The Cost of Betrayal

Chapter Twenty-two

Mavaka smirked as Hecate walked into the dungeons, "Hello, your highness."

Hecate scowled at Mavaka, "How did you do it?"

Mavaka shrugged, "I did what I had to in order to fix my mistakes." He turned away from Hecate and walked towards the back of his cell, seating himself on his cot.

Hecate crossed her arms, "You made no mistakes, you made choices. And continued to build on them. You were handed two, two beautiful women that loved you." She jabbed her finger at him accusingly, "You, tossed them away for power."

Mavaka shrugged, "Power lasts, it leaves a legacy that no one forgets."

Hecate laughed, "Your legacy would have been much better if you would have held onto one of your loves." She turned away from him and was taking in the guards, her eyes narrowed at them. She could see something had changed about them. She whipped around, "What did you send him?"

It was Mavaka's turn to laugh, "Just his own notes."

Hecate's mouth twisted in anger, "Dammit."

She rushed from the cells, but not before letting her brother know that Mavaka was up to no good. Hecate knocked on the door of Hades' chamber, she knew that ruining the last few days he had with Persephone would be just the ticker to getting his help with Mavaka. Even if she did feel bad about interrupting their time together.

Hades opened the door, "What is it now?"

Persephone touched his arm lightly, she hated when he was upset. She wasn't any happier that their last few days have been interrupted. "Hecate, you know I'm leaving soon. Why would you knock?"

Hecate looked at her sister-in-law apologetically, "I'm sorry, I really am. I wouldn't bother you if thought I had any other choice."

Persephone knew that tone, "But?"

"But, one of the lowest of our low, has managed to infiltrate the living."

Hades' expression turned from one of annoyance to one of fury in an instant, "I want their name. NOW! And anyone who has helped them!"

Persephone was puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Hecate took a deep breath, "Mavaka. Not only has he managed to trick the guards into letting him free, but he also managed to impregnate a mage. And he is plotting something else."

Hades was furious, "What else could he possibly be planning?" He asked as he stormed down the hallways and made his way to the cells.

"I don't know."

"My love, I'm sure he is bluffing," Persephone tried to calm him, but he wasn't having it.

Hades threw open the doors to the high-security cells, throwing the guards out of his way with a simple flick of his wrists.

"Hades," Mavaka greeted. He nodded to Persephone, "Your majesty."

"Cut the s**t, Mavaka, what are you planning?" Hades snapped. He wasn't having this. His sister has fowled this up enough.

Mavaka shrugged, "I have no clue what you're talking about. It's not like I can leave here." He spread his arms wide, "I've been here the whole time!"

"Who is your child?" He snapped, he could see right through Mavaka's feigned innocence.

Mavaka laughed, "My child is busy."

***************

Birsha pushed down his anger at the sight of Joey walking arm in arm into the hall with Maura. He knew that he was just doing what he, himself, had ordered. It was the only way to get her here. He needed to get her alone. Tonight.

Maura took in the sights of the dance. She was amazed at how they had transformed the dining hall into such a magical place. She chuckled to herself, she was a witch in a coven. Of course, they could transform the place into something so enchanting.

"Mr. Prodromus, hello." Maura greeted the history teacher. This was the first time she had ever seen him at one of these.

"Miss Maura, Mr. Joseph," Stefan greeted the teens. It was Maura's first-ever dance and she came with one of the school bad boys. He took in Joey's appearance, he seemed to look better than he had earlier in the week. "How are you tonight?"

Joey looked at the history teacher dumbly, "Good."

Birsha was watching from the other end of the hall, he was able to manipulate Joey so that he didn't look so sickly. He was cursing himself that the contract was that powerful and worked that well. It had only taken a few months time to get them to become his minions. This would be good news for the sorcerer, just more information he could take with him.

"Master," Chastity's voice beckoned in his ear, taking his attention away from Maura and Joey. "Does Master want to dance?" Her voice was hopeful. She wanted nothing more than to be in the arms of the most powerful being in the room.

Birsha's lips twisted in disdain, he was sorry he made her one of his minions. He would have to devise a plan to get rid of her. He can't stand weakness. And that is all this crazy b***h exudes. "Not right now," he snapped at her harshly.

Chastity looked as if she had been slapped. His words stung her to her soul. "What have I done to make Master so angry? How can I fix it?"

Birsha was about to lean in and tell her exactly what he thought of her when he watched Joey guide Maura out to the dance floor. "Never mind, we are going to dance." He pulled her by the hand out to the dance floor. He needed to get as close as he could without being obvious.

Chastity was ecstatic, he was dancing with her! Even if his eyes were on that nerdy b***h that Joey had to bring. She wanted to know why Master was so obsessed with her. "Master," she beckoned pressing her body closer to his. She smiled slightly when she felt the evidence of his desire. She could take care of that for him.

Maura was dancing with Joey, doing her best to keep a respectable distance between them, but he kept pushing himself closer. "Joey, please." She reminded him again when he tried to pull her closer.

"Sorry, Maura." He could hear Birsha in his head. He didn't like what he was saying to do. He was a lot of things, but this was not one of them. "Master, I can not do that."

Birsha scowled as he got closer to them. His voice getting louder and clearer. "You can and you most certainly will."

Joey knew that this wasn't something he could live with. He inhaled the sweet scent of Maura's perfume, "Maura, let's go for some fresh air." He pulled on his tie, "It's getting really hot in here."

Maura smiled, she could see the sweat beading on his forehead/ "Okay, but no monkey business," she wagged her finger at him in a warning.

Joey nodded, "No monkey business."

Birsha watched as Joey walked out of the building with Maura. He had to give them a few minutes' head start. If his timing was off by even a millisecond it would ruin everything.

Joey walked out of the school with Maura on his elbow. He didn't like his orders. He looked up at the night sky. The air was warm and the moon was shining brightly.

"It sure is beautiful out here," he remarked.

Maura nodded, "It really is."

Joey guided her to the spot that Birsha ordered him to. He could feel his heart beating furiously in his chest. He looked around for Micheal, he was hiding around here somewhere.

"Joey, are you okay?"

Joey looked at Maura, for an instant she could see nothing but pain filling his expression. After that she could have sworn she heard him utter the phrase, "Forgive me."