Aubreigne

by Sandra R Neeley

  Dima looked at Carnage with his mouth gaping, before barking out a laugh. “You did not just tell me my fur is pretty.”

  Carnage nodded. “’Es, did,” Carnage said, grinning.

  Chapter 17

  Enthrall was sitting on his own front porch with Felicity when Carnage and Dima walked out of the trees behind Destroy’s home and started across the shared expanse of yard toward him.

  “Ooooo, they’ve been fishing,” Felicity said, thinking how nice it would be to have some fresh fish for dinner.

  “Looks like it. And looks like they’re on a mission, too. Hope everything’s okay,” Enthrall answered.

  “Trawl!” Carnage called out, waving a hand in the air.

  “Carnage! Welcome,” Enthrall called out, waving back.

  “Changed my mind,” Dima said, beginning to get nervous. “I’ll just build and ask forgiveness later.”

  Carnage scoffed at Dima and shook his head.

  As they got closer, Enthrall didn’t rise to his feet. He decided to leave the tone of the visit to Carnage and Dima.

  Carnage came to a stop at the bottom step of Enthrall’s porch, stopping just short of going up onto his porch, and waggled his fingers at Felicity.

  Felicity smiled at Carnage. While she’d been a bit nervous around him at first, she’d grown quite fond of him.

  Dima dipped his head in greeting. “Enthrall,” he said. “Ma’am,” he said, not wanting to be forward enough to use her name.

  “Dima. I trust you are both well,” Enthrall said.

  “Please, my name is Felicity,” Felicity said.

  Dima nodded. “Thank you, Felicity.”

  “What can I do for you today?” Enthrall finally had to ask to get them to speak.

  Carnage reached over and none-too-gently shoved Dima toward the steps of Enthrall’s porch.

  Dima shot Carnage a glare, and Carnage scowled at him, before facing Enthrall himself.

  “Deemah staay,” Carnage said, scowling at Dima since he wasn’t speaking to Enthrall, which left the communication to Carnage.

  Enthrall smothered a smile. He was aware of Dima, and all of those who thought he wasn’t, from the first moment they’d crossed his barriers and stepped foot into Whispers. It may have taken him a bit to identify them all, but he’d known each time his barriers were crossed.

  “I’m seeking sanctuary. I should have asked sooner, but I am asking respectfully now,” Dima said.

  “I see. And why are you asking now? Why not just keep living in the dark swamp with Brannaugh and his friends. Why come here now asking for permission when you know I know you're there and haven’t yet objected?” Enthrall asked.

  Dima shrugged. “Want more. Want a good house. Want a female one day. If I ever find anyone that will have me. Want quiet, away from everything and everybody.”

  Enthrall nodded with a gentle smile on his face. “Thank you for finally asking. Of course I grant you sanctuary. You’ve been here among us for years, keeping to the outer fringes, pretending that we weren’t aware of you. I’m glad you’ve finally decided to join us.”

  Dima offered a very shy, very quick smile and a nod.

  “Any idea where you’d like to build?” Enthrall asked.

  Dima gave another sharp nod. “I found a place, near one of the smaller bayous. I want the house to be up high, like Carnage’s. Before I start, Carnage said I should ask for your permission. And I thought it only right,” Dima said.

  “You marked your choice of land?” Enthrall asked.

  “I did, with my shirt tied to a branch that we drove into the ground,” Dima grouched, looking at Carnage then down at his own hands splayed over his chest in a subconscious effort to cover himself since Enthrall’s wife was sitting there looking at him. But, to her credit, she looked at his face, and into his eyes when she spoke to him. He didn’t notice her eyes straying to his body, and the silky fur-like hair that covered most of him, a single time.

  Enthrall hid another grin. The male obviously didn’t like having to walk around without his clothing.

  “Is it close to another’s home?” Enthrall asked.

  Dima shook his head. “No. It’s secluded.”

  “I’m sure it’s fine.I’ll go take notice of it and log it in as your homestead. I’ll return your shirt afterward,” Enthrall said.

  “’Appreciate it,” Dima said, smiling for the first time. In the light of Enthrall’s acceptance, Dima’s nervousness seemed to be gradually melting away.

