The Protector

Chapter 41

CHAPTER 41

Tracy, Jonathan, and Gideon followed behind Lady Anna and were led to a small closet that held a variety of long heavy winter coats. 

"It's almost summer." Tracy said curiously examining the various of warm garments.

"Not where we're going." Lady Anna said, "Magic has provided a constant element of agony."

Picking one, they were led to a car attached to a cable. Two huge pale skin guards awaited them. They ascended the steep mountain in silence. It was freezing up there. There were silver cages, some empty while other held frozen bodies of coven prisoners. They were placed yards apart on the top of the icy peak. In the center of the cage ring there was a slab of stone with silver manacles and restraints embedded in the rock. At one end there was a small table and a rack full of surgical instruments, whips, and strange devices. It was obvious that this was a place of torture.

They stopped in front of one of the cages. A filthy figure was curled in the fetal position. The face was completely blocked by the layers of grime and matted black hair. Lady Anna unlocked the cage and commanded the guards to bring him. The guard grabbed the thin bony arms and roughly hauled the corpse like creature to the car.

The stench was absolutely putrid in the tiny car and it took sheer will power to prevent Tracy from retching and puking all over the floor. Suddenly Tracy wished she were human because then her nose wouldn't be so sensitive. That thought calmed her enough to remember training with Carla. The pepper smell was easier to ignore if you focus your mind somewhere else.

Good gravy, Tracy thought, At this point I'd gladly snort 300 peppers.

Alarmingly the man's skin was a purplish blue color and if it weren't for the harsh rasping sound, Tracy would have doubted that the man was still alive. Tracy couldn't believe that they would treat anyone this way. It made her positively ill.

"How could you allow this?" Tracy asked her voice betraying her horror.

"This is a prison for the deserving." Lady Anna said.

"How could anyone deserve this?"

Lady Anna was silent for a moment, "In time, I have a feeling you will understand." she said quietly.

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They stayed for another night allowing Isiah to get cleaned up and to receive blood. Cade was absent but Lady Anna assured them that he would be packed and ready to go before they left. With nothing better to do, Tracy took a walk in the garden. The moon was bright and a gentle breeze lifted the cloying scent of flowers to tease the senses. Finding a gazebo and pond at the far end of the garden, Tracy was enchanted. She passed the empty gazebo to sit on a stone bench under a Japanese maple that shaded her from the bright moonlight, casting her quiet form in the shadows.

Her peace was disrupted a minute later as Lady Anna rushed to the gazebo. Before she could call at a greeting, Cade's tall form appeared behind her. He grabbed her arm and spun her towards him, grabbing her shoulders. Tracy started to call out worried that Cade might try to do some harm to Lady Anna.

Cade's words stopped her and she fell silent as curiosity drove to unintentionally eavesdrop.

"Tell me why?!" Cade demanded harshly.

"This will never work!" Lady Anna said her normal cold contained speech was now heavy with emotion.

"You're afraid." Cade said accusingly.

"We will be ridiculed and mocked. I've had overcome too much to gain the position and respect I have. I cannot throw it away, even for you." she said with cold anguish.

"You are my Eternal One." Cade said sadly, "No matter what, I can never have another. You are mine."

Lady Anna turned away from him and from where she sat Tracy saw the tears run down her pale cheeks. The raw heartbreak in her expression caused a lump to form in Tracy's throat. Cade pulled Lady Anna to his chest and kissed her with the purest of love and passion. Tracy had to look away not wanting to intrude any further in an intimate moment.

"What we have is so rare. Very few vampires find their eternal ones. But I found you against the odds. Please don't turn me away." Cade begged.

"I have to. I was a 38 year old childless widow when I was turned by a sadistic

Primogenitor for his amusement." The pain in Lady Anna's voice spoke of her in a way that words never could, "You were merely a 20 year old boy. Changed by the same man. That would make us 18 years apart, you're young enough to be my son, and since we have the same Primogenitor that would make us siblings. In our world, especially since Lord Parrish-"

"That asshole has NOTHING on us now!" Cade said venomously, "He's now deservingly dead and he can't touch us or use us ever again. We're free from his sadistic torture." Tracy felt the fury building upon hearing of such abuse.

Lady Anna shook her head, "Our relationship is too taboo and we would not be accepted or welcomed anywhere."

"You're wrong." Tracy said impulsively not even realizing she had spoken out loud. In a flash, Lady Anna and Cade stood before her their eyes blazing with fury and fear. Tracy knew instinctively that in such a stressed state they could possibly kill her to protect each other. It made her wonder briefly if Lord Parrish's untimely demise was by fate or design. But that was neither here nor there, from the sound of it, Tracy doubted that he was missed very much.

Calmly, Tracy made no movements but spoke quietly as though speaking to a crying babe, "You will always be welcomed with us."

Lady Anna and Cade heard the soft words, they saw the sincerity and acceptance in Tracy's eyes, both broke down and wept.