Title: Snake Singer
Authors Notes: Thank you so much to TallemeraRane who helped with the editing of this chapter.
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, but the plot belongs to me.
I stayed awake all night. The chain around my neck held me so tightly that when I turned my head I found that I couldn't breath. I knew that even if I tried, sleep would never come to me on this night. My body ached from the change that was forcefully terminated earlier. My muscles felt unformed, as though all of my limbs had been cut off and then sown back on, and my blood was just now starting to reconnect and give feeling again to the rest of me. My skin glowed slightly; an amber hue flowed in my veins and came through my flesh like tiny candles shining from within me.
The palace was silent for hours; the only sound audible was Vasili's even breathing. The continued rise and fall of his chest drove me mad, and I saw nothing but images of myself puncturing his naked chest with the sharp end of a knife.
Daybreak came slowly, and from my position against the wall I could see through the corner of the window as the sun rose high above the treetops that bordered the Mistari Kingdom. I wondered where Zane was as I watched the sky change from a light blue into deep the purples and reds of morning. What was he doing? Sleeping on the cold ground somewhere soaked through with the rain that had fallen for most of the night? Or awake like me, chained and imprisoned by forces that kept us apart?
I laid my head against the wall straight, trying to find relief against my stiff neck. The sound of the busy birds awakening in the trees beyond the window and in the gardens below began to drown out Vasili's constant breathing and in my desperation to find a moments peace I was glad of it.
My peace was interrupted; I watched through the corner of my eye as Vasili stirred for the first time since he had fallen asleep. He lifted his long muscular arms up and stretched them high, sliding bone against skin. Without hesitation he stood up from the bed, he walked in a straight line and was untarnished by the hours of sleep and lack of use that the night had given him. I watched as he reached for his clothes that still hung from the edge of a high back chair in the corner of the room. With his extended hand he pulled his white shirt, long black pants, and the long dark cloak from the side and laid them neatly on the bed before him. I watched through half open eyes as he pulled the lose fitting pants that he had slept in from his body, lowering them down his legs and exposing his completely naked body in front of me.
I closed my eyes completely, a slight blush coming to my face, and I turned away, even though I could hardly breath; I didn't even want to face him even if my eyes were closed. I listened to the sound of material sliding together as he dressed himself, my eyes still closed; I couldn't bare to look at him. "Don't tell me your blushing Danica?" I heard him say, almost mockingly. However, I didn't open my eyes, and I didn't respond.
I heard him start to walk away, and I thought that he would go into the other room so that he could finish dressing, however when I opened my eyes I almost jumped when I saw that he was standing directly over me. "I would hope that we would not have to have another confrontation like last night when we get home." He said, kneeling down and reaching his hand around my neck, I hoped that he would release me from the metal caller around my neck. He did, and for the first time in hours I could breath normally. Vasili sighed, then reached his hand out for me to take, but I chose not to. I glared at him and stood up of my own free will, his body following me quickly after. "I don't want to hurt you Danica," he reassured me, "but I will do what is necessary to keep you away from that monster. I know that one day, perhaps a long time away from now you will thank me for that." I didn't respond, but I wanted to scream at him, I wanted to do something, hurt him like he had hurt me. He took hold of both of my hands, as though he were about to propose. Lifting both of them out toward him he examined my skin, no doubt noticing the golden lines that flashed across my skin like tiny rivers from the stopped change last night. "Be careful, Danica, its not healthy to stop half way through a change. It can have a permanent effect on you."
My face stiffened, "I wouldn't have stopped," I began, "if you had not strangled me so forcefully and not let the change be completed."
A half smile crookedly formed across his lower lip. "Get dressed!" he demanded, releasing my arms from his firm touch. "We leave for the Hawks keep in less then an hour; I won't let our people see their Queen in such a state!"
I dressed quietly in the adjoining room; giving Vasili a deadly look as I closed the doors. I hoped that my fierce glare would warn him not to enter until I came out.
