Fortress: Twin Sword Prophecy, #3

By Rosie Lynch

Three years have passed since the fall of Gemini. All is quiet in the world of Malgar, until the newly built village of Fortress is violently attacked, and one of Kainan's dragon riders, Morgana, disappears.

Just before he loses all contact with her, Morgana tells her dragon, Rohan, that it is the Sorceress, and daughter of the evil Gemini, Analise.

Kainan and Arweyn must now defend their city, and keep her and her evil creatures from destroying it.

However, not everything goes to plan, and the King and Queen of Malgar are in for a shock when they discover where Analise has been hiding, and what or whom - her secret weapon is.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rosemary Lynch
• Release date: Apr 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224776634

Book preview

‘A mother’s love for her child is the most powerful magic of all.’

Rosemary L Lynch

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Dedicated to: -

My mumsie, Jennifer Swanston, for always being there for me.

One ~ Analise

Analise strode purposely down the long dark tunnel. Holding a flaming torch outstretched in one hand, she shivered at the dampness as it fingered the skin on her bare shoulders. Her long, pale-blue gown trailed behind her, leaving a dragging mark on the dusty stone floor as she walked.

She stopped at what appeared to be the end of the tunnel.

Operana, she ordered, with a sweep of her hand to the right. Instantly a huge slab of stone moved backwards, drawing, and scraping along the tunnel floor until it revealed an entrance. Analise glanced to her right and dropped the torch into a metal holder on the wall.

Flame out, she commanded, and the flame disappeared. She stepped through the opening, her eyes at once scanning the room in front of her. It was a tavern of sorts. There were dimly lit black lanterns hung in rows from the ceiling, sending out a gentle glow around the room. At the furthest end of the room there was a long wooden bar, and the man working behind it stopped mid pulling a pint and looked at her.

Analise closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling and breathing in the scent of men. It was a pleasant mixture of sweat, young blood and a variety of different colognes. Her tongue edged her lips as she glanced around. She counted a hundred men, sat eight to ten at a time around square and rectangular tables. The rest of her army she knew were gathering and preparing to make their way towards the City of Malgar. It was nearly time for battle, and very soon, if everything went to plan, and she could see no reason why it should not.  The King of Malgar would be hers.

She smiled in thought, as she took in the young males surrounding her. In five hundred years, no one had ever compared to him, and in her mind, no one ever will. She had been devastated when he had vanished and wished, a hundred times over she had held him prisoner when she had left to go and see his wife and take the soul of their child. Then out of the blue, three years ago he reappeared, and he killed her father. Finally, she was truly free of Gemini, and it was all thanks to Kainan, the King of Malgar.

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to her. They lowered their tankards with dull thuds back onto the tables and stood. In unison, they knelt, bowing low to her, in both respect and in fear. Her chest rose and fell as she watched them, her power was immense, and she commanded each one of them, they belonged to her.

Stand and look at me, she commanded. Every head lifted to her, every set of eyes gazing adoringly at her as they rose to their feet, all wishing the same thing, for her to pick them. She ran her hands through her long dark hair and wandered between the tables perusing them. Her heart pounded with a little excitement. These men were her chosen favourites, those who she thought she might wish to lie with, or whose body she felt would benefit her in some way.

All of them were young, aged under twenty-five, well-built and attractive. She spent many years scouring every part of these lands, and lands beyond looking for them, stealing them away from their homes and families. She housed her army here, in the fortress they built for her. There were no women, she would not have their eyes wandering and looking at anyone other than her.

Attached to her fortress, and within a specially built tower, were her prisoners, a King, Queen, and rulers from other lands beyond hers. She had taken their lands, and using her powerful magic, had kept their kin from trying to rescue them. She was their Queen now, and they obeyed her, or quite simply they died.

Analise stopped beside a young man of about twenty, he had long dark hair, and was cleanly shaven. She leaned in close to him, closed her eyes, and inhaled. A pleasing smile spread across her lips, and she tapped him on the shoulder.

You, she said with a firm nod.

His deep brown eyes opened wide as he looked at her in astonishment, and then he smiled, elated she had chosen him. She lifted her hands to his shirt and undid his buttons. 

He stood tall and proud, his body trembling at her touch as she pulled his shirt open and ran her fingers down his firm, muscular chest.  Unexpectedly, she kissed him. At first, he was unsure, and then as she deepened the kiss - he kissed her back. Analise broke from their kiss and licked her lips.

