“Why do you always send the missives to the Warlord? Do you know what he is?” Someone asked. Another Undine from behind Veline whispered. Peeling free of a bit of grass to stand and face the prettier woman. This one had dirt along her back and strands of grass growing from her feminine figure to mask what she was. “Because, Germaine, despite what everyone thinks of King Detry’s Commander he is the King of Creature’s greatest defender. He protects our lord. And he can only do that if he can assess the dangers of where the King of Creatures goes.” “Does our King know he does so?” “He knows his birds are redirected to Warlord and that Warlord sends him the messages. He doesn’t know why. But he trusts his brother.” “They’re brothers?” Germaine queried with lifted brows. “Our savior and that destroyer?” “Judge not a man when you know not why he does the things he does.” Veline cautioned. Bouncing her finger to send the bird off. *** I followed a tiny narrow trail which looked like
I reached the edge of the cleansing pond and his hard grip caught me around the ribs and wrenched me from the safety of the water. No! Put me back. And in a flash, I was on the ground, in the dirt on my back. His hands were everywhere. Caressing over me expertly. That nearly reverent touch smoothing along my legs as if they were his favorite part. He dropped his mouth over mine in an all-consuming kiss. His tongue invading my mouth in the same way I knew his cock would soon be invading my body. No! I’ve just healed. Just banished your abhorrent touch. Let me go! But despite all the screaming of my mind, my body was a wanton. My hands caressed over him. Pushing at his shirt to bare his browned flesh and trying to pull him down over me. How did anyone ever believe he’s that old Magistrate? Nothing about his stature, movements or build indicated old. But I reminded myself that what I was seeing now wasn’t what passerbyers saw on the road. They see something else. I glimpse the re
I found myself standing in Mathis’ Wash Room. My body projected in spirit form. Knowing I couldn’t touch anything or strike him. But somehow he could see me. Had known I was there. How can he see me? “Now, the question is, how did you get here?” He asked thoughtfully. His hands lifting from the water to catch the sides of the tub as he leaned forward to assess me. “I didn’t bring you here.” He tilted his head to eye me. “And I didn’t invite you. So...How’d you get to me?” Feeling very afraid and assessing the intrigued look on his face I gathered my courage. Sensing that I needed to take advantage of this tiny moment of his confusion to react powerfully. So I said the only thing that came to mind. “Let it be a lesson to you.” I hissed. “I can reach you when you least expect it!” *** His hand shot out of the tub, and he stretched to reach me. Can he even touch me? I took a step back and hunkered as I tried to figure out how to get out of this room. Where I’m cornered. I sc
As my body began to relax, I felt movement low in my pelvis near my left hip. I put a hand over it and felt a small lump which seemed to be jerking. No. I lifted my nightdress to examine the area in the slivers of morning light creeping in through the shutters. I saw the tiny dark egg and wisping black veins emerging from it that I’d seen on so many of those women dangling in the WitchFall dungeons. Mathis’ seed. The thought sickened me. Making my whole world seem darker as I realized I was already infected with his evil. I dropped the back of my wrist against my forehead in frustration. Feeling so hopeless that I felt the heat of a tear trailing my cheek. And another soon after that. It wasn’t long before I released the tidal wave and let them pour from my eyes. Finally in a safe sanctuary I was able to grieve who and what I’d lost. Who I was before Mathis began his tormenting. So many names rolled through my mind. Mathis, Bethanie, Veline, Udora…And countless others whose name
Both were in the throes of passion. The woman was riding the man forcefully. Jamming herself down on him so roughly that he grunted at each angry dropping of her weight over him. “Harder!” He growled. Commanding her. Mathis’ voice. “I can’t.” The girl whimpered pitifully. Her brown hair thrown back and waving down her back as her head was tipped back. Contorted in pain. “You came to me!” Mathis growled. “Now finish what you’ve began, Witch. Harder!” And he caught her hips and dragged her down and forward over him. Making their bodies smack together brutally and the bed rock beneath them. Creaking in objection. “Ah. Ah.” She said raggedly in pain each time he slammed her down. Clearly pushing himself too deeply in her. Her frame was small. Seeming too little to accept a man so forcefully. But something about her shape was familiar. “Please, stop. You’re hurting me.” “Then hurt yourself.” He laughed. Moving his hands from her hips purposefully and then crossing them under the p