  Carnage nudged Dima.

  “What?” Dima asked, looking Carnage’s way.

  “B’anah saay,” Carnage said.

  Dima’s expression changed immediately. He didn’t want any part of telling Enthrall that Brannaugh knew The Dark One was here and had neither reported it to Enthrall or tried to drive him out. The tension on his face was clear to everyone as he glared at Carnage.

  Carnage nodded, and gestured toward Enthrall. Carnage knew Enthrall was a good man, and eventually Dima would know that, too, but for now Dima was unsure of his place here. Carnage felt the need to encourage the shaky trust between the two males. Enthrall needed to know what was going on, and Dima needed to both earn Enthrall’s trust by confiding in him, and learn that Enthrall was trustworthy by trusting him with the knowledge he held.

  “Trawl goood,” Carnage said, assuring Dima that it would be fine.

  Dima looked up at Enthrall who was watching him curiously. “I… there’s something you should know. But, it puts me in a bad position. I don’t like that. I like to be alone. Except for Carnage. Carnage is okay,” Dima said, rambling in his nervousness.

  Enthrall nodded and sat forward to show that he was paying particular attention to whatever it was Dima had to say. “I give you my word, whatever you have to say will be held in the strictest confidence,” Enthrall promised.

  “There’s someone else in Whispers. One you’re not aware of. Brannaugh says the male doesn't want to be evil anymore — he only wants his female.”

  “I’m aware of Ata’s presence. I spoke with him today,” Enthrall said.

  Dima shook his head. “Ata doesn't compare to this male.”

  “Who do you speak of?” Enthrall asked. “I’ve felt two presences crossing over my barriers. One is Ata, the other I’ve not yet been able to track,” Enthrall said, suddenly a lot more concerned than he’d been before.

  “Now, I haven’t seen him. Only Brannaugh has,” Dima insisted.

  “Who is this male? He is the one that’s been stealing from my people, isn’t he?” Enthrall pressed, straightening his relaxed posture in preparation of standing.

  Dima shuffled his feet for a moment, before looking up and staring Enthrall in the eye. “The Dark One.”

  “I knew he was still here! The Dark One?!” Enthrall shouted, getting to his feet. “And no one bothered to inform me? How long has he been here?” Enthrall demanded.

  “He comes and goes,” Dima said, shaking his head. “Sometimes he’s gone for a long while, before all of a sudden showing up again. But like I said, I haven’t seen him since the first time he came when we went to the Siren, asking for her to intervene.”

  “Siren? Aubreigne?” Enthrall asked.

  “Yes,” Dima answered.

  “Intervene how?” Enthrall asked.

  “To mate him. Calm him so that none of us would suffer under his rule if he stayed. We came here for peace, to live freely without persecution or servitude. When he arrived, we were all frightened and went to Aubreigne asking for her to force him under control,” Dima explained.

  “Why would you think that she’d even consider such a thing?” Enthrall asked.

  Dima looked at Enthrall as though he didn’t understand the question. “Because she’s his mate, and he is hers,” Dima said simply. “He’s there now. Even without hope of a female of my own, I ask permission to be here to build my own home so that I don’t have to live so near the darkest swamp with The Dark One nearby. Brannaugh says he’s safe, b
ut I don’t want to take the chance.”

  Enthrall walked down the steps of his front porch, his eyes flashing red as he approached Dima. “You’re telling me that The Dark One is with Aubreigne now? Right now, this moment?” Enthrall asked.

  “Yes,” Dima confirmed. “Or he was earlier today.”

  Enthrall’s chest rumbled with irritation as he stepped between Dima and Carnage, his mind focused on getting to Aubreigne’s home.

  “Trawl!” Carnage said sharply.

  Enthrall paused and looked back at Carnage.

  “’Arnge halp?” he asked.

  Enthrall shook his head. “No. I wish to speak to him alone. If I go with anyone else, he will see it as an offensive move. If I need you, I will come to you.”

  Carnage nodded.

