Dark Labyrinth: The Nine Hells (Circle of Nine Book 1)

by Conny Conway

  The Matagot nodded approvingly.

  They found a fir fallen against a redwood in an incline of forty five degrees, which supplied a great ramp for Xylophia.

  Up in the canopy of the trees the branches formed a solid network on which the group stepped gently, carefully not to disturb and rapture the delicate complex.

  Vines had interlaced with the branches like a natural carpet.

  At first the unicorn felt insecure but with every step her anxiety dissipated.

  It looked like the different trees had formed single rooms almost.

  The two magical beings settled down in one of them, while Lann and Shiloh explored the intriguing arrangements of the plants.

  Amazed Shiloh chatted like a waterfall, pondering aloud if these magical trees had intellect, and that she felt like Jane and Lann could be Tarzan, Whiplash was Cheetah while the unicorn was Simba.

  Lann didn’t understand a word the young woman was rambling.

  Finally he pulled her back as she led him through yet another leaf room, she turned on her heels from his gently tug, right into his arms. He held her there tenderly.

  “Will you shut up now?”

  He then placed a soft kiss on her lips.

  She drew in her breath, while shivers went down her spine. Her arms enveloped his neck and pulled him closer.

  Their bodies became one.

  Their heartbeats sped up as they opened their lips and their tongues entwined, dancing a sensual dance to the rhythm of the thumps in their chests. He cupped the back of her head with his left hand, while pressing her abdomen to his with his right.

  She moaned, feeling his emotions stir their passion.

  The kiss deepened as they sank to their knees on the soft cover of the branches beneath them.

  As he stroke and kissed her, the yearning for him increased still more.

  His hand had long slipped under her T Shirt and stroke her curves and mounts. He had never felt this feeling of belonging and arousal ever before in his long life.

  He had have his adventures with lots of females of several species, demons and goddesses, but this emotion was new and seared his very soul. Again and again he kissed her lips, her cheeks, her forehead, her eyes, the hollow of her nape, the valley on her chest. He explored her body as a newfound territory, while his own stimulation burned him, the warrior made from the fire element, he burned and melted in her small hands.

  He pulled the T Shirt over her head and threw it away over his head, it caught on a small twig in the form of a hook.

  He sucked in the air as he took in her beauty, stroking her, starting from the top of her head, the silky auburn locks and waves, her face, he throat and neck. His fingers wandered over her shoulder and left her with goose bumps. His fingers sizzled over the tender skin of her chest, where he took extra time to explore the two soft but firm mounts, followed by kisses as to put out the fire his touch had invoked.

  He opened her jeans, got rid of them the same way he had done with the T Shirt, just that the pants caught on a second twiggy hook.

  Shiloh had done her own exploring and the loin cloth had been discarded into the leaves also.

  They sank to the leaves, bodies as close as nature allowed, kissing, moaning and stroking.

  The little leave room lifted of the branches like an elevator as they made love, gently it did raise them higher and higher, broke through the foliage of the surrounding trees and as pleasure swept over the two bodies, the wine held them high above in triumph.

  The waves of ecstasy had carried them away, had washed away the anguish of the last days, peace flooded through the lovers as they cuddled close, still exchanging soft kisses, strokes and tender words.

  Shiloh’s breath became more even and the vines sunk gently back down, through the greenery and lower, coming to a rest at its original starting point eventually.

  By then the young woman had dozed off, while Lann held her close to his heart, confused of the sentiments the human had awoken in him.

  He was too tired to muse how or why it was possible, but he felt a leakage of his eyes again. He smiled and wiped the drop of salty water away with a brisk movement of his hand.

  He then nuzzled her hair, kissing it, rubbing her upper arm and squeezed her gently close to him, he shut his eyes to recall every second of what had just transpired. He had felt the rising of the vines like the passion had nurtured his urgency for this small woman.

  Content he drew several deep breaths. He wanted to linger in this feeling and soon he fell asleep against his own wishes.

