Chained By Fear: 2 (9 page)

“You idiot!” the chambermaid suddenly shouted, but no sound came from her mouth. Instead, the words careened inside Laylah’s mind. “He’s raping you,
little one
. Don’t waste my precious gift. Resist with your thoughts, if you can’t with your body.”

Laylah’s drugged awareness slowly grasped the concept. She
was
being raped. By her brother. And she
hated
it. As soon as that thought emerged, a pain far worse than she had ever experienced exploded in her abdomen, dwarfing even the torture of the talisman. Although she was near catatonia, she managed to grasp the sides of her stomach with her hands, and an eerie cry erupted from her mouth, causing Urbana to yelp.

Even Invictus was startled, and he rose on his elbows and glared at Laylah’s face.

“What’s this?” he said. “What’s happening?”

Then he looked at Laylah’s stomach and saw the flesh beneath her navel writhing. At the same moment that the sorcerer pulled out of her, the young chambermaid started to cackle. A torrent of black smoke arose, and Vedana’s gray-haired incarnation was revealed, her translucent body shimmering in the dimming light.

“Finish if you like, my grandson,” the demon said, while backing toward the open window. “But if you do, her womanhood will be consumed, and you will have no heir.”

“Grandmother, what have you done?” Invictus said, still puzzled.

Then he placed his hand on Laylah’s abdomen. Finally he understood. “No!” he screamed.

But Vedana had already taken the shape of a raven and flown out of the tower.

Invictus raced toward the window too late. “I’ll destroy you,” he shouted. “Do you doubt it?”

But Vedana was gone.

Laylah remained on the bed, the pain in her abdomen slowly receding.

Urbana knelt beside the bed, sobbing. “I’m sorry, my king,” the vampire moaned. “I didn’t know
 . . .
I didn’t know.”

Invictus looked at Urbana and sagged against the wall. But then a smile came to his face. “Grandmother,” he said out loud. “You are full of surprises.”

Invictus strode across the room and grabbed Urbana’s hair, dragging her away from the bed and slamming the door behind them.

Suddenly Laylah was alone. She had survived her first day in Avici. Would tomorrow be this bad? She would find out in the morning.

Meanwhile, sleep came—and with it, blessed nothingness.

In the middle of the night Laylah woke from a dreamless slumber with a burning distress between her legs and blood on her covers. Near the bed was a basin of water with fresh towels. She rinsed her mouth first, and then cleansed herself, gingerly. Afterward, she slid a chair next to the arched window and looked out at the night sky.

The moon was waning gibbous, and its glow strengthened her heart. She was amazed that only a few days had passed since she had stood beneath the full moon with Takoda and looked over the valley. Now her adoptive father was dead, along with his people, and the most dangerous madman to ever live had imprisoned her.

Laylah’s recollection of the aborted rape was mercifully hazy. She remembered a ripping agony within her abdomen and Invictus being angry, but she had no idea why the pain occurred, other than a misty memory in the dark recesses of her mind. Was it some sort of demonic spell that not even the sorcerer could overcome? It appeared, in this instance, that the demon Vedana had been her ally.

Laylah gazed at the moon. The reflected light felt warm and fecund. The longer she stared, the more her fear diminished, finally reaching a level of tolerability she would not have thought possible after so recent an atrocity. Laylah’s survival instincts swelled within her. Suicide remained an option, but not on this night. At least she would give herself one chance to escape before she revisited that loathsome possibility.

As dawn approached, the sister of the king returned to her bed and slept through most of the morning. When she opened her eyes, she was surprised to find the room bright and hot.

Then came a familiar tapping at her door.

“Young princess, are you awake?” Urbana said. “Your dinner is prepared. After last night, you must be hungry.”

“If you enter the room, I’ll kill you.”

“So
 . . .
we hold grudges, do we? You have no idea how much I’d relish the opportunity to face you. But I remain forbidden
 . . .
though after last night I’m not sure why. Your value has diminished, it would seem.”

“Take a swim in the Salt Sea. It’ll do your complexion a world of good.”

The cackling stopped. “I couldn’t care less if you eat or not. I’ll leave your dinner outside the door. Come and get it. Or do not. If you need anything else, your chambermaids can serve you. And don’t worry: I went to great pains while you slept to make sure none of the rest of them are demons in disguise. I’ll never forgive Vedana for making me look so clumsy.”

