Page 9

WINNOW

BELLORUM REALM

V iolette’s grin widens to reveal her petite, pointed fangs. Unease tickles the back of my mind again, but I shove it away in favor of my blessed vacation. “It would be an honor to serve you, Duchess Paramount.”

Before I can blink, she’s folded us into what I assume is the front door to her home. A small, but surprisingly quaint cottage. I’m still staring up at the creeping vines and flora, where I see fairies darting about, when she yanks me inside with jarring strength.

Before I can utter any complaint, my lips part in awe.

From the interior, one might guess she was a botanist or alchemist, not a brothel mistress.

Plants and vines grow in an untamed manner over the walls and window frames, a wild variety of bubbling potions and all manner of other scientific-looking accoutrements that I know woefully little about.

Ancient tomes are neatly organized on built-in corner shelving that reaches from floor to ceiling, making my fingers twitch with the need to graze their weathered spines.

Violette’s voice draws me out of my reverie.

“Where is it that you’d like me to take you, Your Grace?” Violette saunters toward her kitchen—or laboratory, I can’t actually be sure—wearing a high-collared dress similar to the one I’d first met her in, clinging perfectly to her generous curves.

“I’m not sure, actually. I haven’t done much travelling. Especially not outside of our realm, what with my duties and all. I’ve never taken a vacation. Not since my parents… um…”

Were brutally murdered in front of me.

“… passed away. ”

Violette’s brows give a subtle shift as she studies me with an unreadable expression.

“My condolences. Might I offer you some tea, Your Grace?”

That little voice of unease scratches at the back of my mind.

Hmmm. Would I prefer to be rude or risk death by poison?

Death by poison, obviously.

I muster a trepidatious smile. “Certainly, thank you.”

Violette looks pleased by my reply as she begins rooting around in her kitchen, collecting a variety of herbs.

“No need to fuss with trying to add any fancy ingredients, Miss Lark; plain black tea will do just fine.”

Violette’s movements still as she twists to look back at me. “Well, I can’t resist trying to impress the Duchess herself.”

She returns to her search. “And how do you feel about foreign languages? Once you leave Bellorum, I’m afraid Caerwynathian will be useless to you.”

Very nearly, squealing my delight, I will my vial of water from the Well of Tongues into my hand. “No matter! I’ll be quite alright, thank you.”

Violette’s gaze darts back to me from over her shoulder, eyes widening in recognition at the sight of my vial.

“Where in all the realms did you get that?”

“Azrael.”

Her jaw drops. “As in the god of death?”

“Indeed.”

Not so long ago, Azrael visited our realm–something to do with a catastrophe on a neighboring continent–I’d been visiting my cousin at her palace for the annual council meeting when he’d arrived. Unannounced.

Being the unpredictable, charismatic, and charming fellow he is, if not a little eccentric, we’d spoken of books and my travel aspirations.

He’d generously provided me with an enchantment that enabled the imbiber to read any language, along with a vial from The Well of Tongues, and promised me that one day, I would travel to new worlds far beyond Bellorum.

I give the vial a little shake, and it glows a healthy purple-y blue color.

Violette’s brows are up by her hairline as she watches me down it.

Her lips part in awe as a halo of iridescent blue and purple light momentarily radiates from my head and body before she turns back to the many rows of glass jars and vials containing various herbs and oddities.

A few moments later, she finally returns to where I’ve made myself at home on her couch and passes me a dainty teacup.

“Might I ask for payment now, your majesty, seeing as you’ll be leaving soon? ”

“Oh, certainly.”

I will forward one of the diamonds from my coronet and offer it to her in my upturned palm. I don’t miss the hope and longing flickering in her eyes at the sight of it.

“You’re too kind, Your Grace.”

“Not at all, Miss Lark. I’m sure you’ll guarantee my safe departure and return.”

Violette bats her impossibly long lashes at me. “Of course, Your Majesty.”

My thoughts are awhirl with possibility.

The only thought dampening them is that I’ve read about the fact that when a god leaves their realm, they will need blood to sustain them.

Preferably, the blood of a majori because it will be replete with magic.

