it will have to be through him, my ego has no place here, at this moment.

When we’re seated in a large old-fashioned kitchen at an oak table, he turns to a small plump woman who waits for his command.

“Breakfast and tea!” He shouts at her, making her jump.

“Yes Prince.” She replies fearfully.

I can’t help but roll my eyes at the man; he is such an arrogant jackass.

After looking around this morning, I can now tell we are in Richard’s palace, his home. It has a very expensive feel to it, and from what I have seen walking through the servant quarters, is that this place is huge. However, where we were yesterday, was something from the dark ages, a little like himself.

“Tea miss?” The woman asks holding a teapot over a cup.

“Yes please.” I tell her with a smile, which she returns.

“Bring the food and go.” He tells her in annoyance.

We sit in silence as the woman puts plates of bacon
, eggs, sausages, and toast in front of us, then leaves quickly and quietly.

“What do you want from me Richard? Why won’t you let me see Dallah?” I ask boldly.

His head springs up, as his eyes bore into me. What, am I not allowed to speak?

“Oh, am I meant to call you Prince? Because that so isn’t happening, you aren’t my Prince.” I tell him and wait for the abuse to come.

He shocks me by laughing a real belly laugh.

“You will pay for that one later, you stupid whore!”

“Fuck you, I won’t stay here and take this.” I jump up from my chair and head back the way we came in. I need to stay on his good side, as he is the one who can direct me to Dallah, but jeez, this is a bloody joke! I cannot stand to be anywhere near him, let alone eat breakfast with the wanker.

“Where do you think you’re going? I have a treat for you.”

He’s suddenly right behind me, pulling me tightly into his chest. I try to twist out of his grip, but it is impossible, he is much stronger than I am.

He spins me to face him, my hair flying across my face and neck.

“Why are you doing this? All I want is to see Dallah?”

He looks at my hair, which is now flowing around my face, then my lips and back to my eyes.

“Don’t act the damsel in distress Zara, we all know you have a bite. I will send you to Dallah as soon as I have finished with you.”

He tells me with a look of... He looks like he wants to kiss me; his black eyes are firmly fixated on my lips, and his head tilts to the side ever so lightly, his perfectly neat hair shining brilliantly.

“Finished with me, or admiring your handiwork?” I ask in disgust.

“I have a surprise for you Zara.” He tells me his eyes finally meeting mine again. He pushes me away spitefully, resulting on me tripping on my own feet and hitting the floor with force, which causes me to yelp in pain from my tender ribs.

“WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM WITH ME?” I scream at him with an outburst of anger, while scrambling painfully to my feet.

He doesn’t answer me; he turns his back on me and walks away.

Kiss-ass walks in soon after, and now I can get a good look at him, he is hideous, with tiny eyes, and enormous nose, and greasy hair stuck to the side of his face.

“Up.”

That is all I get out of the creature. He leads me back to the room that Richard beat me in last night, through the servants living quarters, and passing a few fearful faces.

Surely he isn’t going to do it again, my face is swollen and purple, I have a split lip, and my ribs are cracked and bruised.

I’m pushed into the chair, while he pulls my arms behind me and ties them together none too gently.

“What’s going on?” I ask a looking left to right for any movement.

“Shut up!” He tells me in a huff.

The hours pass slowly while I’
m tied in this chair, with Kiss-ass staring at me whilst leaning against the wall. Then I hear a familiar voice enter the frightful dungeon room.

“You're looking better Hun.” Mary says as she walks into the room, followed by Theo! What the hell is going on?
!

“What is this?” I ask her, looking at her like the filthy whore she is.

This is when she hits me across the face, hard!

“This is my time to get you back for fucking up my life!” She spits nastily.

“Pathetic, it wasn’t me fucking up your life; you are just a fuck up Mary!” I yell at her bitterly.

I have never, and will
never be scared of her.

She gets in my face laughing hard
, while pulling her red hair over her shoulder. I cannot believe I’m stuck in a room with a yet another psycho.

“How’s Sallack Hun? I tell you what, that man is something else, wouldn’t you say Zara?” She says, then soon regrets when Theo growls fiercely behind her.

I look past Mary and catch the eyes of Theo; he looks back at me as if this pains him, but still makes no move.

“Why are you with her?” I ask him in disbelief, soon followed by a head-butt from Mary.