A long silence followed. Laylah crept to the door and placed her ear against the polished wood. She heard nothing, other than the grumbling of her own stomach. She was ravenously hungry, and if she were to attempt an escape, possibly as soon as tonight, she would need her strength. Weak and wobbly, she would stand little chance.

Laylah’s innate magical powers made her dangerous. But she was untested and inexperienced. Could she really destroy a creature as ancient and malicious as Urbana? Could she withstand an attack from a dracool? And what about the other monsters she had met at the banquet? Was she an equal to any of them? The
death word
Invictus had taught her as a child might destroy some of them. Or her white fire might incinerate them. But she didn’t know. And not knowing was as great a weakness as anything else. She needed the time and patience to learn more about herself and her predicament, but she had little of either.

Would he come to her room later this afternoon and force himself on her again? Maybe this time, whatever was inside her would not awaken. How long could she bear such perversion before insanity rose up and claimed her? She didn’t know, and the less she knew the more vulnerable she became. Against monsters like Invictus, knowledge was power. And she also needed help from unexpected places. Vedana had taught her that.

If she were to believe Vedana, the demon blood that flowed through Invictus’ veins also flowed through hers. Demons—she had heard shamans say—were capable of intricate deceptions. Well, Laylah was part demon. Of what was she capable?

She pushed her door ajar and peeked through the crack. A tray of food sat on the floor, containing white fish with a crust of fried almonds, pureed vegetables thickened with bread crumbs and several varieties of fruit. There also was a loaf of dark bread and a ewer of goat’s milk. Whatever horrors Invictus intended to inflict upon her, starvation was not among them.

On the large rug in the center of the hall, ten chambermaids sat on their haunches, staring at her with a blend of apprehension and curiosity. With their matched golden tunics and long yellow hair, they looked like an arrangement of jasmine—and they appeared prepared to obey any command.

Laylah gestured to the one closest to the door. “What’s your name?”

“Bhacca,” she said timidly.

“Bring my dinner. The rest of you, stay where you are.”

“Yes, my Queen,” Bhacca said, expertly lifting the tray. When she entered the room, Laylah shut the door. The chambermaid carried the tray to the table near the window and poured some of the milk into a pewter cup. She then retreated a few steps and kneeled on the marble floor, waiting silently for further commands.

Laylah began to eat. The fish was excellent, the bread freshly baked and the vegetable puree heavily spiced. She consumed everything without speaking. Bhacca watched but did not move.

Laylah finished and the servant girl started to rise, but Laylah motioned for her to remain on the floor. She had questions. Maybe this girl could answer them more effectively than Urbana had the day before.

“How old are you?” Laylah said, trying to relax the girl.

“This is my third summer, my Queen.”

“What do you mean?”

Bhacca shrugged. “I don’t understand your question.”

“I would guess you’re as old as I, but you said this is your third summer.”

“I’m not like you, my Queen.”

“In what way?”

“I was spawned in Kilesa.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Do you not know of Kilesa, my Queen?”

“When I was a child I sometimes heard my parents talking about a village to the east called Kilesa.”

“I’ve never heard Kilesa described as a village. Countless thousands live there, and many more are spawned there. The king needs soldiers and servants, and he doesn’t have time to recruit them all
 . . .
so he
spawns
them. I was spawned in Kilesa three summers ago. After I grew to maturity, I was brought to Avici. I’ve been a servant in the palace ever since.”

“You ‘grew to maturity’ in three years?” Laylah said, clasping her hand to her mouth.

“King Invictus has great powers, my Queen. Hundreds of newborns arrive every day. We’ve been given the gifts of life, health and beauty. We even
look
like our king. What a wonderful privilege! All that he asks in return is that we serve him and the citizens of Avici. And it’s our most sincere pleasure to do so. I consider King Invictus to be my father. Which, if I may be so bold, makes you my aunt.”

Bhacca giggled, but Laylah remained quiet. The girl’s face grew pale. “I meant no offense. Would you like me to leave? I’ll report to the mistress of the robes and receive my punishment for displeasing you.”

“No, don’t do that.”

“As you say, my Queen.”

Laylah sat in stunned silence, studying the girl’s innocent face. Could she even call her a girl? Was she human? How could she have grown to maturity in less than three summers? Was there no end to the extent of Invictus’ perversion? Forcing himself on her was bad enough, but at least she was just one person who meant little to the world. But to twist life itself? Maybe her brother
was
a god.