  Chapter 7

  The twilight in the woods was almost a pitch-black, when Shiloh awoke. Her head was still cradled on Lann’s muscular chest, her hair fanned out over his tanned skin and it tickled him when she moved her head ever so slightly.

  He smiled and pulled her back in his arms.

  Her resistance was mocked, he tickled her as she begged for mercy. The giggling was stifled by a passionate kiss, which was welcomed by her own tongue flickering with the tip of his.

  The fire of love stirred inside their bellies and they made love again, the vines lifted them above the trees at the peak of their arousals.

  As the heat of their copulation dissipated, she stretched happily in his arms, the branches under them made a wooden noise, as they held them up safely of the ground.

  The woods were full of unfamiliar noises and Shiloh peeked nosily over the edge of the vines.

  Below she saw glittering fog, shadows moving mutely. The view of the forest at night was frightening but also so beautiful, the silence scary yet soothing. Shiloh shivered but couldn’t turn her gaze, delving in the peaceful terror, until it was interrupted by a cackle, which chilled her to the bones.

  She peered into the darkness trying to see where the eerie laughter had come from, except a wobbling light she couldn’t see anything. The light seemed suspended in midair.

  “This sucks, this sucks, stupid Mother nature.”

  Shiloh looked for who had spoken, but the only thing moving was the willow wisp below.

  “So you can talk.” she muttered.

  Lann had heard her statement and moved next to her, silent like a church mouse.

  “What a joke, providing the most delicious plant from here to there and he can’t touch it. Next time he'll meet that woman, he’ll punch her just to switch her lights out! Hehehe, till her lights go out. That was a good one.”

  The laughter broke through the silence again, disappeared behind the next set of trees.

  Lann swung his loin cloth on and jumped of the tree, he motioned to Shiloh to follow him with the index finger, helping her down. His head bowed to her ear.

  “Let’s follow it.” he said mischievously.

  Light-footed they pursued the light, which was still muttering to himself interrupted by his own mirth on and off. Obviously he had a good time with himself, unless he complained again about the plant out of his reach.

  The chase didn’t last very long, the Willow wisp rested on a small rock, he stopped talking as he intently starred behind his perch, only to whisper, incoherent to Lann and Shiloh.

  They closed in on the wisp.

  “Well, well, what do we have here?” The golden warrior boomed, the little light jumped up, a startled yelp escaping from the shining thing.

  “Man, you, you smarty pants. You can’t sneak up on a poor wisp like that.” he exclaimed hoarsely, “You might give him a heart attack.”

  “I might, but then I might not.” Lann snickered.

  “What are you doing in his woods anyway? Lost are ye?”

  “Not really. Why, you want to offer your help?”

  “Not now, he is busy, go away.”

  “Is he now? What is he busy about?”

  Lann mocked, stepping to the stone and peered over it to see what had captured the creature.

  A shrub with green leaves and flaming flowers blossomed hidden by the granite.

  “Wow.” he said truly amazed by its beauty.r />
  “It’s his. You go away.”

  Lann climbed over the stone and over the wisp, knelt down and reached for the plant.

  “Don’t touch it. It will hurt you.” The light warned.

  Lann shrugged, turning his gaze back to the plant. His hand grasped for the flowers and…picked one.

  Again the wisp jumped.

  “Oh, you…you…can touch it!”

  “I guess I can.”

  “Feed it to him.” The wisp’s excited voice not more than a mumble. “Please, feed him.” He said again, more urgently.

  Lann did so, he held the plant close to the wisp, as he could finally make out what the wisp really was, a small lantern which held a face behind the glass. Big Yellow eyes, no nose and the mouth contorted in an eternal frown. The light opened this mouth and the plant disappeared from Lann’s fingers.

  “Yum, oh my gosh, he is eating, yum ... best ever. Oh my yum.”

