Sacrifice of the Septimus: Part 2 (Afterlife saga Book 7) (14 page)

I remember him telling me about how he wanted to claim me without a second thought when we first met. I laughed saying how I wished he would have, but looking back how would that really have gone down? Meeting a stranger in the woods and then being taken by him back to his castle without any say. Well, in my heart I knew that no matter how handsome he was or how swept up I was by him, in the end it was all about free will. And even though now I wasn’t afraid of Draven back in my own time, back when we first met I had been, if only for a short time, just as I was now because it was the unpredictability of it all. He was the same man as much as he wasn’t, just as Sophia was the same loving girl as much as she was the utter bitch in this time. The difference was simple…I just didn’t know them and they didn’t yet know me.

And even though it wasn’t just all about time, it certainly had its part to play. Even when I think back to how much I myself had changed in just a few years then what would a few thousand years have done to me?

“This doesn’t surprise you?” Ranka asked when obviously trying to read what I was thinking and getting nowhere.

“No, he did something similar back in my time,” I told her and she nodded looking thoughtful.

“So what now?” I asked when I still had no clue as to where she was taking me.

“I have arranged for some private quarters for you until the King decides for himself what he has in mind for you as he will agree that the harem is no longer safe for you.” I frowned wondering what Draven would do when he went back to his room and found me gone.

“Okay, not that I am complaining about being let out of the Spa from Hell but I am not sure the King is going to be too happy when he finds me gone.” I told her, ignoring her confused look about the ‘Spa from Hell’ bit.

“After I have escorted you to your new room I will go in search of the King and tell him that your safety was compromised. He will decide what is to be done after the choosing.” I wanted to roll my eyes at the barbaric event that would essentially be a King choosing his new girlfriend from a line of dressed up cattle…did I sound bitter much?

I decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth and just keep quiet and go with the flow. After all, I was going to get my own room and no longer be surrounded by an army of beauticians who wanted to scrub my skin off and call it therapy.

“I have picked out one servant for you and guards I trust who will stand outside your door at all times,” she told me as we finally approached a door that I was happy to report wasn’t too far from her own quarters.

“And I am only a few doors away, one scream and I will hear you.” Well one look at this warrior woman who had thankfully appointed herself my personal bodyguard and I can honestly say I felt more at ease.

“Thank you, Ranka,” I told her sincerely because I honestly knew that I wouldn’t have made it this far without her.

“It is my honour to do so and the will of the Gods,” she answered bowing and as much as I blushed I was just happy that she hadn’t called me Electus. She was about to walk away when I shouted out after her, knowing this was one of my only chances to ask,

“Ranka wait, I have to ask…any news of my friends?” I knew how vulnerable I sounded when asking this but I didn’t care. I was so worried about them that with everything going on in my own time here I could only hope that theirs was far less dangerous…in other words they didn’t have half as many people trying to kill them!

She gave me a sad smile that unfortunately gave me my answer before she voiced it and not surprising it wasn’t the one I had been hoping for.

“I am afraid not…but do not fear for I will not give up.” I gave her a smile that I didn’t feel and opened the door to my new room.

“Don’t give up hope…
Electus.”
  I nodded, closed the door and groaned at hearing that damned name again. I certainly didn’t feel like any Chosen One, not here in this world that was for sure. Look what had happened so far, it just seemed as if I had needed saving at every turn, but what about my friends? Who was out there saving them? I couldn’t bear to think about it, for if anything happened to them then I would never forgive myself. Speaking of which, I looked up to see another friend of mine who I had no doubt got into a whole world of trouble…

“Farrin?!”                        

An hour later and I was close to falling asleep I was that tired. After seeing Farrin waiting for me in my room she quickly explained that Ranka had intervened before any blame could be directed her way, which we were both thankful for. Ranka then thought it best to appoint Farrin as my servant considering she had gained both our trust with what she had done for me when trying to escape. She hadn’t ratted me out but instead remained silent, even in the face of receiving punishment for doing so. Well I knew how that felt, so the respect I had for her definitely doubled.

“You didn’t have to do that for me, you don’t owe me anything.” I said to her when she told me how she was about to be whipped herself if Ranka hadn’t stopped it. She just looked away as if searching for reasons she couldn’t explain in words.

“You did it for your sister didn’t you?” I asked causing her to jolt as though I had electrocuted her with a live wire or something. Did the memory of it all still affect her so?

