Mad Woman Rambles

Thank you to everyone for your patience. Life came and smacked me in the face these past few weeks. Between work, health issues, and funerals, I have been busy. I hope this post will grant me a little forgiveness. Enjoy!

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The room swam as I was thrown back into it. I rubbed my palms over my eyes to stop the spinning as I tried to center myself.

“Well?!” Korbin asked expectantly. I heard him, as opposed to seeing him, as my equilibrium righted itself. Slowly. ‘Cheese and crackers, what was in that shift?’ I thought.

“Kalti,” came Gaia’s response, and then a moment later, the door opened and closed. I blink as light and color settle into familiar shapes. I looked towards the closed door and then back to the empty chair in front of me.  

“Wha—” I start, but stop when I see Nathan standing by the desk, deep in thought. “Where is Ga–, the Oath Breaker?” I ask, my voice sounding harsh. My throat is scratchy and dry as if I swallowed a bunch of sand. I clear my throat as something cool and wet is placed in my hand. I look up to see Korbin standing over me, a glass of water in my hand, his hand having not released it until I acknowledged it.

I nodded my head and took a sip. The water cooled my throat as it’s life giving essence flowed down my throat. Grateful didn’t cover the feeling I was having at being somewhere familiar as I hung my head and stared at the carpet beneath my feet. I let all of what I learned cycle through my head as Korbin’s hand stroked me, comforting and simple.

Not everyone’s touch was welcomed, but his touch was a balm. He knew how to shield against me so that there wasn’t any transfer of memories, visions, or feelings. The only time we ever shared anything was when he fed off of me. Those moments were carefully curated for my viewing pleasure. He held space for me to scan my thoughts for what I could recall.

The fae princess showed me what happened with her brother and the vampire. Coming back to my shop only to find Mallec waiting for me. Mallec is bringing me to Fairy and the dark woods. Jona being there… They argued? No, that can’t be right… Can it? Jona and I are back in his room… He was supposed to tell me something about drugs? Him leaving through the window. I can’t think… Wait! He was involved in the drug trade with the vampires?! I think.

I look up as Korbin says, “It’s a myth. She’s a myth,” rounding on Nathan.

“You don’t know that. You are too young,” Nathan stated dismissively. “My father had stories of her and the plague her army was.” Nathan got into Korbin’s face. “So don’t tell me what I know to be true.” Korbin hissed at the bold fae prince.

I didn’t think I had the energy to stop a fight between the two magical beings. My temples pulsed with the beating of my heart. My vision blurred slightly as I continued to stare at my toes. It felt as if my life force drained out of the soles of my feet, pooling on the carpet. Fortunately, I didn’t have to intervene. A whirlwind named Marcus tore through the room as the door exploding inward announced his arrival. He stood facing both men, jaw clenched.

“Stand down,” the forceful command came through gritted teeth. His canines were slightly extended. When neither man moved, a growl emanated from Marcus. “I won’t say it again.”

Nathan eyed Marcus while still keeping an eye on Korbin. He didn’t get to his rank and age by being stupid. With a tightening jaw, he turned back to Korbin and smirked as he took a couple of steps back. Korbin mirrored his movements until he stood just a hairsbreadth from me. I released the breath I hadn’t realized I had been holding.

‘Thank the gods,’ I thought as my shoulders sagged. I could kiss Marcus right now. Okay, maybe not right now. I don’t think I can stand at the moment. Meaning further movement was out of the question.

“I have better things to be doing aside from babysitting mature, old beings. Explain,” Marcus said matter-of-factly as if he was scolding unruly children.

Nathan crossed his arms. “The Oath Breaker brought Krystal back.”

“And?” Marcus asked, clearly annoyed because he could see I was back.

“She said she could only bring back part of her memory,” Korbin began. “Then she said the name, Kalti, and left.” Marcus went utterly still. Still, like the ancient vampires had a tendency to do when they were performing at being human.

