A Token's Worth (Spawn of Darkness Book 1)

by S. A. Parker

  I gasp, then gag, my hand covering my mouth as I take in the scene before me.

  Splayed and gagged along the wall, hanging from iron cuffs, are nine immortal High Fae guards. Their wings, spread behind them, are pinned with spears through the fine bones and into the stone wall they hang from. Their feet are cuffed at the ground, the blood running from their extensive wounds oozing onto the floor, pooling at my feet.

  “What the fuck?” I leap to a spot that’s not drenched in blood as I continue to take in the horror of the splayed Fae, who take up several metres of wall space each. Their wings are red tipped with black, and their hair, also red … just like the High Fae who left the feather in my cunt.

  Something dark, savage and gritty awakens inside me. A beast, feral and unreasonable.

  I’m frightened, because although she’s only cracked one eye open, she’s poised to pounce.

  She wants revenge.

  I’m not sure I could stomach what she has in mind.

  I try to ignore it, avoid looking at their faces because I know if I see his face, the other eye will crack open. And then … I don’t know what. Maybe I’ll lose myself entirely. What little I have left.

  I let out a strangled sob. “Why have you done this?”

  “Your descriptive inner monologue, mortal. Which one was it?”

  No. Fucking. Way.

  I glare at Aero, whose eyes are entirely black, a sign he’s royally pissed. His hair has fallen over one side of his brow, almost masking his left eye, making him appear cruel. I’m not convinced he isn’t.

  “He paid for my services you psycho!” An eye for an eye makes everyone blind, and likely eight of these men are innocent.

  Aero takes a step towards me, holding out a large, serrated knife which materialised out of fucking nowhere. The kind of knife used for sawing wings from the backs of Fae. The sight of it makes my bones ache.

  “It doesn’t matter if he paid for your services or not. Tonight, he loses his wings.”

  Fucking hell.

  Aero’s not the calm one—I was entirely wrong about that.

  “And you’re wrong, Dell. None of them are innocent. When I asked them each if they took a small, Lesser Fae female with long white hair and scars on her back in non-immortal territory, then left a feather in her vagina, knowing who I am and what I can do, each of them internally confessed to deeds either much worse or just as bad. Worse, they relished in those thoughts.” He takes another step towards me. “I could invade their head spaces, find out which one was the man who assaulted you, but I’d rather you point him out for me before I slice the wings from his back.” He pushes the dagger in my direction. “Or, you can do it.”

  Woah. Fucking woah.

  I take two steps back towards the open door, even though the beast inside me is purring.

  “I’m not doing this. I’m not being part of this. If you want to be a savage that’s on you, I have enough nightmares already without throwing this in the mix.” I gesture towards the men before me, splayed and broken. “You don’t know me at all if you—”

  “He raped you.” Aero’s voice is a rasp.

  The beast crawls up on her haunches … I shake my head, forcing her down again, reining her in.

  “He fucking paid for it, Aero! They all did!” I stare at him, aware that I’m trembling, aware that I’m so close to losing my goddamn mind because I can’t save these cocksuckers from losing their wings. The beast inside doesn’t discriminate between the varying shades of darkness—she wants nothing more than to castrate them all, before leaving them to bleed out on the filthy dungeon floor.

  But she’s not in control right now, I am.

  I lift my hands to my head, close my eyes, breathe, breathe. I open them again, looking at Aero, pleading, willing him to understand. “I’m a courtesan! Men pay to fuck me!”

  “Not like that,” he growls. “Never like that.”

  “But it is like that!”

  Aero takes another step closer to me, bunched fists, white knuckles, wings spread wide. “Which one?”

  My beast wants a go … she wants a piece. She wants to tear through him then tear through those men over there, ripping them limb from limb.

  Fuck.

  “No. I’m not doing this,” I whisper, because perhaps if I’m calm, he will be too. And her …

  “You don’t have to.” He’s reaching forward with his hand, and I know what he’s about to do. He’s about to invade my personal space and draw the information from my memories. He’s lost all sense of boundaries!

