Immortal of Darkness Read online

  The door shut. The lock turned. Gwen stared at the dark, mahogany floorboards. What had Grimmly-. Gwen gasped. How could she have forgotten the secret door in her chamber! Gwen hopped off the bed and rushed over to the far wall where an armoire and a large cedar chest stood. She lifted the tapestry hanging down over the stone wall above the chest. A devious small smile curved her lips as her fingertips brushed over uneven stone.

  Gwen let the tapestry fall back into place. She knew she'd have to wait until after dark and the castle went to sleep before she could make her way to the dungeon. If she knew her father, there would be at least one last check after dark to make sure she was sound asleep.

  Gwen looked out the window and smiled. She'd sneak down to the dungeon and save Cain by giving him the missing page from the spell book. He'd turn Immortal. He'd be alive, even if it meant she'd lose him again. But one thing she'd be certain of, her father wouldn't get the satisfaction of killing him.

  * * * * *

  Cain opened one eye and realized the hard, cold, scratchy feeling was the stone floor of his cell covered in dirty offal topped rushes. He slowly sat up. A tremor traveled through him. Cain cursed. He must be so close to turning over completely. How many more spells left, now? One? Two? Three? Soon, he'd become the most horrible of horribles. He had to have at least one more spell. He needed to use his last one for his immortality. That was the key to everything. Cain stood, grunting from his stiff bones and sore muscles, cursing his human feelings of pain.

  He went to his iron door and looked out. A handful of torches flickered on the dirt and blood splattered stone corridors and in the large chamber across from his cell. Cries and moans sounded from a table in the center of the room. Craning his neck, he caught glimpse of a prisoner badly hurt on the table. The room must be the torture chamber, a place he had already seen. He didn't know how much more his mortal body could handle.

  A door creaked in the distance and the two snoring guards jumped to life, tripping over themselves as Ramsey's voice echoed down the spiral staircase. Cain narrowed his eyes as he turned his mouth up into a smirk.

  "If 'tisn't Cain, the Immortal," Ramsey said with a lazy drawl, coming up to stand in front of his cell. Cain acknowledged Ramsey with a sarcastic bow. A cruel smile curved Ramsey's mouth. "Ye ken, Gwendolyn has pleaded for your life." At Cain's tightening of the mouth, Ramsey continued, his grin bigger from the small gain of anger he saw from Cain.

  Ramsey brought his hand up to his mouth as though in contemplation. "I think I'd consider it if...." His evil smile grew larger as he turned and looked straight at Cain. "If ye agree to the idea I kill Gwendolyn instead of ye."

  Cain snarled.

  Ramsey's loud laugh echoed through the prison cells. "Ye really think I'd kill her? My own daughter?" he said with a cruel laugh. "You're right," he said after Cain only bared his teeth, "I would." Ramsey placed his hands behind his back and paced in front of the cell. "But ye ken. I just discovered something very interesting about my Gwendolyn." Cain's head raised a notch. "I see you're curious." Ramsey leaned in closer to Cain. "She's full of supreme magic," he whispered.

  Cain's gaze drifted to the floor. Was that the other secret the witch had talked about? Had Gwen concealed that bit of truth on purpose? She could have used her own magic to heal him, instead of using the black magic, and hurting herself. Or was Ramsey lying?

  "This couldn't turn out better!" Ramsey said with a laugh. "My witch is on her death bed and a new witch has fallen in my lap."

  "And what," Cain snarled, "will ye lock your own daughter in the bowels of your castle!"

  Ramsey laughed an unfriendly laugh. He leaned forward until only the bars separated he and Cain. "She's not my daughter," he seethed.

  Abruptly, Cain's eyes turned black as he lunged at the bars, grabbing Ramsey's cloaks, ripping the fur trim from his red cape. Ramsey jumped back, falling to the ground. Two guards standing near stepped back, drawing their weapons as Cain gripped the bars, bending them farther apart.

  Ramsey slowly turned his head, fear consuming his features. "Get me my witch!" he roared. One of the guards stumbled down the aisle until he disappeared through the door leading to the witch's quarters. Ramsey's face turned bright red. His barrel chest rose rapidly as he panted with anger. He bared his teeth as he spoke to Cain. "I dinna ken what ye are, but my witch will tell me," he said vehemently. Ramsey watched in awe as Cain's eyes turned back to blue.

