by S. K Munt
‘You’ve said your piece.’ Ardhi said stiffly. He lifted the gun and pointed it to the door, and with that one gesture, he shook loose her magnetic grip on his morals. Just seeing the panic on her face was enough to send him back from the brink of regret and spiraling back into fury.
‘But I’m not buying it.’
Ivyanne’s wild gaze flitted back to the door. ‘L-’
‘Go on,’ he whispered, knowing the racket outside would drown him out to her visitor. ‘Scream out. Maybe he’ll actually survive a bullet at head height. Again.’
Ivyanne’s face drained of all color. She chewed on her lip and stared at the locked door with despair, computing what Ardhi already had-that Link was about to be human collateral.
‘Ivyanne? Honey come on it’s just me.’
‘Tell him to wait a second-casually.’ Ardhi instructed her, coming up close to her.
‘Uh... wait a second!’ she called out feebly.
‘Good girl.’ Ardhi nibbled on her earlobe. ‘Tell him that you’re getting changed from the shower, and that you’ll be right with him.’
‘Ivyanne?’
‘I-uh-just got out of the shower!’ she exclaimed, more loudly. ‘I’m getting changed.’
There was a pause. ‘Oh. Um... okay.’
Ardhi massaged Ivyanne’s stiff shoulder lovingly. Her skin was hot and rippled with gooseflesh. ‘Now ask him if anyone knows he’s up here.’
‘Does anyone know you’re up here?’ She repeated.
‘No. They’re all asleep. Sorry but I snuck up. I just really need to see you….’
‘Tell him that’s okay. And that it’s a pleasant surprise.’
‘That’s fine..’ she said, although she didn’t sound convincing to Ardhi. He jerked the gun towards the door, and her face flushed.
‘I mean, it’s perfect, actually! I was just thinking about you…’her voice was thin and trembling.
‘Mmm…’ Ardhi risked sliding his hand around her her, caressing one of her breasts through her satin shirt. ‘Good girl…’
A shudder went through Ivyanne, but she didn’t flinch away. Ardhi grinned, wondering what it would be like to take her when her charge watched, helpless to stop him.
‘You were?’ Lincoln sounded surprised.
‘I was.’ Ivyanne swallowed and turned to Ardhi. ‘I swear to god, if you touch one hair on his head-’ she whispered.
‘It’s not him I’m going to be touching.’ Ardhi whispered, running his hand along her flat torso. ‘It’s you. And he’s going to be my insurance. Now get on the bed, and invite him in.’
Ivyanne narrowed her eyes, but she complied, making her way to the bed once more. ‘I hate you.’ She said. ‘When you’re doing this, I’m going to imagine you away.’
‘Sure, sure..’ he whispered, watching her kneel on the bed, feeling himself harden as he backed towards the door. ‘Just be cool, and my little protégé may live to see the sun rise.’
Ivyanne said nothing.
Ardhi flattened himself against the wall and raised the gun with one hand. With the other, he stretched out his fingers and unlocked the door. He then motioned to the trembling queen.
‘Come in,’ she said hoarsely. Her eyes were shining with tears.
The door burst open and Lincoln strode through. ‘Were you just talking to-’ he came to a dead halt at the foot of her bed when he saw how little she was wearing, how her shirt was partially open, exposing her sexy lingerie beneath. ‘Oh my god!’ A smile lit up his face, and he took a few tentative steps forward. ‘What are you…? Does this mean…?’
Ardhi closed the door quietly behind him and flicked the lock once more, vibrating with excitement. ‘Not for you it doesn’t.’ Ardhi cocked the trigger again. ‘But you’re more than welcome to watch me knock the bitch up.’
Lincoln spun around, but before he could open his mouth to scream out, Ivyanne clamped her hand upon it. ‘Ssh, or he’ll kill us both,’ she whispered, pulling him up against the foot of the bed and her heaving chest.
Ardhi smiled at Lincoln’s panicked eyes. ‘I’d listen to the queen if I were you.’
*
Lincoln’s hand came up and gripped Ivyanne’s wrist, staring at Ardhi and his gun in bewilderment. He’d gone from indignant to excited to terrified in the space of eight seconds. He didn’t know what to make of anything.
‘This is pointed at you both.’ Ardhi said, smiling broadly. ‘No one knows you’re up here, and I’d like to keep it that way. So if you do something stupid, like yell-this is probably going to go off, and I’m not very good with it yet. Who knows which head I’ll blow off, you know?’ He grinned maniacally. ‘Do we have an understanding?’
