Ashiyn kicked the man's leg out so hard it snapped, then dropped the screaming human to the ground and turned back to the girl. She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. Eyes full of all the torment and torture she'd endured in her short life. He could see it and feel it because he had lived it also.
He walked around her and picked up his blade. He considered her for a moment. Then he took her head too. He watched her body fall and the cat screamed and ran off.
Oh. The young one. I want her blood.
Ashiyn stabbed Sihtaar through the child's body so the sword could drink, irritated slightly by its almost giddy demand.
He turned around to grab the man, who was now trying to crawl away, and dragged him back to the table with the knives. As the blade fed on the blood of the innocent child, Ashiyn sated himself with the screams of her abusive father as he flayed the man alive with his own dagger.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Ashiyn returned to his castle just as the night started to fade. Nthir fled out of his way, disturbed by the gore dripping from Ashiyn’s armor, as he stalked through the halls to his room.
The curtains were pulled back from his windows, so the fading moonlight lit the room. Seraphine slept on his bed with the light from the window highlighting her curves and the beautiful features of her face.
Too exhausted to appreciate her right now, he turned to his sword's case. He spent the next half hour cleaning all the dried blood off the blade. Once he was certain he hadn't missed a drop, he laid the blade back in its glass case. It lay dormant. Sated. Quiet.
Ashiyn felt sated as well. He walked into the armory and removed his armor. With great care, he cleaned every speck of blood and gore off the enchanted black metal before returning it to the stand.
The next stop was the washroom where he cleaned himself with equal precision. By the time he sank onto his bed to sleep, dawn peeked through his windows.
Seraphine stirred as he laid down and scooted closer to him. Her hands trailed over his back softly, her long nails tickling his skin. "You were gone all night, my King."
"Yes." Ashiyn agreed. He closed his eyes. "Would it disturb you if I told you I was out slaughtering an entire village? I spared no one. Not a single woman or child."
"No," Seraphine replied, as she cuddled against his back. "Your reputation is well known. It would shock me more if you suddenly were to stop killing."
Ashiyn glanced over his shoulder at her with a scowl. "It does not bother you?"
Seraphine's smile lit up her eyes in an intoxicating, delightful way. There was something wicked about it. "I am no stranger to death. Nor do I fear it. Nor do I fear you. Does that disturb you, my King?"
Ashiyn considered her question as he watched her unusual eyes. Again, he felt something strange come over him when he looked into them. "What are you? A siren? An enchantress? Never has a woman stolen my attention the way you do."
Seraphine gave him a look of wide-eyed innocence. "I don't know what you mean, my lord. I'm merely a simple peasant from a simple town."
Ashiyn knew better. There was something about her. But she was pleasant, both in her physical features and the fact she didn't act like a scared insect expecting to be killed every time he touched her. "Why don't you fear me?"
"Predators don't hunt other predators. They hunt prey. I have never been prey, my King," Seraphine replied simply, then slipped her arm around his waist and rested her head against his shoulder. "You should rest. You are exhausted to the bone."
"Torturing for hours will do that. Do you have any idea how long it takes to skin a man with a small knife?" Ashiyn asked as though it were the most normal thing. "He deserved it though. He was going to torture his daughter's cat in front of her."
"Why did you kill the child, too?" Seraphine asked. Just curiosity. No judgment in her voice.
Ashiyn took a while to answer. "There was no saving her."
"I understand." Seraphine said softly. "Rest. I will have Soryn make you something to eat when you wake."
Ashiyn rested, although he wondered just how safe it was to lower his guard with this woman even for a moment. But what did it matter? He was immortal. He could die, but he would always come back. His master had certainly proved that.
The day came and went as he slept. He woke only because Seraphine shook his shoulder as she set a tray of steaming food next to him. The smell of the food roused him, and his stomach rumbled as he sat up to devour it.
Once he had finished the meal, Seraphine set aside the tray and let him devour her. They had just settled to lie there, spent, when Soryn knocked on the door. He cracked the door open to peek inside as if he were afraid of what he would see. "My King, there is a man outside. He claims he is an emissary."
"Feed him to the Nthir," Ashiyn commanded with a dismissive wave.
"That's not any way to make alliances, my King. You want the world to give you control, yes? Some are gained only by trust and promises." Soryn opened the door wider so he could step inside. “I think it would be best for you to meet this one.”
Ashiyn gave him an irritated look, then rose and dressed. "Did he even say where he was from or who sent him?"
Soryn fell into step next to him as they walked briskly through the halls to the entrance. "The man is an emissary to Lord Errance himself."
Errance? Ashiyn raised a skeptical brow. Errance was the official king over the humans. King of most of their world. One of the few kings left that had not bowed knee to Ashiyn.
Soryn just shrugged and opened the door for Ashiyn. There in the courtyard was the emissary. The tall man sat atop of a pristine griffin. The man's cloak, the griffin's armor, and the ridiculous banner all emissaries carried bore the unmistakable colors and crest of King Errance.
