Chapter Twelve

Escape

~N~

Blackstone Castle, 673, Nearing Dawn, 28th, of October

Grekan groaned seeing and hearing noises from the other side of the castle wall. Up on the third floor it was high enough to give him a view over the defenses. Grekan sniffled certain the guards out manned Donatello, even if they were Human. He saw them go to the south wall by the river. Now he could see that they tied a form to the garden gate.

Then to Grekan’s horror, he saw the fire and heard the oddest cries. Sobbing for there was nothing he could do to stop, help, nor save brave Donatello from this hellish fate. Now the princess’ yell startled him and he turned to see she was caught in her own terrifying dream. Glad for the distraction, he wiped his tears away as he rushed over to wake her.

~N~

For Kolo it was also more satisfying to see the agony in his victim’s eyes as well as the damage his flames were causing, as they melted the fibers of the net and clothing into Donatello’s skin. As the Dragon screamed, Kolo believed it to be Donatello’s scream and even though he wanted to hear him suffer, it caused him to shudder in fear.

The sounds were heard all through the castle, the grounds, and the village. Now Kolo forced a smile of grim satisfaction, as he heard Donatello’s last scream fade and knew the very moment that life left Donatello’s eyes. The Dragon got a good look at Kolo before going back to sleep. Kolo nearly fell from the drain of his power and strength that it took to bring his fire again.

He commanded the Day Guards, “Leave him. It is a warning to any whom would be foolish enough to defend Sidonia. You two-.” He pointed at two larger guards, “Come carry me into the row boat, I want to go home.” They all followed as the two put him back into the rowboat that his twin sister had brought him in.

He whimpered, “I have punished him Lola. I promise, dear sister. No matter what it takes, I will find a way to get you back! And they will all pay for this treachery.” Kolo did not know what to do about Lola. Then he turned pointing, “You five, get torches and go sweep up my sister’s ashes. Make sure you get every piece and bring them to me. I will wait here.” They ran off, and he sat nervously watching the sky grow lighter.

They gathered torches and then knelt down where her essence lay on the ground. One took off his jacket, and they scooped up Lola’s ashes from the dirt until there was no more sight of it. Then folding the jacket carefully, they returned to their master, handing Kolo what remained of Lola. The white haired guard said, “I put her in this jacket. We got every piece that was there.” Kolo nodded and choked out, “Take me home.”

~N~

Grekan shook her, as Sidonia woke screaming, “Father, please help me!” She gasped to Grekan, “Is the evil one here for me?” Grekan said, “No, not yet.” Sidonia looked about, “Where is Donatello?” Grekan tried to avoid telling her, “The guards told him that Captain Tik wanted him at the front gate, so Donatello went. I am here and I will stay with you.”

Sidonia tried to move and remembered her ankle was still tied to the bedpost. Flipping back the covers, she began untying it as Grekan asked, “What is going on here?” She gave a dry chuckle, “Donatello. He did not like that I could not tell him how I got out of a locked room. Grekan did not wish to speak of Donatello so he did not ask further.

Instead, he changed the subject, “Were you having a nightmare or a vision?” Sidonia replied, “My mind was betraying me with childhood horrors… wolves in the forest. It is the only thing that comes close to the horrors of the Evil One. I was only six and that day was the first and last time, I remember seeing my father use his powers.” Grekan wished she would tell him more, to keep her from learning about Donatello.

He suggested, “Tell me about it. That will help it seem less frightening.” Sidonia nodded yet left out her mother’s betrayal as it was too painful to speak of, “I got lost in the forest and I had to run from wolves. As I climbed a tree, one jumped climbing up after me, and just as he was snarling into my face and I was certain he would bite me and then tear me to pieces-.” She gasped with horror as the memory was too fresh.

Grekan got her a drink, after finishing it, Sidonia regained control of her emotions, “My father grabbed him by the throat. Then he easily tore his jaws a part killing the wolf and went after the rest of his pack. Even though they were now running from him, father’s anger did not allow them to get away. I was shaking so bad I could not climb out of the tree and thought I would fall to my death at any moment.”

Sidonia tried to explain how afraid she had been, “As I heard the wolves’ cries, yelps of pain, and then silence; I had never wished death upon another before, and I was so glad he killed them. Father came back looking calm, yet I saw and sensed he was still fuming and furious. I shall never forget the distinct scent of their blood, as he was covered in it.”

The Dark Princess’ eyes were glowing with a green mist as she described the horror of her childhood, that she had relived, “I remember the glint of fury in his eyes, as Father flew up and pulled me into his arms, then flew us back to the North Gate. He walked in still holding me in his arms. I felt proud that he was the most powerful and deadliest father this world would know, and I needed it in order to be safe.”

