Five
Eviana
The moment I stepped outside of my coral prison, I fell to my knees. The bright afternoon sunlight beat down on me like a hammer, and after being trapped in darkness for so long, it was almost overwhelming.
“Oh, get off your knees. It’s so unladylike.” Lucian hovered over me with his arms crossed and his long blond hair whipping wildly around his head from the persistent ocean breeze. “You need to act more like my daughter and less like a victim.”
“Aren’t they one in the same?” I grumbled.
He leaned forward so that his face was directly in front of mine. “No. They are not.” His tone was so menacing and dark, I was tempted to crawl back in the prison and live out the rest of my days in there. He must have known what I was thinking because he grabbed my arm and yanked me up to my feet. “Stop being so melodramatic.”
Turning his back to me, he began to saunter down the sandy path. I noticed that we were on some type of rock outcropping and that my prison was probably just a renovated boat house since it sat along the edge of a natural canal.
Gentle waves lapped against a pristine white sand beach and the ocean itself beckoned me with its multiple shades of blues and greens. The calm seas and the occasional palm tree was the perfect picture of serenity. Too bad I couldn’t enjoy it.
“Come on, hurry up,” Lucian called to me. I wished that I could disappear. Following my father like an obedient dog was not my idea of a promising future.
We walked around the perimeter of the island to a rather modest vacation home. I guessed that the island itself was pretty small and assumed this was probably one of Lucian’s many private estates. The home had white washed walls and was two stories high. The terracotta tiles on the roof decoratively added to its authentic charm.
“Where are we,” I finally asked. Lucian saw me looking at the house and smiled.
“Bienvenido a Mexico, Eviana!”
“We’re in Mexico?”
“Sí.”
“Of course we are,” I groaned. Leave it to my crazy father to abduct me and flee to a foreign country. Although I guess I should be happy that we weren’t in Antarctica. He probably had allies there too.
I followed him through the front entrance and past the tiny selkie women. Now that I was paying attention, I could see the trademark green in her eyes and smell that musky scent all selkies had. She didn’t smile at me and I didn’t thank her for holding the door.
The main floor was one large open space with a kitchen in the left corner and a large wood and tile table delineating the dining area. To the right was a set of colorful clay tiled stairs that Lucian had already climbed halfway up. His long red robe brushed ever so slightly against the steps making it look like he was floating. The effect was unnerving.
Lucian continued around the corner and down a short hallway. His figure disappeared into a room just before I reached him. I’d counted only two doors on this floor, one on each side of the hall.
“Come on, hurry along,” he called from the room. I fought the urge to stop moving and see how long it would take for him to lose his patience with me. I really was beginning to feel like myself again.
I walked inside the room, surprised to see that it was quite large. The entire half of this floor made up what was to be my new sleeping quarters. Massive windows covered the far wall, providing an ample view of the ocean. Wooden shutters flanked each side and the glassless panes. They were pushed open, allowing the breeze to flow freely though the room.
On the left wall was a queen sized canopy bed complete with intricately carved wood and white mosquito netting. It was beautiful. The matching dresser and armoire reminded me of a dollhouse where everything was just a little too perfect.
There was a large dress box in the center of the bed with my father waiting patiently next to it.
“I had this made just for you,” he said in a pleasant voice. When I didn’t move he sighed and patted the bed. “It’s not like it’s going to bite you. Come here.”
I checked to see if he was pushing compulsion into my mind, but lucky for him, I stayed headache free. It was quickly becoming apparent that if I played along with his charade, I might have a chance to find out more about his plans and get myself out of here. At the very least, I would get to sleep on a nice bed instead of a stone floor.
When I began to lift the lid from the box, Lucian’s excitement got the best of him and he bounced on the bed. “It’s from Paris. I hope you like it!” He grabbed the lid from my hands and tossed it to the side. “The silk was chosen especially for you. I know you’ll look stunning in red.”
I paused to glance at my doting father to see if he’d lost his mind. This sudden change in demeanor caught me off guard. Lucian Sutherland didn’t have special dresses made for his daughter. He killed people.
