“If it is the final option, who would look after our daughters?” Phoenix posed; I continued to cry hysterically at the idea of being parted from them.
She came to hold me as she promised,
“I will look after the girls. Never worry about their safety. Celine will help me, but let’s not worry about that fate just yet - we don’t know what will happen…”
Walking over to the cauldron bubbling over the fire, she threw some items from a variety of jars into the pot and chanted a spell over it. Blue and purple clouds filled the room, before she poured the heavenly liquid into silver goblets and told us to drink.
“What is it?” I asked as smells of lavender, butterfly wings and chamomile serenaded my nostrils, urging me to drink the beautiful concoction in one go.
“It’s something to calm your nerves and to help you sleep,” she replied as we both gulped the drink down and returned to our home, thanking the Grand Witch for all her help. We promised to leave it all in her hands.
******
The sun fought to get through the clouds. Eventually, late in the morning, it admitted defeat and allowed the clouds to rule the sky for the day, casting an overcast gloom which highlighted a depressed coven. We spent the whole morning showering the girls with our attention, nervously waiting for the attack. My breathing was erratic as I pretended to put a brave face on for our daughters.
Phoenix refused to leave my side as our neighbours kept checking on us, giving us baskets of food and toys for the children; they clearly all thought the final outcome was due to be our fate…
We waited until noon, but nothing happened.
“Maybe Mother Earth has answered my prayers and gotten rid of the venomous Lycan,” the Grand Witch suggested as she came round to offer an update. Just as we were about to celebrate, there was a large knock on the courtyard gate and all noise and movement stopped.
“Wait here,” the witch ordered. She left the house and went to investigate.
The knocking echoed around the yard as we all held our breath; minutes felt like hours. There was no sound to suggest an attack. The Grand Witch returned with her head held low and informed us we didn’t have much time before we were parted from our beloved children.
The crowds groaned when she beckoned everyone to the centre of the camp, standing on her stage to proclaim the news.
Leaving the children with Celine, we also went to hear our deadly fate.
“There will be no attack, so you can all go back to your homes without fear.” Everyone did as she said.
“Heather and Phoenix can you come here please,” she added. We reluctantly obliged.
For the first time, we saw the Grand Witch as one of us - rather than just our leader - as she handed Phoenix the black envelope and started to weep.
Shaking, he opened the long envelope and took out the ‘Warrant of Arrest’. With his voice trembling he began to read the letter aloud:
WARRANT OF ARREST
On Friday 13th October 2012, Heather and Phoenix rose have been accused of killing another being of the land.
This accusation has been supported by evidence.
Therefore, on Sunday 15th October 2012 at midnight, both of you will be escorted to The Orcus Games for your punishment.
Should you not be at the coven ready for your arrest, there will be a bounty on your lives.
Let the games begin,
The Elders
I started shaking in terror. There was nothing anyone could do.
“My babies!” I cried as the Grand Witch held me in her arms like a child. Phoenix dropped to his knees in devastation, the memories of the night crashing round his mind.
We sat in silence for over ten minutes, in mourning, as we tried to figure out how we would break the news to the children.
Celine interrupted us as she came in to hear the update. Breaking down in tears, she knelt down and hugged Phoenix; she promised she would make us proud by looking after the children as if they were her own.
We sat there staring, dumbfounded, into the distance, unable to comprehend the news, although Celine offered her heartfelt words of support. She planned to ease the children into their new home at the Grand Witch’s headquarters, but we could not help nor interject, as all we could think of was leaving our precious daughters to grow up without their loving parents.
After realising that we could not hide here any longer, we went home to spend some quality time with the children. The Grand Witch instructed some of the followers to organise a party in our honour, to take place tomorrow.
“It’s not a party to bid you farewell, it’s a party to bring all our powers together to keep you both connected to the circle and to enhance your abilities, giving you a good chance of surviving The Orcus Games,” she explained as baskets of fruit, stews, pastries, breads, buckets of brews and hot broths were seen being carried past our windows.
The children saw the preparations outside and started jumping up and down, excitedly running to their wardrobes and choosing an array of outfits for the celebrations.
“They have no idea…” I cried as Phoenix looked on, knowing this was the last time he would see his girls laugh and play dress up.
An hour later, the courtyard gong sounded and we all gathered for the party, allowing the children to spend more time with the others and Celine; we were simply unable to control our emotions.
The Grand Witch sat with us all evening, allowing only a few followers to come over; she knew that there was nothing any one could say to make it any better.
“We will look out for your daughters like they’re our own,” one chubby blonde witch said as she gave me a long hug.
“You will always been held in the highest regard among this coven after your bravery,” another stated as she gave us one of her potions.
