“I understand.” The nearby trees shook and howled; the warning was not to be taken lightly. “I will pass the message on.”
Pulling herself onto Barushka, she watched the woman’s figure fade back into the trunk of the tree. Cedric lay in the same position as before, belly flat on the horse’s back. At least he was starting to get some of his warmth back. With a swift turn, they wasted no time to return to a full gallop. It was comforting not having to panic over where to go and where to lead the horse. Somehow, Barushka knew. After everything that he has done, she couldn’t imagine ever having a normal steed again.
It was dark when they made it to Wylleam’s cottage. Angeline had stopped acknowledging the passing of time after the Black Forest. Wylleam was already standing outside, grabbing hold of Cedric before they even came to a complete stop. Watching the door close behind them, she and Barushka could take a moment to release the tension that they were still holding. Hugging his neck, she let the tears free that had been there demanding that she fall apart. After a moment, she unstrapped the saddle, shocked that Barushka hadn’t been rubbed raw from the whole ordeal. Brushing him had been a good way to get her tears to slow as they both enjoyed a moment of calm.
Angeline wasn’t sure how she felt about everything that had gone down. Part of her wished he had simply died off so she could be free, yet another part knew that she needed him. Every time the word need crossed her thoughts, she would pause and mull it over. The question was what kind of need did she want from him? Protection? Attention? Or did she really like him after all? After all the spiteful comments, shoving, and abuse, was there something else there?
“Angeline.” Wylleam’s softhearted voice cut her thoughts short. “I need to ask something of you.”
“What do you need me to do?” She gave Barushka a good pat on the back and he walked off. “I am more than happy to help you, Wylleam.”
“I wouldn’t say that so soon. It’s for Cedric.” His ears were flat, and the sadness across his muzzled face made her stomach knot. “What I am about to ask may not be received well. I know how you feel about things.”
“At least you are kind enough to be honest and gentle on delivering me with bad news.” Her chest ached from the depression that was seeping forward. “What kind of horrible task do I need to do now?”
“There was another way, but we will choose the less daunting choice. Neither would sound pleasant for you. I know you do not like Cedric, and he’s not exactly the best company for a Lady, but he will not be able to heal properly otherwise.” With a great huff, he held her hands in his massive ones and looked her in the eye. “He is a moroi crossed with an incubus with the use of black magic binding him together as one creature. The venom is no longer in his body but the damage has been done. I simply need to take some blood from you since you are a human magic wielder. Your magic will restore order in his body and blood. I should be able to make a healing elixir to get his bloodlines healing right again. I would give him mine if I thought it would work, but despite being a creature of magic, my blood contains none. We Cynocephali depend on our ability to listen to the spirits and use the land’s gifts for the medicines and healing we do.”
“Then what was the other choice?” Swallowing, she wasn’t sure if her ears wanted to hear it. “If giving you blood was the more feasible option, what was the other way?”
“You should already know that answer.” Wylleam broke eye contact, pulling a small knife and jar from the pouch at his hip. “The only reason that wouldn’t be an option isn’t because you would not lay with him. It’s because he would refuse to do so. I did not tell him that you knew how to bind yourself to him, but even then, I think he would refuse.”
“Am I that repulsive to him?” She unwrapped her cut arm, anger was replacing her despair as her thoughts scattered over the matter. “It’s one thing to hear it from his vulgar mouth, but coming from you makes it true to heart. The very idea hurts.”
“You don’t understand, Angeline. He has a very good reason for that decision.” Despite how gentle he was trying to be, she hissed as he reopened the cut with the knife and encouraged it to bleed. “So sorry for hurting you, but I have some ointment for this. It’ll be healed by morning, promise. As for the other, it is not my place to share that story with you.”
“Thank you, but it still hurts that even a demon like him has no interest in me.” He handed her the ointment and more bandages from another pouch. “He’s lucky to have a friend like you. I don’t understand how though.”
