Bishops words echo once more in my mind, he reigns Natalie. But what he reigns over is still a mystery that no one is going to clear up for me anytime soon.
“I thank you all for coming on such short notice. I would like to introduce to you, Jacin’s mate, Natalie.” Weyland says and there is just silence. Stunned silence. So, they were looking down at me and they didn’t even know who I was, and now? They look at me like I’m the shit beneath their shoes.
“She isn’t even Demon, or half a one, for that matter.” Someone calls from the crowd. And all Weyland does is jiggle his eyebrows at me. Clearly this is what he was hoping for.
“No, she isn’t, Natalie here, is one of the last remaining enchantresses alive.” Weyland tells the crowd, only earning more murmurs to echo through the walls.
“And why are you introducing her? Shouldn’t my nephew be doing this?” Another man shouts from somewhere in the room, but my eyes can’t track from where.
“Jacin is occupied at the moment, so he gave me the honours of doing so.” Weyland says as he smiles into the crowd. I’m not too sure why he is smiling so much, but clearly this is the reaction he was hoping for.
“Speaking of your nephew, where is he?” Someone calls out and Weylands smile shines more. I have to hold back my head shake.
“Like I said, Jacin is busy. Hopefully he will be along in a few days.” Weyland replies.
“Well this is bullshit.” A man steps forward from the crowd and my eyes take him in.
Blonde, green eyes that hold some resemblance to Dax, tall, well built. Basically, every women’s dream.
“What’s bullshit, Killian?” Weyland asks him and steps down to be level with me, while Killian starts making his way towards us. His walk is cocky, much like the rest of him. He must be a complete joy to be around. Not.
“I don’t believe for a second that this- this small woman here, is his mate. What the fuck does she have to offer Jacin?” He barks out, and everyone remains silent.
“Excuse me!” I say out to him, and he drags his eyes from Weyland to lock eyes with me.
“You are fucking excused, little girl.” Killian says. “Where is he? This must be some sort of a joke.” He says as he turns back to Weyland.
“I’d watch your mouth if I was you, Killian.” Weyland warns him. “She is more deadlier than you.” He says out to the room and takes a step towards Killian.
“That I would love to see.” He laughs out and I hear a few nervous laughs coming from the crowd. “If she is his supposed mate, where the fuck are her glorified bodyguards?”
“Don’t be jealous you weren’t chosen to be one of the five, Killian. Pettiness doesn’t suit you.” Weyland answers again. “And have you ever thought, that maybe, just maybe, she doesn’t need them?” Weyland warns him and looks out to the crowd and nods his head.
“I’m not fucking jealous, I can’t-.” Killian says before he is interrupted.
Growls echo around the room. Its deafening. My eyes search the crowd, trying to find the cause of the sound. And then I see them, my five. With Tray leading the pack. All of the five are in hound form and they are a scary sight to behold.
I must not be the only ones who think so, as the crowds part for them, giving each hound enough space for them to pass through.
“Ah, her five. Who would have thought they would be around? Hmmm?” Weyland teases, but no one is paying attention. They are all watching as the hounds make their way through the crowd, weaving in and out of the people, until they are clear of the crowd and come to surround me and Weyland.
I know which hound is which by now. So, I know it is Tray that comes to stand before me, separating Killian and I, Even is behind me, while the other three are surrounding us. Now this must look a sight. In their human form, these men tower over me, but in their hound form. I really must look like a scared little girl, because they are massive.
“Now that is cleared up.” Weyland is saying as another man steps from the crowd.
Another cocky bastard who will clearly need to be put in his place.
“Well since Jacin is so busy for his mate, I could always keep her company, show her around.” The man says to me as he walks closer and even winks at me as he comes into my personal space. I don’t take a step back. I don’t move. They won’t get the reaction out of me they think to. No, but they will get one they least expect.
“Chester, what hole did you just crawl out of?” Weyland says to him and he turns to grin at Weyland.