You will do, follow me, she said. Turning about and waggling her finger, she beckoned him to follow. Analise headed back towards the entrance of the tunnel she just came through. She stopped beside a slightly older man of about twenty-five. He wasn’t one of her chosen favourites as he was older, rough, and not at all attractive in her eyes, but he still had his uses. He was her commander in charge when she was not present.

Zander, she addressed.

Yes, Mistress? he responded, bending one knee, and bowing his head low.

How is everything at the tower? she asked.

Quiet, Mistress, he confirmed.

Good, she replied. When they bring her, make sure she is wearing the ring, and then send me word straight away, she ordered.

Yes, Mistress, he replied.

Come with me, she ordered to her chosen man, and he followed behind her, as if a puppy at her heels. He glanced back over his shoulder briefly, to raise a gloating eyebrow at those left behind.

She waved the slab closed behind them, reached up and took the torch.

Alight, she whispered, and tilting her head back as the torch burst into flames. Hooking her other arm through his, they began to walk back through the long tunnel.

What’s your name? she asked, glancing to him.

Edwin, Mistress, he replied, giving a slight dip of his head.  She smiled at him.

Edwin, such a fine name, she complemented.

Edwin glanced over to her. She was so beautiful, and even though her presence made him tremble in fear, his heart was thumping in hope she had chosen him as her mate. 

The tunnel continued further ahead of them, but Analise stopped at a locked door to her left.  She lifted the torch, dropped it into another metal holder, and with a sweep of her hand, the iron locks drew back, and the door flew open.  He watched, marvelled at what she had done.

Follow me, Edwin, she ordered, walking into her ritual chamber. Light, she commanded, sweeping her hand towards the candles in the sconces fixed to the walls.  Without question, he obeyed, and his eyes looked around the room as he followed behind her. There was a huge wooden cabinet to his right, with lots of tiny drawers on its front, a desk, a chair, and a huge coffin sat on a stone plinth.  He stared at it bemused, wondering why she would have a coffin.

Come, Edwin, she beckoned, with her hand. He hurried to her. Analise smiled at him, lifted a hand to his face, and ran the back of her knuckles down his cheek.

You want to make me happy, don’t you, Edwin? she asked, raising a questioning eyebrow at him.

He nodded; his eyes fixed on hers.

I would do anything for you, Mistress, he offered.

I know, Edwin, and you can do something for me, something that is very, very important.

Stepping back from him, and turning to the coffin, she began unbolting the silver clasps, and lifting the lid of the coffin open, her hand ran along the fine silk lining inside. Analise breathed deeply, as the tremors of evil trickled through her fingertips.

Take your clothes off, Edwin, she ordered in a shallow whisper, as she walked over to the huge cabinet. Squatting down she waved a hand over one of the small doors, it promptly opened, and she proceeded to lift out two glass bottles.  Analise glanced over her shoulder at him and smiled as he was obediently doing as she asked.

She stood back up and slammed the door shut with an invisible force. Placing one of the glass bottles on her desk, she popped the other into the bustier of her dress and walked over to him.

Analise stared favourably at his young firm and muscular body. Lifting a hand to his face and cupping his cheek, she kissed him. As he reciprocated, she ran her free hand down his naked chest, her fingers caressing his tight muscles. Her hand moved to his firm bottom, and she squeezed it, pushing her body up against his. She broke away, her breathing a little heavy as his manhood pressed against her.

If I didn’t have a guest arriving shortly, I would have enjoyed your company in my bed, Edwin, she whispered, as she ran her hand through his hair.

I would be honoured to oblige you, Mistress, he offered.

She gazed into his desperate eyes, and the excitement she saw held within them drove her heart to pump harder as she considered his offer.

Have you ever had a woman before, Edwin? she asked.  He shook his head.

No, Mistress, he trembled. But I would like to please you. For a moment she almost felt sorry for him, he was certainly strong enough to please her, but she frowned, as unfortunately she just didn’t have the time.

Sorry, Edwin, time is getting on and I have an important task for you, she said, releasing him from her grasp. She pointed. Get into the coffin.

His heart beating faster, his body trembling, and even though he looked at it a little unsure, he did as she asked and climbed inside. As he laid down, his skin touched the cold silken cloth, and he shivered as goose bumps swept across his naked body.

Why am I in here, Mistress? he asked, glancing up at her. He knew he had no choice, but it didn’t stop him feeling scared. She smiled at him and ran a single finger down his soft stubble-free cheek.

