Page 59 of Bewitched

“You don’t want to imprison her, my King?” asked one of them. “She is a threat, my lord.”

“Aye, don’t you want her dead?” asked the other.

“Nay. Why would I want to hurt my future Queen?” The King followed up his sentence with a forced laugh.

“Future Queen?” Medea repeated in surprise. She wasn’t sure where this was coming from. Then again, if the man wanted to have babies with her, she supposed she would be his Queen. Still, she didn’t need or want him. She could rule by herself.

You don’t want to be alone again, came a voice in her head, clouding her thoughts. Take the man up on his offer. You can rule all of Mura with a powerful king doing your bidding. You don’t need to feel lonely. He wants you. He wants to create a family. This is what you’ve always wanted. The dark voice of her mother filled her ears, and she couldn’t push it away. She wondered if Hecuba was mentoring her from the grave. Either way, she found it hard to ignore it. It is your fault I am gone, and I’ll never forgive you unless you do what I say.

“That’s right, Medea,” said Osric. “With you at my side, the two of us will be the most powerful rulers of Mura. I want you to marry me on the morrow.”

“Marry you,” she repeated, feeling as if she were in a foggy daze. “Why in the world would I even consider doing that?”

Because then you’d have everything you ever wanted. This man is rich and powerful and can give you everything. You need him. You will rule together the entire land of Mura. You will have power and wealth. Most of all, with all your children you’ll have together, you will never be lonely again. You got rid of me, Daughter, and that is why you are so lonely. It is your own fault. Do this, I warn you, or I will never forgive you and you will always feel the stab of guilt and the pain of being alone.

“Because you know I’m the only one you can trust, that’s why,” said Osric. “Plus, you’ll need help raising our army of children. You don’t want to do it all alone, do you?”

“Alone,” she repeated, looking down to her baby, realizing she wasn’t really alone anymore. Still, in a way, without a man at her side, she would have to raise the child all by herself. She’d felt the emptiness of not growing up with a father present. Aye, she needed a man in her children’s lives. But the man she really wanted wasn’t Osric, it was Rhys.

Rhys doesn’t want you, but Osric does, came the voice of her mother in her head once again. Don’t be a fool, Medea. Do what I would do. Use this man for your own needs. You deserve it. Be the powerful witch and queen that I tried to teach you to be. King Osric is the man for you, and no one else.

The thing Medea feared most in life was being alone, and that was exactly how she felt since the death of her mother. It was painful and sad and she didn’t want to live that way anymore. Medea vowed to find a man and raise a family and never be alone again, but it seemed no man wanted her once they saw her darkness. She had thought Rhys was the man she’d spend the rest of her days with, but now she could see it wasn’t so. He didn’t love her, he didn’t need her. He didn’t want her anymore, now that he’d seen her dark side, she was sure. Plus, Rhys deceived her, and wanted her dead. Even when she told him she wanted to stay in Mura, he still seemed to want to send her home.

That’s right, Medea. Now you see that fool Rhys for what he really is. You don’t want a life with him, even if you have already birthed his baby. Go with Osric—he can help you and will always be there for you. That’s what you should do. Take the King up on his offer now, before he changes his mind. Do it, before you are left all alone once again. If you waste this opportunity, you’ll be the only one to blame for your miserable life.

The darkness inside Medea grew stronger every time she heard her mother’s thoughts from the grave. She started listening to the voice in her head and found it too hard to push it away. Her greed became the only thing important to her right now, and it made her feel filled with power. King Osric could offer her everything she’d ever wanted, just like the voice in her head told her. With him, she’d have a family and also a kingdom. With him, she would never be alone again. She couldn’t turn down his deal. It was too good to pass up. She would listen to her mother and finally be forgiven. Medea would not continue to make mistakes again.

Move fast, Medea. Do it now. Do not wait. Take what is yours, what you deserve. You can rule Mura with Osric at your side and have an army of children quickly. Then, get rid of the man, once you’ve used him for all you need.

“Yes, Mother. You are right,” she said softly, feeling the influence of the dark witch who seemed to somehow live on inside her.

“I’ve reconsidered. I’ll marry you,” she agreed, watching the King smile even more. A pain went through her heart as she thought about Rhys and how much she’d miss him. Then she pushed the thought away. Rhys had lied to her. He had used her when he knew how lonely she really was. She couldn’t trust him again. Rhys Blackseed had never offered to marry her or do anything with her other than to couple with her out of lust. The King offered marriage, a family, lots of children, and a title she would have earned instead of stolen.

That’s right, Medea. That’s a good girl. You don’t want someone like Rhys. You want Osric. Listen to me, because I know what’s best for you. I was the one who gave you life. Do this, and I will forgive you for taking mine.

“Yes, Mother. I will,” she whispered, rocking her baby and giving the infant a kiss on the head. Tears dripped down her cheeks. She had to do this, because if she didn’t, she would go to her grave feeling guilty for her mother’s death. “I’ll do it, so you’ll forgive me,” she whispered.

Good, Medea. And when you are done with the King, dispose of him. Keep listening to me, Daughter, and I will always be here to guide you. With me here, you will never feel lonely again.

Fifteen

“Look, there’s the dragon,” called out Zann, as the traveling party headed over the mountains on horseback, making their way back to Kasculbough. The three men and Rapunzel made the trip. Alaina had stayed back with the fae since they were so shaken by everything that had happened. She had told them to go ahead and that she would meet up with them soon.

“My sister is not on the dragon,” said Rapunzel, looking up at the sky. She rode atop the horse with Rhys.

“What does that mean?” asked Rhys.

“Medea wouldn’t have gotten off the dragon and let it fly away on its own. Something must have happened to make her leave it,” said Rapunzel. “She might be hurt.”

“Medea is a powerful witch, so I don’t think you need to worry about that,” said Rhys.

“Not necessarily,” Rapunzel continued. “We are in a strange land, and there is no telling how it might affect her powers. Plus, she’s been exerting a lot of energy lately with all the shapeshifting that she’s just learned to do.”

“Did her mother teach her to shapeshift?” asked Darium.

“Nay,” answered Rapunzel.

“Then how does she know how to do it?” asked Rhys.