Gregor
I had intended to meet Brollen that evening. I set out toward the hut but, it didn't take long to realize Felicia was following me. I smiled to myself. I let her, knowing that I would lose her on the mountain. Even then, she did surprisingly well. I was discovering she could be a tenacious little thing when she wanted to be. I was almost hoping she would make it to the top, but I finally lost track of her.
I went inside to wait for Brollen. But I hadn't been there more than five minutes before I heard the pack start a howl. They were close by. I was surprised because they were not supposed to be up so high. I rushed to the window and listened. It was not a distress call or a warning. It was almost as though they were singing. The sort of song you sing when your heart is so full of joy you can't expres
GregorI turned and gave Brollen a sharp look. “The old man?” I asked.Brollen nodded.Felicia looked at Brollen. He intimidated her a bit, I could see it in her eyes. Though, she tried not to show it.“What are you talking about?” She asked. She looked at me wide-eyed. The evenings' events were taking their toll. I worried that it was too much for her to handle all at once. She was still leaning on my arm, and I could feel slight tremors pass through her body.“We can talk about that later,” I said to Brollen. I felt Felicia stiffen at my side, and I knew I had
GregorWhen Felicia hit the floor, unconscious, I experienced a depth of fear I had only felt once before in my life. I was so terrified that adjusting to the implant had killed her, as it had done to so many before her, especially since she was the first one I knew of to have a king's switch. When she came too, her words were slurred, and her eyes were dilated, unnaturally. She looked green around the gills as well.Then the revelations started. She told me of her dreams and memories. When she was finished, I did not doubt she was the realm's lost heir. But I wasn’t sure how much of that she remembered, and I needed to take things cautiously. No matter what she said, I knew she was having a hard time dealing with everything that had happened to her in the past
Gregor*Alfus gave me the co-ordinance to the secret base he had found and detailed directions on how to find it. It was hidden in a remote part of the Lobotian mountains. A craggy, perilous, range located far to the north. It had taken Alfus a day and a half to get there, moving at his fastest pace without stopping. It would take human forces at least twice that long.On top of that, It would take us weeks of planning. Alfus had given us good information but, we needed more. I needed to get someone inside the facility. With everything that was happening with Felicia, I felt stretched in too many directions.It was almost dawn when we finished. I sent Brollen to gather the rest of my m
GregorShe took me by surprise. It was the last thing I would have expected her to do. For a moment, I stood there rigid from surprise. Then my brain caught up. And I gently placed my hands on her arms. She retreated, slightly, from my lips. Every fiber of my being wanted to pull her back but, I didn’t. The pain I saw in her eyes broke me. “I can’t. It is forbidden for Keepers.” I nearly choked on the words.She tilted her head slightly and frowned. “By whom?”“What?”“Who forbade the Keepers from…kissing?” She asked.“It’s not
GregorFelicia and I walked back to the tower while the moon rose over the mountains. We walked hand in hand, and it was a new and exhilarating feeling. I could reach for her, touch her or even kiss her if that’s what I chose to do.Her hand was so tiny, resting in mine. They were long boned and graceful as well. I had started taking notice of all the intricate details about her. Things I had tried not to notice before. Her hands, the waves in her hair, every fleck of gold and greed in her eyes.About halfway home, she noticed my staring. “What are you looking at?” She asked, looking down self consciously.“
GregorIt was interesting to see Felicia interact with the wolves. They seemed both curious and deeply respectful of her. At one point I know she and Alfus had a private conversation because my implant went silent. I wasn’t sure I liked their ability to shut me out. But I understood that she didn’t want everyone in her head all the time. I wished I could do the same.The climb up the mountain took longer than usual. But, Felicia was not used to the trek, and she was already exhausted. Though she never complained, I could see her face pinching with pain.My men were all there when we arrived at the hut.Clayton was leani
GregorFelicia was quiet and contemplative on the way home. It was very late, and perhaps it was strain and exhaustion, but I doubted it. The revelation about her past was enough to make anyone pause and reflect upon things. I could have pummeled Clayton within an inch of his life for being so blunt with his memories. I helped her down the mountain. She held tightly to my arm, and I knew it wasn’t just for balance.“Are you alright?” I finally ventured softly.“Yes.” Her response was nearly inaudible.“I’m sorry about Clayton.” My disapproval was evident in the growl I could hardly suppress.
