Candescent (The Opalescent Collection Book 1) (20 page)

He lifted his sword, aimed it for Pete, and my eyes filled with tears to find he would not move. I flailed, attempting to get the knife at his side, but he only held me tighter. He would not let either of us escape. The sword came down, but instead of slicing him open, the blade smacked hard against the back of his head. The blow knocked him unconscious within a second and sent his weight on top of me.

The figure was pleased at his work and I found myself weak as I tried to move Pete’s bleeding wrist so I could call for help. By the time my mouth was free several other figures came into the room to aid the man who knocked Pete out. They pulled him off my body and I screamed for help. They could slay his heart. They could torture him, or bring him to Sebastian. Regardless, they were prepared to take him along.

Finally a couple of soldiers came in and attacked the men. One of the men grabbed me, seeing I tried to escape. My eyes flew toward Pete to find the Allies’ soldiers were protecting him now. I knew Sebastian’s men couldn’t take him. But they would take me. The man before me threw a cape over me, holding it over my eyes and carried me away from the fight. In screams, I cried for help, when the sounds and screams around me were at their peak. There was fighting, our first battle, the start of the war. No one could hear me over the clashing of swords. I called without a response, without a savior to come to my rescue.

Even when I felt the cold air around me and I knew I was outside, I still called for help. I could only hope someone would hear me and take down the man that was kidnapping me.

The man grumbled at my words. He was aggravated and told me that there would be consequences if I continued to scream. When I ignored him, he stopped and he released me. His hand flew to the dark cape around my face, preventing my escape. I fell to my hands and knees and tried to get up – get away. Before I could manage to stand up again, I heard the sound of drawn metal – a drawn sword. I struggled harder to get to my feet, to get away, to stay alive. The unforgiving cape that would render my defeat only choked me. My head became lighter. I felt blood pouring down my neck still, pouring down my shoulder, my arm, and I was sure – staining the snow at my feet.

Before I knew it, my head was overwhelmed with pain. The darkness once from a cape turned to darkness from under my eyelids as I fell unconscious. And I was taken away.

D
im candlelight cast an eerie glow, warming the room to an uncomfortable heat. I was in a large bed, wearing a long red dress. My neck had a thick bandage on its side. The warmth overwhelmed me and my body ached with weakness. I tried to figure out where I was and I assumed I was in a palace, for there was a sense of luxury around me.

I struggled to sit up as footsteps sounded in the distance and the door opened. The figure came into my view, at my bedside, and I pressed myself to the headboard hoping to escape, hoping I could materialize into the wood.

“Hello Chenille. You’re doing well I see.” He sat down beside me. “Do you like that dress? My servants fitted you for one. And how’s your neck feeling? It was such a mess when you arrived…I wonder how that happened.”

“What do you want from me? Why have you kidnapped me?”

“I didn’t kidnap you,” he said sheepishly, “my soldier did. We haven’t finished what we started.” He remarked simply.

“You just stay away from me.”

“You don’t scare me. You are weak now. I already took your Dragon’s Soul. I have it stored away for safekeeping, just in case I need to use it.”

“Use it against me?”

“Something like that.” He smiled slyly. “I don’t think I’ll need to use it though. I know you’ll be good. If you can prove that to me I will give you your Dragon’s Soul. Well, once we’re married of course.”

“Married?”

“Yes, there’s nothing that says you can’t, right? Your Eternal Mate is a separate matter. With you as my wife, I will take the title as King. And by the time the war is over, Pete will be taken care of.”

“What do you expect to do?”

“I’ll trap him in a special chamber. With him gone, I will be King and you will be mine. As my wife, you will be treated as such. I assure you that your treatment will be different and much better than what Pete offered you. I will give you a good life. You will not be my captive…but for now you are.”

I felt sick at the very thought of being married to
him
. “Aren’t we at war now, as we speak?”

“Yes, and I will bring you to the City as soon as it ends so you can see our victory. I want you to see Pete before he gets locked up. You can thank him for all he’s done.”

I clutched the bed sheets in anger, keeping my face soft. “You are wrong. You will not win.”

“You can wish all you want but I advise you don’t stay angry with me. It will only make your time here a lot worse.” His hand moved to my arm. “And I won’t allow that.”

“Please leave me be Sebastian. Please let me rest.”

“All right. I have a lot to do. I’ll leave you for a little while and when I return I hope you’ll be in a better mood.”

