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“Gwen, wake up,” a voice boomed in my mind. I sat up, my head spinning from my quick movements. I blinked a few times to clear the sleep from my eyes. Then I glanced around the quarters that I shared with six other women. It was early, but not insanely so. I slipped out of bed and walked toward my closet.
“I’m awake,” I mentally told my father.
“Great. Where is the choker I gave you?” he asked. I changed into a green dress and fished the choker out of my underwear drawer. I slipped it on, the jewelry making me feel as though I had a vice around my neck. Or maybe it was the fact that I needed to hold up my end of the bargain. Lena needed me to discover when the auction was going to take place. Could I just question Lady Valera? That was the simple thing to do. Hopefully I wouldn’t have to go sifting in her mind. I tiptoed into the bathroom and brushed my teeth and washed my face. Then I slipped on my shoes and entered the hallway.
“Where am I going?” I mentally inquired.
“Head to the entrance that you entered the palace from,” he instructed. I nodded before realizing that my father couldn’t see the gesture.
“Okay,” I mentally responded, before forcing my legs down the long hallway and up the multiple flights of stairs.
There was a cleaning robot standing at my destination. It started moving across the foyer and toward the opposite hallway.
“Am I supposed to follow the cleaning bot?” I mentally asked my father.
“Yes,” he answered. Okay, then. I adjusted the choker around my neck before following the cleaning bot down long, winding hallways all dressed in either gold or valuable gemstones. Why Father hadn’t stripped the palace of all of the gems and sold them was beyond me. Then again, why sell valuables when he could just take advantage of the Nerethians’ need for women?
Rolling my eyes in disgust, I allowed the bot to lead me up a ramp that led to imposing oak doors. One of them opened and the bot led me into a spacious sitting area complete with a mahogany table for two. Lady Valera sat at the table, nursing a teacup. The minute she spotted me, a grin stretched across her beautiful face, which was surprising enough. Lady Valera and I had an understanding, sure, but she never went out of her way to show me any kind of warm welcome.
“Good morning Lady Valera. Is my father here?” I wondered. The scowl she tossed at me made my steps falter. Had I said something wrong? “I’m sorry, Lady Valera, did I offend you?”
“No. It’s the thought of that man with his favorite that’s angering me. Now let’s stop using that heinous English. Sit, have some tea.” It made sense, how knowing that her husband was sleeping with a woman that he had loved for years would infuriate her. I should have been more careful with my words.
“Sorry,” I said in Nerth before joining her at the table. To my surprise and confusion, Lady Valera stood and walked over to the tea trolly. She selected a black teacup and prepared my tea, just how I liked it, with a cube of sugar. “Shouldn’t I serve you?”
“Not this time,” Lady Valera graciously said, though it was kind of odd to me. She seemed too friendly. But I figured that maybe she was looking for an ally, someone that she could commiserate with. So I let it go.
“Thank you,” I said, making eye contact with the woman. As soon as Lady Valera returned to her seat, she gestured to the cup.
“Drink,” she urged.
“I usually wait until the tea is cold,” I admitted. “So, what are my duties going to be?”
“Well, you’ll be expected to be my assistant,” Lady Valera replied. It was strange, how that was all Lady Valera could explain. I had no freaking clue what was wrong with this situation. I glanced at Lady Valera and tried to probe at her mind. But it was like she had a wall up. The surprise must have showed on my face, because Lady Valera sighed.
“Gwen, you have greatly disappointed my husband and me,” she purred.
“How so?” I asked, my heart racing. Did she know about Lena’s plans? How had Lady Valera shut her mind off from me? What would the punishment be?
“Gwen, you’re one naïve girl. You truly don’t believe that we don’t have the punishment room monitored? Oh, honey, what foolish thinking. And to think that you didn’t go to your father as soon as you realized that you had another gift. But no, you kept it to yourself. That means that you shall have it taken away,” my evil stepmother said, which gave me chills.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“The tea is an anesthetic. You can either drink it, or have your crystal removed while you’re awake. It’s up to you,” she said. No! No gift meant that I couldn’t help with the plan to take down my father. It meant that I was helpless, and could never go to Janton to find my mother.
“She’s going to beg you to change your mind,” Lia said as she stepped into the room. “Before you try to use compulsion on us, just know I’m stronger than you,” Lia warned. I didn’t see that I had much of a choice in this matter. Even if I could use my light, it wouldn’t get me out of the situation. So with shaky hands, I lifted the tea cup and brought it to my lips. As soon as I finished drinking, a stabbing pain shot through my back. I began screaming as the pain climbed up my spine and pounded into my skull. Lady Valera grinned.
“I lied. The tea is breaking down the Hyndroyl crystal as we speak. That’s why you’re in so much pain. Eventually, you’ll just crap out the remains.” Her words didn’t even make me angry, because the utter agony was slamming into me. I shook and screamed and tears began running down my face. Then I realized that I was being restrained by something. It was probably someone’s telekinesis, but I didn’t care. The pain was so intense, I just wanted to escape. I pleaded for a reprieve.
“Thank you, Lia. I wouldn’t want her messing up the furniture,” Lady Valera shouted. The lady’s taunting words pissed me off so much that I felt my light bubble to the surface. The pain lessened for just a moment, but then it intensified again.
“What the hell is happening to you?” a voice mentally asked in Nerth.
“Pain. Breaking down the Hyndroyl crystal,” I sent out. I had no idea whose mind I was in, but it felt peaceful, so I stayed there. The pain began to lessen as I allowed this stranger’s mind to invade my senses.
“I’m Christian, by the way. I thought you should know before you made a home in my mind.”
“Gwen,” I responded. “I’m going to lose this power soon. You’re the last person I’m going to talk to.”
“You mean your stolen powers?” Christian asked.
“I didn’t steal anything. When I was a baby, Lord Peirc implanted a tracker and a Hyndroyl crystal in me. I didn’t have a choice.” I had no idea why I wanted to convince an absolute stranger of my innocence. But I’d be damned if I was going to be responsible for thieving work that my sperm donor put me through.
“You don’t know where the crystals come from? The bones of the Najorian,” Christian responded.
“What do you mean?” I asked, confused.
“Sleep, Gwen. No need to torture yourself by staying awake,” he insisted.
“Your mind is safe,” I pleaded, though I really couldn’t read any of his thoughts. I could only sense the warmth.
“Thanks. Most people say that my mind is filthy. But I guess the purity of the mind is... No, scratch that. I guess that saying needs too much reconfiguring if I’m using it to make it fit. You’re going to be safe, my dear Gwen. You just have to trust me,” Christian said.
“I’m scared,” I told him. “Without my gifts, I’m going to be powerless.”
“You’re plenty strong without stolen magic,” he told me.
“I’m weak even with magic,” I confessed. “Most of this is my fault. I played into my father’s hands. I obeyed his every command. I helped kidnap Jade, when I could have altered everyone’s memories to make them think that Jade was dead. But I didn’t do that.”
“Why?” Christian questioned.
“Because I was trying to save my mother,” I replied.
“Go to sleep, Gwen. I’ll see you soon.” Before I could even protest, I was out like a light.