  Contentment between the chewing. A small burp shook the entire lantern, the color of the shine changed from yellow-white to red, to green.

  Giggles escaped, interrupted by small burping, and echoed gently, the color now blue, purple, back to blue, green, red. The little light show lifted chuckling into the air, flying little loops, dangerous looking maneuvers over Lann’s head, setting down in a bright shine of red on his shoulder lifting back off in a purple haze.

  “I think he is high.” Shiloh laughed as she followed the spectacle.

  Lann didn’t answer, he had a blast of the show, the ohs and ahs.

  Finally the color scheme established back to its original yellow-white.

  “Man that was great. He never had so much fun ever. You may come in his forest anytime.” he said as he hovered over Lann’s hand.

  “I’ll make you a deal. I will give you more of it, if you promise you’ll take us out of this forest.”

  The winged man winked.

  “Lann, I don’t think that is a good idea.” Shiloh interrupted.

  “No, not a good idea, the best idea.”

  The little lantern sparked from excitement.

  “No, I say no. He will take us God knows where. Though most likely to the swamps, so we can drown there.”

  “Are you kidding, woman? He finally found one to touch the delicious Yum, why would he want to kill the one?”

  The light hovered inches away from her nose and the big eyes looked at her scornfully.

  “He is so happy. He is the only wisp ever eating the pretty Yum. If the winged warrior wants out of here, he will lead him to the exit, if….. He will get more of the pretty yum.”

  “I don’t trust you.” she alleged with a slight sliver of disgust in her voice.

  “He doesn't care if you trust him, as long as the warrior does trust him.”

  The wisp drifted back to Lann.

  “Feed him.” he demanded.

  “Not so fast, my little fellow. I need your word that you’ll lead us out of this place.” Lann exclaimed.

  “He swears, he will do anything, as long as you will feed him more of the pretty yum.”

  The warrior removed another stem of the beautiful plant, holding it out for the wisp to nibble.

  As soon as the light consumed the greenery the colorful display began again. Shiloh had to admit it was an adorable thing to watch, but she clenched her teeth even tighter.

  “I don’t trust you, little junkie.”

  Lann encircled her with his arm and softly muttered.

  “It will be all good, you’ll see.”

  Her eyes shot little sparks at him.

  “He…it called me woman.”

  “So he did.” He laughed, drawing her closer. His eyes smiled. She melted.

  “I warned you not to trust that…stinker.”

  All the while the wisp kept changing his color, as the rush ebbed away he floated back to Lann.

  “He wants one more, Warrior.”

  “Call me Lann.” He said while getting the third piece of the plant.

  The wisp whizzed around anxiously.

  “His name is Willie.”

  “How original.” Shiloh snorted. That earned her a scornful ogle from the light.

  “William Henry, Duke of Blackthorn to be exact.”

  “Hmpf.” Shiloh did a raspberry in the air.

  “Will you two stop it?” Lann sighed.

  “He will if she does.”

  “I don’t trust you.”

  “He doesn't care.”

  “Learn to talk, junkie. Or is your brain already fried?”

  “He is talking for ten centuries.”

  “Then he is an idiot for the last…..”

  “Stop.” Lann said sharply.

  “I don’t...”

  “Shiloh!”

  “But…”

  Lann pulled one eye brow up.

  “Whatever.” Shiloh exclaimed as she turned and went back to the tree.

  “Xylophia, Whiplash, get up and get your behinds down here.”

  She heard some rustling above to be followed by silence as she waited for the two creatures to appear.

  “I said get up.” she yelled up the tree. “Don’t make me come up there.”

  Lann approached through the trees, chuckling.

  Next to him soared the color changing lantern, hollering, giggling.

  A snort followed by a loud yawn was audible from above, then a pink feline cat poked through the leaves, sleepy eyes accusingly on the female human.

  At the recognition of what was in Lann’s company the purple eyes flew open in shock.

  “No, no tell me it isn’t so,

  Tell me you are smarter than this,

  Please, send it away, let it go,

  Otherwise your death will be its bliss.”

