Darkly Devoted (Book 1, 2, 3)

DB Chapter 4 - Someone Else's Boyfriend

Chapter 4

ALLISON HADN'T PLANNED to die that day. But she never felt as helpless as when Lysander Winther stepped into Sulia Palace. Lysander's henchmen gathered all the Handmaidens in the main hall and demanded to speak to Maglania. That was impossible as Maglania had slipped into a deep, unarousable sleep not long after Allison's conversation with her.

Allison was lucky enough to receive a warning in advance that the Winthers were close. She had escaped to the gardens before they arrived. She crept about the grounds of the palace wearing a plain black cloak instead of her usual furs and gem-colored silk dresses.

Lysander threatened to kill a Handmaiden for every hour that Maglania hides from view. Allison knew his demand was impossible. Maglania had slipped into an unresponsive state late last night. Without Maglania Sarastri, the Handmaidens and the vampiric sentinels were like toy soldiers waiting to be knocked off by the next usurper of Aethon.

A pair of hands grabbed her from behind, and Allison's heart nearly stopped right there and then. She turned to face a girl with round, curious eyes, a soft smile, and a mass of unruly braids.

"Belig, you scared the living daylights out of me," Allison gasped. "How did you get out?"

"The Winthers detained all the Handmaidens and the guards. I didn't look like either, so they assumed I was an ordinary maid and told me to scram."

"They didn't think to look closely at your glowing irises?" Allison muttered. Belig was one of Maglania's vampiric sentinels. She was a recent addition, having only been there for a couple of weeks. Allison never liked any of the other Handmaidens, as she saw them as competition. Therefore, she naturally quickly became friends with Belig, the only other female in the palace that Allison could stand. Belig might have been a girl, but she was tall enough to easily pass for any of the other Sulia bodyguards if she wanted.

On that morning, Belig had her hair out of its usual bun, and she was wearing a dress. So that meant she was purposely avoiding being grouped in with the other vampires. Even though she was wearing a dress, her lanky frame and choppy, masculine movements made her look more like a boy.

"Doesn't the Princess need her Prince?" Belig joked. "I'm here to protect you."

"Maglania isn't inside me right now." Allison reflected. As much as she hated being a host to Maglania's will at first, as time went on, Allison grew attached to the role. When she spoke with Maglania's voice, everyone listened. There were times when she felt as though she didn't know where Maglania Sarastri ended, and Allison Devon began. It was easy to get lost in the fantasy that Allison ruled Manna City, rather than the woman who spoke through her.

"What's the grand plan?" Belig asked, her wide eyes hanging onto Allison's every word.

"I don't know," Allison said. She hated admitting that. She almost wished Lysander Winther had just put a bullet in her head. Better than to sit here imagining, not knowing, afraid to stick her head out of the bushes. "The Sentinels will not attack Lysander, not without a direct order from Maglania. She's sleeping for who knows how long. This entire situation is far beyond what we can handle."

"You've been here so long. You must have some idea," Belig continued.

"Lysander won't speak to any of us. We're ants to him. Maybe less than ants. At least he wouldn't go out of his way to step on ants."

"Melody Balan!" Belig chirped. "Can't you call her? You said she's your friend."

"No, not a chance," Allison shook her head. She instantly regretted telling Belig about that strange incident in which Melody, or rather Arietta, Balan, approached her during the last Pearl Tower ball and spoke to her without prompting. Even if they exchanged words, it didn't make them friends. She certainly couldn't call Arietta in a state of panic, begging for help.