Voided
Chapter 7:
Vera sat there in confusion and her gut instinct told her to not move. Her body was being held down by an unseen force. She felt warm and sweat actually beaded on her brow. “You know who I am, don’t you my child?” Vera wanted to argue, but her voice wouldn’t come to her.
“Yes.” She gulped and looked over at Lukas who seemed withdrawn and shrunken away in the corner. He was scared, terrified even. The dark skinned elf squatted down in front of the princess and her golden eyes smiled at her. She was breathtaking and Vera now realized why her father had had the affair with her. Trima batted her dark chocolate wavy hair out of her face. She wore pants and knee high brown boots and her corset was coppery and red. Once again, Vera relished her beauty. Trima looked over to Lukas and threw him a fairly large sack that clattered and jingled in front of him.
“You have done well, Lad, now be a dear and leave.” He looked at Vera with sad eyes like he knew what was going to happen with her. The blonde hesitated. “I am through with your services, Lukas.” Trima said through clenched teeth.
“But she has done nothing wrong. Why do all of this? Why use her against her father?” He sat there in fear.
“Silence, peasant.” Without any further notice, Trima blasted him with her ruby staff that held a black glowing orb. His clothes were left on the ground and Vera could have sworn she saw movement underneath them, but Trima touched her face to pull her attention back to her. Vera got the chills from her fingertips and power surged through her. “Your father will pay and what better way than to use his cursed daughter to kill him. And then I have some other minor plans.” She got back up and Vera’s body moved as if it wasn’t her own. The curse that was housed inside her resonated with her mistress and she couldn’t help but follow. Vera cursed inside her head and wondered if there was any way to get away from this mad sorceress. She was crazy and power hungry. “Well, let’s get going. I need to sort through my ideas and then I’ll plan my attack.”
“You are insane.” Vera said bitterly through clenched teeth and grabbed her bag.
“Hush now, child.” Vera once again was unable to speak as they headed out the door. “I think you are the best thing I’ve ever created, my masterpiece. You should be honored that you have such an amazing mistress.” She boasted and bragged for what seemed like hours as they walked. Trima would not shut up; Vera just eventually tuned her out. She couldn’t respond so what was the point? The dull glow of her staff lighted their way. The cold air was cutting into her face which was the only skin that wasn’t covered. Vera was thankful that she had changed into her more casual clothes though. Pants were so much easier to walk in than floor length gowns. As Vera walked in silence, she feel a tickling feeling coming up her leg and to her shoulder. She tried swatting it away, but the furry little thing that sat there stuck to her like glue. The princess peered over at her shoulder and nearly screamed when she saw a light colored mouse sitting there.
“Don’t scream, Vera.” A familiar voice squeaked. “It’s me, Lukas.” She looked over again at the creature, careful not to let Trima notice. The little mouse had blonde fur and bright blue eyes. It did resemble the tall elfin brute that had tricked her. She nearly chucked him off her shoulder, but refrained. “Please, I am truly sorry.” Trima stopped in her tracks. Oh no, did she detect Lukas?
“Stay still, child.” Trima walked around ahead of Vera. Vera took this moment to cover Lukas with her hair. A bird-like sound was heard close to the princess’s left and Trima rushed over, but just missed her as a tree like person grabbed Vera, swinging her over his broad, muscular shoulders. He ran like the wind and the further from Trima they got, the hold she had over her faded. Vera found her voice, she screamed and kicked.
“Do not do that, please.” A deep manly voice rumbled from below her. “Your mother sent us.”
“Us?” Vera glanced up the best she could to view more figures that appeared like trees blocking the dark elf’s way to get to her. Trima was firing her staff left and right until finally the light stopped and Vera knew she had retreated. She didn’t feel her presence anywhere. “I guess you are the Woodland Elves?”
“You presume correctly, Princess.” Vera sighed happily and knew she was safe at last. She did hold a sense of distrust though and at the slightest funny feeling she got from anyone she met on her journey, she would flee.
“Your name, Sir?” Vera asked politely. She heard a sigh on her shoulder and remembered Lukas was still with her.
“My name is Tonwa.” He replied simply. He ran so fast and jumped furiously over dead branches.
“So, I take it we’re heading to your castle?” A slight rumble of a chuckle came from his chest. “What’s so funny?”
“No castle, milady, village though.” Vera sighed, longing for her colorful palace bedroom and washroom. She craved a hot bath right this second to warm her cold bones. “We have a tent set up for you already. We have been prepared for a year now. Your eighteenth birthday looms ahead of us.”
“What is so scary about my eighteenth birthday?” Vera said exasperated; she was getting so sick of being the last person to know about everything and anything.
“It is the day that you become Trima’s ultimate weapon against all the realms.” |
