Second Skin: Unified: A litRPG Adventure (Second Skin Book 3)

by M Damon Baker

  “I understand that you have weekly meetings with your Ministers,” she responded. “Perhaps you might consider including me in those discussions so that I might be able to offer you my advice as well?”

  “Of course,” I answered with genuine appreciation. Her skill and experience would be invaluable to me in governing my new Empire. “I will have Talína send you our schedule and a formal invitation”

  “Thank you, Empress,” she replied as she joined me beside the doorway that led back into the office Talína and the other aides shared.

  “May I ask just one final favor of you?” She added, and I could tell she was practically bursting at the seams.

  “You can ask, Líann, but only so long as it doesn’t violate the agreement we just made,” I cautioned her.

  “I promise not to push, Empress,” she vowed. “I only want you to show me your eyes again.”

  She looked at me almost desperately as she made her request, and while it was a simple enough thing for me to do, I hesitated to stir up her powerful desires as I had the last time I’d shown her my darkness.

  “I know what that will do to you, Líann,” I tried to rebuff her gently. “I’m not sure that it’s wise for me to provoke you in that way right now.”

  “You’ve told me I can’t act on my desires, Empress,” she pled with me. “But at least let me feel your fire—I promise I won’t press you or try to do anything else to make you feel uncomfortable. I only need to feel your power once more.”

  “Are you sure your willing to endure the consequences?” I asked her bluntly.

  “Yes, I am,” she replied with conviction.

  My initial reaction was to simply deny her request—the risk was simply too great. If I did anything to encourage her, she might react too strongly for me to resist. But there was something in her words that made me reconsider. Her pleading tone and the sense of near desperation I felt from her led me to remember some of what she had told me before.

  Líann was a Queen who had spent her life not only in near isolation, at least on a personal level, but also without anyone who even dared to contradict her. Almost inevitably, with that sense of power and entitlement, she’d grown into the haughty and arrogant woman I’d first met.

  But that had begun to change when I’d first rejected her. When I demanded that she treat people with some level of decency, she’d heeded my words. My display of dominance had not only spurred her desires but had also apparently caused her to work even harder at learning how to deal with people in a more appropriate manner.

  The realization hit me suddenly, like so many of my moments of clarity seemed to do. Líann had never met anyone more powerful than herself. She required the influence, the guidance of a stronger hand, to mold her into a better person. Líann needed to be dominated. Not only so that she might be instructed, but it was also something that had become part of who she was—something that I had awoken in her. A part of her that had lain dormant until I roused it from its slumber.

  Fuck! That sounded awfully familiar to me.

  Líann hadn’t just been drawn to me as a lover, she needed me as well. Her desires weren’t just carnal in their nature, as I’d already known for some time. She had a deeper need that only I could satisfy. The need to feel my power; to be dominated and recognize that she was not the superior being she’d always believed herself to be.

  Part of me experienced an instant sense of relief at my epiphany. Líann wasn’t just sent to me as a piece of meat; there was a deeper, more meaningful reason behind her powerful desires. Thinking of her in that way made the situation somewhat easier for me to tolerate, and I was more comfortable giving in to her request.

  “Are you ready?” Was all I said in return.

  “Yes,” she replied almost meekly.

  With my new-found comprehension of Líann’s needs, I decided that if she needed dominance, then I was going to give it to her. So, when she uttered her reply, I grabbed her forcefully and pushed her against the wall. Not too hard, but strongly enough so she understood that she was no match for me. Then, I looked her in the face and let my eyes blaze with their bright, green light.

  “Is this what you wanted?” I asked her almost tauntingly as I held her there.

  “Yes,” she answered in an awestruck whisper.

  “You need this, don’t you?” I prompted her as I glared at her even more intently. “You need to be put you in your place.”

  “I do,” Líann replied softly, and I could see that she recognized it for herself.

  “You sought to make me yours, Líann, but it’s you who are now mine,” I told her as she began to squirm. “I will take you when the time is right, but until that time comes, when you need to feel my power you may request that I attend to you.”

  “I will,” she uttered slowly.

  I wanted to do more, so much more to her at that moment, but I’d already pushed things far beyond what I’d initially intended. Somehow, once I’d given Líann what she needed, I felt myself drawn into the display of dominance as well. It was as if satisfying her needs also quenched some inner desire of my own, and as I reluctantly released her, I realized just where that desire originated from—my own inner darkness.

  Displaying my power not only met Líann’s needs, but also satisfied something in me as well, a need that I’d never recognized before. My darkness had desires of its own, and they had to be fed. Venting a portion of my shadows, even in a faux display of power, released some of the pent-up rage I held deep inside me. I realized that without some sort of outlet, the anger inside me might build up beyond my ability to control. It wasn’t just Líann who needed to feel my power; I needed her as a way to release a portion of my shadows before they became too powerful for me to contain. Líann needed my darkness, and my darkness needed her in return.

  “Are you alright?” I asked her as I let the light fade from my eyes.

  “I will be in a moment,” she replied in a strained whisper as she looked away from me.

