Reign looked at the castle. “I wonder how the draining process is going.” Reign said. Elizabeta shrugged. “I don’t know why don’t we go and find out.” She said excitedly. Sabin bounced around and barked. Reign laughed “I think he wants to find out too.” He said pointing at Sabin who was still bounding around them.  Elizabeta took Reign’s hand and they walked towards the castle Sabin running ahead of them and barking at them in the doorway. “We are coming Sabin.” Reign said laughing.  Reign opened the door and Sabin bounded into the sitting room. When they reached the room they found him sitting in front of the painting his tail sweeping an arc on the stone with his tail. Elizabeta stopped a few inched from the painting and Sabin and smiled, “You know, for this being only second day here he sure seems to know his way around here.” She said smiling and her hands on her hips. “Well he is a wolf you know, he has a very keen sense of smell, and I am sure he can smell the blood from the draining.” Reign stated as a matter of factly. Elizabeta just stuck her tongue out at him and they walked over to the painting and put their hands in the grey circle.

Once it had disappeared, Sabin bounded down the stairs with ease, waiting for them at the base of the stair tail moving in sideways circles. Once they reached the bottom he bound off down the hallway, the braziers lighting for him as he ran past them. Sabin ran all the way down the hall and stopped at the brick wall and sat down his tail again sweeping a large arc on the floor watching them. This time instead of going all the way down the hall they stopped at the 4^th brazier and Reign tapped on the wall and it slid open. Elizabeta looked down at Sabin. “Sabin come on it’s down here.” She said waving at him. Sabin cocked his head to the side and then got up and ran to where Elizabeta was standing.   Elizabeta step to one side just in time for Sabin to come running across her feet.

Elizabeta followed him into the room and found him sitting next to Reign looking up at the red headed girl hanging from the ceiling, tail wagging on the stone floor.  Elizabeta walked up and stood on the other side of Reign and looked down at the stone basin below the girl.  “How is it coming?” Reign asked.  “Very Well, M’Lord” the burly attendant said.  Reign nodded and dipped his finger into the basin and put it into his mouth.  Nodded again and smiled. “It seems that girl was about to lose her virginity but she was stopped in time.” Reign said licking his lips.  “Is that going to hamper the making of the wine?” Elizabeta asked. “It will have a different taste but it shouldn’t be too different from what we normally make.” He said looking at. Elizabeta dipped her finger in the basin as well, and she held her finger out for Sabin, who wrapped his tongue her finger and wagged his tail. Elizabeta giggled. “I think he is in agreement that it is very good.” She said dipping her finger back into the basin and tasting it herself.  Elizabeta nodded and walked behind the girl hanging from the ceiling.  “She looks rather thin.” Elizabeta said with some concern in her voice.  Reign nodded, and looked at the girl. “And a little bit more developed for a 10 year old.” Reign said putting his hand on the girl’s chest.  “Her heart is still beating too, very slow, but is still beating.” Reign said dropping his hand to his side.  “She should be totally drained in the next day or two Your Graces, just in time the Kiria Berries should be coming out tomorrow.” The attendant said.  Elizabeta looked at Reign and smiled, “That’s true, we should start preparing for the picking.” Elizabeta said walking out of the room.  Reign just nodded and watched the blood drizzle from the multiple siphons coming from the girl’s ankles. Elizabeta stopped and turned around and walked to Reign, rubbing her hand across his back. “Love, are you ok?” she asked with some concern. Reign shook his head and looked at Elizabeta blankly.  “Reign are you ok?” Elizabeta asked again.  Reign continued to look at her blankly.  Elizabeta walked over to a black cord hanging in the corner and pulled on it, and she walked back over to Reign, and put her hand on his shoulder.  

Micah walked into the room. “Yes, Your Graces.” Micah said. Elizabeta turned and looked at Micah. “Would you please take Reign up to the sitting room and get him a glass of wine there is something strange going on with him.” She said rubbing him back. “Yes M’Lady.” Micah said bowing to her and put Reign’s around his shoulders. “Are you ready M’Lord, we are going to go up into the sitting room.” Micah said leading him out the door.  Then Elizabeta walked over to Sabin and touched him on the head, but the wolf didn’t move or even look at her.  Elizabeta looked at the burly attendant. “Take Sabin upstairs as well please.” The attendant nodded and bowed to Elizabeta, and picked up Sabin and walked out the door as well.

Elizabeta walked around the naked girl hanging from the ceiling, and then shook her head.  The burly attendant came back into the room. “I set him in front of the fireplace and got a bowl of water and set it next to him.” He said watching her. Elizabeta just nodded and continued to walk around the girl.  “Is there anyway of taking her down from here?” she asked looking at him. The attendant nodded and grabbed a wooden plank and set it over the basin and then walked over to a rope tied to a hook and he untied it lowering the girl onto the plank.

