The Blood Witch (The Blood Reign Chronicles Book 1) (39 page)

“One of them issss awake,” Jak heard a strange sounding voice on the other side of the door say. The small door slid shut and after a moment, he heard the clank of metal followed by the main door opening. Jak was startled to see two very strange creatures enter the cell, and they looked nothing like anything he had ever seen before.

The bizarre creatures looked like they were part snake and part human. They walked upright on two legs, but were covered in overlapping scales all over their bodies. Their heads were somewhat human-like, but their eyes were yellow with slitted pupils like a cat. The strange creatures were shorter than Jak, only standing as tall as his chest. They had a decidedly unpleasant odor about them, and when the creatures spoke, it was in a slow slurring hissing sound.

As the creatures approached, one of them said. “Drink………Massster will be dissspleasssed if you die before he comesss.” Then it upended a water skin over Jak’s face. It took Jak a moment to realize what was happening before opening his mouth and gulping as much water as he could. The water was cold and felt good on his face, as well as providing some much needed relief from his thirst.

The creatures then moved to Benjim and the others repeating the same process. After everyone had drunk, the two strange creatures left the room and closed the door behind them, leaving Jak and the others in dark once again. The water being poured over the others had brought them awake at last.

“Is everyone alright?” Nicoldani asked hoarsely. Once the other three affirmed that they were at least alive, the big man asked, “What has happened? Where are we?”

After a moment Benjim said, “I am not entirely certain, but I think Mortikus used a sleep spell on us. I blame myself for not seeing or realizing what he was doing, I should have known better. Now we are being held captive, and as near as I can tell from the sound of our captors, I would say they are Vashi. Which most likely means we are somewhere in the Mountains of Kaal.”

Jak listened to the old man’s revelations in stunned silence, unable to speak.

“But why would Mortikus do that?” Gin asked. “He was such a nice little man. I liked him.”

“I do not know,” Benjim answered shaking his head, although Jak was the only one who could see it.

“There are a great many questions that can not be answered at the moment.”

They remained in silence for a time before Jak heard Gin mumbling something under her breath. He couldn’t make out any words she was saying. Perhaps everything was just getting to her and she was beginning to cry.

“NO!” Benjim said sharply, “you must not attempt that. You cannot do it this way; you must be able to see what you are doing. Even then, it would be extremely dangerous and you might incinerate yourself instead.”

Apparently, Gin had been attempting to do to the ropes what she had done with the fire that night. Jak guessed that was why Mortikus had blindfolded Benjim and Gin, but not him or Nicoldani.

That was most likely why Mortikus didn’t really seem interested in actually learning, but instead just wanted displays of power so he could gauge the old man’s strength. In the process, Mortikus had learned that Gin could wield magic too, at least to a small degree. In any case, the captors were not taking any chances, and had blindfolded both of them.

Several more long moments passed in silence before the two Vashi entered through the door again. This time they were holding a pot of what might possibly be called food. It was a bland, pasty white mush, which they forced each of the captives to eat. Jak hesitated at first not knowing what it was, but he was famished, and began to gulp it down hungrily. It didn’t taste all that bad in any case. Afterwards he actually felt slightly better, and had regained at least a little of his strength. However, he still felt exhausted, and before long was asleep once again.

Some time later, Jak wasn’t sure exactly how long; he was awakened by more water being poured over his face. Soon after that, he heard voices outside the door. There were the slurring voices of the Vashi, but there was also a more familiar voice talking with them. Abruptly the door flung open and in walked Mortikus.

Jak strained against his bonds with all his might trying to reach the little man. He wanted to kill Mortikus for what he had done. Well, maybe not kill him, but he at least wanted to teach the little man a lesson. However, there was at least a part of him that wanted to kill the gnome and drink his blood.

“Well, well,” Mortikus said in a smug tone, “it seems you all survived, and are in relatively decent shape. Good, I’m glad of that.”

“What have you done Mortikus? Where have you taken us? Why did you do this to us?” Benjim demanded of the little man with anger rising in his voice.

“Why? For profit of course,” Mortikus said matter-of-factly.

“You see, the Vashi find all sorts of precious stones, and even gold and sliver in their caves deep in the Mountains of Kaal. They have no use for these things, other than for babbles or decorations.

However, the Vashi do love the taste of flesh, most especially human flesh. It is a delicacy to them, and they pay exceedingly well for it.

Since they have been driven into hiding, they don’t get it as much as they would like. So I simply provide it to them. In return, they give me gold and gems and such. A very nice arrangement, don’t you think?” the little man said with a virulent smile.

Mortikus received only glares from Jak and Nicoldani, and frowns from the other two, in answer to his question.

Mortikus continued to regard them with a questioning look before it was apparent he would not get a rise out of them. “You were easy targets, so naive and trusting.

What? Did you think I was your friend?” The gnome said with a feigned look of surprise.

“Did you think that I wanted to learn magic? Ha! My magic works well enough I would say. I sold my entire clan and family to the Vashi long ago. Do you believe I would think twice about selling you?”

Mortikus seemed disappointed that they didn’t show enough shock or surprise at his revelation. After a moment, he continued in a bland tone, “But you do need to keep up your strength. My sleep spell slowed your bodies so that you don’t have the same needs for food and water as you normally would. But nevertheless, nine days does take its toll on the body. I was afraid the old man, or possibly the girl wouldn’t make it all the way without dying.”

“Nine days!!!” Jak said incredulously, “we’ve been here nine days?”

“No, no, young fool. Do you not know how to count? This is your second day
here
. But it took nine days to reach the Mountains of Kaal traveling across the Jaharian Desert,” the tiny man said with smirk.