That’s enough! Reaching to the pit of my being, I beg for strength, and that’s what I get as I stand up ripping the ties of my hands, and in doing so, cutting my wrists violently.

I grab hold of a shocked Mary by the head and slam her face into my knee; she falls to the floor
, but soon gets up growling and goes for me, landing her fist in my cracked ribs. I take in a deep breath, trying to rise above the pain and swing for her with everything I’ve got, my fist catches her chin perfectly, as she falls to the floor momentary unconscious.

“Zara! Are you ok?” Theo asks me, his tone laced with sympathy.

“Why?” I choke out; I want to know why he cares now after standing back watching Mary beat me, when I was already black and blue.

“I’m sorry angel!” He tells me; just as Mary jumps up from the floor and straight on top of me, she hits me again before she's pulled off by a fuming Theo.

“What are you doing Mary? Calm down!” He growls at her violently.

“You're mine! Don’t call another woman angel!” She screams while hitting him, and he holds her back with authority.

I stand to my feet on shaky legs, blood coming from my wrists, my mouth, and my cheeks. Rubbing my hands over my swollen face, I try to work out what the fuck is going on!

Richard walks into the room with a wide grin, until he sees what has gone on. He strolls up to me with a face of fury, I know he is going to hit me for hurting Mary, so I put my face to the side and shut my eyes tightly, praying the pain will end soon. He surprises me by putting his hand gently to my face, turning my head to face him.

“Mary?” He asks, looking at me.

I knock his hand from my face with a shaky hand. All I want to do is get a hold of Mary and teach her a lesson.

“Yes Prince.” She replies with pride.

H
e storms up to Mary, striking her hard across the face with the back of his hand. I shut my eyes to the image of her falling to the ground, but not without a small smile on my lips.

“What is this?” He addresses Theo.

“Mary got out of hand, and then Zara got free and fought her off.”

“And you stood and watched?”

“Yes.” He replies in shame.

That is the last I hear as the darkness swallows me.

Chapter Two

Waking up from a black out, my eyes are met with those of Theo, I know this because I could never forget the
gray/silver color they are, and the scar he has running from the side of his head, to the corner of his top lip.

“You ok angel?”

“What’s going on?” I ask in a husky voice.

“I’m sorry for what she did to you, I tried to stop...”

“No you didn’t, don’t lie Theo! I saw you watching. Where is Richard?” I ask looking away from him and around the dungeon like room. 

“I won’t let it happen again, I promise...”

“Shut up! Just go away, I don’t need you!” I tell him harshly.

How can he expect me to trust him, when he stood back and watched Mary let her anger out on me, when I was already beaten half to death.

I have only had one meeting with Theo, at Sallacks bar; he approached me with a wonderful smile and asked me whom I belonged to. That is when Ruk came to my side and announced that I was his. What I thought I saw in Theo was a good man, beautiful both inside and out, I think I may have been wrong.

“Is this her?” A kindly voice rings out, startling me as an elderly woman walks in looking at me with sympathy. She has gray hair tied up on the top of her head like a bun, wearing an old fashioned pale blue full length gown, looking like someone from a costume drama. She looks to be in her 60s but from her accent, much older. As she smiles at me, I see she has a kind face and I feel I can trust her.

She walks up to me and bends on her knee, as I’m sitting on the floor with my knees by my face.

“Yes. I’ll leave you. I’m sorry Zara,” Theo tells me, meaning every word. Nevertheless, I don’t care.

“Come with me Zara?” The woman
asks, holding her hand out to me.

I look at her cl
osely, not wanting this to backfire on me, telling myself to be more cautious of those I give my trust to from now on. I take her hand, figuring that she really isn’t out to hurt me, from the look of sympathy in her blue eyes I can sense there’s something different about her.

She helps me into the elevator and back up to the bedroom that I stayed in last night.

“Lay on the bed Zara,” She tells me soothingly.

I willing do as she asks, as my body is so saw, and my legs so tired.

She sits on her bed beside me, and picks up my hand with both of hers. I try to pull my hand free from
her, but she tightens her grip.

“Please Zara; I want to help you, let me do that?”

“Why?” I ask with a frown, I can feel that she has a good heart, but why would she be here, in the Dark Coven.

“I’m a healer; I’m here to heal you. Soon you will feel much better I promise.” She soothes.