Lincoln nodded.
‘Good. Ivyanne, let him go.’
The heat and pressure fell away from his mouth, and he sucked in a breath like a vacuum. ‘What’s going on?’ he demanded, his heart racing, trying to hide the tremble in his voice. ‘How did you get in here?’
‘He must have been in here for hours,’ Ivyanne answered softly. ‘He just busted out from wherever he was hiding about five minutes ago.’
‘Clever girl.’ Ardhi gave her a simpering smile. ‘Not smart enough to check your room very thoroughly though.’ He clucked his tongue. ‘You must know I’ve been hunting you... should have been more cautious. I mean, going for a big day cruise and leaving the house unattended? Very poor judgement.’
‘Maybe we just aren’t that scared of you.’ Lincoln shot back.
Ardhi’s eyes narrowed to slits. ‘Then that was your mistake.’ He reached into his backpack and pulled out a small coil of bright orange, polyester rope, tossing it gently to Lincoln. ‘Ivyanne-tie his hands behind his back. Thoroughly. I will be checking your work.’
‘You can’t be serious!’ Lincoln hissed, stepping forward. ‘She’s not going to-’
‘Lincoln shut up.’ Ivyanne whispered from behind him. A cool hand rested on his wrist. ‘Do you want to get yourself killed?’
‘Why not?’ Lincoln demanded. ‘He’s going to kill me anyway, when he’s done. At least if he shoots me now, the shot will bring the others running.’
‘Yeah, you’re probably right.’ Ardhi sneered. ‘But if you do that-it’ll be the queen I plug-not you and there’ll be no one worthwhile to save when they get here.’
Lincoln’s blood turned to ice water as he tried to calculate his options. He hadn’t grabbed his weapon on the way up-the only objects he had in his pocket were Ivyanne’s engagement ring, and a small paring knife he’d taken to carrying around when off duty. His head swiveled towards the video camera, and he felt the corner of his lips tug upwards in a smile.
‘Ha ha ha... sorry mate,’ Ardhi jerked his head towards the camera. ‘The queen’s had that turned off for a few hours, which was very helpful of her.’
Lincoln groaned and glanced at Ivyanne over his shoulder. ‘You had it turned off?’ He demanded, thinking instantly of Tristan. ‘Why? Were you planning a little rendezvous I wasn’t invited to?’
Ivyanne glared at him. ‘Actually I wanted to try on something of my mother’s-something wedding related, and I didn’t want an audience. I’m sorry-but I thought I had time-’ her voice cut off, and Lincoln realized that Ardhi didn’t know that they were aware of his plan.
‘Ahh so that’s what you came into the closet for… your wedding dress.’ Ardhi smiled. ‘Had me freaking out for awhile there.’
‘You were in the closet?’ Ivyanne demanded.
‘For nearly four hours.’
‘Wedding dress?’ Lincoln repeated. ‘I thought we got married in the water.’
‘It’s not a dress.’ Ivyanne said. ‘It’s a pearl headdress thing.’
‘I’m sorry I missed that.’ Ardhi said. ‘I’m sure you looked lovely in it, even if the idea of you in white pearls is a little laughable after the way you’ve been giving it away.’
Lincoln clenched his jaw. ‘You know a triple homicide is starting to sound better and better
…’
‘Big talk.’ Ardhi snapped. ‘Ivyanne-tie him up, now.’
Ivyanne sighed, but she took Lincoln’s other limp hand. ‘I’m sorry.’ She whispered. ‘If you don’t struggle, it shouldn’t hurt.’
Nothing except my pride. Lincoln countered silently. But the gun aimed at his face was making him nervous-he could actually feel his healing wound throb in recollection. He stared at the floor, allowing Ivyanne to do what she had to do.
‘Promise me…’ Ivyanne said softly. ‘Ardhi.. please, don’t hurt him. I’ll do whatever you say-but don’t kill him when you’re through with me.’
Through with her... Lincoln’s lungs constricted painfully as he realized what Ardhi’s intentions still were. Over my dead body!
‘I won’t. My list of demands, sweet Ivyanne, have dwindled down to one-you. Tonight. Once my seed is inside you, I’ll go off on my own, and you’ll never hear from me again.’ Ardhi’s face was stony. ‘If you do not come looking for me or cause trouble with the mers I plan on turning for the greater purpose, and you raise my child with all of the love you’d give Lincoln’s here-than I will let you live in peace.’