GregorI knew Felicia was dreaming. Vague images drifted into my dreams, Zana’s face, a struggle of some kind that was just a blur of colors and sound. We both woke with a start. I heard her get out of bed and go to the kitchen.I got up and followed her. “Are you alright?” I asked. The room was dark except for the starlight outside, but I could feel her nearness as I approached like an electrical current running between us. My breath quickened, and my throat went dry.“Yes, just a dream.” She said with a weary sigh.“I got some of the images through my implant,” I told her.
Faizah: When Braith caught sight of Zana, his roar made the mountain shake. But the guards jabbed him with a rod that sparked and filled the air with the smell of burning hair and flesh. Zana lunged against her captors, a deep growl emanating from her. I grabbed my head as the sheer force of her rage entered my mind. I realized she was trying to communicate with me. So I steadied myself and concentrated on her connection. Liars, betrayers! She snarled. I broke every bond with my pack, I betrayed them to save my mate, and these monsters betrayed me! They went back on their word! She sent me images of what she had done. I recognized the boy from the market in the body lying in the snow. That was hard enough. But I nearly crumbled to the floor when I felt her guilt, her anguish. I’m so sorry, she howled. And I knew it was true. I felt her sorrow. I felt how trapped she had been. How desperate she was to save her mate. My heart broke for her. “Help me now, Zana,” I pleaded “If we c
Faizah: The stern woman turned and started straightening a few things around the room. “For what it’s worth, you look lovely,” my maid said quietly. I glared at her. Tears smarted behind my eyes, and I clenched my fists to control them. I would rather eat horse manure than let them see me cry. I turned back to the mirror and took in my reflection. “What a lovely-looking slave,” Felicia laughed inside my head. “I am no one’s slave!” I spat at her. I turned away from the mirror. “It’s time to go, my dear,” the woman said. I reached for my cloak where it lay, draped over the back of the chair. “Oh no love, leave that here,” the stern woman said with disdain. “It will deflect from the lovely gown I made.” “But...” I started to protest, not wanting to be parted from the last vestige of my life with Gregor. But the seamstress held up a firm hand. “You’re going to be late for your wedding.” She urged me towards the door and into the dark and chilly hall. I followed the seamstress
Faizah:I spent a sleepless night, trying to figure out what to do about Felicia. Her utter confidence gave away that she had a plan of some sort. But I couldn’t read her to find out what it was. “Don’t beat yourself up, my dear.” She said after I had been trying to probe her thoughts. “I’ve had years of practice while you just discovered your switch.” “How do you know that?” I asked. “I can read you like an open book, dear.” She said wryly. She did not need to remind me, I knew I was outgunned, “Well then, I guess I have some catching up to do.” I said, gritting my teeth and probing again. I tried many times, but all I managed to accomplish was to make my headache return. While the echos of her laughter in my mind reminded me that she took sadistic delight in my struggles. By dawn, I had given up and sat looking out the window with sleepy eyes. The sun had just cleared the crags when I saw a skyship headed for the fortress. I had never seen one in person before, but I had heard
Faizah:I don't understand, my lady. Dana had been silent for several seconds before she found her words again. “I’m a genetically modified clone, Dana," I sighed. “created to be put in the place of the real princess,” Why would they do that? “Because the real princess is apparently an evil sociopath.” So you’re not the Felicia we have been searching for? Dana’s confidence was breaking by the second. “Well, yes and no.” I sighed again, exasperated at this situation and by the facts of my very existence. “My mother called me Faizah, and I guess that's who I am.” She has a king switch too, doesn't she? Fear laced Dana's thoughts now. “Yes,” I said. This complicates things. This is very dangerous. Somehow I could feel that Dana had started pacing. There were never supposed to be multiple king switches. That defeats their whole purpose. “I don't know all the details, and my memory is still spotty. But I don't think Felicia is supposed to have survived this long.” Then why did sh
