Sorceress of Sentien

Chapter 15 Part 1

Ella awoke to Beelzor staring at her. She felt Bushfur's warm body against the back of her neck, and it comforted her, but she still shivered. She turned her head to avoid the gaze of the terrifying man across from her, but that didn't stop her from feeling his eyes on her. It made her skin crawl just to think about it.

"How did you sleep?" He asked, almost as if he was amused by the whole scenario.

She felt Bushfur stir as she shifted in her seat, refusing to answer. She sensed the eyes that had haunted her dreams stare intently at her now. Ella didn't have to see them to know what they looked like. It was unnerving. Ella wished that she could distract herself by looking out the window, but it was shut and the curtains drawn for privacy.

"We shall be in only each other's company for a few days," the Duke said nonchalantly. "Get your silence done now."

She tried to not visibly roll her eyes, but it took a great deal of effort.

Beelzor signaled to the driver to stop so that both could relieve themselves. He coerced her with his ability to manipulate and commanded her to return as soon as she finished her business.

Ella hurried to get immediately out of his sight. As soon as she knew she was out of sight, she slowed down to an ambling walk. "He said to hurry once I've finished," she whispered to Bushfur, "He didn't say to hurry it all."

Bushfur didn't respond, so Ella scouted for a good enough place to relieve herself. She stood after cleaning herself and briefly contemplated running deeper into the forest. Her vision fogged, and it cleared as she entered the carriage. She shook her head to try and remember anything she had seen on her way back to the carriage, but it was just fog.

They stopped two more times for meals and rests during the remainder of the day, but otherwise the horses were kept at a constant speed, putting as much distance between the castle and themselves as possible.

Ella tried to pretend to sleep that night as they continued onward toward Calinor. She assumed that was where he was taking her, since it was his own territory. She stole some glances at him during the night. His cravat was slightly askew as it had been loosened for comfort, but everything else was in order as if they weren't spending days in a carriage.

You shouldn't have run, Bushfur spoke in her head after his own silence all day.

What else could I have done? Jon was being insufferable, Ella responded. It's not like I knew His Grace was the one I was avoiding.

Bushfur went silent again, and Ella could only hope he was sleeping instead of holding a grudge against her. She closed her eyes hoping to catch a little sleep before the sun arose. She dozed, but woke as soon as the sun was rising. She used the lightening glow in the carriage to take in every part of the man sitting across from her.

"See anything you like?"

The voice startled her, causing her to turn away with a blush.

"Another day of silence?" He straightened his cravat. "Or perhaps you would like answers to some of your questions."

Ella glanced at him, trying to decide whether to speak or not.

"Take all the time you need. We are still a ways out." He pulled the curtain nearest to him away from the window just a sliver so he could gauge how far they had come.

Ella blurted out, "Why haven't you forced yourself upon me? You could easily use your power to do so. How did you get your power? What do you want with me?"

Beelzor smiled, enjoying the exchange immensely. "There is the curious maiden. I was wondering when curiosity would win over anger."

Ella huffed and folded her arms as she leaned back against the carriage. "Are you going to answer or not?"

"I will, my dear," he pulled the curtain aside to let the light in. "Though I will not answer all of them, nor will I answer them as I'm sure you would wish." He stroked his goatee thoughtfully as he sat for a moment. "I have not taken advantage, because I have been instructed not to, besides the fact that you are worth more with your purity intact."

"Who commanded you? Who are you working for?" Ella went cold at the thought that he was working for someone else.

"That, my dear, is for me to know, and you to find out at a later date." He gazed at her as if to decide whether or not to continue in answering her questions. "As for how I got my power and what you are wanted for, I can tell you some things. You are a very important person for these times. I'm sure you've heard something of the great magical woman that will rule this land."

Ella stared at him with a scowl marring her features, but she did not respond.

"I was born with my abilities. My mother was half fae, leaving me with a small amount of magic. My father fell in love with her, whether on his own or under her spell, I do not know. He never spoke ill of her. She died when I was a child, but she was able to teach me a small portion of magic. After her death was when I found my ability to manipulate others so as to be able to get my way."

As he went on, Ella silently turned away, she had never known her mother. It hurt that she might never find or get to know her mother.

A/N:

I know it's been a long while since updating. Honestly, I have no motivation for much of anything right now, and it's horrible. I'm going to try to publish a little more regularly, but I will likely do more with my Confessions of a Draculaholic, since that's mostly just editing.

Thank you for reading! As always, I would love to hear any thoughts you have! <3