Vampyre: Desire Immortal

Chapter 25

Jewel of Megara

O but could we know what lies ahead!

O but would it not be better to lie among the dead?

*****

It was like a dream, she thought, looking out of her chamber window. I was such a fool to believe my happiness would go on forever. Such a fool. The Queen bowed her head and wept silently.

*****

Andolin was growing up to be quite a marvelous little boy. The Queen could not help but smile each time she saw him. How could the spirits have blessed her so? The child was witty, bright, intelligent and inquisitive. The King could not be happier. For his part, he promised her half of the kingdom for giving him such a fine and handsome heir.

If she had not known the secret of his birth, she would have sworn that only the blue blood of royalty flowed in his veins. How was it possible that peasant blood pulsed in such a wonderful child?

Perdix had confided in her that the child was from outside the castle walls. She had seen the filth and squalor of those villages on her few travels over the years. She shuddered, fingering a piece of exquisite silk that had just arrived from the Orient. Her astrologer had visited her only a few moments before.

If only the gods would shine on him always, she thought. She twisted the exotic material into a tight knot. A fingernail broke, but she took no heed. She stared out the castle window to the bustling scenes of life below.

Even though the sun had barely risen, people were already working. A woman was picking vegetables from the garden inside the castle walls. The blacksmith's hammer was pounding loudly. Cattle lowed. A maid exited the barn with a brimming bucket of milk. A man was trying his best to coax a lively stallion into a stall.

Her fingers twisted the silken knot tighter still.

The stars could only hint at the coming disaster. The portents and warnings were there, but they were cloaked in the hidden mysteries of the future. Nobody had been able to decode the black omens. She had consulted many wizards and astrologers far and wide. They only looked at her with despairing eyes. What could she do to stop the inevitable, she wondered?

There was a knock on the door. The pale maid burst in, breathless and as gray as a ghost.

The look on the woman's face caused the Queen to utter, "No."

She ran by the maid, charging for the chambers where the young prince slept.

"He is not here," she exclaimed. "What have you done with him? Tell me. Where is he?"

"He is gone," said Perdix, who sat in a dark corner on a small stool.

"Are you mad?" the Queen cried. "Why didn't you stop this?"

"I tried," said the alchemist. "I came at once, Your Majesty. But the boy's bed was already empty."

"Where is he? Where? You must know," she said.

Perdix rose from the squat stool and stood before the Queen.

They heard the bustle and chaos of the King shouting orders to his knights. A search would begin. Every inch of Megara would be turned over, and no one would rest until the prince was found.

"The King will have our heads for this," said the Queen. "Go out and help them search. Bring the boy back home to me."

"It is no use," said Perdix.

The look in his eyes told the Queen that the alchemist was speaking Truth.

"He is dead," she said flatly.

"He has been stolen," said Perdix. "He is Ichor's now."

The Queen collapsed before him.

"I should have let them kill me," she said.

"Do not speak so," he said.

"To have listened to Dyryke was my downfall! He made it sound so perfect! So easy! Now look! And I have no one to blame but myself!"

"Come," said Perdix.

He handed her the precious stone she had given him.

"This belongs to you," he said. "I return it to its rightful owner. My Queen!"

She placed her pale hand inside his. He helped her up.

"Help me, Perdix. I don't want to die."