The Inured Villainess

Chapter 40

I reappear outside, the space around me is flat.

A wide area above the castle that sits like a large terrance. Four tall lampposts are posted at each corner.

The center beheld a large statue of a robed figure holding a scepter. A crown sit on top of the man's head.

The sorcerer king's original appearance.

Below the statue is an intricately drawn magic circle. Its size is immense but that doesn't make me shudder.

What does it what it drawn in.

Blood.

It stains the ground, creating a masterpiece that makes my nose itch. The stench of metal.

He then shoves my body to the ground where Alastair is.

"Watch them, make sure she doesn't do anything." My father commands the ghost knight before turning and walking to the circle. There four sorcerers stand waiting for him.

I hiss as my palms scrape against the stone floor from the shove.

"Mother." Alastair moves closer to me.

"Alastair." I bring him into my arms, ignoring my bleeding hands. "Don't worry, I'll find a way out of here."

"Please don't do anything dangerous, Mother." He lifts his head to look at me. "I don't want you to get hurt."

"I know but I don't want you hurt either." I then casually scan the area around us.

A wolf and ghost knight are guarding us. Along with another monster that I haven't seen.

A large snake.

It is spiraled up to my right in a resting position. Its eyes are closed and I'm grateful.

To my left I see the wolf step closer to us. I pull Alastair to the side, hiding him slightly behind my back.

The wolf's brown eyes are fixed on me—or on my hands.

The blood on them. It is fresher than the one drawn on the ground.

It sets its front paws even closer, about two feet away from me.

"You can't kill me," I state. "My fa—your leader hasn't given you the order to."

The wolf only stares as if I were its next meal before lowering its head. It sniffs my hands. Its evil veil dancing towards me.

I try not to flinch as its tongue touches my hands, lapping up the blood. Tasting its meal before the feast.

The evil shroud disperses, my skin absorbing it.

"Help. Help us."

My eyes go wide.

They talk to me. Again.

"Help you?" I whisper, glancing around to see if anyone else can hear. "How can I help you?"

Alastair looks over my shoulder at the wolf. "Mother, is it speaking to you?"

"Yes, it's telling me to help it." I glance further away where my father is, talking to the sorcerers.

If the monsters can speak to me, there must be more going on than I know.

I gently touch the wolf's snout. "I'll help you if you help me. Help us escape."

A hiss from my right makes me turn my head. The snake has awoken and its eyes are fixed on me.

The grey wolf growls at the snake which only hisses back, slithering its head towards us.

I glance between the wolf and the snake. "Alastair, I'm going to try something. Keep an eye on the knight."