Subject:  Dragon's Lair.......Chapter 23 |
Author:
Lissette
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Date Posted: 23:20:25 07/01/01 Sun
In reply to:
Lissette
's message, "Dragon's Lair is back!!!!" on 23:15:26 07/01/01 Sun
please read chapters 21 and 22 (below) so you may remember where i left off in this story.
It is only one chapter but will post another by wednesday if possible, still working alot, and with the new husband.....well you know, not alot of free time. but will make some time to write and continue with the story, hope you approve.
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Dragon's Lair
Chapter 23
© Copyright July 1, 2001
All disclaimers apply, no copyright infringement is intended and all Non LFN characters belong to me.
As always, Comments will be gladly accepted; flames, however, will be dealt with accordingly.
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Omar stood beside Rahine’s open door, and listened as she screeched at Jamil. A smile slowly spreading across his dark face.
“We must go now My love, if the guard is right the man will be dead within the week. We must be safe, specially since you will have my child soon.” Jamil stated as he crossed the room toward the armoire.
Rahine slapped her hand on her thigh and hissed. “He does not have influenza! Igor is wrong! And is being dealt with for his lies as we speak.” Turning she opened the window of the large bedroom. “I will never allow Michael to slip away from me!” she screeched making Omar jump.
Jamil turned and glared at Rahine. “You will do as I say Rahine or I will choose a new wife!” He shouted, glaring menacingly at her. “Now begin packing, we will leave within the hour.”
Rahine watched as Jamil turned and exited the bedroom, followed by his loyal bodyguards. She spun around and grabbed the small glass ballerina Jamil had given her on their seventh wedding anniversary and hurled it at the door. It smashed into tiny pieces.
“Michael is mine and no one will force me to leave him. ” She hissed.
A soft laugh was heard from behind the large painting in the corner and Rahine spun and glared at Jürgen. “What are you laughing about? Haven’t you heard that Michael is dying of the influenza, you should leave the palace this instant, Kailor will take you to a safe place while I deal with this, just in case.”
Jürgen smiled and slowly approached Rahine. “My dear, you must leave this place, I have seen Michael, and I assure you that he is extremely ill, he might even die. And we do not want to lose you my dearest queen.” He whispered softly
against her cheek.
Rahine stood back and glared harder at him. Lifting her chin she stated. “I will not leave. Michael will either be mine or die, and I will hold him until he takes his last breath!”
Jürgen laughed softly as she spun and walked to the garden doors. Opening them she stepped out. He slowly followed her, pulling his pale blonde hair down across his burned face.
“Rahine I want him to suffer for what he did to me, but first he must be alive for that.” He stated coarsely. “I don’t wish to lose you Rahine, and if Michael is contagious you will die. Please go with Jamil to the winter palace, I will follow you and we’ll enjoy several weeks. If Michael survives, a guard will come to us and then you may return and play with him the way you planned.” he reached her
and grabbed her by the upper arms spinning her around and pressed his lips against hers. “I will not lose you to that man, I’ve lost one love, I will not allow him to take you also.” He stated against her lips before savagely taking her mouth.
Rahine sighed against his lips and smiled, opening her lips to allow Jürgen’s tongue to enter and do battle with hers. Rahine wrapped her arms around his shoulders and gently brushed his pale hair aside, her fingers gently caressing the scars on the left side of his face. Pulling back she smiled into his passion filled eyes.
“Alright, I will go, but I want you there in two days. Leave Igor here to see if Michael dies or not, I will make sure he sends word as soon as possible. I hate the winter palace, it’s so awful this time of year!” She stated.
Jürgen smiled and gently nipped Rahine’s earlobe with his pearly white teeth.
“Good, I will enjoy spending time alone with you, sleeping in your bed. “
Rahine disentangled her arms from around his neck and smiled. “Yes my love, Jamil will be hunting and fishing for several days at a time, he has never been good at being cooped up in a dark and dreary castle for weeks.”
Jürgen wrapped his right arm around her waist and dragged her hard against his throbbing body.
“My dear, we have several minutes before your husband returns, let’s have one last tumble in this garden before we go. Who knows, maybe Jamil will have to burn the palace to the ground if Michael is contagious.”
Rahine smiled, nodding she slipped her hands between their bodies and began to massage him gently.