I could feel his breath on me as he’d somehow, impossibly, moved even closer to my side. Blocking off the edge of the door that would’ve opened if I could’ve pulled it. Now he’s leaned against it. “They,” He cupped the rounded mound on my pelvis toward my hip. Cradling it almost violently. “do all the work for me. Bring you straight to me…” “I’m not here for you.” I said resignedly. “I’m here for them.” I nodded over his shoulder toward where I could see the outline of Bethanie’s body. Now silent on the bed as if she’d passed out from the exhaustion and pain. It is mostly true. But my words sounded weak even to my own ears. I don’t even know how I got here. Or why he’s all I can think about. Right alongside the lust growing in me was the hatred. I was resenting him more and more. And disgusted by the power he had over me. “Are you?” He glanced over his shoulder and back at me. Beaming so broadly that his white teeth gleamed in the darkness. “And what are you willing to do for t
“At your summoning you mean.” I said bitterly. “I am not forcing you.” “Not physically.” “Ah, now, Saria. Let’s not pretend you’re not already moist.” He reached down and touched the crux of my thighs over the fabric of my dress. Making me jump. My eyes rounded as I realized I was already soaking the fabric. He’s right. I didn’t even know it! I swallowed disgust at my own reaction. “Now take off your dress before I rip it off you.” I glared at him impudently but when he took a threatening step forward, I jumped from my gown. Stretching my arms over myself to cover my body. His gaze thinned on me. “What did I tell you about that?” *** “About what?” I knew very well what he was talking about. But I was stalling. I didn’t want to get in his wash bin and have him watch me scrub myself. “Shame.” “I don’t recall.” “You very much do.” His tone hardened. “Don’t play games with me.” He wrenched my arms away from covering me. Then he twisted and lifted me. Tossing me into the gia
“You think I’ve another man?” I didn’t want him. Much less any other after all the torment I’d experienced at his hands. “Who knows what you do when you’re not with me?” “Do you worry about it?” I was stunned at this hint of vulnerability. A strange note that may’ve been jealousy seeped into his voice. “I don’t wish to think on it.” “It disturbs you?” “Because you’re mine.” He said matter-of-factly. “It won’t matter. Soon enough your skin will be marred with my seed, and you’ll no longer be as fair as you are now. No longer be so desirable to the village lads. And I’ve plans for you one day. When you submit to me wholly.” “And if I don’t?” “You will.” “But if I didn’t?” “Then I’d likely pursue you forever. You, one woman, could probably charge me all I’d need with your power and the force of your will...If you were capable of that.” He ended quickly as if he’d given away too much. He dropped to his knees behind me and pushed one of mine forward so he could access my most in
“What about Udora? How did you come by her.” He sobered. Drawing a long breath as he twirled me twice more. Considering how to tell me. I guessed. But he was unwilling to stop dancing. So, far anyway. “She came by me, more or less. Drawn to my dark magic, I suppose. After I crawled out of that oubliette, I stumbled across her. Greedy, morose and feeling hollow, I fed on her.” He quieted. And I sensed there was guilt in that memory. “And then?” “Then she was mine. From that day.” “How so?” “She wanted to spend every moment with me. Wanted to be mine.” “And did you want her?” “I did not. But I fed on her just the same.” “Through joining.” “That’s the only way I’ve learned how.” He said, a bit taken aback, as though he’d never before considered if there were other ways. “It was how Kasha taught me.” “She was wicked.” “She was. But I never tho
When I knocked on the door of the WitchFall fortress, it was with a resolute expression. Mathis ripped open the door as if he himself had rushed to it. No servants. And when I stepped inside, I felt how empty it was. And there was something wrong with him. He looked disheveled. Fraught with worry. “What’s wrong?” I asked. Eying him in his uncharacteristically mussed state. He lifted his chin. His chest swelling. “What have you come to tell me, Spitfire?” He’s prepared to fight. Or he wouldn’t be calling me that. “I’m going to ruin you.” I said coldly. “Then you’ve already decided to refuse me?” He seemed to visibly deflate. I held my silence a long time. Surprised that he seemed so genuinely broken. “No. I’ve decided to marry you.” He blinked rapidly. Tilting his head in interest. “For revenge?” “No.” “Then why would you destroy me?”
