by Jaime Marks
Marcus motioned Hyracen over.
“This is Guardian Hyracen. He will guide you. If you want this, I expect you to follow him as you would me. No one will force you. If you don’t wish to come, don’t. Those who do, group by age on this half of the cell. I want one of you.” He pointed to the teenagers within the group. “To go with each group of younger ones. Try to help them. Most of them are unaware of the truth and scared, and those who are have been taken from their beds and delivered to a waking nightmare.” They nodded. “It’s just a request. Just try to remember how it felt for you when this was new.”
A girl of maybe seventeen stepped out of the group meeting him square in the eyes and he paled. “Byryn, is my Mother alive?”
He grimaced as he recognized the girl though he hadn’t seen her in person in well over a year, probably closer to two now. Shame coursed through him, almost to the point that he wanted to turn from her. He held fast but looked to the ground unable to face her. Forcing himself to swallow the lump in his throat, he couldn’t even imagine what it was like for her to be in these cells again. He only prayed she hadn’t had to relive her past in the present. “I, I’m sorry Felycia. I’m so damned sorry.”
“I asked about my Mother, Byryn. I really don’t need or want your apology.” She spat looking him over, studying the obvious changes in him.
“I, I don’t know.” He admitted. “Most likely, but I don’t know what capacity she’s in. If, if he killed them he tended to make a show of it, so usually I would say yes, but your Mother was not just about his…enjoyment.” Byryn still could not meet her eyes. “I know you don’t trust me Felycia, but…” He hesitated. “It would be better for you to go with the Fae. You would never…” He choked his words into silence uncertain how to convince her or what he could even say. “It would be safer for you.”
“Fine. I’ll go with the Fae; but you owe me Byryn and you know damned well why. My Mother may have made mistakes but it was only because he fucked her up so bad in the first place. I want her back and you are damned sure going to help me find her.” She crossed her arms with grim resolve. He could sense her. She really didn’t want anything to do with him. Her need for her Mother overrode her need to get away from him.
He nodded, slowly raising his head to meet her eyes. “I swear to you, if she is alive, I will find her and return her to you. You may not want my protection Felycia, but you have it. No one will ever hurt you again.”
She nodded looking him over. “I’ll hold you to it, brother, but I can take care of myself.” The word brother was spat like some curse as she turned and walked away back into the crowd.
Grifyn rested a hand on his shoulder. “You alright?”
He nodded watching the unawakened following his orders as he tried to shake off the pain of the encounter and regain his focus. “There is a lot I need to atone for. There is so much you don’t know, Grifyn. I’m not so sure you would’ve saved me if you really understood who and what you saved.”
“I saw your mind, Byryn. There is very little I didn’t know when I awakened you. I could have stopped it at any time. I chose to awaken you son, because I see the male you will become, the young male you are. Your past is gone, you must let it be the past.” He reminded him. He’d said similar to him after the awakening had ebbed.
Kylion ran up and jumped into his arms as he often did when no one was around to scold him. Byryn smiled slightly and ruffled his hair. “Okay spider monkey I get it, but before we go up top you’re gone, ya hear me? It’s too dangerous for you to go with us.”
“You’re going up there? But Father…he’ll kill ya, Byryn.” The boy looked terrified.
“Kylion,” Grifyn spoke softly. “I promise you, I will protect your brother. Trevyn will never have the chance to bring him harm. I’ll bring him safely to you when we are done.”
He nodded slowly. “Can I still come to the Shadow Cells?”
“Yup, in fact, I have a job for you.”
Now he smiled, his eyes sparkling. To Byryn he was the Light that lit up the entire safehold. “Really?”
“Mmhmm, and it’s really important so listen up. If we’re caught, I need you to take them to the closest hidden passage. You know where I mean?”
He nodded proudly. “Where we play hide and seek. I know 'em all.”
“I know. You learned them very fast. If fighting breaks out, you go right for the hidden passages and lead them out. I’ll find you. I promise.”
