Immortal Essence Box Set: Aligned, Exiled, Beguiled (53 page)

A pang of sorrow passed through my heart for her.

Tortevia went on,
Finally two beings were created, each balancing the other. Good and evil.
God and devil.
Ferether and Eternal. Together, you can kill Ramien and break the curse binding the souls to Kelari.

Holy
cret
. So, Ith and Aetha didn’t conceive me out of love, but necessity?
It grieved me to think I wasn’t born of love, but as a weapon.
I’m a pawn.
A new wave of grief constricted my heart.

We entered Stiel’s atmosphere and I studied the landscape. Wispy periwinkle clouds hovered over large metal skyscrapers. There weren’t any trees, or plants. No land or water.
Only strange clouds and metal.
The planet was cold and I shivered.

My head hurt. Tortevia told me a lot at once
. Too bad Michael was killed. I guess they’ll have to wait another thousand years and hope their next son or daughter doesn’t fail.
Bitterness consumed my mind. How many died because of Ith and Aetha’s scheme. Perhaps if I’d known, I would’ve done things differently.

Oh, child. We’re all part of a plan.

I sniffed.

Do you still have the medallion Michael gave you?

I clutched the warm metal in my hand.
Yes.

Good. Keep it on at all times. It’s the key to killing Ramien. I must take you back. We’ve been gone too long already. Promise me you won’t give up hope.

What aren’t you telling me, Tortevia?

Just promise.

Fine.

18. Say My Name

I opened my eyes and stared into the fearful reflection of Angela. She’d dressed me in a steel gray unisa, and brought me over to the chair in front of the vanity.

“You’re back . . . will look lovely in the dress.” Angela breathed a sigh of relief.

I searched her face, curious to know whether she understood my mind had been elsewhere.

She gave a brief nod, putting a finger to her lips. “The master will be here soon. I’m almost finished.”

The cuts and scratches on my face and body were healed, replaced by smooth creamy skin. Kohl liner and thickened lashes accentuated my eyes, making them appear large, and luminous. A hint of rosy color tinged my cheeks, and garnet lipstick stained my lips. Angela outdid herself with my hair. Pulled off my neck and away from my face, dozens of large curls circled my head, like a halo. Within the curls she randomly placed tiny black flowers and diamonds.

“Last one,” she said, spinning me around, clapping her hands. “I love doing hair.” Her eyes shone with happiness.

I took her hand in mine, glad for her joy. “I can see why. You’re a great talent, Angela.”

She blushed and curtseyed. “Thank you, Highness.” She opened a black box and pulled out an enormous crown. Made of thousands of white diamonds, except the gem in the center, which glistened a deep purple. It was so dark it appeared almost black. “A wedding gift from the master.”

A fluttering of nerves enveloped my heart. Stay strong, Venus, I told myself as I touched Michael’s medallion. “That’s . . .” Disgusting. Gaudy. Flamboyant. Ugly. Many unkind words popped into my head, but I said, “Too much. I can’t wear it.”

Angela’s expression changed to fear. “He insisted. Please, Highness.”

Resignedly, I agreed. “Fine.” I was a pawn. What choices were mine?

After she secured it on my head, I asked, “Now what?”

“The dress, I think. Then I’ll help you with your shoes.”

I cautiously nodded my consent, the heaviness of the crown like a noose around my neck. I rose, and grabbed my belt. Tortevia. She sparkled like new.

“I’m wearing the belt,” I added, not unkindly, but sternly. No negotiations. 

“I think she—the belt would look lovely with the dress.” Angela seemed to know a lot more than she let on.

“Good,” I said, and she smiled, obviously pleased.

I stepped into the dress, and Angela slid it over my curves, fastening it along the side. It hugged my body perfectly. Had I been marrying someone for love, this dress would’ve made me feel like a queen. But I wasn’t and I didn’t. I felt sick.

Hope, child
, Tortevia growled into my mind as I buckled her in place around my waist.