‘It’s done.’ Ivyanne gave Lincoln a gentle push forward.
‘Ankles too.’ Ardhi said.
Ivyanne sighed, catching another coil of rope. He felt her kneel at his feet. Lincoln looked down at her hair, which was tied up in a tumbling bun, and his heart ached for her.
‘Where is Tristan anyway? I already know he’s not in a cupboard this time.’
‘He’s asleep.’ Lincoln lost his balance slightly as Ivyanne yanked his ankles together. ‘We were all supposed to be resting.’
‘May I ask why?’
‘We were coming to hunt you tonight.’ Ivyanne said sharply.
‘Too bad.’ Ardhi smiled. ‘I must say Ivyanne-I’m impressed with your self control-locking the boys out tonight as you have. Full moon and all…’
‘We’re not all hard up for a screw like you are.’ Ivyanne snapped as Ardhi stepped forward and tugged on the ropes.
‘If that was the case, these boys wouldn’t be sniffing around Grace and my sister, would they?’ Ardhi demanded cruelly.
Stay away from my jacket! Lincoln thought wildly. Please!
‘Aha! What do we have here?’
Lincoln looked down to see the engagement ring box in Ardhi’s hand. He scowled. ‘Please put that down before you pollute it.’ He snapped.
Ardhi laughed. ‘If you think it’s contaminated now, wait until later!’ He stepped back, holding it up for Ivyanne to see. ‘You got all pretty for the evening, may as well don some diamonds for me while you’re at it! Nice work on the ropes by the way-you must actually be looking forward to this.’
‘You’re sick.’ Ivyanne insisted. ‘Deranged!’
‘I’m Marked for derangement.’ Ardhi snapped. ‘Oh yes that ring looks very pretty right there. Not as good as mine did, but it’ll do. Okay Lincoln-get into the corner of the room.’
‘It’s a bit hard to walk you know.’ Lincoln spat as Ardhi rotated him. He was furious at Ardhi for forcing his ring onto Ivyanne’s hand-he’d have to get her another one now. But at least he had been distracted from Lincoln’s knife.
‘Manage it.’ Ardhi sneered, directing the gun back to Ivyanne on the bed, who was holding herself, looking like she was on the verge of tears. Lincoln’s heart broke for her. But he hopped forward, going around her bed and to the gap between it and the wall. When he was in the corner, he did an about-face hop and stood there, glaring at Ardhi.
‘Lie down.’ Ardhi said.
Lincoln set his jaw. ‘I can’t.’
Ardhi’s hand shot out and Lincoln’s body fizzed with fear when he saw the pale purple glow emanate from Ardhi’s hand and come flying at him. The shock his his stomach with the impact of a punch, but it didn’t burn. Lincoln collapsed, hitting his head against the wall as he went down, hearing Ivyanne’s terrified gasp behind him.
‘Ardhi please!’ Ivyanne hissed, sounding tearful. ‘You promised!’
‘I promised I wouldn’t kill him-not that I wouldn’t hurt him if he got in my way. But don’t worry, it’s a low dose. He’ll be able to breathe in a minute. And look-he’s managed to lie down! Aren’t I just so helpful?’
Lincoln grunted and curled his knees towards his chest, exaggerating the pain, trying to get a feel of the ropes around his ankles, to see if he’d be able to get it undone. But his fingers clawed through air.
‘Well…’ Ardhi drawled. ‘That’s the hero taken care of. Now... what am I going to do with the damsel in distress?’
Lincoln squeezed his eyes shut, wishing suddenly that Ardhi had at least knocked him out.
24.
Ivyanne backed up on the bed, heart still racing from seeing Lincoln zapped, bile rising in her throat in terrified anticipation of what Ardhi was about to do to her. The only shot she had was to get his weapon-or drain his energy-but he was holding onto the gun so tightly she was afraid that jerking it into her own palm with her gift would cause it to go off in her face.
‘Now, as much as I’ve craved feeling your hands on me, I don’t want a wave coming through the window. Nice trick, by the way.’ Ardhi said, reaching into his backpack and withdrawing a pair of handcuffs.
Ivyanne shrank back. ‘Ardhi... please... you don’t need those-I won’t risk Link’s life.’
‘I know.’ Ardhi said. ‘But maybe you’ll enjoy this so much that you’ll drain me by accident. Now we can’t have that can we? I still have a getaway to make in an hour or two.’