I have a very special task for you, Edwin, she began. I will however have to make some changes. Would you be happy for me to do that? she asked, leaning over the ridge of the coffin. As he gazed up into her eyes, she smiled, leaned in further, and kissed him, her mouth lingering on his lips for a moment. As she pulled back from him, her long hair brushed over his bare skin, and he quivered pleasurably.

I would do anything for you, he replied in a whisper, his eyes wide in adoration of her.

I will need your soul, Edwin, will you give it to me? she asked, tilting her head slightly at him.

Yes, Mistress, he agreed, inhaling her scent.

You are a sweetie, Edwin, she said, and she pulled back from him and removed the bottle from the top of her dress.  Uncorking it, she placed a hand onto the side of his head.

Goodbye, Edwin, she whispered.

Are you going somewhere, Mistress? he asked naively.  She shook her head.

No, sweet Edwin, you are, she informed him with an eerie smile, and she released her power into him. For a second his eyes widened, and then they glazed over as she withdrew his soul from within him. She held his energy within her hand, and then quickly transferred it into the bottle. Re-sealing it, she looked at the now empty shell that was Edwin and touched the burn mark to the side of his face with the back of her fingers. It was a shame she had not had more time.

She closed the lid of the coffin, and securing the silver clasps, gave a loud sigh of satisfaction. Still, there were many more where he came from, strong young men, eager to do whatever she wanted. Wandering to the cabinet, she returned the bottle to one of the hundreds of tiny compartments set within it.

Analise strolled across the ritual room, left by another door, and entered an adjoining cavern. The ceiling was high, and covered in stalactites, on which hung dozens of sconces.

Alight, she called, with a wave of her hand, lighting the candles within them, and a fiery glow illuminated the windowless bedchamber. In the centre of the room, covered in white sheets, and rich dark animal skins, was her large four-poster bed. Red velvet curtains hung from the four posts, and either side of the bed on the floor were black-bear skin rugs. A huge wardrobe was to the left of her bed, and beside it a dressing table.

Stopping and looking at herself in a full-length mirror, she pushed her long dark hair behind her shoulders, and checked her face closely, making sure there were no imperfections or wrinkles. She smiled pleased at her reflection, and then walked towards a white curtain hanging against the back of the cavern wall. Analise pulled it back and stepped through a stone archway, into another cavern.

Alight, she ordered, with a wave of her hand, and the candle sconces on the cavern walls burst into life. Straight ahead of her was a waterfall, cascading powerfully from an opening in the rock-face above. It splashed into a natural pool below, before feeding away and disappearing underground through a hole in the cavern floor.

Analise undid the blue chiffon scarf tied around her throat, slipped out of her dress, and threw them both onto a chair. Walking over to the cascading falls, she stepped underneath, and then shivered as the cold water rigorously pounded her pale skin. As the water ran across her face, she opened her mouth and drank, and then stepping further underneath soaked her hair. Picking up a bar of soap from a crevice in the wall, and lathering it, she began to wash. Starting with her long dark hair, her soapy hands then massage the back of her neck and her shoulders.

She lathered her large firm breasts, her flat toned stomach, the darkness between her thighs and the length of her legs. She had learned to ignore most of the scars covering her body, and there were many; the long one running across her stomach, the lashes across her back and the claw marks across her inner thighs. There was a particular scar though that she found hard to ignore, and that was the one around her throat. The memory and pain that scar caused her was hard to forget, so she hid it as best she could underneath her silken scarf. It annoyed her intensely that even with the power of her magic she had been unable to heal her own scars.

Finishing with her toes, she smiled as she rinsed off. Her next victim will be here soon, and she was especially looking forward to him. Squeezing the water out of her long hair, she stepped out and grabbed her robe. Slipping it on, she headed back to her bedchamber, and as she walked through the curtain, she lifted her hand.

Out, she commanded, waving her hand, and plunging the bathing room into darkness. She walked to her wardrobe, opened the door, and running her fingers along the line of dresses, pulled out a white one. Hanging it on the wardrobe door, she admired it. This dress she stole from an Albion Duchess, along with another ten of her finest gowns. She sat at the dressing table and ran a finger over her eyebrow, smiling at her reflection. The Duchess didn’t need them anymore as she had taken the woman’s soul, and that of her husband the duke, and their child. As she gazed admiringly at herself, she chanted.