“That’s very ‘portant isn’t it?” He smiled his eyes shining in the dim light of the cells.
“Yup, so don’t mess it up little one. Now on my back spider monkey and keep quiet.” He had worked his way around in a matter of moments and Byryn continued with Marcus and Grifyn right behind him.
He knew he was getting shit for not being the tough guy he portrayed when this was over, but hell, like they weren’t all a bunch of softies too. Truth was, Kylion reminded him too much of himself and while he was every bit as hard on him as he was the others, Kylion knew it was for show in public. In private he’d always been kind to the boy. He taught him how to fake his way through when necessary and Byryn cleaned up the kid’s tasks regularly to avoid him going through the punishments that he had. After Michael, Byryn just couldn’t bear to do to Kylion what had been done to him.
He felt Grifyn’s essence reaching out, reassuring him and he returned it. The gestures and connection still shocked him. Grifyn was a Fae of honor. He was exactly the type of Father Byryn had wished he always had and he had claimed him as his own. He didn’t know where the future would take him, but he knew he no longer had to walk alone. He no longer had to hide what he felt and who he was. He didn’t know how, but he was going to give every one of those unawakened the chance to have the choices and the options he now had. He was going to give them the ability to have a life that was their own and somehow he knew, these three Fae, all of whom just three days ago he would have called his enemy, would stand by him, protect, and support him so he could make it happen.
Chapter 9
Cymeryn froze. He did not know how but she was breaking through all the blocks that he put in place. She did not seem to pull away or fight him, but she kept remembering things he wanted her to forget for the moment. It was too dangerous for her mind to be torn in such a way. He took her head in his hands reinforcing the blocks yet again as he stabilized her essence to prevent her from placing herself in danger and kissed her softly. It was time, there was nothing else he could do. If he put it off he risked her slipping away.
“Yes Reyn, you have a daughter, her name is Staryana. She is safe for the moment, but we need to finish your turning before we can retrieve her. It is too risky to bring her here. You asked me to ensure her safety until the Dark Lord helped you. I know the Fae have confused you but do you not remember?” He deplored lying to her despite his nature but he could not risk her splitting further.
“I, I don’t know. I feel confused, Cymeryn. What’s happening to me?” She whispered seeming so timid and uncertain in that moment.
He lightly stroked her hair comforting her and sighed as he withdrew from her core. “I think it is perhaps best if we make our preparations to go to the Dark Lord. He will make you complete, Reyn so you will not have to worry about the mind games. You only need submit to his desires. Promise me you will give yourself to him freely? That you will give in to the pleasure of it?” He could not bear to watch her penance if she defied Lord Lazurys.
She squeezed her eyes shut but nodded and he felt pure satisfaction at her obedience running through him despite his concern for what she would endure. “I’m afraid, though, Cymeryn. I can’t explain why but I’m so scared.”
He sat back and pulled her up so she straddled him, holding her to his chest as he caressed her back. He hated that she feared it still, that she feared what she would become, what she was. He hated even more the idea of the torture she might endure at the Dark Lord’s hands. Delaying this was not an option any longer though. He
could not risk it. He would not lose her now that he finally had her in his possession.
“I have a gift for you, my Queen.” He smiled as he saw the playful curiosity that lit up her face. Her innocence was something he could not comprehend with the Shade she was fast becoming but it gave him a small amount of amusement. It reminded him of something he had seen in her so very long ago.
Sitting her on the bed he rose and went to the closet. “I had this made especially for you.”
He pulled out a black silken gown and lay it on the bed next to her. “Try it on.” He told her as he pulled out the leather robing and pants he wore. He turned as he dressed watching her, enjoying her form as she rose from the bed.
Her skin had paled some but it was not the soft almost white of most Shade. Her hair was not black, but had instead darkened from the light auburn it had been when he brought her here to a deep almost blood red. There were no longer highlights of gold or silver that ran through it but streaks of black that highlighted her loose, dark curls. Her eyes were black though there were some blue flecks remaining. She was magnificent and she did not even have the gown on yet.
