Chapter 11
Escape At All Costs
Laurent rode his stallion hard into the small forest clearing located just outside of Kaimana. Master Brande said that Lord Jasper was being held underground but the forest was too wide for him to search on his own. He stopped near a small riverbank so that the horse could rest.
Once the horse was secured, he pulled out a dark pendant carved with the Kenna symbol. Holding it in his hands, the pendant began to pulse and glow. He heard them howling before he saw them. Four horse size wolves, two black, one red, and one white, came bursting out of the trees. They wore collars around their necks with the Royal Crest in the middle. The largest one approaching him.
"Laurent it's been a long time," the wolf said.
"It's good to see you Silverfang. You know why I'm here yes?" Laurent asked the great beast.
"Yes, the heir of the water tribe. Come he's just over the ridge," Silverfang said crouching to allow Laurent on top of him.
Laurent met Silverfang and his pack brothers, Arrax, Yuma, and Havoc, when they were young Lycan pups. He saved them, from hunters, many years ago and since then, they've been indebted to him, serving him with whatever task he needed assistance with.
They rode for a while before coming to stop at a small cottage. Laurent dismounted Silverfang.
"Arrax, you and Yuma keep watch. Havoc and Silverfang come with me," he told them.
Silverfang and Havoc shifted and transformed into their human forms. Silverfang, with short dark skin and hair with brown eyes lean and strong body, and Havac, pale skin with long red hair and green eyes, followed Laurent into the cottage. It was dark and seemingly abandoned with no furniture other than a single clothed table. Laurent turned the table over and found the hidden latch underneath. He could sense the magic swirling around the door. It was locked with an enchantment to prevent anyone from opening it other than the caster.
"Havac" Laurent said. Havac kneeled over the door and pulled the latch open with ease. He could negate any magic with the touch of his hands. Once it was opened Laurent climbed down into the darkness to find Lord Jasper. He was chained to the wall, blindfolded, and gagged.
Laurent ripped the cloth around his eyes and mouth off his head and watched as Jasper's eyes widen in surprise to see him.
"S-Laurent is that you," Jasper asked, nearly in tears from relief.
"Lord Jasper," Laurent responded motioning for Havac to break the chains.
"Thank the Goddess you found me Commander it was terrifying! This creature took me in the middle of the night I had no idea what-
"Calm yourself, Lord Jasper" Laurent commanded. Jasper fell to the floor once the chains were broken, a sobbing quivering mess. Laurent looked down at the water clan heir in disgust.
"Now Lord Jasper you are going to tell me everything you know about the Crown Princess and Lady Rosalie's disappearance," Laurent said.
Jasper looked up at him in shock. He knew about the princess?! Wait, Rosalie?
"What happen to Rose," Jasper asked him. Before he could stand, Jasper was seized with unbearable pain. He screamed and thrashed on the floor, feeling as if his body was on fire.
"I am the one asking the questions Jasper!" Laurent' voice boomed.
"I already know you were involved with the shifter kidnapping Princess Bella from Barbeau! Your sister has been taken as well! You will tell me everything you know; trust me this is but a fraction of the torture you will be put through!".
Jasper gasped for breath once the burning stopped for a moment.
"Please commander I had no idea anyone would go after my sister! I would never put Rose at risk," he stuttered out.
"And yet you put the stability of Keegan in jeopardy because of your fragile pride! I hope it was worth it because if Princess Bella is harmed the Queen won't just have you executed but your entire clan will be wiped out," Laurent said, watching in satisfaction as the Heir of Kaimana became a begging sobbing mess.
"How were you involved," Laurent demanded.
"A message was sent to me asking to place a locator charm onto the Princess before she left Kaimana. They said in the message that they were concerned for the Princess's safety and that this would allow them to keep better track of her. they offered a substantial reward if I did so Commander. Please believe me when I say I never meant for anyone to get hurt," Jasper said.
"Who sent the letter," Laurent asked ignoring the plea.
"The person claimed they were under orders of one of the captains in the Black Magicians. Captain Crya was her name." Jasper responded.
Laurent couldn't believe his ear! Captain Crya was young to become a captain in the Black Magicians. However, what she lacked in age she more than made up for it in skills. He couldn't believe that someone of her stature would be involved in a plot like this. She was supposed to be with Princess Seraphina on her expedition across the sea.
"Please Commander, beseech your niece the Queen to have mercy on me and my family," Jasper begged, kneeling before him.
