Audrine has fallen asleep in her corner, exhausted from hours of crying and panicking. I cannot sleep. I sit at the edge of the bed, clutching my dagger, and waiting for someone to come rescue me. Jean should have been back by now. I'm not sure what his plans were, but he mentioned Sebastian and Alekso so he must be going to get their help. Alekso might be a match for even the strongest rival diablarist, but a whole clan of them? Even with Jean and Sebastian at his side, there's no guarantee he and Kazaxon can defeat these Chosen.

When I cannot sit around any longer I make my way to the entry room and find walk around there, back and forth, pacing frantically. Jean did not lock the door. As far as I know, the cultists do not know I'm here with Audrine. If they come for her though, they will see me, and I will attack as instructed.

As I consider my options, the door swings open confidently. Confidently? I did not know doors could do that... However, it makes sense, when the man who walks inside radiates haughtiness. He's the man I met earlier with Bishop Lambert who I did not recognize. I don't remember any odd feelings from him before, but now I can't escape them.

Pride. The demon he made a deal with was certainly a pride demon. The man's ridiculously handsome, with wavy blonde hair, angelic blue eyes, and a charming smile. He also looks completely unafraid as I stand there with the dagger raised in my trembling hand.

"Put that down," he says, chuckling slightly and holding out his hand. "I am not here to hurt you. Remember how I defended you against Bishop Lambert? You are more important than they realize, and I know that. My name is Matthias, your highness, and if you would just come with me..."

I narrow my eyes. "Where is Prince Jean? He dragged me here and left."

"You don't have to play dumb for him, dear. We figured him out when he left with you and came back with the king."

"The king is here?"

"Yes, and I am going to bring you to him. Well, his demon to be precise. Kazaxon the Red is currently in power, and we believe seeing you might help him with a vastly important decision he must make."

Matthias is not to be trusted, that is for sure. I back away from him and keep my dagger raised. "You all wanted me dead because you think I stand in the way of Alekso's glory."

"That is true, and you do stand in the way, but that is not entirely your fault. Diablerie is a holy undertaking and not for the weak. Alekso, we always thought, was strong. He ruled this country all these years with a heart of stone and a fist of iron. And then you came. Sweet, beautiful, charming, but ultimately quite naive." He gives me that bemused smile. "You refuse to see that some dark things must be done for the greater good. You took that weakness and drove it in to Alekso. Now he is all but useless to us, and to Mercia. But Kazaxon is different. He will never be weak, and even if you are his mate, you can never stop his base instincts. All we need to bring Kazaxon to our cause is the guarantee that he will be able to indulge in his wrath all he wants, and that his mate will be safe."

"So you'll keep me alive for Kazaxon, and now you want to kill Alekso."

"Kazaxon needs a stronger body to inhabit. One like mine." He straightens his shoulders, as if presenting himself to me. "So I made him an offer. He is still deciding, and I think you could help him. Now come with me, and you have my word you will be safe."

I scoff, refusing to lower my weapon. "Your word means nothing to me, Matthias. I will not help you hurt my husband or use my demon for your own ends."

"They are not my ends, your highness. They are God's. You do not want to deny the will of God, do you?"

He reaches for me, and I swipe the dagger at him.

"Stay back!"

"Your highness," He warns, but I refuse to back down.

"I said stay back!"

Matthias loses his patience though, and his veneer of calm cracks when he is unable to convince me to do what he wants. He comes at me with a growl, trying to get the dagger from my white knuckled grip. He snatches hold of my wrist and we grapple for a few moments, but he easily overpowers me. I am pushed on to the bed, seeing that in our fighting he managed to get me that far, and pinned down long enough so he can yank the blade away. Before I can even consider getting up, he has the knife at my throat. Anxiously, I press my hands against the sheets of the bed, knowing the blade will not cut me deep. I am apparently useful enough that Lambert's initial plans to kill me have changed.

"Be a good girl, Edeva." Matthias growls. "It would be so much easier if you are good, and do as I ask. The Chosen are a small collective, but we are mages and diablarists all united in one cause. What chance do you stand against us? You, a weak human girl who came stumbling out of the woods?"

He presses the knife threateningly against my neck. I feel stinging, and then the sensation of something warm beading on my skin. My fingers curl against the sheets in to fists as an indignant rage begins to overwhelm me.

"If Kazaxon chooses to leave Alekso for me, we will kill Alekso and you will inherit the kingdom. Kazaxon will have you marry me so he can keep you close. We really should learn to get along, don't you think?" He lets go of my upper arm, sliding his palm against my flank, and then my hip. He pushes my skirts up so he can feel my bare thigh. "Behave for me and I will let you be with your demon. Resist, and I will punish you and make sure he never finds out."

The knife presses in more as he curls his hand in to the flesh of my thigh. "Maybe we will keep Alekso alive as leverage, holed up in the dungeons at Cliffside with his corpses, and beat him if you displease me in any way."

I'm sure somewhere, deep in my heart, there is fear. But I can't feel it. I'm too angry that this prideful Matthias thinks he can scare me.

"Have you seen Alekso's cock?" I murmur, trying not to push my neck deeper against the knife.

"Pardon?" Matthias is taken aback, pausing in his machinations.

"Alekso's cock. Have you seen it? Taken a good look at it?"

He looks like he is about to laugh. Something moves at the corner of my vision, but I ignore it.

"He is very well endowed, Matthias. Intimidatingly so. I've had it in my mouth. And Kazaxon? He's a demon. His cock could split me in half if he is not careful, and I have had it in my ass. So do you really think I am afraid of you?"