  Although Líann averted her gaze, I still held her firmly against the wall. As I kept her in place with one hand, I reached up and cupped her chin with the other and forced her to look into my eyes.

  “It won’t be quite as long as I thought, Líann,” I whispered to her. “You’ll get what you want soon enough.”

  I wasn’t lying to her or leading her on. Despite everything—despite all my reservations and the absolute mess I’d made of my personal life—with the realizations I’d just had, I knew that my need for Líann was nearly, if not equally as strong as her desire for me.

  So, with those words, I kissed her softly on the lips and let her go before I hurried out of the room. I wanted to leave her on a lighter note than the rough handling I’d given her, but I didn’t dare remain anywhere near her after the quick gesture of affection. Then, once I’d made good on my escape, I went back to my private rooms to retreat from all of my responsibilities. I’d done enough to upend my world in just that short meeting with Líann, I didn’t need to create any more trouble for myself that day.

  As I entered my chambers, I found that Tási was gone, but Bane was in his room, so I curled up against his scales and drew a blanket around me.

  ‘How’s your fire breathing going?’ I asked him.

  I am learning how to control it, Sintári, but it is difficult. The flames vary greatly in their intensity depending on what I do, as does the distance that I can project them.

  ‘That sounds rather incredible. When are you going to be able to show me?’

  Bane had refused to let me witness his practice. He claimed that it was too dangerous for me to do so, since he had little control over the flames that shot from the twin pits beneath his tongue. He had promised to let me see as soon as he felt it was safe enough for me to do so, so all I’d ever witnessed of them were the remains of the curtains he had accidentally scorched.

  It has only been a little over a day since I discovered the ability, Sintári, he replied in amusement. You must at
least allow me some time to learn how to wield it.

  ‘I guess that’s a reasonable request,’ I admitted with a smile. ‘Will you be staying with us tonight?’

  Regretfully, no, Sintári. I have found a perfect place to test my powers, but it is far away, so I will spend a few days there to learn what I can.

  ‘I understand,’ I sent back to him. ‘Please return to me as soon as possible. I miss you so much when you’re away from me.’

  My connection with Bane had grown quite powerful. Even if we couldn’t see each other, so long as we were close enough, we both felt the comfort of each other’s presence. As our bond grew stronger, that distance increased, and we only needed to be within a few miles of each other for us to feel the reassurance of each other’s presence.

  I feel your absence as well, Sintári. I promise to come back within a few days, regardless of my progress.

  Bane left shortly thereafter, and when Tási returned later, I informed her that Líann would be joining our weekly meetings. Although she managed to hold her tongue, I could tell that she was almost raging inside at the news.

  “Are you afraid of the darkness inside me, Tási?” I asked her when I became too irritated to let things go any farther.

  “Scared to death is more like it; why do you ask?” She replied.

  “I discovered Líann’s purpose today,” I told her quite bluntly. “She’s an outlet for my darkness. The reason she’s here is to keep it from overwhelming me.”

  “Is that really true?” Tási asked me needlessly.

  “It is, Tási,” I replied. “I’m not asking you to like her, but can you at least stop acting like such a bitch every time her name comes up?”

  “If she can keep me from ever having to see your eyes do that again, she might become my best friend,” Tási offered weakly.

  “I hope she does,” I responded sincerely. “Because I think that she may be the key to keeping the shadows inside me at bay.”

  Several days passed after that where I almost felt comfortable with things. Nothing of note occurred, and our first Cabinet meeting with Líann present actually went off without a hitch. The Queen was able to offer some very useful insights, and even Tási seemed impressed with how well-mannered Líann had become. Then, on the eve of Gilfri’s scheduled arrival, Tási let me in on a surprise she wanted me to spring on the elf King.

  “You said that you were looking for a way to unsettle Gilfri,” Tási said as she led me downstairs.

  “You’ve got something in mind?” I asked in eager anticipation.

  “Not something, someone,” she replied cryptically as she led me through the Palace.

  Tási refused to answer any more questions as she brought me to a small side room on one of the lower levels. She motioned for me to have a seat, and one of the kitchen staff served us some tea while we apparently waited for this mysterious person to arrive.

  “How long before your surprise guest arrives?” I asked impatiently after we’d been waiting for a while.

  “She’s been here the whole time, Dreya,” Tási smiled back at me.

  The only other person in the room was the woman who’d served us our tea, so I looked at the liveried servant closely to see what Tási could possibly have in mind for her.

  It took me a moment to recognize the woman. The only feature I remembered from our last meeting was the cold blue-grey color of her eyes. The fact that those eyes had a tinge of warmth to them made my identification of her take longer than it should have, but finally the icon above her head popped up and clinched things for me.

  ‘Unidentified Assassin.’

  “Why have you brought me to this piece of shit?” I growled at Tási as I got up from my chair.

  “Please, Empress,” the elven woman responded as she fell to her knees before me. “If you’d let me explain?”

  “This better be good, or I’ll kill you myself,” I threatened her.

  The failed assassin heeded my words and began speaking immediately.