  Cain fell to the ground, all energy spent. Returning from being the beast was becoming harder and harder. He hadn't wanted Ramsey to find out about that little secret. The less Ramsey knew about him, the better.

  Cain lay hunched over on the foul floor. He watched under half-closed lids as footsteps drew near. The guard had returned with the witch. She hobbled along as the guard hastily pulled her. Cain noticed she wore chains on her feet. She was a prisoner just like everyone else.

  Ramsey strode over to her as she came upon them. He backhanded her across the face. The frail hag fell to her knees, but a guard quickly yanked her up, holding her to face Ramsey.

  "Ye lied to me!" he roared as spittle flew from his mouth. "Ye said he was Immortal, and he isn't!" Ramsey grabbed her chin cruelly. "Ye forgot to mention that he's something else. What is he?" he thundered. Blood ran from the witch's mouth. "Tell me!"

  The witch glanced at Cain, an apologetic look in her eye. "He is half-man, half-beast...verra powerful," she said in a small, raspy voice.

  Ramsey raised his eyebrow. "Can he cast magic?" The witch just hung her head. The guard nudged her back. "Can he?" Ramsey demanded.

  "Aye. Powerful magic," she said quietly.

  An evil grin crossed Ramsey's face as he slowly turned toward Cain. "I think I found a warlock to add to my collection."

  "He willna be casting a spell for ye though," the witch muttered.

  "What did ye say?" Ramsay said, turning on the witch once more.

  The witch flinched. "He wears the Torque of Aberdeen. Only the one who placed it upon him can control him, and release him of the torque."

  Ramsey leaned down close to the witch's face. "Then I suggest ye find out how to get me control of that blasted piece of jewelry. Remember, if ye dinna obey, you're not the one who will get hurt," he gritted out through clenched teeth. "Your daughter may be missing, but I think someone even more meaningful has landed in my grip."

  Tears came to the witch's eyes. "Aye, my lord. Let me work with my stones for the answers."

  Ramsey made a rash movement with his chin and a guard escorted the witch back down to her chamber.

  Ramsey turned toward Cain. "Open the door," he said to his guards as he stared at Cain, rage overpowering his features. One of the guards shoved another in front, making him step out in front of Ramsey. "Well?" Ramsey bit off.

  The brawny guard licked his lips nervously. "B-but sire," he said swiping at the sweat on his forehead, "the witch just said he's...he's...a monster, an evil sort." A snarl came from Ramsey and the guard jumped to do his bidding. He fumbled with the multitude of keys on his rusted, iron ring attached to his belt, until a long skeleton key trembled between his fingers.

  Cain stepped back and raised his hands. "Open if ye dare," he said with a wicked grin. The unsure guard glanced back at Ramsey. The look on Ramsey's face must have been more intimidating than Cain's, because the guard hurried to the lock, avoiding any eye contact with Cain.

  The iron barred door swung open and four guards rushed in, instantly trouncing Cain to the ground. Ramsey watched from the doorway. "You'll be mine, ye bastard. And dinna think ye'll ever see Gwendolyn again. I'll lock her in a pit if I have to, to keep ye under my thumb. Ye will follow my commands," he snarled. Ramsey glanced at his guards. "Let's show this bastard what we do when one doesna listen." The half-dozen guards grinned, and what seemed like an endless beating, began.

  Cain cursed as his ribs were pounded over and over. He covered his face, cursing the day he had ever joined forces with Rowena. He lay the blame all on
her, that he was in this predicament. A booted toe caught the edge of his chin, immediately sending a warm trickle of blood down his throat. Cain figured Ramsey must have made a signal to his men, because they finally stopped, retreating, letting Ramsey through.

  "Had enough?" Ramsey sneered.

  Between deep breaths, Cain gritted out through clenched teeth, "When I'm Immortal once again, I'll return this little favor to ye."

  Ramsey grew serious and squatted down close to Cain. He reached out, grabbing a thick fist of Cain's hair, holding his head off the ground. "Ah, Cain, soon ye will realize...I never lose."