Right.

The boots shone the same color as the large gem on the crown.
Softer though, like an irrihunter’s fur.

Once Angela was satisfied, I pushed myself off the bed. The door opened. Ramien’s eyes raked my body and rested momentarily on my buckle.

“The belt is an odd choice.” His eyes found mine. Meeting his gaze, I stood straight and tall, refusing to let him see my apprehension.

“Come, Venus. Our guests are waiting.” He held out a black-jacketed arm for me to take. I casually obliged, ignoring my revulsion at his sickening scent.

19. Sabotage

The already over lavish dining hall had been transformed into an ultra billowy, flowery smorgasbord of . . . everything. The heavy drapes and gold walls were gone, replaced by gauzy white curtains, and stark white walls, tattooed with sophisticated silver flowers. On one end, a fifty-piece orchestra played softly. The musicians were all dressed in white. Their instruments were white. Even their music stands were white. Next to them a stage had been erected. Large, white columns wrapped in flowers adorned each side and held up a canopy of flowers. The floor of the stage appeared to be made of glass. Above, the chandeliers gave off a soft light.

Thousands of guests, all of them captive souls in bodies Ramien created, sat at hundreds of tables lining either side of a long walkway. Each centerpiece on the tables was a large glass pedestal vase filled with a spray of white, silver, and lavender flowers. Beautiful crystal goblets were filled with different colors of sparkling liquid. Food sat on thick ceramic plates.

The overripe scent of flowers permeated the air, noxious as the creature beside me. 

We walked in and a hush filled the hall. Nervous, I licked my lips. “Overcompensating, Ramien?” I asked, trying to sound confident.

“No, dear Venus. This is nothing. If I wanted I could change it all.” As he spoke the room morphed into a dank, black cave filled with thousands of smelly creatures. Saliva dribbled from their rotting mouths. I shuddered. Ramien laughed and changed the room back.

He led me to the edge of the walkway. “Can you do this alone or would you prefer someone walk you down the aisle?”

“What? No, I’m f—” I wasn’t able to finish. Zaren was suddenly in front of me, looking so gorgeous tears sprang to my eyes. “Zaren?” I ran and threw myself into his open arms.

“Princess,” he whispered into my neck.

“You’re here,” I cried. The syrupy odor of death surrounded him. And I knew Ramien created the body he wore. No more lemons and honey. Sob after sob ripped through me. “I’m so sorry, Zaren. So, so sorry.”

“Hush. Quiet. It’s okay. Everything will be okay.”

“You’re dead,” I uttered. “Everything will not be okay.”

He pushed me away from him and dabbed my cheeks with the sleeve of his jacket. Worry creased his brow. “Go on,” he said.

I nodded.

Zaren moved off the walkway, his hands clasped together in front of his body. A beautiful woman, with thick, cherry-red hair, slid next to him, tucking her hand under his arm. He leaned into her. I knew it was Palamina. “Have faith.” Zaren winked.

I tried to smile my thanks, but it wouldn’t come. The man I loved was in the arms of another. Everyone I cared for was dead, and I was about to ransom my life to save my parents . . . Ugh, could things get any worse?

Next to Zaren and Palamina were Palmo, Dervinias, and Chev.

I grasped Chev’s hand, and asked, “Where’s your baby?”

She shook her head, and turned away.

I kept walking. 

Music started playing, and a large creature with the head of a rhinoceros came to stand in the center of the stage. He wore the sacred robes of our kelarian shaman. They were stark white. Silver trim—the color of sacrifice—lined the robes.

Ramien waited on the right of him.

“All rise,” the shaman said. The guests rose and lined the walkway.

20.
Love
And Affection

The closer I got to the stage, the more I realized I couldn’t go through with it. I couldn’t marry Ramien. All my life I was taught marriage meant a continued promise of peace between two countries. It was never about love and I was okay with that.
But this?
Marrying . . . or sacrificing myself, as Tortevia said, so Ramien could steal my soul. “No! I won’t.”