  “Calm down, you useless waste of fur.” Lann grunted. “We have a deal with Willie.”

  Willie was taken aback at the sight of the Matagot.

  “Useless waste of fur is understated.” The lantern exclaimed.

  The unicorn was trotting down the tree noiselessly as the little catlike creature flew over the rim of the vines, chirping uncomprehending words as it flowed towards the eerie light life form.

  “Oh, shut up, fleabag.” Willie snapped.

  “You go away,

  We don’t want the likes of you,

  Just go away,

  I do hate you.

  In peril you will send all of us,

  Leave now, I say,

  No deal, no fuss .”

  “Wait a second here, I made the deal, I will tell him when he will be going.” Lann exclaimed.

  “I’m on Whiplash’s side." Shiloh said,” I don’t trust it!”

  “He is not an it.” The light complained.

  The unicorn rasped.

  “Calm down everybody. Fighting will get us nowhere. Lann, please tell me about that deal.”

  “We found the plant. As payment for his service we’ll feed it to him. Simple as that.”

  “And you agreed, hm…Willie? “She inquired.

  “He would be dumb not to. The warrior is the only one he’s ever met who can touch the pretty yummy.”

  “You’ll promise not to trick us?”

  “Oh, he does of cause.”

  “Then I would say give it a shot.” Without emotions the unicorn explained.

  “But…”

  “Shiloh, I know you doubt his intentions, though at the moment it seemed the logical thing to do. Nevertheless, Wisp, know we will watch you closely.” The white creature said sternly.

  The young woman opened her mouth as to speak, but thought better of it, closed it and threw a furious glance at Lann and Willie.

  Whiplash had settled on her shoulder still muttering words, so silently no one was able to understand.

  “Let’s find something to eat.”

  The unicorn turned and hurried away, observing her surroundings in search of edible berries and the likes.

  Shiloh stomped after her, still muttering.
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br />   As they went on through the woods, the human picked up some berries or mushrooms here and there, about to stuff those in her mouth the unicorn warned her about each and every single one being poisonous.

  She was hungry and becoming desperate not being able to find something edible. Her stomach growled and protested about its emptiness.

  Lann excused himself and disappeared into the brushes.

  His crossbow was cocked with an arrow as he slit silently through the tree stumps.

  His watchful eyes found his target, a white rabbit. He flicked his arrow loose and hit the bunny smack in the middle of its heart.

  He walked to the little animal, whispering he apologized for taking its life, explained, they needed its life-force to survive and withstand the trial up ahead. He thanked the dead little creature for its body and promised not to kill again unless hunger would make it necessary again.

  He was about to straighten up, when he heard the clearing of someone’s throat and jumped up, sword unsheathed while he did so.

  His dark eyes searching the forest for the intruder.

  Shock paralyzed him as his gaze fell on an immense face floating between the vegetation, wondering if this was a friend or a foe.

  “My son, the death of one of my pets shall be forgiven, due to you not killing it for sports, but of need.”

  The green face spoke gently, it was a serene face, the skin a slight greenish tinge, the eyes as green as moss, a straight nose in the center of it, the lips were hidden by a green beard, instead of hair the features were framed by leaves, moss, flowers and grass in several shades of green. Green, teal and aqua butterflies soared around the head’s flowers.

  Nothing frightening came of the giant face.

  “Thank you, I think.”

  Lann’s tongue was still in shock.

  The Visage laughed boomingly.

  “Don’t fear me, as long as you are fair, not menacing, respectful not ignorant, you have nothing to fear of me.”

  The winged warrior just nodded.

  “Let me introduce myself.” The deep voice thundered.” My name is Ruebezahl.”

  “As in the giant of the Riesengebirge?” Lann muttered.

  “The one and only.”

  The green head replied with a gentle, mocked bow.

  “I heard different than you being nice.” The warrior supposed.