by Bailey Dark
That once otherworldly sensual connection that I had with Kane, suddenly no longer exists. As he slides his lips back up my throat, I shudder out of fear. I only hope I can pass it off as chills from our intensity. As his mouth continues to move over me, he doesn't seem to show any notice to my inner emotion or thought. My mind is reeling, and I'm searching for that connection with Kane that I have held so close and dear to me. I know there's something different about him, I know that he's changed, but until this moment I didn't realize how far away from me he truly is.
A thought runs through my mind, one that I barely want to think about as it strikes an even deeper fear into my heart. What if, within the dark and demonic walls of Drogaem's tomb, Kane had not only changed, but become someone else? My heart shivers in my chest, and I feel as if I could crawl out of my skin just to get away from him. But I need to know. I need to know the truth.
"Kane," I whisper. "Tell me again what your vampire saliva will do to me."
He presses his lips harder to my neck and is silent for a moment as he focuses his heated desire on my hips and down my thighs. "We won't ever know unless we give it a try, will we? I imagine a mortal like you has never experienced the pure ecstasy of vampiric venom."
With his head next to mine, and his body pressing hard against me, I open my eyes wide and stare out of the shadows. There is no way that he doesn't remember the night at the party where he overdosed me with his bite. How can he? It had been a big deal. It's very obvious to me now that Kane is not himself. I don't know yet what has brought him to this point, but I do know that the man I was falling in love with, the soul that rules the Underworld, is nowhere near the same as the man who presses against me, needy and groping.
Between our lack of connection and that realization, I begin to feel nauseous. I gasp lightly and put my hands against his chest. "Kane, we cannot. Remember our oath to each other. I think it best I go back to my chambers. I'm not feeling so well anyway."
He pauses, and I can feel his lip twitch and his jaw clench. He lets out a light groan and turns, disappearing into the shadows, leaving me breathlessly against the wall, already most likely back in his study. I close my eyes for a moment and hold on to the wall, my knees feeling weak. I breathe deep breaths in through my nose, and slowly blow them out of my mouth trying to center myself. I know I need to get away from here, away from roving eyes, and away from the souls that care nothing about my well-being.
Reaching down I take off my heels and begin to walk as fast as I can through the hallways toward my chambers. I turn right off the main thoroughfare and put my hand out, keeping my balance as best I can. However, as I reach close to the end of that corridor, the nausea makes way to dizziness, and my vision begins to fade. A bright light slams hard into me, and it drives me to my knees. A vision dances across my mind, the petals of lilies falling from the sky. The light emanates all around me, and beneath my feet is sand. I can feel the heat of Drogaem's tomb and hear the whisper of a spell from the lips of the same woman who haunts my consciousness on a regular basis.
My head throbs and the uneasiness I felt on the sands of the island comes rolling back to me. I feel it in my blood, my bones, and in my heart all over again. I can see my hands, glowing brightly as I approach the entrance to the tomb. Instead of pressing my palms to the runes like I had when we opened the tomb, I thrust my arms outward and that same light that burns within my chest surges out, covering the tomb in heat and fire.
The light blinds me and when my vision returns, I'm within the walls of the tomb again, strong arms wrapping around me. But they are not Kane's. Looking down my body I realize, I am not myself either. I am someone else, I am the woman in my visions. My site is cloudy, but as I turn my head, I see a familiar face. It is Drogaem, though his flesh is not torn and rotting like the corpse that lay beneath me in the tombs of the Castle. He is younger, but the darkness of his eyes lets me know he is just as evil. He speaks to me, but I cannot understand the name he's calling me. His voice is muffled, and the light begins to shine again, growing brighter and brighter until I am blinded.
The heat brings me to a breaking point and I gasp, opening my eyes with fright. Again, I find arms around me but I cling to them, too fearful to attempt to see who is holding me. The hands grip me tighter as I lay on the floor trying to catch my breath. "Briar, look at me."
I follow the familiar voice finding Willem looking down at me, holding me tightly to his chest. My hands are shimmering as if the light were coming from me and has slowly dissipated upon my wakening. I'm gripping onto his arm tightly and I can tell it is causing him some discomfort but he holds it back, looking at me with worry and irritation. "Willem…"
He holds me there for a few more moments until I catch my breath and realize my surroundings. Carefully he helps me to my feet and I situate my dress, feeling as if I have possibly exposed myself. But Willem's eyes are not on me, he is not looking at me hungry like Kane does. Instead, his jaw clenches and he shakes his head. "THIS was not how the Underworld was ever supposed to be."
I can read in his tone that he believes I'm tainting his world, and in this moment, he may be right, I don't know. I just look at him, blinking, unable to form the words to even begin to rectify what is happening. He growls and drops his hands from me, staring at me for just a moment before storming off. There I am again, alone in the shadows. This time I make haste, hurrying as fast as I can with my weak knees back to my chambers. I don't look up at the guards standing watch outside, as it something new, something Kane has ordered. Instead, I hurry inside and slam the door shut behind me, locking it tightly. I don't know why but I'm filled with fear.