Jak felt like he had been kicked in the stomach. He had been hoping it had only been one, or maybe two days. He wasn’t exactly sure where the Mountains of Kaal were located, other than west of where they had been, but now he knew that they had been asleep for over eleven days, and were a long way from where they wanted to be. On top of that, apparently they were going to end up as dinner for these Vashi.

“We can’t have you wasting away or dying before the Master gets here. He has been sent for, and should be here in another day or two. When he found out
you
were here,” the little man said peering up at Jak, “he wanted to come see you personally. Apparently, the Great Mistress has taken a particular interest in you. I didn’t even know she had been freed from her prison. But apparently she has been. Isn’t that wonderful news?”

When no one would answer his question, the little man went on, “I don’t suppose
you
would think so. In any case, the Vashi said that the Great Mistress wants you to be held, or if possible delivered to her. Since the Vashi can’t just take you there themselves without being killed, we sent a messenger to the Great Mistress, and she is sending someone to take you back to her. That will take a little while since it’s a long ways to Yilavo City.”

“In the mean time, we need to get some more
meat
on your bones……so to speak.”

Jak did not like the look on the gnome’s face when he said that. As it turned out, he seemed to have a very nasty sense of humor.

Turning to the doorway, Mortikus called to one of the creatures outside to bring the meat in. One of the Vashi entered carrying a large tray stacked with some sort of dark red meat. As Jak looked closer he could see that it was raw and bloody.

“Eat,” Mortikus commanded Nicoldani as he shoved the tray up towards the big man’s face. The tiny man could barely reach high enough to get it under Nicoldani’s chin.

“We thought since you have no more need of them, and the Vashi do not ride……. that your horses could be put to a good use,” he said laughing hysterically and almost dropping the large tray.

“Hofsi?” Gin exclaimed, “you had better not have hurt Hofsi or I…I will…..I will burn you,” she said furiously. Then she began to cry.

Mortikus just laughed even more, before turning his attention back to Nicoldani. The gnome was too short to reach any closer to Nicoldani’s face, so with an angry look; he handed the tray back to one of the Vashi and motioned to Nicoldani. The Vashi took the tray and shoved it close to Nicoldani’s face.

“Eat!!” Mortikus commanded, even more angrily.

When Nicoldani refused, the Vashi pressed the tray hard against the big man’s face and smeared it around for several moments, before lowering it. Nicoldani gave the Vashi a withering look, and spared one for Mortikus as well, but he refused to eat what was on the tray.

Mortikus gave up on Nicoldani and moved to where Jak was chained to the wall.

“What about you?” he said dryly, “I don’t think the big man cares enough about any of you to be coerced. Besides, he is large enough as he is. I doubt he will be wasting away anytime soon. But then we have you…….isn’t the little one your sister?” Mortikus said with a malicious grin toward Gin.

“Don’t you touch her,” Jak said as rage filled him, “if you harm her I will kill you.”

Mortikus only smiled and said, “Oh I won’t harm her……….as long as you eat. But…..if you refuse, I will let the Vashi eat
her
while you watch, after all the Great Mistress did not say anything about wanting her.”

Jak was furious at the threat from Mortikus, but not withstanding, he didn’t need the little man’s threat to want to eat what was on the tray in front of him. Even before the Vashi put the tray to his face Jak could smell it. The meat was fresh, still warm, and dripping with blood. He plunged his face into the tray and began to devour the bloody, raw horse meat ravenously.

When he finished the meat, he even licked the blood from the tray, until the Vashi pulled it away from him.

“That wasn’t nearly as much fun as it should have been,” Mortikus said dejectedly. You didn’t even cringe, or gag, or put up a fight at all. You actually seemed to enjoy it,” he shook his head in disgust and dismay.

Mortikus stood there for several moments with a thoughtful look on his face and tapping his fore finger on his cheek, before his eyes suddenly lit up. The gnome turned and motioned for one of the Vashi to stoop down so he could whisper something in its ear. As the Vashi rushed from the room, the wicked little smile appeared on the tiny man’s face once again, and he wrung his hands in anticipation and glee.

After a moment, the Vashi returned with another plate. This time it was piled with entrails and organs. Mortikus wore a wide smile, the anticipation plain on his face as he turned back to Jak, “Since you seemed to enjoy that so much, perhaps you would like more.”

Jak’s stomach heaved as the Vashi placed the tray to his face, and he shied away from it in disgust. The bloody horse-meat was one thing, but intestines and organs were something else entirely. He wasn’t sure he could do it even for Gin, but he still did not have enough of his strength back yet to resist.

“Eat, or they eat the girl,” Mortikus said impatiently.

Jak turned his face reluctantly to the tray once again. There was no other choice, he had to do it. He would not let them harm Gin if he could help it. This time however, as he glanced over the tray, hope began to rise in him as he noticed the horse’s liver and the heart were on the tray.
That might be enough
, he thought.

Slowly, as not to seem too eager, Jak bent his head over the tray and began to devourer them. The horse blood was not nearly as satisfying or invigorating as human blood, but he could feel some of his strength returning. With blood dripping from his mouth, he lifted his face from the tray to eye the tiny man.

“All of it. You must eat all of it,” Mortikus said emphatically, almost jumping up and down.

Jak stretched inside his bonds and began to feel the ropes giving way. There would only be one chance he knew, so it must be done quickly. He flexed his wrists behind his back and felt the bonds give, and then finally break. Then he lunged forward as hard as he could. The anchors that held the chains to the wall groaned, but did not break. However, he was able to grab the nearest Vashi, pulling it close and wrenching its head around to break its neck. He realized just then, that the Vashi were surprisingly brittle. It was almost like stepping on a bug or beetle and smashing it.

Mortikus spun quickly and fled in a panic through the open door, with a look of terror on his face, not even bothering to close the cell door. The other Vashi looked torn between running out of the cell after Mortikus, or fighting Jak.