  “You broke me, Empress,” she confessed. “Completely. When you finished with me there was nothing left of the woman I once was, but as excruciating and painful as it was for me, you also set me free. You liberated me from the life that led me to do some truly awful things, and now I’m asking you for the opportunity to redeem myself.”

  “I want to serve you and your Empire in any way that you see fit. Commander Tási asked me to participate in your meeting with Gilfri, and I am willing to do what she wants, but I will need your permission as well. So, I am here, on my knees, begging you for a chance to remake myself into someone better than I once was.”

  “You expect me to trust you?” I responded with disdain.

  “Show her,” Tási commanded the elf.

  The assassin remained on her knees but withdrew three long blades from beneath the Palace livery she wore and laid them at my feet. The elf said nothing else, but Tási spoke on her behalf.

  “She could have killed you easily while we sat here in this room. I’ve been working with her for some time now, and I’m convinced that Saibra is sincere in her desire to repent. I wouldn’t have even considered bringing you here if she wasn’t.”

  Gilfri had already used his blood clauses to kill the elven soldier I’d tried to save. If I was willing to give that nameless soul a chance at redemption, could I really refuse Saibra’s plea for clemency? Saibra startled when I pulled Retribution from my arm and its limbs sprung to life, but then she looked up at me and met my gaze.

  “You have a great deal to atone for,” I told her solemnly. “And I am willing to set you down that path, but first, you must swear your oaths to me.”

  Saibra nodded and took hold of Retribution. As she did so, she winced as if in pain, but then recovered and recited her pledge to me.

  “I was once known as Insleí, but have forsaken that name and all that it represents. Now, reborn as Saibra, I pledge my life and my service to you, Empress Dreya Sintári. All that I am I owe to you, and you shall have no more loyal servant than myself for the rest of my days.”

  I’d cast See Truth on her when she knelt before me, and as she spoke her oath, her words came forth in the deepest, richest hues of blue I’d ever seen. If my Spell had any power at all, this woman had spoken every word with the most sincere sense of conviction. But I also recalled our previous encounter, when she’d managed to throw me off; lying about her daughter being Gilfri’s captive, so I pushed her a little further.

  “I’ve cast a Spell on you that lets me know if you’re telling the truth,” I revealed to her as she remained on her knees. “But you almost defeated it the last time we met. How can I be sure you intend to keep the oath you’ve just made to me?”

  “That was Gilfri’s magic at work, Empress,” she explained. “Or at least it was the lingering magic of the Evoker he hired to cast the blood clause on me. With the magic of the clause gone, I no longer have the power to deceive you.”

  Her words were still tinged with blue, and she was beginning to gain my confidence, but I had one final, and very risky test in mind.

  “How much do you trust her, Tási?” I asked her over my shoulder.

  “I allowed her in your presence with those knives, Dreya,” she said as her answer.

  Well, she’d better get ready to hold on, I thought, because this next bit might be a little intense.

  I knelt down and lifted Saibra up to stand in front of me. Along with raising her to her feet, I also picked up one of the blades she’d left lying on the ground and pressed the hilt of the long dagger into her palm as I laid the blade against my neck.

  “Here’s the moment of truth, Saibra,” I said as I stared into her blue-grey eyes. “Now you get to let me know just who you really are.”

  I felt the blade twitch as Saibra’s hand trembled, and she slowly pulled the razor-sharp edge away from the delicate skin of my neck. The dull clattering of the metal hitting the stone floor echoed through the room as she let the dagger drop from her hands.<
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  “I am Saibra,” she said, and chills ran down my spine as I recognized the tone of her declaration.

  “Saibra will be attending our meeting with Gilfri,” I announced to Tási as I held the elf’s gaze in mine. “You can inform me of the precise details of your plan later. As soon as she has performed that service, she is to be placed on my personal guard. I trust that you can smooth things over with those who might not remember meeting her former self too fondly.”

  I saw a tear form in Saibra’s eye as she heard me grant her request, and in that moment, I whispered to her softly so that only she could hear my words.

  “I have given you nothing, Saibra. You’ve earned this second chance.”

  I turned and left quickly before Saibra’s emotions could get the better of either of us. Her rebirth mimicked my own emergence on this world far too closely, and witnessing it had stirred powerful feelings within me.

  Tási remained behind, I assumed to discuss what had happened with the assassin… I mean Saibra. I realized that I would have to get used to thinking of her as a completely different person, if only because that that was the truth of things. She had been reborn, not in the exact same way that I had, but at least it was close enough to not make much difference to me. Knowing that breaking her as I had, and the continued influence I’d exerted over her even from as far away as her prison cell were the catalysts that brought it about, only made her renewal all the more poignant.

  Much to my delight, Talína let me know that there was nothing that required my attention when I eventually made it back upstairs, an occurrence that was becoming increasingly common, and I retired to my room to rest with Bane for a while.

  He’d returned from his training earlier that day, but would only tell me that he had made some progress, meaning that he was still not ready to show me what he could do. Apparently, controlling both the intensity and dimensions of his flames was proving to be a rather intricate thing, and acquiring the level of understanding of his new ability that was required for him to master it was proving to be quite elusive.