Dark Labyrinth: The Nine Hells (Circle of Nine Book 1)

by Conny Conway

  While everyone was merry, Shiloh grew several plants for Willie, which Lann fed to the wisp, the surrounding creatures were amazed by the light show which followed each feeding.

  The two of them were happy and enjoyed themselves, amazed that their friend, a druid would most likely become queen of the realm. They danced and laughed, kissed and ate and finally they went back to Lann’s cave. The heavy stone slid shut.

  As soon as the slab slid, closing Lann’s residence, he enveloped her in his arms and kissed her as hot as his life depended on it.

  Shiloh too, held onto her lover and her tongue danced with his an intimate Tango, their passion grew and the warm butterflies in their abdomens joined the dance. The embrace grew wilder, more demanding. Shiloh felt his arousal grow against her belly and she rubbed her entire body against his. He groaned.

  “You minx.”

  Gently she bit his lips, the tip of his nose was tenderly kissed, then his eyes and his forehead. She worked her way back down to his lips, continued down his throat while her hands explored the very well-known terrain of his chest. Her thumb stroke his nipple, which responded immediately. His excitement sprang like a spark to her own chest. A moan was the tale of her own anticipation.

  He pulled the T Shirt of her and kissed the nap of her neck as he walked around her, never let his fingers slip off of her.

  When he was behind her his left arm wrapped around her shoulder, his mouth on a very sensitive spot in her neck, he unfastened the hooks of her bra. He licked and suckled still the arousing point, when his hand drew lazy circles while wandering to the front of her body, the circles shrunk when he reached her rosy nipple. He pinched it softly, still his mouth on her neck he pulled her closer and his grip on her breast grew tighter, massaging the gentle flesh in his palm.

  Shiloh whimpered, her body didn’t follow her any longer, her chest pressed against his hands and her back arched.

  His mouth left her back and worked up to her ear, kissing, nipping the tender lobe.

  “I love you, woman.”

  Those words escaped before he even knew his tongue had formed them, though he knew in the depth of his heart, they were the very truth.

  For just a second she stilled, as in shock, then turned her body towards his, pushing close to his, feeling every muscle, his heartbeat.

  “I love you too, warrior.” She said between small kisses over his face.

  He lifted her in his strong arms and carried her to the bed.

  They had made love several times this night and were exhausted. Their bodies felt heavy with satisfaction and contentment.

  Shiloh’s head rested on his strong shoulder, her small hand on his breast. Her hair fanned over his torso. Lann held her tight but not hard, his fingers played with her auburn strands, the lovers had cuddled close without words. When he had felt her shiver he had pulled a quilt over them, not wanting the fabric to come between them.

  Finally she spoke.

  “What will happen, now?” She inquired.

  “I don’t know.” was his wage response.

  “Do you think Marcus will let me live? After all it was Balor who swore to…let me go.”

  Lann swallowed.

  ” I have no idea how much Balor’s evil has poisoned the gladiator.” He kissed her forehead.

  “But…”

  He interrupted her.

  “Honest Shiloh, I have no clue, lass.” He rubbed his cheek against her hair. ”I doubt Balor would have let you go.” He said softly.

  “What?”

  She rose and sat up, her eyes sparkling with underlying fury. “Are you telling me all this”, she swiped her hand in an arch, “was for nothing? We both, Xylophia, Derwa, Willie and the Matagot, each of us had almost died and you think it was for naught?”

  He rubbed his eyes tiredly with his thumb and index finger, then kept them shut as the bridge of his nose was clamped in this vice.

  “Yes, that is what I believe. Balor was the darkest soul I have ever known.” He sighed. “And now I don’t know what the Italian is planning for you. Or me.” He added miserably. “I always counted myself lucky not having to deal with that devil and his minions, always thought I flew under the radar, but now I know it had its disadvantages also. I have not the vaguest inkling how and what Marcus Valentus is or represents. All I know of him is that he was Balor’s pet for centuries. I heard rumors about him being tortured but I wouldn’t be able to tell you if he was tortured by Balor or another or if he even was tortured.” He lifted his eyes and his lashes fluttered open.