He left me alone for only a few minutes though it gave me time to think. He was right. I would need to be good especially if I wanted my Dragon’s Soul back. As for Pete, he would have to figure the war out on his own. There was no way I could help them. I would probably be resting from this wound on my neck and wouldn’t have a chance to participate in war plans anyway. At least I wasn’t in the cold fighting with my Allies and their soldiers. I was quite content and warm in this room. Here I had no enemies. If anyone invaded, it would be my Allies coming to rescue me.

I sighed deeply, situating myself under the blankets. Sebastian didn’t seem like he was going to put me through any more trauma so I relaxed. I needed to make all of this worthwhile because he could, in fact, become my husband. Though I wanted to expel the very thought from my mind I knew it could still happen. Pete was knocked unconscious before my eyes and for all I knew, he was already locked up and Sebastian was making plans for the wedding.

If I was good with him he would be better to me in the future. He wasn’t all bad though I despised him, and he did show compassion toward me. At least I could look at him. He wasn’t ugly. I nearly gagged. I couldn’t believe I was trying to persuade myself that he was right for me.

       When he returned to me he sat by me. Slowly he moved behind me and held me. He ran his fingers through my hair in silence. I reminded myself to be nice, even now that I cringed and broke out in a cold sweat. My hairs were on end, my skin prickling with disgust.

“How long do you expect this war to last?” I asked, breaking the silence that would’ve driven me nuts.

“It shouldn’t be that long.”

His grip secured around me and he attempted to kiss me. I shook him off, disgusted, hissing under my breath.

He did visit me, each day. His presence only made me shudder. I knew the war must be getting worse, but he refused to tell me what was going on. He only complemented me and stroked my hair
.

I eventually found myself complaining of boredom. Being cooped up in the small dim room without sunlight was nothing to look forward to. He couldn’t help me.
Typical, always thinking about himself,
I thought. Instead he assured me his company would be more
interesting
, whatever that meant. Oh, no I knew what it meant.
Getting closer maybe?
I only shivered at the thought.

The war began and as it raged on, I didn’t see Sebastian as often as I used to.
Thank the moon.
I sat up in bed struggling to move. I was still weak without my Dragon’s Soul and I would continue to suffer until the war was over, I was sure of it. I stretched my arms, rubbed the white bandage on my neck. I was startled to hear scratching at the door. It opened and a massive creature entered.

It was a griffin whose physique was statuesque for his breed. His chest towered passed the bed as he suavely walked toward me. His feathers were a mixture of dark blue, gray, and gold and his stupendous eyes looked as though they were made of glass with their almost transparent blue-white color. His heavy wings were folded at his sides as though they were as delicate as silk. But he was strong.

“Hello Miss,” he said politely to me. “Sebastian told me there was a guest present, but he did not tell me their whereabouts. I never expected a guest to be in
his room
, though I will not question why you are here.” He looked at me quietly and drew open the curtains so I could see the falling snow.

“What is your name?”

He looked at me, almost as to see into my soul with his glassy eyes. “You may call me Guardian.”

“That’s your name?”

“You may call me
Guardian
,” he said again. 

Griffins are outlandish creatures, but are very similar to dragons. Guardian is not this griffin’s name, I knew. I knew only his Master knew, as their secret, just as a Dragon’s Soul is to a dragon Master or Mistress. If this griffin told me his name he would be betraying his Master, like so if a dragon gave his soul to another person. Dragons were different though, since if it was their Master that gave away his Dragon’s Soul, the dragon would be devastated and unforgiving. As for a griffin, he would not allow his Master or Mistress to tell anyone his name, but if he wanted another Master, he could tell someone else. A griffin’s name, when shared with a Master, proved his loyalty.

“Guardian, do you have a Master?”

The creature stared at me quietly, as he was not disturbed by my question. “I like to think Sebastian is my Master…at least
sometimes
.”

“Didn’t you have one before him?”

“Of course.” He replied, almost suspicious. “And who are you?”

“I’m Chenille.”

“Chenille,” he started quietly, “why do you ask about my Master?”

“I wasn’t sure if Sebastian sent you here or not, if he is your Master. Or you could be rescuing me.”

“Well, first of all, I am free to go where I please. I am not bound by my Master’s words, only his thoughts. And
rescue
you?” He blinked slowly, looking me over. “I guess you do need rescuing. It doesn’t seem like you’ve moved from that bed yet.”

“I can’t. Sebastian took my Dragon’s Soul away from me and I’m weak without it. I can’t feel my dragon. I don’t even know if he’s alive.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Maybe…I can help you,” he offered.

“You’d get it for me?”

