Chasing The Queen
Part 8

Rhett stood several feet from the large cell that held his captive. A disappointed look was etched deep in his face as he watched the still sleeping woman. He had gotten the right one this time around, but there was something off about her.

He tilted his head as his eyes scanned her body, as if he could see what the difference was. Suddenly, his eyes brightened with knowledge. Laretta smelt almost complete human. How: how in the name of all that was sacred did a creature with as much power, as he knew she had coursing through her, become almost human. His mind turned the thought over and over.

Rhett knew of only one group that would be powerful enough to pull something like this off, however; the Blair with coven had goen into hiding back in the late 1500s. And as far as he knew, they were still hiding away from the world. Surely there must be a way to reactivate her powers, because without that power in her blood, any child produced with her now would be a Halfling. And he would not allow his offspring to be tainted as such.

“Richard … “ A faint groan filled the room and Rhett’s face clouded with anger. She was his, yet she dared to call out for that dog! Suddenly, Rhett’s face changed. A cold, sinister smile took place on his lips as she spun around and stormed from the room. He would replace that dog and bring his head back to her. He would show her that she was his and no one else would ever take her from him again.

“Mommy! Mommy!” The sound of a little girl’s voice filled the forest that Laretta found herself standing in. Looking around in confusion, she watched as a little girl skipped towards a woman whose back was facing her. The smile that lit up the girl’s face was contagious and Laretta found herself smiling as well.

“Look what Daddy taught me,” she squealed in joy as she came to a halt before the woman. Holding up her hand, she concentrated hard at her palm. Laretta watched, shocked, as a small dark cloud appeared in the girl’s hand. It slowly picked up speed, swirling faster and faster as it grew darker. “Daddy said that I can made it rain now when I want.”

The look of pure childish joy that settled over the girl’s face was a sight to see. As quick as it appeared, the small cloud vanished. The woman kneeled to be face to face with her daughter, her hand resting lovingly on her shoulder. “I’m so proud of you darling. One day, you’ll be as good as I, or better.”

“And when that day comes, sweetheart,” a man spoke suddenly from behind the two. Laretta’s eyes jumped up to his, her heart stopping. It was like looking into a mirror, she thought as she searched his face. There were so many of her own features on his face, and that startled her. “When that day comes, you better believe that your mother and I will be so proud of you.”

The girl’s mother stood as the little girl spun and shot towards the man. He laughed as he picked her up, hugging her close to him. “I’ll grow up to be as strong as you and Mommy. And then I’ll replace my mate and we’ll all live happily ever after." The decisive tone of the girl had her parents chuckling.

"He will be a good man, Laretta," the mother spoke and Laretta felt as if time stood still. Her eyes flew back to the little girl, searching her face. A gasp left her lips as she realized that she was staring at herself, only younger. It suddenly dawned on her that these were her parents; parents that she had no memory of ever knowing.

"Alright darling, it's time to go." Her mother spoke softly as she stood and walked towards her daughter and mate. Her younger self looked saddened at the fact and she tightened her arms around her father's neck. "Why can't we stay with Daddy?" She questioned as she turned her large, tear filled eyes to her mother. "We're always leaving him."

"It's not safe for either of us to stay here with him yet darling. There are those that would harm us because of what we are; of what you are." Understanding settled over young Laretta's face as she slowly pulled away from her father. Giving him a kiss on the cheek, she took her mother's hand and waved goodbye. With a blinding flash of light, mother and daughter disappeared.

Laretta groaned as her eyes slowly fluttered open. The first thing she noticed were the gray bars that ran from the ceiling to the floor. Turning her head just a bit, she noticed that the room didn't have any windows, and only one door.

A dull ache filled her head but she was quick to push it aside. The only things she was focused on was the facts that she was locked in a cell after being kidnapped from Richard's house, and the weirdest dream she had ever had. Suddenly, Rhett's face flashed through her mind.

Her body stilled quickly as she was flooded with memory after memory of things she couldn’t remember ever happening to her. But something deep within her told her that they were true. Rhett had taken her from her parents when she was six. He began to take blood from her, just a little at a time, storing it away.

His touch burned her; everything about him caused her pain. Each year that passed brought new horrors upon her as Rhett began to share his plan for her, and what he planned on doing once his goals had been achieved. Laretta bolted from the small cot as fear and determination filled her. She couldn’t allow his plans to fall into place.

Just as her feet touched the floor, a scream of pain left her lips as she crumpled to the ground. Her body convulsed as sounds of bones breaking and realigning filled the room. The dull ache that she had felt when she woke up had turned into a raging headache. Pain, like she had never felt in her life, filled her mind completely, blockin out anything else.

Finally, her body had more than it could handle. With a loud cry, Laretta sunk into the unconsciousness that swirled around her mind, not fighting it for it gave relief from the pain.