We hoped the evening would never end but as the night turned into Sunday, a doom filled the camp. We returned home and allowed the children to spend their final night with us in our bed.
Sleep eluded me as I watched my daughters all night, wondering how they would cope without us, what they would grow up to become and how long would it be before they forgot us. I scooped both sleeping girls into my arms and fought back the tears.
“We never wanted to leave you, but just know that, no matter where we are, we will always be thinking of you and will use our last drop of blood to try and get back to you both. Look out for each other always and be strong for mummy and daddy…” I whispered, with which I kissed each one on the forehead and cried myself to sleep, with them snuggled up in my arms for the last time.
******
The dejection in camp was palpable as they cleared away the night’s festivities - all were happy for a new day but sad about the upcoming departure of two of their friends. The door knocked and Phoenix went to answer it. I stayed in bed with the girls, giving them a lie in.
“We’ve got breakfast,” he said as he bought the wooden basket into the bedroom and started dishing up the eggs, bacon, sausages and bread onto the plates provided.
The girls tucked in with enthusiasm, while I pushed mine to the side, too depressed and distraught to think about eating.
“We have to eat something, Heather. We need to keep our strength up,” Phoenix said as he urged me to eat.
Our daughters looked at me in confusion. Their beaming eyes focused on my despair. I tried to reassure them by stroking their faces and eating some of the food. We explained to the pair of them that Celine would be looking after them for a little while, until mummy and daddy returned from magic camp.
Too young to understand, they enjoyed playing on the magical merry-go-round which the Grand Witch had conjured to distract them. Meanwhile, we prepared a few items to take with us.
“Is there anything I can do to make this a little easier for you both?” Celine asked.
I shook my head as I walked away from the two people I loved the most in this world, apart from their father.
“Just remind t
hem every day that we will always be thinking about them - they are our world, and always will be…” I replied as I ran out in streams of tears with Phoenix following.
The crowd gathered near the main gates and, on the stroke of midnight, the loud knocks returned and a tall, shady, hooded figure - approximately eight feet tall - waited on the other side of the gate with a companion. We reluctantly gave our closest friends a heartbreaking farewell.
“MUMMY! DADDY!” two familiar voices cried as the crowd parted and our girls came running through to see us.
We wanted to leave them without an emotional farewell, so thinking that they were asleep, we’d said a prayer and Phoenix had cast a spell over them, hoping it would help ease their grief. However all the noise must have woken them up; they jumped into our arms and squeezed us tight.
“I love you both more today than I ever will. You will always be in our hearts!” I cried as I held them both tight.
The Grand Witch had to prize us apart, and the children kicked and screamed as they were taken from us. Phoenix held me as I tried to get them back.
“This isn’t right!” I protested as one of the officers of the Underworld grabbed my shoulder and threw me into the black coach, closely followed by Phoenix. The two black horses kicked and displayed their malevolent temperament to the frightened crowd. Spitting fire and frothing at the mouth, their wild red eyes gave us a taste of the terrifying world we were about to enter.
CHAPTER SIX
CAGED LOVE
~ THE CLAN ~
The cell smelt like death and decay, but I found a spot in a damp, dark corner, ready to receive my punishment.
“Ardan…” a female voice whispered as I stuck my head between the bars and caught sight of Victoria.
Dressed in a long, red halterneck evening dress, she obviously wanted to impress.
“What are you doing here?” I whispered, making sure my other cellmates couldn’t hear.
She flicked her hair back in a seductive fashion and pressed herself against the bars,
“I wanted to make sure my baby was okay,” she purred as she tried to stroke my face.
I backed away in disgust,
“You helped to put me here, so why are you so concerned now?” I spat back, unaffected by her teasing. She looked around and let herself in. The other prisoners gasped at the intrusion but remained in the shadows. They were intrigued by this new inmate and what she was offering.
Pushing me against the slimy wall, she pressed her lips against my neck and began kissing me.
Trying to ignore her advances, I tried to push her away. But she was unusually strong and pinned me down.
“I can help you but you have to help me,” she murmured.
“What do you want?” I asked, knowing I could never overthrow her experienced supernatural hold.
She paused and checked around to make sure there were no witnesses as she backed away and made her plan very clear.
“I want you - in exchange for your freedom,” she announced as the thought of being with her froze my already icy blood.
I pulled her close to my body and guided her head to the side, pressing my lips deliberately underneath her ear. She groaned in delight as she waited for the kiss she had been so desperately craving.
I brushed against her ear and whispered tenderly,
“I would rather die before I make that deal with you!”
She jumped back in anger and slapped me across the face.
