Betrayal (58 page)

“Are you worried that we may not find him?”

“Well… yes and no. Yes because I would hate for you to begin your reign with him still on the loose.” Evan said, as if he were referring to Victor as a wild animal who escaped the zoo, and not a teenager like him and I. “And no because I know that we will eventually apprehend him. I just wish that we were past all this. I want to begin our lives together.”

“Yeah, me too.” I sighed. “Thank you, Evan.”

“For what?” Evan asked.

“For confiding in me.” Evan smiled.

“I shouldn’t be hogging you all to myself since you haven’t had a chance to dance with anyone other than my father and I.”

“That’s ok. I’m having difficulty keeping track of all the masks since no one is allowed to remove their masks until supper is served.” And no one did or seemed to even remember that they were wearing one. “I hate not knowing who’s who.”

“Here comes someone now.” I turned to see who Evan was staring at behind us. It was Nikolas.

“Empress, may I have this dance?” Nikolas asked as he bowed.

“I’d be delighted.” I smiled with a curtsy, and switched hands and took Nikolas’ as I released Evans.

Evan bowed and thanked me for the dance, and then walked away. Evan looked like a soldier; his head held high and his shoulders squared. He walked over to another girl, and asked her to dance. She was beyond beautiful and when she turned in my direction, I recognized her as Felicity. I danced with Nikolas, and then with several other boys though out the evening. They all wished me a sincere welcome, and thoroughly wore me out. Deciding to take a seat in the salon for a little while, I made my way through the sea of twirling couples. Just as I was about to leave the crowded ballroom, someone stepped into my path and took my hand.

“I'd know you anywhere,” Gerald said, recognizing me through my elaborate gold mask.

“May I have this dance?” He asked, waiting patiently for my answer. I didn’t think he would attend after what happened earlier, and was pleasantly surprised.

“Well I was about to take a little break in the lounge.” I tried to answer but was cut off by Gerald’s impatience.

“Please, Cordelia, just one dance.” No mask could disguise the voice and yet something was different about Gerald when I looked into his eyes. There was something in them that I didn’t recall ever seeing in them before. It wasn't desperation. In fact, I couldn't put my finger on it. Gerald was undoubtedly handsome as always and even more so in his tuxedo and tails. His blond hair shone in the glow of the prisms in the chandeliers. For some reason I was grasping for air and drawn to him in an animalistic way. I was actually beginning to perspire with of sweat pooling in my corset. I fought the overpowering urge to throw my arms around his neck, and devour him in a kiss, shamelessly in front of Evan, all the members of my family, and the aristocratic mortals of Nickel City. I lacked control. My unexpected emotions for Gerald, was uncharacteristic and I couldn’t make any sense of how I was consumed by him.

“Yes.” I accepted his offer, and didn’t care to scan the crowded ballroom for Evan. I was with Gerald, and my heart was racing a mile a millisecond.

Gerald led me back onto the dance floor. Just over his shoulder I observed Evan dancing with his mother as she talked his ear off. All I wanted, and needed as badly as oxygen, was to be with Gerald, and with no one else, and nowhere else. I didn’t give a damn that Evan hadn’t noticed that I was being propositioned by the boy who once may have stood in the way of our union. I did catch Bethany's gaze passed all of the other masked faces, and the pained look she was sending from across the ballroom floor didn’t matter a bit. I was in a trancelike state, and prayed this dance would last forever.

Gerald and I glided around the ballroom for a moment in silence only half listening to the music and somehow keeping in step to it. Suddenly snapping me back to attention, Gerald stopped leading and stopped dancing altogether.

“Come with me,” he demanded, lightly. “I have something I would like to tell you, and it's much too noisy in here,” he said, smiling and lightly tugging at my gloved hand. Without even a quick scan of the ballroom, I agreed with a discreet nod. Although I knew that this would be frowned upon by Evan, Bethany, and their parents, I was already heading out the rear doors of the ballroom, and down a long brightly lit corridor lined with more gilded framed paintings and mirrors. All the while, I clasped Gerald’s hand as if for dear life.

“We’re almost there,” he assured, as if we were lost.