It was early, and I had no desire to wake Sasha or any of the other servents at this hour. I didn't want to look my best, so I decided to dress myself. I searched the closet full of dresses and gowns that the Disa had given to me until I found one that fit my mood. Black and slenderest, tight in the torso but lose everywhere else. The dress was made of the finest velvet and warmed me when I put it on. The outfit hung from my body perfectly, fitting my form and flowing just long enough that my bare feet did not show. My hair was a mess, but I wanted nothing fancy. I brushed it thoroughly until it shined, but then left it that way. I didn't care what Vasili thought; Zane always said that I looked more beautiful in a simple style. "You're more yourself that way." He would say, I head his voice clearly in my head and it brought a smile to my face.
After Vasili and I were both dressed and ready he led me out of the room. I didn't look back, but I desperately wanted to. I wanted to remember the entire night that Zane and I had spent in there; it helped when thinking of the night afterward when I was a prisoner in it. Vasili was dressed fine and his face was firm and sculptured, so much like I remembered it years ago yet the man underneath that face couldn't have been more different. I saw Vasili look me over several times, and I knew that he was unpleased and disappointed that I was not as done up and perfect as I could have been, but I was satisfied. I knew that he recognized the uncaring vibe that I was giving off.
Vasili refused to let me say goodbye to the Disa and Dio, and to thank them both for what they had done for Zane and I. I watched as they stood against one of the lower windows as if in support for me, and I instructed Sasha, who was one of our guards to the Mistari boarders, to tell them how appreciative I was, and to reassure them that I would find a way to get Zane back, even if it meant selling my soul to Vasili to get him released and to never truly be with him again.
The road through the Mistari lands was long and mostly through dense forests. The Disa and Dio had been kind enough to loan us four horses to make our journey on, since Vasili refused to let me transform again, fearing that I would escape while in my Hawk's shape. At the end of the road I watched as Sasha and the other friends I had made here looked on from behind. On the road back to the Hawks Keep it was just Vasili, the tree guards that he had brought with him, and myself.
The road through what was left of the Mistari lands and into Avian land was mostly quiet, and we saw very little people traveling. I assumed that all of the wounded and unharmed citizens from the battle at Haente had already fled to their old home lands, whether it be Avain or Serpiente they no doubt began their quest to destroy the other culture again, and like before were teaching their children the best ways to kill the other. The feeling made me sick, and the fact that I was now helping it by going with Vasili sent ice through my still glowing veins.
We reached the Hawks Keep by nightfall. I could see the candles lit high in every window shining from yards away. Tiny shimmers and glows off in the distance like an army of fireflies coming to save me and take me away from all of this pain that surrounded me. I realized soon after though that no army could save me now – it was up to me to find a way out of this mess.
Vasili had been silent most of the time as we made our way through the long journey of forests and deserted roads, but as we came nearer and nearer to the Hawks Keep he turned to me, his voice low, and meant just for me as he said: "This is our home Danica – it always has been and it always will be our home. One day that devil will be free from your soul and one day everything will be as we imagined it." His words were so much like Zane's that I found myself reeling. His words, and the way that he said them reminded me only of Zane and I agonized over it. Did I want this? Deep down, inside my soul did I still harbor the belief that Vasili and I could still be together? For so long after his 'death' that was all that I had wished for. To have him near me again, my entire childhood was spent looking up to him, and imagining our future life together. After everything that has happened could he truly still love me? And could I still love him?
Vasili received a warm welcome as we passed through the gates and were met by the many citizens out in the market place tending to their daily chores. Most of them remembered Vasili from his heroic war achievements and his help in diplomatic situations that my mother faced after my father was murdered. Most of them once valued him as an ally and a friend. I remember the Vasili of that time, who like me would go for endless strolls through the market place, getting to know the cares and concerns of his future people. Many Avian's appreciated that, considering that by the end of my father's life he was to immersed in the affairs of war to go out and walk amongst his people anymore.
The gathering public cheered, and shouted old prayers that their beloved Vasili had returned to them. I bowed my head, receiving no cheers or praise from them.