“Your sisters, she screamed my name all night long.” Chester purrs out to Weyland. Who I don’t see move. One second he is beside me, next, Chester is on the floor, blood dripping from his mouth as Weyland stands over his, breathing heavily.
“What was that about my sister?” Weyland asks the bloody Chester.
“Fuck man, it was a joke, we know she is fucking off limits.” Chester says as he stands and wipes the blood from his mouth.
“You have a sister? How come I’ve never met her?” I ask Weyland and he turns his pale glowing eyes on me.
“Another time, Natalie.” He says as he takes a step away from Chester. Who just doesn’t learn his lesson.
“But since Jacin isn’t around, I’m sure he is not too worried about his mate screaming my name out tonight!” Chester says and I turn to give him my answer. When movement catches my eye. It’s fast. Faster than I’m normally used to. But I dodge, before Weyland and the Five even notice.
I duck and roll out the way, only to jump back on my feet.
Killian.
“I thought you lot don’t use weapons down here?” I goad him, while he twists the dagger he has in his hand.
“I will never bow to a weakness.” Killian spits out. “He’s mated to someone as weak as you are, fucking pathetic, and it only shows just how weak he is. I will never bow to you or him again.” He hisses out again.
And I smile. I will show him weakness.
Weyland and the Five lunge forward at him, but before they get their hands on him, I order them to stop.
“Back away, and don’t interfere.” I say to them as I pace before Killian.
“Natalie. Getting yourself killed was not part of the plan here.” Weyland hisses out as the five hounds pace behind Killian, growling.
“It seems the lot of you underestimate me.” I shout out so everyone in the room can hear. “It seems, that the lot of you don’t think I’m worthy enough to hold the title of his mate.” I shout out again, but the hall has gone dead quiet, my heels clicking on the floor as I pace is the only sound echoing.
“Well then, let me prove my worth to you.” I say and she comes forward without struggle. My enchantress has been waiting to cause chaos. The crowds surprised gasps are the only indication that I need to know my form has changed.
My eyes glow bright white and I feel the marks of my kind glow. They rise off my skin, symbols black as night float around me, causing my body to be shrouded in a cloud of darkness.
“Hhmm.” We hum out. And I allow her to see what I see.
Cheering erupts in the room. Groups of people shouting out fight, fight, fight. Like this is the norm in this place. Like this is how they settle disagreements. I might just like it here after all.
Killian lunges at me before he changes his mind and I roll out of the way and come to my feet a few paces away from him. As I roll, my fingers touch on the weapons that are ingrained in my body. I feel my own daggers rise to the surface of my skin and I latch onto them, just as Killian attacks me again.
I slash out my arms, as I duck out of the way of his attack. His body hits the floor moments later and the cheers instantly stop as I stand and turn to face them.
Chapter Twenty
“I am no longer afraid of what lurks in the darkness.” - Natalie
~ Natalie~
I look about the room. Challenging anyone else with my eyes that dare to try me again. I will not bow down to anyone. If they thought that, they are sadly mistaken. But they will learn to
respect me. I push my daggers back inside my arms, as they are swallowed whole and I feel them sitting once more in place. A sensation I didn’t think I would get used to, now sits well with me.
If they thought Jacin’s mate would be a push over, I will show them all. I will be the one doing the pushing. And I will push until I am challenged no more.
I step over Killian, who is lying on the floor. His body is bleeding all over the platform we are standing on. No one dare moves, they hold their breaths in as I walk over the dead man to Chester who thought could charm me.
“Not so confident are you now?” I tease him, as tiny droplets of blood run down my face. “Fucking pathetic.” I say to him as I walk up the stairs to get a better view of the room. But more importantly, so they can get a better view of the monster before them.
My eyes run the room. A figure in the middle of the crowd catches my attention. His cropped black hair, his pierced nose and that smug smile are hard to miss. It’s even harder to miss his eyes. But he gives his head a slight shake, one that would have been missed if you weren’t looking for it.
Hades.
