“Why am I unable to fight you back with magic?” I panted. “If I was an ordinary witch, I could put a spell on you.”
“You might be waiting until I bring you to the king to display your magic.”
I shook my head furiously and gripped the walls, struggling to get back to my feet. She kicked me in the chest, knocking the wind right out of me and sending me crashing back down to the ground.
The door to our right creaked open and a deep voice rumbled through the hall.
“What is all this?”
A looming figure stood in the doorway.
“Your Highness, please, be care—”
“Out of my way, Mogda!”
Brushing Mogda aside, the figure walked over to me. Strong hands gripped the back of my neck and pulled me to my feet. I found myself looking into the bright orange eyes of a creature who looked very different from any ogre I’d ever come across. He was tall and slim, and although he had brown leathery skin, his features were more humanlike: a straighter, thinner nose, sharp jawline, no tusks. He had a regal appearance about him and was almost handsome.
“Your Highness,” I stuttered, taking the opportunity to speak before Mogda interrupted me. “I travelled here to offer service to your mighty kingdom. I am a witch, but I was born without magic. I was banished from my realm. That’s why I seek refuge here.”
It was hard to read the king’s expression as he stared down at me. Was it disbelief in his eyes? Contemplation?
Finally, his grip loosened. He turned his back on me and bellowed, “Anselm! Come here!”
Another ogre—if he could be considered an ogre—appeared at the door. The resemblance between the two of them was striking, although Anselm was younger. I assumed that he was the king’s son. The king gripped Anselm’s shoulder and pointed down at me.
“This girl claims she is a witch without powers. She tells me she wants to become a servant here. Would you have use for her?” the king asked.
Anselm crossed his arms over his chest.
“Hm. Witch offspring is vile, so she wouldn’t be able to provide us with food.”
Anselm paused and looked at me again. My heart beat thrice its usual pace.
“You can’t do magic,” Anselm said. “Your eggs are of no use. What can you do?”
“I’ll be a loyal servant,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’ll do any menial work that needs to be done around here. All I ask is that you offer me shelter in your kingdom.”
They both exchanged glances, took a few steps back and began whispering.
“Elyse!” Anselm called after a few moments.
A tall female stepped out, dressed in an emerald silken gown. Again, like the two males, she had straighter, more elegant features than a normal ogre. She looked down at me with cold grey eyes.
Perhaps the royal family is a different, more intelligent race of ogres.
“What is it?” she asked.
Anselm took her by the hand and pulled her toward him. Elyse’s eyes never left mine as Anselm whispered into her ear. Those eyes got cooler and cooler each second they lay on me.
Anselm stepped back and looked at Elyse.
She nodded curtly and said, “We can try her out, I suppose. Though I’m not sure that a scrawny little thing like her could ever handle our children. Mogda, take this witch to their quarters and explain to her what to do. She will serve Elsbeth and Dorian. Attend to their every whim. And dismiss the current minder—she isn’t doing a satisfactory job and there is another occupation I have in mind for her.”
Mogda nodded. Although she glared at me, she didn’t have any choice.
The fat ogress caught hold of my wrist and led me away.
As we left that hall, the king chuckled. “Let’s see how long this one lasts with my grandchildren…”
I need to always remember that no matter how bad things get here, it will still be better than the life I risk living if he finds me.
Chapter 5: Kiev
It was close to dawn by the time I arrived at the coordinates Matteo had given me. But I saw nothing but black ocean for miles. Being protected by the witches’ spell—at least, if it was the same spell that had been cast over The Shade back in the human world—I wasn’t able to detect any sounds either. There were no signs of life anywhere. No boat that might indicate I was near their residence.
It was clear that the only way I stood a chance of discovering the island and reaching those witches was to get the vampires’ attention and trick my way inside—something neither Matteo nor his men had ever dared to do.
Matteo always spoke of these vampire as grave enemies. But, at least in theory, they had no way of knowing that I was affiliated with him. I would have to lie that I’d just escaped Aviary or Cruor and was seeking to join their clan. Of course, if they had heard that I’d joined Matteo and Saira, or if they had the slightest suspicion that I might have come to spy on them, they would show me no mercy.