Page 15 of Golden (Fairytales Retold)

THE ENCHANTRESS

T he next morning, Tabian awoke to find Katerina gone. As before, she came at dusk and brought him food and water. He spent his time trying to hone his skills with the amulet. The best he was able to do was to get the bright light to blaze from it, but only momentarily.

When three days had passed, and Tabian was still chained like an animal, he went into a fit of despair and wept, knowing that he’d failed Garrin. There was no way he could get back to Verdermere in time to save him. At this point, it was doubtful that Tabian could even save himself. He could only imagine the awful state he’d be in right now if Katerina hadn’t been bringing him food and water. Perhaps Lilith was keeping him here long enough to kill him, and then she’d take the amulet. A dead man couldn’t expose her for being an evil enchantress.

On the morning of the fourth day, he was startled by the opening of the door. Lilith stepped in, the hem of her frock sweeping the floor with an elegance that was so out of place in the current surroundings that it made him want to laugh. When she saw him, a deep frown formed over her face. “You’re hardly the picture of a man on the brink of starvation.” She looked up and cursed when she saw the open window. “I see that a little birdie has been looking after you.”

Hatred burned through Tabian. This enchantress had caused so much pain, not only to him but also to Katerina and her family. “What do you want?” he demanded.

She strode over to a chair, dragged it over to where he was, and lowered herself into it. She was the picture of refinement with her handsome frock, chestnut curls, and comely features. Her curvy frame suggested that she’d settled comfortably into middle age. She had the type of face that a person could trust and everything about her radiated kindness. However, it was all a lie. A dangerous, deceptive lie.

“You want answers?” she chimed. “Let me tell you a story.” He caught a flicker of what looked to be a combination of anger and greed in her expression as she looked at his amulet.

He narrowed his eyes. “If you wanted it that badly, then why didn’t you just take it? Why chain me to the wall for days on end without food or water?”

“I wanted you to be weak to make the transfer easier.”

A chill ran through him. Transfer? He didn’t like the sound of that. “You can’t just take it?”

She pushed out a short laugh, eyeing him with cruel pity. “If only you knew how to access the amulet’s power, no one—not even me—could keep you chained. What do you know of the amulet?”

When he remained silent, she rolled her eyes. “So insolent,” she muttered. “Very well, I’ll enlighten you.”

“Why bother?” He looked her in the eye. “You and I both know how this ends; I’m a dead man.”

A hard smile wrapped her lips. “This explanation isn’t for you, dear; it’s for a little birdie who couldn’t resist the temptation to eavesdrop.” She made a point of looking up at the window.

Tabian’s breath caught. Katerina was here? He expected her to swoop down, but she didn’t.

“I want you to hear every word of this,” Lilith continued, “so you’ll think twice before you ever disobey my orders again.” Malice glittered in her dark eyes. “I want you to know what happened to the last person who betrayed me.” She pursed her lips, her expression turning thoughtful. “Let’s see … where to begin?” She looked past Tabian as if forgetting that he was in the room. Her voice took on a wistful lilt. “Once upon a time, there were two sisters who lived with their father, a woodcutter. The girls’ mother died when they were both very young. While their father was at work, the sisters would play in the forest. One day, they stumbled over something on the ground. A beautiful stone,” she murmured.

She smiled, remembering. “The older sister—Lilith—was the first to discover the stone’s powers. She realized that it could be used to compel others to obey her will. She tried it out on her sister and father, and they were none the wiser. Eventually, Lilith shared the news of the stone’s powers with her younger sister—Isolde. The sisters spent many years learning more about the stone’s powers and how to wield it.”

The statement was both a relief and devastating to Tabian. While he was glad he wasn’t a complete fool for not being able to figure out how to use the amulet, he didn’t have years to learn how to wield it. His life would be over before the sun set on this very day. His stomach twisted at the thought. Pulling himself away from the despondence, he couldn’t resist asking, “What type of powers does the amulet have?”

Lilith flinched like he’d pulled her out of her revelry.

A defeated smile spread over his mouth. “What could it hurt to tell me? You’re going to kill me soon.” A shudder ran through him. He didn’t want to die, not when he still had so much to live for. An image of Katerina flashed before his eyes. He didn’t want to lose her, not when he’d just found her. Furthermore, he detested the idea of Katerina spending the rest of her life in bondage to this horrible woman.

She lifted an eyebrow in a cold amusement. “You already know it can be used to compel others. Also, it acts as a protection against other magic.”

He already knew about the protection aspect because it had shielded him from Katerina’s enchantment in the garden—err, Lilith’s enchantment, which she’d lent to Katerina to serve her evil purpose.