“No, I can’t do that. I don’t know where it is. And as much as I want to link with Sebastian right now and find out for you…I believe if I did so I would be disobeying him. And you know how that turns out. It’s never good. I think Sebastian has it anyway. I
can
try to convince him to give it to you though.”

“You would do that for me?”

“Why shouldn’t I?”

“Then you don’t like Sebastian?”

“Let’s not jump to conclusions sweetheart.” He smiled. “I’m getting the feeling that
you
don’t like him though.”

“He wants to marry me. He wants to become King.”

The griffin snorted. “Don’t we all? I mean, look at you,” he smiled again, “you poor thing. But, if I know Sebastian well I know that he is full of himself. He is foolish. And he thinks he can play a game of chess to capture the King, have the Queen for himself and rule?” The creature laughed. “He is not royal, you are. You have control if anything happens to our former King. And I suppose he will learn the hard way. Or you will give in to him.”

“And he will forcibly marry me to become King and say it was my choice.”

“Only if you let him.” He chimed, swishing his tail.

“I am his captive by the way, not his guest.”

“You’re the most content looking…and best treated captive
I’ve ever seen
.” He teased.

“And you think because I’m stuck in his room, it makes me at all freer than being in a cell?”

“Oh no, you poor thing,” he cooed. “You were taken from your King, who’d caused pain to you.” He glanced at my neck. “And now you’re captured by a wealthy immortal prince who wants to marry you against your will.  Oh, poor Chenille. My poor Queen. If only there was
something I
could do
.” Now
that
was a pity party. I sighed deeply. “Oh you know what, I can! Come on, I’ll bring you downstairs so you can stretch your legs.”

“Can you help me up?” The griffin stood on his hind legs, reached out his talons and helped me up. He pulled me off the bed and held me upright. “I didn’t know griffins could stand on their hind legs and walk.”

“We prefer walking on all fours, but we can walk upright.” He paused to walk me out of the room. “I’m sure you’ll be pleased with the decorations.”

“Decorations?”

“Yes, for Clestival.”

Clestival is one of Catastrophe’s few holidays. It celebrates the formation of Clesta, the planet’s first moon, and the start of the eclipses with Earth’s moon. Though Clesta was shattered when the Bridge of Secrecy was destroyed and the eclipses ended, the holiday still remains.

Slowly he walked down the steps into the grandeur of a living room. Several massive trees were covered in orange ribbon that varied in thickness. Orange flowers made up garland that decorated the handrail and unlit orange candles were scattered around the room. Glittering orange gems and gold carelessly littered the floor around the trees like potpourri.

Guardian helped me onto one of the chairs that overlooked this festive space and stood beside me. As I took everything in, I had not noticed Sebastian entered, for Guardian immediately stood and brought him into another room before he could greet me. After a few minutes, I heard footsteps coming toward me. The candles illuminated themselves in his presence. He walked around my chair to stand before the soft white glow emitted from the candles around him.

“I see you’ve met Guardian.”

“Yes, he’s very nice,” I admitted shyly.

“He suggested that I give a gift to you. I know Clestival is tomorrow, but I just can’t wait. I figured you wouldn’t mind.”

He unbuttoned his jacket and reached into his inside pocket. I sat motionless and he watched me. Slowly he opened his hand and revealed a ring. I looked at it disappointed. As he put it on my finger, I realized it was some sort of stupid engagement ring made of platinum. I wanted to throw it at him. This was
not
my Dragon’s Soul.

“Well, don’t you like it?”

He saw my face of disgust, why would he have to question it? I wanted to shake my head, to throw the ring at one of the burning candles, but before I could, he kissed me. I was dead still, tense and overwhelmed as if fireworks were going off in my head. Nausea overwhelmed me at just the thought and now – well, I was dizzy and I wanted to gag. Who does he think he is? I grabbed his coat and pushed him back, suffocating, feeling red hot - embarrassed and ashamed to think about what had just happened. He didn’t mind though. He gave me a charming smile, as though he didn’t even register my revulsion, probably assuming it was shock, probably assuming I was
flattered
.

He fell to his knees as he assumed that I had accepted his proposal, for I couldn’t speak. I was wiping my lips so fast, hoping I wouldn’t be sick in front of him. Then I’d never get my Dragon’s Soul back. His smile pained me, the very smile of my enemy thinking that I
liked
him. I held myself back, breathing slowly. I told myself to be nice. I had to be if I wanted my Dragon’s Soul back and even if I did get it, I would still have to put on an act.