I mustn’t acknowledge his presence. He is clearly in the mist of all the people, to catch whatever we would have missed. My eyes move on, I don’t let them linger on Hades.
My eyes move over the room, until another figure catches my attention. Nothing misses my enchantresses attention and definitely not a shadow hiding in the darkness.
A figure standing in the corner watching the show go down catches my eyes. But I dare not linger on him. I have seen him before, and I bet he thought he was safe. He is wrong. I saw him. Through the darkness he thought hid him.
“He was there mistress. He knows. He knows. He can take us to master. We know it. Yesss.” The shadows whisper to me. Their presence caresses my skin, as they tell me all the dirty lies that are in this place.
My eyes make their way back to the men that have my back through all this. My five and Weyland. I trust what the shadows have told me, they are my silent companions to everyone else. But to me. they are my eyes, my ears, my keepers of knowledge and the whispers of dirty little secrets.
I walk over to Weyland. Our bodies so close a person would think we are one. The blood on my clothes transfers to Weylands and he doesn’t even bat an eye at the thought. I feel the man’s blood drying on my face and it becomes sticky on my hands as I move my hand up to Weylands collar and pull him down so only he can hear what I am about to say.
“Corner. Shrouded in darkness. He was there.” I whisper into Weylands ear. And I’ll give him credit. He doesn’t even react to what I have just told him. He gives nothing away.
“You sure?” He asks me. The sudden feeling to hit him over the head with something takes hold of me. But I resist.
“He was there. The darkness hides nothing from me.” I whisper back to Weyland. I feel eyes on me, I can imagine I have left quite an impression on these royal assholes. But I don’t bother to acknowledge any of them. Soon they will all learn; I am not to be messed with.
I start to walk back to Jacin’ s rooms, I need to wash the blood that coats my body away. But I turn back to Weyland, who is talking to the Five. They better hurry, if that man gets away from me, I will tear this place to the ground until I find him.
“Weyland.” I say to him and the whole crowd stills behind him. “Get him.” And I turn back to leave once again.
Seconds later, I here glass crashing to the floor and a fight breaking out on the other side of the room. My enchantress smiles inside me. She knows what we are going to do.
~ ~ ~
“Natalie, you don’t have to do this. We can handle this; we will get him to talk.” Weyland says to me as we make our way down the narrow hallway. This is where Jacin likes to play. Where it should unnerve me, it doesn’t. It would unnerve a normal person, but I’m far from normal.
And she is giddy inside.
I throw my hair over my shoulder, its tied up for this, and I glare at Weyland. “You think I’m going to run away screaming.” I ask him and stop outside the door the man is sitting behind.
“Most people would Natalie, don’t do something that is going to haunt you.”
“I told him, not to remove those crystals, those crystals kept her at bay, they kept her controlled. You will see now what lurks beneath my skin, the monster that I hold within me.”
“Monsters are easily dealt with Natalie, it’s your conscience I’m worried about.”
“Don’t worry about my conscience, my darkness has nothing on Jacin’s. Where his leaks depravity, mine leaks malice.” I say to Weyland who freezes on his spot.
“What? Did you think I didn’t know? You think I was blind to the look in his eyes?”
Weyland shakes his head at me. “You two are so fucked up, you are actually perfect for one another.”
“My darkness goes deeper than Jacin’s. Where his is controlled, calculated. Mine is explosive, destructive and pure fucking evil.”
“Jacin is controlled, but not when it comes to you Natalie.”
“You want to know a secret, Weyland?” I ask him and he nods his head at me. “Jacin was meant to control me, to keep what’s inside me sane.” I say to Weyland, tapping my finger on the side of my head. “My brain is fractured by the evil bitch that is inside me. Do you know how hard it is to pretend to be normal, act sane? When all your mind wants is chaos!”
“No, down here, we don’t hide our depravities. It’s those depravities that keep shit in line.” He answers me back.
