They could never understand that given that they to are being's of chaos just as he is. Maybe it was his time in the void, or his time on earth which taught him that Contliss couldn't really say. He just knew Catherine was the one that was worthy to sit beside him throughout the eons. Contliss was sure that fact alone sent her mind spinning with doubt. He just hoped that she could overcome the challenges that are ahead of her. Once she does then they to would have to bow to the knowledge that Catherine will be the only one. Contliss was sure the other's will make her life hell, yet he knew the unyielding strength in those sky blue eyes of her's. As if they were reading his mind all his children stood before him. Row's deeper then he could count encircling him, however he felt no hostility coming off of them.
"Contliss master of the Nether realm we seek an audience with your lordship," Hela said stepping forward. Her black horn crown curving backwards nestled on her star light hair foretelling of her heritage. Her ebony satin bikini top adorned with spiral bronze along it's smooth surface, emphasizing her pale white skin she had inherited from her mother.
"Then speak I have little time to linger," Contliss said waving her to continue. "We do not condone that you our lord would raise this mortal to heights where she does not belong," Ereshkigal said stepping forward casting him in a disappointed glance. "This woman you focus your attention on has already shown she would rather stand against you then with you. Why should we allow such affront to our order go unchallenged." Contliss bit back his anger it would do him no go if he was going to make them see. While he could easily give Catherine the nectar to bring her into his world, however that would lead to a civil war within his realm. That was something he just couldn't afford at that moment, fighting two wars on two front's never ended well. Contliss racked his mind to find the one thing that would show his children that Catherine was the one.
"If she passes the apotheosis then your concern's will be set aside," Contliss asked crossing his arm's not one to be question even from his own children. "That is if there is a future after the event's that are to come."
"If she does then we will withdraw our grievance on the matter," Hela said after moments of debate with her siblings.
"Good now move," Contliss said narrowing his eye's dangerously at them. He loved them dearly yet they to left him to rot in that prison, the thought that they had the right to his throne irked him to no end. His black cloak bellowed out behind them as he walked through their ranks. His anger fueling the dark tentacles that lashed out at those that dared to stand in his way.
This display had shown him they cared only for what they could gain from him. Contliss felt his mother stirring within her eon long slumber, as his crimson energy rippled throughout the shadow walkway. The fabric of his realm trembled as his rage boiled in his vein's, shadow creature's fled from his wrath as the darkness swirled around his body. Crossing the threshold of his world and the physical one looking back at his family in disappointment.
Contliss stood outside the two story brick building as the cries of the innocent filled the air. How he hated himself for allowing this to continue when it would have been so simple to end their foolish lives. However far to much was at stake for him to do just that at least not yet. Soon they too will feel the hopelessness they have forced onto their victims. That was something he himself would see to personally just a few more day's he would have to suffer their ilk. Resting against the brick wall as he felt the spell come to a close.
Biting his nail as he felt them approach putting on the aloof mask he had been wearing since joining their macabre group. Feeling their uneasy look's as they filed out of the desecrated home. Grazela stood at his side a little to chipper given what she was, those cold black eyes sparkling as she wrapped her arm around his. Shooting dagger's at the other women reminding them they would never be this close to their lord.
"Mind telling us where you were," Mark said blocking the door to the van.
"Ensuring our plan won't be intruded upon," Contliss said his eye's glowing menacingly.
"I don't believe a word of it I think....," Mark hands went to his throat as an unseen force choked the life out of him. His heels kicked against the metal panels of the van as his body was lifted skyward. Fear filled his eyes as he watched the man grow in size right before him.
"Do you insufficient speck of a mortal think I care what rattle's around in that feeble organ your call a brain," Contliss said as his image distorted. Two arm thick black wicked horns twisted backwards, protruding from his thick ebony hair that cascaded down to the small of his back. Small skulls of being's long forgotten were interwoven within the long silken strand's. Those cold blue eye's turning blood red as he took the foolish man into his grasp. Holding Mark aloft over twenty feet in the air debating on killing the man there on that cold desolate street.
"I have more pressing matter's to concern myself with then your lust for power. Over one world that is meaningless to the grand order of thing's. When we stand on the brink of war with forces beyond your kin. So go parade around like a colorful peon you'll get what you want I have a cosmos to reclaim. Question my methods again you will find what happened to your friend pleasant compared to the fate you will experience!" Contliss said tossing Mark to the ground as he shrunk back to his humanoid form. "Come Grazela we have only two day's to reach the last location before our enemies move against us," he said entering the van.
Chapter Thirteen
"So you were saying that was his hell," Catherine asked as rain began to fall lightly on the windshield.
"I wouldn't call his realm hell," Joan said looking out widow as pedestrians' seem to stand still as they drove past. "It is the nexus that tie's the other's together leading to realm's I shall not name. From what I am told that realm was only accessible when he was freed. I only have accounts of the battle's that were fought long ago to describe it. However I am sure they embellished their tale's to highlight their own grandeur."
