Dark Confusion

by J Thompson

  Sitting up, Callum carefully extracted the pre-filled syringe from the box the healer had provided and, as instructed, injected the liquid into Helena’s neck. It was the only place he could think to do it without making himself feel like the evil doc.

  Placing the now empty syringe back into the box, Callum then reached for the small knife he kept by the bedside. Slicing across his lip and feeding Helena had become the easiest way to get his blood into her. Her body had responded as they had hoped and now only yellow bruising and faint scars remained from her ordeal. Even her hair had grown an inch, which now looked like it would grow back just as thick and glossy as he remembered.

  Sliding the blade edge across his lip - as was his habit now - he moved to kiss his mate, only to find her eyes wide open. Hope bloomed within - she was awake.

  "Helena?" he whispered and smiled down at her.

  Her eyes just stared up at him. There was no facial expression as she looked up at his face, then her eyes flicked to his bleeding lip. Her eyes dilated at the sight of his blood and then moved to look at his hand that still held the knife.

  "Baby?" he asked again, wanting Helena to say something, needing to know she was ok. Her gaze lifted and their eyes connected once again.

  Her eyes were no longer the pale orbs he loved to look into. They were now a dull, dirty red that flowed over even the whites of her eyes. Her breathing had changed, her chest heaving with every breath, and Callum realised the gods had not looked kindly on them; he had been too late.

  His mate, his love, had turned.

  With no warning, Helena attacked and Callum let her. Releasing the knife into her own hand, he didn't mutter a word, never made a sound as he felt the blade slam through flesh and into his shoulder, driving straight through to the bone as Helena pushed him onto his back. Her naked form straddled him as she stabbed him again in the shoulder, releasing a torrent of blood that covered them both and fed her demon.

  This was why the males bonded with the females before maturity. Not to protect the females, but to protect everyone else.

  Helena fed and Callum did nothing to stop her. This was his fault, he had created this demon when he had failed to protect her. He would take his fate and death like a true succubi warrior.

  "Take it all, my love, take it all," he breathed out, closing his eyes. Helena threw her head back and screamed in pleasure as she took his life's blood.

