Unlikely Queen (Crystal Castle 1)

I don’t have that knife that Grim gave me, so I can’t kill an angel. I have to somehow get past that door so I can use whatever powers I have left.

Tatiana.

I can’t believe they have her.

She would never have let herself be captured. Or would she? She may have if she thought it would save us.

Bronik reappears at the door holding a bucket and cloth, plus some clean clothes. “Undress.” His words are cold. I knew better than to trust him, but somehow, a small part of me did.

I pull the shirt I have on over my head and throw it to the floor before I pull my pants from my body. I cringe at the smell it leaves behind on my skin.

“Underwear, too.”

I try to not look at him with shock, but there is no use arguing. I do as he says and pull my dirty panties from my body, followed by my bra, leaving me standing there completely naked. The door opens again and two vampires walk in, both staring at me before they get to work cleaning up Patrick’s blood, mopping until it’s completely gone.

Bronik looks to the protein bar on the floor that I forgot to eat, then back to me. “Eat.” His words are hard. Orders are all he is giving, but I can feel his eyes touching every part of my body as I grab the bar, careful which way I bend over, and take the first bite. “Even dirty, you are beautiful.” I’m not sure I heard those words correctly, so I turn to look at him to see he has a serious expression and is staring directly at me. He puts down the bucket and cloth and kicks them over to me and nods to them. I finish the bar and start to wash my body. It feels good to clean myself. The blood is gone from the room, but the image will never leave my memory. Patrick’s helpless body falling right in front of me, tied to a chair as his throat is slit.

The blood.

Oh gosh, the blood.

There was so much of it.

When I am clean enough, I stand and kick the bucket back to him. I watch it glide over the floor. He hands me clothes and I dress, noticing they are nothing but servant clothes.

“What did she do to Tanya?” I ask, not thinking I will get an answer.

“Nothing. She showed her what life is like here and she wanted it.”

Tanya was never happy with what we had. We all knew she wanted more, but witches don’t get that luxury—unless you’re queen, of course. But to turn on us for this? I would never have thought she would do such a thing.

“It’s amazing what people do for the things they want.”

“Hmm,” is all I can manage to respond.

“Like you. You were ready to do anything possible to save her. Yet, she didn’t want to be saved.”

“Well, if you would have told me that, it would have saved everyone a whole lot of trouble.” I smile at him through a sarcastic stare.

“You really are beautiful, do you know that?” Bronik asks. “It’s another reason she is threatened by you.”

“Sucks to be her, then.”

“Not really. Goodnight, Talia. Save your energy… you’ll need it when she comes in with your other sister next.”

My heart rate picks up as he walks out, and I fall to my knees when the door shuts.

I don’t think I can do that again—watch someone else that I care about die.

I just can’t.

Chapter Twenty-Five

The blood may be gone, but I can still smell the metallic tinge as if it still lies bare at my feet. No one came back to tie me up, and I have tried the door, tried it so many times, but it did nothing. There is no escaping. She’s thought of everything.

We had heard of evil witches, but none have existed for so long. Until the queen, that is. But that’s the thing, she wasn’t always evil, or if she was, she hid it extremely well from my sister.

My sister.

Oh my God.

Do they have Tatiana?

He wouldn’t be lying about that, would he? He gains nothing from making up fake stories.

I don’t sleep. Instead, I sit in the corner, rocking back and forth in the clean clothes I was given and use the bucket that was left behind to relieve myself. It’s better than the alternative.

My stomach starts to grumble as the door slowly opens. Bronik is the first person I see, followed by the queen not far behind him.

Today she is wearing a bright red dress that clings to her body as she enters the room, her heels clicking as she comes toward me.

“You’re awake. Perfect timing.” She claps, and behind her I catch a glimpse of dark brown hair and emerald eyes much like mine.