Aubreigne

by Sandra R Neeley

  “A domain you say… is that your wish?” Amilanu asked as he turned to face Ata’halne, strolling closer to him.

  “And people to do my bidding! I will finally have the life I deserve. I am worth so much more than any of you fools ever realized!” Ata insisted.

  Amilanu walked a semi circle around the front of the Dragon Tree, giving Ata enough of a berth that he wouldn’t get nervous and do anything stupid. Amilanu made a big show of examining Ata. He looked at his arms, his face, his body, his legs. “I should like to know… is your body well? Do you have any weaknesses?”

  “My body is in perfect shape! Stop questioning my strength!” Ata snapped.

  Amilanu nodded and grinned. “Oh, you misunderstand me. I may have a proposition for you. You help me, I help you.”

  “I don’t need your help! I have everything worked out, everyone at my mercy!” Ata’halne claimed with an insane grin.

  Chapter 25

  “Truly?” Amilanu asked as he looked around himself. “You have a Vampire who waits for the first opportunity to rip your throat out. You have an Ancient who waits to eat your soul the moment the Vampire allows your blood to flow. You have a Demon Siren who dreams of burning the flesh from your body — and believe me she is capable! Look at what she’s done to my hands, simply because I wanted a taste!” Amilanu feigning outrage, while holding up his hands that clearly showed scars on his palms from being burned.

  “They will respect me!” Ata said, his voice not quite as sure as before.

  “No, they won’t. But, I could perhaps help you to force them to respect you,” Amilanu said, coming to a stop directly in front of Ata.

  “How?” Ata asked suspiciously.

  “Give me your body,” Amilanu said simply.

  “What? I will not be the one to die here today! I will do no such thing!” Ata exclaimed with a horrified expression.

  Amilanu shook his head and smiled. “Do not think of it as me taking your body, so much as me sharing your body.”

  “You speak nonsense,” Ata said, gathering the slack in the rope attached to Deaumanique, while watching the very powerful, very terrifying male standing before him.

  “No, I speak of unlimited opportunities, unlimited power, unlimited servants and worshipers. Hear me out, human, before I lose patience and destroy you myself for your insolence! I am The Dark One! Lord of the Underworld. No one disrespects me!” Amilanu ended on a bellow.

  Enthrall took several steps back, placing his hands over his ears to appear intimidated, feigning fear of Amilanu to help him sell the whole feel of his limitless power.

  Lore looked over at Enthrall curiously. Enthrall glared at Lore and placed his hands over his ears again.

  Lore realized that Enthrall wanted him to do the same. He reached out and slapped Murder on the shoulder before mimicking Enthrall. Murder looked from Lore to Enthrall and immediately understood. He shied away from The Dark One’s rage and covered his ears, too.

  Ata noticed those he tried to manipulate cower from The Dark One. “They fear you,” he commented to himself more than anyone else.

  “All fear me. I am Lord of Hell. No one questions my authority. I am All in my realm. I am All in any realm I occupy!”

  “Why do you want to share my body?” Ata asked, careful to not be duped by this deity known for luring people to their doom through temptation.

  Amilanu felt The Dark One trying to rise from his slumber deep inside him, and smiled seductively. He knew this was his only chance. He had to sell The Dark One and Ata’halne both on an exchange. “Your body is quite a beautiful one. It is strong. It is much younger than this body I inhabit now and will be much better equipped to feed my appetites. I trust females find you desirable,” Amilanu said, allowing his eyes to travel the length of Ata’s body and back to his gaze again.

  “Of course they do,” Ata snapped.

  Amilanu allowed The Dark One to peek through his eyes briefly. The male was an attractive male, strong, golden skinned, silky flowing black hair. “As I said, you will serve my appetites well.”

  “What are your appetites?” Ata asked, actually considering the proposition.

  Amilanu laughed sinfully. “Anything I wish. Any female, any sin, any entertainment I find attractive. Wine, whiskey, and any number of hallucinogenics are a favorite of mine. Then there’s the torture. Females scream and beg so sweetly while in my grip. And this body,” Amilanu spat, “this body resists all my desires for pleasure. He yanks me away from my desires and condemns my actions the entire time I treat myself to that which I’m entitled! I tire of the constant battle. I long for days of complete acceptance and compliance. Do you not wish to have all you desire at your feet waiting patiently for you to take it for yourself?”

