Chapter Two

The Evil One

~N~

Kolo’s home, Night of 673, 25th, October

The violence of his comment took her breath away, she shook herself coldly stating, “All the more reason to leave you.” His hand came to his face in sorrow, yet his form shuddered as if repulsed by the touch. His face appeared to have scars. Darkness covered him as a navy fog came from his body. Seeping away, she now saw it was Kolo’s form.

She blinked unsure of anything, preferring it when she had thought the reclined male who said such vicious things was not Kolo. Her senses warned, ‘Even his voice is off, too high and squeaky.’ He ran his hand through his red hair saying, “You prefer me like this.” Confused she bravely replied, “I no longer care.” Kolo pled, “Why do you deny me?”

Before she could respond he hissed, “I have done everything for you.” Sidonia insisted, “You only gave me empty promises, while demanding I sneak about and take all the risks. You are a coward!” The room became darker, as the deep navy fog spread across the floor. Sidonia stepped backward, feeling it was foolish to provoke him any further.

Seeing his mystical fog for the first time as it came closer, it started to warn her that it was evidence that he lied about having no powers. As she moved back, she watched a green fog join with his and there were two sets of rune markings swirling within; it was a sign that a female witch was here. Sidonia rapidly looked for the woman worrying she was behind her.

The dark princess saw no one, yet decided against staying, as she backed towards the doorway. She began to worry, thinking Kolo was too quiet, as she struggled to see if he was still on the couch. Sidonia felt Grekan was right, giving him the book was a mistake and gambled that in his condition he might forget she was there. Bravely she kept moving.

A wave of sinister emotions was coming from him, and it affected her. Sidonia hesitated not daring to risk his anger. Suddenly Kolo whipped up to a seated position, causing his curly red locks to flutter, and her to freeze in the middle of the room. There was a strange crackling now, as she saw the center of his fog glowed with intense dark black lightning.

Sidonia whispered, “The darker colored fog and runes mean he is vile!” It stung her legs, she moved out of it as she gasped, “You are a Witch and a Strigoi?” She had not heard of one being both, she worried this was what the crows had warned her of, and foolishly she ignored the signs. Sounding like Kolo, he shouted, “You cannot get away your blood tells me where you are.” Sidonia shivered, and saw he stared past her.

Again, she whipped her head to the right, expecting to see the female Witch. Still, no one was there. Defiantly she moved backwards, as Kolo hissed, “You are wicked to have me desiring you!” She froze; he had never spoke of desiring her before. She no longer wanted it, and was unhappy to hear him express it now… for it was too little too late.

Kolo just laughed, “You are foolish to think I cannot bring you to me at anytime and anywhere I choose.” She said nothing causing his spittle to fly, “You are so ungrateful. Shall I remind you what I have done for you? I killed your worthless husband so you would not have to sneak out and we could be together!” His delusions disgusted and frightened her.

He laughed as he mockingly added, “I nearly poisoned the lucky brat too.” Sidonia reassured herself, ‘His drugs are causing a hallucination or a nightmare. He did not kill anyone nor does he wish to harm me.’ Kolo’s voice broke with emotion, “Do you appreciate that I bought your house?” Sidonia looked about her at his shabby cottage.

She nearly laughed at the thought of ever living here, as he bragged, “I even kept everything the way you had it. Yet you have not once mentioned my kind act, nor thanked me.” No matter how much the dark princess denied it, she now believed this was no drug-induced dream and Kolo’s feelings for his lover, was a betrayal and it hurt.

Regardless of his anger, Sidonia’s jealousy had her demanding answers as she hissed, “Oh her poor child and dead husband. What is your strumpet’s name?” What he did next proved how wrong she was, about everything. Kolo held out his hands, as blue flames came up from his palms, she felt she might faint. Kolo stated, “Still you do not care.”

Sidonia faced the fiery threat as Kolo screamed, “I will make you.” She felt the heat against her skin, and still she believed he was a coward, who was unable to face her as he killed her, so she refused to give him her back. Kolo threw the flames in two long streams; turning last second, they hit the chair she had nearly sat in, bursting it apart. Crippled with terror, Sidonia nearly fainted as she stared at the burning pieces.

Frozen in awe of his frightening power; the dark princess was also stunned that he had so successfully hid his abilities from her, ‘why had he?’ He truly was a masterful deceiver, who must have much more hidden, to fake weakness, when he had such power, ‘who would do that.’ Most claim to be stronger than they really are so this was mystifying.

Sidonia expected Kolo to ignite into a blaze, as she looked back at his hands. She was disappointed when the flames went out and his hands were unharmed. The princess could not help gasping, “Fire is one of the few things that kills vampires. How do you have this gift and still live?” Petrified, slowly she started to feel something was hauntingly familiar.

His comments seemed like memories, and she just could not think why. He sneered, “All those years I came here to your Craftroom, pretending to need career help. You knew it was just so you could sit alone with me, holding my hand.” He laughed, “Your husband was suspicious, so he refused to watch after your son so you would have to.”