  I scurry backwards, afraid of what he’ll see. What he won’t be able to un-see. “Don’t, Aero. Please … don’t.” I take another scrambling step backwards. My beast is cowering now. No, she’s fucking gone altogether.

  He pauses.

  I need to go. I need to get away. I need to run.

  I turn from the scene and flee … running from the beast inside me, the one I’m not sure I can control. I run from myself, and I run from the screams of the splayed men as Aero saws their wings from their bodies, rendering them Lesser Fae … rendering them mortal.

  Just like me.

  Reaching the cavern, I stumble up the stairs we came down earlier, gasping, fumbling, sometimes clawing my way, with only the meagre light of the Fae orbs to guide me. It’s a brutal, punishing ascent that shreds meat off my elbows and knees, cutting through the leather covering my legs.

  I make it to the cavern at the top, the one we first entered. I run through the gloom, unsure of the direction I’m taking, my only guide the tang of fresh, salty air. I just want out. I want fucking out.

  I sense it before I feel it, but it’s too late … I smash into something thick and slimy, heavy with the smell of rotting flesh. It wraps around me, catching me in a tight embrace. I feel like I’m being squeezed to death by a giant fucking schlong, and if I weren’t about to die, I’d probably laugh at the irony.

  Two yellow eyes stare at me through the darkness and a wash of warm, rancid breath assaults my senses. My eyes adjust and now I see the fucking teeth—and they are plentiful. A jagged smile that’s partially open, threatening to snap me in half. Or chew me slowly, bit by bit. Either way … I’m fucked. I can’t move, can’t even yell. And forget about breathing, my lungs are bound so tightly.

  This thing looks like a giant eel, crossed with a snake, crossed with a penis, sans testicles, and it’s frightening as shit. I’m about to die, and yes, it’s going to be a shit way to go. Soon I’ll be part of the carrion between his teeth that’s making his breath smell so incredibly rank—like something dead crawled in there and died all over again.

  Is that a blue feather between his teeth, attached to a piece of shattered bone and skin? I gag.

  A long, forked tongue flicks out and dances across my face. It’s rough, gritty, but it’s not an assault. In fact, it’s more like a caress. His grip on me loosens and I draw a deep, shuddering breath, but don’t allow myself to hope. He’s probably just savouring his meal.

  Where’s Aero? What’s the point in having a fucking Sun God as an escort if he doesn’t save me from a giant penis serpent?

  “Because I can hear his thoughts. He’s not going to eat you, Dell.”

  Fucking hell. This dick.

  “Easy for you to say!” I whisper yell at the disobedient god over there, lurking in the shadows while I’m being wrung out by a fucking Fae eating penis serpent.

  His tongue disappears and his teeth draw close. He tilts his head, coming eye to eye with me, and they’re big, yellow and knowing. I swear to the psycho gods, there’s a world of knowledge in those eyes.

  Have you ever had a moment where you feel like you just connect with an animal? I’m having one now, with this giant penis serpent. Perhaps he doesn’t want to eat me after all.

  I wriggle my hand free, reach up and tentatively stroke his face, hoping like fuck he doesn’t change his mind about what’s on the menu tonight and chomp off my arm. He’s smooth, slimy, and kind of gross,
but I suck it up because I need to be brave.

  Hang on … he’s leaning into my touch, and now he’s … rumbling? Wait, is he fucking purring?

  “Yes,” Aero states from not too far away, a surprised lilt to his voice. “That’s exactly what he’s doing.”

  A purring penis serpent. Wow, never thought I’d see the day.

  I don’t shift my gaze from him, because I’m transfixed. Also, I don’t want to startle him and become dinner again.

  Finally, he pulls his head away, his body unravels and he slithers backwards out of the opening in the side of the building, blinking at me once more before he disappears into the gloom with a splash.

  “What the fuck was that all about?” My voice sounds calm, despite the stampede of blood surging through my veins, making me feel like I’m jacked up on something incredible. “I thought those things were lethal.”

  “They are,” Aero says, his voice coming from right behind me.

