Chapter 6

There was no food here in Seritalis, as I was the only human living here. The following day, I found that Grismal had sent his goblins to the surface to bring me a meal. The goblins were nervous that I wouldn't like what they decided to serve me. They led me to the dining room. Not that I had much choice in the matter, it was the only other room I had permission to visit.

Grismal appeared as the goblins laid out their offerings before me. My meal comprised freshly caught fish (its gills still twitching with life), two apples, and a half-full bottle of wine. I supposed they assumed because I was a living being, I only wanted to eat things that were still alive. As for the wine, perhaps they had seen another human drinking from it and assumed it was safe for me to drink as well.

"This is pitiful," Julian complained when he saw the face I made at the raw fish. "Is this how you serve an honored guest down here?"

"Is this meal not to your liking?" Grismal interrupted.

"No, no, I am enjoying it."

"You hate it," Grismal motioned for the goblins to take the plates away. "We'll find you something more appetizing next time."

"I-I could bring Lady Balan her meals from the outside," Julian offered hopefully. Momentarily, I saw Grismal's eyes meet Julian's. He was like a giant serpent studying a rodent who had dared to cross his path. I knew Julian spoke out of turn, and I had a feeling Grismal was debating what to do about it. I could tell by the shocked expression on Grismal's face that he hadn't been interrupted this way by a wayward soul for centuries.

I probably should have let Grismal teach Julian a harsh lesson about insolence, but I didn't want to eat carp and apples for the rest of eternity. I cleared my throat and spoke up.

"Lord Nerazu, we were just discussing this plan. My servant can teach the others how to serve me. Let him go above ground just once." I reached out and placed my palm over Grismal's gloved hand to emphasize my point. He almost flinched away at my touch in shock. I kept my hand where it was and pretended not to notice his discomfort uncomfortable. As Julian said, the man probably hadn't known the touch of a human woman in some time.

"No formalities, Melody. Call me Grismal," he replied, turning his greenish eyes back to me. His eyes were like Blake's in that regard. They turned green or blue depending on the light. Now, though, they were a gem-like green, greener than I had ever seen my husband's human eyes. Then, he turned his gaze back to Julian. My weak attempt at distracting Grismal hadn't done much good. Was it wrong that I wanted to laugh at how terrified Julian was at that moment? I didn't think he could lower that head of gorgeous dark hair without kissing his own toes. "As for you, spirit, what did you say? Look at me, and speak it louder."

Oh, Julian looked like he was ready to piss his pants in fear now. Sheer terror about one's impending doom was better than any physical punishment Grismal could inflict on my old enemy. I suddenly decided I would truly enjoy watching Julian being forced to serve Grismal in Seritalis for all of eternity. Julian's bottom lip trembled as he moved to speak. His mouth was so dry no words came out.

That was it, I couldn't help myself. I had to stifle my laughter with my hand. Grismal's expression turned from fury to absolute bewilderment at the sound of my giggles.

"I have amused you, Melody?"

"Yes, no, don't let me interrupt. Go on. What were you planning to do to him?"

I stood up and uncorked the bottle of wine. I brought it to my lips and drank from it as though my life depended on it.

It was Grismal's turn to chuckle now.

"You are not like what I thought you would be."

Yes, I understood why. Grismal had been spying on Blake's dreams, and that was all he knew of me.

In Blake's dreams, I was still Vivienne — young, beautiful, good. The Melody Balan who woke from Sleeping Beauty's sleep from Vilaris was nothing like the girl from my husband's dreams. The only lesson I learned after all these missed years was that blood must be repaid with blood. I wanted revenge a thousand times over for what Julian, Zuria, Kezair, and all the others took from me.

It was a hunger more insatiable than any vampire's need for blood or any of Grismal's wandering souls needed living flesh. If Grismal thought the girl he dragged down was Vivienne Thorne, then he was dearly mistaken. I was nothing like her. My desire to see the world burn was only abated by Blake's need to save it. Without Blake and the two sons I must care for, I would be an unstoppable force of destruction. Perhaps, Orienne was right about me all along.

"I'm not the girl from my husband's dreams if that's what you mean," I hissed ad licked my lips free of the wine. It wasn't bad. Better than nothing on an empty stomach. Better than the memory of blood from my brief memories of being a vampire. "Dreams are just that — dreams. The reality is often a disappointment."

"And still, he loved you anyway," Grismal noted with a curt nod. "Despite never seeing you for who you truly are."

"Humanity. Irritating, aren't we?" I mused. "Perhaps, you should have picked a different woman to teach you about human emotions. The only emotion I have left inside this husk of a body is the coldest hatred."

Grismal was reading my mind again. A smile slowly formed at the edge of his lips as he realized that every word I spoke now was the truth.

"Julian, Zuria, Kezair, Alesandra," Grismal repeated patiently as he read my thoughts. "I can give you all of those souls, my dear. This woman named Alesandra will have to wait. That one is not yet dead, but it shouldn't be long now."

Oh, his offer was tantalizing. I licked my lips again. I slid out of my chair and approached the two men like a kitten presented with a plate of the sweetest milk.

"And as for your other question, yes, souls can be made to feel pain. They can be made to suffer indefinitely. Mearnox is a place of transition to the afterlife, but it can also be a place of punishment if my queen wills it."

I grinned at Grismal and bit into my apple. It wasn't ripe, but I didn't care. I needed to occupy my mouth before I immediately jumped on the offer he had made me. All the hatred I had been repressing inside me was aching to explode. I so badly wanted my revenge. I had wanted nothing but it for twenty years.

"What would you like me to do to this damned soul now?" Grismal offered and strolled around Julian as though to study his well-sculpted, trembling body from every angle. "Whatever you wish, Melody, it will be done." Grismal placed the palm of his hand on Julian's back, and Julian stumbled forward as though his knees almost buckled.

I should start by cutting up his face, I thought, but I didn't speak it out loud. I immediately banished the thought from my mind. Luckily. Grismal was too busy plotting Julian's impending torture to see my slip. For all the times I traced that knife scar on Blake's cheek while he slept and thought of my error in trusting Julian. Julian didn't leave that scar on Blake's face to hurt him. Blake was never so vain as to let something like that get to him. Julian left that scar for me because I would have to look at the face of the man I loved and see a permanent reminder of my childish naiveté.

"I'm still hungry," I said and fought against the desire of every cell in my body to see Julian ripped to shreds by Grismal's large fearful hands. "Let him teach the servants to fetch my meals first. We have an eternity to teach him a lesson, but my stomach will not wait half so long."

Grismal nodded and released his hold on Julian. He dusted his hands off as though touching a life form as low as Julian was below him.

"We can tour my palace grounds when you are settled here," Grismal offered. "I have so much more to show you. Now that I know what pleases you, perhaps I can prepare some gifts in advance."

Grismal approached me, and I tilted my face up, expecting him to kiss me. He had wanted to kiss me the night before. No such kiss came. Instead, Grismal reached down and took my hand in his. He rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb as though he was getting used to the sensation. His grip was firm, bordering on painful, but strangely, it made me feel safe and wanted. The rest of my body ached to be enveloped in the same blissful hold. When he spoke next, his voice was gentle and patient.

"I want to know you, Melody—all of you. You can share with me your hatred and your darkness. Let me satisfy you in a way my brother never could."