Chapter 59: His Evil Kidnappers

“Spiced wine, make it strong and make it fast.”

The woman threw a silver coin on the dirty counter while her gaze swept the place.

She wore a hooded cloak that hid most of her features, but a lock of black hair and the shine of red lips were enough to make the drunks in the place turn to look.

The innkeeper caught the coin in the air and nodded quickly because, even though he was used to seeing dangerous people in that hole of the capital, she had something different.

She wasn’t the typical thief or mercenary looking for cheap work, but she moved with the arrogance of someone who could burn the whole place down if served a cold drink.

She took a seat at a secluded table in the corner and stared at the entrance intently since she was waiting for someone.

The other customers gave her space instinctively because her presence was heavy and no one wanted trouble with a woman who smelled of stale magic and dried blood.

The wooden door opened with an annoying squeak and let in a gust of cold air along with a figure that didn’t fit in that place at all.

It was Sister Elena.

Her white robes were immaculate and contrasted violently with the filth on the floor, but her serene face of a pious instructor seemed like a bad joke in the middle of so much vice.

She walked toward the corner table, but as she advanced, her posture changed.

That nun rigidity disappeared to give way to a fluid and predatory walk.

Her shoulders relaxed and the robe stopped looking like a holy habit to become simple cloth covering a dangerous body.

Her face started to change while she sat down.

The wrinkles around her eyes smoothed out and the saggy skin tightened until revealing a much younger woman, with a vibrant and cruel energy in her gaze.

“You’re late, Angelina,” said the hooded woman with a low and raspy voice.

“I arrived with style, my dear Seraphina,” answered Angelina, letting out a sigh of relief as she completely dropped the mask of Sister Elena. “I had to get rid of some loose ends before coming because the novices are more curious than they should be.”

She settled on the bench across from Seraphina and looked at the tavern drunks with absolute disgust.

Seraphina let out a dry laugh that sounded like breaking bones and pointed at her companion’s rejuvenated face.

“I still don’t understand why you insisted on using the image of that boring old woman for so long since it doesn’t fit your usual tastes at all.”

Angelina licked her lips and her eyes shined with malice.

“You know why I did it, Seraphina. The kids trusted me because they saw a mother figure and were much easier to manipulate when they thought I just wanted to help them study herbs.”

Seraphina smiled widely because she had always admired that ability of her sister to play with her food before devouring it.

“Speaking of indulgences, I fished something big in the lake, Angelina. It’s something that will interest you a lot.”

Angelina raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

“Oh, yeah? What mess did you get into now, little sister?”

“He is just how you like them,” purred Seraphina with evident satisfaction. “Young, of noble blood and full of delicious potential.”

She got up from the chair and gestured for her to follow toward the back of the place.

“Come, I’m going to show you.”

She guided her through a hidden door behind the bar and they went down a narrow staircase.

They arrived at a small stone chamber barely lit by an oil lamp that cast long shadows on the walls.

In the center of the room there was a young man chained to the floor.

He wore fine silk clothes that were now torn and dirty, but the worst was his physical state since he was trembling violently as if he had a fever and his eyes were wide, looking at nothing with terror.

“Can I eat him?” asked Angelina.

Seraphina laughed and patted her cheek with condescension.

“Not yet, dear sister. This little prince is going to be very useful for us.”

“Little prince?” Angelina narrowed her eyes and her expression changed from hunger to calculation. “Is he the son of a Duke? Or something bigger?”

“He is the son of the King of Phaedra,” said Seraphina, puffing out her chest with pride. “The youngest, Ayres. It’s an impressive catch, don’t you think?”

Angelina’s jaw dropped and the color disappeared from her face in a second.

“The King’s son? Are you insane? His brother is that Paladin who is involved in the crypt case! Didn’t you think this was going to attract all the kingdom’s attention on us?”

“The… the crown prince?” asked Seraphina, and for the first time her arrogance wavered upon seeing her sister’s reaction.

“Yes, you idiot! Prince Aerion!” growled Angelina, losing her composure. “He is the one who has been sniffing around everywhere, asking questions and complicating our lives. Do you really think he is going to ignore that his own brother disappeared?”

Seraphina paled because suddenly her great plan didn’t seem so brilliant.

“I… didn’t think about it.”

“You never think, Seraphina,” Angelina interrupted her with a cutting voice. “You are too busy playing the great dark sorceress to consider the real consequences of your stupidities.”

She started walking from one side of the cell to the other while her mind worked at full speed.

They had a mission which was to infiltrate and destabilize the Church from the inside, but they weren’t prepared for an open war against the crown because the power pulsing under Phaedra’s surface was much more dangerous than they had anticipated.

“What are we going to do, Angelina?” asked Seraphina with a trembling voice, since fear was starting to replace her pride.

Angelina stopped walking and stared at her sister.

“We are going to improvise and adapt because we have no other option.”

She turned toward the captive prince and a predatory smile curved her lips while she formulated a new plan.

“If Aerion comes looking for him, we will make sure he finds something that destroys him.”

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