  “Nay, lass, I have no idea what will become of us.”

  In this instant a knock interrupted their conversation.

  With a groan and a muttered curse Lann got out of bed, slung his loin cloth about his hips and walked to the entrée, where he pushed the stone slab aside. He glimpsed a small vampire boy with golden hair, deep blue eyes and a face like an angel, easily mistaken for Cupid.

  “His majesty Marcus summons you.” The boy said sweetly.

  “Then let’s go.” Lann tried to push his way out of his cave.

  “The lady also.” Exclaimed the blood sucker, trying to steal a peak into Lann’s cave. He had heard about the human, heard how brave she was, how other creatures admired her, he would have given a fang to catch a sneak a quick look. But the golden warrior blocked his view, even opened his fiery wings to intimidate the boy and it worked fantastically. The child vampire took off with a howl of fear and terror. Shiloh had joined him and scolded.

  “Shame on you, Lann. The little leech will be traumatized for the rest of his immortal life by this mountain of man with flaming wings.”

  He chuckled.

  Quickly she got dressed and they were on their way to see the new king.

  On their way they wondered what Marcus could wanted from them, but they couldn’t agree on any of their ideas, only one thing was certain, both of them feared being separated, thinking she might be send back to the top side, while the demigod stayed below.

  The future was obscured and it terrified them more than the dark labyrinth had ever done.

  Finally they arrived at the court cavern, where fanfares greeted them with enthusiasm. As they entered two trolls held them back with crossed spears.

  “What do you want?” The right guard rumbled.

  “We were summoned.” The winged man answered.

  “Who may we herald?”

  Lann looked quizzically at Shiloh, wonder about all the changes written plainly all over his face.

  “Lann and Shiloh.” The human answered instead.

  Out of now where a dark elf appeared with a wand in his left hand. He turned away from the couple, struck his wand hard on the floor three times and said with a loud and stern voice.

  “My liege, the demigod Lann and the human Shiloh have arrived, which you had summoned.” He then bowed deeply and stepped aside for Shiloh and Lann to enter, as they did so, Marcus got of his throne, walked towards them with outstretched hands.

  “Ah, Lann and Shiloh, my friends.” He said warmly, grabbing from each a hand and held them in his muscular fists. “It is good to see the two of you.” He smiled and it actually reached his eyes.

  “The same goes for you, your highness.” Lann answered.

  “Please, Lann, call me Marcus. In my eyes you are my equal, it could have been you sitting on that ….that... Chair made of nails. I do understand now why you didn’t want it, those nails prick.”

  He laughed but sobered fast. “You could have been my sovereign.”

  Shiloh cleared her throat as she tried to pull her hand out of Marcus’s grip.

  “Sorry, Shiloh. I have been impolite. You too should call me by my name. You are the siblings that I never had.”

  She smiled up at him, he over towered her by at least one head. Her other hand moved over his firm grip and laid there light as a feather. She was beautiful.

  Marcus winked at Lann.” If there wouldn’t be my Derwa, which had enchanted me, we both w
ould have to go back to the arena to fight over this magnificent woman.” He said with an honest chuckle.

  Shiloh blushed and Lann grinned, winked back at the former gladiator.

  “Where is Derwa?” Shiloh asked with her cheeks still flushed of embarrassment.

  As on queue the green druidess entered the throne area. By now she was used to her way, where to set her foot, where the furniture stood, she had bumped hard into them in her first three days at court.

  Shiloh almost ripped her hand out of Marcus’s and ran to embrace her friend.

  “Derwa, oh, Derwa.” She whispered with tears in her eyes.

  “Shiloh, my friend.” Derwa held on to the woman and wept out of happiness.

  After the tears dried Shiloh asked her friend how she was doing.

  “Oh, Shiloh. I am so happy. Marcus is such a sweet soul. At times he is like a child discovering new things, new adventures. And even new feelings. His love for me is true and deep and so is mine. When I kept bumping into things he forbade me to walk alone, he carried me. I had to explain like so I will never be able to find my way aroun, that I would have to count paces to remember where to walk. You would never guess what he then did.