She flashed an icy smile. “Does that satisfy your curiosity?”

“Aye.”

She inclined her head, frowning. “Where was I?” She paused as if collecting her thoughts. “Eventually, the younger sister—Isolde—came to understand the worth of the stone. As the sisters grew up, they both wanted possession of the stone. It became such a source of contention that the woodcutter suggested the stone be taken to a gem cutter so it could be cut in half and fashioned into necklaces. The sisters agreed.”

She smirked. “Isolde had grand illusions of using the stone for the betterment of the wretched scoundrels in our village.” Disgust soured her expression. “My sister always was a na?ve fool.”

“If you think your sister was such a na?ve fool, then why do you go to such great lengths to portray yourself as a benefactor to the villagers?”

A giggle rose in her throat. She touched her lips to stifle it. “That’s my homage to Isolde.” Her eyes hardened. “A fitting tribute, wouldn’t you say?”

Tabian didn’t try to hide the condemnation in his tone. “What happened to Isolde?”

“She should’ve given me her amulet,” she hissed. “I’m the one who first discovered its powers. Had I not shared the revelation with Isolde, she never would’ve known its true value.”

“Why didn’t you just take it from her?” He wondered how many times he would be forced to ask the same question before getting an answer.

“I tried, but Isolde blocked my attempt.”

Curiosity lilted Tabian’s voice. “How so?” It would seem that Isolde was a lot more intelligent than Lilith wished to admit.

“She put a protective spell over her amulet … which also filtered to mine since they started out as one stone.” Her face masked into something hard and loathsome. A resentful glimmer flicked her eyes as she looked at Tabian. “Isolde helped your mother plant a tree.”

His breath caught.

“She put a protection spell over the amulet. The only way its power can be transferred to me is if you and I both drink the juice of the golden apples at the same time. Both amulets will glow and can then be transferred.”

Understanding registered. “That’s why you sent Katerina to steal the apples.”

“Even though I’ve known where the amulet was all of these years, it was a worthless piece of jewelry … until it was given to you on your eighteenth birthday.”

He made a face. “Why?”

“Because that’s the way Isolde planned it,” she barked.

“Did you use Katerina to lure me here?” He’d thought it was so clever of him to pick up on the clues Katerina had given him about walking on the sand and the mention of her father, a cobbler. But perhaps the whole thing was a setup.

“Nay, you coming here was happenstance.”

He frowned. “But you sent your men to kill me.”

“Because I thought you’d somehow discovered the identity of the thief who took the golden apples and had come here to capture Katerina.”

That was true.

She chuckled. “When I heard your accent and realized you were from Verdermere that evening at my birthday party, I still didn’t realize that you were the third son—the one who’d gained possession of the amulet. My plan all along was to first secure the golden apples, and then I planned to go to Verdermere to find you.” A smug smile curled her lips. “When you displayed the amulet’s powers to my men, I knew that providence had brought you to me.” She grinned. “Isolde thought she was so smart, but she lost in the end.”

“You killed her.” Tabian’s stomach roiled with the sickening knowledge that Lilith was pure evil.

Her eyes narrowed to slits. “Aye, I killed her,” she snarled. “I hunted her down in the forest like an animal and put an end to her miserable life.” She glared at Tabian. “You’ll soon follow the same path.” She rose to her feet and said loudly. “Katerina, I hope you heard all of that. Now you know how futile it would be to ever betray me again.” She looked at Tabian. “I’m willing to overlook this instance.” Amusement flicked over her face. “Considering that you were taken in by a handsome prince.” She drew herself up to her full height. “However, there will be no more second chances.” A feverish restlessness rustled through her eyes as she looked at the necklace around Tabian’s neck. “When I have possession of both amulets, I’ll be unstoppable.” She strode over to the open door and spoke to someone in the hall. “We’re ready.”

A hulking figure filled the entrance. The tall, burly man who’d beaten Tabian lumbered in. His expression was hard, as if ready to do some damage.

Panic fired through Tabian. Was this how it was going to end? He looked up at the open window, wishing he could see Katerina once more. She’d been wise to stay hidden from Lilith’s view. Tabian wished that she and Bartholomew could somehow escape this place and Lilith’s clutches.

“Is everything ready?” Lilith asked her henchman.

“Aye, mi’ lady.”

She tossed Tabian a cruel smile. “Normally, I would’ve just compelled you to obey my orders and follow me up to the top of the turret, but while you’re wearing the amulet, you’re protected. Hugh will have to take you.”