Now she added solemnly, “Now I see it was not enough. I should have sought how to love and protect myself. For no will always love you when needed, and no father can always there to kill the foe.”

~N~

Kolo held Lola’s ashes possessively and suddenly broke down as he wept. Then sobbing he looked up and saw their expression of mockery and disapproval. He spit furiously, “I do not need you fuckers pitying me, nor your smirks. I can still kill you anytime I like, just remember that! Now get in the boat and row me back up river.”

The two who had carried him were already in, then next two of the five stepped, and the next three were about to, as the boat sunk dangerously low into the water, threatening to come in and sink them. Kolo panicked, grabbing the man shoving him off balance so that he went into the river, and as he came back up with the water to his chest. Kolo grabbed his arm; he bit his wrist and drank, while he screamed.

Once the guard was drained his head went under, Kolo let go of him, leaving him dead in the water. Next Kolo yelled at the rest, “He would have sunk us. If any more climb in you will die with him!” He huffed at their stupidity, “It only holds six, where were you all going to sit?” He answered himself, “On their fucking laps!”

He giggled then commanded, “I want you who are left to watch for Sidonia to come out of her room.” The bald man asked, “Then what?” Kolo rolled his eyes, “When she does, you will grab her and sneak her out. Try this gate so the others do not see. Then bring her to the north end of the village.” He gasped with weakness and pain.

As he got control he finished, “Wait there in the shelter of the trees, and I will send you word at sundown, telling you where I will be and where you are to bring her. She must not be harmed! I need to be able to question her and get some information out of her.” The men nodded and went to stand in the grove of trees. Now Kolo directed those in the boat to row him up river, and they nearly passed the creek before he saw it.

Finally, they were where Lola had left the boat. He had them lift him out, and then the others pulled it up on the bank. Kolo ordered them to carry him to Samala’s cottage. He groaned as the carried him roughly. Then when he saw the neighbor’s home, he wondered what had happened to Jillian and chuckled at the thought of her laying in the dirt.

Once inside, he left all but one in the parlor. He had the strongest carrying him into his darkened room. Once there with the door closed he bit him and drank until the guard was dead and had no more to give. He closed the heavy curtains about his bed and wept over the loss of his sister. Finally too exhausted to cry, he wanted to fall asleep holding her ashes.

Laying there in his hopeless state he was had no clue of what had happened to Lola, or if it was possible to find out. His own body felt uncommonly weak and he was not certain that he would even survive the day. As the loneliness overwhelmed him, Kolo felt he might not care if this was to be his end it was too bleak without Lola.

~N~

Getting a vision Sidonia gasped, “It was a trap! Lola had possessed that elderly woman Jillian.” Grekan questioned the one from the bookshop?” She nodded saying in disbelief, “Donatello has my father’s sword and it has harmed Lola!” Grekan replied, “Good.” Sidonia told him, “Oh no! Kolo is alive! He has burned Donatello’s back. The guards threw a net over him and stabbed him with an iron dagger. Even the guards on the wall are taunting Donatello!”

Grekan sobbed, “No more please.” Sidonia was caught in the horror, “They bound him with rope, and are over powering him.” Grekan groaned, “I was too afraid to go help him.” The Dark Princess said, “They tied him to the gate.” Now she screamed out, “Oh, no! Kolo is killing him in the cruelest way possible. He is burning him to death!” She saw the Dragon come to life, and it turned to look at her in the vision.

This startled Sidonia as she had not ever been seen before. The Dragon whispered, “Do not forget to take me with you.” The scribe gasped, “I am sorry he told me to stay.” Sidonia moaned, “He left Donatello on the garden gate as a message to any foolish enough to help me!” He put his arm around her as they sobbed. Grekan asked, “Do we still fear saying his name?” She did not reply, still thinking of the Dragon.

Grekan began to think there was no point in it, for Kolo had already come. Grekan mumbled, “Still he cannot enter the barrier. I could see the flames from this window seat and feared it was something like that. I warned Donatello not to go; I told him I had a bad feeling.” She moaned, “Now I am responsible for Donatello’s death as well, I know he was innocent. That is three deaths that I have caused, due to knowing the Evil One.”

Sidonia told Grekan, “The fiend left yet he vows to kill all of us for what happened to Lola.” Holding her tight Grekan said, “I was wrong to put off your leaving here, as I now see that we cannot stay. As soon as it is light we must consider how we escape the castle!” They held each other as they cried. Then he tried to reassure her, “There was nothing we could do.” She nodded, yet silent tears flowed down her cheeks.