  I spin, still paranoid about him touching me and digging through my mind without my permission. But he has his hands held up in submission.

  “I won’t try again, not without your permission.” He sounds cautious, as though he’s concerned the penis serpent whisperer will throw herself off the ledge to be with her vast kingdom of penis serpents indefinitely.

  I glance around, trying to find another way out of this dungeon. He’s drenched in blood, it’s even on his face and his scent is caped in it. There’s no way in hell I’m letting him carry me when he looks like a mass fucking murderer …

  “You’re covered in blood too, Dell …”

  Don’t try to make this about me—fucker! Even so, I look down … and he’s right. But it’s my blood, not theirs.

  He whips his shirt off and I look away, because my vagina doesn’t need to see that right now. He throws it on the ground, then jumps into the water before I can scream his own goddamn warning at him. He’s going to get eaten by a penis serpent and I’m going to be stuck here forever, in this fucking dungeon. Great. Just fucking great.

  But then he’s clawing his way back onto the balcony, dripping wet and clean. “Was that all you were worried about? Getting left in the dungeon? I didn’t hear an ounce of concern for my life.”

  That’s because you’re a fucking psycho.

  “I heard that.” He straightens and saunters towards me. I do my best to ignore everything from the chin down as he dries himself with his shirt then splays his arms wide. “Clean, see? No reason for me to not carry you now.”

  “It’s the blood you can never wash off I’m wary of.” I swat a lump of matted hair from my face.

  “You can’t expect me to be pure because I never have been, never will be. But I’m real and I’m honest and … I’m not going to hurt you.”

  I step back, arms crossed.

  “Dell … please, you’re freezing.”

  He’s right, I am fucking freezing. In fact, my teeth are chattering and I’m pretty sure my internal organs are doing the same thing. Hmm, I don’t want to die down here …

  I waver, pause, drop my hands. I can smell death and blood and I want out of this shit hole. I’m so fucking cold.

  He closes the last few steps between us, wraps his arms around me, takes us to the edge of the balcony and spreads his wings. They glisten in the moonlight, appearing black, and I almost lose my stomach when, with two hard beats we’re in the air and ascending rapidly towards my tower.

  My tower. Full of lush things I can’t bring myself to appreciate.

  A savage chill bursts through my body, limbs trembling as my teeth clash together violently.

  “Fuck,” Aero says, pulling me close. “Hold on Dell.”

  Chapter Eight

  We land with a thud on my bedroom balcony and Aero carries me swiftly to the hearth inside. It’s deeply set with a semi-circle of steps leading down to the small sitting area before it. He sets me down on one of the massive pillows scattered around, pumps a fist and his hand glows as a blazing orange flame engulfs the wood stacked neatly in the centre of the hearth, creating a wash of instant heat. Which does fuck all because I’m chilled to the bone.

  How did I get so goddamn cold?

  “Adrenaline was pumping through your body, so you didn’t realise. Shit …”

  Aero tosses more wood on the fire before taking off, making a round of my room and shutting every door and window. He turns his attention back to me and my bloody clothing.

  “N-n-n-no f-f-f-uckin-g-g w-w-way.”

  Too late, he shifts to my side and starts removing my clothes. I feebly try to push him away, but the parts of me that aren’t numb hurt so bad I can’t get anything to work.

  He removes my tunic with deft, expert care, leaving my undergarment, for which I’m grateful. Next to go are my tattered pants, which he simply tears from my body like a sexual predator.

  “Who’s to say I’m not a sexual predator,” he drawls. But I know it’s a farce because there’s an edge to his voice and an urgency with his movements that’s not sexual at all. Which means I’m probably in a really bad way. In saying that, there would be worse ways to go than freezing to death—surely it would be like falling to sleep? Better than suffocating on a penis.

  “Can you not, Dell. For fuck’s sake.”

  Someone’s channelling their inner fun sponge.

  Next, he removes his own pants, and I can’t help but admire …

  He pulls me close, pressing the length of his body against mine. “You’re going to be fine.”