He watched as she slipped the fabric of the top over her neck, positioning it to cover her supple breasts as she shimmied the skirting over her legs. She straightened herself and stood before him. The gown fit her perfectly, accentuating every contour of her figure. The top was little more than a thin piece of silk that attached to the skirting of one hip, barely covered her opposite breast as it crossed over to loop around the back of her neck, barely covering the other breast as it crossed to connect to the other hip. He had only to move the fabric to one side or the other to access her chest. The skirt of the gown dipped in a low v just above her slit and crested over her hips cutting into another low v cut at the base of the spine. She looked like Dark seduction, which was precisely what he had made her, exactly what he craved.
He walked to the dresser and pulled out a jewelry case handing her the gem he had had crafted for her so many years ago. He had saved it all these years, though he did not know why. He had sent Trevyn to retrieve it earlier in the day when he had requested a break in awakening the young, which of course frustrated the Shade. Cymeryn knew what he wanted, but he felt there were other more important things he needed to attend to than breaking that female Fae. She would be more malleable once he got to her now anyway, having hung in silent Darkness for a couple days.
She popped open the box and lifted the necklace by its large ruby pendant. She gasped in awe. “It’s beautiful Cymeryn.”
He walked over and fastened it to her neck. Then turned her so he could see it. It was perfect, with that hair of hers. He had always delighted in dressing his slaves and toys as he saw fit, transforming them in delicious visions of sex. Reyn, however looked like the Dark Goddess she was about to become and sex oozed off of her. His cock kicked in his pants and he had to fight the urge to throw her on the bed, pull back that slip of skirting and take her again.
“Come. Let us check that all is in order before I take you to Lord Lazurys. Trevyn will likely covet you...” Near violent jealousy griped his heart when he thought of how the Shade would desire her. “Just remember this Reyn, if you allow the Shade to touch you I will skin him alive where he stands. None but our Lord and I will know the pleasure of your flesh.”
She smiled wickedly and he could feel the Darkness pulse through her, “He did interrupt us throughout the day. It might be amusing to watch.”
He pulled her to him roughly taking her face in his hands and kissing her. “That is the edge I want to see in you, love. Hold it, let it caress you.” His hand slide down her body and slipped under the v of her skirting as he gripped her by her core. “Feel it here.”
She pulled at his robing, holding him tightly as he worked her, a soft moan escaping her lips. She ripped it, her nails raking across his skin as she pushed it open. She latched onto his chest drinking in his black blood that she had drawn as she undid the clasp on the leathers he wore. When the knock sounded from the door, he ignored it feeling the rage that broiled through her as she pushed him onto the bed. She drew the dagger from his waist and stared down at it with a devilish grin.
“Show me, Reyn. Release the Darkness you feel coursing through you.” Cymeryn whispered watching her in reverence. He knew her hunger. He had fulfilled it time and again throughout the day. She was never sated but he wanted to know the depths of Darkness in her soul. He wanted to know that he indeed had the hold on her he felt. Of course, she could decide to plunge that dagger into his chest, but even that he would enjoy and she would pay for it in kind.
She seemed to be pondering something, and for a moment he wondered if she had tricked him, but when she heard Trevyn’s voice the ire in her rose.
“My sire,” Trevyn spoke levelly, “I have the update you requested upon sunrise.”
She played with the dagger as she replied, ice in her voice. “You may enter, Trevyn.”
The door slowly cracked open and he had to approve of Trevyn’s caution. He had no way to know what state Reyn was in and it would be foolish to assume she had turned. When he saw Cymeryn lounging on the bed he took his hand from the hilt of his blade and stepped into the room. His eyes ran seductively over Reyn’s body and a stab of jealous hit Cymeryn. When he regarded her, however, she did not appear taken with his progeny, not in any sexual manner in any case. He suppressed his chuckle, he almost felt sorry for Trevyn.
Reyn walked over to the Shade. “Speak Trevyn or do you enjoy wasting the Supryn’s time.”