Matthias stares at me for a long moment, his mouth agape.

"Well, that is... an interesting argument."

I knee him in the side, and though it doesn't hurt him, it reignites his earlier attempts to subdue me. I grip his wrist holding the knife against me and try to push it away, but even with all my anger he is too strong. We struggle for another few seconds, and he is so completely focused on me that he does not notice the shadowy figure behind him, just like when I ranted about cocks earlier he did not notice someone moving from the corner.

Lady Evermire smashes a chair over Matthias' back.

"Get off of her, you monster!"

The cultist rolls off of me, the knife cutting through the skin on my neck in the process. He does not slit my throat, but leaves a wound deep enough to bleed and cause pain. I cry out and press my hand against it. Matthias jumps to his feet and begins to stalk towards Audrine.

"Run, girl!" She calls out to me. "Go find the king!"

I do not hesitate another second. I rush out of the bedroom. There is a sharp, horrible pain in my shoulder, but I ignore it for now and check the door to the antechamber. Luckily it is unlocked. Matthias definitely made a deal with a pride demon, since he didn't think he would need to lock the door behind him; he thought there was no chance of me escaping.

"Arrogant man," I mutter as I leave, not waiting for Audrine. I can only hope she is okay, even if in her moment of heroism she still called me 'girl'.

I run down the hallway, trying to remember anything from when Jean was leading me here. I'm still not scared, just upset, and ready to confront any other cultist that comes after me. Matthias said that they had Kazaxon, and surely I should be able to locate a big red demon if I cannot locate my husband.

A woman in a black cloak exits a room I pass and gasps when she sees me, and I shove her to the side. A few seconds later, she screams. I don't care - I must find Alekso. Together we can take care of this cult that threatens him. If they are bold enough to imprison the king with intentions of killing him, they are a threat to the whole of Mercia as well.

Goodness, they are a threat to the entire island. When this is over we will have to send word to Aldmoor and Aecorland, too.

Another cultist comes out from a room and stands in my way.

"You are not supposed to be--" He pauses mid-sentence. "Your throat..."

"It is fine. Out of my way!" I practically growl out and try to move past him. He stops me, trying to regain his composure.

We only struggle for a second or two before he looks past me and his face goes pale white. This gives me a chance to push him out of my way, but when I go to touch him, he spins around on his heels and runs away as fast as he can.

"Bishop!" He cries. "Bishop! The Legio!"

His voice trails off as he gains distance between us. Something about the Legio being... activated? I pause my angry stride and venture a glance behind me to see what scared the cultists so.

There, armed with swords and shields, dressed in dusty silverite armor, stand about twelve soldiers, in rows of three, completely still as though they were but shadows. Their eyes are glassed over in milky white with a subtle glow, their skins pale and bloodless. I can only stare at them as they stare right back at me as if waiting for some command I am meant to give them.

I take a step backwards. They take a step forward. They pause when I pause. Curiously, I reach over and run my hands down one's chest piece, wiping some debris off of it. Alekso keeps his undead soldiers housed in tombs. They should not be this dusty. I have a feeling that they might have broken through a wall to find me.

This small contingent of Alekso's infamous Legio Mortis seems to be at my beck and call. I thought my first meeting with an undead soldier would terrify me, but here I stand, smiling a little. These are just reanimated bodies, vessels held aloft by magic to do my husband's bidding. I do not owe these bodies an apology; no one does.

I shrug, beckon the soldiers, and turn back around . As I continue my way, they surround me and maneuver me to walk in the middle, one on either side of me as the front two rows march ahead, leading to where I hope to find my husband. A cultist would appear and either cry out and run in the opposite direction, or make the mistake of attacking and be cut down. The soldiers step over the bodies of those they kill with no regard.

The longer we walk, the more tired I feel, which I should consider natural, but this... I should not be so sluggish. Perhaps it is the spike of anger I felt at Matthias finally wearing off? I look down at my dress, the teal color mixing with the blood from my throat, turning the front puse. The pain in my shoulder has yet to subside, but I am able to ignore it with my far more important goal in mind.

That is, until I pass by a room and see my reflection in a mirror at the far wall. I call for my guard to halt, squirm out from between them, and rush in to the room.

My skin is almost as pale as theirs. My dress is soaked in my own blood, but not just from the front. As I turn and pull my hair away from the pained shoulder, I see what the cause is.

The dagger that Jean gave me found its way in to my shoulder. Did Matthias throw it at me as I ran from the bedroom? Without thinking, I reach back and wrap my fingers around the jeweled hilt. More pain sears through the wound, shooting down my back to my legs and wrapping around my chest.

I let go, take a deep breath, and grip the knife again. Then in a swift decision, I tear the weapon out from my shoulder and throw it to the other side of the room. The pain is incredible. I cry out, and a soldier comes over to catch me as I stumble backwards.

My entire left side is in pain. I whimper but can't actually reach to hold the wound closed, and the soldiers are not meant to tend to injuries. Alekso told me, when an undead soldier is injured past the point where it can no longer fight, the magic leaves it. There is no point otherwise.

The soldier helps me stand up straight and I take a few deep breaths. At least my lung wasn't injured, else I would probably be coughing up blood. I think.

I turn back towards the doorway where the rest of my guards stand, staring in my direction and awaiting their next order. With tears running down my sickly pale face, I ignore the pain.

"Come," I command weakly. "Help me find Alekso."