Pora mascora esbaria, es tooe moralis. Breathing deeply, and watching her reflection, her dark wet hair turned into long blond curls, and her green eyes turned deepest blue.

Analise ran her hands through her hair, lifted it from her shoulders, and swept it back behind her. She added a touch of perfume to her neck and wrist, rose from her chair, and walked over to her wardrobe. Removing her robe and throwing it onto her bed, she took the gown off its hanger and stepped into it. She pulled it up, slipped on the tiny straps, and tied it loosely at the front. Analise opened a drawer in the base of the wardrobe, after perusing the contents, she pulled out a white, silk scarf, wrapped it around her throat, and secured it. Without bothering with shoes, she exited her chamber and went back into the ritual room.

Marching with excitement in her step, she went straight over to her cabinet, opened one of the tiny doors, and pulled out a bottle.

Hello again, Duke, she whispered, lifting an eyebrow as she jiggled the bottle in her hand. She thought it fitting to use him for this ritual seeing as she was wearing his wife’s gown. Analise walked over to the coffin.

She undid the silver locks and opened the coffin lid. In the hand holding the bottle, the mist of the tortured soul held prisoner within, swirled furiously. Carefully releasing the hinged cork, her other hand hovered over the rim as she held the soul captive inside.

Etara breakara estomortal, she chanted. Her eyes widened in delight at the screams that were now coming from within the bottle, as five more years of the soul’s life-force were taken.  She gathered the energy within her hand, flipped the cork shut and placed it onto her desk.  Looking in the coffin, at another one of her creations, her soul bearing hand plunged hard into the creature’s chest.

Enpa estora aliatra, she chanted loudly and forcefully.  A white energy of light covered and shimmered over the creature’s entire body.

Wake up, Strekan, and live by my command, she ordered. Analise withdrew her hand from the creature’s chest, the light dissipated, and she waited patiently. Only an hour ago this had been Edwin, and now....

The creature’s red eyes opened, its claw like fingers grasped at the sides of the coffin as it pulled itself up. The Strekan turned its head towards her and stared.  As always, she gazed at it in wonder. She lifted her hand and the creature’s clawed fingers moved towards her, it touched her hand gently, a single claw stroking her.  She smiled.

My beautiful pet, she said, leaning towards him. As the human-like face gazed at her, she could still see part of Edwin’s features within its black twisted face. She kissed it, ensuring her control over it. The Strekan howled. Analise pointed to a door on the other side of the room.

Go and join the others, and wait for my command, she ordered.  The creature dipped its head, launched itself out of the coffin, flew over the top of her head, and went straight through the open door.

The legendary coffin of Corane had been a quest her father had started while they had still been living in Albion.  When they went through the portal to Malgar, he took the scrolls with him, with the intention of continuing the search for it. However, her father became so obsessed with the hunt for the King of Malgar that he buried the scrolls leading to its whereabouts deep within his Fortress, to lay forgotten for years.  Before she had escaped her father, Analise stole them and hid them within her chamber. 

After gaining her freedom, she ventured back to Albion many times in search of the coffin. Near-on one hundred years ago she discovered it, buried deep in a crypt in the far north of Scotland. Transporting it back to Malgar had been difficult and tiresome. She killed many who tried to stop her along the way, including the duke whose soul now brought her creature to life. It took her another fifty years to decipher the inscriptions on how to create her creatures, using the dark magic residing within the coffin.

Analise used her power to transform the shell of a man whose soul she had taken, into one of her Strekans. After much trial and error, she discovered the Strekans would not awake if the human soul still living within it were its own.  She finally learned that to bring them back to life, she had to use another soul, one unknown to the body. Her collection of souls was vast; she had taken many through the years.

Pulling down the lid of the coffin, she secured the heavy silver locks. Analise had spent years perfecting her experiments, at first in hope she could use them to defeat her father, Gemini.  When the King of Malgar suddenly re-appeared three years ago, he took that task away from her, so now she had other plans for her creatures.

Analise turned about and entered the doorway to which she had ordered the creature. It opened out into a large cavern where within, and hung upside down, were her army of over one thousand Strekans. She sighed deeply and with great satisfaction, all her hard work was about to pay. She closed the heavy iron door firmly behind her.

Walking to her desk, she picked up the bottle containing the half-spent soul and wandered back to the huge wooden cabinet fronted with tiny individual doors. Lifting her hand towards one of the little doors, she watched as it flew open, and then after carefully placing the bottle inside, she waved the door closed.