His eyes followed her as she walked around him, running the dagger lazily over the contours of his shoulder. He was taken with her. Cymeryn could sense the desire within him as he spoke. “Crytos has awakened four of the young, and I six, all my sons. There are five more in waiting.”
Reyn met Cymeryn’s eyes and he nodded granting her whatever permission she sought. Her voice was hard but held an air of seduction. She was taunting Trevyn, yet her eyes sought only his own and it only served to stir his craving. “Then why are you not awakening another as we speak? You were given orders, were you not?”
Trevyn made no attempt to hide his gaze as it raked over her body with hunger. The wicked grin that curved his lips expressing his obvious approval as he dropped his voice to a seductive tone. “I was bade to deliver report, my lady. I only took leave of my duties to comply. Unless there are other…needs, you would like me to attend to.”
She trailed the dagger down his shirt popping its buttons. “Continue your report.”
“Demytria is still toying with the Praetor. It has been a while, but she said she would call when she had sated herself or he was dead…We all enjoy the sins of the flesh.” He taunted as he raked his eyes over her once more emphasizing his remark.
This gave Cymeryn pause, it was not unusual for Demytria to play with her toys so long, but it was Kato, which would give even more cause for suspicion. He had cut her though, she felt cast aside for Reyn and that was enough for her to make a statement of it to him. She would likely not emerge from her pleasures until he went for her. Still….
“Do you like what you see, Trevyn?” Her voice dripped of seduction.
“You are delicious, Lady Reyn. There is nothing not to like.”
“Hmmm,” She mused as she ran her free hand across his chest, trailing up his arm as she slid around him to the back. She grabbed him by the throat tilting his head back to her mouth. “Is there anything else, Trevyn?”
“Not to report, my lady.” He licked his lips, “There is only what you request.”
She slid the dagger down his chest, her eyes locked on Cymeryn as Trevyn’s blood trickled down the daggers path. With a thrust she sunk the blade deep into his stomach and twisted the blade as Trevyn grimaced holding in the wail of pain that was on his lips. It was a painful incapacitation but he would heal quickly enough to fight if need be. Her choice in action was both ruthless and tactically sound.
“Do not bother us again
with such trivial folly. If your tasks are not complete and there is nothing new or of concern, there is no need to disturb my pleasures. Is there Trevyn?” The seduction had left her tone.
“No, my lady.” He grunted remaining on his feet solidly, but it was with effort. The high level of pain was evident in his visage as she twisted the dagger again. His eyes shone with respect as he met Cymeryn’s looking that the order was to indeed be followed. Very few females could bring the Shade to heel and those that could enticed Trevyn greatly.
Cymeryn nodded to the Shade as she pulled him to his knees by the hair and held the dagger to his throat. “Go check on the Lady Demytria. Ensure she hasn’t had issue with her guest. It doesn’t amuse me that you see fit to interrupt us but have not even deigned to consider there might be a security breech.” She wiped the dagger across both of his cheeks smearing them with his own blood. “Go, before I decide you are more useful as an outlet for my frustrations, Trevyn. Gutting and fileting you would be rather amusing to sate my ire.”
He rose nodding to Cymeryn and left in silence.
She turned to face him, her hunger evident, fueled by her Darkness and her rage. He gave her a wicked smile as she climbed up the bed and straddled him, trailing the dagger down his chest teasingly. He smirked as he leaned up into the blade letting it sink into his flesh as he slid the fabric from her supple breasts.
“You please me to no end, Reyn.” He massaged her roughly, kissing her softly before lying back. “Take me, my love, use me to sate those Dark desires I see so restrained within you. Give yourself over to it, over to me.”
Darkness swirled in her eyes and the blue flecks that remained began to fade as she slipped the top of her gown over her head allowing it to pool at her waist. He watched her with desire as she ran the dagger over the contours of her chest. She cut, gashing her left breast where it curved toward the right. “Drink from me Cymeryn. I love your mouth on my flesh as my essence flows within your veins.”
