Chapter Six

Lisha POV

It's been two years since they took me from my home; rising early, I braid my hair and dress. Skyla starts to stir, eventually waking up, and dresses as well. Being half-human, Skyla needs more sleep than I do, and she also doesn't hear, see, run, heal, or have the same strength. But the advantage she does have because of her human blood is that she can lie. Fae cannot lie; we can avoid answering a direct question by wording our answer as another question which sucks, but straight out, lying is impossible until now. Skyla teaches me ways to lie every night, it's been a prolonged process, but I am finally getting the hang of it. We walk to the palace grounds every morning before going our separate ways for the day.

I am walking along the hallway that leads to the kitchen when someone grabs me from behind. I struggle, knowing it's pointless to scream when arms like steel wrap around me.

“Good morning Lisha; where are you going?”

Fear runs through me when I recognize Gabriel's voice.  I shudder and try not to gag as he runs his tongue along my neck and whisper,

“Seline is waiting for me, Gabriel. I can't be late,” 

His voice is husky as he says,

“Oh, I am sure she won't mind once I speak to her.”

He grabs a handful of my breast, pulling me closer, rubbing his crotch against me.  My voice trembles with fear as I say,

“Please, Gabriel, the Queen has guests arriving this morning. She has ordered us to prepare a special breakfast for them before they arrive. The queen has given Seline extra servants to help with preparations."

Gabriel pushes me away from him when he hears someone approaching and snarls,

“You won't always escape from me, Lisha.”

His footsteps thundered down the hall as he walked away.

Skyla rushes over to me.

“Are you Ok?” she asks.

I shrug. “Are you in the kitchen today?”. 

Skyla smiles. “Sure am, and I am not leaving your side all day.” 

We walk home at the end of the day together. I kept looking over my shoulder; my nerves were on edge. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. We get our bucket and head straight to the stream for water. After a swim, we sat on the bank, lost in the beauty of the place. My eyes drift to the trees. 

Frowning, I nudge Skyla,

“Can you see that? it looks like someone is watching us from the trees”.

Just as she goes to reply, two figures appear in front of us. I step in front of Skyla as she jumps back, startled. 

“Who the hell are you, and what do you want,” I snarl.

A familiar figure walks toward me.

“No, it can't be; Tyler, is that you?”

Tyler reaches for me, pulling me into his arms as he says,

“Come on, Lisha, we have come to get you out of here.”

I shake my head, 

“You can't, Tyler; the markings on my face won't let me leave,”

Tyler growls, looking at his companion.

“Why the fuck did we come here if I can't take her home.”

It takes the male a few minutes to reply as he hasn't taken his eyes off Skyla.

“Allana said the magic will weaken when she turns eighteen. Now we have found her; we will come back then." 

“What are you doing here, Tyler?”

Tyler explained that they had been searching the Seelie realm to find me. No one thought the Queen would have me this close to the palace. Queen Cassandra has contacted the vampire’s King and the werewolves; she demanded to have an official meeting to discuss matters of great urgency. Tyler and his companion, whom I now know as Xavier, are not part of the discussions, but they couldn't pass this opportunity to search closer to the palace.

Xavier is still looking at Skyla as he says to me,

“Your friend's magical binding is weak. We can take her back with us.”

Skyla is shaking her head “no,” I laugh,

“Keep Skyla safe and make sure you return in two years for me, Tyler.”

I move closer to him, wrapping my arms around him, not letting my tears fall. Kissing me gently, he whispers,

“We will be back for you, Lisha.”

I nod as Xavier moves to Skyla, placing her between Tyler and himself. I can see Skyla crying. I smile at her as they disappear. I remember Allana explaining that Fae, with potent magic and vampires, could mist, teleporting people.

Picking up the bucket, I slowly head back to the cabin. I miss Skyla already. She made what little life we had here bearable. Once inside, I bar the door and lock the windows; crawling into bed, my mind races as I think of the repercussions I can expect when they realize Skyla is not here. I cry myself to sleep, wishing I had been able to go with them. 

I groan as I wake, seeing the sunrise coming quickly. Once dressed, I make my way towards the palace grounds; hearing Athena's voice, I stop. 

“Where is Skyla?” she asks.

“She has gone on ahead of me.”

Athena nods as she says,

“Well, hurry up. The Queen's guests are leaving after breakfast.” 

I follow her into the kitchen, greeting Seline as I start work. I am making my way to the laundry when Gabriel grabs my arm, pulling me against his chest, and hisses,

“Where is Skyla? After Athena spoke to me this morning, I searched your cabin. Skyla is not there?” 

I look at him.

“I don't know where she is now, Gabriel.” 

“That's not good enough. You are coming with me. The queen has left your punishment in my hands.”

He smiles as he drags me into the courtyard. I notice there are only servants in the yard. Gabriel pushes me over to a post in the middle of the yard and bellows to the people surrounding us.

“This is what happens to you if you disobey any of the laws we have in place,” 

Tying my hands above my head, he whispers,

“I will enjoy this much more than you will, Lisha.”

Fear runs through me. I already knew he was a cruel bastard, but I didn't realize the extent of his cruelty.

“By order of the Queen, you will receive ten lashes.”

Gabriel rips the tunic off my back, exposing my skin from my shoulders to the top of my bottom. He pinches my breast hard before stepping back, and I watch as another guard approaches, handing him a whip.

When I see Gabriel raise the whip to his shoulder, I brace myself, not fully comprehending the amount of pain I am about to receive. I hear the whip whistling through the air. Pain erupts, running from my shoulders across the middle of my back, taking my breath away and exposing nerves in its travels. I lose count at five lashes screaming each time the whip comes into contact with my broken and torn flesh. Tears run down my face; they feel like the blood that is running down my back. I thank the stars when I feel myself sinking into the darkness.