Veline caught my hand. Wrapping hers around it and looking at it as though it were a foreign thing. “Do you know, we shouldn’t be able to touch.” “Why not?” “Because I am pure spirit now.” Veline reached out and touched my chest. “While you are still bound in your skin.” Bound. A strange word for it. “You know in this land there are far more creatures than you ever guessed. You’ve been very sheltered in Drimidan.” “I guess I have.” I admitted softly. I wasn’t even sure my parents knew of all the things out there. “There was a time, long ago when the land was predominantly Fey.” “But as Fey darkened some lost their power and became human. Others became twisted and their power darkened to make them other things.” “Like Mathis?” She nodded. “They become what we know as demonic. Or what the people of Drimidan might call a witch or warlock.” I blinked slowly. I’d heard of such things, but they were s
Only as The King of Creatures stood facing me now, did I realize how tall and imposing he was. He wore a masquerade mask over his eyes, which seemed to change from blue to orange like flames burned in them. His hair was blonde and waving back to his collar but as he moved. It shed small sparks at the tips from the tresses that hung loosely over his forehead. He was lean and tall. Towering well above me like one of the trees in this forest. The strangest man I’d ever seen. “They brought you here?” “They summoned me, yes.” He nodded toward Veline. “They advise me you’ve discovered the root of evil in Drimidan.” “Yes…” I said slowly. Mathis. “Tell me what he is?” “I don’t know for sure…He was once a man but now a demon.” “A form of changeling then…Hmm.” He murmured thoughtfully. “Well now that we know, killing him should be easy enough. We’ll just need you to get me into the fortre
“Because of Kasha?” He lowered his head in admonition. His hands linked behind his back. To keep from touching me? I wondered. “Despite all I’ve done, I have deep respect for you, My Spitfire. And ultimately, I wish to see your laughter return. And that is what I’d spend the rest of my days striving for. But if away from me, is how you can regain it, then that too I’d learn to appreciate.” “You’re so contrary. A moment ago you were declaring I’m yours. Now you say I have a choice.” “You’ve always had a choice. Even when you believed Udora was at my mercy. You had the choice of forsaking her.” “That wasn’t an option.” “Not with you. Just because it wasn’t an acceptable choice, doesn’t mean it wasn’t there. But,” He lifted his finger. “I do caution you, you can’t change me, Sweetheart.” “You just said you have changed!” He smiled almost sadly. “I have. Because I wished to change, to become something more
He dressed in more finery. Smoothing his black hair back into a tether and wearing a cream undershirt with a silver vest and long overcoat. Once dressed, he offered me his hand. “Let’s get you home.” I took it. Wondering why it felt like every time I took it, I was making some kind of promise to him. Vowing to trust him, when I should not… Blowing a relieved breath, I let him help me into the carriage. Relieved to see the driver sitting atop the bench this time. He’s making an effort at normalcy. We took the winding drive down the hill and into the village. Quickly arriving at my house. I blew a steadying breath. Letting him help me down from the carriage. “Are you ready?” He tucked me under his arm. “To be home?” I peered up at him. But he wasn’t acknowledging me as he kept me sheltered next to him and we headed for the front door. Mother rushed out and embraced me. “Dear Heaven! You’re okay.”
Mathis made almost no sound. Barely the flutter of clothing and I saw his feet leave the floor as he must’ve leapt. I heard a thump and a horrible wet, wrenching sound. Next was the sopping thunk of a head lolling along the stone floor. The grip on my neck went slack. Dark nails slipping from the wounds they’d created as the heavy body collapsed next to me. Headless. I screamed. Leaping to my feet in panic. By the time I managed to scramble to my feet, he was already there. Eerily still in that way that only he could master. Where he only watched my skittering movements with those intelligent green eyes. But once I steadied myself on swaying legs, his hands snatched out to catch my upper arms. Jerking me against him as he wrapped sheltering arms around me. “What did you do to her?” “Killed her.” “Her head.” “Parted from the rest of her.” He said flatly. I flinched and tucked my face into
“Why did you bring me here?” I swallowed the pain rolling through me. He’d said he’d break me. Now he’s perilously close. I felt weak, betrayed and entirely alone. The two people I’d thought closest to me were both traitorous wretches. “I should think that painfully clear.” Udora said snidely. Taking another step towards me. “Enough, Udora!” Mathis put up a staying hand but she continued speaking spitefully. “The demon thinks he loves the girl...And that she might ever love him back.” “Shut up!” He roared. “He wants you to know what I am. So he’s the one you trust.” “That’s only partly true.” He approached in several strides to catch her arm. Pulling her further back from me. As if he’s worried what she might do. “I wanted you to know what you’ve really been so loyal to.” “Why?” “Because, though I have never denied I’m harmful I thought
I froze in the blackness. Horrified that I was trapped. “Come on.” I could hear amusement in his voice and realized he was right next to me. He closed the door as he came down behind me. He knows I was petrified. He caught the back of my arm and held on as we went down the stairs, as if worried I might trip. I called him out. “Is that so I won’t fall or run?” “Both.” “Mathis?” I heard Udora’s soft voice calling. “Is that you? You’ve left me down here far too long this time!” She sounded annoyed. I paused on the steps in confusion. What’s she mean by that? Mathis turned his hand, I could just barely see the outline of it in the dark. A cool green flame burst to life and stretched aobut a foot up from his palm. Illuminating his features. He put a finger to his lips to indicate I should be quiet. I gave him an incredulous look. Wondering why I would obey him now.