“What do you mean…I…”

“Farrin, it’s okay, I understand. I have a sister too and there isn’t much I wouldn’t do for her. So I get why you are helping me…the way you couldn’t help your sister.” I added this last part in a quieter voice as I knew it must have been such a painful subject to speak of for her.

This was when her face changed and softened in understanding, no longer looking as though she was ready to bolt for the door. I was surprised that she would rather run from me than talk about this but then on the other hand it wasn’t as if we knew each other very well yet.

“I’m sorry but it is still painful,” she said looking away once more, as though she couldn’t look at me because I reminded her too much of that horrible time. I reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze before saying,

“I understand and if you ever need to talk about it then I want you to know that I am here for you.” Once again she looked at me in disbelief, as though she couldn’t believe I was being this nice to her, which had me wondering how many harem bitches she had to deal with on a daily basis.

“You are too kind.”

“Not at all, it’s just us good girls have got to stick together that’s all,” I told her laughing and wondering what Pip would have said to that.

“You should get some rest, that’s the third time you have yawned,” she said nodding when my brain yet again needed the extra oxygen.

“I guess you’re right, a nap wouldn’t hurt but then again neither would some food, I am starving.” As soon as I said this I felt guilty as Farrin suddenly jumped up and said,

“But of course! I will get you some food, for I do not want to disappoint Ranka and fall short in my duties.”

“No Farrin I didn’t mean…” I started to say but she was out of the door before I could finish. I shrugged my shoulders knowing that there would be just another thing I would be apologising for when she got back but until then a nap didn’t sound like a bad idea. I could barely keep my eyes open and no wonder for what a night I had been through.

“Good job, Keira,” I said to myself as I pulled myself up to walk to the bed like a zombie saying to hell with brains, I need a nap!

I don’t know how long it was before I heard the door opening but if felt as if I had only been passed out for a few minutes. Had Farrin come back that quickly with food? I smiled just about to label her an angel when I rolled over and that nickname died as quickly as I was about to. For I was right in one sense, Farrin had come back into the room but it wasn’t with food to feed me but instead it was with a knife…

To kill me.

“But why?” I asked utterly stunned at the sight of her now stood over my bed holding the killer blade with both hands directly over my pounding heart.

To which she simply answered…
    

“As I said, you are too kind.”

Chapter 50

Now That’s What I Call a Friend

I could barely believe my eyes, to the point where I thought I could still be dreaming. I blinked twice but no, the sight of Farrin holding a deadly looking blade over me was still there to be seen.

“I don’t understand?” I said frowning, but when she started smiling I knew this went a lot deeper than just simply being ordered to kill someone she didn’t want to.

“And you were never supposed to. Say hello to the others I sent there before you!” she said raising up her arms and I got ready to roll at just the right moment but in the end I didn’t need to.  

“Hey bitch, your date’s here!” A familiar voice shouted making Farrin turn her head just in time for a gold bowl from the dried fruit to connect with her face. She screamed just as her nose exploded inwards before falling backwards away from the bed.

“Was it just me or did that sound exactly like hitting a dinner gong?”

“PIP!” I shouted launching myself off the bed and into her arms.

“Oh thank God!” I said holding onto her so tight I was most likely suffocating her.

“Well to be fair on all Imps, God didn’t really have much to do with it, but I get what you’re trying to say…how you doing my Tootiepop?”

“How am I doing…? How am I doing…? Pip, I don’t think I have ever been happier since before I arrived in this Hellhole!” I said holding her back at arm’s length to look at her. She gave me an awesome grin before moaning from the ground drew our attention away from our happy re-union.

“There are always those who just want to spoil the moment,” Pip said to me before walking over first to pick up the fallen knife and then to the fallen servant girl. Pip looked down at the blade in her hand before getting down on one knee.

“Pip.” I said her name in warning but she raised the back of her hand, gave me the peace sign and said,

“No worries Toots, I’ve got this.” Then she grabbed Farrin’s hair and lifted her head up so that she could deliver a hammering punch across her face. Just as she did this the door burst open and Ranka, quickly assessing the scene. completely got the wrong idea.

“Get away from her!” Ranka roared at Pip before launching herself at my friend, thinking that she was the one who had come here to kill me. And to give her some credit, it did in fact look that way, considering she had just seen my servant getting knocked out by a girl who was dressed as an Arabian ninja with a knife in her hand.

“Ranka, no!” I shouted but neither could hear me over the racket they both made as they instantly started fighting. Then when the guards who had been stationed outside my room appeared, I quickly decided it was best to put myself between them and the two girls having at it, before Pip was quickly outnumbered.