Felicia:The maid agreed to keep me informed of anything helpful she saw or heard. Periodically I heard the agonized roars of the creature that used to be Zana’s mate, Braith. But, when I tried to reach out to him with my mind, all I could get was chaos. His mind was broken. Just a jumble of overwhelming emotions was left. It broke my heart, and I had no idea how to help him, or even if he could be helped. I also had to work hard at keeping Felicia out of my mind. She wanted to taunt and manipulate me like she used to. But I was stronger now, I could keep her at bay. I didn't want her to know anything about what I was planning. I couldn't sleep that night and I spent most of it pacing the room. Then, around three in the morning, I felt an approaching presence in my mind, Dana. I went to the window. She was bearly in range of my implant, so her voice came in and out. My lady, are y- the-re? her voice was broken by static. “Yes, I'm here.” my throat became tight with excitement an
Felicia:Lucas sat dumbfounded when I finished catching him up. “Uh...I’m not sure what to say,” he faltered huskily. He stood up and paced the room, shoving both hands through his hair. “We have to get us all out of here as soon as possible,” I said matter-of-factly. “You mean you want to bring her with us?” Lucas's eyes bugged out, and he looked at me like I was insane. “We can’t leave her here,” I argued back. “Why?!” “Because we need to know where she is and what she is doing,” I explained. “If we leave her behind, she becomes a risk. A factor we don’t have control over. And trust me, we need to be in control of her.” Lucas stood silently looking at me, a plethora of emotions crossing his face. I realized the poor guy was suddenly out of his depth. I took a step towards him and touched him on the arm gently. “Don't worry, I'll think of something,” I reassured him gently. He looked at my face and frowned slightly, then gave me a crooked smile. “Are you sure you're not the Pr
FeliciaThe next morning, when the maid returned, she was prepared for me, as I expected she would be. “Don't worry” I said, “I won't ambush you anymore. I'm hoping you will simply allow me to do what I need to do without such tactics.” “I want no responsibility in any of this,” she whispered. “If you get killed in your endeavors, be it on your head.” her eyes were hard. I didn't blame her for wanting to protect herself. No doubt the punishment for helping me would be nothing less than a death sentence if she were found out. But I had to do what needed to be done. “I won't blame you, and if we get caught, I'll do my best to convince them of your innocence.” “Innocence.” she scoffed “no one who steps foot in this place is innocent.” she stepped away from the door, leaving my way out clear. She stared at me with defeated eyes as I walked through the door. I felt a pang of guilt until I realized it wasn't me
FeliciaWhen I returned to my room, the maid was pacing frantically. “What were you thinking? Do you have any idea what could have happened to you? Do you have any idea what they will do to you?” she hissed at me. Her eyes were wide, and beads of sweat were visible on her brow. “I need answers. Whatever the risks involved.” I hissed back. “Now you better run along before you're missed.” She gave me one last wide-eyed look then fled my room as fast as she could. I heaved a heavy sigh and shakily sat on the side of the bed. I was having a hard time processing what...she...had told me. I didn't even know how to refer to her. She was not my sister. She was my base code. So what was I? Who was I? No more than another experiment. A pawn. And that realization was the last straw. Whether I was their creation or not I was no one's pawn. I cast my eyes toward the vanity and the secrets it held. I thought of my mother, and my emotions oscillated
FeliciaThe hall was cold and so I gripped my arms. The first thing I noticed was the smell. Damp, mixed with what smelled suspiciously like sick and excrement. The hall was long and dark. I began to think I had gone the wrong way, heading into an endless tunnel to oblivion. Then, I came around a corner and saw light shining from under a door up ahead. I slowed my pace and concentrated on listening. But, all I could hear was my rapid breathing and heart rate. Along with the distant drip of water on stone. I realized that this part of the facility was old, ancient even. Like they had just added on, delving deeper into the mountain as the years passed. How long had my country been experimenting on its fauna and subjects I wondered. I was only a few feet from the door and I could see a shadow moving around inside. Then I felt a ripple inside my mind, a recognition, from whoever occupied the room. Hello Faizah, it's been a long