Forbidden Places
By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Thirteen: deception
In her quarters below deck, Markys opened the curtains to let light flood into the room. Just by a casual glance she could tell that they were still a fair distance away from where they needed to be. She then looked over at Lord Arachnid who was still sleeping soundly.
I am so close. She thought as she returned her attention to the window.
"Markys? You're awake?" Arachnid asked tiredly. She looked over and saw that her guest was waking up from their experience. She smiled and sat down on the bed beside him.
"I'm a light sleeper. A useful talent when you live in a dangerous place like this." She replied. She laid down beside him and snuggled up next to him.
"How you feeling?" she asked curiously.
"Totally exhausted." He answered. Markys quietly laughed and traced her finger across his chest.
"I'll take that as a compliment.  I hope it wasn't a disappointment for you." She stated quietly.
"I - I was going to say the same thing." He replied honestly.
"You must be kidding. You were an animal. If I didn't know better - I would swear that you've done this sort of thing before." She replied with a wink. She floated up from the bed and landed gracefully where the rest of her clothes were.
"You should get dressed too. If we are together for too long - the others will get suspicious - more so than usual." She stated as she put her clothes back on.
"Hmph. Let them. You think either of them worries me?" he replied seriously. Markys sighed and looked over her shoulder.
"I know that my fears are probably unfounded - but if we keep our alliance secret - it will make punishing the others that much easier. But I am your humble servant. If you wish our relationship to be public - I will do as you say." She replied quietly.
"Perhaps you're right. But how much should we keep secret?" he asked.
"All of it. If either of them suspects that we are lovers - neither will trust me and all of our hard work will be for naught. We are so close my Lord. To awakening the imprisoned Spider Lords from their magical tombs - and freeing the Spiders of Crae from where they are trapped. We dare not risk losing it all for - a lack of discretion." She replied impassioned.
"I see your point." He replied. He hopped out of bed and began to quickly get dressed.
"What about Enchanter?" Arachnid asked curiously.
"He believes me to be under his spell. I may have to pretend that I am - lest he become suspicious. But know that I belong to you - no matter what he says or tries to make you believe." She replied timidly.
"I understand. You are almost as crafty with a web as myself." He commented.
"I learn from the best my Lord." She replied with a bow.
A few moments later - Arachnid exited from below deck and walked by a scowling Enchanter. Enchanter looked at the spider wizard and then stormed through the door that Arachnid had exited from. Up above - Toy Maker and Tuly were watching the impending drama.
"The plot thickens." Toy maker stated with a smirk. Tuly laughed as the comment and then looked over at the spider wizard that was glaring at them.
"Friendly little cuss." She commented. Toy Maker looked over and saw what she meant.
"Interesting. This could change everything." He added. He returned his attention to the device he was working on.
At that moment - down below in her room. Markys had finished removing ever trace of what she and Arachnid had done.
"I think that's everything." She began as she looked over at the corner. There stood Nibbles - hiding in the shadows.
"I have nothing against you Nibbles - but scoot. Arachnid might need your help." She whispered. Nibbles jumped up and scurried out through the window. Markys slowly looked around her room - everything was now in order. She walked over to the door and opened it just as Enchanter arrived.
"Goodness! You startled me - is something wrong? You look angry." She asked. Enchanter ignored her and entered her room. Markys timidly closed the door and looked at Enchanter who was seemingly looking for something.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"What were you two doing down here?" he asked seriously.
"Doing?" she asked.
"Do not play me for a fool. It is not a part I play well."  He replied strongly.
"I don't understand." She began.
"You want me to be blunt?" he asked seriously.
"You - you think I - slept with him? He doesn't like women. He's only interested in spiders. You don't trust me. I would expect this sort of thing from Toy maker - but you." She began in disbelief.
"I am not a fool Markys. I have played in intricate games - far more intricate than this. I know when I am being lied to. And you are not telling me the truth." He stated seriously. Markys lowered her eyes and timidly sat down on the edge of her bed.
"He helped me down here after those memories flooded my mind. He made me look at some maps. I told him that they weren't right - he wouldn?t listen. He - he got angry at me and - he - hit me. He said that if I didn't do as he said - he would kill me and find what he wanted without me." she began timidly. She slowly looked up at Enchanter - his face still an emotionless mask.
"He said that he knew we were lovers and that if I - I told you any of this he would kill me. Still think I'm lying?" she asked quietly. Enchanter turned away from her and sighed. Ever since he learned of his power he had the ability to read people - know what they were saying and what it really meant. Now - for the first time since then - he wasn't sure.
"You told him we were lovers?" he asked.
"No master. But he thinks it. No matter how much I denied it - he said that I was just taking your side and that I would betray him to you. He means to kill me Enchanter. He believes that I am deceiving him. What am I going to do? I can't go to that artificer for help - and now he has turned you against me as well." She asked - with a hint of fear in her voice.
"I never said I was against you. But why didn't you tell me that to begin with?" he asked seriously.
"Master - he scared me half to death - then you stormed in accusing me - much like he did. It hurts me to think that you could think such a thing of me. After everything you've done for me - befriending me throughout this arduous journey - talking to me - protecting me from the sinister plotting of those two. Don't you know that I am in love with you?" she asked seriously. Enchanter walked over to the window and sighed.
"I guess not. I guess it was foolish for me to believe that one such as yourself would be interested in me. I am just your guide through this place right?" she asked hesitantly.
"You aren't just a guide." He stated.