  * * * * *

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  As Gwen had well suspected, Ramsey had sent guards a little after midnight to her room. The door had unlocked and creaked open, only to briefly shut again followed by another turn of the lock. Gwen waited until the guard's footsteps grew faint, and then shoved the covers back, springing from the bed.

  Reaching the cedar chest, she pulled out her satchel Grimmly had retrieved and hidden for her. She grabbed a candle, lit the wick, and sat it on the nightstand. Hurriedly, she rearranged her bed so it appeared she still slept peacefully within.

  After a heavy push, and a horrible scraping noise from the trunk sliding across the stone floor, Gwen froze, listening for any sign that she had been found out. Releasing the breath she held, she swished aside the long tapestry and lightly pushed the uneven panel. The large stone slid back and to the side revealing a small, secret crawl space. Gwen's forehead creased. The space seemed much smaller than when she was a child. She'd have to forego her candle and crawl on hands and knees in the pitch black. After blowing out her candle, she hunched down on all fours. Relying on her memory of the tunnel and the hope that nothing had changed, she gingerly began to crawl into the passage.

  The tunnel started out level and even, but soon began to drop and follow a circular pattern. She remembered the tunnel wrapped around the circular staircase. If memory served correctly, she was halfway through.

  After a few more drops and a couple of claustrophobic moments, Gwen reached the end which was a small door that emptied into one of the store rooms. Placing her ear next to the door, she waited for any hint of a person occupying the room. With both hands, she pushed. The door barely budged. Someone must have stacked something very heavy in front of it. Gwen sat back, shimming around, so her feet pressed against the door. With all her strength, she straightened her legs. The door creaked and groaned with every push, opening further and further.

  Gwen wiped the sweat and grime from her forehead and pushed one last time. The door opened enough so she could slip through. She wedged her satchel out first and then she pulled herself through the small opening. Huge bags of oats lay piled three bags high in front of the half-opened door. She quickly climbed over the bags, after grabbing her satchel, and found her way through the small dark room to the door.

  Light flickered from a crack at the bottom of the door. Watching to make sure no one was there, she slowly opened the door. The creak sounded like a lightening crack to her, but still, luck stayed on her side and no one came. Perhaps, Grimmly had helped and arranged the garrison away from her path.

  Gwen dusted off her skirts and straightened her bag once more across her chest. Getting into the dungeons would be the tricky part. As she crept through the dim lit corridors, jumping from shadow to shadow, she eventually made her way to the dungeon door. Ready to take a step, a loud clanking of armor sounded on the steps. Gwen hastily jumped back into a dark corner and waited for the enemy to pass.

  Once she felt safe, she headed down the long, winding steps. An orange glow from the torches flickered and wavered across the moist, stone walls. Gwen swallowed the ball of fear in her throat and continued down the steps. Once at the bottom, she hesitated, listening for anyone's presence. Voices sounded from down the corridor. It was Ramsey's.

  Gwen tiptoed closer, stopping at a large divot in the wall. Sinking back into the shadows, she waited and listened. Ramsey stood just around the corner. She couldn't take the chance of getting any nearer.

  "Ah, but ye see," Ramsey was saying, "there is another way. All I need is a drop of your immortal blood."

  "In case ye're not just daft, but blind too, I'm no longer immortal," Cain gritted out. He had been trying to think of a plan to keep Gwen safe, when Ramsey had showed his all too smug self again. The witch had discovered a way for Ramsey to take control of the torque, the last thing Cain wanted that devil to have power of.

  Ramsey laughed. He leaned in close. "If ye want something bad enough," he gloated, "there's always a way to obtain it." Abruptly turning, Ramsey motioned behind him. A covered object passed into his hands. Ramsey turned back toward Cain and slowly unwrapped the soiled cloth, exposing the treasure. Cain sucked in a breath. "Ye see," Ramsey said smiling, "I dinna need your blood. I already have it. Your soul is mine."

  Cain charged the bars. The bloody fool had his immortal dagger in his hand. A dagger with a snake's head containing black onyx eyes and his dried immortal blood encrusted on the blade for all time. Cain cursed, shaking the iron door.