Princess Sidonia now said, “The Day Guards were involved, and the Night Guards did nothing to help or even try to stop them. The vision is coming again, and I am dizzy.” Sidonia screamed out, “I do not want to know, stop showing me!” She fell back on the bed causing Grekan to scream, as he was afraid she had died. Then he saw her chest rise and fall, and said with relief, “She has only fainted from the strain of it all.”

Grekan looked at the sky and told himself, “Sunrise has to come. It is only a few hours. The evil one must leave then.” Grekan pled, “I have to have hope.” He now bolted Sidonia’s iron shutters and laid down on her window seat, soon he was softly snoring. Sidonia sat up looking over at him; feeling only slightly bad about tricking him she got up.

First, she wrote two notes, one to Grekan the other to her father, she tucked them in his pocket. Then she got dressed. Now she finished the ending of the last story she might ever write, as she tied the pages into this final book for Viktor. She knew that this last story was more of a confession than a tale, even though she changed a few things.

She believed they deserved to know why it had happened and how. As she looked about her room, tears fell and she put on her cloak, picked a bag for food, and then shrunk her furniture. Princess Sidonia reduced it all placing them in her trunk, and last she reduced the trunk until the only thing not in her hand was Grekan and a wastebasket.

Now she turned the trunk into a rune mark, placing it on her arm. She wanted to take her loyal friend with, yet feared it would cause his death. She opened a secret panel in her room, and left entering her brother’s room, finding it empty. Sidonia did a vision seeing Viktor was asleep in his hiding place. Putting the new book with the others, she felt leaving Viktor was safer; she was unsure she could ever return.

In their private sitting room, at the hearth, she placed her finger into the left gargoyle’s mouth, pushing the lever it released the panel in the wall, and pulling it open, it revealed the hidden staircase. She lit a candle and entered closing the panel behind her. Descending the stairs, she opened a door. Closing the concealed door, she came out into a hidden hallway. As she walked she whispered, “Sorry Donatello.”

She went to a panel unlatching it as she confessed, “I believe the secret door is how I left my room, not my brother’s key.” She entered the kitchen through the hidden door, and filled her bag with wine, fruit, bread, and cheese. Now she went back out through the panel, closing it behind her she went down the hidden hallway, then stopped and pushed a knot in the wooden wall support, causing another hidden doorway to open.

It revealed a tunnel, which allowed the dark princess to exit the castle underground. She walked in closing the panel behind her and went down the long tunnel, feeling a tightness of fear in her chest. Sidonia felt like a coward, fleeing from the threat while she left everyone to die.

~N~

Kolo suddenly woke from the nightmare of reliving his sister’s demise; it had caused this rare event of waking so close to sunrise, rather than the dark slumber that kept him sleep through the day. He limped to the door of his room, and demanded, “You wheat hair! Come here.” To another, “You white hair, take a horse and go south on the road out front, to the castle. Find out if they have Sidonia yet!”

Then feeling thirsty and weak, he added before the whitehaired guard got to the door, “Bring a few more guards back, and hurry!” The wheat haired guard followed him into the bedroom and Kolo grinned, “Be silent and give me your wrist.” He complied and Kolo drained him letting him fall to the floor. Now he dressed and prepared to leave.

Bringing his sister’s ashes with, he came out into the parlor. Kolo commanded the last two, “Come and put the dead guards from my room, into the forest. Then get my carriage from the stable.” One gasped, “It is not sunset.” Kolo scoffed, “Do I sound like I fucking care? I am ready to leave this fucking hellhole. I want to go home. I need my books. So I can learn if I can bring my sister back! First, we are going by the castle.”

They nodded taking the guards out and when they returned, Kolo said, “I am not waiting for the white haired guard to return to me, I wish to see if they have found Sidonia for myself. None of this would have happened if she had just brought me the book! I would have compelled her and she could have gone on living.” Then he chuckled darkly, “Well, I probably would have taken her.”

~N~

Sidonia went east down the tunnel that went towards the village. A short ways in, the princess went to the south wall, and twisted a stone on the floor opening another concealed door. Closing it behind her, this shorter tunnel went south under the garden. Coming into a cave like room, she looked for the last doorway.

Guilt had her whispering, as if Donatello could hear her need to confess, “I think I could have trusted you, but if the Evil One got this knowledge from you, Viktor and everyone here, would be in danger. Still, I never meant for you to die.” Finding the strange rune mark, that was nearly unseen, she touched it revealing the last hidden staircase.

Princess Sidonia ascended as the doorway closed behind her, then opened the hatch above her coming out into a hidden room at the back of the mausoleum built to honor Samala. This room held supplies and numerous weapons; she picked up a belt that hid a dagger putting it about her waist. Seeing a claw bracelet the dark princess put it on her left wrist, then blew out the candle, and left it.