A healer? I have never heard of such a person, then again, I am new to this world.

“Ok.” I tell her reluctantly.

“Who was he?” She asks with tears in her eyes while studying my face.

“Who is who?” I ask in confusion.

“The man that has done this to you?”

“Richard, or do you mean Mary, she does look a little manly.” I joke, but she doesn’t laugh.

“No, you poor Child, your heart, who has left you broken like this?”

I pull my hand out of her grasp and move away from her. Is she looking into my mind? Oh shit if she finds out that I am the Charmer and tells Richard, I will be in serious trouble.

“No, no, Zara you can trust me, I am a friend. I mean you no harm. Look, I’ll show you.”

She takes my hand again
, but before I can pull away, I have scenes playing out in my head! Her with what looks like her family outside having breakfast in the warm morning sun, then I recognize the kind stranger that visited me one night when I’d been calling for Dallah. He walks up to her, kisses her cheek and whispers in her ear, her smile falls and she drops her cup, which smashes on the floor into tiny pieces. Taking the man by the hand, she leads him inside her home, away from her family. The man who is part Werewolf, Vampire, and Warlock sits holding her hands while he speaks, but I can’t make out what he is saying, then the images are cut off and I’m back to reality.

“What was that?”

“I need you to trust me, I’m here as a favour to that man. He asked me to come to you, heal you; I made Richard believe I was doing this for him, he knows nothing darling. That man trusts me Zara you should too. I am not a part of the Dark Coven; my home is in the Light.”

“Where’s Dallah, can you take me to her? Please help me find her?” I ask with my tone sated in desperation.

“Ah, child, your destiny will take you to her. Now let’s heal you, I’m sorry I can only heal your body, but not your heart, my dear.” She tells me as she gently pushes me back against the bed, and places her hands on my forehead.

What is it with people and destiny? I do not care for destiny, because it sure as hell doesn’t care for me.

As the woman starts to speak her magical words, my skin heats up and my blood tingles, making me feel like I have pins and needles over my skin, then the pain has miraculously gone.

“Ok, that’s better. I have a message for you, but you must not repeat it to anyone, do you understand Zara?”

“Yes.” I tell her as I sit up. Looking down at my body, she has completely healed me from head to toe; the only pain I have is the dull pain in my heart, caused by Sallack.

“Do not trust the Dark Prince, use what you have to make him change, but be wary.” She tells me as if she is trying desperately hard to remember words given to her.

“Who told you that, was it him?” I say, pointing to my head, indicating the man in the images she shared with me.

She nods her head once as she puts her finger to her lips, silently telling me not to speak, she then points at the closed
door. I instantly understand; Kiss -ass must be back on patrol.

“Thank you for healing me.” I tell her as she gets up to leave.

“Where is your necklace?” She asks surprising me.

How did she know I wore a necklace, moreover, where the hell is it? Dallah told me to keep it on all the time. I can’t even remember if I had it on this morning.

“I don’t know.” I tell her touching my neck as if I expect it to be there.

How could I be so careless, that is the one thing I have to remind me of Dallah, and I have lost it! How could I be so stupid?

“Hey, come on now. When I get home, I will find it through a spell and return it to you ok? You can’t let something that is misplaced upset you, after all you’ve been through surviving two rounds of beatings, this is such a small thing in comparison.”

I can’t help but laugh at her bluntness, she speaks wisely.

“Thank you...What is your name?”

“I’m Dorothy, and you are most welcome child. Chin up, you will find her.” She tells me, and then disappears out of sight.

That was a little crazy! How did she know that man, know about my necklace, Sallack breaking my heart? Nevertheless, I am extremely grateful to her for taking away my injuries. Now tonight I can go to Den and let him see that I am ok, I couldn’t have let him see me beaten as he would have gone crazy searching for me
, and I couldn’t bear Richard getting his hands on Den.

I have no sense of time sitting in this bedroom. Therefore, when a young woman brought me up food, and a hot drink, I asked her politely, she replied with a huff, and slammed the tray down and left!

I want to get out of this bloody room, not to sit eating and drinking tea, while Richard could be doing god knows what to Dallah. Opening the bedroom door slowly to p
eek out, I’m happy to see that Kiss-ass isn’t standing there.

