Call Of The Dark

The maid returned soon after passing the message. "Come here," said Maeve. When the maid walked to her, feeling all the more irritated, she said, "Make a flower wreath for me. I will wear it on my head. Make one more for the--'' she pursed her lips tight. She was about to say Emma. Where the hell was, she? Her frustration rose so high that she felt like getting up and hitting Emma. But she ended up gritting her teeth.

The maid went outside to order flowers. The goddess was nothing but a pesky rodent. If only she had a solution to spray on her. When she was making a flower headdress for her, Lazarus walked in. He was looking very composed, not what Maeve wanted or expected.

Maeve jerked her head up to see him. "Lazarus!" she cried. "Did you find Emma?" And the sudden jerk caused a spasm in her neck. She cried more.

Lazarus had to deflect that question and so ignoring it he said, "I had gone to visit the Shaman."

This raised her interest. "And?"

"And he said that you should be there in an hour."

Maeve became restless. Finally the day had come but suddenly she remembered that Emma wasn't there. That soured her mood. She had waited for so long to possess Emma's body and the bitch had somehow escaped. The main reason why she wanted Emma's body was because she had learned in the past that Emma's mother was a dragon keeper. That meant that Emma had powerful genes. She hadn't revealed it to anyone except Ailill. But now-- She was angry that a vampire as powerful as Lazarus couldn't find her. "Where is Emma?" she asked him again. She felt like all her efforts were going down the drain.

Lazarus ignored her question again. "We don't have time to discuss Emma. I will come to you in an hour and take you to the temple."

"Who all are going to be there?" Maeve asked, feeling excited.

"Anton, Yul and Magnus. The king has decided not to come," he replied. "And maybe more of my siblings."

"And who will I possess?" Maeve asked, horror apparent in her eyes. "You said you would find a strong woman for me!"

"We will get Gladys. She is strong," he replied calmly.

Maeve's already crumpled face, crumpled more. "Then you won't marry me, will you?"

Lazarus raised his eyebrow. "No, I won't," he said, wondering what she was implying.

"But you see Lazarus, how are you going to rule Wilyra? You can make me your queen. It is common amongst the royals to marry their siblings. Moreover, I won't be your sister when I possess her body. I will be different!" Maeve argued.

Lazarus was shocked. The woman was so twisted that it was beyond comprehension. "We can rule as brother and sister," he said. "No need to marry you." He turned to leave. "Just get ready in an hour. The Shaman said he won't be responsible if things go wrong."

As soon as he left, Maeve called her maid and said, "Hurry up, will you? Have you made that wreathe? We have to go there now!"

The maid grunted. "I am still making it," she replied. "Please give me some time!"

"Hurry up, you twit!" Maeve shouted but it came out as a hoarse whisper.

An hour later, Maeve was sitting in a chair with wheels. She had to be tied up to the chair so that she didn't fall. Her body was so frail and wrinkly. She was reeking of blood and sickness. Wearing a white robe over her bandages she sat on the chair and looked expectantly at the maid. The maid put the flower headdress on her and carried the other one in a small bag. "Make sure that you give it to Gladys at the end of the soul casting ritual, okay?"

"Yes, m'lady."

"Don't give it before that."

"No m'lady." The maid began to push the chair towards the main hall where a carriage was waiting for her to go to the temple.

Maeve looked at everyone as she passed them, giving them a toothy grin. After tonight, she would become the queen of Wilyra. Anton was ready to kill Lazarus as soon as the ritual took place. In case Lazarus won, she knew that she would rule the throne. In case Anton won, she knew she would still rule the throne. It was a win-win for her. The thought made her excited all the more. As for King Viktor, she already had plans for him. The old bastard was thinking that he would use her powers to rule for a longer period of time. She was going to use her powers to kill him and eliminate him once and for all.

She had thought that she would rule with Ailill. However, after the rejection, she was bitter. Maybe she would find him and then again accept him as her mate. The thought made her toes curl. Yes, that would be the best thing to do. Ruling with a fae alongside would be immensely popular.

As she was being taken, she realized that everyone made way for her to go, not because of respect or fear, but because they were holding their noses. She was stinking as hell.

"Faster!" she snapped at her maid who looked like she could puke.

The carriage was waiting for her in the carriageway. With the help of the servants, she was lifted up and made to sit in the carriage. "Where is Lord Lazarus?" she asked. He had said that he would come to pick her up, but he hadn't come. She was surprised that there was no royals to accompany her.

The maid lifted her shoulders as if saying she didn't know.  "You should wait for him," the maid said.

"No. You come and sit beside me!" Maeve ordered her. "And hold me properly. I don't want to get tossed around in the carriage."

The maid wanted to cry. Reluctantly, she sat in the carriage. "Should we wait for Lord--"

"Move!" Maeve shouted in a hoarse voice. She was in a hurry to reach the temple. Anyway, Lazarus wasn't needed.

The carriage took off.