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Shantal lifted her head from the pillow as another moan emerged from Michael. She gently reached out and brushed her fingers down his raw cheek.
“Shhhhh Michael, it will be alright, I’m right here love.” She whispered, standing she rushed to the bathroom and emptied the bowl and refilled it with cold water, reaching into her medicine cabinet she took the dried, chamomile leaves and soaked several in the water. Turning she walked to the bed and gently set the bowl on the bed side table. Turning on the light she frowned at seeing Michael’s visage.
“I hope Rahine decides to leave soon or you might end up in worst shape than when you arrived. “ she whispered as she pulled the dark, sweat soaked sheet off Michael and gently began to soak his skin once again in the mixture. She winced as Michael shivered and moaned as the towel passed through a particularly delicate area just below his groin.
Closing her eyes she softly began to pray. “Please God help me, he needs to return to his home. Please help me find a way to take him away from here.” She jumped as a soft knock reverberated through the room.
Standing she wrung the towel and gently placed it over his burning face. She turned and raced to the door, opening it a crack she sighed as Omar and Gadari both stood side by side.
“What is it? Is she gone?”
Gadari smiled and nodded at Omar.
“Yes, she will leave, the entire household will go to the winter palace until the man is either dad or has recovered. We might have two months to find a way to escape-“
Shantal shook her head and opened the door, allowing the men to enter. Just as she was closing the door Ashdar turned the corner and approached the rooms.
“Shantal please, a moment of your time.” Ashdar said as he reached the door.
Shantal glared at him but nodded, stepping out of the room she turned and stared at her guards. “Stay with him until I return, do not allow anyone but me into these rooms understood?”
The men nodded and closed the door, locking it behind Shantal.
“What do you want Ashdar?” Shantal asked as she walked down the corridor toward the communal gardens.
Ashadar sighed and began to follow her as quickly as he could.
“Please Lalla Shantal, we must speak about the man.”
Shantal turned and leaned against the wall. “What is so important that we cannot speak of it in the gardens?” She asked crossing her arms over her ample bosom.
Ashdar stepped beside her and wiped the sweat off his brow. Looking around he made sure they were alone before grabbing her wrist and squeezing.
“Shanti what you do is dangerous. He will recover and then Rahine will take him into her bed with more fervo-“
Shantal pressed her fingers to his lips and smiled.
“I have a plan, it’s not yet finished, but while Rahine and Jamil are gone, I will take Michael away.“ She whispered.
Ashdar’s eyes became huge and he began to shake his head. Reaching up he captured her hand in his. “Igor will be left behind to guard the man. Rahine has ordered several of the palace guard to stay also, and she is leaving old Martha to cook the food and Patrice to clean. The palace will be deserted within the hour. But there will be no feasible way to escape.”
Shantal pulled her hand away from Ashdar and stepped away from him.
“I will find a way, I know he is too weak right now to move, but after several days of rest and Martha’s cooking he will recover nicely.” She stated smiling.
Ashdar sighed. Shaking his head he took Shantal’s shoulders and shook her softly.
“Rahine is also leaving the witch, the woman will feed and wash Michael, unless you kill the woman there will be no way to escape.”
Shantal shook her head. “She can’t come near Michael Ashdar! If she does she will know he is not sick.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Take her with you, make Rahine take her along to the winter palace. If that witch Hester is allowed to feed Michael..........he will die.”
Ashdar stepped closer to Shantal and gently brushed a stray strand of coppery hair off her cheek.
“And what shall I say to Rahine to force her to take Hester with her? Besides you know what Jamil thinks about the old crone.”
Shantal sighed and closed her eyes. “There has to be a way Ashdar. To send Hester away. You know Michael will die if Hester feeds him. His mind will never recover.” She stepped away from Ashdar and stood at the window, staring out toward the communal gardens filled with the most glorious array of flowers imaginable. “Ash he needs his wife and child, he is starting to hallucinate due to the drugs, I still don’t know how the drugs are being introduced into his body.” She turned and leaned against the glass. “He is beginning to be attracted to me, but his memory and mind is fighting against each other, he will harm himself if the drugs are not stopped soon.”
Ashdar sighed and shook his head. “Do you know who cooks for him?”
