I grab one of the many blankets lying around and wipe myself off before dumping it on the floor next to the bed. I stand, wandering over to my clothes, leisurely pulling them on.
“Though I’d never turn down a good fuck, you still didn’t say why you’re here.” Ebris inquiries, resuming his comfortable looking position after watching him wipe himself.
“Neris knows something. She sent her pet to Alina. The little shit shifted and stabbed me with his horn,” I bite out, my nostrils flaring.
“So? What do you want me to do about it?” He shrugs, his expression one of disinterest.
“What do I want you to do about it? Are you shitting me? If Neris knows, there’s no doubt the other fuckers know too. Aren’t you concerned they may try and stop us?” I throw my hands up in annoyance. How can he be so fucking relaxed about this?
“Concerned? Why should I be concerned? It was your idea to piss the phoenix off. She’ll be after your head, not mine.” He shrugs again with a wave of his hand.
“What? Are you stupid? What about the farm boy, huh? He saw you too when he had those visions. She knows about you too,” I snipe.
“So what? I am the God of Death and Destruction. You really think I’m scared of her and her group of idiots? Now you, you should be scared. You were the one who decided to use her boyfriend to hurt her. If I were you, I would watch your back.” He stretches out lazily like a cat, his gaunt lean muscles rippling with his movements.
“Now fuck off. I’m tired.” He waves me off, shutting his eyes.
Fine. I snap. I shot him an angry glare even though he can’t see me.
I stride across the room and head out the door, slamming it behind me. I turn the corner and run straight into Draythys, nearly knocking us both off balance.
Oh, this is going to be fun.
“What are you doing here Vemnos?” She folds her arms in front of her with a snide smile playing across her luscious lips.
“Ah, Dray, there you are gorgeous. Ebris won’t be able to indulge you today, I’m afraid he’s quite tired. He’s had an exhausting afternoon, after all,” I stretch my arms above my head, adding a fake yawn for effect, “in fact, we both have,” I finish with a smug smile. Her eyes begin to water, but her face shows anything but sadness. Anger courses off her in waves and I relish in it.
“Fine.” She huffs, storming off.
“See you later, gorgeous,” I call after her laughing. I still have so much anger and annoyance pent up inside me. Even after my fuck with Ebris, I still need more.
I need another release.
The kind that can only be found from causing pain and chaos.
I know exactly what I need.
The air is stagnant, the smell of damp and mold everywhere as I walk down the stone steps. The further down I go the stronger the smell gets until it feels like it could choke me from its stench alone.
I would hate to live down here.
At the end of the hallway is a single wooden door, old and worn. One single torch is placed next to it. Close enough to illuminate inside the room, yet far enough away so it can’t be grabbed.
I take out the well-used rusty key and place it in the ancient lock. The door opens with a loud creak, the sound echoing down the hallway. My grin is wide when I see the room looks exactly as I left it. The walls are damp enough that water trickles down the stonework, forming pools on the ground. Only the one door I entered through, which is always locked, no windows and no hope of ever escaping.
Dark, dismal, and empty.
Except for one figure shrouded in shadows against the wall. Hands raised in the air, spread out and bound with chains. Head fallen forward, either asleep or too weak to raise it. I don’t know or care.
Striding forward I kick my booted foot out colliding with skin and bone. The pathetic creature stirs with a weak pained moan, coughing up a little blood. My grin is stretched so far that my cheeks hurt.
I do love these playtimes.
“Wake up, maggot,” I shout kicking my foot out again. Another weak moan. At least the maggot is alive.
For now.
“I said wake up. Fucking listen to me, maggot.” I reach forward to grab a handful of hair and roughly pull their head back.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling sleepy? Awww, does the poor little baby wanna go to sleep?” I ask in a baby voice.
“Fuck off.” The pathetic maggot’s voice is rough and weak, probably from dehydration. I like to keep my playthings on the cusp of dying, but strong enough to use when I need them.
“Ha. Good to know you still have some fire in you after all this time.” I receive a large glob of spit to my face in response. Using my free hand, I wipe it off and smear it across the maggot’s face.
“How long has it been now? Hmm? I find it so difficult to remember sometimes.” I smile down at my favorite prisoner.
Chained, weak, vulnerable. Exactly how I like them. “Come on then. Say something.” I bend down at the knees so I’m now eye level. Weak, tired green eyes stare back at me, filled with pain, hatred, and anger.
“Fuck off.” I smirk at the attempt to make their voice sound stronger. We both know I’m the one in control here.
“Come on now. After all we’ve been through together, I would’ve thought you’d learn how to speak to me properly.”
“Fuck off.” I can really feel the malice behind that growl, pure hatred seeping out.
I huff out my annoyance, rising to my feet again.
“Well, as lovely as this conversation is, I’m bored. And my favorite thing to do when I’m bored is to play.” I pull my treasured jagged dagger out of my waistband, and twirl it between my fingers.
“Then again, you already knew that. Didn’t you, Branor?
BRANOR
Through my heavy eyelids, I can just about make out the dagger Vemnos is holding.
Great, he’s in a playful mood again.