"Was that not the way back in your day," Sarah said offhandedly. Wondering how her mentor was fairing in the throng of those heartless people. Questioning if she could still call him her teacher after all that has happened. Even if she could not study under him any longer Sarah was still determined to help those like her. Though she had a suspicion that she would have to contend with people like Joan if she continued her studies. Which Satrah didn't mind she would just have to find away to keep them at bay.
"Ah yes men those day's did have the notion of inflating their experience to show off their bravery," Joan said remembering the tale's she had heard when she was alive. "So here's what we have they tried to bind Contliss for what reason we don't know," she said trying to understand the dark god.
"Well whoever thought of it might of had the notion of increasing his or her own power," Sarah said she to had been pondering why they would even try. "It can't be that much of a leap given the nature of these people so far. The spellbinding circle was meant to siphon off whatever power's Contliss has," she said her tongue felt odd saying his name. "I don't believe that they thought he was whatever they were told about him. Thinking he was nothing more then a powerful witch, how I wish I was there to see the look on his face when his spell failed."
"Sarah I don't think you should be happy a man is dead," Catherine said glancing at her as they pulled off the exit to Contliss shop. "Even if the man deserved the punishment that he got we have law's. No one can take the law into their hand's that would only lead to anarchy."
"Are you really going to sit there, and tell me you wouldn't do the exact something Contliss did," Sarah said incensed when she knew first hand of what they had done. "Do really think if you caught these monsters that you actually believe. If or when you had captured them do you honestly believe you would be able to hold them. Mind you they are witch's with a simple charm spell they could easily walk out of the jailhouse without much fuss."
"In this I agree with Sarah," Joan said grimly. "Your people are not prepared to deal with people who aline them
selves with the supernatural. People like that who use there power's to only enhance their own standing; that causes harm to those around them for nothing more then pleasure. Should not walk the earth any longer then they already have." Catherine reminded silent as they pulled into the driveway of the magic shop. Saying nothing watching the two of them exiting the van, sighing heavily leaning forward pressing her forehead against the steering wheel. Wondering if that really was her boss in that secret room, and did Contliss really take him to that realm of his.
"Yes I did," Catherine flew back in her seat as he heard that deep seductive voice of his. "The man was demented Catherine he needed to face his sins." Catherine looked throughout the car yet she didn't see him, shaking her head thinking her mind was only playing tricks on her. Until she looked at herself in the rearveiw mirror those dark blue eye's filling it's silver backed surface. Sucking in a breath of disbelief as her finger's ran across the mirrors surface.
"How can you be here," Catherine whispered her eye's going to the front door. Certain that any moment Joan and Norman would come rushing out.
"I'm not really here," Contliss said smiling. How her heart warmed as she saw his smile reach his eye's. "You seemed distressed about the fate of Dollson so I came to relieve your weary mind my sweet," Catherine could have sworn she felt his soft caress against her left cheek.
"So then it's true he tried to bind you and you took him to your realm," Catherine asked trying not to give into those eye's of his.
"Yes he thought he could usurp my power's for his own vile deeds," Contliss said as his shadowy image rippled across the mirror. "It was his wish to see what I truly am so I gave him the fate he rightly deserved."
"Did you kill him," Catherine asked hoping that her own fears would not ring true.
"No the denizens of my nephew's realm did that I simple watched," Contliss said not hiding the truth from her.
"That's just so...," Catherine could not bring herself to finish her sentence.
"Cruel yes I know however the man was a killer, check your morgue for dead prostitutes that have been discovered in the past month," Contliss said before his attention was diverted. "Then you will see just how depraved your Captain truly was. Now I must go Catherine," Catherine's blood ran hot as she felt his lips brushed along hers. Her heart pounded so fiercely in her ear's as his emotions poured into her as their embrace lingered. Her skin heated as her finger's traced along her lips, her mind going blank as his image flashed in her mind.
"Catherine you coming in," Sarah said knocking on the passenger window. Startling Catherine out of her blissful encounter finally noticing the cold that had seeped into the interior of the car. Seeing the worried look in Sarah's eye's shaking the daze from her mind. Pulling her cell phone from her pocket as she exited the van. Scrolling down till she got to Tailer's number wondering if what Contliss told her was true.
"Give me a sec I have to check on something," Catherine said looking over at Sarah as her finger hovered over the call button.
"Sure no problem," Sarah said nodding drifting back to the front door. Dread filled Catherine's mind as the phone rang hoping that her own Captain couldn't be that kind of person.
"Hello Cat it's been awhile are you ok," Tailer's voice was filled with worry. "Where have you been all this time, why haven't you come in, and where's Nicky," Catherine tried not to smile as he bombarded her with countless questions. "Hello Tailer I'm alright for the most part, been all over the place lately following leads," Catherine said biting her lip wondering how much to tell him. "Listen Tailer are you alone," she asked pacing the driveway.
"No but I can be give me a minute," Tailer said the sound of the icehouse glass door opening resounded through the phone line. "Alright we should be good here so now what's going on, I want to know everything and I mean everything. You disappear, the the Captain goes AWOL day's ago something just doesn't sit well around here."
"First I need to know if any dead prostitutes in the last month," Catherine asked trying not to shiver in the cold.