Ashiyn strolled down the stairs to the courtyard, imperious as always. "What brings the emissary of the world to my humble doorstep?"
The man looked him over as if to confirm Ashiyn’s identity, then cleared his throat and retrieved a scroll. He showed Ashiyn the official King's seal before ripping it open and reading from it. "The exalted Lord Errance, King of the World of Men…”
Ashiyn lost interest as the man continued with at least twenty more pointless titles. He crossed his arms as he waited for the message.
“He requests the presence of Lord Ashiyn, scourge and bane of the world of men, so that a treaty may be discussed in private." The emissary finished, then took a paper and a quill from the same bag and gave Ashiyn an expectant look over his rimmed spectacles.
"You may tell Lord Errance that I decline. I have no interest in a treaty." Ashiyn snorted and turned back to the entrance.
The emissary took quill to paper to write but stopped mid-way with a look of shock. "King Ashiyn, no one denies King Errance! Surely, reconsider."
Ashiyn paused to look back at him. "Very well. You may tell him the treaty I propose is that he steps down and allows me to take his place."
The emissary sputtered in disbelief and was still doing so by the time Ashiyn passed through the doorway.
Soryn closed the door behind them, then looked at Ashiyn. "Was that wise, my lord?"
"Lord Errance has fed the blood of his people to the darkness for long enough, don't you think? He doesn't have what it takes to rule." Ashiyn shook his head. "Be a good man and make me something else to eat. I am quite hungry."
Soryn's eyes betrayed his continued skepticism, but he bowed low to Ashiyn and disappeared to cook as ordered.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Soryn made a meal as requested and set it in the dining room but declined the opportunity to join Ashiyn and Seraphine for dinner. Instead, he walked up to the very top of the castle. The day was stormy and grey and the waves surrounding the castle crashed loudly below and sizzled whenever they broke over the stone enough to reach lava. He sat down on the edge the roof, feet dangling to the dangerous sea below. Marista’s body was long gone, but he couldn’t help looking for it. What had driven the woman to that fate? Ashi
yn was cold, but he never hurt the women he was bedding.
Soryn sighed and raised his gaze to focus on the clouds churning above. He loved to listen to the storms, though the apocalypse had drained the clouds of any rain. The wind whipped at the thick robes he wore, but the chill was refreshing after the heat of the castle. His gaze drifted to the dark tower in the distance. Though it lay in ruins now, Rurik’s former home still marred the horizon. He shuddered, his mind lost to memories of the day Ashiyn had saved him from being sacrificed at the top of that very tower. Did that Ashiyn still exist? Soryn thought he saw it from time to time, but he was not certain. It had been so long.
“Soryn, I have been calling for you,” Ashiyn’s voice rang out strongly against the wind.
Soryn looked over to watch Ashiyn saunter out onto the roof. Though it was well hidden, there was concern on his friend’s face. For a moment, Soryn felt shamed for making Ashiyn come back to the roof. He climbed back down to safety. “I’m sorry, my King. Did you need something?”
“No. I don’t need anything,” Ashiyn said, as his golden gaze turned from Soryn to look over the land stretched beyond the cliffs. “I remember riding with you over those plains. Remember, you thought Illusion would eat you?”
Soryn glanced across the cliff. Back in their childhood, the castle had stood on even ground with those plains, but time and battle had destroyed the land surrounding it. Rhadamanthus in his paranoia had made the castle an island on a cliff. The once beautiful plains were now nothing but dry dust, thanks to the apocalypse. “I remember,” Soryn said softly. “I wish we could go back to that time. All of the sneaking out together as young men, learning about the world and each other, even though it was forbidden.”
“What happened when I flung you away?” Ashiyn asked, his voice low.
Was that remorse that Soryn heard in his tone? Soryn glanced at Ashiyn. If that was what he heard it did not show on Ashiyn’s handsome face. His friend had made an art of hiding his emotional responses to anyone who was not close to him though. Perhaps the years had dulled Soryn’s ability to read Ashiyn. “I didn’t dare race back to you,” Soryn admitted. “I was afraid of Rhadamanthus using you to destroy me. I had to make sure you were in control before I came back. I went and trained the boys in Rurik’s tower until they were all grown men and could survive on their own. Then I helped them find good lives. It was rewarding to help them, but I missed you.” Soryn paused and met Ashiyn’s gaze. “I felt like I was dying every day I could not see you. So, I snuck in as your servant.”
Ashiyn’s eyes flashed with pain. “How long were you here?”
Soryn waved a hand to indicate Ashiyn should not worry about it. “It does not matter, Ashiyn. I’m here with you now. However long, it was worth the wait.”
Ashiyn lowered his gaze, clearly struggling with emotions he did not want to show. “I missed you. Even though I did not know what I missed. There was always something out of place.”
Soryn reached to take Ashiyn’s hand, his tone light and free. “Well, here we are. I am forever with you now. Our masters are dead; no one can hold us apart now. We can be together in any way you wish.” Soryn hesitated, searching his friend’s eyes. “Is it all right if we are lovers? I can be just your friend again if that is what you need.”
