Broken Forest: Book One of the Daath Chronicles (25 page)

I observed the party in wonderment, admiring the decorated masks and winged garments and forgetting my sorrow. Women dressed in flowing gowns and extravagant headpieces, each one more unique than the other. I frowned when nature called me away to the washroom.

One of the servants pointed to a door at the far end of the ballroom. I thanked him and lifted the front of my gown as I walked past, careful not to step on the delicate fabric. I pushed open the solid wood door and walked into the candlelit room.

Two women stood giggling and drinking from golden goblets. One wore the outfit of a barmaid with a white wig. The shorter of the two wore a frilly black dress and matching cat mask.

The woman dressed in black bounced over to me and smiled, her lips stained deep red. “Oh, look at how pretty!” she said.

I gave her a courteous smile. “Thank you.”

The barmaid came around to my side and pointed a finger at me. “You are so lucky. I wish I was marrying Lucino. He is so dreamy.” The woman fluttered her eyes and took a large gulp from the goblet she was carrying. She smirked. “I bet you’re perfect too. Quaint, polite, well-mannered and probably still a virgin.”

Her friend gasped. “Susie!”

Susie smirked again. “Well, it’s probably true, just look at her. I bet you’ve never even had a sip of wine.”

I ignored her hateful disdain and stepped around her.

“Why don’t you have some wine?” Susie barred my way with the goblet.

“No, thank you.” I didn’t know what was wrong with this woman but she seemed unwell.

“One sip won’t kill you.”

“I’d rather not.” Fear was in my voice and Susie walked closer, forcing me into the corner.

“You should have some; it’s what all the nobles do. You don’t want to stick out, do you?”

I dashed for the door and flung it open, but Susie moved quicker and slammed it shut.

“Susie!”

”Be quiet, Martha.”

“But you’re going to get us in trouble,” Martha whined.

Susie waved Martha away. “You worry too much. We’re just having a friendly conversation.” She forcefully handed me the goblet. “Have a drink with us. Let’s toast to our new friendship.”

My eyes watered and my heart hammered, but I wouldn’t be bullied. I stood straighter, holding my head high. “Thank you, but I really must get back. Lucino will be worried if I’m gone for too long.” And I shoved past her.

Susie’s eyes widened and she grabbed my arm. “You’re not going anywhere, whore.”

I slapped her across the face with my free hand. “I am
not
a whore, you common wench!”

She grabbed my hair, and I screamed.

“I hate girls like you. You think you can do whatever you please because of the way you look, it sickens me.” Susie tugged my hair until it paralyzed me, then squeezed open my mouth, pouring the wine all over.

Tears escaped my eyes as the wine burned my throat.

“Men love proper girls like you, so innocent, but you’re just as wicked and evil as the rest of us, you just don’t look it.”

“Susie, stop,” Martha whined. “Leave her alone, she hasn’t done anything.”

Susie let go of my face and backed away. “I hope you enjoy the rest of the night, my lady. Martha, let’s leave. I’m bored of this place.”

Martha gave me an apologetic look and scampered after Susie.

I fell against the wall trembling. I looked at the beautiful blue gown stained in red and my heart broke. I hugged my knees into my chest and cried into them.
I don’t want to be here anymore. I want to go home.
Sobs burst through my chest, filling me with irrepressible pain.

My mouth was sticky and I began to feel hot and lightheaded. There was a small table a few feet away with a wash bin on it. After several long minutes, I found the strength to move to it.

I cupped my hands and splashed my face. The cool water in the bowl refreshed me. Warmth spread through my body and I wet my face again, but it did nothing to cool the flame burning inside. Every breath was heavy and strained and parts of my body tingled. The room shrunk around me.

“I have to get out of here.” I pushed the door open and walked back into the ball. With small steps, I carefully made my way through the mob of guests. Everyone laughed and danced around me, but I couldn’t relate. My body felt strange. Fear enshrouded my mind. I needed to get to my room, quickly.

