The Sacrifice (38 page)

By the time Riana left the bathroom, she
was beginning to feel better. But more than that, she had the rest of the plan
resolved. She quickly combed and braided her wet hair, dressed in jeans, a
sweater, and a pair of black leather boots with sharp, pointed heels. Not much
for running, but they might be the only weapons she could find.

Riana picked up the phone and called
the kitchen, relieved when the butler answered.

“
Alpheus,
” she said using her sweetest voice. “Would you mind bringing some
coffee to my room?”

“Yes, madam, would you like something
to eat?”

“No
food, thank you, but I
’
m feeling rather poorly today. Would you mind
bringing some of your synthetic blood?”

 Alpheus released a breath. “I am
relieved you will take nourishment, madam. I will be there momentarily.”

A
few minutes later Alpheus entered the room with a silver tray and placed it on
the table by the window. Riana
’
s mouth watered as the aroma of fresh brewed
hazelnut filled the room. It was her favorite blend, and Alpheus always made
sure she had plenty. But the decanter of blood called to her most.

“I came to check on you at breakfast
and lunch. You slept so soundly, I chose not to wake you.”

“
Well,
” she said dryly, “the reason I slept so long is your boss found
some way to drug me.”

Alpheus poured a cup of coffee and a large
glass of blood. He set both at the small table in front of the window. “I am
sorry, Madam Riana. He does tend to get carried away at times.”

“Get carried away…is that what you
call it?” Her voice rose several octaves. “Do you know he has Cygan in the
basement and has beaten and tortured him to the brink of death?”

The
butler stared at her wide-eyed, as if she
’
d spoken a foreign
language. “No, madam, I did not.”

She could tell his surprise was
genuine, which was a good sign.

“Trust
me, he
’
s there.” Riana picked up the cup of coffee, her
hands trembling at the thought of telling Alpheus what happened last night. But
she had to if there was any chance of him helping her. If he didn
’
t
agree to help, she would have to hurt the old man, and she really didn
’
t
want to. He was the only person who
’
d shown her or Lily
any kindness.

She
lowered her head and looked into her coffee cup. “Alpheus, last night Vind did
something to me, I don
’
t know what, but it made me think he was Cy. He
took me to a fertility pool and then to Cy
’
s cell. He had sex
with me while Cy was shackled to the wall watching. When I came to myself, he
said I was pregnant with his child.”

Riana
looked up when a gasp came from the butler. He was pale and his hand held his
chest. If he weren
’
t Sivadian, she would
’
ve
sworn he was having a heart attack.

She grabbed Alpheus by the arm and
guided him into a chair. “Are you all right?”

“Yes…I will be…in a moment.” Sweat
trickled from his brow, and his respirations were way too fast.

Riana ran into the bathroom, poured a
glass of water and wet a cloth. She sat on the floor in front of his chair and
wiped his brow. Then handed him the water and waited for signs of recovery.

Alpheus
took a long sip of water before he spoke. “Madam, you were under a witch
’
s
curse. Last night I saw him with the witch he uses for spells. But I didn
’
t
know what he had planned.”

That
masseuse
did
have something to do with it. Riana stared into
the butler’s gray eyes. “Alpheus, I need your help. I know how much I
’
m
asking of you, but I need for you to let me out of this room. Cy
’
s
in bad shape. Without help he
’
ll not survive much longer.” Tears blurred her
vision. “Please, Alpheus. You once loved him, too.”

“I
love him still.” Guilt lay heavy in Alpheus
’
voice. “I have
overlooked Master Vind
’
s activities in the past, because of my promise to
the queen. To watch after him was her wish… and my punishment. Over time, he
has become mad with revenge. I have always tried to anchor him to reality, but
as of late, it has become increasingly difficult. However, he must be stopped.
My queen would not stand for this. I
will not
stand for this.” He laid
an unsteady hand on Riana
’
s shoulder. “I will do whatever it takes to save
Master Cygan. What must I do?”

Riana
placed her hand on his arm and breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Alpheus.
You don
’
t know what it means to hear you say that. Where
is Vind now?”

“He
’
s
in his room getting ready to go into town. He will leave at dusk and go to the
airport to pick up the general and his wife for the wedding tomorrow. She is
pregnant and can
’
t transport so they are flying in. It will take
him around two hours to go to the airport and back.”