  19

  Not all tales end with a happily ever after

  Callum ached all over, every muscle felt sore and he had shooting pains travelling up his shoulder and down his arm. His mind felt fuzzy and he struggled to simply open his eyes. "Callum, you back with us?" a deep voice called out, and he forced his eyelids open. He winced as the light from his bedside lamp filtered into the orbs, causing pin pricks of pain to shoot through his skull. "Dominic?" Callum questioned, confusion making him frown. "Thank the gods," he heard Dominic breathe. "What's the last thing you remember?" Moving to sit up, Callum groaned as his body protested. His mind tried to recall memories of before, but was only able to bring up fuzzy images. Gently, he shook his head as he looked at the leader of the enforcers. He had known Dom a long time, yet, even now, Dom looked uncomfortable. “What happened?” he croaked out, and he couldn’t miss the flash of pity that made a brief appearance on his face before it was hidden. Still, Dom said nothing, and that worried Callum. “Dom, I know you aren’t a coward, so out with it,” Callum growled as he leaned back against the cushions of the bed. He was still in his room, but something seemed missing - different from before - but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. “Listen, Callum, you’ve been through a lot,” Dom started, his eyes wouldn’t meet his and that bothered Callum. In everything they had been through, never once had Dominic not been honest with him. “We found you three days ago, unconscious and nearly dead. You had been bleeding out from two stab wounds in your shoulder.” Callum’s eyes went wide and his hand crept up to touch his right shoulder, it was tender to touch and only a small scar remained. “Can you really remember nothing?” Dominic asked again. Callum looked down at his hand as he tried his best to focus on what could have happened. He fought to make the fuzzy images clearer. Pale eyes stared back at him from his mind, calling him and firing his memories into order. Blood, acceptance and love. His beautiful mate had turned, he had failed. “Helena,” he breathed and his eyes met Dominic’s. Now the pity made sense. “Where is she?” His heart rate accelerated. “Where’s Helena?” “Callum, calm down.” “NO!” he shouted, “Where the fuck is she?” Dominic stood and Callum jumped out of his bed, ignoring the wave of nausea and dizziness that nearly toppled him. Dominic’s eyes widened as Callum stalked him. He took a few steps back before he stood his ground. “Callum, she is alive, that is all you need to know.” “Where the fuck is my mate, Dominic?” Callum screamed, “Don’t you dare take her from me!” Callum knew he was sounding unreasonable and most likely out of his mind. But the thought of Helena in anyone else’s care but his, brought every single protective instinct he had to the forefront. “Callum, she tried to kill you,” Dominic calmly stated back. “She wasn’t the Helena you remember, she is lost to us.” “NOOOOOOOO!” Callum fell to his knees, his face in his hands. Any sort of hope he had, had vanished, leaving only despair behind. He wished she had killed him, because his heart wasn’t just broken, it was destroyed. It was a useless husk now, no use to him or anyone. “My friend, I am truly sorry,” Dominic’s voice called from near his bedroom door. “Get out,” was all Callum could muster. He didn’t even look up, only looked down at his hands, once again tracing the light pattern on his right hand. He had been so close, so close to having her back in his life and giving her everything she deserved. Callum ignored the door as it opened and closed, signifying Dominic’s leave. Callum wasn’t bothered that he had shouted - even threatened - his mentor and leader. Instead, his focus was on his memories as they flooded back. The care and attention he had given Helena, the hope that she would come back to him as she slowly healed and the agony at realising she had turned. Her dirty blood red eyes had made her look like the demon of nightmares, and before he had blacked out, he had heard the pleasure in her scream as she fed from him. That was not his Helena, and yet, there was a huge part of him that refused to give up on his love. Although she was now doomed to a death sentence, his mind continuously turned over on how he could make things right. Callum was unaware of how long he sat on the floor to his bedroom, wasn’t aware what time of day it was. Only the cool touch of Sebastian’s hand on his shoulder brought him out of his daze. “Callum?” Callum didn’t answer. “Callum, my friend, it is time to get up.” Callum ignored Sebastian, not wanting to move. “My friend, if you have any hope of saving your mate, I suggest you get off your arse.” Sebastian’s stern voice filtered through his brain, reminding him of his days as a trainee and the beating he used to get for not listening to instruction. He lifted his gaze to meet the hardened one of Sebastian’s. “I’ve lost her.” “You will if you stay sat here.” Callum frowned. “Get up,” Sebastian urged, “Get up now.” “But, how? She’s turned.” Sebastian was already at the door, collecting Callum a top from the chair on his way, launching the material at Callum before he peeked out the door. “There may be a way, but you need to hurry. The council will not spend long discussing when to execute her. You’ve lost three days already.” Callum threw on the t-shirt, slipped his feet into his Nikes left by the door and followed Sebastian out of his room. He didn’t talk. Instead, he waited for Sebastian to reveal more. His brain was a mess of information and Callum wasn’t sure how much more he could take. “Listen, you had already started a bond before Helena was taken.” Callum stopped. “How did you…?” "I just know," Sebastian said with a small smile. "Because of this, there may be a chance that a full bonding will work." "A full bonding? I love her Sebastian, but she did try to kill me. How the fuck am I going to be able to have sex with her?" The elder warrior said nothing, but continued down the corridor towards the o
ldest section of the palace. This was where the enforcers’ training rooms were housed and where their makeshift dungeons were stationed. Usually, they didn't need holding pens for the guilty as most were killed in the battle, as was the immortal way. No point in keeping alive a being that would most likely escape at some point. Callum became angered at the thought of his delicate, beautiful mate caged up like an animal, only to realise, at this moment in time, she was in fact more demon than woman. Myths and legends spoke of how dangerous succubi women were before the males had found a way to tame them. Hundreds, if not thousands, of men had perished to the will and whims of succubi females, whose blood lust and sexual appetites were never sated. Thoughts filled his mind of how the males of old had first calmed their females, how they had controlled a being that, in the demon state, was stronger than any male. Callum had almost died once, but when he thought about it, being without Helena would be worse than dying. He would gladly give his life for hers. That's what they would have vowed to each other if the bonding ceremony had taken place. His vow to always protect and be the key that would keep her soul safe had been first and foremost in his mind. He would do everything he could to bring her back, and if not, then the council could put him to death right next to her. As Sebastian stopped outside the door that would lead underneath the training level, he looked Callum in the eye. "This isn't going to be easy, my friend." Callum laughed, but it felt hollow. He tried to stay upbeat, "Neither were your lessons, but I managed." Sebastian returned his laugh and held out his hand to shake Callum's own. "You always were my best, when you weren’t being the smart-arsed student." As Callum clasped palms with his fellow enforcer, the seriousness of the situation fired his blood. "The alphas will make sure no one disturbs you, but we don’t have a lot of time.”

  Callum nodded and reached out to grab the door handle.

  “Do what you must, even if it seems wrong at the time.”

  “You mean force her, don’t you?” Callum asked, looking his friend in the eye.

  “She will not see it as such; it will be more along the lines of you forcing yourself.” With a small grin, despite the direness of the situation, Sebastian turned, “But I’m sure you are more than up for the challenge.”

  “Lame, old man. Lame.”

  “Good luck, Callum. May the gods watch over you.”

  Callum watched as Sebastian walked up the corridor before he pushed through the door to the dungeons. The smell was old and damp, your stereotypical run of the mill dungeon that spoke of ages past and centuries old torture. If walls could talk, these would tell tales of blood and anguish.

  Apt considering what he was about to attempt.

  His feet made barely a sound as he moved down the stone steps. The only light came from traditional torches, their smell reminding Callum of his youth and helping to clear his still foggy mind.

  As he stepped into the main room, chains could be heard slamming against the stonework as screeches and cries of anger echoed off the walls.

  Steeling his shoulders, Callum approached the cell on the far left, the thick steel bars separating him from his now turned mate. Dressed in nothing but one of his t-shirts, she stared back at him from beyond the bars. Her eyes, now bright red, fired anger and then lust in his direction. Small fangs could be seen pressing into her lower lip that was coated in blood. Her bare arms sported new bruises and bite marks from where she had started to bite her own arms in desperation. In her hands she held the chains that meant she could move no more than four feet from the wall. It had been those slamming against the wall that he had heard.