It had been so long since I had been in the Hawk's Keep that I barely recognized it. It had changed so much in so little time. Vasili, however, found his way around immediately, as though he had spent everyday of his life here and could navigate every corridor, and hallway with ease. Without saying a word, though I knew that a huge grin hung across his face, he lead me into the throne room, which now, after seeing the Mistari thrones close up, looked very simple and plain to my eyes. It was a small room, not even half the size of the one at the Mistari palace. The floor was made of wood paneling, and looked nothing close to the solid gold that made up the floor that the Disa and Dio looked on to, and the high chairs were nothing more then small wooden chairs, painted with a dark mahogany-like glaze and placed up against one of the far walls. Vasili immediately went to one of the chairs and sat down. From the look on his face I could tell that he enjoyed the view and the feeling that he got from it. It made me feel unwell, remembering the many times that my father, and Zane had sat and ruled in that chair.
"Danica!" I heard a frightful voice call as I entered the room slowly. I turned on my heels immediately, recognizing the voice instantly, it was Irene. When I turned I could see her as she ran to me, hair a mess, and her dress, the same that she had been in when last I saw her in the caves was torn and blood soaked, as though she had been in a gruesome fight to the death and received several scars. I gasped when I saw what was in her arms. An infant child wrapped in rags was clutched between her arms in a loving embrace, and her husband was steadfastly at her side, with my mother, the Lady Nicola Shardea behind them.
"What is this?" I asked, my voice low and my eyebrows furrowed. I turned to Vasili, almost daring him to answer me. "What is this?" I commanded, my voice taking on the characteristics of the Queen that he so longed to see.
Vasili lifted one of his eyebrows, a gesture that gave off the impression that he cared nothing for Zane's family, and my friends, or what could happen to them here. His disinterest in them caused me to watch my step with what I said to him. "Adalina and I found them while on the way to their new hiding place. That one," he said, pointing at Irene, "gave birth five days ago. Another snake brat to go with the rest." I bit my tongue, but like always I would have preferred screaming at him.
"Are you all right?" I asked Irene, looking away from Vasili, and not caring that he disapproved of my connection to them. "Have you seen a doctor?"
"No!" Irene said bluntly, not concealing her anger or her hatred for Vasili. "Fortunately my son and I are doing fine."
I smiled: "It's a boy?"
"Yes," she reassured me repositioning her arms so that I could get a better look at the infant. "We've decided to name him Zane."
Her confession brought tears to my eyes, and again the image of Zane starved and on the brink of death entered my mind like a harsh and inescapable truth. I looked away from Irene, and back toward Vasili, who still sat on his stool completely detached from everyone else; within the inner workings of his own little world. "What will you do with them?" I asked, my voice calm and beseeching, knowing what he was capable of and hoping that he would take pity on them, if for my sake only.
"Take them away to begin with," he said sarcastically, but with the wave of his hand two of the guards began to approach them.
I turned back to Irene: "Don't worry," I said. "Go with them now. I won't let them hurt you, or your child." Irene and her husband were led away side by side and my mother turned as if about to follow them but Vasili's command to bring herself to a standstill stopped her.
"Lady Nicola you are not a prisoner here, I am sorry that you had to spend so much time with those rash barbarians. Had I known of the conditions that you were subjected to I never would have let it continue. Now, of course, you are free to go back to your room and change into something more comfortable and cleaner if you wish." I watched as Vasili looked my mother over, and curiously I did as well. From the sleeves of her shirt to the front of her bodice she was covered in the deep red of dried blood. I assumed that it was she who delivered Irene's child. Vasili's guards were more then likely under strict orders to not interfere, and if it came to it, leave any snake to die before helping them.
My mother nodded her head and after giving me a quick sympathetic gaze left the room. Though she had been kept a prisoner for several days she showed no sign of it and walked exactly as she did when she herself was the Tuuli Thea of these lands, with her head high and back straight. I waited until she was out of the room until I spoke: "What do you intend to do with them?"
"Who? Your mother? I plan to let her life in comfort and peace with us."
"No," I protested, "Irene, her husband and the baby. What's to happen to them?"
"Well, that depends on you Danica. What do you think is fitting punishment for the sister of our mortal enemy?"
"Please Vasili," I begged as he began to rise from the chair that he found all too much comfort in, and began to approach me.
"I'll do anything!" I confessed not caring what he demanded of me. I truly valued Irene and any of Zane's family as my friends and I was not willing to sit by and watch them suffer and die just so Vasili could prove a point to me.
"Anything," he professed, his voice and body language taunting me as he came so close that I could feel his hot breath against my face.
"Anything." I echoed.