I was forced to climb onto Jack’s back again so that we could all travel at a decent pace. Jack was actually going much slower than we’d traveled before in order to allow for our companions, but it was at a speed much faster than it would have been had I gone on foot. We traveled on ground instead of the tree tops until we reached the opening of a small cave that truly didn’t look like much. This unimpressive little opening in the hillside turned out to be a portal to the world beneath our feet.
I learned from Sergeant Org that this was L’oana’s world. It was a world full of illusions, tricksters, and evil doers. This explained their reluctance to entering it. He warned me to be cautious about speaking to anyone other than the three of them and told me of the many species of life that lived in the world below the surface world, including some of my own who’d managed to escape the chaos when the Mannador arrived
We reached the inn none too soon for me. Jack put me down just outside its door and I fell back behind Sergeant Org. I wanted to put as much space between us as possible. I could be mistaken, but I think I saw a look of hurt in his beautiful green eyes before they clouded over into an emotionless void.Sergeant Org offered me his arm and escorted me into the large public room. There were wooden tables placed strategically around the floor with a small counter in front of beer kegs against the back wall for the barmaid.“Why it’s a tavern,” I murmured with surprise.“That it is, your grace,” the sergeant explained. “These little inns all have rooms like this that double as a dining room and tavern. We’ll grab a bite to eat and a pint of ale and then off to bed with you.”“That sounds good,” I replied with gratitude.The mention of food made me realize I hadn’t
Confusion took over as Jack’s body went limp and heavy, pinning me beneath him.“I’ve never met a vampire that had such a tough time keeping it in his pants like this one does,” L’oana complained to her companions. “Someone please tell me what it is about this creature that makes him do such foolish things.”I gasped in horror as I heard a strange male voice remark about what he’d like to do with my voluptuous body. Not only was it odd to hear anyone refer to my body as voluptuous, but it was shocking to hear someone claim desires to do to it the things he was claiming he wanted to do. I didn’t know if I should be horrified or mortified.I knew immediately which one of the two burly men pulling my unconscious lover off me made such an offensive statement of desire by the wicked lust displayed on his face. Interestingly, his companion was clearly embarrassed by my nakedness.
We were above ground and still no sign of Jack or Sergeant Org. I wondered if the sergeant was in on the ruse all along and simply pretending to be knocked out for my benefit. I was beginning to be suspicious of everyone around me. How sad that it had come to that.We were barely on the trail when we met up with a small troop of Mannadorian soldiers. The King was notified of my capture and had traveled to meet me. It seemed my time as a free woman would be shorter than expected.Although my legs were relieved when they placed me on a beautiful black gelding for the remainder of the journey, my heart was heavy. Every step that my steed took put my vampire guardian and lover further and further behind us. I questioned if it might be better to die. I didn’t know how I’d be able to live without Jack at my side.I closed my eyes and the memories flooded into my head. Making love with Jack must have broken down the
I could hear the faint whisper of the young maid as she lightly tapped my cheek in an attempt to awaken me. I don’t know how long it was since I’d passed out, but it wasn’t nearly long enough. My body was exhausted. The last thing I wanted to do was to be roust out of the marvelous semi-coma I was in.“Princess, please… you must awaken. Time is short,” came the whisper through the dark.Time is short? Short for what? Oh yes, I remembered. I was to be married.“I don’t want to get married. Let me sleep,” I mumbled.“No, you can’t sleep. I’ve come to set you free, but only if you arise now and flee. The encampment will be coming to life soon,” she said in a hushed and urgent tone.I needed no more prompting than that to spring to life. I sat up in the darkness and looked around. It was so black; I couldn’t see my hand i
I had no idea how far up the river I had to go to reach the teleportation launch. I also had no idea what to do when I got there. These thoughts, as well as thoughts of Jack and Sergeant Org, filled my head while I kept a steady jog. I was surprised at how well my legs were holding up. Either all of the intense walking had strengthened them, or it was part of the maturing process my body was experiencing. Whatever the reason, it was good fortune for me.I pictured Sergeant Org in my mind. Had my parents really pledged my hand in marriage to him? It seemed so abstract. He certainly was handsome in his own way. He didn’t fall into Jack’s category of handsome, but never-the-less he was good looking enough. Had my life gone differently and I not met Jack, I could have possibly accepted being married to him. He was not just handsome, but he’d proven himself to be a kindly person. Someone of this nature w
To Sergeant Org’s dismay we were about a day’s travel from the teleportation launch. This meant we’d have to find a place to spend the night. Although Jack could continue on, Sergeant Org and I required rest.He remembered a cave he’d hidden in on several occasions and guided us to it. It was not big, but it was dry and very difficult to spot until you were right upon it. Since Jack didn’t require the same type of rest that we did, he volunteered to stand watch outside while we slept a few hours.Once alone in the cave, an awkward silence fell between the sergeant and me. I longed to ask him what was on his mind, but I felt insecure about doing it. I got the impression he was holding back asking me something as well.“Can I ask you something, princess,” he finally said.“What’s that?” I asked.“Can I ask how you managed to get free?” he said.
I couldn’t believe it. After hearing the story of Sergeant Org’s true identity and how we’d been promised in marriage when I was just a babe in arms, Jack stormed out of the cave and refused to talk to either of us. After one of the most excruciating hours I’ve ever endured, he finally returned. What I expected to hear and what I heard were two different things.“Sit down, both of you,” he commanded. We did as he bid. He looked directly into Prince Mandrake’s eyes –I could no longer think of him as Sergeant Org-, “Why didn’t you tell me your true identity? You know I would have kept it a secret.”“I know,” the prince replied. “It’s just that I’d promised Captain Berger never to tell a soul and I honor my promises. Besides, it was safer for you to not know.”“I suppose,” Jack murmured. “We have a dilemma
We managed the remainder of the trip with no encounters with the enemy and no mishaps. We also shared no words. Each of us was lost in our own thoughts. Drake made a grunt or two when guiding us in this direction or that, but otherwise we moved in silence.My eyes bore a hole in Jack’s back as I seethed over his loathsome behavior, while wondering what he was thinking. I hoped he was thinking about the mistake he’d made and was searching for a way to make it right, but I guessed he was planning my wedding to Drake.We reached the teleportation launch in the early evening. Once again I was exhausted. Jack hadn’t offered to carry me at all, so the pace was far slower and the trip much longer than I could have been had he decided not to be an ass. I groaned and stumbled onto the launch pad, earning looks of concern from Jack and pity from Drake, but nothing more. Drake positioned us for the transfer