More dancers entered the ballroom. One glanced my way and the woman’s eyes were blood red. Dismissing the image as a side effect, I kept moving.
Where are the ballroom doors?
Every step I took ended in the same cluster of people.

Another woman with the same frightful eyes glanced at me. I turned in the opposite direction and ran, hoping I could locate one of Lucino’s servants.
There!
I could see the doors.

“Why the rush?” A shirtless man with dark beady eyes gripped my arm, stopping my escape.

“I … .”

“Why don’t you stay with me, enjoy the party?”

I tried to twist out of his grasp. “I really must go.”

The stranger smiled coldly, and for a brief moment, his face distorted into a monster.

“Please, let go!”

He continued to glare, flooding me with fear.

“Excuse me sir, but this fair lady is with me,” Lucino said, firmly removing the man’s hand.

The man bowed. “My apologies.” He dismissed himself.

My breaths came in short spasms, and I held my head, trying to steady myself.

“Jeslyn, what happened to your dress?” Lucino grabbed my shaking hands.

The room spun with a hundred different colors. I swayed, trying to focus. Then his hands were under me, lifting me off the ground and into his arms.

I took Jeslyn into a private sitting room, summoning Lucy before I reached it. I placed her on the sofa. I grazed her vivid red cheek with my hand. “Jeslyn, did you drink any wine?”

Her head slowly nodded.

Rage boiled inside me. “Who gave it to you?”

Her head swayed a little, and she didn’t respond. I cupped her chin, gazing into her half-open eyes. She was too weak to respond fully, but my spell would pull the information out from her.

“Jeslyn, tell me everything that happened since I left your side.”

Her voice was groggy, but she managed to speak about the girls in the washroom. After, her eyes shut.

“Seems our little lady had too much to drink,” Lucy said as she entered the room.

“Watch your tongue,” I growled.

Lucy sighed and walked over. “My apologies.”

Red stained Jeslyn’s dress, her hair had been pulled out of one of the pinned sections, and her eyes were puffy.

I open my borders and these insects dare attack what’s mine. I shall
show
these frivolous women what happens when they disrespect me.

“Have her brought to her room and set guards outside the door. No one but me is allowed in there.”

Lucy bowed her head. “As you wish. What do you plan to do?”

“Go hunting.” Before my sister could protest, I vanished out the window.

“I thought we weren’t allowed to leave the grounds?”

“Martha, stop being such a prude. Don’t you want to see Daath? No one will even notice.”

I watched the two humans scampering through the gardens, attempting to hide their little escapade. Fools. I stalked them, listening, waiting until they were far enough away that no one would hear their screams.

“Susie, I think we should go back.”

The short one clung to a tree, nervously looking about. I crept around her, waiting for Susie to turn away. When Susie did, I grabbed her friend, clamping my hand over her mouth and dragging her into the dark.

“Shh,” I said. The human’s eyes widened and then I broke her neck. I left her body in the grass and glided to the tree where she had been standing.

“Martha, nothing is … ” Susie turned around, her mouth hung open at my sudden appearance. “Lord Lucino.” She immediately bowed. “I didn’t realize you were out here.”

“I like to stroll the gardens this time of night.”

She lifted her head, daring to look at me. Her eyes wandered. I assumed she was searching for her friend.

“I told your companion to return to the party. We’ve had a bit of trouble with wolves out here. I didn’t want anything to happen to one my guests.”

“Oh, I had no idea.” Her lip quivered, and I noticed her hands fidgeting.

“I’ll escort you back.”

She hesitated at first, and then when I stepped into the moonlight, her eyes widened.

“I know the way back. I wouldn’t want to trouble you,” she said, frantically looking behind her.

I grinned, enjoying her fear. “It is no trouble at all.” I sensed her desire to flee. I did enjoy a good chase. “If you’re thinking of running, I’d start now.”