“You too late, Venus. You already agreed,” Ramien said, his words dripping with greedy venom. “Don’t you want your parents freed?”

They abruptly appeared. My parents.
The king and queen of Alayeah.
Mom, beautiful as ever.
Her milk chocolate hair curled around her heart shaped face. Azure eyes sparkled with a mixture of joy and sadness.
And, Dad.
Still serene and regal.
His deep burgundy eyes full of compassion. I rushed into their arms.

“Venus, my dear,” dad said. I wondered if these people knew I wasn’t theirs. But I already knew the answer. Of course they had to know. My true heritage kept a secret for sixteen years.
From everyone in our country, in all of Kelari, including me.

“It’s alright, sweetheart.” Mom pulled me close.

At such a moment, I should’ve been happy. My wish came true. My parents, these people I believed were my parents anyway, were in my arms. But their bodies were false, and stank of Ramien.

“I’ve got to go,” I whispered, pushing them.

“What?”

“Why?” Mother clung to me, but I sensed her understanding. She knew. The music stopped. The guests spoke quietly amongst themselves, their eyes slashing into me. Yes, leaving would sentence those still in Helker to an eternity of torture, but if I allowed Ramien to win, his loathsome plans would go further, reaching beyond Kelari. They had to see the truth.

“I-
I’m
sorry.” Pulling my fingers from hers, I ran, using Britorent toward the doors. I dragged them open and stepped out. Ramien took over my body.
Cret
!

I turned. One leg stepped in front of the other. I couldn’t even scream.

“You already agreed to my terms. There are no take-backs or exchanges. You will be my bride. Your soul
is
mine.”

I reached the stage much too quickly. My body moved so I faced Ramien.

The rhinoceros shaman came forward. “Guests. Friends. Loved ones. We are gathered here today to witness the union of Venus, child of the gods and Ramien, ruler of the gods.”

I wanted to snort in disgust.
Ruler of the gods.
Ramien was so full of himself.

The shaman, continued, “In joining these two together, we will witness the dawn of a new age.” He turned to me. “Venus, do you take Ramien to be yours, body and soul?”

My mind screamed, “No! No! No! No! No!” But my mouth said, “Yes.” Fear knotted in my stomach. 

“Ramien, do you take Venus to be yours, body and soul?”

A cruel smile curled his lips. “I—” Ramien began, but stopped.

The skin on his body faded in and out, rippled. For a split second I saw the
thing
beneath his façade. Gruesome sores covered a carcass oozing green puss.
A being without a face.
As quickly as it appeared, it was gone. I shivered inside.

Ramien grimaced, and said, “Remarkable.” He still held my body captive. Slowly, he turned, and shifted. As he did, I saw . . . something—someone. A ghost.
But, how?
His body had been burned in lava. 

“Michael,” Ramien whispered. Silence fell over the room. The shaman and the guests were abruptly motionless.
Still as statues.
 

Confidence radiated from Michael, a glowing assurance. He smirked. “Hello father.”

“Come to claim your prize, son?” Ramien mocked, glancing at me. His left eye twitched. Michael had really surprised him. He’d believed Michael dead. 

Michael shook his head. “I’ve come to end your existence.” As he spoke, the medallion heated against my neck. Lavender light shot from it and landed on a metal dagger in Michael’s hands. It radiated against the blade.

Ramien inhaled sharply. The room altered from its glorious luxury to an enormous bug-infested hole in the ground. Creatures with thousands of legs and sleek maroon bodies scurried, while worm-like invertebrate pushed through the damp smelling dirt. Antennae turned to and fro, seemingly confused before burrowing into the ground. Spindly insects, reminiscent of spiders, shuffled about their business.

“You think you can end me? I am the beginning and the
end
.” With each word Ramien flicked his wrist and creature after creature fell over, as though it were dead. After several beats he flicked his wrist again, and the creatures got up, as though nothing happened, and continued on.