“We’re loyal.”
“Time, Garald,” Vasilisa reminded him as gently as possible while still showing urgency.
“We’re going to look at your memories of what happened very quickly,” Garald explained. “I’m right here. I’ll be with you.”
The moment Taisiya nodded, Vasilisa and Afanasiv slipped into her mind, taking Garald with them. They sifted backward until they came to the moment when Olga knocked on the door of Taisiya’s parents’ home. She introduced herself, although they knew who she was and were delighted that she had come to visit them. She took her time, basking in their admiration of her clothes and gracious ways. She told them she wanted to “borrow” their sweet daughter for a few days inorder to better introduce her to the life of a royal. There were certain protocols Taisiya needed to learn, and Olga would guide and teach her as she had Vasilisa. She would act as a chaperone, as well, to make certain Garald was always a gentleman.
Taisiya’s parents readily agreed, pleased and flattered that Olga had taken an interest in their daughter. When she was told to pack clothes, Olga waved that away and said she would see that Taisiya had suitable clothing for the court she was going to. No one seemed to notice her evil smirk. Once she had delivered Taisiya to the underworld, using the portal provided by the wizard, the poor girl was subjected to torture, hundreds of knife cuts and all sorts of threats. They wanted her to voluntarily collect blood from Garald.
Olga told her he visited other girls nightly, had several women at the same time and laughed at her innocence. Taisiya refused to believe her. In the end, she went silent, and the demons, angry with her, trussed her up like a turkey and stitched the syringe and tube into her hand while Xavier cast a spell demanding she get blood from Garald. Olga danced with the demons like a madwoman, laughing with glee before following the demons and high mage out of the portal and back to the surface.
“So, it was my aunt who delivered you into the hands of the high mage,” Garald said. “Everyone thought him gone, but all this time, he’s been plotting revenge.” He passed his hand over his face as if that would remove a veil for him. “And Aunt Olga? Why such treachery against me?”
“Not just you, Garald. She is responsible for what has been done to Andros and Grigor as well. They have become marionettes under the rule of the dark queen. Andros is fighting it every step of the way. I have not yet seen Grigor, but battles have taken place where both siblings have traveled.”
Garald half rose, looked at the young woman under his care and slowly sank back down. “Are you certain of this information, Vasi?”
“Yes, it is the truth. Afanasiv and I will go to them after we find the portal the demons are coming through. We need to close that.”
Garald shook his head. “That’s unacceptable. You go after our brothers first. What if you seal them down there, and we can never bring them back?”
“I’m careful in how I word everything, Garald.” She was so tired. She didn’t want to argue with her brother and waste time.
“Did you read the tarot cards?” he demanded.
“I always read them first thing every evening,” she admitted. “It’s how I start my day. Today was no different. I got the hanged man repeatedly, but he was upright. The tree is rooted in the underworld. When the hanged man is upright, that is a signal to suspend action, or at least give more time to reflect in order not to make a mistake. I’m not making any mistakes when it comes to Andros and Grigor. Everything in me urges me to rush in and get them out, but I’ve lived my life with those cards as my guide, and I’m not going to start implementing change now.”
Garald put both hands over his face. “I feel as if our entire world is crumbling, Vasi, and I’m doing nothing to stop it.”
“Take me home,” Taisiya suggested. “My parents can care for me, and you’ll be free to go with your sister.”
Vasilisa shook her head before Garald could answer. “He can’t do that. The moment you’re with your parents, the demons will once again strike at him through you. They’ll kill your parents and take you back with them to the underworld. Garald will have no choice but to follow you there.”
Even as she uttered the words, the realization came to her. “We know Andros was seeing a woman in the eastern section—a young widow named Lada. She hadn’t been married long when her husband was killed taking down trees. She was already pregnant with his child. Andros didn’t give me the information; the rumor mill did.”
Garald nodded. “Andros did mention her a time or two.”
“Who was Grigor seeing? You would know. Don’t pretend otherwise. This is important.”
Garald sighed. “Karine, a friend of Taisiya. You know that ability Grigor has of seeing everything at once. He was standing there talking to me, and then he was gone, weaving his way through the crowd straight toward her. Later, when I asked about her, he said she sparkled, had this weird glow from the inside out. They danced together all night. He wasn’t nearly as cautious as I was, but then he was always more adventurous.”
“That’s how they got the others to do their bidding,” Vasilisa said. “Olga must have lured Lada and Karine away from the safety of their homes and families by saying she wanted to teach them royal protocol. They were taken to the underworld and tortured, made to think Andros and Grigor no longer cared for them, and then tricked into taking their blood.”
“Or,” Afanasiv corrected gently, “they did hold out in the way Taisiya did, and your brothers followed them into the underworld. Both are courageous men. I doubt they would back down if they knew their women had been taken.”
“They wouldn’t,” Garald agreed. “They’re both like me. I would follow Taisiya and take her back.”
“Even if it was a fool’s mission, and you knew you would be trading your life for a very slim chance?” Afanasiv pressed.
Garald thought it over and then nodded. “Yes.”
“I believe,sívamet, you figured out how your brothers were lured into the underworld and forced to work with demons and vampires.”
“I don’t understand how Olga is involved,” Garald said.
“This is not our aunt. If she comes here knocking on the door and looks as sweet as a little lamb, take her head off with your sword the instant she opens her mouth. I’ve got to go. Taisiya, we’ll meet again under better circumstances. Do whatever my brother says in order to get better.”
She turned her blue eyes, sparkling with mischief, on her brother. “Donotcompromise that girl unless you intend to marry her immediately.”