I pause for only a moment before heading over and standing in front of the mirror. My makeup has run and sweat peppers my forehead. My eyes lower down to my suggestive dress and a disgust moves over me. I begin to tear off my clothing, grabbing a robe and wrapping it tightly around my body. I don't know what is wrong with my new home, why so many things are going awry.
After I calm myself enough to push away the shaking, I walk over to the window and look out at the deep purplish haze that simmers in the Underworld's nighttime sky. The lights of the city shimmer brightly from my castle window and I can hear music rolling along the stale hot breeze from the streets below. I realize how comforting it is, how for the first time ever I think of the Underworld as my home. I haven't been here very long, not compared to everyone else, but I no longer feel like a stranger in a foreign land. I'm starting to believe I belong here. But what am I here for?
Just days before, maybe a couple of weeks, I would've answered that question with a definitive understanding of love, but the man who could have shown me that love before, has now let that power corrupt him, and I no longer know where to turn.
Chapter 7
Briar
Days are passing, days of silence in my chambers. They are days of solace and deep thought. The Underworld continues to move forward, revolving around Kane while he himself shuts away working on whatever project he has become obsessed with. There is a sadness inside of me, a hopelessness that I cannot endure much longer. Spying on Kane is more than what I bargained for. It is more than what I think I am able to handle. Not only does it take a strong toll on my body, but mentally I am drained.
I draw myself a bath and drop the petals of flowers that the Ladies in Waiting have collected from the gardens within the castle. The smell is reminiscent of the rose gardens on my father's estate, and I sink down into the hot water, soaking in the relaxation I am feeling. I take my time bathing, using the soaps and fragrances that have been delivered to my room from a man I have not seen or heard from in days. I know Kane is working on something, and I feel the pull of its nefarious nature, but I need a break, a separation from my covert operations. I don't know what is causing these visions I'm having, but I can't afford to fall to them when Kane is around.
When my bath is done, I slip into one of my dresses, this one long and flowing with a satin cord wrapped just bel
ow my breasts and the skirts made of thin layers of silk and satin. It is not the flashy or seductive clothing from my plan, but it is all I can muster of myself. I want to leave my chambers, but the castle grounds are full of servants and Guardsmen and I know I won't find a moment of quiet thoughtfulness among them. So, knowing no one pays attention to me in the hallways of the castle I begin to walk, my eyes focusing in on each picture on the walls, but my mind somewhere else. I think about Kane, about the man he is turning into. I think about my place within the Underworld. And I think about my father's request, something that is no longer an option unless I choose to disappear with him.
I am not paying attention to where I'm walking, and I pass an open doorway, pausing for a moment as I glance inside. Sitting at a long table, books in front of him, is Kane. My first instinct is to hurry along, not let him see me, but it's too late. "Briar, what are you doing lurking about the castle?"
I breathe deeply and force a smile on my lips as I turn toward the open doorway. "Just taking in the beauty of the castle." I know I need to be more intense, more flirtatious. Regardless of whether I think I can continue to figure out what is going on or not, I am here and I have to play along. "Actually, I was also kind of hoping I would run into you. It's been several days."
He glares at me suspiciously for a moment and then waves me in. I sit quietly across from him, looking at the different bound books stacked all over the table. "I think it's sexy that even you, the God of the Underworld continues to educate himself. What is it that you're researching this time?"
From the calmness on his face I can see that my flirtation is working on him. I don't know how long it will work, but I need more information from him. He pushes back, resting his head against the high-back chair he sits in. "Most of these books are on life transference."
My brow furls. "Life transference? As in moving one’s soul from a body and putting it into another?"
His eyes shifted up toward mine. "I'm impressed. You know your fair share about our worlds, don't you?"
I know I've told Kane this over and over but he acts as if it's the first time he's heard it. "I've been studying the Underworld since I found out that I was betrothed to you. I knew I would live here, and I wanted to be ready for it."
He flashes a half of a smile and flips nonchalantly through the pages of the book in front of him. "Yes, life transference is basically that, taking one soul and putting it into another body. You can see it in the pages."
I stand and walk around the table, leaning over his shoulder, being careful to be close, but not close enough to irritate him. I think for a split second how easily it would be to cut his throat, but I have no knife, and he knows this. He points to the page he's reading. "There is a lot of pain involved to move a soul from one body to another. They are basically leached from their lifeline, ripped from the very circuits that clamp them down to their body. Then they are transplanted into a new body and it's not always an easy process."
I bite the inside of my cheek, trying not to flinch at the thought. He speaks of it as if he's done it before, something that I never thought Kane would be involved in.
He flips the page again, showing an illustration of two bodies laid next to each other and their souls drawn wistfully above their bodies. "The perfect sacrifice is needed."
His hand brushes against my wrist and I flinch, unable to control the jerkiness of my body. His eyes flip from my hand to my face and he chuckles. "A mortal would never work, so you have nothing to fear. Your bodies are too fragile and your souls are already too connected to separate without damaging the soul. A God or immortal is required for this."