  He let me down, asked me to do a step or two, matched the distance of my gait and mimicked my walk. He then picked me up again, carried me and counted the paces out loud. Can you imaging, such a big man doing a woman’s strut?” She giggled and Shiloh joined her.

  No, the human had not expected the king to be this thoughtful. Derwa told her more about not being allowed to eat without him in her company, out of fear someone would slip her poison or spoiled food, though Derwa didn’t anticipate such, she was already well loved.

  The women kept chatting, chuckling on and off and letting out a surprised OH here and there.

  In the meantime Marcus inquired advice of Lann, in a case of a vampire almost killing a human above. Obviously the leech had to be punished, but this was Marcus’s first judgment and he was hesitant to be too radical but also too lenient.

  And so the afternoon flew by.

  As night settled, the king led his advisor to another room, where hundreds of creature awaited them, shouting loudly. “Hail, King Marcus. Hail our druid.”

  The Roman led his love to another throne like chair, counting silently to her the paces and the stairs leading up to the comfortable chairs. Her foot never faltered ones. Up on the pedestal they turned to their courtiers.

  The hollers and hooters stopped immediately, a fanfare trumpeted.

  Again the court Marshall introduced Lann and Shiloh to the crowd and anew the crowd cheered, while Lann led Shiloh to the dais, where he bowed deeply in front of his king. Shiloh curtsied gracefully.

  “Stand up, Lann and Shiloh.” Marcus ordered.

  “I have the honor to bestow the title Lord to you, demigod.” He said, unsheathed his sword and stepped towards Lann. He touched the tip of his short sword on each shoulder three times. As he sheathed his weapon again he spoke loudly and stern. “Let it be known in all nine hells, that Lord Lann is the right hand of his king, that what he speaks is as good as my own word, pay him honor and respect for he is my champion.”

  Applause echoed through the halls and hoots and whistles. Marcus did let them celebrate their hero for a few moments.

  “Let there be known in all nine hells, Shiloh should be known as Lady Shiloh, the kings left hand, her word is as good as mine or Lord Lann’s, for she is my chancellor.” He said sternly. “Pay her the respect and honor she deserves.” He exclaimed as he laid an amulet around her neck.

  The pendent was delicate filigree forming a lion’s head with its entire mane, mouth opened as in a roar.

  When Marcus backed away from her, he saw one tear falling over her lashes, it left a silvery path on her cheek. Her smile seemed forced. In genuine concern he asked her for her tears reason, though silently for no one else to hear but her.

  “I….” she muttered, searching for the right words. “Forgive me, Majesty, but I thought….I believed…Wasn’t I supposed to join my people again on the topside?”

  She uttered back in the same hushed tone as she had been spoken to.

  “Is this what you wish?” The king was puzzled.

  She nodded silently.

  Instead of answering her gesture, his gaze went first to Lann and then back to her, and she saw the question there, what about Lann?

  Shiloh shrugged her shoulders as a deep sigh escaped and she bit hard on her lip as to punish herself for the thought of leaving him. Marcus then looked at the unicorn, the Matagot, the willow wisp and at least to his fiancé, the druidess.

  “Of cause you’re free to leave.” he then exclaimed, the pain those words inflicted plainly on his tongue. “I should have assumed you have humans up there, which are looking for you, which love and need you. Forgive me, Lady Shiloh, for being so thoughtless.”

  Another tear flowed over her cheek. A sob took away her voice as Marcus bowed deeply and then turned away. His step was heavy and he seemed burdened as he joined Derwa.

  Lann peered questioningly from Shiloh to Marcus, saw her tears and misread their meaning. His temper flared and with two immense steps he was behind his king, laying his hand on Marcus’s shoulder, but before he could turn the man around, the king faced him already.

  Shiloh gasped.

  “No, Lann, stop. My tears were not for him.”

  Lann’s gaze rested on Marcus, which returned it with eyes full of sorrow.