Hugh stepped forward and used a key to release Tabian from his shackles. “If you try anything, I’ll smash your pretty face.”

“Haven’t you already done that?” Tabian quipped, trying to stave off the panic building inside him. Hugh went behind Tabian up the narrow steps winding to the top of the turret. Several times, Tabian didn’t climb fast enough to suit Hugh. The burly man shoved him hard in the back, causing Tabian to trip and fall forward, catching himself with his palms before he went down hard.

Lilith walked calmly behind them.

When they reached the top, they were assaulted by the cold bite of the wind that ripped through their hair and clothes. Tabian’s heart lurched when he saw the golden liquid shimmering ominously in the cauldron—juice from the apples.

His throat tightened as he glanced off the side of the turret. “Why did you choose to do this up here?” Even as he voiced the question, he saw the answer written in Lilith’s savage expression. “You’re going to throw me off.”

“It’ll be much cleaner this way.” Her voice took on a recitative quality as if she was explaining to someone what happened after the fact. “You have been my guest in the manor for the past several days. ‘Twas the least I could do—to offer you shelter after that vicious attack outside the village.” She pursed her lips together in mock sadness. “Pity that you came up here to look out. You slipped and fell.” She sighed dramatically. “Such a shame.”

His heart beat furiously against his chest. He wished there was something he could do to stop this. Tapping into the fear, he tried to rouse the amulet to life. He managed to make it glow.

Lilith smirked. “Impressive. It’s a shame you don’t have more time to learn how to use the amulet. Otherwise, you might’ve been quite powerful.”

“Hold him,” she ordered Hugh. “We need to both drink the juice from the apples at the same time. Only then can the transfer take place.”

Hugh went to grab Tabian.

“Nay,” Tabian shouted, holding the amulet out as he’d done on the night of the attack. He felt the rush of sheer power flow through his body as a wand of light blazed from the stone and struck Hugh’s arm. The man cursed and jumped back. Just as Tabian was turning the amulet on Lilith, she pulled hers from the bodice of her frock and wielded it against him. The light from her amulet was bold and blinding, pushing him back with a force he’d never before encountered. He held up his amulet as a shield, trying to fight off the assault, but his strength was quickly waning. The light he’d managed to elicit from his amulet was but a trickle compared to hers.

“Get him,” Lilith screeched. “Bind his arms.”

Hugh grabbed him, wrenching his arms behind his back.

Lilian lowered her amulet. Her face was crimson with rage as she reached for a wooden ladle and scooped up some juice from the cauldron. She took a long drink and then stepped over to Tabian. He fought against Hugh, but the man was too strong. “Drink the juice,” Lilian growled as she forced the ladle into his mouth. It hit against his teeth as she pried his mouth open and poured in the juice. It ran down the sides of his mouth. He coughed as he strangled against the liquid. Despite his best effort to keep from swallowing, he must’ve done so by reflex.

“It’s working,” Lilith shouted with a girlish glee. She reached to snatch the amulet from his neck, but before she could, she was startled by the loud squawk of a bird. Tabian saw a blip of gold out of the corner of his eye. He didn’t realize what had happened until Lilith let out a cry. “She took my amulet. Your father will pay for that with his life,” she growled.

Tabian used the distraction to jab Hugh in the eye with the point of his elbow. The man grunted and released his hold. Tabian whirled around and grabbed his amulet to summon its powers. Before he could do so, he was pushed from behind. Lilith encircled his neck and tried to claw off his amulet. The two wrestled as he tried to get her off him. With a murderous expression on his face, Hugh went to charge at Tabian. In a sheer effort to free his hands to defend himself, Tabian flung Lilith away from him. She let out a shriek as she flailed her arms, face rigid with panic. Their eyes met for one brief moment before she toppled backward over the edge. Her screams were swallowed by the wind.

Hugh’s eyes went wide with shock, and then he unleashed a string of curses. Before he could lunge to do his worst, Tabian lifted the amulet. Light shot out from it and hit Hugh in the face. He fell to his knees, wailing, “My eye.”

“You are a loathsome bottom-dweller,” Tabian shouted to the cowering man. “I should finish you off here and now.”

“Spare me,” the man whimpered.

Tabian grunted. “Because I have no desire to become like Lilith … I will spare you.” He pointed his finger at the man’s face. “However, you mark my words. If you ever lift a finger to hurt Katerina or her father, I—will—kill—you!” He kicked over the cauldron, sending the liquid spilling over the stones.

It was over.

He should probably feel something—relief, victory, gratitude that Katerina had saved him. Right now, however, he was numb through and through.

Taking in a heavy breath, he turned and went down the steps.