"Save your pleading for your sovereign Lord Jasper for I have no interest in what the Queen decides to do. Silverfang, track down Captain Crya and bring her back to the Capital, " Laurent commanded.
"What about him," Silverfang asked as Havac roughly grabbed Jasper off the ground.
"He will be placed in the Black Cells for now. The Queen will decide what to do with him." Laurent responded, ignoring Jasper's pleading for mercy as he climbed back up the ladder.
Whoever got Captain Crya to betray the Royal Family was more cunning than he thought. To go so far as to infiltrate the Black Magicians, who were sworn to protect the Royal Family with their lives, was not an easy thing to accomplish. How deep does this plot go; what's the end game? Were they planning to overthrow the Kenna Clan? Or was this just a single attack on Bella alone? Whatever the motive Commander Laurent would find out and stop them no matter what.
"No, no, no!" Rosalie said to Jessica as brought in the towels for Bella's bath.
"What is it now Lady Rosalie," Jessica asked, frustration laced in her tone.
"These cheap wool towels will not do! Bella's skin is sensitive to the fabric and can only use washing clothes made from silk." Rosalie told her.
"I don't know if we have any silk washing cloths Lady Rosalie," Jessica told her holding out the towels for Rose to take.
"Well, then I suggest you go and find some. And do not think to bring such poorly made fabric into Bella's presence again! Whom do you think you serve some fat fisherman's wife!" Rose screamed at her, making Bella chuckle in the bath.
Jessica huffed and left the bath, most likely to complain to Angela about Rose again. Rose had been giving the other ladies a crash course on how best to serve Bella since she was the only one who has done so in the past. Angela didn't like it and made no secret that she wasn't happy that Rose was there. But Bella didn't care.
"My Gods! You think whoever is keeping us here would at least have the decency of providing the basics of comforts for a Lady of your standing Bella," Rose said as she began to wash Bella's hair.
"Yes, I guess your brother didn't want any of the expenses to come back onto him," Bella said, closing her eyes to enjoy Rose massaging her scalp.
"You really think it's my brother that's done this," Rose asked. She knew her brother was rash and impulsive sometimes, but she couldn't fathom him or her father going this far.
"Who else could it be Rose? You know what happened that night," Bella responded as Rose began to rinse the soap from her hair.
"I know but Jasper is many things Bella, but he would never…do that to anyone," Rose said choosing her words carefully.
Bella didn't respond. Instead, she placed her hands on her abdomen. It had been a month since the "incident" happened that led to her pregnancy. She didn't show any outward signs just yet, but she knew that they would be approaching soon especially now. Angela did another exam on her; turns out she is carrying not one but two babies inside her.
Pregnancy for women that possessed magic worked differently than for others born without. For them, pregnancy only lasted five months as their powers accelerated the process. The first two months were easy as the mother suffered very mild signs and symptoms such as fatigue, and headache as the baby pulled on the mother's magic and strength and sometimes suffered from nausea. The third month is when she began to show as she started to gain more weight and her appetite increased dramatically. The last two months were the most crucial. This is when the baby is growing rapidly and pulling more and more of the mother's energy away from her as her body solely focuses on developing the child. Most women at this stage were bedridden from being so weak with Sanators and midwives providing around-the-clock care to her. Bella only had two more months to get out of this place. If not, she would be too weak to leave on her own.
Seeing her go silent, Rose didn't make any further comments about her brother Jasper. Bella was convinced that her brother was the culprit that did this to them, and she pray to Athena that she was wrong. Her brother, while never cruel, always held resentment toward her for the fact that she was born first. But she was still his sister, and he would never do anything to hurt her. This Rose knew with all her heart. But she could think of anyone else that would do this.
Once Rose was done washing her hair, she took the small sponge that sat on the side of the bathtub and began washing her neck.
"Have you thought about what you will name your little one,'' Rose asked with a smile trying to lighten the mood.
"Not really," Bella responded softly. Suddenly she stood up.
"I think I'm clean enough Rose," Bella said as she stepped out, prompting Rose to pass her a large towel to dry off with.
Once she was done drying herself, Bella put on the silk purple robe that was provided for her. The fact that she was pregnant gave her mixed feelings. There were times she was delighted that she was going to have a child of her own and then sometimes she wanted to throw herself off a cliff! She just had to keep reminding herself that it wasn't the child's fault. It was the only thing innocent in this whole thing.
Bella went back into the room with Rose hot on her heels, to find Angela and Tana setting up dinner for the night. The smell of it made Bella's nose curl in disgust
"Oh my! What is that" Bella demanded.