“Ok, I’m with you.” I said, anxiously waiting to hear what Gerald had to say. After passing several sets of double doors, he stopped in front of the only single door in the hallway. I didn’t like the lack of peripheral vision so I let go of Gerald’s hand and removed my mask as I waited for him to open the door.

“Come inside.” He instructed, and led me into a small cloak room which was exquisitely decorated to look as elegant as the lounge. It was as if the room’s décor had to parallel the haute couture of cloaks and capes which hung in there. The cloak room was packed so tight with tagged outerwear that Gerald and I were practically sandwiched together.

“What is it that you wanted to tell me?” My hands began to shake. I was suddenly feeling nervous now that we were enclosed inside the vibrantly lit room, and facing each other. Gerald didn’t answer me, and shocked me by clenching me close against him and kissing me instead. The feel of his warm lips pressed against mine caused a spark to ignite. The light blinded me, but only momentarily, yet it felt exhilarating. The kiss coursed through my body like a rocket from the tip of my head to my toes. I didn’t want to fight him, and before I knew it, I was kissing him back. It was breathtaking and the closest connection I had ever felt to another person. I’ve never been kissed like that before and wanted more and more.

Suddenly, Gerald pulled away from me, chuckling. Things began to change, slowly at first. The oil lamps on the walls dimmed on their own giving of a soft glow as if romantic music would follow and complete the setting. Then the changes sped up drastically tragic, as I was convinced that my eyes were playing tricks on me. Gerald's honey gold hair began to darken until it was jet black as asphalt. His chestnut brown eyes took on the shimmering color of steel. The eyes were familiar and I knew I had looked into them before.

“Gerald, what’s happening to you? What’s going on?” I gasped, and tried to back away from him. I couldn’t get further enough as the garments barred the walls and seemed to push me against him. Gerald looked me in the eye and said, “Finally, we meet again.” He carefully removed his mask and the hairs on the back of my neck stood as tall as the pine trees in the forest, once his face was revealed. It was the wrong face – terribly wrong.

A wicked smile spread across Victor’s devilishly gorgeous face just as a snarl escaped his lips, and Gerald was gone. Victor had the gift of the chameleon just as Bethany had known all too well, and he had used the gift again. One thing was certain at this very moment. Victor had me and no one knew it.

Those who witnessed me leaving the ballroom saw me exit with Gerald Bergnum. Victor leaned his face into mine, and my body went numb – corpse like –frozen with fear.

“I want to kiss you again,” Victor said, whispering into my ear. “But, I’m afraid you’ll get greedy and we don’t have time.”

“Get away from me!” I hissed.

“Aren’t you excited to see me. You seemed thoroughly enthralled only a few seconds ago. You can’t believe that you were kissing that mortal. That was all me, my sweet.” Victor panted as I felt something blistering hot and moist flicking my ear.

“No!” I screamed smacking away at Victor’s tongue. “What have you done to Gerald?” I snapped, remembering what Bethany had explained to me about Victor’s newly acquired gift. That he is only able to transform into another person if he has wounded them. I felt the tears brimming with the reality of poor Gerald being hurt because me. I tried to back away again, but there was no way to flee.

“Oh that poor mortal, he should be meeting up with his brother as we speak.” The razor edge of Victor’s words cut into me, leaving the saliva in my mouth tasting like blood. I couldn’t think straight imagining Gerald being dead.

“You beast!”

“Call me what you wish. I know you enjoyed our kiss, but it doesn’t have to be our last. You certainly can’t get that passion from Poseidon’s boy,” he said, leaning even closer so that I could feel his blazing breath on my cheek, as the oil in the lamps began to blaze, and the temperature in the room rose to an astronomical level. “And might I add, you smell even more delicious than you look my soon to be departed empress.”

I didn’t know what to do, and I couldn't breathe or think. My only thought was that I was going to die... again. A second chance at an existence was about to end – badly. With his face just an inch from my own, he grabbed both my arms and jerked me harshly downward. Instantaneously, the floor opened up to opaque darkness with nothing but blackness enveloping us.

Before I could get a good hysterical scream out, the air in my chest was practically sucked out of me. I was falling at an accelerated speed down a pitch black hole, and no longer felt Victor’s fierce grip on my arms. I couldn't see anything, and tried like hell to wriggle my arms and legs as I continued to fall. The pull downward was intense and impossible to fight against. I finally landed – hard on an ice cold and flat surface. The thud of my body rang in my ears until I could hear and see nothing at all.

