"And he saved you?"
"Something along those lines. They drugged me somehow. Anyway, once I came to, I killed all of them and swore my allegiance to Boris. Shortly after, we felt this immense pull when you awakened, so we came to join. You know the rest."
"Indeed, I do. But it feels rather strange to get to know you for some reason. Maybe I'm truly drawn to power, and maybe it's far more than that, but whatever it is, I'd be happy if you stayed around. Not because of Boris, but because of me."
She stopped moving her hand and looked down at it with a spark in her eyes. Without another word, she mounted me and pressed the tip of my cock against her pussy. She was wet and ready to take all of me in, so it was no surprise that she slid down my length smoothly. Selene was tighter than anyone of my girls, and no matter the cold, she felt like fire as her hips rocked up and down.
"What is-- this feeling?" she moaned. "I've never felt such bliss!"
The feeling of her wetness pressing against me from all sides was almost too much to take. I was still too sensitive from Freya, so there was no way I could make it much longer. Selene's fingers dug deep into my flesh as her eyes rolled up into her skull, and all muscles contracted. A sensation even stronger washed over me as I came right inside her. She gasped as if I just struck her and got off me, then hid behind Freya.
"Selene?" I asked, wondering about what was going on.
"Goddess! What the hell did he do to me?"
"I-- don't know what you mean," Freya replied. "Ivan?" she asked, looking at me strangely.
"I have no idea. Wait, don't tell me she could get pregnant from something like this?"
"You both are supernaturals, and quite strange and powerful at that, so why not? But how she could even feel such a thing is beyond me."
"Shit. Just what we needed. A second Vladimir," I murmured.
"Hey! I won't let it come to that!" Selene yelled. "Just because one was a bad apple doesn't have to necessarily mean that another one has to be."
"Right, right. I'm sorry, Selene. We'll take this a step at a time. But there's no hiding it from the others in that case."
"No one has to know whose it is. Besides, from how things are standing, I wouldn't be surprised if the world ended tomorrow," Selene said. There were pain and longing in her voice. She yearned for something more than this, more than being just a soldier. Didn't we all? But I wasn't the right person for that, especially not if I managed to awaken the last time. Who knew what I'd do to the world?
"I assume you want to keep it?" I asked as I got up. "And give it a normal life?" She nodded from behind Freya. "And why are you hiding behind her? I'm not going to do anything bad to you, you foolish little girl."
"Hey! What the hell am I supposed to think after something like this happens?"
"Come," I said, motioning for her to come out from behind Freya. She hesitated but walked into my arms. "Tell me," I whispered when she put her arms around me and smelled her hair. It had a spicy scent to it, pleasant yet strong. "Can you parry the other girls in power?"
"I can."
"Good. Then you can keep it. You know that I won't always be around, especially not until the Vatacan is done with. And that could take years or centuries. Will you fight for the child?"
"I will," she whispered. I sighed and shook my head slightly. There wasn't much I could do. I could either kill her and the seed, or I could accept her and move on. In the end, I wasn't yet the monster I knew I'd become. I'd cross that bridge once the time came. For now, I could enjoy protecting something that could become dear to me. In the end, maybe it could even serve to keep me grounded and not lose who and what I was to Dracul and Bethrezen.
"You've decided then?" Freya asked. I nodded.
"I have. She'll be one of my ladies. We'll all take care of her and the child no matter what. I have a feeling that it could play an important role in what is to come. Though I'm still at a loss about how this was possible. Do you know of any magic that could do something similar?"
"Good. Then how about we get some rest before it's time? You can-- hold all three of us with your broad, strong arms," Selene whispered.
"And to answer your question," Freya added, "No, I don't. I mean, Belobog could probably do something on a whim since he's the god of 'life' but I can't. I can curse someone to not have a child, so I have no idea what's going gon here."
"I see. In any case, I might as well enjoy the little time we still have for ourselves," I said, putting my arm around Selene. Freya joined us and pulled up her leg over me.
