The Evil Queen

Secret Mistake

Light poured in through the window in the far east side of the room, making everything warm and white. Just like she had seen in her vision, she sat up right so fast she felt dizzy. She looked around once she gained her bearings. Dax was gone, and her chain was secured to the frame of the bed. Quickly she dressed, Dax returned as she was fighting with the laces of the corset. Without so much as a glance Dax had crossed the room and began to lace her dress. He was tightening it so vigorously she was having trouble breathing. "Dax, not so tight." An irritated sigh escaped him, "It's not." The air about him was thick with tension. After the finished tying the corset he dropped his hands loudly to his legs. Then turned to look at him, his expression was indifferent. "What's wrong?" He looked at her bitterly, "Nothing, I'm having some food delivered to the room from a bakery. I got you these, I don't know how you use them." He held out four metal pins adorned with pearls. "Thank you."

Walking over to the bed he pulled the covers up and sat down roughly. He pulled a book she hadn't seen before off the stand next to him and started to read. She realized she was staring at him when he asked, "Are you going to do something with your hair?" he continued reading without glancing up. She jilted slightly and walked to the mirror and intently braided her hair into a long rope she wound about her head. Pinning it securely in a circular crown about her head. As she placed the last pin she glanced up in the mirror to see Dax's eyes fixed intensely on her. As she turned to say how he was acting intolerable a sharp pain shot though her head. Blinded by darkness and immense pain Theo fell to the floor clutching her head. She wanted to scream, if fact if she could have she would have screamed until her lungs burst. The pain starved the necessary actions needed to make a scream. Gasping she couldn't even open her eyes, tears poured down her cheeks, spilling on to the floor.

"Theo!?" She felt Dax lift her onto the bed and then he, the bed, the room, all of it was gone. First everything was black, then slowly a face came into focus. Bergamot, he was smiling and holding his hand out to her. Her heart ached, "Ashcroft!" He smiled at her as she tried to walk to him she felt a tug on her arm, she looked back. Dax was holding her, his face stony and fixed on Bergamot. Then Algar appeared behind Bergamot, sword pulled. "Algar! No!" She screamed. They chased Bergamot, forcing him to the caves. Theo screamed, telling him it was a trap. Bergamot turned to fight, targeting Dax. As they scrapped Dax lost his footing and fell into a cavern. Theo screamed, at that moment Bergamot was distracted just long enough for Algar to attack. Theo saw a blur, something wrong, suddenly Algar ran Bergamot through with the blade. Neither man expected and wore expressions of shock. Theo could hear herself scream again.

Screaming again she saw Dax, his face pulled into a hard expression of concern. Algar was bleeding into a wash basin somewhere, smiling in triumph. It felt like her head was going to split open at any moment. Barwick was at the door of their room in the moonlight. Dagger drawn he opened the door and leaped on to the bed slashing and stabbing. Blood covered the floor and walls.

More screams as she sat up. She was pouring sweat, her heart pounded in her head. Dax was drained of all color, looking more terrified than even she felt. His hand came up gingerly and touched her cheek lightly, "Theo? Can you hear me?" Slowly she felt herself blink, "I....know...what ....the....fae...did." She gasped in sharply and let it out shakily. Dax was frozen, "What?" "I saw everything, clearly." Sitting back Dax looked at her to continue. "Both, yours and Algar's. I'm connected to you both at the same time somehow." There was a light rapping at the door. As Dax glided across the room Theo jumped, "NO!" it was too late.

The delivery man for the bakery was a half-man, and he looked as startled as Dax. Two sets of blue eyes were fixed on her. One looked at her like she had lost it, the other a hidden fear. Dax paid the man and mumbled about his mind sick friend and closed the door. "Theo!" He chided, "What is wrong?" She shook her head, "We have to leave here." Dax shook his head, "We can't, Algar will be here soon." She put her hand on his, "Dax, Barwick will be here in the night, he will kill us both." Dax was beyond confused, "Who the hell is Barwick?" "Bergamot's minion, Dax, we have to leave!" Dax face tightened as he sorted her words, "Why would your husband's men kill you?" Her eyes widened, "Dax I don't know, but he will. And he is dangerous, we have to go!" Standing abruptly and pacing Dax was thinking hard, finally he stopped and sat beside her. "Okay, I know somewhere we can go. Algar should head there if he can't find me. I believe you." He picked something out of the rag the half-man had brought, "Now, do you want a bun?"