Chapter 18 - An Even Exchange

4K 430 110
                                    

The door to the crypt was open and Erdo slowed his pace to see if anyone was in the tunnels with him.  He was the first one out of his tomb, slamming the door back even as the sun blinked below the hillside.  Mariposa hadn't passed him.  That could only mean one thing.

He stepped into her small vault and found it empty as he suspected. Blankets and a pillow littered the bed.  The damn Queen must have brought them from her apartment when she stayed with her.  His temper flared.  He never would have allowed the pampering of his pet had he known about it.  He looked through her things.  Everything seemed to be there...

"Nooo!" Erdo roared at the top of his lungs.  He was sure his voice reached the furthest walls of the castle.  He wanted everyone to know he was coming. 

The box in which Mariposa kept the dust and debris from the Man's apartment was empty.  She was gone and had taken it.  Vampires could survive without their burial dirt, and after sleeping in the same place for an extended period could even create a substitute, but it was an uncomfortable process.  If it was gone, that meant she wasn't coming back.

"Aaaarrr!" he screamed.  He picked up her wooden chest and slammed it against the wall, sending her meager belongings flying about the room.  Grabbing the small dresser, he smashed it again and again on the ground until it was a pile of rubbish.  The thatch pallet, blankets, and pillow he ripped to pieces with his bare hands.  The cave looked like the aftermath of a tornado. 

Erdo turned on his heel and stomped out into the pitch-black tunnels.  His feet hit the orange earth like sledge hammers.  He threw a fist into a row of skulls piled against a wall as he passed.  He wanted his pet.  She was always by his side if she wasn't with the Queen.  He needed her.  Up the stairs and through the halls he stormed to the banquet hall.  The bitch had better be there. 

"Where is she?" he bellowed as he entered the room.

The Queen was dressed in her finest royal attire, the color matching her aquamarine eyes, her hair artfully arranged over one shoulder.  She looked stunning.  He hated that her beauty had the ability to stop him in his tracks.  That's why he needed his pet. 

"Where is she?" Erdo repeated.

Madison smiled.  He ignored the shifting in his trousers.  He wanted to strangle her and the thought only aroused him more.

"Come sit beside me, Sire."

He took two steps, flying to the far side of the table where Madison sat.  He wrapped his fingers around her neck and lifted her up off the chair, crashing her back violently onto the table. He squeezed until he heard the bones in her neck crack.  She twisted to the side, angling his hold so it weakened his grip.  An arm came out of nowhere and threaded under his.  She used her other hand to leverage her strength and pushed his hands off her neck.  He felt two quick blows to the face before she raised her leg and kneed him in the crotch.

Erdo threw her to the floor as he doubled over.  "Dammit," he panted.  "Where the fück is Mariposa?"

Collecting herself, Madison brushed the wrinkles out of her dress. 

Erdo rose into a standing position and that's when he noticed the guards had advanced in the room.  Had they moved into position to protect him or the Queen?  Taking the chance the guards might side with her was foolish.  These men would be gone by the morning.

Madison made no pretense of misunderstanding.  "I don't know."

"Her burial dirt is gone.  You did this. You took her away from me."

"I had nothing to do with it."

Thinking about it, he realized he'd been so busy entertaining the Premieres last night he hadn't noticed she was missing.  The last time he saw her was getting off the plane.  "I haven't seen her in two nights.  I checked her crypt and she wasn't there at sunset.  Where is she?"

"I already told you--I don't know."

"Don't play games with me.  I want my pet back, now!"  The she-vamp narrowed her eyes.  "I swear if you don't tell me where she is you'll be very sorry."

"Don't threaten me," Madison said, laced with icy contempt.  Did she really think she could talk to him like that?

"I gave you a chance, Scarlet.  This will be on your head." 

Walking towards the door, he heard her call his name.  "Erdo.  I'm warning you.  If you do anything rash there will be consequences.  I'm sure you wish to sit by my side after the coronation."

Shaking his head, he ignored the comment.  Exiting the room he called for the guards.  He was ready to burn the world down.  "I want every inch of this castle searched for Mariposa.  I don't care what you have to do to find her--but do it!"

If the Queen thought she could take away his most precious toy she was mistaken.  Stepping into his office, he closed the door, pulled out his phone and hit the number on his speed dial.

"Sire." Paolo answered.

"Mariposa is missing.  Use your connections to see if she's left the area.  I want the manifests of the local airports checked, and the workers at the train stations and bus terminals questioned with her picture.  And Paolo, the men you sent last week to watch the Queen's children, I want them back on her brood again.  Find out if one of them is hiding Mariposa.  Then I want Ethan's fang-friend and Scarlet's fück-buddy eliminated.  Do you hear me?!  I want them dead!" he screamed into the phone.

"I'll take care of it, Sire."

The line disconnected and he slammed the phone onto the desk, crushing it into pieces.  Now let's see how she likes it when something valuable is taken away from her.

*

Pulling the comforter up around her neck, Mariposa snuggled deeper into the bed.  It was the best day rest she'd ever had.  She was surrounded by softness and fresh smelling linen.  The evening brought promise, so unlike the grim reality she faced only a few days prior.

Her only disappointment upon waking was to find Ethan gone from the bed.  He hadn't left her though.  She thought she could hear his fingers gently tapping on his phone.  How glorious would it have been to open her eyes and see him sleeping beside her?

Her heart swelled when she thought about how kind he had been.  He watched over her, made sure she was fed, and provided this magnificent shelter.  He'd almost kissed her last night and he called her sweetheart.  She smiled in the darkness.  Could Ethan be the man she dreamed he would be?  Could she trust him?  At every turn, he tried to make her feel comfortable, both physically and emotionally.  She wasn't so afraid of him now.  And he wasn't as demanding as he once was.  She was...happy.  It was an odd feeling.  Old insecurities rushed in the door.  She tried to dismiss them.  Ethan wouldn't turn on her like the Man or Erdo.

She could feel the sun's hold on her release like rough rope unwinding from her body.  When the final tether released she scrambled out of the tent.  Ethan was sitting in the chair in the corner working on his phone as she thought.  He looked up at her and his face darkened.

Fear replaced happiness and the earth dropped below her feet.

__________

Author's Note: Thank you for reading, voting and commenting on my story. I can't express how much I appreciate your input. I am so grateful to have such wonderful followers.

Sacrifice (Book 2)Where stories live. Discover now