An hour or two…. Ivyanne’s stomach turned. Ten minutes would have been awful enough-but was he actually planning on making it last? ‘Trust me-you don’t have to worry about me enjoying myself at all.’
Ardhi slapped her hard across the face. Ivyanne gasped, but with her head turned to Lincoln, the absolute horror on his face was enough to remind her to stay calm.
‘Now put your hands up, unless rough is what you’re after.’
Ivyanne sniffled and lifted her hands, feeling vulnerable now. She’d expected Ardhi to cuff them together, but to her dismay, after he’d closed the bracelet hard around one of her wrists-single handed, he passed it through her wrought iron bed head before snapping it shut around the other. ‘There.’ he said. ‘That looks secure enough.’ He leaned close to her and smiled, tugging on the steel loops, testing for give. ‘Does it feel secure enough, baby?’
Ivyanne narrowed her eyes. ‘I’m not your baby.’
Ardhi raised his eyebrows but smiled, shifting until he was straddling her hips. He rested one hand on her stomach. ‘Maybe not. But you’re going to give me one. And it’s going to be a perfect child.’
Ivyanne closed her eyes against her tears. ‘Just get it over and done with, please.’
‘Mmm... my eager little friend. I knew you’d beg for it one day.’ Ardhi’s lips brushed against hers and she turned her face to the side. He followed her mouth, his breath hot against her face. ‘But I’m not rushing this. I’ve earned the right to indulge myself here.’
‘You’re going to fucking die.’ Lincoln grunted from the other side of the room. ‘You’re really sick, you know that?’
‘Not sick. Crazy. And no I won’t be dying, and even if I do-I’ll make sure I go to heaven first.’ Ardhi’s hands came to the front of her nightshirt, slowly unbuttoning it. Ivyanne’s skin crawled, but she kept her face turned away. ‘I’m Marked, and that means that I’m entitled to this.’ His hand cupped her face so she was forced to look at him. ‘Anna should have foreseen this coming-shouldn’t have been so hard on those of us she deemed special. If I’d been free to find love elsewhere, I may not have risked my heart on you.’
Ivyanne knew there was truth in his words. ‘Ardhi I’m trying to do something about that okay? I’ve already amended the rule so that you’re all going to be released from your duty when you turn fifty. I’m trying. You don’t have to do this to make a point.’
Ardhi slowly
began to open the buttons of her shirt. Her skin crawled where he touched her. ‘I’m genuinely glad to hear that..’ he said, wetting his lips when he paused, his eyes focused on her cleavage. ‘But it’s too late for redemption for me, isn’t it?’
Ivyanne knew she should lie, but she had too much honor. She would be raped-but she wouldn’t be weak about it. ‘Yes.’ She agreed. ‘You’re fucking yourself more than me with every move you make.’
Ardhi reached forward and sank his teeth into the top of her right breast painfully. Ivyanne cried out, and a hand came down over her mouth.
‘I can see you’re not going to try and make the best of this, but luckily for me... I came prepared.’
Ivyanne opened her eyes, panicking when she saw Ardhi produce the small clear vial from his pocket. ‘Jellyfish?’ she demanded weakly.
Ardhi nodded. ‘The very one your father tried to poison me with.’
‘Don’t!’ Lincoln hissed. ‘You’ll kill her!’
‘No, I won’t. Just enough to get her high….’ Ardhi popped the lid of the bottle, smiling at her. ‘One drop on your tongue baby, and I’ll put this gun down. You’ll feel better then, won’t you?’
‘Ivyanne-no! Don’t make this easier on his conscience.’
‘He has no conscience and I deserve to be numbed to this somewhat.’ Ivyanne turned back to her captor. ‘One drop-but get rid of the gun. I know I won’t relax while that’s aimed at his head.’
Ardhi smiled and leaned over her, putting the gun on her bedside table. ‘Say ‘yes’ to pleasure my love...’
Ivyanne opened her mouth.
*
The moment Tristan was out of the shower, he wasted no time heading for the stairs. The energy in the house had become a living breathing organism, fueled by the sound of silence within, and the rain from without. Tristan’s footfalls echoes as he jogged up the stairs, a smile stretching his face. Ivyanne had said she didn’t want anyone on her roof, and that she’d locked her windows... but could that have meant that she’d left her door ajar for him instead? He knew it was a long shot, but it was worth a try. And he only had the one try left before the clock ran out.
