Chapter Four

As the day faded into evening, everyone left to go home. I gave Caleb a small wave as he left. I wasn’t permitted to leave now that I was “queen”.

I stood up and walked over to the balcony, gazing over at Caster’s Alley. I could see the lights on in my apartment. I knew Morgyn was already there, and Caleb would be soon.

I felt a breath on my neck. I realized it was Marco. Jay had retreated to his room.

“Now that we are alone, my queen,” he said, running his hands down my arms.

My eyes widened. I hadn’t really thought about Marco wanting me like this. Did I really have to pretend to enjoy it with him? I shuddered at the thought.

I didn’t have much time to think of an excuse. He used magic to strengthen the alluring spell. I turned toward him and kissed him, my desire for him growing quickly. I couldn’t stop it.

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“I have you right where I want you,” he grinned, cuddling me.

I smiled, still under his spell. “Yes, you do.”

The spell lingered, forcing me to be lovestruck by Marco for several days. But, as it started to wear off, he would cast another. This went on for weeks before I started to learn to control it. I felt it starting to wear off, but still acted the part.

Despite being able to control it for a few days, I finally had the confidence to run with my regained control. I needed to see if I could fight the remainder of the spell to see who I truly wanted to see.

“Marco, dear, I’ll be back in a few,” I said. “I need to run to Caster’s Alley.”

“Of course, my love,” he smiled.

I left quickly. I needed to see Caleb and Morgyn. They needed to know what was going on. Upon stepping into the apartment, I saw them both standing in the kitchen. I flipped on the device and hugged them both.

“I’m so sorry!” I cried. “He has me under an alluring spell. I feel it fading now, and I had to tell you before he casts another!”

They both hugged me back.

Morgyn looked at me, concerned. Caleb looked sad. I sighed. “Caleb.”

He nodded, forcing a smile. “I understand.”

“This isn’t fair to you guys,” I hung my head. “But I can’t control any of my feelings when I’m fully under the spell.” I looked at them. “But, before he starts to wonder where I am, I needed to show you this.” I pulled out the device.

“What is it?” Morgyn asked.

“It blocks all conversation from being heard by the leaders,” I explained. “Simeon showed me, and gave me this one. He said we were all brainwashed and that this isn’t the life we were leading.”

Caleb’s eyes widened. “He what?”

“He sai-“

“No,” Caleb stepped closer. “I heard what you said. How does he know that?”

I looked at him, surprised. “Do you know something too?”

He stepped back again. “Well, no,” he said. “I was just wondering how Simeon knew so much.”

I kept my eyes on him, not sure if I should believe him or not. “Well,” I said. “He didn’t say how he knew this, but he was pretty passionate about it.”

“Have you spoken to him since he gave you the device?” Morgyn asked.

“No,” I admitted.

Morgyn looked at Caleb, who had his head down, deep in thought. I followed his gaze, then looked at him.

“Morgyn,” I said with tears in my eyes. “Caleb,” I looked at him. “Please save me. I’m only doing this to save us. But I can’t take it. My place is not with Marco.” My tears fell. “And if Simeon is right, our place isn’t here.” I placed the device on the table. “But, Simeon wanted me to give one of these to everyone I spoke to about it.” I looked at both of them. “Please, only flip the switch if you are planning to speak out against the Greater Good High Court,” I begged.

“Can you hear these conversations they can hear?” Caleb asked as I cast the copypasto spell on the device, creating two copies.

“No,” I replied, handing them each a device. “And I don’t want to. They just sit there, hearing everything, just waiting for someone to say something.” I looked down.

Caleb gazed at me, sadly. I looked back at him, apologetically. I reached up and caressed his cheek. “Caleb.”

He nodded, but looked away.

Morgyn stepped back, smiling reassuringly. “I’ll give you two time.”

As he walked away, Caleb pulled me into a tight embrace. “I hold nothing against you,” he said.

More of my tears fell. “Thank you, but I do.”

“Shh,” he shook his head. “Don’t do that. You had no choice. What would happen if you said no?” He clenched his fist. “It’s not like Marco would have been fine with it and sent you back home to San Myshuno.”

I pulled away and looked at him in confusion. “What?”

He looked shocked. “I’m sorry, I misspoke.”

I continued to stare at him. “What is San Myshuno?”

He looked away. “I said I made a mistake.”

“You’re just making up new places?” I crossed my arms in front of me.

“No,” he admitted. “But I really can’t discuss this right now.”

I started to get angry. “And you’re keeping secrets?”

“Jade,” he looked at me, a pleading expression on his face. “Please don’t do this.”

I sighed. “Do you know something we don’t?”

He didn’t say anything, but stood as if he was debating with himself. That was the only answer I needed. I glared at him.

“You just need to trust me,” he said quietly.

“Caleb,” I placed my hands on his shoulders. “You know I trust you.”

He nodded. “Then just keep trusting me.” He looked into my eyes. “Okay?”

I also nodded. “Okay.”

I had no idea what he would know, but I would always trust him. There was only one traitor, and that was me. That’s why Marco forced me to be queen.

Marco. By now he would expect me back. I looked at Caleb sadly.

“Caleb,” I took his hand. “I need to go.”

He pulled me into a kiss before I could even take a step. It was hurried and desperate, like he would never see me again. I suppose in his mind, he wouldn’t see me again. At least not as the Jade who I was before Marco claimed me.

