Page 4 of Wolfsbane (Deadly Duet #2)

FOUR

MOREL

It had taken most of the day to reach Hellbore, the well-traveled road along the way barren and desolate. It was an unusual and eerie thing that left me unsettled, cautious, my grip on the reigns of my horse tight with anticipation. Boletus may have control of Hellbore, but he had no clue what, or who, was approaching the gates of Hellbore.

The gates to the usually open and welcoming kingdom were shut, guarded by a small party of soldiers dressed in Scorpius uniforms, every soul well-armed. We slowed our pace as we neared, hoping to be mistaken for merely lost or wandering travelers.

“Halt!” One of the guards raised his arm as he stepped towards us, blocking the path to the gate as he held a burning torch. “Who goes there?”

My eyes shot to Orion, my face partially concealed beneath the hood of my cloak. He nodded, kicking his horse forward.

“Good evening! We seemed to have over exhausted ourselves and our resources. It seems this is the only kingdom for a day's ride. We humbly seek shelter from the cold while we replenish our stomachs and allow our horses a small reprise.” Orion waited as the guard eyed us.

“Bit odd to see such a lively gang of riders out this far. What kingdom do you hail from? I see no sigils or flags amongst your persons.”

“Would you believe me if I told you we were a merry troupe of entertainers?” Orion leaned forward, smiling as he winked at the guard, who scoffed.

“Never seen such a well filled group of entertainers before, especially not without instruments.” The guard moved his torch, stepping towards my horse. My hands gripped the reigns tight. “You seem rather large to be a singer.”

“Why, what a compliment!” Orion chimed, directing the guard’s attention back to him. “You know what they say: a well sung song keeps the belly fed and a warm bed.” I rolled my eyes at his ridiculously made up sentiment.

The guard eyed all of us closely, pondering before he tsked.

“Let them in!” he shouted. The remaining guards rushed to the gate, opening it for us. “Fill your bellies, water your horses, then begone with yourselves.”

“I assure you, we plan to do just that.” Orion nodded his thanks as we slowly led the horses through the gates, remaining silent for a moment, waiting to be out of range of the guard.

“Entertainers?” I grumbled.

“Well, I couldn’t have said we were poets now, could I?” A few men in our party tried to hide their laughter as I smiled beneath my hood. “Besides, if required, I would happily prove our lie to be true with a song of my choice, as I’m the only one here with a voice worth listening to.”

“Are you saying I can’t sing?” I asked with a raised brow and smirk.

Orion straightened his posture. “You have many strengths, my king. But,” he cleared his throat, “I believe the heavens knew with a voice like mine, you’d be an unstoppable force the world was not ready for.”

The party scoffed and laughed amongst themselves. I turned, glancing over my shoulder at them as they hushed and stared forward. I shook my head, clicking my tongue. “Tell you what, Orion—next time you are in need of my many strengths , why don’t you use that lovely voice you claim to have? Would hate to waste my strength when a man of your talents can sing our way to victory.” I grinned at him as he stared at me with a blank face.

“I should have said we were jesters, as you seem to possess such humor.” The men laughed at his sarcastic sentence. “Very well. As it seems I must be the hero in the end, allow me to warm my vocal cords and prepare for battle.”

“No, Orion, don’t?—”

“Ohhhh,” he began to sing, “they say her hair was red like burning fire?—”

“Orion,” I groaned.

“Her eyes were filled with envy and desire.”

“Heavens save me,” I growled as the other men began to join in.

“To men who fell under her spell, beware?—”

“Beware! Beware!” the party shouted.

“She’ll lure a man down to her lair and dine there.”

“I’m surrounded by imbeciles,” I grumbled under their loud singing.

“Oh, if only you had a voice to accompany us, my king.” Orion ruptured into laughter as we neared the small town surrounding the kingdom, the tone shifting from playful to more serious as we noticed numerous Scorpius flags and tapestries hanging around the city walls in place of Hellbore’s.

“It seems Boletus has made himself quite comfortable here.”