My right eye is swollen from yet another punch he gave me. My arm is caked in dried blood from the slowly closing wound I received from the unicorn. My whole body aches. From my wrists, suspended high from the ceiling, to my knees from where I have been kneeling for so long. I close my eyes, trying not to think about what torture Vemnos is going to inflict next. Instead I imagine I’m back in a cozy village, laying on a bed of hay, with the most beautiful woman I have ever known.
Alina.
I feel a crushing sensation in my heart when I think of her, yet still I do it. The pain and guilt are the only things keeping me going. It has been centuries since I last held her lovingly in my arms, or kissed her forehead. I miss her smile, her touch, her love.
I miss her so much it hurts.
It should be easy to deal with the pain of being kept away from my sweet Birdy, and compared to what I have to do, it is. Even if I manage to escape this vile asshole, I’m not sure Alina would ever forgive me for what I have been made to put her through.
Not when I can’t even forgive myself.
Many Centuries Ago…
In the cave
I gasp, struggling to breathe from the pressure the creature's arm is putting on my throat.
The headlock he has me in is strong, and no matter how hard I grab and pull at it, I can’t seem to shift it. The blade is so close to my face, I can see the jagged edges stained with blood. I look from the blade and see Alina’s wide scared eyes. She’s trembling, her face pale and haunted. I feel my own heartbeat race, thinking what the creature behind me could do to her. I know my face probably mirrors hers. My own fear growing, knowing no matter what, I need to protect her.
“Let him go now, I will do whatever you wish, but please spare him.” Her voice seems strong, but her eyes betray her. I can see how terrified she is.
“Ah see, there’s the problem, Little Bird. See, what I want you to do is die.” The creature’s vile breath wafts over me making me gag. I watch as she sharply inhales, trembling.
“I… I can’t die. Because—” I watch her lips tremble, her h
ands shaking at her sides. I feel my blood boil that this creature is causing it. If only I was stronger. If only I could turn around and use the blade on him. I can barely breathe, let alone fight.
“Because you’re a phoenix. I know that already. I know no matter how many times I kill you, you will just keep coming back. You think I don’t know these things, Little Bird?” he snarls, edging the blade closer to my face.
“Then why are you here?”
“That’s for me to know and you to find out,” he snarls, spit flying past my face. I’m unexpectedly shoved forward, the asshole behind me holding onto my hair.
“Have fun, Little Bird. I’ll see you soon.” I can’t see what’s going on behind me. My eyes are completely focused on Alina as hers widen more, her mouth drops open just as I feel a sharp pain in my back. My eyes follow hers down my chest to see the tip of a blade pierced through my chest.
Wisps of purple smoke cloud my vision as I feel my heavy body slump forward.
“Noooo.” Her cry echoes around the cave. I can just make out her running to me, sinking to her knees beside me. Alina drags me onto her lap, clutching me. Using all my strength, I manage to lift my hand up to brush her chin with my fingers. I know this is it. There’s no escaping death for me now. But if I can just feel the softness of her skin one more time before I go, it would mean everything to me.
“You can’t leave me. Please. Don’t leave me,” she begs.
“Don’t worry Birdy. It’s alright,” I manage to croak out, the words struggling to leave my mouth.
I don’t want to go. I don’t want to leave her.
My hand feels too heavy, I feel it slipping. It’s strange, I feel no pain. I don’t feel cold or numb. I just feel odd, as if I’m not myself. I stare up at my Birdy, who’s staring down at me with the most pained expression I’ve ever seen. It feels like my heart is being torn in two, when the most agonizing sound escapes her throat.
I watch as she looks down at herself with shock, golden light dancing around her hands. I can do nothing as I watch her tears cascade down, her crying making her shake against me as she pulls me tighter against her. She reaches her hand out to brush my hair away from my face, leaning down to kiss the top of my head. I don’t understand, she’s acting as if I’m dead. But I can see and hear her. I can feel her. I want to call out to her, just to let her know I’m okay, but my mouth won’t move. Nothing will.
Am I dead?
My vision becomes a haze of purple and it feels like my body is not my own.
“Not yet. But you’ll wish you were.”
“What? Who’s there?”
“Funny how you’re so quick to forget my voice when I literally just stabbed you in the back.” The voice chuckles back.
“You? How are you in my head? Why can’t I move?”
“Shut your stupid mouth, maggot. You can’t do anything unless I tell you otherwise, understand?” I try again to move my fingers, my toes, anything. Nothing wants to work.
A cruel, taunting laugh fills my mind. “Stupid maggot. It’s going to be so much fun using you as my puppet. Can’t wait to get started.”
“Puppet? Started? What in the Gods' name are you talking about?”
Another chilling laugh.
“The Gods can’t help you now.”
Then nothing. My mind and vision clears again as if nothing was ever there. I try to wiggle my fingers again. Nothing. Alina still holds me close, her heartbeat loud against my ear. Her tears have stopped now. She’s staring ahead, void of any sign of emotion. Her eyelids are dropped, lips parted, her eyes glassy. I have never seen her like this. Even after the village she wasn’t like this. She seems hollow. After what feels like an age, she carefully places me down on the cold ground, standing and walks out of the cave with her shoulders slumped.