I walk back around the table and stand there, my hands on the back of the chair as I watch him. I haven't known him for that long, not nearly long enough to truly know Kane. I can feel his emotions reverberating in my chest. He is amused at my discomfort, happy at my fear. I focus in on that emotion, sensing through it, as if there are layers to it. I attempt to peel back those layers, sensing something else beneath it, but with every removal another one takes its place.
I stop searching, his feelings of dislike, of anger and volatility remind me of where I stand. The truth is, I'm too afraid to uncover whatever is lurking beneath. I fear that it's worse than what's on the outside. But I want more, I need more. If he is looking at transference, things may be a little bit more serious than even I have thought.
Remembering my vow to be strong and brave, I sit back down in the chair and cross my hands, watching him as he reads. I begin to build the walls inside of me, unsure of whether his lack of wall to his own emotions is due to his cruelty or somehow a lack of realization that he has the power to feel what I am feeling. Either way, if I'm going to do this, and I've already taken the first step, then I need to become a fortress and only give him what I want him to see. The Underworld just might be turning me into exactly what the Queen should be.
Chapter 8
Drogaem
I can feel Briar's eyes on me, but that is it. The little bit of emotion that I get from her is no longer there. I can only assume that Lux is hiding. She should be hiding, she has no idea what I have in store for her. I don't like the interruption from Briar, but I will deal with it considering I need her. She has been loyal the last couple of days, standing by my side giving into my whims of fancy. Do I trust her? Surely not, but as I sit here, she watches me, curiosity on her face. She seems genuinely interested in what I'm doing.
As quiet as a mouse, she clears her throat and I hold back my instincts to cringe. It's not just that she's a mortal, it's that she's Kane's pet. Part of it is satisfying, giving him little glimpses into my time with her, but today I don't need his distraction. I keep him fighting, wearing down the very essence of his soul, keeping his consciousness occupied so I don't have to hear his groans and screams from within my head.
Feeling as if Briar wants to say something, I look up from my book and tilt my head to the side. "Say it. Whatever it is that's on the tip of your tongue, spit it out."
She bites her bottom lip, and I think back to the night before when my mouth grazed her warm human skin. I have to admit it is tempting. "I was just wondering if you would maybe show me around the wing of the castle that you have blocked off. I'm not used to seeing something like that and I'd like to be part of what you're working on. You are my God and King, and I am to be your Queen, and want to show my support ahead of time, before our vows are spoken."
I study her, curiously wondering if she is being truthful. I try to sense her emotions but there is nothing. I have never been good at doing that anyway. The look on her face is of genuine interest. I look back down at my books and sit in silence. She squirms slightly in her chair and I can tell that my hesitation to answer her makes her nervous. There's a certain level of appeasement I get from making her uncomfortable. After all, she needs to be uncomfortable. She has no idea the events that are unfolding right beneath her feet. No one has any idea. I hold the key, I hold the power once again, and when I'm through, no one will be able to touch me, not even the Three.
I glance up at her again as she fiddles with the edges of her dress, looking down in her lap. I'm tired of the games, she keeps my attention for no more than a few seconds. I roll my eyes outside of her view and put my hands on the table. "I promise that when you're ready I will give you a complete tour of everything that I have hidden away. I will explain every plan and every nook and cranny of what will happen once I am fully complete with this transition."
She nods, keeping her eyes strongly on mine, a trait I admire in the little mortal. She has a bravery to her, let's just hope it's not too much bravery. It would be a shame to have to squash her before it all begins.
"And what do you expect of me to be considered ready?" she asks, a slight quiver in her voice letting me know she isn't quite as brave as she tries to act. I take a sip of my wine and trace my finger over the pages as I stare at her. "You must learn to control your powers, to use them as they are meant to be used and prove
that you are the queen that should take the helm."
For a split second her nose twists, but she quickly shakes it away. I can tell she doesn't fully understand what that means. How could she? Her powers come from somewhere else, even if she doesn't know that. Controlling them may be very difficult for her. In fact, it may be impossible. But that's not what I'm really looking for. I'm looking for Lux to get closer, close enough to where I can manipulate her.
"I'll continue to study, and practice," she says meekly. "I don't want to take too long. I want to stand beside you."
She says this without a hint of a quiver in her voice, and for a moment, I begin to think that perhaps I can trust her. Whether her loyalty comes from fear or true want makes no difference to me. As long as she's loyal, and stays that way, she will be a great asset to me. I will always watch her closely, especially after the transference has completed and her dear Kane is no longer the mighty ruler of the Underworld. Survival will make people do silly things, and I fully expect her loyalty to move to me knowing it will be her only way of survival.
"How have you been sleeping lately?" I ask. "Have you been having strange dreams? Anything out of the ordinary? Anything like what you may have experienced when you freed Drogaem's tomb from the magical binds?"
Her eyes immediately shift down, and her hands fiddle in her lap. I feel as if she's holding back something, fighting with herself. I want her to trust me enough to tell me. I need to know this. I reach across the table and grasp her wrists lightly. "It's all right, Briar. You can tell me. We are to be married, with no secrets, and it should start here."