“A bit too much, it seems,” Orion stated as we slowly rode the horses through the streets, noticing the cold, quieted voices, all eyes on us as the people of Hellbore, once lively and optimistic, hushed, filled with a sadness that could be felt in my bones.

Our party approached what appeared to be a small inn as the moon began to rise in the sky and the sun faded behind the thick clouds of night.

“A graveyard possesses more life in it than this,” Orion stated as we dismounted our horses and tied their reins. “Something isn't right here, Morel.”

“Boletus is here… I assure you, there is nothing right about that. We need to inquire about the king and queen and figure out what happened to them and their kingdom.” The party gathered as we exchanged looks. “Be as silent as the night and do what you must. Trust no one.” The men nodded as they slowly faded through the town, and Orion and I inhaled before stepping into the low-lit tavern.

The tavern was oddly quiet, only a few drunken stragglers seated around the room, minding their own business despite their wandering eyes. I knew I stood out, with my large frame and above average height, but I was hoping that, beneath my hooded cloak, I could blend in. In truth, I think it only drew more attention to myself.

Orion approached the bar as I shadowed him, the older gentleman behind it observing us closely. “Good evening, good sir.” I rolled my eyes at this fake persona he was once again presenting. “Two pints, please. Say, did Hellbore adapt new banners?” The old man’s eyes widened, obviously frightened by the topic.

My own gaze followed, noticing a trio of uniformed men drinking in the farthest corner of the tavern, watching us with narrowed eyes.

“I’m ‘fraid I’m not sure what you’re asking.” He forced a fake smile, pouring the two pints. “Hellbore is, as it has been, peaceful.”

“Deadly peaceful,” Orion muttered under his breath. He leaned close to the old man. “You need not fear us, good sir. I assure you, the kingdom of shadows is friend to all Hellbore.”

The barkeep's face dropped as he realized who we were, frantically eyeing the group in the corner. His sight moved and landed on me, his face silently telling me he knew who I was.

“Heavens. It is you, the king of darkness,” he whispered. I nodded ever so lightly.

The man fumbled with a cloth rag, presenting our pints. As we reached for them, he grabbed our hands and leaned in close and whispered between us. “Hellbore is prisoner to Scorpius, the prince sitting on our king’s throne.”

“Where is he? Where is the king and queen?” I whispered quietly, trying not to draw any attention to ourselves. The barkeep released our hands as Orion sipped the pint.

“There has been no sight of them since prince Boletus attacked, defeating our forces in a fortnight. His men burned all Hellbore’s flags, replacing them with his own. The kingdom has been on curfew, only allowed to move about as he sees fit, his men roaming freely while we suffer in silence or meet our own death. I could hang for simply repeating any of this to you, King Morel.” A low grunt vibrated in my throat as I stared into the pint. The man crossed his arms, glancing between Orion and myself as he leaned forward. “Is it true?”

“Is what true?” My eyes met his.

“That you, King Agaric’s twin brother, are cursed by the devil himself?”

I stared at him, my brows furrowing as the side of my lips curled upwards. “I am the devil.” His face drained of all color.

“Aye!” Great. The trio of Boletus’ men finished their pints as they stood, and began to slowly approach us. “What’s going on over here?”

The old man looked at me as I sighed, taking a sip of my drink, ignoring them. Orion finished his, slamming the cup down in a dramatic effort.

“Heavens, that's some good ale! Really quenches the thirst, doesn’t it, boys?” He twirled around, a smug look plastered across his face as the men stopped.

“Can’t say I recognize you or your shy little friend. What business do you two have here in Hellbore?” I had to force myself to keep my eyes low and not react.

“We’re just two entertainers, stopping by for a drink. Care to hear a song?” My eyes moved to the corners, peeking over my shoulder as I watched Orion try to appease the men.

“You two don’t look like entertainers.” One of the men repositioned his hand, revealing a sword at his waist as the others mimicked his motions. It was obvious they were either too stupid or too drunk, looking for a fight.

One of the men stepped to my side, poking my frame. “Yeah, this one here looks more like a bear.” The three men snickered and chuckled as my jaw tightened.