  “Why are you entitled?” Ata asked, obviously being lured in by the temptation of power and pleasure.

  “Because I am The Dark One. Anything I wish. Any sin I can imagine. There is nothing too great or too small if I find it of interest,” Amilanu said, licking his lips sensually. “What would you not give to be The Dark One?” Amilanu asked.

  “I don’t wish to die,” Ata declared. “I will not die!” Ata said, withdrawing the knife with his blood on it from his back pocket again, and wielding it toward Amilanu.

  “Death? What is death? I am older than all save this ancient” Amilanu said, looking over at Lore with disgust. “I will never die. I simply need a new vessel — I tire of fighting this one. You will share in my powers, you will share in my pleasures. You will rule my realm alongside me with all you wish at our fingertips. Your body will be ours. Join me. We will live forever, ruling all we encounter. We are of one mind are we not?” Amilanu asked, allowing The Dark One to view Ata’halne through his eyes again.

  Ata thought about it. He’d be ruling his own realm. All he wished would be at his fingertips. He’d be more powerful than any of those he sought to control. He met The Dark One’s eyes and smiled triumphantly. “We can rule the world,” he said thoughtfully. “Everyone will serve us. We can take anything we want, have anyone we wish!”

  Amilanu chuckled. “Exactly. You have but to let me in.”

  “I accept your offer! I will be The Dark One. I will rule all I see! We shall take over the world!”

  The Dark One heard Ata’s words, and his never satisfied soul began to shiver with anticipation. Ruling the world… that would be all he’d ever need. And a male that welcomed his appetites rather than condemning them while he tried to enjoy them would be a much welcomed change. The Dark One shoved Amilanu back down deep inside his body and materialized beside Ata on the limb behind Deaumanique. He’d heard all he needed to. He would like to rule the world, deserved to even. In one smooth movement he knocked the bloodied knife free and as it tumbled to the ground, he took hold of Ata’halne’s throat with one hand, and held Ata’s head steady with the other, then he sealed his mouth against Ata’s mouth forcing his dark, cavernous soul into Ata’s body. Ata couldn’t stop the onslaught of The Dark One. He was so caught up in his delusions of grandeur that he didn’t even want to.

  “We will force The Dark One back to hell once Amilanu is free, before he is strong in his new body,” Enthrall whispered to Lore. “Be ready to rush him and take him back to Hell.”

  “No. I will help Lore force him back. You are still weak from saving Shane, and you are needed here,” Murder argued quietly.

  Enthrall glared at Murder.

  Murder glared back. “I have traveled with Lore for a long time. We will have no issue with this,” Murder insisted.

  Enthrall watched Lore as he placed a hand on Murder’s shoulder while his mists began to swirl at their feet.

  “Stay here, look after everyone here. We will return after the deed is done,” Lore said, not looking away from The Dark One and Ata’halne.

  “I have the right to banish Ata…” Enthrall growled.

  “You defend Whispers. You are Whispers. Calm your people and those who stand here raw and suffering. It i
s my mists who brought him here, it will be me who returns him to Hell,” Lore hissed out.

  Enthrall knew Lore was right, but he’d wanted to exact his own vengeance on Ata’halne for stealing his son’s humanity. Knowing his place was here, he stopped arguing. “Very well,” Enthrall said, accepting that this was the best method.

  “Be ready, my friend, we will be there and back in but a moment,” Lore said quietly to Murder.

  The Dark One breathed his life force into Ata’halne, not even considering stopping when Ata’s body began to tremble and convulse.

  The winds started swirling and Enthrall looked toward Aubreigne to find her just barely maintaining control. Her skin was so dark red there were tinges of black in it, and it was actually rippling as heat sought to escape her body. Her hair swirled in the winds created by her anger, and her eyes flicked between Deaumanique and Amilanu.