Ashiyn scoffed a little. “We’re both too old to worry about that, aren’t we? And that was Rhadamanthus’s ideal, not mine.” Ashiyn reached to trail his fingers along Soryn’s cheek as he spoke. “What is your desire, Soryn?”
Soryn marveled at such a gentle touch from such a brutal man. He closed his eyes, his voice a whisper, “I want to be at your side until this world ends. I want to give you the love that you always deserved but was stolen from you. I want to turn you from the course Rhadamanthus forced you on and bring you back to who you are meant to be. I want to help you save this world.”
“You want to save me,” Ashiyn corrected, as he frowned.
“It’s only fair, my King. You did cause an apocalypse to save me,” Soryn reminded him softly.
Ashiyn looked back over their dying world, his expression grim. “Your life is still not a price I am willing to pay for this world. Come, let us go back inside for now. We have a lot of time to make up for.”
Soryn raised a brow when Ashiyn started back inside. “What about Seraphine?”
“She’ll just have to wait. I gave her a room, and she’s busy ordering the Nthir around as she redecorates,” Ashiyn snorted, amused. “Come on, before I change my mind.”
Soryn blushed and scurried after Ashiyn.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Ashiyn stood on the roof of his castle. He could see the army lined up on the shore across from his moat. Their standards were with crossed axes on the yellow and red checkered background. They belonged to a neighboring kingdom. He had tried to court the princess once years ago, and they had held a grudge ever since. Ashiyn shook his head. Troops mounted on horses could not fly. The idiots should have brought griffins. Illusion was the only flying horse in this world and Ashiyn had created him.
The army leaders rode back and forth on the cliff side trying to find a way to cross. Movement beyond them caught Ashiyn's eye, and he raised his gaze to look over the plain. He bristled when a cluster of bright blue griffins landed behind the first army. King Errance had finally gotten around to sending his response.
What does it matter? One army. Two. With me you can slay them all without breaking a sweat.
Ashiyn twitched his hands as the sword's words echoed through his mind. "I should let my armies take them. Why waste my own effort?"
An arrow flew through the air and skittered across the stone to land at his feet. Ashiyn stretched out his hand and used his magic to draw it causing the ripped note to fly into his hand. Ashiyn cleared his throat and opened it to read.
He only made it through the first spiteful paragraph about how he was a fiend. Skimming the rest, he saw that it called for his surrender so he could be tried for his crimes. He crumpled up the paper.
Sparks rose from his hand as his magic set the paper on fire, then he hurled the growing fireball back into the midst of the army as his answer.
Men scattered. The fireball did not hit any of them. They turned and shook their weapons at him and shouted, making quite the clamor.
"So noisy, they are." Ashiyn shook his head. Then he stretched his hand out toward the army. He recited words both ancient and forbidden. The ground behind the army cracked, and Ashiyn's monsters crawled up from the depths. "Drive them into the sea," he commanded, as he crossed his arms again.
The flood of monsters charged at the armies of men. The griffins took to the air to avoid them. The men from the nearby kingdom fought fiercely, but one by one they started sailing over the cliff's edge. Either driven off or tossed over by the monsters.
The griffin army, on the other hand, decided the best way to deal with the situation was to attack him directly.
"Problems?" Soryn asked, as he joined Ashiyn.
"Be a good mage and knock those birds out of the sky, would you?" Ashiyn glanced at his friend.
Let them come! I thirst! Sithaar demanded.
Ashiyn ignored the sword. He wanted to see what Soryn was truly capable of.
There were at least a hundred griffins flying toward them at battle speed.
Soryn rolled his shoulders, then raised his arms to the sky. The words he mumbled were unfamiliar to Ashiyn. The sky above them roiled with sudden dark clouds. Then lightning danced from griffin to griffin.
Ashiyn watched both men and griffins crash against the sharp stones in the moat below. It didn't take long before a dozen large serpentine bodies slithered through the rocks. "You surprise me, Soryn. I didn't expect you to kill them."
"Attacking my King's castle is an act of war. The world is better off without that sort of foolishness." Soryn turned to bow to him and said calmly, "I came to tell you that dinner is served. We would be pleased if you would join us."
Ashiyn
watched the serpents below clean his moat until the last corpse disappeared below the angry waves. Then he turned to Soryn and nodded. He let Soryn go ahead of him.
That was a waste of life. I could have drunk from them, Sihtaar grumbled.
"Tomorrow we will destroy the rest of the kingdom that attacked. You will drink well. Be silent until then," Ashiyn muttered to the blade low enough that Soryn couldn't hear him. "Errance's kingdom will be next."
Yes. Good. Destroy the king of the humans and they will bow before you as they should, the sword agreed, then fell silent once more.
Ashiyn contemplated how many would be left to rule when the world was finally in order. Ashiyn despised fighting with armies of humans. The idiots should be throwing themselves at the monstrous armies instead of wasting resources battling Ashiyn.
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