TwentyNine

Bound

I must have passed out, I thought, as I sluggishly tried to wake up. My vision was distorted as if my sight was actually impaired. A few feet above me were dimmed lights that looked like huge, fuzzy, crystalized balls that danced interlocked like the five Olympic rings. I blinked incessantly and noticed fast moving shadows circling me. I had no idea where I was, and the loud thud was all I could remember. Then everything came rushing back once I heard a familiar voice – Victor's voice. His voice was muffled, almost inaudible, yet still identifiable. He thundered distinct orders to someone that I couldn't see.

“Secure the room. She is not to be harmed or touched. I’m preparing, and will return momentarily.” The back of my head was throbbing while I tried to make out the other voices I heard.

“Yes, my lord.” A gruff and familiar male voice said. That voice was followed by a soft woman’s voice.

“I will make certain that she is not touched, my lord.” The voiced hissed provocatively.

More whispers were emerging further away from where I lay, and the more I tried to figure out what they were saying the more they became mangled and indistinct. I could barely turn my head due to the frigid metal choker that prevented me from lifting my head. I tried to wriggle my arms, which were stretched out at arm’s length, but I was restricted by more cold metal cuffs on my wrists. My ankles were also bound by irons. It was obvious that Victor wasn’t taking any chances and had bolted me to this altar with no way of escaping. Although I could barely raise my head, I realized that I was still in my ball gown. The exhaustion of trying to move was debilitating, and I decided to stop trying for now.

My vision finally began to clear, and I could see that the fuzzy crystal balls were actually lit candles hanging from chandeliers high above everything in the gray toned room. Unfortunately the numerous flames didn’t warm up the frigid room and I could see my own breath. The museum like room was of marble walls that climbed to the high ceiling. Out of the corner of my eyes I could see marble pillars with gilt bases to the left and right of me. I had the strange inclination that I had been here before, but couldn't be sure.

The shadows were now very visible and stood guard all around the perimeters of the huge room. To my surprise, instead of being chained like the animal that she was, deep in the mines along with her brother, Sacha sat in one of two identical majestic gold detailed, marble thrones. The other throne was empty. Victor’s girlfriend eyed me as if I was a repulsive slug. I guess that was to be expected. Some of the other faces were also familiar. They were the disciples that had Sacha’s back when Bethany and I had gone into town. They stood gaping at me in bright ivory cloak like robes.

Since Sacha was present and accounted for, I expected Lucas to pop his head in soon enough since they always seemed to be together. As if on cue, Lucas appeared beside me, and spoke in his usual rough tone.

“Are you comfortable, your highness?” I could tell by Lucas’ aggravated expression and sarcasm that he was still sore about being chained up.

“Don’t you mean Empress?” Sacha’s chuckle was laced with pure venom.

“Oh that’s right, Empress.” Lucas joined in on the laughter as cackles and hisses filled the room.

“But wait, you’re not an Empress are you. You haven’t been crowned, have you? Where is your almighty Zeus now?” I didn’t bother answering Sacha while she stared down at me with nothing but thoughts of my death running through her head. “Lucas, she’s nothing. There is nothing divine about her.

If you’re so powerful, o’divine one, let’s see you crack those shackles or call upon the many gods that fortify you,” Sacha said, jumping off the throne, and laughing and rattling the chains that were hooked onto the cuffs. She was acting cagey and paced the floor.

“Yeah let’s see you break out of these?” Lucas roared in amusement. “Where’s your big, tough boyfriend, now, huh?”

“Yeah, where is Evander and his even tougher little sister? I bet they’ll never find you…, not alive anyway,” Sacha said, knowingly. “And they consider themselves to be gods. Ha!”

“Dead… again,” Lucas sneered, as I tried to wriggle free.

“Look at her my, darling brother..., she can't even move. Where are your powers, divine one? Still can’t remember anything?” Sacha’s vibrant hazel eyes proved her hatred for me. “And you think that we’re pathetic?”

“She is quite beautiful though,” Lucas remarked, as he eyed me with a new found interest, and paced around the altar which felt more like an ice cold slab of rock. Suddenly Sacha lunged forward, and was beside me.