“Why don’t you two come with us?” The first man unsheathed his sword.

“Easy, gentlemen. There's no need?—”

“Bite your tongue, peasant!” the man by my side hissed at the old man behind the bar.

“You kiss your mother with that mouth?” The man looked at me in horror as I took another sip, pleased with my muffled response.

“What did you say?” he asked.

“Easy,” Orion warned, his usual demeanor returning.

“You’re right. His own mother wouldn’t even kiss his face.”

“You think that’s funny?” He shoved closer, knocking my arm as I spilled the ale.

“Oh hell,” Orion whispered, lowering his head.

“I was drinking that.” My temper was bubbling beneath my skin, my muscles tensing as he and his friends laughed ignorantly at their fatal mistake.

“Oh? And what’re you going to do about it?” The man ripped my hood down. “You’re just a—” My fist swung fast, slamming into the man’s face. He stumbled backward, the sound of his fumbling footsteps and choked voice mixing as he groaned in immense pain. The smell of his blood and taste of fear he emanated was amusing, pulling a gentle grin from the corner of my lips.

“You’re going to pay for that!” the first man snapped.

“Am I now?” I rose, Orion sighing as we both turned to face the drunken uniformed men. My hand moved from beneath the cloak, seamlessly removing it and rolling my sleeves, Orion mirroring my movements as I stood towering over them.

The men froze, their bodies rigid as their eyes trailed up my torso and met my gaze. I knew my features gave away who I was, but the way their eyes widened and faces drained told me the stories did no justice to the monster I really was. Excellent.

“P-please,” the second man began to beg as I stepped closer, rolling my neck. “We-we didn’t know.”

“That was your mistake.” I grinned as I snatched him by the collar of his uniform, raising him off the floor as his feet dangled a few inches in the air. “Not mine.” Before he could utter another word, my forehead slammed into him, my hair brushing past my face as his nose began to bleed. The sound of his pain filling my ears as I released him, watching his measly body fall to the floor. He wriggled around, groaning and whining like a worm.

“Why you—” The second man drew his sword and rushed me; the third, despite his injury, did the same to Orion, clasping his face as he did so.

My arm swung towards him, jabbing his throat as I instantly caused him to choke. My body turned as I gripped his arm and snapped the bone, forcing him to release the weapon and fall to his knees in agony. My hand gripped the sweaty handle of his weapon, tossing it around in my hand as I slammed the round pommel into his face, knocking him unconscious. His body slumped over across the first man, who was still on the floor and crying out as his nose continued to bleed like a fountain.

I turned to face Orion, brushing a few stray hairs from my eyes as he held the third man in a chokehold, handling him perfectly fine on his own. Grinning, I faced the bar, grabbing his empty pint and slamming it onto the man’s face as his eyes rolled. He slunk from Orion’s arms onto the other men’s bodies, forcing the single conscious man to groan under their crushing weight.

“I had everything under control,” Orion snipped, wiping his tunic as he mumbled under his breath.

“Yes, well, maybe next time, you can sing to him.” He rolled his eyes at my snarky remark as I stood over the pile of bodies, stepping onto the back of the man on top, pressing down with my weight as the first man groaned and stared up at me. “Where’s Boletus?”

He cried out in pain, refusing to answer.

“I won’t ask again.” My foot pressed harder as blood began to pour from between the man's clenched teeth, staining them. “Where is Boletus?”

“He—he’s up in the castle, probably sitting on the throne.” So Boletus had proclaimed himself king of Hellbore. The sound of horses and scurrying feet began to brew outside, telling me it was time to go. I knew it was only a matter of time before someone noticed our presence. My head raised to meet Orion’s with frustration and concern.

“Speak of the devil,” the bleeding man cackled, drawing my attention back down to him. “The night guard is here. There’s no escaping them.” My head tilted as I began to smile, the man’s expression fading as I pressed my foot harder, increasing the pressure as I spoke.

“That is where you are mistaken. Boletus is not the devil.” I pressed with all my strength as the sounds of his bones snapping and body caving in filled my ears. “I am.” His eyes watered as blood poured from his gaping mouth until a final snap of his ribs stole his life from him. I waited a few seconds before removing my foot and approached the bar to find Orion holding my cloak, waiting for me.