“He has a bigger heart than you think.” Swirling her blood in the jar, he started chanting low to it. She watched as a bright yellow glow developed and peaked to the point it hurt to stare at it for very long. “My, you do hold some very strong magic indeed. I may have taken too much at this strength.”
“Is that what the glow is from?” The ointment relieved the pain instantly as she watched Wylleam nod and head back into the cottage. “So I do have magic in my blood…”
Her arm felt good, so she braved half dragging the oversized saddle to the small stable by the cottage. By the time she managed to get it to a good enough spot, Barushka was returning from his walk to the watering hole. Nuzzling her once more, he then set out to lie down in the fresh hay. Wylleam had gotten word about them coming from the looks of everything. He was far better than any priest she had known. At least she had crossed paths with someone caring, besides the shag foal. Sitting on the soft hay, she hugged her knees, leaning against the stall panels. She was far too tired to do much else as she drifted off to sleep.
#
“WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO!” Yelling came from within the cottage and shook her from her dreams. “How dare you do this to me!”
“Oh no,” Sitting up, she frantically pulled hay from her hair. “This can’t be good.”
#
“Calm down, Cedric.” Wylleam’s look of panic did nothing to ease the anger that steamed from Cedric. “It was either this or the other. I already knew that was out of the question.”
“You fed me an elixir full of her blood! Do you know what that does?” He was breathing hard as he paced the floor; no signs were left of his wounds from the venomous bite. “I should leave her here with you for this! I am in enough trouble with the wench and now you’ve ruined me! Ruined me!”
“You were barely alive. It was the quickest way to heal you. Moroi do not thirst for human blood but still can take advantage of receiving vampire healing properties from consuming it.” Cedric’s green eyes held pupils like a cat as he gritted his fanged mouth, common signs for a vampire who recently fed. “My research-”
“I don’t care!” Cedric’s jaw twitched as the rest of his muscles bulged from his seething temper. “I have a hard enough time with the Incubine traits! I do not need you to encourage the other half to savor the flavor of her blood on my tongue!”
“I don’t understand.” Wylleam sighed and sat down in his chair. “What are you afraid of? It’s not like I let you bite into her.”
“My senses are running rampant. She becomes more and more distracting. I wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t attempted to use that bow you’ve given her!” He jerked up his shirt from the floor, and then disgusted by its dampness, tossed it across the room continuing his tantrum. “Her flavor will haunt me as does her touch and the way she looks at me. I am going mad! I feel like a dog in heat!”
“Did she land the shot?” Watching Cedric pace and kick objects did nothing to discourage his curiosity. “Did she hit her mark?”
“Yes.” Stopping a moment, he looked over at Wylleam. “She’s a damn good archer for sure. Landed the first shot in the snake’s eye, just past my cheek. Amazing for a girl shaking like she was.”
“Then why did that distract you? You should have continued to be her shield, not look like a peasant watching a tournament.” Cedric’s face flashed red, and the red in his hair was waning to its black tips, making it look half-black and half-red. “You know I am right. Why would th
e archer you are defending be a distraction? You are well versed in battle tactics to be making a rookie move like that.”
“It doesn’t matter! You should have just let me heal on my own.” Punching into the wood, he disregarded the splinters that bit into his knuckles. “Boto was the one. My incubine blood is far richer than we thought Wylleam. Boto was the one used for my conception. I wasn’t a conjured being; I was born into this curse.”
“Boto?” Wylleam matched Cedric’s sensation of concern. “The King of the Incubine demons was the male half. Now I understand why you’re not so keen on what I did.”
“She’s a virgin, Wyll.” The red in his hair took its place again as his green eyes met his friend’s in pure fear. “I don’t know if I can handle this. Not with her taste in my mouth. It’s not looking good at all. Boto is ruthless, and I am starting to understand it is instinctual. His want for being over aggressive, his taste for virgins, and the excitement of her blood on my lips. It’s haunting me.”
