“Why I set Crenshaw up as a hero by having him slay that dragon. Why I went to so much trouble, spent so much time on working you, Crenshaw and everyone else into my plans.”
“I thought they were Kastra’s plans?”
“What do you know of my rise to power?”
“Not much. Rumour mainly. You killed a lot of shades and damned your soul, you challenged the sun to a duel and won because it lasted until sundown, which was when you claimed victory because your opponent ran away in cowardice.” She thought harder. “That you bathe in virgin blood to stay young, that you don’t trust anyone in any matter.”
“All true. I’m surprised you know that much.”
“What of it?”
“All of that made me powerful. This body is old, Serita. Older than you might think. Far too many deals with devils for this body to ever burn out like Moya’s did.”
Wren stared, mouth agape. She could see the fire in the baroness’s eyes, the powerful ephemeral fire which could not possibly have belonged to a human being. “Kastra,” Wren whispered.
“Moya’s was a good body. She was young, but temporary. The plan was always to get this one, you see. I’ve had my eye on Baroness Thade for years now. Getting arrested, arranging for Crenshaw and Moya to arrive, the attack on the castle, your involvement, getting Canlin to kill Mannin so Crenshaw would find the strength to kill Moya … it was all leading to this moment. And now I have a castle and a kingdom, a fine Captain Canlin leading my regiment and looking for promotion. He even killed a shade for me, which did wonders to solidify my power.” She smiled cruelly. “And you down here. Little you the only one who knows the truth. That amuses me, Serita. That amuses me no end.”
“No,” Wren said, her mind reeling. “No, you can’t do this. I’ll fight you, Crenshaw will fight you. You can’t get away with this.”
“My dear, I already have.”
“You can’t win like this, not after everything we’ve all gone through.” Tears welled in her eyes and she could do nothing to prevent them coming. “You destroyed our lives. You took away everything we had. Everything.”
“Yes, I rather think I did.”
Wren’s tears dried and in their place was left a pure and terrifying rage. “I’ll kill you, Kastra. No matter how long it takes, no matter how much I have to sacrifice, I’m going to kill you.”
“My dear,” Kastra said, clapping her hands for her guards, “it appears what you need … is a hero.”
Kastra’s laughter followed Wren all the way back to her cell.
Also available by the same author in e-book and paperback:
Dinosaur World books:
Excavating a Dinosaur World
Dinosaur Fall-Girl
Dinosaur Plague Doctor
Ike Scarman & the Dinosaur Slavers of Ceres
Dinosaur Prison World
The Dinosaur That Wasn’t
Awfully Wedded Strife
Tales of a Dinosaur Prison World
Deities of a Dinosaur World
Return to the Dinosaur Prison World
Nikolina Finch & the Dinosaur Utopia
Of Stags, Hens & Dinosaurs
Dinosaur World Gladiator
Dinosaur World Massacre
Dino-Racers
Christmas on a Dinosaur World
Utara the Savage
Sheriff Grizzly:
Book 1: Sheriff Grizzly
Book 2: The Horse Thief Honey
Book 3: The Coyote Colt Kid
Book 4: Joins the Circus
Game books:
The Underworld Horror
Knights of Torbalia game books:
The Return of the Stolen Jewel
Into the Massacre
March of the Demon Trees
The Thief of Tarley Manor
Detective books:
Detective’s Ex
One-Way Ticket to Murder
Who Slew Santa?
The Curse of the Genie’s Detective
The Woman Who Cried Diamonds
The Murder of Snowman Joe
The Murder of Loyalty
Operation WetFish, Vampire Detective:
Book 1: The Power of Life and Death
Book 2: Chasing Innocence
Book 3: The Hunt for Charles Baronaire
Book 4: Christmas on the Kerb
Book 5: A Necessary Evil
Book 6: No Comment
Book 7: Fear and Ecstasy
Book 8: Call of the Siren
Book 9: Happy Families
Book 10: A Step in the Right Direction
Book 11: What Money Can’t Buy
Book 12: ‘Tis the Season
Book 13: The Power Trip
Book 14: Trust and Betrayal
Book 15: A Gathering of Minds
Miscellaneous:
Holding the Nuts
One Week to Love: Speed Dating of the Gods
The Trojan Ant
Gauntlet of Daedalus
Visit: https://www.facebook.com/OperationWetFish for news, illustrations, previews and short stories.