  Helena was not happy.

  “Baby?” he questioned as he stepped up to the bars.

  His answer came as a hiss as Helena moved to run against the bars, only to be flung back as the chains held fast.

  Her screech of annoyance filled the cell.

  Walking to the cell door, he unhooked the padlock that he assumed Sebastian had unlocked and opened the door. Closing it behind him, Callum steeled himself for the battle that was to come. Helena now faced him, the chains no longer in her hands. Instead, they clenched and unclenched as her chest heaved.

  It was a face-off, pure and simple, and there would only be one winner.

  He had her attention, now all he had to do was man the fuck up and tame his mate.

  20

  Bonds can be broken. But can they be remade?

  “Helena,” he said, and held his hands out, palms up, in a non-threatening gesture. He both wanted and needed to get through to her. He wanted the bond complete, but he never thought he would have to force it in a dungeon.

  It would surprise him if he could even get fucking hard, the whole thought of his mate trying to rip out his throat in a sex-filled, blood-crazed stupor actually hindered his libido, rather than enhance it.

  Stepping closer still, he stopped within a foot of her reach, hating the sound of her screeches. This was not his mate, but she was in there somewhere and even if it killed him, he would find her again.

  “Helena, my love, will you come back to me?” he asked in a soothing voice, coaxing as he stepped within range of her extended hands. Reaching up, he took hold of them in his own, holding on tight as she started to fight.

  “Helena, in all of this, please remember that I love you with every breath in my body. Where you go, I go, baby.”

  As he took a hard grip of her hands, he forced them - chains and all - behind her back, pinning her against his chest, immobilising her, yet putting him in direct range of her clashing teeth. Callum made no sound of protest as she bit into his shoulder. Instead of making her fight more, it settled her down as she pressed her lips to the bite and fed.

  Maybe this wouldn’t be as hard as he expected. Feeling confident, he released her hands to move his up her body and around her shoulders, holding her head to him.

  “That’s it, baby, shhh,” he cooed, and relaxed.

  Helena’s scream erupted first and once again Callum found himself flat on his back with his mate straddling him. Her strength and agility surprised him, as did the speed with which she shredded his shirt, leaving his chest bare for her nails. She screeched again as she moved against his groin. With no underwear on her, he could feel her heat and as she bent her head and bit into his chest. He responded as he thought he never would.

  Using her distraction to his advantage, he thrust up against her, smiling a small victory when she groaned but kept feeding, her hips surging against his, riding his growing erection. Sebastian had been right; there would be no need for any force other than her will under his.

  It was his battle to win.

  Hooking a foot around hers, in one fluid movement he rolled them towards the wall, creating slack on the chains and making it possible for him to force Helena’s hands above her head. She screamed and bucked under him, fighting to be free. Her eyes blazed with defiance, Callum had never seen Helena look so fierce. Leaving the thinking behind, Callum bent his head and took Helena’s lips in a bruising kiss, forcing her mouth open and taking control. He asserted his dominance, making her bow to his rule. Unable to stop himself, Callum bit down on her lip, tasting blood, her blood sending his own senses sky rocketing. Groaning out loud, he sucked on the wound, drawing more of her essence into him even as his now hard groin settled against her heat.

  “Fuck,” he groaned again as she bit his lip in return. Her fighting had stopped. Instead, she clawed at his bare back, wanting him closer. Only his joggers blocked him from being inside her, but he refused to release her, just in case she fought back and escaped his hold, and that was not an option. Still he thrust against her, each moan and screech of pleasure egged him on as they fed from one another. Blood coated them both, yet still, she wasn’t his Helena.

  Callum growled out and pressed harder, his only goal now was release, to give her the best orgasm of her short life and maybe, just maybe, bring her home.

  Biting into his own lip once more, he released more of his blood and then merged his and hers togethe
r.

  One heart - one soul.

  Live or die, they would be together - always.

  21

  Sometimes hope can be the evil we try to escape.

  Sebastian

  Sebastian looked at his watch. Time had gone quickly since he had led Callum down the corridor to his fate. Whether the young enforcer would prevail was only for the gods to decide, but if he could help sway them in his favour, then he would.

  He knew the task ahead would be one no one would have chosen, but it was, after all, the journey that made the destination all the sweeter to experience. If both Callum and Helena came out of this alive, they would have a bond so solid it would rival even that of the royals. Pushing himself upwards, Sebastian left the comfort of his own quarters, nodding to his fellow enforcers as he went. It was only Dom that stopped him.

  “It’s been only an hour?” he questioned, but fell into stride at his side.

  “Yes it has, but I have a feeling the council will be coming soon so I dare not wait any longer.”

  As he said this, multiple footsteps could be heard entering the dungeons. They were out of time.

  Both continued towards the dungeons, neither knowing what to expect, worst case would be their friend would have gone out in a blaze of blood, but they both had hope.

  Their steps echoed on the stone floor, but that was the only sound that greeted them as they walked into the chamber where the cells circled the room. There was no sound.1