The ground came rushing up to meet my seated body, knocking me off balance. Psychic travel was never pleasant, but it was a necessity to keep an eye on our enemies. Thankfully, after the twentieth time, well… it was still awful, but at least I didn’t throw up. Sarah hated when any of her girls showed weakness. It took me a long time to convince her I was strong enough to become her second. I wouldn’t let a little thing like having my soul ripped out, pushed through time, and then slammed back into my physical body deter me from serving. She saved me. She saved all of us.
“Rebecca, come,” she called from the edge of the prayer circle. I hadn’t even seen her leave the middle, but traveling came alot easier to her than it did to any of us. She assured me it would gradually become easier for me as well, but I knew I was not as strong as her.
I followed Sarah out of the circle and down the path that led to the cellar. “We have to see to our guest,” she said keeping her eyes locked on the destination. That’s what I wanted to become: devoted. Reaching full devotion, would make me just as powerful as her, and she would finally see me as an equal.
The cellar path was a dark one. We purposefully avoided adding any lighting to prevent anyone, who didn’t already know it was here, from finding it. Only those of us among the higher levels were permitted access.
“Stay close, Rebecca.” As I moved closer, I could feel heat coming from her being. She was looking at more than the ground or forest around us. Something I could not see, but I knew it was there. I had seen so much during my six years at her side.
“Solas,” she called and pulled the magic from those invisible strings only she was privy to. A ball of fire formed seemingly out of nowhere, but as she has instructed before, nothing does not come from nothing. Double negatives aside, it was rather poignant.
Darkness was not her only weapon. Sarah had also gone all Peter & Wendy with her hiding spot. The cellar door was at the base of a thick tree and covered in thick bushes. Of course, these weren’t fully in tact and had to be replaced at least once a month to maintain a realistic appearance. This was usually one of the first trust tasks given to a girl when she became a Level 6. Keeping the cellar a secret and hidden would prove her worthiness to advance or be banished forever.
“The new girl has been doing a good job,” Sarah noted sliding one of the bushes to the side. “What’s her name again?”
“Lenore, my queen.”
“We should have a council meeting to discuss advancing her to a Level 7.”
“Are you sure? She’s only been at this task for two weeks.” Most girls spend multiple seasons cycling the bushes, taking care of the area, and overseeing door security.
“Are you questioning me?” she asked devoid of any emotion in her voice and face. “I see perfectly executed camouflage. Is that not the purpose of a Level 6? To show she is competent and can be trusted with one of our most important secrets?”
It was clear I had overstepped and what I said now would surely play a role in my next evaluation. No one was above testing, not even Sarah.
“My queen, I only meant it is so soon. Usually, the girls have to spend months at this level. This was my role for nearly twelve months.”
“Ah, Rebecca, we all learn at different rates. You shouldn’t compare yourself to Lenore. You have proven your place in our circle. Now, let’s do this before I freeze. The nights are getting frosty.”
Nodding my head, I proceeded with unlocking the multiple padlocks and moving the heavy chain holding the cellar door in place. However, that wasn’t the last line of defense. There was also spellwork in place. Nothing was foolproof, but Sarah was old and powerful. Picking apart her spells would take someone a long time. They’d likely be ripped apart in the process of attempting to harness that amount of energy.
The ball of fire was a simple spell. This one was a long and tricky incantation. I had mastered many during my tenure, but there were words here I didn’t recognize. No way would I risk repeating them. When a witch tries to spell without the right state of mind and nature, it could end in disaster. Newer spells are easier to alter, but older ones, like those Sarah was fond of, have limited manipulation because of their use in the world. This means there are only a few, probably only one, situations in which the spell will work perfectly or can be broken safely.
The cellar doors opened on their own and Sarah stepped back. The spell didn’t faze her, which was good since she was the only one who knew it. If it was a struggle to use, our prisoners, the human ones at least, would probably die between recharges.
Sarah threw the ball of light into the dark caven, and it exploded, illuminating the stairs that led to the rooms down below. We made our way into the cellar, which only seemed at first like a dark, creepy murder dungeon. In fact, our prison was very luxurious. I mean the captives couldn’t leave, but they weren’t tortured. Sarah didn’t believe in it. If she wanted them dead, they would be.
Our current prisoner list was bare. Aaron Cassaway was a priority capture about a week ago. Only a handful of girls knew he was here, and we actually cleared the cellar before his arrival to ensure no one else knew of his presence. So far, he’d been a model guest. Mostly, he stayed in the TV room watching reruns of old sitcoms. That’s where we found him tonight. He seemed lost in an episode of some gimmicky laugh track show when we entered the room.
“Has it been another day already?” he asked without turning his attention away from the screen. “I wouldn’t know as you see I’ve been locked in a windowless room without clocks and only a collection of old DVDs to keep me company.”
“Now Aaron this place is fully stocked with all kinds of luxuries,” Sarah responded as she glided over to the sofa nearest his. I remained standing at the door at full attention until she needed my assistance.
“As I’ve stated every day since you brought me here, the only luxury I require is my freedom.” This time he did turn towards her. Although he appeared calm, the anger beneath the facade was notable. Vampires were good at control until they lost it.
