Chapter 10

An official letter with Chaillot's seal came to the SaDiablo Hall. It was addressed to the Queen of Haloway from the Queen of Chaillot. The official tone displeased Daemon. Many times had Jaenelle blame herself for her sister's withdrawal from her. They used to be so close when younger. Wilhelmina could never understand Jaenelle's decision to break Alexandra, their grandmother; a decision that inevitably led to Wilhelmina's rise to the throne.

Wilhelmina was always the shy one. She had their parent's affection while Jaenelle was misunderstood and rejected. Feared for who she was, Witch; a truth that Alexandria refused to accept. Thus, Jaenelle had no other option but to cut all tides from her biological family. A family that made her suffered and condemned her to years of abuse and indescribable pain.

Only Wilhelmina looked at her with loving eyes. Jaenelle wanted to hold on to that love without success. Her sister did not come to visit her since she found out she was pregnant. In fact; Wilhelmina had not stepped foot on the Hall in a many years. Not even a letter to congratulate her was sent. She knew how much Jaenelle wanted a child. Jaenelle would visit her but now in her state, it was more complicated.

In the letter she explained that Chaillot's treasure had decreased significantly. Somehow, she made some erratic decisions that affected the court. It did not help that her consort was a good for nothing – son of a whore that loved gambling. There was no doubt in her mind that he had something to do with this but Wilhelmina would not give any further details. She only mentioned that she took away his ring. Sending this letter was already a huge blow to her sister's ego.

The tone was shameful, embarrassing and she refused to ask for any gold marks. There was only one way to help her. She needed to ride the Winds to Chaillot, sooner than later.

"What did your sister say?" Daemon asked with his hands on his pockets. He knew something was wrong. Jaenelle was shaken and visibly hurt.

"She's made some erratic judgment calls and is having some financial trouble. I am going to offer my help that is all".

"You don't have to go for that, at least not now that you are vulnerable. Just tell me how much she needs. We can give her a loan". Daemon sounded exasperated. He knew how her sister's detachment affected her. He paced himself from one end of the room to the other. He had to shield her from the outcome of a visit. "You are not going alone. I am coming with you". He demanded.

"You have enough things to handle here. It is unnecessary. I can do this on my own. I need to do this on my own". Jaenelle pleaded.

"Sweetheart, if you think for a second that I will let you go to Chaillot alone, unable to use Craft, you better think again. Plus, I really won't be able to do anything here knowing that you and my son are there without me". He played with her hair and gave her a sweet kiss.

"You stubborn male, what am I going to do with you?" Jaenelle took a deep breath and admired her husband. He was tall, beautiful and irresistible. Especially when he showed her how much he cared for both. He gave her his signature devastating smile and his seduction's thread was released. "Ok, Prince, I will entertain your proposal but you may have to give me some incentive". She teased.

"Really? And how would that be my Queen?" His eyes were glazing and lethal now.

"I want you to make love to me like the first time".

He licked his lips and inhaled her tantalizing scent.

"Your will is my life, my Queen". He picked her up and showed her what an ex-pleasure slave could do.

Later that night, as they lay in bed naked under the sheets, he felt at peace with his past. All those years of torment and slavery taught him well how to please a woman. Now instead of hate and pain, love was the inspiration that set The Sadist free.

The trip to Chaillot took longer than expected since Daemon decided to ride the calmer Red Winds. This trip needed to go as smooth as possible. Janelle has not visited her childhood's residence since she was 12. Whenever she came, she would go to Wilhelmina's vacation residence. This time she would see Leland and Alexandra. Her body tensed in response. Daemon was riding the killing edge. No one would want a massacre. His hate towards them was unmasked. If it was for him, they would both be inside a deep grave that no one could find.

Wilhelmina greeted them warmly. When the time to discuss her letter came, she gracefully requested that Sadi excused them.

"As you can see Jaenelle, I have never been as good as you. It figures. You had to protect me when I was a child and I could not do anything for you. Because of you, I became The Queen of Chaillot. But in the end, I guess I was unworthy."

"Why are you saying this? I don't ever want you to feel like this. I love you. You are a splendid Queen. Ruling a territory is not an easy task. Mistakes will be made so we can learn from them. This could be easily fixed. In the name of Hell, Daemon can loan you the gold marks". Jaenelle pleaded. She wanted to shorten the distance between them at any price.

"That won't be necessary; I've done what I must". Her words cut deep and Jaenelle had to fight back tears. "Congratulations on your pregnancy. What a nice surprise." This time, Wilhelmina sounded truly sincere.

Jaenelle tried to resist the urge but she had to ask. She put her hand on her stomach to hold on against the imminent pain. "Where is everyone?"

"They will be gone for a few days. Official matters, you know how tedious it can be. I let grandma and Papa take care of those things. It makes them feel useful." If Jaenelle did not know better, she could have been fool. At least, her sister cared enough to lie to spare her feelings.

She needed to be alone. Right now, she could not face Daemon. She walked to the garden. Memories of her childhood haunted her. As she approached the Witch blood's bed of flowers, she succumbed to the sorrow. Daemon had been looking for her. He knew her well and came to the place where she would cry her sadness out.

"Hush now, sweetheart. I am here with you and I love you. So much that it wounds me to see you like this. Let me hold you. They never understood who you are. You are magic. You are everything. Let me hold you".

She cried until there were no tears left. She needed to rest and Daemon carried her to bed. He needed to take a walk and calm the storm inside him. Flashback of memories when he met Jaenelle passed though his eyes. Happy memories of her childhood and the sweet pain he endured as he realized he would have to wait years for her to grow and accept his surrender. He smiled at those memories, remembrances of a magical and unique love.

He recognized that scent. He knew her as a child too. His body tensed as he could smell the alcohol. He wanted to leave immediately.

"Why are you in such a hurry? Always in a rush to follow Jaenelle, you always followed her. I thought you wanted to be my friend but you just used me to get to her. Everyone uses me. Just like Vladimir, who warmed my bed in exchange for power and money". She laughed cynically."I have always been less than her. A lesser witch, a lesser Queen and a lesser woman, do you know that I can't have any children? Is that why no man has ever loved me? Is that why you chose her?" She tried to touch him and he pulled back.

He could not believe her words. There were times when he feared the possibility of those feelings but he had always kept his distance. He was only polite. Now, he only felt horror, betrayal and anger. He looked at her mockingly. His voice had a lethal undertone now.

"I am not sure what this means and why you are doing this. I will blame it on the alcohol. Don't you ever try to touch me again because I won't be so magnanimous. If you try that again, I will break your wrist. I never used you. I offered you my sincere friendship when you were a child. Yes, I wanted to be around her. It has always been Jaenelle. Even if I could, I would not dare to touch her. I dreamed of her. Just to be where she was and to see her smile made my entire existence worthy. You could never begin to comprehend the depth of my feelings for her. I hate your family for hurting her; don't make me hate you too. If it was for me, I would fulfilled my promised to Alexandra and end her miserable existence with a swift flick of my hand. A woman is much more than a fertile womb. That never stopped me from wanting her, even when the possibility of a child was not possible. You are less than her; all of you are less than her. You will never compare to her. She is everything. Do not set yourself to impossible standards as you will only fail . We are leaving this forsaken place at first light and I suggest you mask your bitterness." Without thinking twice, the words poured out of him. For a moment he felt pity for her.

"I would have helped you. Even against your will, just to please her, I would. There is nothing I would not do for her. After tonight, after seeing her crying herself to sleep, I will never move a finger to help you".