  Tired the monarch shook his head, laid his own hand on Lann’s, where it rested. The golden warrior didn’t withdrew his hand, it stayed on the king’s shoulder, he didn’t know what Shiloh had spoken, but he had a foreboding feeling in his chest, it took his breath and his strength, and the king became a crotch on which he leaned when he turned his eyes onto the woman he loved so deeply.

  Shiloh stepped forward until she could reach out to touch his chest, but her hand sunk deprived of any muscle. More tears moistened her face. And Lann knew she was leaving.

  “No.” He muttered, “No.”, then he gathered some strength in desperation and he willed his lips to yell one word at her,” Why?”

  She shrugged. “This is not my world.”

  He stared at her, unbelieving of the words she had spoken. The hurt in his eyes turned to fury. Quickly he turned away from her, from Derwa and Marcus, from the unicorn and her off spring, from the court. His wings ignited, leaving only hot air behind as he took off like a jet plane.

  The wisp scrambled to take flight to follow the winged man.

  “Wait for him, Lann, wait.” But his pleading was for naught, Lann was gone. The wisp light dimmed a little as he saw he would not be able to catch his friend, then he turned and like he fury he whirled toward Shiloh.

  “What have you done?” He screamed at the woman.

  She sobbed.

  “This is not my world.” Willie mimicked.” Not your world! You are a mage, you make things grow, you’re immortal because a unicorn pierced your heart, you’re the master of a Matagot, which is unheard of for generation, you battled the nine hells and won, your best friend is a druid, Poseidon himself spoke to you, blessed you, you enchanted all the creatures around you but especially a demigod, which was a loner all his life, with your magic you changed him, and then you tell him this is not your world? Blasted woman, he should have led you into the swamps and leave you there, but no, he saw your magic, to grow the yummies and he got greedy and forsake his friends for that stuff.”

  He flew wildly around her. Then abruptly he stopped, his light bright with anger he stared her in the eyes and said, not in a third person, but grammatically correct.” I hate you, Shiloh.”

  With that he spit a spark onto the floor where she stood and flew toward Derwa where his light turned darker as he sat on the back of her chair.

  The druid starred blind, her stoned filled eyelids filled with tears.

  “You are not really leaving, are you?” she inquired with heavy sobs.�
�You’re my one and only true friend, Shiloh, don’t go!”

  Marcus laid his hand on the druid’s, then lifted his gaze and looked at her accusingly but he stayed silent toward her. When he spoke it was for Derwa’s benefit.

  “My love, Shiloh has her own people, she is needed in her world. We have to let her go.” He said softly, then Derwa sobbed heavily but straightened her back.

  “Do you have people which wait for you, Shiloh?” The druid spoke strong.

  Shiloh shook her head.

  “Speak up, I can’t see you.” Derwa commanded.

  Shiloh fought the weeping down to stammer “No.”

  “Speak up, my lady. I want to make sure I heard you right.”

  “No, Derwa, I don’t.”

  “It’s your majesty, Lady Shiloh, I am the future queen of this realm.” She said sternly. “If you don’t have anyone waiting for you, then why do you want to go? Are we not good enough for the ones topside?”

  “You know this is not true, Derwa. You know how I feel…”

  “It seems to me you lied to all of us.” Derwa interrupted her merciless. “I was under the impression, I had a real friend in you.”

  “I am your…”

  “Stop lying, a real friend wouldn’t betray the friendship like you do.” She continued. “I also was under the impression that you love our champion, Sir Lann. At least you made it look like it. Now, where it is time to stand to this supposedly love, you, my lady, are disappearing. Obviously this love was just a charade, so the warrior would get you to safety.”

  “No, this is not true, you know…..”

  “Yes, I know you lied to him, to me and you lied to a majestic unicorn, a creature of pure virtue, because if you really felt what you said, you wouldn’t turn on the noble beast. Not to talk about playing your act that well, that you even fool a wise Matagot, a mystical being so wise, that even the sphinxes are their pupils. You made him believe you are his mistress, and now you are leaving him to die. Once a Matagot has bonded it is bound to one person alone, without this person they are lost. But you are leaving, so you don’t care, obviously.”