Elizabeta moved closer to the girl and starting at her feet she rubbed her hands over them, shaking her head.  She then moved up the front of the girls legs she spread the girl’s legs apart and looked at her inner thighs and up over her mid section and hips, then up to her waist up her stomach and to her breasts.  She ran her hands over the girl’s shoulders and up her neck, she opened her mouth, looked behind her ears.  “Get me some shears and a razor.” Elizabeta said. The attendant ran out the room and up the stairs. Elizabeta then stepped back and looked at the girl’s body. “Where did they poke you?” she whispered.  The attendant walked back into the room and handed Elizabeta the shears.

Elizabeta walked back up to the girl and started cutting her hair as closer to her head as possible.  The attendant pulled the girl into a sitting position and Elizabeta finished cutting the girl’s hair.

Once she had finished cutting the hair she grabbed the razor and began shaving the stubble off. Once she got to the base of the girls neck she noticed a large welt and stopped. “I knew it.” She said slamming the razor on the plank. “They injected this girl with something before bring her here.” She said with a growl. “What do you think they injected her with?” the attendant asked. Elizabeta just shrugged and walked to the door and stopped and turned around. “Drain the blood from the basin and wash it out, that blood is no good, and then I want you to remove the girl’s heart and put it into a box.  The attendant bowed to Elizabeta and went to work removing the body and the plank from the basin.

Elizabeta walked out of the room and up the stairs into the sitting room she walked over to Reign who was holding a glass of wine and drinking it slowly. Elizabeta looked at Micah “How is he doing?” she asked. “He is doing better.” Micah said with a slight smile. Elizabeta smiled back and walked over to Sabin. Sabin had his eyes closed and was sleeping.  She ran her hand over his sides and smiled. “He’s sleeping off the drug.” She said standing up.   She then looked at Micah, “I am going to the village.” She said.  Micah nodded. “Is Sarah up in the sewing room?” She asked. “Yes M’Lady she is.” Micah said.

Elizabeta nodded and headed for the stairs, she stopped and looked at Micah, “Will you please get together, two guards and three attendants, and have them get all horses ready to leave to Sandviken, tonight.” She said and walked up the stairs. Micah checked on Reign and Sabin one more time and ran off down the hallway and started yelling at everyone.

Elizabeta made it too the sewing room and poked her head into the door way. ”Sarah?” She said into the room “Yes, M’Lady.” Sarah answered. “Come, my friend we have an errand to run.” She said walking into the room. “Errand M’Lady?” Sarah said puzzled. Elizabeta nodded and walked out the door. “We go to Sandviken.” She said.  “Yes M’Lady.” Sarah said and hurried behind her. “May I ask why?” she asked. “They injected the girl with something and when Reign tasted her blood, he fell into a trance so to speak.” She said. “A trance?” Sarah said running up next to Elizabeta. “We go and confront the Mayor tonight.” She said, and Sarah nodded.

They made their way down the stairs, “First let me go and check on Reign and Sabin.” She said. Elizabeta walked into the sitting room to find Reign sitting back in the chair sleeping and Sabin sitting up and cleaning his paws. “Sabin.” Elizabeta said excitedly causing the wolf to jump a little, “I am so glad to see you are better.” She said kneeling down and hugging him.  Elizabeta released the wolf. “Now you can come with us.” She said walking over to Reign and taking the wine glass from him and setting it on the side table.  She leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. “Come on Sabin we have to get ready, we are going on a trip.” She said with a sheepish smile. 

She then turned on her heels and walked into the bedroom with Sabin trotting behind her.  She walked over to her vanity and started redoing her makeup. “How do you think my hair should be done this time?” She asked looking at Sarah through the mirror. “I’d say something simple.” Sarah replied looking around in the tall jewelry cabinet. “Something simple and this.” She said holding up a silver and diamond tiara. Elizabeta turned her seat and looked at Sarah.  “I save up for it to get for you M’Lady as a thank you gift.” Sarah said blushing. “A thank you for what?” She asked. “For allowing me to serve you.” Sarah said walking over to Elizabeta, who turned to face the mirrors again and watched as Sarah fixed the tiara to the top of her head.  Elizabeta looked in the mirror and then at Sarah. “I think it will do quite well.” She said. “I am going to go and check on the horses, and you get ready.” She said pulling out her cape and walking out the door.

Elizabeta walked into the sitting room where Micah and two burly men is bronze armor stood.  When she walked into the room all three men stood at attention two of them lift their sword to her and Micah bowed. “We and the horses are ready when you are Your Grace.”  They said to her. Elizabeta nodded “We will be off as soon as…” she started “I am ready M’Lady.” Sarah said coming down the hall fastening her cape around her neck. Elizabeta nodded and the four of them headed for the door. Elizabeta stopped and turned to look at Micah. “I will watch over him M’Lady.” Micah said with a smile.  Elizabeta smiled and walked out the door.

The four of them mounted the horses with Sabin waiting by the door. “Let’s go Sabin.” Elizabeta said and the five of them trotted down the long walk way and out the gate to the road to Sandviken.   

To Chapter 8