“As
soon as he leaves, come get me. Then call the guard and tell him to come to the
kitchen to pick up snacks, or whatever will get them to leave the cells. While
he
’
s there, ask him to get something from the pantry
for you, where I
’
ll be waiting. If everything goes as planned, I
’
ll
knock him out. Can you get your hands on some anti-transport strips?”

“Yes.
There are some in Master Vind
’
s bedside table.
”

“Can you get a couple of pairs to
prevent him from transporting out of the pantry?”

“Yes, madam. I will have them when I
come for you.”

She
took a deep breath to blow off tension before asking the next question.
“Alpheus, would you transport Cy out of here? I
’
ll give him blood,
but he
’
ll still be too weak to leave on his own. Also, if
Vind figures out your involvement, I
’
m afraid he
’
ll
kill you.”

 Alpheus
’
chin
lifted in the air. “I am not afraid of dying. However, it will be my honor to
transport master Cygan. I only wish I knew how to get that thing off your ne—.”

“It
’
s
okay, Alpheus,” she interrupted. Riana reached and pulled the butler into a
tight hug. “Thank you,” she whispered.

***

Riana had paced the room for
forty-five minutes before Alpheus finally returned and unlocked her door.

 “Master Vind has left, and I
have prepared food for the guard to pick up.”

He handed her the strips she
’
d asked for. “I got
extra, just in case you need them.”

“Thanks,
Alpheus.” Riana stuck them in her pocket, and hesitated as fear flashed in the
butler’s eyes. She placed her hands on his small shoulders. “I need for you to
stay as calm as possible. If they sense your fear, they
’
ll
become suspicious and pay close attention to their surroundings. Can you do
that for me, Alpheus?”

He stood a little taller and tugged
his jacket straight. “Yes, madam.”

They left her room and headed down the
hall. A back set of stairs led to an entrance directly inside the kitchen.

Alpheus handed Riana an extremely
large meat-tenderizing mallet. “This should take care of the task at hand,
madam.”

She shook her head and smiled. “More
like brain trauma.”

When the guard entered the kitchen,
Riana stood behind the pantry door with the mallet pulled over her head. She
gripped the handle tight, her pulse pounding a rhythm in her fingertips. As
heavy footsteps came closer, fear widened her pupils, ready for her attack.

On
the other side of the door, a head of dark hair came into view. He bent to pull
a fifty-pound bag of flour from a bottom shelf. Riana brought the steel mallet
down hard, using every ounce of strength she possessed. As the mallet made
contact with the back of the guard
’
s head, a loud crack
rang out. The guard went face first onto the floor. She watched for movement,
ready to whack him again. He never even twitched. Riana released a breath, and
quickly pulled two security strips from her pocket. She secured his hands
behind him, and then removed the electronic key-cards attached to his belt.

Riana looked up at Alpheus standing in
the doorway. He held an iron frying pan over his head, ready to help her if the
guard got up.

“It
’
s
okay. He
’
s not moved a muscle.” She stepped over the body
sprawled across the doorway. “That
’
s one big guy. I can
’
t
believe he went out with one hit.”

Alpheus closed and locked the pantry
door. “Master Vind always places the largest guards at the cells.”

“You
know the old cliché, the bigger they are the harder they fall?” Riana asked. “It
wouldn
’
t surprise me if there
’
s a
dent in the floor beneath him.” Although, her surprise attack was the only
reason the mammoth went down so easy. If he
’
d seen it coming,
things would have gone a lot differently. “Can I hold on to this?” she asked,
holding up the mallet.

“Certainly,” Alpheus replied.

They
headed down the back hallway toward the cells’ entrance. “I need you to stay up
here, Alpheus. Since they
’
re used to seeing you around the castle it will
appear less suspicious. And you can deter anyone from coming down to the cells
while I
’
m getting Cy out.”

“Yes, madam, I shall not let anyone
pass,” he said, a hint of threat in his voice.

“
Alpheus, I don’
t want you to fight
any
of these guys. They
’
re
much too strong, and you
’
ll get hurt. If someone approaches, come up with a
reason why they can
’
t go down to the cells. Okay?”

“Yes, madam,” he said, not meeting her
eyes.

He
was up to some type of heroics. She turned to him when they reached the
entrance to the cells. “
Promise
me, Alpheus,
” she demanded.

“I cannot, madam. I must do whatever
is necessary to help save Master Cygan. He is the true future king.”

Riana
reached out and touched his arm. “I understand, but Cy wouldn
’
t
want you to risk your life. If you get hurt, you can
’
t
transport him out of here. You are his only hope, Alpheus.”