  Ramsey laughed. He glanced over to ten guards standing behind him and motioned them forward. Even though fear marked their faces, they knew reprimand from their master was worse. One guard opened the cell door as the other nine charged in. Cain struck out, sending one guard tumbling into the wall, a sickening thud sounding when his head hit stone. Two more jumped on Cain at the same time, but Cain threw one off, sending him to the hard ground, knocking the air out of him.

  Cain didn't want to use his magic. What if it was the last spell he had left, and he wasted it on this. He had to give it everything he had and fight the men. Even though he was human, he was still fit and incredibly strong. Cain punched one guard in the face, sending him reeling back into the other men. He heard Ramsey roar and eight more guards squeezed into the cell. Within seconds, Cain was overpowered. It took a man at each of his arms, one with a sword at Cain's throat, another laying across his bent legs as he kneeled, and one more leaning into him at his front.

  Cain glared up at Ramsey as he gritted out his next words. "You'll be sorry when whatever beast inside of me awakens."

  Ramsey sneered. "I'll take my chances." He flung the cloth that covered the dagger to the floor. Ramsey stalked forward. Cain jerked and pulled to get free, but there were too many men on him. Ramsey came up as another guard twisted Cain's head to the side, giving Ramsey better access to the torque.

  With one more gloating glance to Cain, Ramsey stuck the tip of the dagger into the groove of one of the symbols and chanted the anti-spell. "Torque of Aberdeen hear me now, I am your son, I am your God, I am your new commander. Torque of Aberdeen give me way, I command thee!"

  All the grooves in the torque glowed a bright blue as Cain's head thrusted back. As a new energy, stronger than the last, ran through him, he roared out in pain. An instant connection with Ramsey formed inside him. The association that he was now Cain's master. Cain's head fell forward.

  "Out!" Ramsey shouted at his men. All the guards quickly piled out, only to wait outside the cell for their leader. Ramsey looked excitedly toward Cain. "Rise. I command thee!"

  Power coursed through Cain. His legs wanted to stand, even though he fought the command with all his might. The monster within him raged with hatred, now that it had another master it had to listen to, at least until the evil grew strong enough. Cain clenched his teeth. He rose.

  Ramsey laughed with glee. "Marvelous," he said more to himself in amazement. Suddenly, a clamor of armor rushed down the dungeon steps.

  Two guards hustled over to Ramsey. "My lord," the one guard said, breathing heavily from running, "your daughter is not in her room. Bruinn made one more check ten minutes ago. Only pillows lay in her bed.

  Ramsey's face turned bright red, even in the dim light. His hands clenched in tight fists at his sides. "Find her!" he roared. He began to stalk after the guards that ran back up the stairs, when one
of his men guarding Cain's cell cleared his throat.

  "Um, master?" Ramsey turned around with an impatient questioning look. "W-what should we do with 'im?" he said gesturing toward Cain who stood in the center of his cell, staring out, eyes blazing with rage.

  Ramsey strode back down, stopping in front of Cain's open cell door. "If ye'll be a good dog, ye may roam freely until I call for ye," he said with a smirk. Cain gritted his teeth as Ramsey and his men strode from the dungeon.

  * * * * *

  Gwen sighed in relief as her father and his men trudged past her unknowingly. She silently padded across the rank, dungeon, trying to forget what sort of horrid things she traveled over. As she passed each cell, she couldn't help to glance in, noting the small rooms were all vacant. Holding her breath in fear of what she'd find, she came upon Cain's cell. Empty. Her shoulder's dropped. What had her father done with him? She knew Ramsey had just spoken to him, amongst other things. Gwen reached out, grabbing onto a rusted iron bar on the cell door and steadied herself against it. "I'm too late," she barely whispered.

  Abruptly, a strong hand came around her mouth. "Ye make a noise," a furious whisper sounded next to her ear, "and I'll break your neck."

  Gwen quickly nodded her acquiesce. Whosever arms she was held captive in began to pull her back toward the end of the dungeons. Her heart raced.

  A clank of armor grew louder from the opposite side of the dungeon where the steps were. "Remember, quiet," the furious voice said once more. Her captor steered her back into a dark alcove. Numerous guards rushed by, checking every cell and room in the dungeon.