I wrapped my arms around him, kissing him back. I didn’t want to let go. I didn’t want to leave. But alas, we both knew we needed to. We reluctantly pulled away.

Morgyn had come back in. He grinned a little, trying to lighten the mood. “I won’t be as dramatic,” he joked, hugging me. “But I hope we can spend time together like this again.”

“Me too,” I nodded, closing my eyes and hugging him back.

We said our goodbyes, and I left quickly. As I stepped out of the building, Marco greeted me.

“Well, hello, my queen,” he hissed. “When you said you were going to Caster’s Alley, I didn’t realize you were coming to see Morgyn Ember and Caleb Vatore.”

“I had to speak to them about HQ,” I lied.

“Funny,” he said. “I didn’t hear a thing.”

I shrugged. “Perhaps there was a magic malfunction.” I started walking away.

“Where are you going?” He shouted loud enough to make people peer out their windows and to stop conversations in the streets.

“Home,” I replied, frustrated. I kept walking.

Caleb and Morgyn came down from the apartment, hearing the commotion outside.

Marco charged after me. “Don’t walk away while I am speaking to you!” He exclaimed.

I stood tall against him. “I thought you wanted me home,” I said. “That’s where I’m going.”

Marco grabbed my arm. “You’re not going anywhere,” he growled. “I’m not finished talking to you.”

By this point, a crowd of people had formed to see just how rude our leader could be. I was enjoying this attention. It put the spotlight on how rude and corrupt Marco was. I glanced over at Caleb and Morgyn. Morgyn had his hand on his inside pocket, and Caleb glared angrily at Marco.

I looked Marco in the eye. “You wouldn’t hurt your queen, would you?”

Marco grinned. “You can’t pull that card on me.” He glanced at the people around us, almost nervously. He lowered his voice, but not low enough. “You know what you are to me.”

I saw everyone look shocked all at once, and Caleb grew angrier. One thing I knew, and I wasn’t sure how or why, really, but I knew it like it had been engraved in my brain; never piss off a vampire. Even good ones can go bad. I used this to my advantage. I started to walk away again, despite Marco gripping my arm.

He gripped it tighter and twisted it as he tried to pull me back. I yelped in pain, and before I knew it, I was on the ground, and Caleb had Marco by the neck. His eyes glowed red, and he bared his fangs like an angered wolf. I had never seen him like that. I grinned, holding my injured arm.

Morgyn ran over and helped me up. I went with him back over toward the building. He immediately started using magic to heal my arm, which had been broken in the struggle.

Caleb held his stance, gripping Marco, who was completely terrified. He kept his voice low, but hoarse, and angry. “If you even attempt to harm her, I will expose you and all you’ve done to everyone.” His eyes returned to dark gray, but he still didn’t waiver. “You can’t kill everyone at once, now can you?”

I grinned. I was hoping a moment like this would happen. Though, I didn’t really understand what he was talking about. Expose Marco? For what? We all knew he ran a tight ship, and could be downright cruel. He ruled with fear. But what would Caleb expose him for?”

Marco shook his head. “Okay, okay,” he said.

Caleb let him down and gave him a menacing grin. “And remember, vampires are much harder to kill.”

“R-right, right. Yeah.” Marco agreed, holding his neck.

Caleb walked over to me, his expression softened. “Are you alright?”

I nodded. “Yeah.” I grinned at Marco. “And how about you?”

He scowled, but didn’t say anything. His actions had already been exposed by his own doing. The whole crowd of people he attracted stared at him in disgust. His face twisted into anger. “I demand to know how you couldn’t be heard!”

I walked over to him. “Magic,” I whispered.

“What kind of magic?” He demanded.

“You wouldn’t believe me anyway,” I grinned. “After all, I’m a liar.”

He growled. He started to walk away, but looked back. “I expect you back at the HQ.”

My eyes widened. Really? And, alone?

Morgyn narrowed his eyes, approaching Marco and stopping directly in front of him. “I think she will be staying with us tonight.” He looked Marco up and down. “You can’t be trusted right now.”

“Are you speaking out?” Marco grinned.

Morgyn got noticeably nervous. “No,” he said. “Simply making an observation.” He grinned menacingly back at Marco. “But even if I was, do you plan to execute me in front of all of these people? Especially now that they’ve seen how you are?”

Marco looked around nervously. The crowd of people glared at him.

“Convinced?” Morgyn asked, weaving a small ball of magic between his fingertips. I noticed he fidgeted like that when he was nervous. He was acting confident, but his fidgets didn’t lie.

Marco growled again, angered because he was being backed into a corner. I grinned a little. This was entertaining to watch. I was really glad that I had decided to visit Caleb and Morgyn that night.

“I expect all of you to report to me tomorrow morning!” He raged, pointing maniacally at Caleb, then Morgyn, then me. His finger lingered on me the longest. A chill ran down my spine. He had several hours to plan what he was going to do to us. We needed a plan as well.

As Marco stomped away, Morgyn sighed deeply. I hugged him.

“You’re awesome,” I smiled at him. “And thank you.”

Caleb hugged us as well. “I agree. That was pretty badass.”

We chatted a little bit, calming Morgyn down. We headed inside to go to sleep. I missed them. I was happy to finally be back home.

Chapter Five (click here)