Broken, but Not Defeated

Chapter 4 (Caldina)

The black gate starts to open. My black horse starts to prance. He never was one for the city. Cyrene, the only one of the thirteen, besides me, who can handle Azezal, rushes over to grab him and bring him into the stables. Shadow, my dark wolf prince, rushes into the palace no doubt to find food. That wolf might be scary looking, but he is no such thing. If I let him, he wouldn't go anywhere except from his bed to the kitchen and back.

"A penny for your thoughts?" I hear Lucia say behind me.

I raise an eyebrow at her. "A penny really? More like twenty pieces of gold," I respond.

"Twenty gold pieces! How rich do you think I am?"

I chuckle.

"Oh whatever, what are you thinking about?"

"Just how fat Shadow would be if I didn't make him come with me on my missions." A lie but yet some truth.

"Oh, I meant before that! You had a strange expression on your face when you came in."

"None of your business!" I snap. Lucia was really pushing her luck. Besides dealing with Juliana had really made me lose my patience. Lucia quickly backs off with her hands in the air as if in surrender. I walk towards her. She quickly drops her head.

"I'm sorry commander, I overstepped my position," she mumbles.

I growl at the back of my throat. "You think! Don't let it happen again Lucia, otherwise, we will be having a public whipping. Do you understand?"

"Yes, commander, I understand."

"Good, now get out of my sight before I think to have a whipping now!"

She quickly slams her hand to her chest, bows, and walks away.

"I would ask what that is about, but you look like a thundercloud so I won't," Sienna says.

"Good, because I am not in the mood," I snap. It's not fair of me to yell at her, but between Lucia and Juliana, I was tired and hungry. I make my way to my office thinking of Juliana the whole entire way there.

When I had told her the news of William, the poor girl had fainted. But, despite being a young girl she took me on like a panther against a wolf. She reminds me of myself. The poor girl. I wonder what William had to save her against. William, I wonder what he is up to. No doubt trying to find a way to get away. He said he was not going to stop trying to get away until I told Juliana of his fate. Changing my direction I head towards the dungeons. Upon arriving there I see the twins Vivian and Valeska.

"Well, well, well look who has come to visit me. The almighty witchling," William exclaims sarcastically. I wonder if he will be this sarcastic on blood moon night?

"You may leave," I tell the twins. Vivian and Valeska bring their right hands to the chest, (a witch's salute) and walk out.

"Wow, can't even say 'thanks for watching him for me.' Can you?"

"You know if you keep talking the way you do and you might not have a tongue."

His smile disappears and there is no way it's because of my threat. Because he always seems to laugh at my threats.

"Did you find her?" he asks softly.

"I did after three days of looking. You know that whole creek runs around Breakan, right?"

"I did, you just happened to make me forget where by letting your witchlings surround me."

Okay, that's it he has crossed the line.

"Lady Caldina!" Really! I thought I told them not to use my name.

"So that's your name, huh, witchling? Lady Caldina," Will comments, something passes in his eyes. I turn my head away from him.

"What do you want, Esta?"

"Your cousins are here." Well, my day just went from a bad day to the worst day in history.