“Morrighan out did herself when she made you. She only uses Boto for her favorite or rarest mixes. It is amazing to think she managed to find a moroi old enough to conceive. Most of them are killed at birth or hunted down at an early age. Perhaps your mother’s bloodline can keep Boto’s at bay?” Wylleam started pulling books from a nearby stack and flipping through the pages. “Not many of his mixed bloodlines are allowed to live. I wonder how you were able to slip under Boto and Morrighan’s aim all this time.”
“I could care less. My only concern is getting these wild incubus cravings to sit still. I can hear her heart, her breathing, even smell her from here. No doors, walls, or dung covered stable can interrupt what I want from her.” Cedric sat, holding his head in his hands as he stared at the ground. “It’s this overwhelming excitement and want. My skin feels as if it’s crawling, and pain is replaced with pleasure. Nemaine’s venom was the first real pain I have felt in centuries! It’s getting stronger. It was getting like this before I came across Angeline, but now it’s building up too fast for me to keep a good hold on it. Shit, she’s walking this way.”
“Stay there, I will take care of this.” Stumbling to his feet, Wylleam grabbed a pack by the door and closed it behind him. “I see you woke up. I packed some fresh clothes and things for you. You should go down to the water hole and wash up while you still can, Angeline.”
“Is everything ok?” She took the pack as she stared at the closed door. “He didn’t sound too happy when he woke up. Is he that pissed with me?”
“He’s not upset with you.” One of his ears dropped as he stared at his closed door. “But he’s quite angry with me. Perhaps one of these days I can explain it, but for now, it would be best to leave him to ride his temper out.”
Chapter Eleven: Desire
Wylleam pointed her in the right direction and almost shoved her off. After she vanished around the bend, he opened his door to a grotesque smell. Cedric was squatted in front of the fire, one arm dug deep into the logs gripping the iron below. The look on his face made him look intoxicated. Covering his sensitive dog nose, Wylleam was oblivious on what to do or say. He watched as Cedric’s red hair faded to a solid black as he began to pant. His eyes were far off, and the look of pleasure on his face was beyond disturbing. Sweat dripped across his skin and the horns snaked from his head. They were larger than the time he had battled the Coinn Iotair hellhounds. Wylleam stared at him with wide doggish eyes. He had never seen this version of his friend in person. All he had prior was Cedric’s description of the demon form that he fought against every second of his existence.
“Cedric?” The dream catchers and charms rattled in the room, spirits whispered amongst themselves in response to the power being leaked into the room. “Cedric, what do you need me to do?”
“Nothing.” His breathing was quick as he glanced up at Wylleam. “She was too close to the door. It was the only thing I could think to do, I, I’m losing control.”
“But your arm, you can’t possibly hold it there forever?” Curling his lips, he looked more like a dog for a change. “What will you do when you are on the road?”
“I’ll need a small knife, or two.” Closing his eyes, a wicked smirk crossed his face as his shoulders shuddered. “It’s like self-inflicted pleasure rather than pain. She’s at the spring. I can smell her even from here. Her bare skin is touching the water… I never imagined my senses to become this far advanced.”
“How can you smell anything over your own flesh burning?” Scoffing, Wylleam pulled a rope that would open the chimney chute wider, praying to relieve his home of the smell. “I will get you the knives, and a new sword. Will you be ok alone in here?”
“Yes.” He opened his eyes, still drunk with pleasure. “I am more than good with this.”
“Here,” Wylleam tossed a dagger at Cedric’s feet as he started out the door. “Perhaps you can switch out and free my home of your burnt flesh? I will be a few hours as I visit a friend on obtaining a sword for you. Are you sure you’re ok being alone with her?”
“I think this will work.” Pulling his arm free of the fire, he frowned as it quickly healed over. “That’s working far faster than before. I’ll switch to stabbing my thigh.”
“You didn’t answer me.” His ears dropped flat and they exchanged glares. “Will you be ok alone with her?”
“I don’t know.” Cedric’s eyes flashed back with the same fear his friend’s question held. “I will not let myself take her, if that’s the concern.”