“Go on,” he said with a wave of his hands. I rolled my eyes and peeled back the pink tissue paper that had been meticulously folded around the garment inside. The first thing I noticed was the beading. Black and red crystals glistened in the light and I couldn’t help but smile.
I lifted the dress, amazed with how light it was. The red silk unraveled and fell to the floor. There must have been at least five layers of red and black fabric making the skirt appear full and princess-like. The top had a fitted bodice and thin straps that crisscrossed down the back. Both were adorned with the crystal beads in a design that reminded me of ivy vines.
“So?” Lucian asked expectantly.
I was torn. The dress was beautiful but I didn’t want to accept any gifts from him. At the same time, I felt like I needed to play along. I decided to go with my own question. “What’s the occasion?”
He studied me for a moment before pushing up off the bed. “You will wear that for dinner tonight.”
“Dinner?” I looked out the window trying to figure out what time it was.
“Yes. In one hour.” He moved toward an alcove next to the window. “There is a washroom back here, so make yourself presentable. Don’t be late.”
With that, he swept his robe gallantly to the side and walked out of the room. In a disturbing realization, I noticed that the color of my new dress perfectly matched his red silk robe. I had a feeling that wasn’t an accident.
A breeze ruffled past me and I enjoyed the smell of fresh air. I walked over to the windows and closed my eyes. Now that I hadn’t been drugged for a few hours, I could see things more clearly. No one knew where I was so I could pretty much count out any type of rescue mission. It was all up to me. Lucian had something planned; it would be out of character if he didn’t, so I resolved myself to discover what that was. And if it meant playing daughter for a few hours, I would do it.
I took a long shower and didn’t go downstairs until the very last minute of my one hour time allotment. The dress fit perfectly, making me wonder how Lucian knew my size. I tied my hair back into a low bun so that it wouldn’t hide any of the lovely details of the dress. It reminded me of something a fairy would wear, if those kinds of fairies were real. For a second I wished that I wouldn’t have to burn the thing the first chance I got.
The woman selkie was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs, her face was devoid of any type of expression even when I spoke.
“Where’s Lucian?” I probably could have managed that in Spanish, but I didn’t feel like being overly friendly considering she was one of my prison guards.
She understood well enough. Using her petite hands she gestured for me to follow her. I thought she would take me to the dining area, but instead we went outside and away from the indoor amenities. We were walking back toward the boat house prison and I had a moment of sheer panic wondering if this was some type of sick joke. I wouldn’t put it past Lucian to give me a taste of freedom only to strip it away an hour later.
However, I let out a silent sigh of relief when we rounded the corner and had a view of the little beach. There, in the middle, sat Lucian at a small table for two sipping some type of drink. His face lit up when he saw us and my stomach twisted. I didn’t want to see him so pleased.
“You look stunning as always, Mistress Dumahl.” He stood and wrapped his arm across my lower back to escort me to the table. I cringed but didn’t pull away. “It was so lovely outside this evening that I thought we’d have dinner with the sunset.”
He turned me so that we were facing the ocean. To my right was the house and to the left, just around the corner, was the prison. I was in the middle two possibilities; adapt and stay in comfort until I planned my escape, or cause problems and get thrown back in the boat house. This wasn’t a mistake on Lucian’s part. He knew exactly what I’d be thinking.
Maybe I could make a run for it in the open sea. I gazed out past the small breaking waves and into the setting sun. Could I do that? I was a strong swimmer, but my water control powers were nothing to brag about and Lucian could beat them for sure. Besides, I would wager my life that he had this place surrounded.
As if on cue, which was probably quite accurate, a handful of tiny sprite heads popped up out of the water’s surface and smiled at me. Their oblong heads and pointy teeth were something I would never get accustomed to seeing. Considering the mind reading ability all water fairies possessed, I tried to keep my disgust to myself.