“Unfortunately, I can’t let that happen, but your time here doesn’t have to be awful. You are my special guest, and all of those who know you are here know you are to be treated with respect and given anything you want except that.” She crossed her legs and sat back in the chair never letting her blue eyes leave him. It could be daunting to be on the receiving end of Sarah’s stare. I’ve often thought she could see right to a person’s core.
“What are you worried about?” she asked him. “Your daughter?”
At that, Aaron’s face blanched. I didn’t know a vampire could lose more color in their skin. “Hmm,” oops. It just slipped out at the thought.
“Rebecca, if you cannot remain quiet, I’m going to have to ask you to leave. It is a privilege to be here afterall.” She kept her face locked on Aaron, but his attention was broken and was now on me for the first time. What a stupid mistake!
“Could you bring some new DVDs. I’m nearly through The Big Bang Theory. Maybe something a little more entertaining next time like 30 Rock or What We Do in the Shadows. I’m not really a laugh-track kind of guy.” I gave him a little smirk, appreciating his taste, but quickly dropped it before I ruined the situation further.
This was supposed to be an interrogation. Sarah preferred to get her information willingly, but she wasn’t beneath using her skills to extract it without permission. Although I’m not sure what else we could learn, we already had the half-breed in our grasp. It didn’t matter, though, because of me this was over before it began. Sarah had to keep them enthralled with her. Once that was broken, it could be hard to start again because the interrogee would put up their guard. Now, she would wait a few more days, maybe a week, before attempting it again. Boredom was often enough to get anyone talking, but time trapped down here really did the trick.
~
“Rebecca sit down.”
The walk back to the house was quiet and cold. Sarah was disappointed, and the last thing anyone wanted to be was the person who made her that way. Her light was warmth and completion, but when it dimmed, or shutoff completely, everything was empty.
It had been four years since I had been in her office under negative circumstances. I sat in one of the two armchairs facing her desk. She sat behind it in her ergonomic rolling chair.
“In a different situation, your slipup would only be a minor offense, but today was not a minor situation. That man holds information for keeping our biggest weapon in this war in check. Without his help, Trembley could be used against us instead of for us.” She paused, but I knew better than to speak.
“I feel this error has shown you need to recomplete a few levels to better learn control over your power.”
This caused me to slip further, “But Sarah, it was the first time. I’m still your most loyal and most devoted priestess.”
She let me finish speaking, but it was only to let me dig my own grave. “Rebecca, your defense only proves this is the right path forward. You are not capable of managing your emotions. This outburst and your misgivings earlier won’t benefit us right now. I will allow you the benefit of choosing your replacement. However, be warned. This placement will show me where your heart lies. I advise you to choose well.”
I wanted to defend myself further, but it was clear she wasn’t having any of it tonight. I was too stunned to form words right now anyway. They all seemed foreign. How could I have been so stupid. In four years, there hadn’t been one mistake. I’ve stayed true and proven I was the best. No other girl here could top me. Now what? Someone else was going to be rewarded for one mistake. Not even a mistake. A small throat clearing if anything.
“I’ll expect a name by the end of the week. You're dismissed.”
“Yes, my queen,” I said ever the loyal servant but only out of habit. I was numb. I don’t really remember leaving Sarah’s office or finding my way to my room. It was only when my roommate entered that I realized where I was.”
“Rebecca?” she said waving her hand in front of my face. “Can you hear me?” Still dazed, the room and Charlie’s face came into focus. “Hey, are you ok?” she spoke again. I realized I must look pretty bad because she normally couldn’t care less about my condition.
“What?” I stupidly asked.
“Are you ok?” she repeated still lingering very close to my face. “You look sick. If you are, please let me know so I can bunk elsewhere for a few days.”
“I’m touched, and I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.” I swear Sarah paired her with me to test my patience.
“If you say so,” she said finally backing up and going to her side of the room. “I was talking to you for quite a while before I realized you had no idea I was here. Also, you look all sweaty and pale.”
“It’s nothing. I was exercising just before. I probably exerted myself a little too much. Nothing to worry about.” This answer seemed to placate Charlie because her normal disinterested disposition towards me returned.
“Actually,” I continued when I was sure she was over her worry. “Could you send out a message to all of the girls to schedule one on one meetings with me in the next few days? Sarah has requested I do reviews.”
That restored her attention. “Reviews? So early? Why?” Ugh… the lack of devotion in some of these girls was atrocious. After all Sarah had done for us, it was disgusting.
“It’s not for you to question our queen,” I answered revealing too much anger in my statement. This seemed to remind her to have some humility as she hunched her shoulders and looked embarrassed. “I only meant it was only a few months ago that we went through the last review. I know I haven’t been here as long as you, Rebecca, but in my three years, there’s only been one review a year.”
“Things change,” I said impatiently, “but suffice it to say, there may be an open position in the higher rankings for someone.” It wouldn’t hurt to get their hopes up. It tends to bring out the suckups. Good way to weed them out early on because that personality type was not to be trusted.
“Oh,” was all she said in response. “Well, thank our queen for us.”
“I definitely will.”
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.