  Enthrall noticed the nervousness that Dima stood facing him with. “Brannaugh will not learn of your advising me of this situation. I paid a visit to Aubreigne and found out for myself.”

  “Thank you,” Dima said. “For now my only shelter is with them.”

  “Worry not,” Enthrall said. Then he turned his attention to Felicity. “Lici?” he asked.

  “Go, we’re fine. But, shall I call Lore?” she asked

  “No, I’ll call to him as I go. I don’t know how long I’ll be,” Enthrall said. “But do not worry. I’ve dealt with him before.”

  Felicity nodded. “I’ll wait here for you. I’ll start dinner,” she said, as a way to let him know she wasn’t worried. “Zeke and Boon are playing in the woods, too, so it’s better that I wait here for them anyway. We’ll be fine.”

  “’Arnge find Boon,” he said, putting his fingers to his lips and blowing a loud, shrill whistle.

  Moments later Boon’s voice could be heard. “Coming!” he yelled at the sound of his Papa’s whistle.

  “See? We’re fine,” Felicity said.

  Enthrall nodded and walked away from them, ghosting away before their eyes.

  Felicity blew out a frustrated breath as he left their sight. “I know he can take care of himself, but I’m still nervous whenever he thinks The Dark One is about.”

  “Bee fiiine,” Carnage said, waving a hand dismissively. “Come ‘Arnge housh?” Carnage asked her.

  “No thank you, Carnage. I can ghost Zeke and me away from here if necessary. We’ll be okay until Enthrall gets back.