She grabbed the empty bottle off her desk, walked to the opposite side of the room, and opened another door, which led into a kitchen.

Close, she commanded and the door behind her shut.  With a sweep of her magic, she moved a huge oak dresser in front of it, to hide the door.  She walked to the far end of the kitchen, opened another door, and looked inside the room.  Startled, the young man sitting at the desk jumped to his feet.

Stay in here, he will be here soon, she ordered.

Yes, Mistress, his voice replied from the darkness as he bowed his head to her. She nodded and closed the door.  Walking across to the opposite side of the kitchen, Analise then entered a small bedroom.  This one was much more basic, just a large bed covered in a few furs, and a small dressing table sat in front of a single window. She dropped the bottle into the drawer on the dressing table, shook out the furs, and pumped up the pillows.  Approaching the only window in the room she peered outside, it was twilight, and only a few minutes before he was due. As she closed the shutters, the room fell dark, so she lit a few candles and dotted them around the room. She smiled pleased as the room glowed romantically - Analise had more time for this one and would enjoy him first.

There came a knock at the door.  Adjusting her dress, and pushing up her cleavage, Analise shook out her long hair.

Who is it? she called, in her best sweet, innocent voice.

It - it’s Tom, the nervous young man replied. As he stood outside of the tiny, thatched cottage which backed into the hillside, Tom swallowed anxiously. He met her only a few days ago on his journey back from the city of Malgar to Fortress. He helped her after she fell from her horse. Being grateful for his help, the young woman had invited him back to her cottage this evening for dinner. Tom instantly agreeing, thought her so incredibly beautiful and he had fallen head over heels in love, and his heart now thumped as he saw the door handle turn.

Tom, she said with a smile, her now deep, blue eyes lifting to his. She hooked a piece of hair behind her ear. He stared at her, and at once was mesmerised.

Is it still, okay? he asked, holding out a bunch of wildflowers towards her.

For me? she asked, lifting her eyebrow at him. He nodded. How sweet, thank you Tom. Looking at him seductively, she pushed the door open wider.  Of course, it is, come in, she said, ushering him through the door.  With his back to her, she twitched a dark, lecherous smile.

Would you like a drink? she offered, dropping the flowers onto the table, and reaching for the bottle of wine in the centre. She grabbed two goblets and filled them.

Do you live here alone? he asked. He looked around the room as he accepted the goblet from her. She nibbled on her little finger, and nodded, watching him as he drank his wine.  Analise shivered.

It is a little chilly in here, don’t you think? she said, bending down and picking up a log from the basket. She threw it onto the fire, and he gazed at her, his eyes following the length of her slim curvaceous body as the split in her dress fell back revealing her bare leg. Watching her intensely as he drank his wine, his heart shook. He couldn’t quite believe she had invited him back to her home.

Here let me help you, he offered. He put his wine on the table and reached for another log. As his eyes fell on her cleavage, she smiled at him, and lifted her bust in a heavy breath. He threw the log onto the fire.

Thank you, she whispered, lightly running her tongue across her lips. He looked up slowly to meet her gaze, his dark eyes holding onto hers. Captivated by her looks he lifted a hand to her face, and unable to stop himself, he kissed her. As they rose to their full height, she pulled her hands around him and they kissed harder.

Do you believe in love at first sight? Analise asked, gasping breathless as they broke from the kiss. He nodded eagerly.

When I first saw you riding towards me, to help me, I knew then that I wanted you, she whispered tantalisingly. 

He swallowed, and bit on his lower lip. Grabbing his hand, Analise pulled him into the bedroom. Releasing him, her hands lifted to the corset ties of her dress, and she teasingly began to undo them. Her eyes wandered over his startled face as she dropped her dress to the floor, and he stared wordlessly at her as she stepped out of it and stood naked in front of him. Holding out her hands, she beckoned him to her.

Fervently he stepped towards her, his hand lifting to her face, he smiled and kissed her. As he attempted to remove her silk scarf, she shook her head at him, so instead he kissed around it, nibbling, and sucking at her ear. Analise ripped his shirt open urgently; her nails digging in deep as she ran them down his chest. A wave of disappointment rippled through her, as he was rather on the skinny side.

Backing away from him, she sat on the bed. As he looked at her, her eyes commanded him. Analise threw her head back, and her long, blonde hair cascaded down her back. Tom’s body was alive with passion and urgency; he had to please her, and that was all that mattered. 