  “Aubreigne!” Enthrall rushed out, trying to be sure she didn't intercede while Lore and Murder tried to return The Dark One to Hell and seal him in forever.

  Aubreigne snapped her gaze to Enthrall. Her pupils were blazing flames within their black irises.

  “Stand down,” he said, before glancing at Lore before looking back at Aubreigne.

  Aubreigne simply returned her attention to Deaumanique and Amilanu. Both of those necessary for her to live her life were currently in jeopardy. And no matter how much she loved Amilanu, her daughter was first, always would be. No matter what she had to give up today, her own life included, her daughter would walk away from this. That was all she knew, all she cared about. But Amilanu had taken this risk willingly, and if she could find a way to save him as well, she’d do it without hesitation.

  “Beware of Aubreigne,” Enthrall whispered to Lore. “Do not injure her or take her with you.”

  Lore nodded, but never took his eyes from Ata’halne.

  Finally, Amilanu raised his mouth from Ata’s, taking a step back shakily, trying to maintain his balance.

  “The rope, Lily,” Lore said.

  “I have it,” Lily answered without even looking toward Lore.

  Ata’s head rested back on his own shoulders as his chest heaved while he tried to adapt to The Dark One inside him, and The Dark One adapted to him. Slowly Ata raised his head and stretched the muscles of his body, as The Dark One was feeling out his new home. He raised his chin haughtily and looked around at all those gathered around the tree below him, his eyes glowing an eerie red.

  “Now,” Lore said simply.

  It all happened like a finely choreographed ballet.

  Lily materialized on the limb just beside Deaumanique. She grasped the rope in her hand and simply severed it in two with her mists, causing it to melt completely at the contact of her slender fingers.

  As the rope melted away where Lily held it, Amilanu used what was left of his strength to send his body diving toward Deaumanique. He held her tightly against his chest as he turned in midair, ensuring he landed on the ground on his back with Deaumanique atop his body.

  At the same time, Lore and Murder shot forward, both encircling Ata tightly in their arms as all three disappeared from sight, with The Dark One’s angry roar filling the ears of all gathered there.

  Enthrall ghosted to Amilanu and Deaumanique, reaching for his daughter-in-law and snatching her into his arms, assuring himself that she was unharmed before beginning to untie the rope from her hands and throat while Aubreigne ran to them and smoothed her hands over Deaumanique, begging Deaumanique to speak to her, to tell her she was okay, while sobbing out her relief that her daughter was alive and safe.

  Rune charged forward at Aubreigne’s side, and paced between her and Amilanu with a high pitched whine in his throat.

  Once Enthrall freed Deaumanique from her bindings, she fell against her mother and cried. As both women held each other, still trying to assure one another that Deaumanique was okay, Lily knelt on the ground beside Amilanu. She pressed her hand against his neck, checking for a pulse.

  “Does he live?” Enthrall asked, watching Lily, and going to her side.

  “For now. I’m not sure that he will for long. He’s very weak,” Lily answered.

  Aubreigne was still holding her daughter, but looked toward the male she loved. “He saved Deaumanique for me. If he’d not have interceded, we could very easily have lost her if we tried to force her freedom.”

  “It’s true. We may or may not have been successful. But Amilanu succeeded in luring him to take on The Dark One, which allowed us to free Deaumanique and force The Dark One back into Hell so that we may all be safer in his absence,” Enthrall agreed. “We owe him much.”

  Aubreigne smoothed Deaumanique’s hair from her face and wiped away her tears. “You’re sure you’re alright?” she asked yet again.

  Deaumanique nodded. “I am, Mother. Go to him.”

  Aubreigne kissed Deaumanique’s cheek, then moved to Amilanu’s side. “Amilanu?” she asked on a whisper, kneeling against him, and placing her hands on him.

  There was no answer.

  Aubreigne leaned closer, stroking his face with her fingertips. “Amilanu, my love. Please wake. Let me know you will be well,” she begged.

  When still there was no answer, Aubreigne lifted her gaze to Lily’s. “Can you save him? Will you save him?”

  “No,” Enthrall said. “It almost killed her when she saved Felicity.”

  “I was a child then, Uncle Enthrall,” Lily objected.