The purple haze shrouds my vision again and I feel my body start to move.
How?
“I told you, maggot. You’re my puppet. To do as I please. And I’ve just thought of something fantastic,” the terrible voice sing songs.
Without my consent, my body starts to move until I am standing upright. I feel something heavy materialize in my hand. I manage to look down long enough to see the dagger which was used to stab me, before my head snaps back up looking at the entrance of the cave.
I feel my legs walk me backward until I’m hidden against the wall concealed by shadows. I watch in rapt attention as Alina walks back into the cave. She stops where I had just been lying and confusion crosses her face. She begins looking around, but hasn’t come close enough to where I’m standing.
The purple haze becomes stronger.
Once again, I feel my body move on its own accord, striding across the cave to Alina.
Alina! Alina! I try to scream out, to warn her, anything, but nothing comes out. I watch in horror as my hands grab her and throw her hard against the ground as the dagger I’m holding propels forward into her shoulder. The cry she lets out devastates me.
I did that.
She turns over, holding her shoulder. When her eyes collide with mine, they grow wide, her jaw drops and all the color from her beautiful face drains away.
“Branor? How? What? What happened?” She tries reaching up to touch my face but my uncontrollable hand slaps hers away.
“Branor doesn’t run the show now, Little Bird.” My lips move against my will. The voice is not my own, it sounds distorted and strained. “Now, we’re going to have a little fun.” My hands begin moving without my control again, reaching out to Alina. Even without any control over my body, I can still feel the heat and softness of her skin as my fingers wrap around her arms lifting her up from the ground. I shove her against the wall, her back colliding with it so hard I hear cracking noises as she screams out in pain, before dropping her to the floor.
No. No. Stop it please!
It feels like claws are tearing at my mind as I scream, trying to stop myself from hurting her. No matter how hard I try to stop or even to close my eyes, I can’t. I am unable to do anything as I reach out with the dagger and plunge it into her chest over and over again.
Blood is everywhere.
Why isn’t she fighting back? Why doesn’t she just use her fire?
A deep vile chuckle rings out piercing my mind. “She wouldn’t want to hurt her precious lover now would she? This is probably one of the greatest ideas I’ve ever had.” His cruel laughter fills me with such rage, all I want to do is rip him apart. Instead, I am forced to watch my own hands destroy my heart and soul. Tears line her cheeks which are now slashed to ribbons.
Layers of skin hang from her body where the dagger has torn her skin over and over again. She hasn’t tried fighting back even once. She cries out my name so many times, her face full of terror and anguish as my body betrays me and flays her alive.
I can’t make myself stop.
I can’t turn away.
I can’t even cry.
All I can do is watch as I slaughter my Alina with my distorted laugh echoing through the cave.
Present Day
I bite my lip and inhale deeply to prevent my tears from falling, the vile stench around me making me gag. I can’t show any sort of weakness in front of Vemnos, he gains too much pleasure from it. The cave wasn’t the only time I was made to do that to her.
No, it was just the beginning.
I feel bile rise up in my throat at the thought of everything he makes me do to her. Luckily, I never sexually assaulted her. Not out of the goodness of his heart, or even from my willpower. No. The only reason was because he wouldn’t feel anything from it. It wasn’t until much later that I found out he placed a possession spell on me. He could control my body, make me do all those vile things. Move and command my body to do anything he wanted. Other than smell and taste, he can’t feel everything I can, but he can sustain the same injuries which may be inflicted on me.
For example, the unicorn’s horn. Even though it was my body he had pierced, the wound and pain still materialize
d on Vemnos.
Hence the swollen eye.
Once I had reappeared in my cell, back in my cuffs, he had hit me so hard it felt like a thunderstorm in my brain. The pain and swelling don’t matter much to me, not when my body has been so broken and abused over the centuries. I never did die in that cave all those years ago. The bastard had enchanted the dagger so when he stabbed me with it, the possession spell bled into my body, connecting us together. The dagger wasn’t even long enough to come out the other side, it had all been an illusion.
See, that’s his thing, malice, trickery, the works.
Words cannot describe how much I want to kill him. Maybe inflict the things he made me do to Alina on him.
Wonder how he’d like being flayed alive?
A side effect of his possession spell was to make me live longer. I haven’t aged a day since I’ve been under his control. The physical wounds heal, but the mental scars are still strong. I’ve tried so hard over the centuries to gain control of myself again. The only time I’m not controlled is when I’m chained up. I’m always on my knees with my hands bound above me. More room for him to work apparently. Most nights end like this, at least I think it’s night. With no windows, it’s difficult to tell. Whatever time it is, my day always finishes on the receiving end of his blade.
Apparently, there’s no better way to finish the day than with a bit of torture.
He edges closer to me, the dagger glinting in the low lighting. “Your Little Bird was a lucky bitch this time, you know that, right?” he taunts.
I stare ahead trying to make myself look as disinterested as possible. I know she was lucky, if it hadn’t been for the man and unicorn, I would have grabbed her and once again tortured, maimed, and killed her.
Echoes of the Past (The Alina Chronicles Book 1) Page 19