Then Kolo added, “Doing your visions and giving advice, while useful, it was just a cover.” It bothered her more to hear the strumpet had her power, as Sidonia seethed, “Who is she? I never married nor lived here.” Kolo blinked, seemed to see her, and then collapsed back onto the couch. She cursed, “Who the hell are you talking to; no one because you killed her? Was the tarnished old chair, your ghostly tart’s favorite seat?”

Glaring at Kolo’s passed out form, she came closer and hissed, “Sure as Nifl is not hot, that ragged chair is not mine!” She groaned, “Who am I talking to?” She turned around and leaving as she seethed, “I was wrong, you are evil!” An explosion stopped her, as it lit the room she whipped around to see the logs in the hearth were ablaze. Kolo’s hands smoldered, as he threatened, “I am not done!”

She turned leaving, yet did not make it more than a few steps when suddenly he blocked her path. Kolo mocked as he grabbed her face, not letting her look away, “Oh you remember! I asked you to marry me right on that porch.” He now pointed and turned her face towards the front of the home. Sidonia trembled as he added with fury and dismay, “You could have said then that you had no interest in me, now it is too late.”

Sidonia felt sorrow for this woman he spoke of, as he continued, “Instead, you asked me to respect your need to mourn your dead husband. Like a fool I waited a year.” Sidonia scoffed, “You lied about having no power, and your betrayal with this strumpet is sounding too real, to believe it is only drug induced. I am done with you, do not ever approach me.”

She was used to his cycle of fury then tears, yet this was far worse than any prior event. Now she was angry with herself for being jealous of anyone Kolo loved, she should only feel pity for them and relief it was not her. The dark princess burst, “You pursued me. Insisting I promise to marry you, once I turned. Why demand such a thing, when you are clearly in love with a ghost hussy!”

Instead of replying to her, it seemed Kolo could not hear her as he pled, “While mourning, did you turn to me for comfort? After, did you come to me? No you left me to go live with him!” It did no good to reason with his lunacy, she only feared he would take out his hate for the missing strumpet on her. Kolo fell to the floor, about to run, he grabbed her ankles.

Trying to remain calm Sidonia attempted to stay angry so she would not cry over the danger she was in, as he sobbed, “How can you leave, when I need you so much.” Kolo released her to stand as he huffed at her, “You left me to go stay at that bloody castle with Anthony! How could you!” Sidonia gasped, “With Father?”

The meaning of this rung in her head and caused her to whisper, “Could his tart be living in our castle? I might have passed her each day.” Without thinking, Sidonia asked in a daze, “Which castle?” Kolo’s sobs drowned her question, as he now whirled about the room, grabbing things, he threw the tacky items at the walls shouting, “I hope this hurts!”

Then suddenly he was at her back breathing down her neck, “The necklace allowed me to drink your blood and I could have commanded you at any time. I just wanted you to want me on your own. That is how much I loved you.” Now she remembered her father’s Blood Warrior book. She feared Kolo would bump into her cloak and if he felt her bag, he might suspect she brought it with her, and take it.

The dark princess brought the bag in front of her, attempting a reducing spell; being one of a few spells she had perfected. Yet, it failed three times. Sidonia forced herself to realize her mistake of ever bringing it here, and all the evil Kolo might do with whatever her father wrote in it. He sniffed, “Even though I told you I believed he was my father?”

Sidonia gasped, “No!” Nearly gagging at the thought, as Kolo hissed, “Yes, I know you did a vision and insisted he was not my father- how can I believe you, when you led me on?” She bit back screams and tears at his deceit, trembling as she saw her bright green mist seep out from under her cloak. Taking a deep breath she whispered, “Be brave.”

The princess’ fourth attempt had her bag shrinking to fit within her palm. Putting it against her arm, she did the spell to conceal it as a rune mark upon her skin and nearly collapsed when finished. Kolo saw, grabbing the front of her cape, he ripped it open. Then he flipped the cloak over her shoulders, grasping her waist, he now held her tight against him.

Kolo then whispered, “You always hide yourself from me as though you are so modest, when we know you are a dirty tart.” She tried to keep her mind off what he might do next, as she assured herself by whispering, “There has to be another castle with a different Anthony in it. Maybe even dozens and it might just be his madness.” His curls moved yet there was no breeze, and Sidonia gasped, feeling hers move too.

Still what Kolo said had her head swimming, Sidonia scoffed, “How could you kiss me, if you truly believe I am your half-sister!” The princess wanted to retch, she needed to stay in control, as she whispered, “Father would never abandon a child, if not a delusion brought on by his drugs, it is simply someone else, a different Anthony. Then she gasped, “It is a lie. You claimed you are older than father, how could he be yours?”