She shrugged. “Gadari brought a girl to cook the special meals, but she has been ordered to cook in the kitchen and you know Hester and Rahine have access, besides he has not eaten much since he arrived.”
“Then the drinks?” Ashdar asked.
Shantal shook her head. “I prepare the drinks myself, he has not imbibed anything that I do not prepare for the last two days. Since he returned from Rahine’s rooms.”
Ashdar brushed his fingers across his forehead, his mind searching any other way that the drugs could be introduced.
“What about the bed linen, do you wash and change the bed clothes yourself?”
Shantal’s eyes widened. Shaking her head she fisted her hands and hissed. “No, Patrice does the wash every day. That’s it right? The bed clothes are soaked in the
drug. But then.....why am I not affected also?”
Ashdar smiled. “Because you are immune to the drug, it was used on you the first year you were here and your body has become immune to the drug.”
“Then.......what about the rest? If we get him away from anything that has been touched by anyone other than me or Gadari will he be ok? You know we cannot move him right now, he needs to be able to walk-“
Ashdar smiled and stepped close to Shantal, lifting his hand he silenced her. “He does not need to walk, yes we must wait at least three days before escaping but if Michael is still weak Gadari can carry him part of the way, and the camel can do the rest.”
Shantal chuckled softly. “I’m not sure Ashdar, he is very sick, confused and very disoriented right now, what if he harms himself or someone when he is under one of his delusions?” sighing she closed her eyes and leaned heavily against the wall.
“Ashdar can’t you contact one of those secret friends you’re always speaking about and get them to come help? Gadari and Omar will help us, but once we reach the Sahara desert they will leave and return here, I don’t know how we’ll survive alone out there, with Michael sick and delusional.”
Ashdar gazed deeply into Shantal’s eyes. His mind searching for some way to help Shantal. Finally his memory brought forward the perfect person. Taking her hands he pulled her against his side and kissed her cheek softly.
“I don’t know, maybe Gadari can stay with you until you reach Sudan.” He stated.
Looking intently into her dark gaze, he sighed as he recognized the fear and worry shining in her eyes.
“I do know someone, he is involved in a very secret organization but if I contact him for help it could mean my death, but Michael will be delivered safe to his wife. And you will be given a new life if you want it.”
Shantal smiled and leaned up and kissed his weathered cheek. “Thank you Ashdar, speak to him, find out if he can help us. Just please try make it quick, I’m not sure how long I can keep Michael looking so sick.” Turning she walked away from Ashdar.
Ashdar frowned and rubbed his lips with his left hand. “I just hope that it is quick enough to save his sanity. And that Rahine will accept taking Hester with her.” He turned and rushed down the corridor toward the queen’s chambers.
Shantal knocked on the door and whispered softly for Gadari to open. As the door opened she heard Rahine’s heels clicking closer down the corridor and she quickly entered the room, pushed Omar out and ordered him to stand guard and locked the door.
Turning she smiled and rushed to Michael’s side.
“Gadari help me take the sheets off the bed, his clothes too. I think he is being administered the drugs through them.” She reached the bed and gently lifted Michael’s shaking body into a sitting position. Michael groaned and allowed his eyes to open slightly.
“Are we leaving now?”
Shantal shook her head and placed a kiss on his forehead.
“No Michael, we need to wash your body and put clean sheets on the bed.” She whispered.
Michael lifted his hand toward her face and gently rubbed the back of his hand down her cheek. She felt his hand shaking softly. “You’re so beautiful mon Ciel, you deserve to be cared for and loved- “ he gasped and clamped his teeth on his lower lip.
Shantal looked down into the dark pool of green of his eyes. Her heart clenched as his eyes became flooded with tears.
“Michael? What’s wrong are you in pain?”
Michael weakly shook his head. “I’m going to die here, I will never see Adam or Nikita again, our unborn child will never know her father.” he whispered as he buried his face against the hollow of her neck.
Gadari stepped forward and gently pried Michael’s hands from around Shantal, he gently lifted Michael off the bed and carefully walked toward the make shift bed he had made with pillows in the corner.
Shantal quickly sat on the pillows and took Michael into her arms. She watched as Gadari stripped the bed and pillows and crossed the room, putting the linen into
the bathroom. They looked at each other as Rahine reached the door and began to pound on the heavy wood.