“Now that you’ve had your dramatics, shall we leave?” I shot him a look, reaching for my cloak when the doors of the tavern burst open, quickly followed by a swarm of the night guard.

My arm tensed as I remained still, my hand inches from the cloak. The guards filled the tavern, swarming up.

“Fuck.”

Orion and I were kicked to the floor of the throne room, our arms bound behind our backs. We had been stripped of our weapons and forced to Hellbore’s castle. The night guards had taken their time delivering us, seeking pleasure in landing a few blows to our bodies, something they would all come to regret the moment I was free from my binds.

“Well, well, well.” The sound of his smug, annoying voice made my body tighten with anger and exasperation. “If it isn’t the mighty, self proclaimed king of darkness himself.” My eyes rose, peering through the dark strands of my hair up an elaborate set of marble stairs to see him sprawled across the king of Hellbore’s throne, smiling like a petulant child.

He was dressed in his usual attire: an elegant black uniform with golden accents and leather strapping, that ridiculous scorpion sigil sewn across his chest. His dark, wavy hair was tied atop his head, adorned with an elegant silver crown that contrasted his dark skin and dead brown eyes as they burned into mine.

“Boletus,” I spat, insulted by the sight of him disrespecting Hellbore’s throne.

“Morel,” he hissed, jumping to his feet. “Why I must say, I never expected to find you way out here.” He placed his hands behind his back, stepping down the stairs before he stopped in front of me. His head tilted as he observed me closely. “My, my, what a man you have become. It seems banishment has been good to you, king of darkness. Tell me, does your twin brother know you’re still alive? Still hiding in the shadows while he rules in the sun?” Our eyes locked as a fire burned inside my chest.

My body jolted forward as a woman suddenly appeared, the sound of a whip cracking as it wrapped around my neck, stinging as it constricted like a snake, holding me in place. Boletus erupted in laughter, my eyes straining as I looked at the woman with ire. Her face was hidden behind a dark hood and face covering, only a glimpse of her dark ebony skin and vibrant white eyes peering through. She was dressed in foreign gear, leather sheaths and straps tightly wrapped around her body.

“Allow me to introduce my personal security, Hystrix. She may not be as strong and mighty as you, Morel, but I assure you, no man is a match for her stealth and speed.” He looked at the woman, nodding his head as she released me from the grasp of her whip, my neck stinging as I gasped for air and eyed her with hatred. She slithered closer to Boletus with a cat-like stride, making no sound. “I found this gem a few years back when I overthrew a small southern kingdom. She is a child of the dawn, a small group of warriors who train their whole lives in the art of stealth and killing. Impressive, really. I saved her life, and thus, she is indebted to me.”

“Boletus—” The woman swung her whip with an elegant stride as it slapped my face, splitting my cheek with a stinging kiss.

“ King Boletus.” I clenched my jaw as blood gently rolled down my cheek. “You may be a disgraced prince of Dryade, but you know the customs of royalty. Please,” he pressed his hand against his chest, covering his heart in a faux sense of formality, “do not offend me.” I squeezed my jaw.

“I am no longer a prince of Dryade. That part of me died the day I escaped that hell.” I forced myself to my feet, slightly towering over Boletus as my chin rose. “And the only king here is me .”

Hystrix hissed, raising her arm as Boletus stopped her, studying me closely before his expression softened.

“You surprise me, King Morel.” He spat the title with exasperation. “The last time I saw you, you were a weak little boy clinging to his mother, the complete opposite of his twin brother, who excelled at everything. It seems in the darkness, you have found your strength. I’ve heard stories of your wickedness, how you have defeated many kingdoms who have opposed you and aligned with your brother, burning them until nothing remained but ash. Now, I shall ask again: does your brother know what you’ve become?”

“Agaric will know the devil he created when it knocks on his door and drags him to hell.”