"It's salmon and steamed rice and vegetables, My Lady," Angela said.
Salmon was a favorite dish of hers, one that could eat every day if permitted. However, its smell was revolting, causing her stomach to turn. Bella hurried over to the chamber pot and voided her stomach, Rose behind her rubbing her back.
"Are you mad?! You prepared fish for a pregnant woman? Were you born with no sense at all?!" Rose screamed while holding Bella's hair back.
"Fish is healthy Lady Rosalie. The Lord informed us that this was a favorite of his Lady," Angela said, her arms crossed as she looked at Rose with irritation.
"And you as a woman should know that the smell of fish would be horrid for her right now! How is it that you were appointed the head lady-in-waiting before my arrival?! All of you are incompetent at the simplest of tasks," Rose screamed back at Angela.
"Excuse me! Do not speak to my mother like that," Tana said stepping up to her mother's side.
"Tana be silent!" Angela scolded her daughter.
"Yes, Tana be silent," Bella said standing up and wiping her mouth with the small cloth Rose passed to her.
"And Rose is right Angela I would expect you to know better. Remove this from my presence and bring me some Xocolatl at once," Bella demanded.
"Xocolatl ma'am," Angela asked confused.
"Yes, it is a drink that expected mother's favor in Bella's family. Surely your Lord or Paul knows what it is. Go and ask him if you're confused," Rose demanded.
Angela bit her tongue as she saw Bella glaring at her as if daring to go against what Rose told her. So, she simply took Tana's hand and led them both out of the room to find this drink.
"Rose, we have to get out of here now," Bella said pulling Rose towards the wardrobe to find something suitable for traveling. She would not make it in her final months in this place! If she wanted to survive, she needed to be under the care of the women in her clan.
"But Bella what about the barrier? You can't use any magic and there is no telling just how far we are from home," Rose said watching Bella put on a shirt and trousers.
"Rose, we have to try! My situation would prevent us from going anywhere soon and it will be impossible to go anywhere with two infants. Now come on trust me!" Bella said pulling Rose to the balcony. It was a new moon tonight, so it was darker than usual. They could slip out under the cover of the night There were sturdy-looking vines that they could climb up the roof and look for another way down past the other guards that patrolled the area.
"Bella this is crazy! What makes you think we can find an exit like this," Rose said trying to talk some sense in her reckless friend.
But Bella ignored her as she began to climb the vines towards the roof, Rose following her after slightly hesitating. Once they got to the top, Bella could hear Angela calling her name in a frenzy. She knew they had to move quickly. She and Rose made their way across the roof and saw a locked gate.
"Rose can you any Ice Magic," Bella asked.
"A little but it's not very strong. That was always Jasper's thing," She responded.
"Make a path for us to get to the gate," Bella said but before Rose could respond Paul and Jared appeared before them.
"Princess Bella I thought we had an understanding of you causing trouble," Paul asked.
"I understand you can go fuck yourself!" Bella responded.
"Ooh, I like a feisty wench! It a shame you've been spoiled by another I'd gladly show you a real man's cock," Jared taunted her pulling out chains for the two women.
"Do be a good girl Bella and come back downstairs. An expected mother shouldn't be putting herself in such a position.
"Now Rose!" Bella shouted. Rose quickly summoned her powers to her hands and clinched. Paul was confused until he and his brother both fell to their knees. Paul felt as if his chest was being ripped open.
During their alone time, Bella had begun showing Rose how to use blood magic. Since Rosalie was a water mage, she could use her magic to control the water flowing inside a person's veins. Blood art wasn't something anyone could do off-hand and Rose wasn't a master at it but she learned enough she could hold someone back for a time.
"Run Bella, run," Rose said.
"No, we go together," Bella said, not wanting to abandon her friend.
"I'll catch up as soon as I can, now go!" Rose said. She knew she couldn't hold this for too long, but she at least wanted Bella and her babies to get away safely.
Bella hesitated for a moment before taking off. She hated to leave Rose, but she was useless without her powers so her best bet was to make a break for it while she had the chance. She managed to find a way down the roof and make it to the large gate made of stone. She was grateful at that moment that Avani taught her how to climb a wall, a skill she never thought she would need.
She managed to make it near the top when she spotted Rose running towards her. Bella smiled happily at her however her excitement was short-lived as Paul came from the darkness and began to violently restrain Rosalie.
"No, let her go!" Bella screamed at him, not paying attention to her grip on the wall, and started falling. She heard Rose scream her name before the darkness took her.