King of Pain - Tasha Black Page 0,2

exploded through the back wall, revealing a moonlit patch of garden and the darkness of the forest beyond.

Cullen launched himself through the hole in the wall before it could close up behind him.

“Your majesty,” Golda’s voice was plaintive.

He turned back and eyed the ball guests derisively.

“Wh-what should we do?” she asked.

“Whatever the hell you want,” he said, turning away from his would-be subjects.

He placed two fingers in his mouth and let out a loud, low whistle.

At first, only silence greeted him.

He felt the rumble of the ground even before he saw the pale shape of his ethereal stallion galloping toward him and glowing in the moonlight.

Nyx was all muscle under his snow-white velvet coat. The long, silken hair on his mane, tail and fetlocks floated backward as he moved, almost as if he were underwater, exaggerating the effect of his already frightening speed.

“Nyx,” Cullen said as the beast thrust its massive forehead against his chest in greeting.

He stroked the pale cheek once, as the stallion snorted and pranced.

“Let’s go,” Cullen said, swinging onto his broad back.

The steed knew instinctively which way Cullen wanted him to go. He ran swiftly, hooves striking the loamy earth in a hellish cadence.

Cullen felt his body rhythm adjust to Nyx’s stride until they were moving as one, as they always had.

As the moonlit landscape blurred past them, Cullen closed his eyes and tested the night air for the scent of tea roses.

3

Jessica

Jessica Bell stepped out of her cottage and sucked in a deep breath of dewy morning air.

Aerin, her palomino pony, nickered and trotted over to greet her.

“Hello, my friend,” Jessica said fondly, stroking the pony’s creamy white mane.

She luxuriated in the smell of the fresh flowers all around, and the warmth from the sun kissing her cheeks and the velvet fur under her hand - all the pleasures of daily life.

But something was different today.

She shook her head to rid herself of the strange thought.

Every day was the same here - a perfect, sheltered life full of delicious meals and bright colors and every comfort Jessica could desire.

The silent queen had taken Jessica from that awful ballroom with the snickering dancers and deposited her here in the country, where she could enjoy a simple life of nature and study.

The queen had given her the pony, the house, and the time and freedom to read and relax as much as she liked.

Jessica knew she was being treated like a spoiled pet, but it was hard to mind when her life was so enjoyable.

Except that something was missing.

She just couldn’t remember what.

Usually, she had this feeling only in dreams. That was the only unpleasant part of her existence here. Nearly every night she had dreams where she searched frantically for something important, but never found it.

“Never mind,” she said to herself. “Time for breakfast.”

She and the pony took a leisurely stroll around the cottage to the grove in back, where a table waited under the weeping willow.

Each morning, a meal of fruit and tea appeared here.

She was relieved to see that today was no exception. The table had been covered with a lace cloth. A platter of sliced fruit glistened beside a cup and a steaming teapot.

“See, Aerin,” she said. “It was nonsense.”

The pony whiskered at the mention of her name and Jessica laughed.

She sat and took a bite of the fruit.

Normally, the flavor hit her like a waterfall, filling her senses with sweet, tart goodness.

Today it tasted more like the fruit she remembered from her days in the other world - sweet and wholesome, but not a revelation.

She poured tea into the cup and watched the steam rise in a delicate mist.

She added fresh milk and reached for the sugar.

But when she turned back to her cup, she could see the milk curdling on its surface.

The rancid chunks roiled in malevolent patterns, and she swore she saw battles fought and storm clouds gathering in the swirls.

She stood abruptly.

Aerin snorted and spooked a little.

“Oh, I’m sorry, girl,” Jessica crooned, feeling guilty. “It’s just a strange day.”

The pony minced back to her through the dewy grass.

“Shall we go pick flowers?” Jessica asked her.

The pony flicked her ears as if she understood.

And since their days were always the same, she probably did. Though she was used to watching her mistress eat breakfast with gusto first.

Aerin held angelically still as Jessica stepped onto a picturesque stump to mount her.

The pony trotted into the meadow and Jessica began to feel better as the air lifted her hair and the rhythm