A Hymn of Snakes

ELEVEN

      Ithe in control felt like sleeping and everything I felt was a dream, that including the angry face Alex refused to hide. "You aren't Delia." He whispered between his lips as he tried to lung out at Ithe. Holstien grabbed the Prince's shoulder as the peacemaker pulled him back. Ithe didn't flinch as she watched them argue, she simply turned on her heel as she snapped away.

As we sought out the witches, Ithe explained what she wanted to Alex. One thing was clear, Ithe hated Alex and had no intention of keeping him alive. Her mind warped with mine as she turned the corner and headed down a stairwell. "I'm her little pet as some of you think, but we will have time to talk later- we need to find those witches." She offered her head but as Alex stalked behind my body, I could feel her bloodlust. Her intent to kill drug my mind through it's grave. I tried to reach out back into control but the shadows pulled me back again. "Quit fighting me, I'll give your body back once I'm done." She snapped at me with a hiss in her throat.

Alex spoke again and I could feel Ithe's irritation. It was cold in the darkness but not entirely lonely, as the shadows held me with warmth. "You're possessing her." He spat as my body darted down the first floor of the castle.

Ithe smiled, "Momentarily yes. She's in control, I just have the steering wheel." She was tempted to destroy him from the inside out, she knew the both of us were slowly slipping away from one another. Through a hallway, there was a door in the darkness. Where firelight seeped from the bottom of the cracks, Ithe placed her hand on the wood. "Where does this lead?" She asked the Prince but he didn't look like he was going to comply with Ithe's questioning.

The peacemaker stepped forward and answered in his place, "It's an empty hall, it used to be the King's treasury." Ithe seemed to grow to like Holstien, but for some God forgiven reason she hated Alex. Like a feral cat. Ithe stepped away as Alex grabbed the doorknob but pulled back as pain seethed through his arm. Like a scorned burn, Ithe and I watched as it healed back up.

Ithe laughed but that only pissed off Alex even more, she crossed my arms over her chest as she studied Alex's every movement. The shadow fought the urge to kill him, "The door has been spelled shut, you won't be able to open it." She confessed, slowly she slipped away and I yelled from the top of my lungs. She made a list of ways to kill everyone, but she wouldn't do it and I was confused to why. Unless- an idea pointed from my skin. I called Ithe's name and told her I wanted my body back. Just to see if my theory was right on the dot. "Well, I'm being called away- goodbye boys." She gave a little wave with my hand and my soul was sucked back into my body. A sharp deep breathe purged my lungs as I blinked the exhaustion away in my eyes.

The Prince grabbed my arm, his grasp caused me to pull away. Twisting my skin as Holstien didn't move. I pulled the hilt of my blade from the holster, preparing myself for the war to come. "What the hell was that?" He asked and I wished Alex wouldn't touch me like that, I wished he would let me go. The blade ran down my arm as I grasped the edge with my hand.

I didn't have to give him an answer but the guilt swarmed up to the top of my chest. "She's my shadow," Was all I said as a thought escaped my mind, I looked back to Alex for a quick moment. "If you go in are you going to be able to control your bloodlust?" I asked as his mouth hung open. Shock filled Alex's face, he must have thought I couldn't see it in him. He was an idiot if he didn't think I would notice. Holstien looked at the Prince too, we cornered him as he dropped his eyes to the floor. Scoffing as he tried to think up an answer, but he was too slow for me. "Tell me right now, this will get bloody and I will not be the cause of your lost sanity." Ithe commented in the back of my head, she thought he was going to lie to me... and I had no doubt in my mind that he would.

"I'll stay behind but you're not going in alone." Alex finally gave in with good reason.

I met the peacemaker's eyes, he cracked his knuckles in anticipation. That was the one thing no one knew about Holstien, he may look like nothing more than a politician. However, he was a soldier at heart, killing people never bothering him. He was stronger than the average Vampire when it came to his bloodlust, I never had to worry about him. "I won't be, I have Holstien and Ithe." I told him and Alex's confused face met mine.