As Tom held her in his arms, a smile beamed across his face.  She was the first woman he had made love too, and it had been incredible, she was enchanting and so exceptionally beautiful. Analise ran a finger down his chest, and he shuddered.

Do you love me, Tom? she asked in a whisper.

Yes, I do, he replied, turning his head to her, and smiling.  With all of my heart, he added.

Will you give me your soul, Tom? she asked, and she kissed him again.  His hand gripped the back of her head, and he deepened their kiss. As they broke his eyes gazed into hers.

I would give you anything, he assured, stroking her soft cheek, and hardly believing his luck. Wait until he told the men back at Fortress. He had decided to ask her to come back with him, to meet his family.

Yes, but will you give me your soul? she pushed.  As she lifted her leg and wrapped it around him, her finger ran down his throat and across his prominent Adam’s apple.

Yes, I would give you, my soul.  I would give you whatever you desired, he promised, and his hand slipped between her thighs, in hope that she might want him again. She took a deep, satisfied breath, and lifting her hand to the side of his face, held it there and smiled at him.

Thank you, Tom, and I have to say, for such a young man you did please me, she said. Her eyes sharpened as she released her power into him. His body stiffened as if suddenly frozen.

What - are you doing? he stuttered, as he was unable to move.

Taking your soul, of course, Tom, I did ask you first.

His eyes stared at her in horror, before clouding over, until nothing but an empty shell stared back at her. She grinned, slapped his hand from between her thighs, and pushed his body, sending him sprawling out across the bed. Analise jumped off the bed, reached into the drawer in the dressing table and pulled out the bottle. Her hand glowing as she held his soul tight within her grasp, she opened the hinged cork, and placed her hand over the top.

In you go Tom, good lad, she whispered, as his soul transferred into the tiny bottle. She flipped the lid over and sealed it. The mist within that was once Tom, swirled in distress as she waved it in front of her face.

Don’t be cross Tom, we did have fun first, she said, and she kissed the bottle, her lips lingering on it for a moment.

Blade! she yelled. A minute passed before a young man appeared, he stared at her, and his eyes wandered over her naked body. It was not as if he hadn’t seen her like it before, as she often walked around naked. Still, he was a man now after all, even if she never saw him in that way.

You called, Mistress? he asked, giving a slight dip of his head.  She nodded over to Tom’s body.

Yes, clear that up for me there’s a pet; he’s too weak to become one of my creatures. He bowed again, and scooped Tom’s naked body into his strong arms.

Usual place, Mistress? he asked, turning back to her.  She nodded while still gazing into the bottle.

He began to walk out of the bedroom.

Wait, I will open the door, she called, quickly following him. He stopped in front of the oak dresser and waited.  With a wave of her hand, the dresser moved to one side.

Open, she ordered, and the door flew open.

He gave a dip of his head, and his eyes took her in again. She had a certain look about her after she had been with a man, her skin glowed, and her face flushed.

Are you staring at me, Blade? she asked.

He shook his head, embarrassed she had noticed.

She raised an eyebrow, and he nodded sheepishly.

Good, if you didn’t, I would think there was something wrong with me. Now go, get rid of him, she ordered pointing through the door. Blade obeyed and carried Tom into the ritual room. He shook his head as he looked at him.  Poor sod, he thought as he opened the next door, what was he seventeen, eighteen maybe? The Strekans twitched at the sound.

Present for you, Blade yelled, dropping the young man’s empty shell to the floor. He backed away quickly, giving a shudder as he heard them fighting and tearing at the body as he closed the iron door with a loud thud.

Blade, fetch my robe will you, Analise hollered.

Yes, Mistress, he replied, and he walked across the ritual room and into her bedchamber. He glanced behind him; she was still in the cottage. He stopped and looked at himself in the full-length mirror, and then he sighed. Lifting a hand to his disfigured face, his sad eyes stared back at him - it was no wonder she never looked at him, who would? He had been like this for as long as he could remember, cursed by a witch when he was a child. The witch had taken his looks away from him and left him looking like this. He would never find love; even his own mother had abandoned him.

He choked back a tear - this life was the only one he would ever have.  Analise had taken him in when he was twelve, when his family had thrown him out believing he was a devil child, and ever since he had served her. He was twenty now, and he often thought that perhaps he loved her. He sighed and gave a