  “’Kay,” Carnage said, nodding. Then he grinned and lifted a fish to offer her. “Feesh?” he asked, grinning.

  ~~~

  Aubreigne picked up the plates she and Amilanu had enjoyed their meal on, and walked with them into the kitchen. She scraped their leftovers into Rune’s bowl. “Rune will appreciate the scraps when he returns from his run,” Aubreigne said.

  “He will certainly. I am happy you have him,” Amilanu said.

  “As am I, I’m already so attached. You sent him, didn’t you?” Aubreigne asked.

  “I did. You were alone, and he will be your friend and protect you.”

  Aubreigne smiled as she set the dishes in the sink and ran water over them.

  “Let me help,” Amilanu said, getting to his feet.

  “No, I’ll wash them later. Besides, you should be resting. You’re just now beginning to get stronger. Don’t do too much too fast,” Aubreigne answered. “My sketch pad is there beside you still, sketch for a while.”

  Amilanu sat back down and picked up the pad and the pencil. He watched Aubreigne appreciatively. She’d listened to his story, and she was aware of all he’d been subjected to, yet still she hadn’t turned him away. She’d insisted on helping him fight The Dark One, and even lay in his arms as he held her without hesitation.

  He put the charcoal pencil to paper and began to sketch what his heart told him to sketch.

  Aubreigne walked back into the living room and he paused in his drawing to indicate the chair across from him. Aubreigne realized he wanted to draw her, so she sat where he indicated and looked directly at him. When he glanced up at her again, she smiled at him.

  “There, that smile. I could look at it forever,” he murmured, as his eyes went back to his paper.

  “How is it that you draw so beautifully? It’s as though it’s effortless for you.”

  “It is what I did for many years. I was part of a holy order that transcribed holy stories and documented anything of a holy nature. Some of us were gifted with the actual transcription, but yet others were gifted with decorating the pages of the transcriptions. I was one of those that was responsible for decorating all the pages. Once the transcription was finished, the pages would be given to me and I’d decorate them — sometimes in actual gold leaf to make them worthy of those the stories told about.”

  “So, you were a scribe?” Aubreigne asked.

  “Yes. But, one who didn’t care as much for the words we recorded as for the decorations on the pages.”

  “And the drawings you left for me?” she asked.

  “I wasn’t very strong then. I couldn’t risk speaking to you, for chance that The Dark One would suddenly be there. And I wasn’t even sure you’d hear me out. Instead, I’d make drawings of what I was feeling, what I saw, what was happening in my body.”

  “Two of you inside battling for control,” Aubreigne said.

  “Yes. I hoped that by seeing what I felt, maybe you’d understand. At the very least, maybe you wouldn’t hate me. Maybe you’d understand that I was suffering, struggling.”

  “And you still are,” Aubreigne said.

  Amilanu nodded. “But, you make it easier to bear. I know you’re here. I’m fighting for both of us now.”

  He set the sketch pad aside and raised a hand to her.

  Aubreigne rose from her seat and went to him, sitting beside him on the sofa.

  Amilanu placed his arm around her and pulled her in close so she could lean against him, and curl up beside him, tucking her feet beneath her.

  As Amilanu kissed her forehead and her lips, she opened to him to allow him to kiss her deeply. But Amilanu pulled his head back and away from her. He could tell it hurt her, but he just couldn’t subject her to the male he had inside, and all the filth his body had endured.

  Aubreigne gently pulled away and placed her feet on the floor in front of her. “Why won’t you kiss me?” she asked quietly.

  “I did kiss you,” Amilanu answered evasively.

  “No, you brushed your lips across mine, but you won’t actually kiss me, deeply, passionately. Is it that you don’t crave me in that way?”

  “Aubreigne! No! I crave every inch of you, every moment, every feel, every taste!” Amilanu insisted.

  “I want to claim you, and for you to claim me. Yet you won’t take it any further than a brush of the lips or kissing my forehead. Why?”

  “In time,” Amilanu answered.

  “We have no way of knowing how much time we have. Should we not seize the time we have while we have it?” she asked.

  Amilanu sat quietly for a few seconds before answering. “I’m not alone. I will not have any other than me touch you. Especially while I’m claiming you. What if he takes control while in the midst of solidifying our bond and you end up bound to him?”

  “You feel him coming,” Aubreigne said.

  “And my body… my body has been had by so many, in so many different ways, I wouldn’t allow you to touch me unless I knew I’d been fully cleansed of all that I’d encountered,” Amilanu said quietly, his tone begging her to understand. “It is not easy for me. I need you as much as you need me. I crave a bond with you. But until this is settled, I just can not expose you to all that I am. Please tell me you understand,” he implored.

  Aubreigne swallowed as she considered his words. While she did understand, it didn’t make it any easier to bear. “It’s fine. I understand,” she finally managed.

  “It will not be forever. I will win. Maintaining control is getting easier. I’d come to you thinking I was near death, but I’ve healed, and I’m already feeling stronger. Yet with that strength
he’s not even attempted to retake control. I believe his is weakening. We need only find a way to banish him back to Hell, and leave me here.”

  “How do we do this?” Aubreigne asked.

  “He needs a host, a body to inhabit, otherwise he is simply a soul, a spectre of his former self,” Amilanu explained. “And the host must be an attractive male. The Dark One would never accept a male who was ugly. He requires an attractive male for temptation. Temptation is his favorite trick.”

  “So, any attractive body?” Aubreigne asked.

  “No, it must be a male that is willing to share his body with The Dark One. This male must want all that The Dark One offers in a trade, and willingly make that trade.”

  “We aren’t going to find that in Whispers. All the males I know are very happy here. They don’t want to live in Hell,” Aubreigne said.

  “I am aware. It will be up to me to find someone to trade places with. But I can’t mislead him. The exchange has to be fully accepted by the new host or it will not be successful.”

  “You will have to leave here, frequent the places that someone craving power and control would frequent. Perhaps you’ll find a willing host there. But you’re just beginning to regain some strength, I’d worry about you going now,” Aubreigne admitted.

  “I agree. I must be strong enough to withstand the exchange, or it could kill me. But at this point, I’d be willing to take that chance just to be free, and to keep you safe from him,” Amilanu admitted. “Even if I’m successful in finding a willing host, it’s not a simple thing to pull him from my own soul and force his energy into the male that has agreed to take him.”

  Aubreigne sat beside Amilanu, her eyes closed, her arm stretched across his stomach as he held her.

  “Things will not always be this way, my mate,” he said.

  “I know. I believe we will have our time,” Aubreigne said.

  Chapter 18

  Amilanu used one finger to lift her chin so he could look down into her face. “Keep your eyes closed, female,” he rumbled.