“Are you sure?” Marcus asked. Needing confirmation, he looked to me.

“Tell us,” He said, no question, just an order. If it had been anyone else, I would have bristled. Vamps could be so pushy, but Marcus was different. He was only pushy when it mattered, and apparently, knowing what I remembered was important.

I hesitate, looking over to Korbin and then to Nathan, then back to Marcus, and nod. After a deep breath, I relate all that I learned through the mind walk. With each new fact, I remembered more. My body was flooded with emotions threatening to drown me as I relived each moment. Both Korbin and Nathan shifted and shot glances at one another, while Marcus’s focus was all on me.

My back went rigid when the realization dawned on me of how Jona had used me. He was the one who allowed me to be taken and thrown into that dungeon with its dark, dank walls and creepy crawlies skittering throughout the space.  My breath caught in my throat as Korbin winced when I spoke about my captivity. Not knowing why I was there. Not knowing when I would be released. The feeling of helplessness draped around my shoulders like a wet blanket.

‘Never again.’ I would not let anyone imprison me. Not like that. Not knowing what was going on. I felt violated by the intrusion into my mind. My memories were ripped from me. Pieces of me lost for gods knew how long.  When I finished, I couldn’t look at any of them. My palms began to sweat, and my breath was coming to me like I needed it to.

“Krystal, look, I know what my uncle did wasn’t the wisest thing to do, but he had no choice,” Nathan’s voice cut through the rising panic. It amplified this feeling that threatened to suffocate me. I can’t do this. I thought I could, but I can’t. Raising my head, I looked at each man as they discussed something. No, not something. They were discussing me.

“No more,” I said under my breath, but I know they heard me. I shook my head as my hands found my armpits to hide the tremble. ‘They want to send you back. Look at them, discussing you as if you aren’t even here. Won’t be long now,’ the voice in my head whispered.  

The three men swayed, or at least it felt like they had. The room stilled, then shifted again. I took a deep breath as the walls inched closer. My breath puffed out of my parted lips. ‘I need to move before they close in. I can’t be in the dark,’ the thought spirals in my mind. Round and round as the ceiling dropped closer like the walls. Everything in this room was determined to keep me here. My heart humps louder and faster like a hummingbird.

‘Move, Krystal, move before the darkness comes,’ the voice in my head demands. A chair clatters to the floor, and I don’t have time to see what is happening around me. My feet trip, but I manage to keep my balance as my vision focuses on the door. The door that had been so close looked to be 50 feet away from me now. I could have sworn it was closer. ‘Move, move. Move,’ the voice calls louder, fighting the thunder of my heartbeat in my ears. All I can see is the door; nothing else registers in my line of sight. Just get to the door, and then I can leave this place, these monst– men, and go home. ‘All I want is to go home. Home is safe.’

“Krystal,” Korbin’s voice cuts through the noise. His command is soft but holds the power of a Master over his… his… ‘his what? His lover, his friend, his food, his prisoner? What was I to him? Why was I even here? He doesn’t owe me any protection. I am not his to protect.’

“Cricket,” Korbin implores, his tone softer this time as his face fills my vision, blocking me from the door. From my escape. My heartbeat races even as his cool touch tries to smother my panic. I feel him sigh because my eyes refuse to focus on anything but the door behind him. “Don’t make me do this, ma cherie.” He pleads as he stares at me. Something in my face must have clued him in to my state of mind. “Putain.” He swore under his breath.

My eyes fly to his baby blues, but I quickly look away. I knew that word. ‘No, no, no. He wouldn’t. Not after all, I told him. Not after how he held me captive. He would use his gifts on me. Not when I just want to go home.’

“You promised,” I whispered, which came out more as a whine than anything. I shook my head and pushed against his broad chest in vain. It was like pushing against steel. He murmured French apologies only I could hear as he coaxed me to look him in the eyes. Those icy depths captured me as soon as I relented, drawing me deep down into the freezing darkness. “You prom—” I didn’t get to finish before the world disappeared.  