If only Takoda were here. He would say just the right things. And he would help her plan her escape. They would flee into the mountains and this time find a better place to hide
 . . .

“My Queen,” Bhacca said, interrupting her reverie. “May I prepare your bath? Afterward, I’ll show you the gardens, if the mistress of the robes allows it.”

“The mistress of the robes does what she’s told, just like you,” Laylah said. “There’s only one voice in Avici.”

“Should not the most powerful have the most say? That’s what I’ve been taught.”

“I’ve been taught to respect my family and my people. To adore beauty and treasure nature. I’ve been taught that the greatest force in the world is love. I follow the Path of Beauty.”

“Your words are strange to me. But I’m just a lowly servant, while you are terrible and wise.”

Laylah smiled at the humble chambermaid. Whoever or whatever Bhacca was, Laylah enjoyed her company. But just when she was beginning to believe her second day in Avici might be less horrible than her first, a flash of light boomed in her doorway, causing Bhacca to throw herself facedown on the marble floor.

“Good day, my sister,” Invictus said, honoring his word not to enter her room without an invitation. “I trust you slept well and your dinner was to your liking?”

Tears sprouted from Laylah’s eyes and crept down her soft cheeks. “Stay
 . . .
away
 . . .
from
 . . .
me.”

“Come now,” Invictus said, sounding more amused than annoyed. “Aren’t you overreacting just a bit? It’s not like I tried to kill you—or even hurt you. I just wanted to claim what is rightfully mine. It was your grandmother’s little trick that created all the
 . . .
confusion.”

“Why are you torturing me like this?”

Invictus guffawed, pounding his fists against the doorframe. It felt as if the entire tower was shaking. “My sister, you are being melodramatic. Do you call last night torture? If so, you don’t know the meaning of the word.”

For a moment he looked as dangerous as a predator, but then his expression sweetened. “Of course, I would never torture my dear sister. I admit last night was a mistake—and I apologize. I’m not used to waiting for what I want. From my point of view, if I impregnated you quickly, it would be like yanking a splinter out of a child’s finger; the pain would be over before you knew it. Now I understand you have a say in this . . . matter. I’ve developed a desire for an heir—someone I can train and trust to rule my growing kingdom when the time comes that I grow weary of it. And you, my dear sister, are the only vessel capable of making this a reality.”

“What you propose is unholy. It makes me want to vomit. I will
not
carry your child! I will
die
first.”

“Unholy? What is and isn’t holy is not for you to say.” Then he frowned. “I’m not easily denied, lovely Laylah. But despite my superiority, I’m willing to negotiate. I desire an heir; you desire freedom. Can both be achieved?”

“I don’t trust you.”

Invictus ran his fingers through his hair. “Sister, sister, sister. You’re so
 . . .
suspicious
. I suppose you have legitimate reasons, but there are aspects of your situation that you fail to comprehend. First, if I chose to enter your room, no one in the world could stop me. So by asking your permission, I honor your privacy. Second, I’ve admitted that my behavior last night was uncouth. In this way, I honor your dignity. You consider me a monster, but you know so little about me. Shouldn’t you learn more before you make such harsh judgments?”

“Raping someone isn’t
uncouth
. Murdering someone’s parents isn’t
impolite
. You can’t just apologize and expect me to act as if it never happened.”

Invictus was undeterred. “You’re beautiful, of that there is no doubt, and I believe you’re somewhat intelligent. But you’re not yet wise. I do what I need to do to advance my position in the world. The further I advance, the better off the world will be. You have not yet seen all the wonders of Avici, and you do not yet know my vision of its future. I am beyond right or wrong. I am
Akanittha
, servant only to the sun.”

“If you are so great, show some mercy and kill me quickly.”

“Now
that
would be unholy. Hmmm. What can I do to convince you that I’m not as evil as you think?”

Then he gestured to Bhacca. “Newborn, approach me.”

“Yes, my liege.”

“Do not harm her!”

“I have no intention of harming her. She’s my creation, born from a drop of my own blood. Why would I harm her? She’s hard-working and loyal. I love her.”

“And I love you, my liege,” Bhacca said.

“Yes, you do. Kneel, child.”

“Leave her
alone
!”