It was funny how little it took for one to be happy, or at least feel better. Or was I maybe trying to feel like a Human again? Whatever it was, I didn't mind the change for now. We would see what tomorrow brought when it came, but for now, I would take what I had. And when the sun finally set, that's when I'd worry again.
Chapter Thirty-Two
"Lord Ivan! Lord Ivan!" a voice startled me awake from the stairwell. It belonged to a young man, maybe in his twenties. The voice was accompanied by the stomping of boots against the cold, hard stone.
"What?" I growled angrily. I was annoyed that someone had the gull to bother us during the few hours I'd taken to rest, though, in all honesty, I doubted anyone would be as stupid to annoy us without a good reason during that time.
"The mayor and Boris need to speak to you immediately. There's trouble brewing outside the city walls."
I groaned and got up. It hadn't even been half a day, and someone had to fuck with us. Sighing, I used the shadows to help me dress. I was far too tired, both physically and mentally to do so myself.
"We'll take care of it already, what's with the attitude?" Freya asked as she summoned the dark fog that served as her clothing most of the time. Selene just got up and put on the little bit of armor she had without speaking. I turned to her, but she wouldn't meet my gaze. Deciding it wasn't the best of times, I finished and jumped from the window spreading my wings as I flew direction the mayor's manor.
Even though it was somewhere during the night, many pedestrians were enjoying their newfound freedom. And how could they not? Living under someone's boot for so long was something I wouldn't even wish on my enemies. After all, there wasn't a big difference between death and repression. You're fucked in either situation.
Nearing the manor, I noticed everyone was on high alert. Boris stood at the dead center of the manor square and was talking to the mayor. Renato stood beside him with his arms crossed and a steel look on his face.
"What is it?" I asked, landing right beside them. "I better hope this is worth my time, Boris."
The Werewolf waved me off and turned to the western wall.
"Climb up there, and you'll see, Ivan. Go. You should see for yourself instead of me trying to explain. Go, hurry up so we can talk about finding a solution."
I frowned not being able to hide my annoyance by the way he addressed me but decided not to dress him down in front of others. Still, I couldn't let it pass no matter what the reason might be, so I grinned and slammed my hand against his back.
"Follow me up there and explain," I ordered. Boris knew I wouldn't accept no for an answer, so he sighed and went down to all fours. It was such a delight to degrade him every now and then for all the shit he kept pulling. I stopped atop the wall looking indifferent before the dome started shimmering and became translucent.
"See? Do you really have to become mad every time I try to warn you?" he asked, shifting from foot to foot.
"Why the hell don't you turn back Human? I doubt you're any uglier in your natural look," I replied and leaned over the wall's edge. Indeed, it was a sight to behold. There were soldiers as far as the eye could see, all clad in white robes except the group that rode at their front. It was clear to me with a single look that these were no pushovers, no this was a real army.
"Because I wouldn't be able to fight that over there," he replied, waving at the enemy army. The strange thing wasn't them standing at attention on the other side of the wall, but
the fact that they weren't attacking. For some reason, they were holding back.
"Since when have they been standing there like that?"
"They just arrived. Maybe they're resting?" Boris asked. "Though I highly doubt it."
"So do I. They probably have no idea about the change of leadership, but why they be in cohort with the countess in the first place? I'd have to ask her that myself before I made a rash decision.
"Come, let's go have a chat with Bella," I said, jumping down the wall. I sure felt like showing off before the ordinary people for some reason. It wasn't that I needed to gloat or rub it in their faces, it was more a habit to tell them 'hey, don't forget who I am' and the like.
"Coming!" he shouted after me as I darted toward the mayor's manor. He stood at the front door, already waiting for me.
"Mayor," I said with a slight nod.
"My Lord," he replied with a deep bow. "What do we do?" Sweat dripped down his brow. The man was nervous and had problems breathing.
"We talk to Bella. Where is she? And loosen up, nothing bad's going to happen under my watch, mayor."