“What are you doing?” Richards’s voice fills the air, making me jump and bringing goose bumps to the surface of my skin.

I turn my head to him as he stands at his bedroom door, dressed in suit trousers, that’s it, just the trousers!

“I want to go now. I will find Dallah without your
help.”

“No you will not, get back into your room now; I will take you to her tomorrow.” He tells me with a raised eyebrow, waiting for me to argue with him in return.

“Ok, thanks!” I say as I step back into the bedroom and slam the door. What the hell was that about? Why the sudden turn around, is he softening and really going to let me see her?

“FUCKING SHIT!”

“Wow, you amaze me with your vocabulary.”

“What are you doing?” I ask Richard, as he stands before me only an inch away from my face, not to mention now in my room!

“I will give you what you want, if I get what I want; to see you out of that dress,” He tells me with lust coating his vision, as his hand strokes his chin.

He has to be joking! Is he really that much of an asshole.

“You beat the shit out of me, and then had someone else that hates me to do the same thing, and you think I will sleep with you?” I laugh.

“Exactly.” He says smiling, as he takes my hand to place on his amazing chest! Shit,
no, not amazing.

Yanking my hand away from him, I meet his gaze with hatred.

“I despise you Richard, I hate you like I have never hated anyone! You have put me through hell, and you want me to give myself to you?” I ask, while looking at him in disgust.

“No you silly bitch, Sallack put you through hell. I’m giving you a reality check.”

“Reality check!” I say stunned, as I pull my fist back and hit him hard between the eyes, Oh yeah, that’s what I’m talking about, now I feel revived.

My physical strength is kicking up a notch every day, since connecting to Dallah, just as she said it would, as well as I should start to have power of my own.

“Got a good swing there, haven’t you Zara. I guess I deserved that one,” He says as he presses his fingers to his nose, then looks at them to see the blood.

“I’m sick of this, why are you tormenting me?” I
ask, shaking my head in a fluster.

“I wanted to understand a few things, now I do.” He says with a frown, once again invading my personal space.

I sigh as turn my head to the side; I can’t even look at him without wanting to kick his sexy ass.

“What are you?” He asks with a hint of fear.

“What do you mean?” I question back.

“Forget it, be down and dressed for dinner in 2 hours,” He says while backing away.

“I have no way of knowing the time, and clothes?”

“
On the dresser there is a clock; in the wardrobe are gowns and shoes for you to wear.”

“I already ruined one; maybe I should just miss this dinner!” I tell him, desperately trying to move away from his close proximity.

“They are for you, put one on and be there or I will come to you and it won’t be pleasant,” He threatens as he storms out of my room and slams the door behind him in annoyance.

God damn it, why have I got to have dinner with him. I don’t want to piss him off any further by saying no, after hitting him in the face and getting away with it, God knows what
he's capable of doing. This is all so fucked up! However, I will do ask he asks, as I need to see Dallah, and I believe in my heart that he will deliver, this time.

I have on a floor length black gown that has a rounded neckline and thin straps, it is beautiful, but I would have enjoyed wearing it under different circumstances and having dinner with Richard isn’t one of them.

Taking the sweeping staircase that leads to the main floor, I start to panic when I hear the sound of many loud voices and laughter. Following a group of four young women, they turn left into what looks like a ballroom.

There must be at least a hundred people here, damn it, he didn’t say he was having a celebration!

I stand there looking around in awe; this room is like nothing I have ever seen in my life. There is an incredible crystal chandelier hanging in the
center of the room all lit up and sparkling like a jewel, and glorious full sized statues gracing the outer walls. While I gaze around the room, I don’t see Theo approach me till I feel his large warm hand take hold of mine.

“Angel.” Theo says as I turn to him.

“Don’t touch me,” I practically growl at him ripping my hand free of his grasp.

“Where’s Mary?” I ask looking around for the little bitch.

“She’s gone. Come with me, I will show you to your seat.” He tells me as he takes me by the arm and starts to walk.

“Why are you here Theo?” I ask him, while stopping to hear his answer. He stands in front of me gazing at me from head to toe with glowing
gray eyes of appreciation.

“I’m here to watch out for you angel.” He tells me plainly.

“No you’re not! You stood by and watched me beaten while I was defenseless.”

“Trust me angel I’m here for you in every way.” He tells me
, giving me a hungry look. Men!