“And now she has control. We are one. The chaos inside my head will never end.” I simply state and I smirk at him and push through the door to the prison our guest is staying in. Tray and the other four are leaning against the walls of the prison, but my eyes take in the man in the centre of the room.
He is sitting smug as fuck on the wooden chair that was provided for him. His wrists are cuffed to the chair, making him unable to move.
“Do you know who I am?” He shouts at me, his eyes raking up and down my frame. Cold, hard, evil. Wouldn’t I just love to jump into his thoughts to see what he is thinking.
“Who you are is irrelevant.” I dismiss him and continue to the table in the room, which has all of Jacin’s toys on it.
“I am Alexander King; you can’t do this to me. I will have your head removed from your body!” Alexander screams at me. Tray scoffs in the corner and I hear Evens snort at his comment. I would have loved to have seen him try remove my head.
“You are no king.” I turn around to say to him. His smug look hasn’t left his face and I wish to remove it, quickly.
“I’m more of a king, than anyone in this fucking room.” Alexander barks out.
“Do you know who I am?” I ask him, and his scowl returns to his ugly face.
“You must be Jacin’s whore.” He sneers at me.
“Correct! Ten points for you!” I say to him and clap my hands, like some giddy schoolgirl.
“I will never bow to you, you fucking bitch.” Alexander says to me. And the men in the room start growling. It vibrates through the floor, down onto the walls. I pay it no attention.
“No one asked you to bow.” I say to him dryly. “I just awarded you with ten points, be fucking grateful.”
“What is it you want from me!” He demands, but he really isn’t in the position to be demanding anything from anyone, especially me.
“Do you know what else I am?” I ask him and he looks at me as if I have lost a few of my marbles. Maybe I have. I clearly didn’t need them to begin with.
When he doesn’t answer me, I continue. “I am his mate!” I say to him while walking over to get close to him. I want to rip his heart out through that smug smile he has on his mouth.
“Yeah, and should I start fucking quivering in my boots. He isn’t here and you only have Weyland and your precious five to guard you.”
“Now how do you know he isn’t here?” I ask him. And the coward he is shuts his mouth. He just gave
me the little bit of information I needed as confirmation. I will end him.
“You know what.” I say to him, pretending I completely ignore his last statement. I don’t need any protecting and he will know that soon enough. “I’m new to this whole mate thing, but what I can understand is, that I am his. And you know what he is then?” I ask him, but before he can answer, I answer for him.
“Mine!” I say to him, I move my hand so fast he doesn’t even see it move and my nails latch onto his lips and pull them away from his mouth. “And you fucking touched what is mine!” I say to him and slam the screwdriver I found on the table through his lips. It will make one wicked fucked up lip ring in the end.
His screams are deafening. Blood is pouring out of his mouth and I push his disgusting face away from me. His body batters against his cuffs, he is trying to get loose, to remove the screwdriver that is holding his lips closed. He won’t, unless I cut his hand off, but then he will have bigger problems than a screwdriver through his lips.
“I’ve seen Jacin at his worst.” I say to the screaming man, which seems to calm him down, so he can listen to me. “But I’m far fucking worse than Jacin will ever be, welcome to your new nightmare.” I say to him and turn back to go to the table.
“Leave, all of you.” I instruct the six men I have stunned into silence.
“We canno-.” Tray tries to say to me, but I cut him off.
“Then wait outside until I’m done.”
The six men shuffle out of the room and I turn to face Alexander. The blood has slowed, but his entire body in covered in his own blood from his new piercing I kindly gave him.
“Jacin is a sweet dream compared to me, don’t you think?” I ask Alexander, but all he does is shake his head, making his blood splatter over the floor. “I can only imagine what a fucking nightmare I am. But you took my sweet dream away from me.” I say to him. “I want him back. Where is he?”
His answered is muffled and I can’t make out what he is trying to say. He should try harder, I asked him a question, even if he had no tongue, I’d expect an answer and an answer I will get.
The Darkness in You (The Darkness Series Book 2) Page 20