"Please, this way," he replied and opened the door hurriedly. "She's down in the cellar. Would you like me to join you?"
I nodded.
"Very much so," I replied, waiting for him to move. "How has she been restrained? I assume you've followed our instructions?"
"Yes, my Lord. She's bound with silver by the wrists, her ankles and by the neck. Whenever she gets in a trashy mood, we can smell the stench of her burnt skin up here," the mayor said just as he opened the cellar door. Inside I saw three soldiers standing guard. They all wore some of the better weapons and jewelry. I could feel their power, though weak compared to us.
"You three are relieved. Stand watch at the front door and don't let anyone in except for my private circle," I ordered. The guards nodded and left hurriedly. I waited for them to close the door behind them and walked up to the room where Bella was chained up. "Countess," I started as I opened the door and waltzed right in on her.
"Took you long enough, scum! Separating a mother from her child, how dare you? You're a monster!"
"Shut up," I growled slapping across her face. "I do the talking unless you need to reply on a question. Understood?"
She snapped her head up and hissed, baring her teeth at me.
"Depends on what you want to know, Ivan!"
"Two things. One, there's a cleric army standing guard outside the gate. What can you tell me about it?"
"Oh? That's quite the opening question, Ivan," she snickered. "Don't you think I would be more willing to cooperate if you asked nicely?"
I stared back at her smirking face. She knew why they were here, I could see it in her eyes. But the witch enjoyed every moment of discomfort I was in. That would quickly change, I thought and summoned my spear. Using my shadows, I held her in place and stabbed her left palm. The smirk never wavered until it started turning purple and then black.
"W-what have you done? What have you done to me?" she screamed and tried to pull her hand free. I pulled the blade from her hand and proceeded to do the same to her right hand. She screamed in agony as the rot spread to her wrist.
"Answer my questions, and you might live. At least for a while longer," I replied coldly.
"Make it stop, and I'll tell you!"
"Speak!" I growled. "Speak, or you're of no use to me anymore!"
"Ahh! Make it stop!" she screamed. In a fit of rage, I lifted the spear and slashed right through her left arm at the elbow. She looked down in horror and then up at me.
"Speak, or the next thing that flies, is your head," I hissed. She looked down at the stump and then back up at me. Bella gulped and looked around before setting her eyes on mine.
"They're here because of Nosferatu. He has a deal going on with the Pope," she said and looked around again as if afraid he might show up. "They were sent to take care of Zharevo and take your head back with them. They don't know that it's already razed to the ground."
"Why are they standing at a ready outside the city walls?"
"I think that he was supposed to send him new orders. Otherwise, they were to go inland and destroy everything they came across. Why? How many are there?"
I couldn't help but show my discomfort to the woman as I bared my teeth and growled.
"At least a thirty thousand."
Bella burst out in laughter as the blood still trickled from her elbow. It was as if she'd lost it. No, she was happy over my discomfort, that much was clear. Whatever, I thought, her time would come quickly.
"So you're royally fucked," she laughed again.
"How about we make a deal, Bella. I spare your life, and you do something for me. If you're able to, that is."
"Huh? What would you have me do?" she asked curiously.
"Steer the army toward my stronghold. I want to fight them where I'll have a fighting chance. If we go at it right here, this city will be left in ruins."
Bella frowned as Selene and Freya walked in on us.
"What's that bitch doing here? She betrayed me when I needed her the most!" Bella screamed and spat at Freya. The goddess remained calm and stood there proudly.
"Shut it. Do you agree or not? I don't know how it usually went down, but I don't want to provoke them into attacking this place by not acting."
Her teeth chattered and threatened to break as she squeezed her jaws shut.
"Promise that you won't kill me, and I'll do this."
"I'll kill you if you don't," I replied and thrust the spear tip into her gut. She screamed and twisted around, but the spear wasn't going anywhere no matter how much she squirmed around.
"Fine! Stop twisting that thing like a madman already!" she screamed. Maybe I would have had some mercy in me if she hadn't killed the butcher and made me do her dirty work. Maybe, just maybe.