The largest one put his fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly. On that command, at least ten ratchets jumped out of the water and up onto the beach. It was meant to frighten me, and probably also to discourage me from attempting a water escape. Instead, it angered me. The drugs were definitely wearing off now as I felt some type of emotion again. I thought of a not-so-nice way to thank the sprite in my head and smiled when he glared at me in return.
Lucian was glancing back and forth between us apparently finding our exchange amusing. He waved to someone behind me and I turned, expecting to find one of the Mexican selkies. And find them I did. All twenty of them.
“This way please,” he said and gestured to the table. Only two of the selkies were carrying trays meaning this was another display of power. Lucian wanted me to know that it would be impossible to escape. Between the selkies, water sprites, and ratchets, I didn’t have a chance. Although at least now I knew what I’d be up against.
“Sit.” Lucian pushed me over to the chair and held it out. Such a gentleman.
“So, are you going to tell me what this is all about?” I asked while pulling the chair closer to the table before he could. I caught a slight smile on his face as he sat down across from me.
“We never had a chance to get to know each other. Your mother…”
“Don’t talk about her!” I interrupted. My rage was instant and volatile. Lucian took a breath.
“All right. But I was simply going to say that I missed so much of your life and I want to know more about you.”
“So you kidnap me? Did you ever consider a phone call or an email?”
“You being here serves many purposes,” he replied cryptically. I stared at him across the table while he annoyingly unfolded his napkin and smoothed it over his lap. When he finally looked up at me I lifted my brows. “What?” he asked.
“You can’t just kidnap a clan leader and expect no retaliation,” I snapped.
He raised his arms and looked around. “Where are they? It’s been three days and no one has come to rescue you yet.”
“Why is that?” I asked, voicing something I’d been thinking about for days.
“Because I have what I want,” he looked up in the air, “for now. With no more attacks, they have no reason to try and get you back.”
I swallowed hard. “I don’t understand.”
“And here I thought you took after me,” he sighed dramatically. “I have you, so they are safe. No more deaths means we both get what we want. I have my daughter and they get peace.”
So the Council was going to abandon me in exchange for a cease fire from Lucian? At first it angered me beyond belief. Especially since it was one of their own who led me to my psychotic father in the first place. But then, I tried to think like a leader. If my one life saved countless others, then it would be something that I’d just have to deal with.
As though he knew where my mind was going, Lucian leaned back in his chair and smiled. “So how long does this truce last?” I finally asked.
“Long enough to bide me some time,” he replied evasively. “Ah, our evening entertainment has arrived.”
There was something incredibly frightening in his tone and it put me on edge. I turned in my chair to see what he was referring to and had to stop myself from jumping up and running down the beach.
“Bring him here,” Lucian commanded. The water sprites and dog-like ratchets were lined up along the surf watching two very large selkies drag Graham toward us. It was hard to look at and I couldn’t sit by and do nothing.
“Lucian, what are you doing?” I tried to sound reasonable but my voice was shaky.
“Young Master Forrester needs to learn a few things. Over there will do,” he directed Graham’s captors with a snap.
Because of the uncomfortable conversation and my interaction with the sprites, I hadn’t noticed the large wood pole embedded into the beach a few feet away from us. I also didn’t see the iron chain hanging from the top of it.
“What are you going to do?”
Instead of answering, he watched as his selkies locked Graham’s hands to the pole. They were already shackled behind him, so when the selkie wove them through the chain, he was hanging in an awkward position. Despite this, Graham still managed to look up and give me his trademark crooked smile.
“You look wonderful, Eviana.” That earned him a kick under the chin and I saw blood fly out of his mouth. I gasped in horror but Lucian didn’t move. Graham spit on the ground and adjusted his position so that he was on his knees again. “Can’t I even pay a lady a compliment?”
The selkie revved up to kick him again but this time Lucian cleared his throat. “Enough. Let the boy alone to wallow in his lust.”
I tried to make eye contact with Graham, but Lucian shifted his chair so that I was forced to look at him. “Now, let’s eat,” he said.
Apparently our entertainment was over.