Wylleam shut the door without another word or glance. His focus was making this a quick visit. Praying to the spirits, he hoped that Cedric could continue to hold his demons back as he had done before. Barushka neighed at him as he walked past the stall. After a moment of pause, Wylleam sighed and decided perhaps riding a horse would be the best way to limit the risk. Pulling himself on the horse, he whispered where he wished to go and Barushka was more than happy to canter that way.
#
“How is the water?” Cedric’s voice frightened Angeline and she shoved herself chin deep into the spring. “Oh come now! Stand back up, pet.”
“Where are you?” The heat her cheeks produced was frustrating as she looked about for him. “I see you are feeling better!”
“Yes and no.” Her eyes caught his green glare from atop a rock behind her. “I figured I would see what my wife actually looked like without dirt covered clothes.”
“Why is your hair black?” There were no signs of his horns, but his intoxicated manner was still taking place. “Shouldn’t you be resting? You’re not quite acting right. Anyhow, I would like to finish bathing. Alone.”
“What does it matter, pet. You are mine and if I wish to look at you then you cannot deny me that.” Cedric dug the knife deeper into the side of his thigh just out of her field of vision. “Now continue. Just go on as if I am not here, as you were doing a moment ago. You didn’t seem to mind me here until I spoke.”
“This is wrong!” Tears were rolling up, and she swallowed the panic in her throat. “I will not do anything for you!”
“Don’t worry dear. I have no plans to mount you here on this rock.” His eyes were untamed as his fanged mouth took its cold tone. He was twisting the knife, testing his limitations of control. “I only want to see what I have ended up with. If I am to talk about your chest to a fellow soldier, I wish to be accurate to the last detail. If you’d like, I could do you the pleasure of seeing what you’ll never get?”
“They’re all the same, aren’t they? That’s what the drunks bark about in the whore house!” She turned her back to him, hoping he hadn’t seen the tear that was starting to fall. “You have nothing I want.”
“Fine,” Ripping the knife from his thigh, he had managed to ease his fears. Confident that he would be able to keep himself in check, he was done using her. “I’ll be in the cabin. Get some rest, we leave in the morning.”
After several minutes, she was confident that he was gone. Her moment of peace was ruine
d, but at least she had clean clothes. The attire Wylleam had given her fit firmer than the ones she had gotten back in Raven’s Den. It was high quality leather and the workmanship made her movements flawless. She would not have put it past Wylleam to have had them made for her. After putting on her new boots that laced as high as her knees, she began her walk back.
Something flashed sunlight at her from the top of the rock where Cedric had been sitting. Coming closer, she gasped. A bloodied dagger and a large pool of blood flowed down the back of the rock. There was so much of it that one would have thought someone butchered a cow on top of the boulder. Her hand shook as she picked up the knife and watched a trail of blood leading up the path. As she followed it, it had stopped before the bend in the trail. What on earth is going on? Barushka neighed hello as he returned with Wylleam on his back. There was no mistake, the blood she saw came from Cedric.
#
Weeks had gone by since they left Wylleam’s cottage. Cedric had returned to being silent and distant again. Angeline had made it a new habit to keep her bow and quiver within reach at all times. She wanted to be ready for anything. After asking Wylleam about the dagger and blood, they decided it best not to acknowledge she noticed it to Cedric. Wylleam insisted that she keep the dagger for herself, just in case something should happen. It did nothing to ease her concerns whether the venom had changed something in him. His hair had gone back to being red with black tips but he had moments where she swore the black was trying to creep back in place.
“Where are we going?” Angeline was tired of not knowing. “How long are we traveling this time?”
“Williamsburg.” He shifted in the saddle. “It’s not much further. We can reach it in a few hours if we ride hard enough.”
“Williamsburg?” She rubbed the scar on her arm. After hesitating, she asked the question that came to mind. “The town that was massacred by demons a long time ago, is that the Williamsburg we are going to?”
“Yes.” His tone had a cold bite. “That would be the correct Williamsburg.”
Cedric the Demonic Knight Page 9