  You know what Aero? Death is a natural part of life. I’ve had most of my existence to come to terms with that. Perhaps Dawn needs a lesson in mortality.

  He breathes a huff into my hair that could be frustration. Maybe he’s getting sick of me already? Good. Perhaps they won’t want to keep me as a pet after all. He’s lasted less than twelve hours, I wonder how quick I can flit through the other three and be free?

  Fuck, I’m cold. And yeah, all that honey skin pressed all over me is making me ramble internally, seeing as my teeth are still clanking together and I can’t speak. My vagina’s quiet for once, probably because she’s frozen solid. Strangely though, I’m not opposed to this touching thing, perhaps because I don’t feel like this man wants to fuck me seven ways sideways right now …

  “Dell!”

  Oops, there he goes, growling again. I’m the one who should be angry! Guess I’ll worry about that if I survive this hypothermic attack.

  He wraps himself around me tighter and I let out a small choking sound. I’m pretty sure all this squeezing is preventing the blood from flowing back to my extremities.

  “Sorry,” he mumbles, loosening his hold on me. “Immortal strength.”

  I make a small sound through my nose, feeling myself start to drift as a blanket of warmth slowly envelopes me. I’m so comfortable now … and so fucking tired.

  “Don’t go to sleep, Dell.” His words are firm, commanding.

  I can sleep if I want to sleep …

  He groans and …

  There’s mum, my lovely mum. People shunned her, were afraid of her appearance—the skin on her face and bald head all melted and distorted, one eye fused permanently shut, the other a beautiful silver hue … the same as mine. She never frightened me, and I run to her now. She’s holding out her arms but just as I reach her, she fades.

  “Don’t go, Mum! Please …”

  There’s a terrible pressure inside my head. I buckle beneath it, fighting against it as it tries to steer me towards a dark corner I don’t want to see. I’m not going there, not right now. I can’t.

  My surroundings flicker. Light, dark, light, dark …

  Figures hover, talking. Something about herbs not working on me ...

  I see blades—dirty, blunt.

  Fuck. No! No! No!

  I try to move, to get away.

  I can’t.

  Rough hands hold me down, voices angry now.

  Searing pain tears through my abdomen and I scream a
nd scream and scream …

  I go into a daze where I’m beyond pain but eerily aware of everything that’s happening to me.

  Flies land on my face, my body, as my reproductive organs are scooped out of me with a giant spoon and placed in a bowl, checked over, then tossed in a bin with the rotting flesh from other victims who suffered the same treatment before me.

  I vomit and start to choke, inhale it, trying to die. My head is pushed to the side and it spills to the floor.

  Let me fucking die!

  I see only blank faces, but I know who they are … I have their identities stored.

  I know who you are!

  Something scrapes along my conscious and an image appears, but it’s murky, distorted, because I’m battling something—a mighty force that’s working its way into my mind. With it comes a sharp, agonising pain.

  My inner beast peels her eye open, purring like the cat that got the alley rat. But she hasn’t … not yet. She’s waiting for that image to clear. She crouches, low and eager, tail swishing—ready to pounce …

  The force slices into my mind again, bringing with it that searing pain. I scream, because it’s fucking agony and I’m fighting against them both, the beast inside and this mental fucking blade.

  The image becomes clearer … no, no. NO!

  I wake, gulping air, still wrapped in Aero's arms, his hand plastered around the side of my head.

  Oh god, the pain …

  The image solidifies, clears, and I scream again, jolting him awake. His eyes widen, turn from molten amber to jet-black in an instant.

  I’m powerless, immobile … tethered to his hand that’s plastered to my head, clawing at my memories, searching for more. More. More. I plead with my eyes … try to focus.

  Let me go, motherfucker!

  He looks confused, and now he’s whipping his hand away and unwrapping himself from my body so fast you’d think I have a highly contagious disease. I gasp, hands shaking, and flop back on the pillow, reeling from the assault.

  He’s standing a distance away, trembling, fists clenched. “I’m sorry … I was asleep, I didn’t know I was doing it. I’ve never done it in my sleep before …”