  “You’re a child now,” Enthrall insisted.

  Lily smiled at him, then looked at Aubreigne.

  “Please. He is my true mate. He came back here for me, he heard me begging him for help,” Aubreigne explained.

  “He also brought two other women with him. Victims, I’m sure,” Enthrall said, finally casting a glance toward the two females The Dark One had brought with him.

  The older woman raised her voice to be heard clearly. “We were not victims — at least not of his. He brought us with him without our permission, all the while mumbling about worthless families that didn’t deserve to have females of worth if they were willing to sell them into servitude. But, he didn’t harm us.”

  Brannaugh’s face took on an angry moue. “Is that what happened? Your families sold you?”

  The younger woman nodded.

  “No one sold me. My niece was sold by her own parents. It was I who went to free her, when the men of our family chose to let her be sold.”

  “How did you end up with Amilanu?” Enthrall asked.

  The older woman stood beside Brannaugh, unsure of herself surrounded by all the magics and creatures she’d seen here this day. She raised her chin, squared her shoulders and decided that they’d been given into this male’s keeping. He’d been charged with their safety, and she’d force him to keep his bargain with the Demon that had delivered them here.

  “That one,” she said, pointing to Amilanu, “was leaving the brothel with my Kamilah when I stopped him, demanding he free her. He took me in hand too and we found ourselves listening to his rant of our mistreatment and promises of a better life before we arrived here.”

  Brannaugh looked down at the young woman he held securely against his body. “You are Kamilah?” he asked.

  The young woman didn’t answer, she kept her eyes downcast as she pressed her hands against him to try to maintain some distance between their bodies.

  “I will not harm you, Kamilah,” Brannaugh said softly.

  “He was saving them,” Aubreigne said, turning to Enthrall with tears in her eyes. “Amilanu was saving them. The Dark One did not bring them here. Amilanu did so they could have a better life.”

  Enthrall looked back at Lily, still unsure if he should ask her to save Amilanu — she was only fifteen and he wasn’t sure just how safe it was for her, no matter how much he hoped for his old friend to survive. Especially in light of all he’d done today. Not only had he saved Deaumanique, he’d enticed The Dark One into Ata’halne so that both could be banished to He
ll, while at the same time freeing himself, and saving these two women along the way.

  Lily smiled at him as she pulled her misty hands back from Amilanu’s body. “I’ve already healed him. He’ll survive. His body will need to convalesce, but, he’ll survive.”

  “Are you sure?” Aubreigne asked, looking down at the male still lying unresponsive on the ground.

  “I am. I gave him a bit of extra strength. He will regain himself soon,” Lily said. “He deserves another chance,” she said, looking down at Amilanu.

  Chapter 26

  There was a commotion to their right when Carnage and Destroy came barreling into the clearing.

  “All is well,” Enthrall said, when he saw that they both carried their scythes at the ready. “It is done!” he said, standing to stop them from anything they may do.

  “Stand aside, I will remove his head so that he threatens us no more!” Destroy declared, stalking toward Amilanu.

  “No!” Aubreigne said, leaning over Amilanu’s body. “Amilanu is only himself now! The Dark One is gone! The Dark One has inhabited Ata’halne. He’s no longer in Amilanu.”

  Rune started snarling and placed himself between Aubreigne, Amilanu and the Gargoyles who’d appeared suddenly, holding their scythes aloft.

  “How can you be sure?” Destroy demanded.

  “Lore and Murder have taken Ata’halne, with The Dark One trapped inside him, back to Hell. We are free of both of them,” Enthrall explained.

  “Lee Lee?” Carnage said, focusing on his daughter, who still knelt beside the unconscious male on the ground.

  “I’m well, Papa. I just had to give him a little strength. And I cleaned his spirit. He’ll recover soon,” Lily explained. Lily stood up to allow Carnage to check her over and then hug her to him. While he checked her out, she allowed her eyes to drift over to the Dragon Tree.

  “Gar’k?” Carnage asked, noticing her watching her tree.

  Lily turned to face him.

  Carnage gestured to the tree and raised his eyebrows.