Boletus slapped his hands with an entertained excitement. “Oh, what a tale this will be. The king of darkness, brother to the king of sunshine, the two trapped in a circle of hatred. Tell me, do you really think your kingdom of rejects and outcasts can defeat such a glorious and ancient kingdom as Dryade?”

“Says the man who defeated Hellbore.” His smile fell. “Tell me,” I stepped closer, “where is King Regalis and his queen, Castanea? What have you done with them?” His dark eyes glared up into mine as he refused to answer me. “Where are my friends?” I grit through bared teeth. Boletus looked away, turning to step back to the throne.

“They chose their fate. I offered to let them live in a fair exchange.”

“You killed them?” My voice cracked in anger as Hystrix stepped in front of me, cracking a warning with her whip. Boletus looked over his shoulder at me as he spoke, his voice low and dark.

“We had an agreement. It is no fault of mine that they broke it.”

“How dare you!” I shoved past Hystrix, sprinting towards Boletus as he turned to face me, my vision blurring red with rage as my body snapped back, my breathing restricting as her whip returned to my neck. I fell to my knees, unable to move as Boletus smiled.

“As I said, I offered them an exchange: their lives for Hellbore. There was a small catch that they didn’t seem to like, resulting in their untimely demise. You see, Regalis and Castanea have a daughter, a princess of Hellbore. We grew up together. Our families were once friends long ago.” He stopped. “But that is a story for another time. You see, word of my many successful quests and conquering of kingdoms had finally reached my parents, and it was their wish that if I wanted to continue to conquer kingdoms in their name, I should at least pick a bride. I guess they think marriage will slow me down. Ha, what a thought. Nonetheless, my parent’s demand came as I settled in here, so it was decided: I was to marry the princess of Hellbore.”

Was?

“Of course, the viperous little thing didn’t welcome the idea of marriage or being told what to do. When it came time to wed, her treacherous parents helped her escape, forfeiting their lives in the process. You see, I had no choice.” He grinned, completely satisfied with what he had done. “It’s really a double win for me. I get Hellbore without having to settle down. It is a shame, though. Hesper would have made a stunning bride.”

Hesper? My thoughts returned to the striking beauty I had discovered in the garden of my death caps. The beauty in a ruined wedding dress.

Boletus remained still as he stared at me, wrapped in his assassin’s whip on my knees. He snapped his fingers as the whip once again released me, Hystrix returning to his side.

“Considering our past, and that you share blood with my good friend Agaric, I shall let you go.” What? “You and your companion will be returned to the gates of Hellbore and sent on your way.” Boletus climbed the ivory stairs, sitting on the throne of Hellbore as his night guard approached and removed our binds. I couldn’t help but stare, completely perplexed by his unexpected decision.

“Why?” I asked, hesitant to his kindness.

“Consider it a favor,” he winked. “Your brother has placed a mighty reward on your head, prince of Dryade. Instead of collecting that prize, I am simply letting you go. In return, you are to leave me and all of Hellbore be. If you return, or try to stop me in any way, I shall have no choice but to write to Dryade and rain hell upon your kingdom of shadows.” He retrieved an apple from a bowl of fruit at his side, taking a bite as he tossed it into the air and caught it.

“Be gone, king of darkness. Your duty to Hellbore is fulfilled and your presence is no longer required.” He waved his hand for his guard to usher us away. “Oh, Morel.” I stopped, growling at the sound of my name from his smug mouth. “If by any chance you learn the whereabouts of my bride, I expect you to relay such information directly to me.” He took a second bite as I glanced back at him over my shoulder. “We may not have had the pleasure of exchanging our vows, but she belongs to me. I very much look forward to breaking her spirit on our wedding night.” He winked again as I turned away.

Like hell I will.

The guards rushed us to the gate, the rest of our party awaiting our return. The guard at the gate spat at my feet as Orion and I were shoved outside. I glanced back at the distant glow of Hellbore’s castle, my nostrils flared and muscles bulging with an odd and unfamiliar emotion.

Hesper belongs to no one. I turned, Orion and my party silently following me as we began the long and tedious journey home.

I may have failed the kingdom of Hellbore, but I would protect its daughter at all costs.