"I know that Arachnid and Toy maker would lose no sleep if my life were to end tomorrow. It would break my heart if you felt that way too." She added. Enchanter looked over at her and could see the distraught in her eyes.
"Nothing will happen to you so long as I'm around." He stated calmly.
"Even though you think I'm sleeping with that spider freak?" she asked seriously.
"I'm sorry. He just caught me by surprise with that spell. Then the two of you were down here for so long." He began.
"It was the artificer's fault. He interrupted your counter spell. I saw it. As much as they hate each other - it seems as though their hate for you is greater. I fear we are both doomed." She replied as she held her hands on her lap.
"Not if we stand together." He stated.
"Master?" she replied.
"Think about it. If Toy Maker and Arachnid are working together - and Arachnid thinks that he has you in his pocket - they will think they have a leg up on us. Imagine the surprise they will encounter when you show where your true loyalty lies." He stated.
"To you." She affirmed.
"Exactly." He replied.
"I don't know. It sounds pretty dangerous. What if they pick up on our plan? I'm not very good at deceiving people." She asked seriously. Enchanter quietly chuckled and looked over his shoulder.
"Just leave that to me. I won't let anything bad happen to you - an offer I am sure the others can't make." He replied confidently. Markys began to smile. The anger that was welling inside Enchanter seemed to have subsided.
"So - what happens now?" she asked hesitantly.
"Now?" he asked.
"You - you're still here. Is there something you need or want?" she asked innocently.
"Perhaps." He replied as he walked over and gave her a hug.
"What is that for?" she asked curiously.
"My way of saying sorry - I should have had more faith in you. There is just something about this place that is just putting me on edge. I shouldn't be taking it out on you." He replied.
"I'm glad you aren't mad at me." she whispered. Enchanter smiled and walked over to where the window was. Markys looked over at the wizard and smiled.
"Master? I now know why Arachnid is here - I believe I have some notion of why Toy maker came - but why did you come? Why would someone as powerful as yourself risk so much by coming to such a place?" she asked curiously. Enchanter placed his hand on the wall beside the window.
"A promise - one I forgot about so long ago. A promise I need to honor." He replied quietly.
"A - promise - led you here?" she added.
"In a manner of speaking. When I was child - before my powers developed - I was taken captive by demons. The Lord of the Pit himself was going to sacrifice me to feed some dark ritual. A woman saved me. She fought back him and the other demons and brought me home. My parents of course convinced me that it was all just a dream - after a while - I guess I believed them." he said in a distant voice.
"I had no idea." She began.
"How could you? The woman that saved me - her name is Tydiss. From what I have been able to learn so far she is a Dreaming Djinn. I have been searching everywhere - asking everyone - all clues - tell me that she is here - hidden or imprisoned somewhere on these islands." He continued.
"I promise that I will do whatever I can to help." She offered
"I'm glad. I know how little I can trust Toy maker and Arachnid - its good to know that there's at least one person who isn't against me." he commented as he walked over to where Markys was sitting.
"You trust me?" she asked hesitantly.
"Yes. I guess I do." He replied.
"You guess? You're pushing your luck Enchanter." She retorted humorously, making him smile.
"That just leaves the other matter of why I am here." He began.
"What's that?" she asked. He leaned forward and gently kissed her on the lips.
"Oh - that." she added as they began to kiss some more. It was then that Enchanter slowly stepped away.
"You - you're leaving?" she asked - almost hurt.
"No. I'm just seeing to it that we aren't disturbed." He replied. With a wave of his hand - a magical bolt appeared on the door - the curtain closed itself - the room flooded with darkness.
At that moment up above - Toy maker had taken a break from his devices to study the spider wizard that was looking somewhat anxious.
"Hey - Spider boy - what were you and our guide doing down there for so long?" Toy maker called over. Arachnid looked up at the artificer and walked to the front of the boat.
"I don't think he's feeling talkative." Tuly commented.
"You're probably right. He was probably just talking with her - about the same thing Enchanter is." Toy maker commented. Arachnid slowly looked over his shoulder and glared at the two that seemed to be trying to anger him.
"Is there a reason for this annoyance?" he asked seriously.
"Maybe - maybe not." Toy Maker answered as a golden orb hovered over his gauntlet.
"I was discussing the quickest route to find this wizard Lokaan - and some clarification on a map I had purchased - not that any of what I talk about is any of your concern." Arachnid replied defensively. Tuly hopped up and perched herself on Toy maker's shoulder.
"I think the boy is telling the truth - for what it's worth. I mean - if he was sleeping with Markys - he sure as hell wouldn't be fool enough to leave her alone in a room with Enchanter. Speaking as one of his past - 'conquests' - Enchanter is a very fast worker." Tuly stated. Arachnid growled as emitted a web at the hawk. With a wave of Toy maker's hand - the orb vanished and a wall of shields appeared before them and the approaching webs. The webs stuck to the shields and missed the target altogether.
"Naughty, naughty. Webs are bad for feathers." Toy Maker stated as the wall vanished.
"You know - up until now - it was a toss up as to who my first priority was going to be. Congratulations Toy Maker - you are the big winner - or in the case - the big loser." Arachnid hissed as he stormed back to the front of the boat.
"I suppose we'll find out on that day - won't we?"  he replied coolly as he and Tuly returned to their attempts at completing the projects at hand. Arachnid silently fumed at the two - their words hitting closer to the mark than he would have liked.
You will all pay - oh yes - you shall. He thought with an evil smile.
To be continued....
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