"How do you communicate with them?"
"The mayor goes out with a written message. We already had one prepared that would put them on their way. It's in my work desk's right drawer in the study. Have the mayor give it to their leader, and everything should be fine."
"Freya?" I asked, pulling the blade free from Bella's gut.
"I don't know. I wasn't there when they did this the previous time. Or any other for that matter."
"Speaking of which, why didn't Nos recognize it was you at Bran castle if you're acquaintances?"
"We're not. The way he saw me back then was as a black blotch of power. Same again during our battle here. But outside battle, he couldn't connect us. My power is too vast for anyone to find out just like that."
"I see. Any ideas?"
"Try to find the letter," Selene replied. "Once we have it, we can see how to proceed further."
"Good," I said and smiled her way. A weak smile crawled up her face in turn. "Mayor. Did they check the study?"
"We never found a study. At least not something that would pass for a real study. Do you want me to--"
"No," I cut him off. "I'll go there myself. Have them guard her. And no one is to feed her any blood or she'll recover her lost limb and rip you apart."
"Lord, be at ease," the mayor replied as we walked up to the stairs. "You've heard him! Be vigilant!" I could hear him order the guards.
"Speaking of which, why didn't you know as much about this situation, mayor?"
"My Lord? How could I? They never sent me out there. It must have been someone else pretending to be the mayor, or they might not have cared."
"I believe you, don't worry," I replied as I walked past him and through the door. Boris waited for us, sitting at the top of the stairs.
"Did she say anything?" he asked.
"We gotta find her study. You stay here just in case. I don't trust Human weaknesses. They're too compassionate in such situations, especially after she lost an arm."
"Yeah, I can smell the blood up here. It reeks of death."
"Whatever. She'll be dead sooner or later. We'll be back in a bit."
&nbs
p; The mansion hadn't been looted by the mob to my surprise. Four guards at the front had most likely been the main reason, I thought once spotting them. They hurried to greet us and opened the massive iron doors, letting us in uncontested.
"My Lord? What can we do for you?" the head guard asked as he bowed slightly.
"Don't let anyone in when we're gone," I replied as I walked past them, and up the long flight of stairs leading into the mansion. The door was locked shut, so I had no choice but to force them off their hinges and throw them aside. Selene shook her head as Freya facepalmed. "What?" I protested.
"Nothing. Go inside, please," Freya said as she pushed me ahead of her. I shrugged, not in the least bothered by their attitudes. What stopped me, though, was the mansion's entrance. It was huge, and I really mean huge. Expensive looking furniture littered the area along with a massive chandelier and artwork along the walls. The right lead to an open living room that seemed to take up most of the wing, while the left side led to a closed-off area.
"I think it's here somewhere," I said, turning left. I would want my study to be near the place I spent most of my time, which meant on the same floor at least.
Stopping in front of the door, I frowned. There was no doorknob or any way to open it. Angry, I lashed out and struck the wooden frame, ripping at the hard-wood with each hit.
"What the hell are you doing?" Freya asked. "Why the hell didn't you wait for me?"
"Because you're annoying the shit out of me with the secrets and the snarky comments!"
"I do? Well, what do you want to know, my lover? What is it that I've hidden from you and made you feel so horrible?"
"Oh shut up," I hissed and turned back to the wooden wall. Summoning my shadows, I slammed them right into the wooden boards, ripping it all open. Splinters and chunks of wood flew in all directions. Freya covered herself with her usual darkness, but Selene got hit in the left shoulder and in her chest.
"Fuck! Ivan!" she cursed.
"Sorry, but look. I've found it on my first try," I apologized and waltzed in like I owned the place. Books lined the walls wherever I looked, along with tomes and bound paper. At the center of the room sat a majestic-looking desk. "I want that for myself," I said, pointing at the wooden marvel. "We need someone to transport it for me."
Lord of Shadows book 2: Bloodlines Page 25
