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“And not without my sister,” said Sykaryn, firmly.
Ghul Lykos coughed, then asked, “Princess Tamar is here? Where? I must help her!” he proclaimed, standing and pressing against the bars.
Sykaryn nodded, saying, “I haven’t seen her, but I could swear I have heard her voice, speaking to Ghul Tark.”
“I suppose we must keep looking for her then,” he said.
“I think there are too many tricks in this Manor,” said Daemona. “We should just get out while we can and count ourselves lucky in getting away.”
“I don’t know you, Succubus, but we don’t leave our people behind. I must find my sister,” said Sykaryn.
“And I don’t know you, your highness,” snarled Daemona, “but I also don’t believe in wasting opportunities. We have paid a terrible price getting here and we should count the wins we can get over the losses.”
Sykaryn huffed. “I believe I am in command here, and I say, we find my sister. Follow me, all of you.”
Daemona paused, and the rest did too. Sykaryn looked furious.
Ghul Lykos was the first to speak, “Princess, we should at least regroup. The element of surprise at our escape is on our side, but this place is twisting our minds. We can’t trust what we see here; it is dangerous. We should escape and reformulate our plan of attack.”
Sykaryn grumbled, “Is there another way you can see, and I mean soon? We can’t wait forever for my sister. Who knows what nefarious plans Ghul Tark has for her?”
Ghul Lykos said, “I will never stop fighting Ghul Tark, but we must bolster our strength.”
“All right,” she relented. “Let’s get out and figure our next course of action.” She threw open the doors that led from the dungeon, and there stood the vampire lord himself, Ghul Tark. Behind him were a motley horde of his minions, skeletal warriors, liches, witches and worse.
“Leaving so soon, Princess? You have barely had a full month’s stay in my home. You have hardly even begun to taste the fates that await all of Greymalkin,” he said, crisp as dead leaves crunching.
“I’ve had enough of you,” snarled Sykaryn. “Come any closer and I stake you like a tomato!”
Ghul Tark chuckled malevolently. “My sweet summer child, you have no idea of whom you face, do you?”
The wall of skeletons moved together as one, their bones rattling like rotten twigs being stepped on. They advanced with crossbows, axes, and swords. Their teeth clacked hungrily.
Daemona reached for her daggers out of habit before remembering they were all disarmed. This made her feel more vulnerable than anything.
Sykaryn frowned. “This is all a game to you isn’t it, Ghul Tark? Next time, when I have a sword in my hand, then you’ll be sorry.”
Daemona let herself be pushed back into the dungeon, planning on porting out and freeing them again at the next opportunity.
“Into the dungeons with all of them except the Succubus. Her I have an offer for,” Ghul Tark said.
She looked to the others, some of whom were just as surprised as she was, while Sykaryn gave a look of “I told you so.”
The mob of skeletons advanced, and without weapons there was little any of them could do. Ghul Lykos was ready to “wolf out,” but Ivy made eye contact with him and slightly shook her head.
A group of the skeletons cordoned off Daemona from the others while pushing the rest back into their cell.
Daemona watched the heroes until they were back in the dungeon and out of sight. Their looks of disappointment burned into her.
Ghul Tark turned and walked into another great room. The throng of skeletal warriors urged her forward, forcing her to follow. The doors shut behind her and they were in a room with red velvet-draped walls and a black and white checked floor.
“My dear Daemona, I am so pleased to meet you at last,” said Ghul Tark. His dark eyes seemed to pour into her and she couldn’t look away no matter how much she wanted too. “Please allow me the pleasure.” He held a hand out and because she felt like she had no choice, Daemona let him take her hand.
She worried that he was going to bite her wrist, and she pondered porting away at the last possible second and making a run for the outside. But something stayed her hand. Is it his hypnotic gaze?
He didn’t bite, but instead kissed the edge of her fingers. “Shall we dance?” Without waiting for a response, he took her and strode her out to the checked marble floor. Light like stars was suddenly shining in all directions from the darkness, and soft, staccato music began as he spun her about the floor.
Music came from nowhere. For a moment she wondered how that was possible, but then she was caught up in the melody. It was a beautiful song. And he was such a talented dancer. Daemona wondered where the music came from and how the mood had suddenly shifted. She wasn’t afraid, she wasn’t angry, she didn’t feel anything but a sense of peace. How is that possible?
