And Then There Were Four

Unknown.

For years I had been waiting for the moment I would regain my freedom, and with every passing second, I survived in a world that didn't want me. I dreamt of the day I would get my revenge.

The day I would be able to regain who I truly was and make my way back into a world I would punish for treating me the way it did. Power, it was the ultimate sacrifice, and with the death of so many, balance would be restored.

The distant dripping of water from the pipes within the darkness was the only thing that reminded me of where I was. I was unfairly punished for trying to correct the evils of the world. Evils the gods themselves didn't deem important enough to be tampered with. Sitting upon the small cot in my cell, I stared off into the darkness, waiting for anything to remind me I wasn't alone in the plans of my rebellion. Day and night, for years, I had been formulating my plan. Making sure nothing could happen to detour what needed to be done. A plan that would get me back to my one true love. A woman with raven black hair as deep as the night, with eyes so blue they reminded me of the sea. Her love was the only thing that made me feel mortal in a world of souls who didn't die.

I had no doubt she was waiting for me. No doubt when I got back to her, she would be in the same small cabin we shared in the woods, anticipating when I would walk back through its front doors.

It was funny what love could do to us in the weakest of moments. How one single kiss could change your entire life, and how quickly that love could be snatched away from you when you least expect it.

"M"lord," a soft voice called from within the darkness, "things are more complicated than we would have liked."

My eyes darted to the red-haired woman I was all too familiar with. "Inanna..."

The moment she came into view, she dropped to her knees before me as if to worship who I was, even if she was technically my equal in a way. As her golden green eyes gazed up at me from the floor, I couldn't help but see how truly wicked she was. "The girl... she isn't doing as we would have hoped."

Of course, she wasn't. She was just like her mother, and that was something I expected.

"So what are you going to do then?" The question posed made a blank expression cross her face as her eyes shifted from side to side, and her heart rate increased.

"M'lord," she stuttered in confusion, "shall I kill her?"

"Kill her?" The anger that crossed me over the comment was graciously expected. How could this woman think I would want the girl killed? She was important to my freedom, and without her, I would be held here indefinitely. "Yes, I can arrange-"

"You will do no such thing!" I growled in frustration, "have you not been listening to anything I have told you over the past few years? She is important to what I need."

Taken aback by my outburst, Inanna's brows furrowed slightly as she shook her head. It was clear she was confused, and as she opened her mouth, I braced myself from the stupidity that was sure to follow. "She does deserve to die in the end-" "How do you come to that conclusion?" I asked, trying to understand what exactly she had against the girl. Yes, she had shown interest in her over the years but never truly explained why her sudden interest in killing her had been so high. Opening and closing her mouth, she pursed her lips together and grinned instead. It was a clear sign she wasn't going to say anything to me, and when she finally did open her mouth, I wasn't surprised. "Your son has taken the news of you well." Diverting the question as usual. "That's good. Does he seem open to what we are asking him to do?"

Shrugging her shoulders, she slowly stood to her feet, flicking her hair over her shoulder with a grin that spread softly across her lips. "I have been... helping him to understand." "Your mind tricks aren't what I asked you to do, Inanna."

"I know," she hummed as her gaze glittered in the dim lighting, "but it's working, so what does it matter?"

She was cocky in her approach to do

what we had planned, and knowing

she played with fire when it came to the pawns in our game, I was concerned. However, unlike so many others I had played with before, she was effective when it came to getting what she wanted

"Very well," I sighed, shaking my head, "just no more complications."

Pausing in her step, her eyes met mine with another glimpse of hesitation, and I knew that something else had happened she had come forth to tell me. "What is it?" "The dragon," she said slowly, "he's become a complication and a possible issue."

"Dragon? You mean Silas?"

Nodding her head, I sighed with

frustration. Silas had once been a friend of mine and over time

became an enemy as our views ont

certain things changed. He didn't see the cause I was trying to fight

he

for and it wasn't a su would

put his nose into things

didn't

concern him.

"I see. Handle it. Put some space between him and whatever complication he is creating. I'm sure your creative nature can think of something, Inanna."

*******

Lucas.

The moment Inanna had stoppedAll text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

me in the garden after I spent the evening with Cassie, I knew she wanted something. However, I hadn't expected her word to be true about meeting my father. The dark eyes that looked back at me were the same as my own, and everything about him was untrusting.