“You’re already going to die - but I guess I could speed up the process!” she threatened as she walked towards the cell door, shoving the curious inmates out of her way.
She got to the door and turned back, composing herself and adopting her sexy siren persona once more.
“I know you’re dealing with a lot right now, so I’ll give you a little time to think over my offer. I know you’ll see sense eventually.” With that, she walked through the door, bolted it shut and blew me a kiss as the other prisoners advanced upon me, suspicious of my new connection.
After explaining myself to the group of fifteen vampires for over an hour, they were finally satisfied that I was not a mole and allowed me to remain in my corner without harm, or intrusion.
******
We were in the cell for over a week. Innocent humans were thrown in everyday for us to feed on.
Refusing to take part in the savagery at first, I soon realised that I was no longer the same Ardan of a few weeks ago; now I was an animal, I needed blood to survive.
After wondering if death would have been a bad option, a flash of Eva and Ki appeared in my mind and I knew, as long as I was alive, there was still a hope of escaping and finding them living and well.
So, although I refused at first to take part in devouring the humans, by day two I could no longer take it. I gave into my hunger.
“Ahhh, I knew you’d crack eventually,” an old vampire chuckled as he licked the dripping blood from his lips.
Ignoring him, feeling too ashamed and hoping I was still better than these parasites, I refused to talk to any of my cellmates until this old man continued to try to integrate me into the group.
“You’re not the only one who has been falsely imprisoned, you know…” he began. I continued to disregard him but, unfazed by my coldness, he continued, “I was put in here a year ago because Victoria wanted my son but I fought her off, so she killed him and told everyone I did it.”
I couldn’t believe what he was telling me.
“You’ve been here a year?” I asked, to which he nodded.
“Connor - over there - has been here longer. He was accused of stealing from another circle member…”
I jumped in.
“Let me guess, Victoria saw him do it?” I asked sarcastically. He nodded again and I knew all the stories would be linked to the hands of Victoria.
“Hasn’t anyone got suspicious of her roles in all these arrests yet?” I posed as other vampires began to join us in the centre of the cell, suddenly visible in the moonlight that shone like a spotlight into the room, from a small window at the top of the cell.
“Because she’s so old, her strength and speed are out of this world. That’s why others are scared of her. But it’s her link to the Cathal that lets her get away with so much.” I wondered just how close Cathal and Victoria were.
The crowd began to gather in front of us, adding their stories and fears of Victoria and advising on how I should deal with her.
“Thanks guys, but I think I know how to go about my next step with Victoria. I won’t need to test her strength…” I replied as I leaned back against the wall and plotted my next plan of action.
******
Three days went by before I had the pleasure of seeing Victoria again.
As though the fear of waiting for Cathal to make his decision on my destiny wasn’t stressful enough, I had to contend with keeping Victoria happy to avoid the wrath of her erratic temperament.
“How’s my baby tonight?” she whispered as she sneaked into the cell.
“All the better for seeing you,” I lied as she sat next to me, shocked and delighted at my new-found interest. Apprehensive about my new loving attitude, she tested my flirting by leaning in for a passionate kiss.
I used every ounce of energy not to throw her off me. I reciprocated her advances, leaving her panting for more.
“Not just yet Vicky. I want it to be special,” I lied again. She begrudgingly agreed and began playing with my hands and suggesting plans for our future.
Smiling and agreeing with all of her proposals, giving her false security, she began to spill the beans on all of the inside information she had heard about my punishment.
“They want to send me to the games?” I shrieked as the other prisoners groaned at the fatal sentence.
“Shhh. The wardens will come,” she whispered with annoyance, “Don’t worry about it, you have a special weapon… I will help you.” She kissed my lips softly.
&nb
sp; I held back my sickly feeling; I wanted to know more about why she was so confident she could help me.
“How can you help?” I asked pretending to stroke her face as I slyly moved her away from me.
“I work there, silly; I’ll keep you updated on where the traps are and who is after you. Then, you can escape and we can start a new life together…” I realised she had higher connections than just Cathal. There was a rumble in the distance and she used this warning as her cue to leave. She left with a fervent kiss and promised to see me in the Underworld tomorrow.
The old vampire shuffled over towards me, avoiding the carcasses from the lunchtime feed.
“I hope you know what your doing with her, Ardan?” he asked with concern as I laughed off his apprehension; I felt confident with my plan to use Victoria to escape and find my family. At this, he regarded me with trepidation and added,
“She is a great actress. Just when you think you have her round your little finger, she turns it around on you and shows you that she’s always been in control. That’s when the game begins…” he warned. The warden slammed his flail, complete with the remains of the previous inmate’s bloody skin, against the bars, warning of the noise pollution.