"Alright," Catherine could hear the annoyance in his voice. "Four have come through here in the last month," Tailer said taking the clipboard from the wall flipping through the list of names.
"How did they die," Catherine asked trying to still her shaky voice.
"They were beaten, straggled, mutilated postmortem," Tailer said reading off from the report. "What is this about Catherine?"
"Tailer I think you need to sit down for this," Catherine said her voice quivering. Marcus death still was to painful to bring up, yet if Dollson had any hand in his death which she had no reason to doubt Contliss. Then Tailer needed to know her suspicion about the man even if they couldn't get justice for Marcus in the courtroom. "I think Dollson was behind Maricus death," she said listening to the dead silence as the seconds past.
"Are you sure, I mean sure Dollson can be an asshole but a killer," Tailer said in disbelief.
"That is why I asked about the prostitues while I have no evidence to back up my theory. It doesn't help him that he was the one that put Nicky or whatever her real name is on the case." "Wait, wait are you telling me Nicky isn't a cop," Tailer said it seemed so absurd to him. "Why would he even do such a thing?"
"My guess she was either his spy or accomplice with the murders at the townhouse. I have a hunch she was apart in their death's so Dollson put her with me. To keep him informed of the progress of the case and clear up any loose end's."
"Then why haven't you come in and told this to IAB I'm sure they could help in the search for Dollson," Tailer asked try into contain his fury.
"Because I don't know who to trust in the department, for all I know Dollson has other plants he placed in there without us noticing." Catherine said checking her reflection in the frosty window. "Your the only one I trust that is why I haven't returned to the department. Until I am sure Dollson has been captured till then it's best if I work away from the station." Catherine listened as his frustrated sigh echoed over the phone line.
"Alright if you think that is the best choice," Tailer said in defeat.
"It's the only choice I have Tailer," Catherine said looking towards the shop's front door. "Listen Tailer I got to go I call you one this whole thing is over," she said shutting her phone. As much as she cared for Tailer Catherine couldn't bring herself to tell him the real truth. Of the thing's she had witnessed first hand, the feelings she felt swirling around her chest for a certain man.
Entering the shop standing silently in the entrance way listening to the noises that filled the home. Catherine's hand went to her neck, her finger's running down the silver chain capturing the emblem between the pads of her finger's. Peering down at the oddity that she hadn't taken off since Italy. Wondering just what was in store for them once this whole mess was over. Would she take Contliss up on his offer, did she even want to travel down that path.
While she had no doubt about the feeling's he had for her, was that enough for her to give up her mortal life. Could she forever live in that dark realm of his was that all that was there for her. Chewing on her lip as her own doubt's plagued her mind as she pondered what the future would hold for her. In an instant everything became quiet, the color drained from the wall's as footsteps echoed off in the distance. Wail's drifted around her as the footsteps grew closer, dread pawed at her heart as chain's rattled against the stone of the cell's.
The wall's of the store began to crumbled away as some unknown force pulled at her body. Propelling her across the veil to a realm she hoped never to see. White coarse sand shifted underneath her feet, bending down running her hand through the sand yet it didn't feel like sand to her. Rubbing the granules between her finger's something didn't sit right with her as she studied the tiny grains. They were to square, to hard to be the kind of sand she knew. There was no weathering on the granules as she looked down the beach. Her eye's flickering over to the black turbulent waters, watching the wave's crash into one another.
Taking a dry swallow
as wails of the damned reverberated throughout the cavern as the wave's crashed onto the shore. Falling backwards as a thunderous howl shook the very foundation of the cavern. Fog rolled over the waters surface as a pale figure formed out of the very molecules of the cloud. Catherine's body grew cold as each step the creature took towards her pounded in her ear's. Scrambling backwards flinging sand into the air as she tried to flee from the approaching entity. Yet the sand held her in place as the figure grew closer, arching an eyebrow as a polished Italian dress shoe stepped onto the sand. Those cold green eyes stared down at her as his platinum blond hair fluttered in the heated breeze.
"Why have you brought me here," Catherine asked pushing herself up. Breaking the hold of the sand as it began to crumble around her ankles. Allowing her anger to fill her heart to keep her fear at bay.
"To talk," Hades said looking away. Catherine nearly chuckled out loud at his boyish awkwardness. Smiling inwardly as she noticed the blushing of his pale cheeks.
"Ok so talk," Catherine said taking on the demeanor of an annoyed mother. She didn't know why, but somehow Catherine got the feeling that is what she needed to act like. While she never took comfort in making anyone feel uneasy, however this wasn't what she would have called a normal conversation.
"Do you love my father," Hades asked studying the woman in front of him. He needed to know everything about this woman. While he cared about the wellbeing of his father, it didn't sit right with him about bring this mortal into their fold.
"Yes," Catherine said after a few seconds of silence. "Is that why you brought me to this place?"
"Partly," Hades said turning towards the rushing river. "It's the only way I could speak with you without my sister's interfering in our conversation."
"And just why would they want to interfere with us, I mean I hardly qualify to be on anyone's radar so to speak," Catherine said crossing her arms.
The Balance: Darkness Unchained (The Chaotic. Order Book 1) Page 22