Gadari went to open the door while Shantal wrapped her arms tighter around Michael. She could feel the soft spasms as he tried to choke the tears back, she gently caressed his cheeks.
“Michael you will live and see your children, I think it will be soon, if we can get away from here and reach Sudan.”
Michael lifted his tear stained face and gazed at her. He parted his lips to respond but clamped them shut as the door flew open and Rahine entered.
The queen was dressed in her palest colors, soft beige and gold silks. Her eyes roamed the room until they settled on Michael and Shantal. She stood at the threshold and glared at Shantal.
“Jamil has decided that it is in the best interest of the family to go to the winter palace until Michael has recovered. You will have as much time as you need to do
whatever you want with him, but I do remind you that you have only eleven months to give me a child, so make sure to take advantage of this time alone.” She closed her arms over her abdomen and gritted her teeth. “If he dies you will die. And his wife will be taken. The child she carries in her belly will be my heir and Michael’s son Adam will be trained to please me.”
Shantal nodded as she gently pressed her fingers against Michael’s lips trying hard to force him to keep quiet.
“As you wish My queen. I will do everything I can to keep him alive but-“
Rahine hissed. “NO BUTS!!!!!!! He will live and you will have a child or both of you will suffer when I return! I want you pregnant by the time I return home Shantal. And that will be in less than six weeks.” She spun around regally and joined Jamil who stood impatient at the end of the corridor.
Arm in arm, Jamil and Rahine left the palace followed by their entourage.
Gadari stepped outside after making sure Rahine had left the corridor and closed the door. Turning he smiled at Omar.
“Pack your bags, we’re going home.” He stated as he stepped passed a stunned and speechless Omar.
Shantal sighed and wiped the sweat off Michael’s brow with the wet towel. Her hands shook as she noticed how limp Michael was. She gently pressed her fingers against his throat, feeling the accelerated hammer of his heart beat she smiled.
“We’ll make it Michael, just hang in there a few more days. The drugs will leave your body and then we’ll leave this place. But you must fight to recover.” She whispered softly against the top of his head.
She felt a shudder emanate from Michael as he pulled away. “You said.....no more drugs.....”
Shantal sighed. “I didn’t know until just now that you were still being drugged. I thought I had made sure the food and drinks were drug free but forgot about the bed sheets.”
Michael sighed heavily. Remembering her plans and their talk of a few minutes before he forced his eyelids to open and softly took her hand in his shaking one.
“You said we would go to Sudan, How will we make it? Sudan is across the Sahara desert, not many people have survived it’s crossing.”
Shantal nodded and gently smiled. “I’m not sure, but we’ll get there safe and you will return to your wife soon.”
Michael felt a tremendous desolation that crushed his chest as she uttered those words.
“I will lose her, she will leave as soon as she knows I’m safe and back home. I can’t lose her, I can’t!” He thought.
“No, Shantal please, come....with me, you will.....be protected.” He wheezed.
She could feel and hear how difficult it was for Michael to breathe, the fever that the Gorse bush juice created was making him weaker, his strength was leaving him quickly. She feared he would not be strong enough to fight the days of pain and delusions he would suffer as soon as his body began to go into withdrawal.
“Michael rest, you need to save your strength.” she kissed his hair softly and closed her eyes, leaning back against the wall. "Besides, you feel this way due to the drugs, you can't feel anything besides revulsion for me. i have also been responsible for your suffering. i know that once the drugs leave your system you will not even want to look at me." she thought as her fingers gently brushed through his desheveled curls.
Michael knew that his attraction and need to have Shantal close was due tot he drugs, but he could not fight her effect on him anymore. he hoped that once his blood was clean of any substance his mind and emotions would right themselves. he knew how dangerous it was to fall prey to desire and need, but for now he could not do much more than try to stay awake, which was becoming more difficult. he felt his eyelids begin to drift closed, he continued to fight the need to rest but unfortunately the drugs and effects from the gorse juice had exhausted every ounce of strength he had in reserve and with a sigh he allowed himself to drift into oblivion.
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I hope you like this chapter. please let me know what you think. no matter if it is good or bad. and thank you all for the comments. I appreciate them alot.
Lissette
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