“Kiev.” He laid a hand on my shoulder. “I don’t know what’s going on with you. Whether this is you being affected by Mona’s leaving—”
“This has got nothing to do with that,” I snapped.
“Well, whatever the reason, you’re not being yourself. As you haven’t been on guard duty for days, I came to give you something to do outside of the island, since you seem to like being away so much. If you choose to accept it, it will benefit us all here immensely.”
I looked into Matteo’s eyes. “What?”
“You remember we discussed the Black Bell vampires? The night I deceived you, I was supposed to take you there. I suggest we do that now.”
I didn’t think I could stand being on the boat even with Matteo. I still felt awkwardness around him over everything that had happened, and I just didn’t want to deal with it then. It was an extra burden on my already exploding head.
“I accept,” I said without a second thought. “But I’ll go alone.”
Matteo looked taken aback.
“But you’ve never been there before. You—”
“Give me a compass and the rough coordinates. I’ll figure it out.”
Matteo looked at me dubiously.
“All right,” he sighed. “If you’re confident you won’t get lost.”
I felt grateful that Matteo had come to me with this task. I was slowly driving myself insane circling the island each night. At least this will distract me.
“Once you’ve seen the approximate location,” Matteo explained, “I can better start discussing strategy with you.”
“Fine.”
I shot forward toward the port.
“You’re planning to leave right now?”
“Right now.”
Matteo showed me to a boat and gave me a compass and the coordinates. He also set me up with two of the strongest dolphins. He insisted that I take them in case something happened and I needed to make a speedy escape. I soon grew tired with his precautions and cut him off mid-sentence.
“Enough. Let me go.”
Matteo jumped off the boat as I urged the dolphins forward.
He called out after me, “Be careful.”
His warning barely registered.
All I could focus on was the relief that washed over me once I was away from the small island and racing toward the wide open sea, the strong wind and the lapping of the waves surrounding me.
Chapter 4: Mona
There was barely an inch of my cell that wasn’t wet with blood and sweat. As I sat with my back against the wall, the women in the neighboring cells eyed me.
“Have you been paired yet?” a young woman in the cell to my left asked.
Her question sent chills running down my spine. I kept my lips sealed. I understood the meaning of her words. But I wasn’t here to make friends, or offer comfort.
I was here to forget.
And to hide.
“How did you get here?” Another set of curious eyes rested on me to my right.
I shut my eyes tight and covered my nose with my shawl, trying to block out the abomination that was these women’s lives.
They must have thought I’d gone to sleep, because they didn’t attempt to speak to me again.
I opened my eyes only when—finally—the dungeon’s door unlatched. My limbs aching from the cold damp floor, I scrambled to my feet.
An ogress approached my cell. She didn’t look much different from the male ogre who’d carried me in here, except that she had large breasts. Frowning at me, she unlocked my cell, gripped my arm and tugged toward the exit of the dungeon. The women whispered to themselves as the heavy door shut behind us. Her nails dug into my flesh as she pulled me through one dark hall after the next.
“Let go of me,” I said irritably.
“Watch your tongue, girl.” The ogress sprayed spit on my face as she looked down to speak to me.
“I’m not going to run off. In case you’re unaware, nobody kidnapped me here. I came voluntarily to offer service to your leader.”
The ogress looked at me as though I was insane. I could have bet my life that no person had ever spoken those words to an ogre in the history of their kingdom’s existence. She stopped in her tracks and let go of me, placing both hands on her knees as she peered down at my face, examining me closely. She grabbed a clump of my hair and sniffed it, a flash of confusion crossing her ugly face.
“What are you? You’re not human.”
“I’m a witch.”
She stepped back, and let go of me. Fury filled her eyes. “You deceived us!”
“You don’t understand—”
Before I could finish my sentence, she gripped my neck and slammed my face against the rough stone wall.
“So you’re here to work some magic on our king, eh? That’s why you wanted to see him. You thought you could pass for a human? Well, I won’t let you harm our king.”
“No, listen—”
I screamed as she twisted my arms back until I was sure my bones were about to snap from the pressure.
“I-have-no-magic!” I prayed that she would hear my wheezing beneath her heavy breaths.
She paused and let go of me, sending me falling to the rocky floor. She cocked her head to one side, her fat hands planted on her waist.
“Prove it,” she spat.
“Why am I unable to fight you back with magic?” I panted. “If I was an ordinary witch, I could put a spell on you.”
“You might be waiting until I bring you to the king to display your magic.”
I shook my head furiously and gripped the walls, struggling to get back to my feet. She kicked me in the chest, knocking the wind right out of me and sending me crashing back down to the ground.
The door to our right creaked open and a deep voice rumbled through the hall.
“What is all this?”
A looming figure stood in the doorway.
“Your Highness, please, be care—”
“Out of my way, Mogda!”
Brushing Mogda aside, the figure walked over to me. Strong hands gripped the back of my neck and pulled me to my feet. I found myself looking into the bright orange eyes of a creature who looked very different from any ogre I’d ever come across. He was tall and slim, and although he had brown leathery skin, his features were more humanlike: a straighter, thinner nose, sharp jawline, no tusks. He had a regal appearance about him and was almost handsome.
“Your Highness,” I stuttered, taking the opportunity to speak before Mogda interrupted me. “I travelled here to offer service to your mighty kingdom. I am a witch, but I was born without magic. I was banished from my realm. That’s why I seek refuge here.”