Even Azrael admitted that he requires blood as sustenance when he leaves his realm for too long.

“Do you know how long it’ll be before I’ll require blood?”

Violette’s delicate brows lift as she shrugs. “Perhaps a month or so, from what I’ve heard? But I’m not entirely sure. My interactions with gods, such as yourself, are few and far between.”

With a thoughtful hum, I exhale my worry. “And how, exactly, shall I call for your return?”

Violette’s eyes drop to the knick-knacks lining her coffee table, where she retrieves a small conch shell. “Just keep this nearby and speak my name thrice into the mouth.”

I take the conch shell in hand, eyeing it curiously before I pocket it.

“How very clever. Now, since I’m not a seasoned traveller, where is it that you’d recommend?”

“There are several realms that come to mind, though there is one in particular I have a feeling you’d enjoy most.”

A broad grin beams my delight. “Have you been yourself?”

“Oh, yes. It’s one of my favorites. Terrenea. Though the inhabitants there refer to it as Earth.”

Humming around a mouthful of floral tea, a wistful sigh escapes me as I taste the name on my tongue. “Earth.”

It’s been a while since I’ve read about it.

On occasion, I’ve even read some of their human literature, some of it containing hilarious depictions of gods and other magical entities.

And despite the fact that magic seems to only have the most vague presence there, something about it already feels so right.

It’s a predominantly human realm, if I remember correctly. Some distant memory tickles my mind in warning, but I ignore it in favor of my baser needs.

“And what of the males? Are they handsome? Strong?” I waggle my eyebrows at her, taking another gulp of tea. “ Well endowed? ”

Violette’s tinkle of laughter is fuel to the blazing fire of my hope and excitement. “Many of them are, indeed.”

At last, I’ll find respite, no matter how brief, from the burdensome responsibility thrust upon me by forefathers and foremothers. Maybe I’ll even fall in love with a male who can, “pin me to the bed with his cock.”Maybe ? —

The whirling possibilities screech to a halt as my equilibrium swoops, and my vision and stomach sway.

Violette’s large, dark eyes glitter with mirth. “Something the matter, Your Grace?”

Her words are tinged with blatant bitterness.

Rising panic claws up my throat, but I can’t seem to get my mouth to form any words. The sight of my struggle makes Violette beam.

I attempt to fold back to my palace, but the grasp on my magic is now far out of reach.

My attempt to stand and make a run for it results in nothing but a singular jerky movement that has me slumping over sideways into the middle of her couch.

Violette’s cheeks must ache from the sheer wattage of her fangy smile.

Fat tears well and stream as fear and indignance consume me, all while Violette sips from her own tiny cup of tea. “The place is infested almost entirely by humans that are spookish at best when it comes to magic… and anyone that doesn’t look like them.”

Oh, fuck.

The tiny internal alarm bell wails to life again as the words witch hunt and numerous historical recounts depicting women being burned at the stake return to memory.

Akash almighty, she’s sending me to my doom.

As if she can read my mind, or perhaps merely the sheer terror in my eyes, she gives me a look of feigned benevolence.

“Don’t worry, Your Grace, I’ve taken the liberty of glamouring you to make you more… palatable for human tastes. Though I can’t say for certain how long it will last…”

Chuckling, Violette stands, lifting her hands and moving them this way and that until an iridescent light glows from a singular point in the air and grows so wide and bright that I have to squeeze my eyes shut.

When a gust of wet wind slaps my face, and the sound of thunder fills my ears, I open them to see a dark forest made hazy by pelting sheets of rain.

With a flick of Violette’s finger, my body lifts off the couch and floats toward the open portal. Cool rain pelts my body so hard it stings, quickly drenching me as I enter this new world. Violette’s magic releases me, and I hit the muddy ground with a wet smack.

I can’t manage words, but the heartbroken look of betrayal on my face is just as clear. The sight of which only deepens Violette’s grin before she gives me a feigned pout, and her voice drops to a dramatic coo.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that! It’s for the greater good! Remember?”

With a maniacal cackle, the portal seals shut, and thanks to whatever she’s poisoned me with, my consciousness abandons me moments later.