“No, don’t! She wasn’t the one trying to kill me, it was my servant!” I told them before they could simply push me out of the way as they were no doubt about to. Thankfully the one who looked in charge held up his hand telling the others to hold back as he took in the bloody scene.

Now that I had that under control I turned my attention back to the other two fighting it out and was at least happy to see neither looked too worse for wear yet, with all limbs still intact…but for how much longer was anyone’s guess.

They both looked pretty evenly matched that was for sure but at any minute one of them could gain the upper hand and do some real damage. Ranka had already disarmed Pip of her borrowed knife and was just about to use her own, attacking Pip with her curved blades. She slashed out at her torso, but Pip skilfully jumped back in time and ducked as the second blade came at her from above. She twisted her body around on one foot so that she could kick out with the other, hitting Ranka’s weapon straight from her hand and propelling it through the air. It whizzed passed me, missing me by inches and I turned my face in time to see it embed itself into a wooden carving of a naked man landing right between his legs. I heard the guards wincing behind me and as Ranka got Pip in a head lock, she still had time to look up at me and say,

“My bad.” Then she shrugged her shoulders before dropping her body weight suddenly by doing the splits and quickly taking Ranka off guard. The move took her by surprise causing her to lose her grip of Pip. Pip didn’t waste her advantage as she spun her legs around at the same time swiping Ranka’s last blade from her thigh. Then in the same move she spun herself up with enough momentum to bring her to a standing position and held the blade at her neck.

“Poo, poo bitch, I win.” Pip said cocking her head to the side but Ranka wasn’t without her own victory and looked down at Pip’s stomach. This caused Pip to do the same thing only to find an arrow in Ranka’s hand held firmly to her gut at the ready to skew her like a shish kebab.  

“You were saying?” Ranka said raising a cocky eyebrow and smirking down at Pip.

“Whoa there! Wait!” I shouted at both of them, running over ready to pry them apart.

“Stay back Electus, I will handle this.” Ranka said scowling down at Pip and Pip snarled back and said,

“Yeah Toots, I have totally got this!”

“Pip! You know who this is so lower the damn blade!” I shouted at her but she just shook her head and said,

“No way Jose! I will drop it when lesbo here drops hers first!”

“PIP!” I scolded and was just thankful that Ranka didn’t know what she meant.

“Ranka, this is my friend, you know, one of the ones I had you looking for. Please drop the arrow…she isn’t here to kill me.” I told her and I started to get worried when she didn’t look convinced.

“I saw her attacking your servant,” she stated and Pip groaned,

“Hello! I was saving her ass you Dingbat! Bloody Nora but where are Columbo and Jessica Fletcher when you need them!”

“She had just stopped her from killing me and the scream you heard was her hitting her with a…uh…”

“A bowl filled with dates.” Pip filled in and I tried not to laugh thinking back to Pip’s one liner when hitting Farrin in the face. Ranka didn’t look impressed but it was at least enough to convince her that those were the facts, as strange as they might be.

“Very well.” Ranka said retracting her arrow and sliding it back into its holder at her back. Pip removed the blade from her neck at the same time and mimicked what she said in a whiney voice,

“Verrryyy welll.”

“Pip…not now,” I grumbled at her and she threw up her hands and said,

“What? You want me to say sorry for the lesbo thing, because everyone knows how much I like lesbos really, especially the really butch ones like her,” she said winking at Ranka and I couldn’t tell whether she was joking or not, which was the norm around Pip. Ranka frowned and obviously didn’t know what to make of her but thankfully at the same time having no clue as to what she was talking about. So instead of taking Pip’s bait, she cleared her throat and held out her hand to her.

“Oh right, happy stabby woman wouldn’t be much good without Mr pointy.” Pip said handing her back her blade. Well if she didn’t understand most things I said then she had no bloody hope being around Pip! Hell, half of the time even I didn’t have a clue what the crazy Imp was talking about. 

“You may leave.” Ranka said dismissing the guards before walking over to Farrin who was still out cold on the floor. Once the door closed Ranka lifted up her head by her hair and asked, 

“Did she say why she wanted you dead?”

“We didn’t exactly get to that part but I did get the impression that I wasn’t the first harem girl she’s tried to get rid of.” I told her also walking across the room to stare down at the murderous girl.

“Yes but why, it doesn’t make much sense, for what would she gain? Someone must have put her up to this.” Ranka said still down on one knee as if waiting for her to jump up at any moment and explain it all to us.