****

“She will be fine,” Marcus’s clipped tone broke through the blackness I floated in. “What set her off?”

“Not sure,” Korbin sighed. “We were all here trying to figure out what to do about what she and the Oath Breaker said,” Korbin explained, his French accent heavy on his breath. He was angry, and I wasn’t sure why. Both vampires were very angry, in fact. Waves of angst and suppressed rage simmered under the surface of their skins, heating the air around us. I cough because I feel suffocated by their unrestrained emotions.

“Cricket,” Korbin breathed as I tried to sit up. Tried being the operative word. The room swam, and I moaned as I lay back down with Marcus hovering over me like the mother hen he was.

“What happened?” I ask as Marcus’s touch on my overheated forehead cools me down to my toes. I need to learn that trick. Considering he was able to do it without transferring any of his feelings, emotions, or memories to me in the process. I would say he was good at shielding, but Marcus had always been a safe space. A being I could touch when I wasn’t able to control my gifts. He was definitely my favorite vampire in the room right now.

“You passed out after you told us what you and the Oath Breaker uncovered,” another voice piped up. Nathan. Crap! He saw me freak out. He must have thought I was trying to get away from him because of Jona. I mean, I was trying to get away, but not completely because of Jona. Oh, he would pay for coercing me and leaving me in that dungeon. I just can’t remember exactly how I got out. I damn sure wasn’t going back there.

“Settle, Krystal,” Marcus said, placing his hand on my arm, rubbing it slightly to ease my anxiety. “You aren’t going anywhere. Least of all, back to Fairy.” He proclaimed to the room. The authority Marcus wielded belied his position in the Kiss. I had a hunch he was older and more powerful than Korbin, but they were both tight-lipped about his origins.

“No, she isn’t going to Fairy. She isn’t a threat to us anymore,” Nathan declared to everyone in the room. “In fact, we owe you an apology.” Nathan moved from his place by the desk, closer to me. Or at least as close as Marcus and Korbin would let him get to me. “Krystal, I apologize on behalf of the Crown. Most importantly, I apologize on behalf of my family.”

He walked back to the desk and picked up an item lying on top of its surface. An item that had not been there or in the room before I passed out.

Turning back to me, he said, “In fact, my uncle is so apologetic he has granted you a boon. A favor to be called in at a later time.” He finished walking back over and handed me a silver… twig?

“A twig?” I questioned. “Wait, when did you talk to your uncle?” curiosity getting the better of me.

Nathan’s lips twitched into a half smile. “The twig is the old symbol of my uncle’s court. Break it when you want to call in that favor. Say what you want out loud. If it is within his power to grant it is yours.” He explained, stopping by a chair and picking up his suit jacket as he readied himself to leave.

“What about Jona?” Korbin’s clipped words sizzled the air with their heat. “He is the reason for all of this. Does he go unpunished for his crimes?”

“No, no, he doesn’t,” Nathan replied, leveling Korbin with a look. “With the information we were able to glean from Krystal’s recovered memories, we at least know where to look.”

Nathan looked to Marcus and to me before returning his gaze to Korbin. “We have a bigger problem to contend with, but I need to speak with the council before I can share what we know,” Nathan said as he headed for the door.

“What other problem?” I asked, still feeling the effects of Korbin’s powers.  Korbin glanced at me but didn’t approach. Marcus was in his way, and some part of me thought that may have been by design. Anger radiated off of Marcus. He straightened to his full height. Even though he was a few inches shorter than the other two men in the room, he commanded it. He took up space. He only did that when he was pissed. He was really pissed off right now.

“Kalti,” Nathan replied, looking away from Marcus, turning his focus back to me. “Mallec is trying to find her.” All the anger left him, and briefly, the stench of fear wafted off him before he closed the crack in his shield.

“Who?” I asked.

“A bigger problem than supernatural drugs,” Marcus muttered as Nathan nodded and left the room.

“Well, frack,” I responded.