Between Darkness and Light Trilogy by Brianna Hawthorne Page B

danger?”
    “We do not assign truly dangerous tasks to
the people, we perform them ourselves. We are not very easy to
kill, you see, and we need something useful to do with our
lives.”
    “Ah, I see. You don't need superior servants
because you yourselves are highly superior.”
    “Exactly. Any more questions?”
    “No, I haven't been in Lumina long enough
yet to formulate many questions, it's all just quite amazing to
me.”
    “Very well then, it's my turn. Tell me,
Sarah, how were you settling into life in the Citadel?”
    “I don’t quite know, my lady. The other
servants don’t speak to me much, and the Imperial family members
all seem so… overwhelming. There is only one person in the Citadel
who is consistently kind to me.”
    “And who would that be?”
    I bow my head slightly, not wanting to admit
to them who has been paying me rather… direct attention.
    Celeste persists, “Oh come now, Sarah – what
better time to share secrets than when sitting naked in the dark
with people you barely know?” I let the lighthearted lilt of her
voice sooth my concerns.
    “Casanova.”
    Novanus bursts out in unkind laughter,
“Casanova! He isn’t being kind to you, he’s setting you up for the
kill! Oh he likes the young ladies… especially the truly
inexperienced.”
    “Now who is being judgmental?”
    “Fine, don’t believe me, but listen to my
words none-the-less. He will wine and dine you and win his way into
your heart, and you’ll love every minute of it. Then he’ll take
you, he’ll give you every decadent experience you can handle.
You’ll think he loves you, and in his way he will… but when every
scrap of innocence within you is gone, there will be nothing left
that attracts him. He’ll cast you aside and you will be so
devastated you won’t be able to stand the Citadel anymore. Go
ahead, refuse to heed my words, but when you’re a harlot working
the streets of the city, seeking desperately to recapture the glory
he used to make you feel, you’ll remember my warning and hate
yourself for not listening. I’ve seen it a hundred times.”
    Celeste reaches out and gently touches my
arm, “He’s right, you know. I have seen it as well.” I feel her
touch my mind, ‘He really is telling the truth.’
    “But he’s the only nice one there!”
    “The others have undoubtedly noticed his
interest and are keeping their distance. Casanova is of Imperial
decent and not to be trifled with. If you rebuff his attempts they
will eventually consider you safe.” Then she suddenly pulls on my
arm, urging me toward Novanus. My hand lands on his leg and I feel
that terrible draining again.
    Novanus says, “That is, if we somehow get
out of here alive and I decide not to kill you.” The draining stops
and Celeste draws me back near her… then I hear it, humming.
    ~~~
    I don’t have to fake weariness when I look
up at our captor. Celeste looks at her defiantly, as does Novanus,
though he manages to look quite weak. She speaks first to me, her
expression filled with kindness and pity – like a mother looking
down upon a child.
    “My dear, you aren’t well suited at all to
such conditions, are you?”
    “I’ve never been in a dungeon before, my
lady… I hunger and thirst.” Just then my stomach growls, “Excuse
me, lady.”
    She looks thoughtfully down at me, then
turns cold eyes to the others. It’s amazing how quickly and
completely her entire demeanor changes. “You look remarkably well,
Novanus, for a man so recently beaten within an inch of his life.
I’ll have to try harder next time, spend a few days at it, I think.
When I have the time.” She turns to Amy. “You also seem to be
faring well… but the other one hasn’t awoken? Pity. I’d like to
question her.” Suddenly she lashes out and kicks Aurora savagely
three times: stomach, groin and chest. Any woman who had the
capacity would cry out, but Aurora remains completely unresponsive.
I hear fury nearly explode within Novanus, but