“Yeah like her nut job bat shit crazy sister, that’s who,” Pip said and we both turned our heads to look at her in utte
r
astonishment as she was currently examining her handy work from where she had kicked the blade that had castrated the poor carved man.

“Guess there’s no more getting wood for this guy,” she said pointing a thumb over her shoulder at him giggling. Meanwhile I counted to three and said,

“Please explain, Pip.”

“Well I hit him in the balls and see, he’s made of wood and…”

“Not that Pip, the other thing, the part about her doing this for her sister.” I said interrupting her quickly before Ranka lost it completely and tried to kill her again.

“Oh that, yeah didn’t you know, her sister is in the harem and is as deranged, demented and as schizo as they come!” Ranka and I both looked back down at her no doubt wondering the same thing…how the hell had we missed this.

“So it’s her sister that keeps putting her up to killing the others?” I asked and I didn’t need to look sideways to know that Pip had already skipped her way over to us.

“She sure as shit is! Well…anyone who gets close to her lover boy that is…ooops, sorry Toots, my bad.” I shot her a look and frowned feeling like I was missing something big here.

“Wait a minute, are you telling me…?” I started to say who I thought it was when Ranka had finally caught up and figured it out herself by spitting out her name,

“Stateira.”

“Bingo! And our prize goes to…our gold medallist in sticking arrows in people! For our wicked killer, people is none other than the King’
s
head concubine
,
Stateira, Aka Bitch face and her twisted minion, her sister dearest…I bet Christmas is a hoot in their house, all knives, pointy shit and deadly poisons before a game of fight to the death for the last turkey leg. Hey I wonder if they would have actual human feet in their stockings or if…”

“That’s enough Pip, I think we get it.” I said, only Ranka shot me a look to tell me otherwise. I doubt she got even a quarter of what Pip was trying to say.

“So what do we do with screw loose number one here?” Pip asked and this time I looked to Ranka for guidance as I had no clue.

“Leave her to me and I will soon get a confession out of her.” I shuddered to think about how Ranka planned to do this even if the bitch had just tried to kill me, I was still very much on the anti-torture side of the fence.

“Ooo…can I watch?” Pip said clapping her hands and proving I was the only one in the room with this mentality. Ranka raised an eyebrow at her before shrugging her shoulders and saying,

“That would be acceptable.”

“Fabuloso! I do like to think that I am quite cultured in all manner of things…
and I have never been to a Persian torture before.”
  Pip said leaning into me and giving my arm a nudge. I shook my head and tried to rid myself of the image I had of Pip sat with a bowl of nuts and swinging her legs grinning as she watched something like this girl’s skin being peeled off with a giant cheese grater.

Well at least the silver lining in all this was that Ranka and Pip were actually getting along with one another. I guess there was nothing quite like spilling a little blood and inflicting pain upon an enemy to bring a friendship closer together.

“So okay, this may sound like the obvious question but what are we going to tell Draven?” I asked trying to get past the torture point of the conversation and skip right to the part where we had a plan.

“She means the King.” Pip said to Ranka and for once translating for me this time.

“He needs to be informed of their crimes and the attempt on your life,” Ranka said firmly and I didn’t exactly see this going down well at the moment.

“What, like his sister just did?” I said and I knew I’d made my point when Ranka looked as though she’d just discovered someone breaking wind which, given enough jalapeno peppers, gummi bears and strawberry mojito’s, Pip often did.

“Wait a freaking nanosecond and back the juggler’s balls up! Come again?” I winced at Pip and told her,

“Draven’s sister tried to kill me.”

“Oh okay then, so in this time Draven has a crazy ass sister too?”

“Pretty much.” I nodded but no surprises Pip wasn’t about to let it go so soon.  

“Seriously Toots, is there anyone out there that’s
not
trying to kill you?”

“I don’t know. I am starting to think there is a club.” She laughed once and said,

“Possibly,” shrugging her shoulders.

“I know not of what you speak but we still have the …” Ranka never got to finish as I shouted in shock,

“AHHH Shit!” I don’t know what happened but instinct took over and I kicked out when Farrin moved, which connected once more with her face, one that was already looking pretty battered from the amount of times she had been hit there.

“Okay I think that did…uh, Pip?” I was stopped short when Pip started hitting the unconscious girl over the head with a strange shaped bowl that she found next to the bed.

“Yeah?” she asked stopping with the thing held high above her head ready for the next blow.

“I think we are good.” I told her making her lower her arm and look at what she held.

“What is that thing anyway?” I asked Ranka knowing from the confused look on Pip’s face that she didn’t know.