Excerpt: Maria and the Underground Court

I placed cold logs on top of the glowing red coals. I watched as the logs began to catch. The edges had little tongues of flame licking them. They were growing and spreading. I heard someone come up behind me. I turned. Mason was standing there. I climbed to my feet and hugged him tightly. He returned the hug and gently kissed me on the cheek. I was full of unmeasured happiness. "I love you." He whispered.

Then the door burst open. I broke the hug and looked at the intruders in fear. The Rogue's original servants were standing there. Brian, the knife-wielding man, with a reputation for being very thorough in his kills, Elizabeth, Brian's wife, an expert with herbs and chemicals, and then there was Lanson.

Lanson had a scar over his left eye, which was brown. His other eye was pure blue, and made of glass. There was a thin sword at his belt, and he was caressing a dagger in his hands. There was another dagger in his belt as well. I grabbed Mason's hand and raced upstairs to warn mother. She was already awake, standing in the hallway. "Mother, they're here, the Rogue’s dogs; Brian, Elizabeth, and Lanson." Her eyes widened and she ran into my room. We followed her, closing and locking it behind us. "It won't be enough." I whispered fearfully. "Elizabeth can get any door open."

Mason looked me in the eyes. "Maria, no matter what happens; I love you more than life. Remember that." He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me gently on the lips. Then there was an explosion. Splintered bits of door flew through the air. One hit my cheek, and a few more buried themselves in my arm. We both turned towards the door. They were back. Elizabeth was putting a bag away. My mother screamed loudly. "Shut her up." Lanson hissed. Brian didn't wait, and threw a knife directly at her. It embedded itself in her neck, and she fell to the ground. This time I screamed. I ran to her and fell to my knees next to her motionless form. The knife had killed her instantly. "No, no, no..." I whimpered.

Brian walked up to me. "Listen to me, and you listen good and well." He grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet, turning me around. Lanson had grabbed Mason and was holding one of his daggers to his throat. "You can either come with us willingly and let your lover live, or you can fight and we'll kill him and take you anyway."

I broke free of Brian and ran towards Mason. Lanson saw me coming. Before I knew what was happening, the dagger had dug into Mason's neck, and red blood was falling to the floor like liquid rubies. Lanson released him and he fell to the ground. I screamed again and rushed to Mason's side. He was still alive, but his life was slipping from him very quickly. He looked at me for the last time, raising a trembling hand to the side of my face weakly. "M-M-Maria." He gasped.

His body stiffened up and the glow in his eyes faded.