Using her gift to know it was clear, she then unlatched the panel, to enter the crypt. Closing the panel, she moved passed the empty tomb, opening the decorative iron outer door, she cringed when it squeaked as she closed it. She nearly felt safe as the first rays of sunrise came over the eastern peaks, until she caught the scent of Donatello’s dead body.

Dreading the sight as she rushed across the back of her garden, Sidonia hesitating a moment, before opening the south gate. It did not prepare her for the sight of Donatello’s charred corpse hanging inches away, and it was more than the dark princess could take. The young girl gasped with horror, “How could I have been so wicked?”

~N~

Kolo’s carriage arrived at the front gate as the white haired guard was preparing to go back to the cottage with three more guards. They came to the window of Kolo’s coach and told him, “Sidonia has not left her room yet.” Their master fearfully asked, “Is there any word of Anthony’s return?” The guards all shook their heads. Kolo frowned, “How do you know Sidonia is even in her room?”

They all shrugged and he rolled his eyes, “Get more men, and post them about the four sides of the castle.” The white haired man ran off to comply. Now Kolo said to the next closest man, “Is there any way to find out if she is in her room?” He shrugged, “I guess I could get a maid to open her room, they must have keys.” The guard ran off to find a maid.

Kolo said to the remaining two, “You get in, and you will ride with the driver and I want you to tell him to take us to the grove of trees by the river and while you are up there, keep an eye out for trouble.”

~N~

Guilt gripped the dark princess, as his body jostled against her when she was closing the gate. Sidonia sunk to her knees at his feet in remorse. Looking up she saw her father’s sword, still about Donatello’s waist. It and the belt were unmarked while all else about him was heavily charred. She undid the scabbard, her brilliant green mist came with glowing runes, as it reduced the sword, so she could hide it on her arm.

Before she could place the rune, the hilt came alive. The wings clamped about her right wrist in a cuff, the tail twirled up her forearm. The neck went over the back of her hand, circled her ring finger ending with the head atop of her finger looking out. It flexed with her hand movement as she put the belt on her arm in a rune. Slowly she stood looking at her garden and her home feeling it was the last time. Sick with regret tears fell from her eyes silent like daggers in her heart.

The sound of the Ferry’s bell ringing in the distance warned her to flee now, if she hoped to escape Kolo’s revenge. She looked at Donatello and said, “I should have left before I caused your death. Forgive me, my brave bodyguard.” Sidonia ran the fifty yards to the dock, as she lifted her hood to conceal her hair and face. She ignored the dock bell not wanting attention; instead, Sidonia grabbed the red and white flag from its holder.

~N~

Kolo had felt faint and was drinking from the guards in his carriage when he heard the bell of the ferry, and stopped long enough to ask the one he drank from, “What was that bell?” The guard answered, “It is the fe-.” He fell dead on the floor of the coach. Groaning at the inconvenience, Kolo turned to the other, “Well? What was that bell?”

The man replied with tension in his voice, “I-I am not sure. I will go check if you like.” Kolo waved him out of the carriage, saying, “Do not be all day about it either. Oh, and bring two men back with you. I am feeling peckish.” The man nodded as he fled the coach for his life.

~N~

Once the ferry came in sight, the princess waved the flag, and saw the captain change course, to come to her dock. Princess Sidonia turned staring at the castle, fearing she may never see her family again. Silent tears fell, as she turned her back on Blackstone Castle. Looking to the ferry, she hoped to leave her deadly failures, behind her.

~N~

Kolo had fallen asleep. The man ran back to his carriage opening the door it woke him as he informed his master, “The bell is from a ferry that comes by the castle or stops at dock when someone is there.” Kolo asked sleepily, “Did it stop at the dock?” The man shrugged causing Kolo to swear, “What bloody good are you? Go with some men and find out if Sidonia is on the fucking ferry, before it leaves!”

~N~

The ferry came alongside the rarely used dock, and she climbed aboard quickly as the captain asked, “How far are you going.” Sidonia paid him as she whispered, “Down to the Sea.” He asked with surprise, “No luggage?” Sidonia lied, “My bags were already sent ahead.” He frowned, as it was odd for women to travel alone.

She took a seat, huddling down, as the captain pushed away from the dock, slowly the ferry got further into the river. She felt she could swim faster. Then Sidonia saw five Day Guards come running down the path towards the dock. Looking back from where they came she saw Kolo’s carriage was in the trees, and sensed these were Kolo’s men; when the five reached the dock, they rang the bell aggressively.

Now the captain started to move the ferry in their direction, going towards the bank, to let them aboard. Horror flooded over Princess Sidonia as she envisioned that her burnt body would soon be hanging next to Donatello’s charred one. The dark princess believed it was what she deserved, having caused all of this, and then insulting everyone as she tried to flee like a coward.

~N~