This time it was as if he heard as Kolo seethed, “How could I keep your love when the mighty High Lord, your beloved King Anthony Vlasac at Blackstone Castle, courts you!” Sidonia cried, “Who is courting my father?” Muffled by his sobs, “How can I compare?” As hurtful as these horrid things were, she told herself she was better off knowing the truth.

Best of all he revealed himself to be a liar before she gave him the book, and she knew he could never get her back now. She backed away, stopping as he dropped down in front of her and grasped her knees. For the third time tonight, her head spun when Kolo cried out as he pled, “Oh Samala I would give you anything if you would just love me!”

She was so startled by Kolo uttering her kidnapped mother’s name, it was impossible to speak. Now Sidonia’s eyes darted about the dark shadows hoping as she pled with Fate, that her kidnapped mother was somehow here, and she could save her. Slowly Sidonia’s stunned mind realized, “You said your lover did visions for you here, is this mother’s previous home?” Kolo just sobbed against her legs.

Sidonia asked, “Is all you said true? Is Samala here?” Kolo only cried, “I will not let you go.” It was stories told to her by her older half-brother Rorik that made Kolo’s comments familiar. One came to her, “Oh no, you poisoned the pie killing Rorik’s father! It would have killed Rorik if he had eaten it!” Trembling as the next one hit, ‘Samala’s mind is gone. In her crazed state, she is more likely to kill me, than let me save her.’

Fearfully Sidonia looked into the shadows, as she tried harder to pull her legs from Kolo’s grip. Cautiously Sidonia prepared herself as she looked to the left. It was then that she woke to the next fact in this avalanche of horrors, as she gasped, “If you knew Samala, and were in love with my mother… did you take her?”

Sidonia fell backwards, in her attempt to flee. Kolo quickly released her, stood grabbing her waist, and kept her from hitting the floor. His brown eyes pierced hers as he stared six inches down. Bravely, she locked her gaze with his, and saw his left eye was black. Kolo’s head came quickly in; terrified she turned and then felt his lips as he kissed her cheek again, instead of her mouth.

Suddenly they were dancing as he whipped her into his arms and laughed while he twirled her about in the small room. When he stopped, she was facing her previous right, nearer the hall. There in that darkened room, with only the fading blue fire to light the shadows, Sidonia saw the crazed green eyes of Queen Samala, who swore she would kill her.

Princess Sidonia gasped in shock, “Mum?” Kolo had left her there to spin about on his own, she did not notice. Sidonia was haunted as she stared back at the unmoving specter of the mother, who she had not seen for over seven years. Slowly Sidonia’s hand came up as she said in dismay, “Have you forgiven me? To be hated so much by my own mum-.”

The princess groaned; Samala mockingly copied her, as her hand also went to her mouth, and then followed hers as it dropped. Slowly she understood feeling disappointment, and then a sense of odd relief for she was only standing before a long mirror, within a coatrack. She had never realized that her reflection had grown to resemble her mother’s so closely.

This sensation that she was fated into mirroring her mother’s looks as well as her deeds; caused her to feel possessed by Samala. Sidonia was not certain she was in control; nor what was real, as the vision she had at the front of the cottage, repeated. The confinement and being entombed alive; this time she saw Kolo was peering down on her. He grinned mockingly, “I will never let you go.” He slid the lid closed above her.

The dark princess came out of her vision and whispered, “What if mother tricked me into being involved with Kolo, and now I am doomed to be taken by the January Man as well!” Sidonia felt she was losing her mind. Kolo wandered to the couch like a lost child, and dropped down on it. Sidonia stepped backwards nearly to the doorway, which led to the hall.

Suddenly Kolo sat up. She froze as he grabbed a bottle from the floor and took a drink. Then Kolo dropped it and his head hit the couch. Sidonia hissed, “How is it Mother did not know who you were!” Trying to walk nothing worked. She knew she was doomed if she stayed in this house of horrors. The dark princess mumbled, “Unwittingly I am involved with the January Man, just as my mother claimed I would be.”

Her head spun as Sidonia asked, “Did I help you take her? Or is she helping you take me?” She felt how he acted, as if she had smoked the opium. Another tear dropped, and she scolded, ‘Cry later! I need my wits about me, or I shall never escape. Focus on the lies!’ A surge of adrenaline filled anger had her legs coming out of their numbed state.

Her feet stumbled towards the hall as she vowed, ‘I will crawl, before I give up.’ Kolo saw her go, he cried out, “Samala, Samala! Do not leave me.” She turned seeing Kolo throw himself on the floor as he kicked screamed and cried; she was not too terrified to be amused. Sobbing Kolo threatened, “You know even if you leave, I can just command you to return. I am more powerful than you shall ever be!”

Out of his sight, Sidonia went down the hall, as he shouted, “No one betrays me, without feeling my wrath. Just know this; I will kill you before I ever let you love anyone else. It does not matter whom you try to tell, they will be unable to help you. Just one whisper of my name, and I will hear. It does not matter how far you run. I shall come and kill them all. No one can help you, not even Anthony!”

~N~