Dark Queen’s Quest

by I. T. Lucas

  As he entered, he found Mey sitting cross-legged on the bed, a worried look on her face. In fact, the entire room had a strong scent of fear. And of tears.

  She’d been crying.

  Mey eyed the water bottles. “I don’t think those will be enough for water torture.”

  She was joking, but she was still scared, and he had to reassure her.

  “You have nothing to fear from me.”

  “How about your boss and the rest of your team?”

  “No one is going to harm you. You are under our protection.”

  He walked over, sat on the bed, and handed her one of the water bottles.

  As he debated where to start his story, Yamanu suddenly remembered that he needed to test her susceptibility to thralling first.

  The memory he decided to erase was of what she’d heard about the Odus. Eliminating that memory would be a good enough proof.

  Taking Mey’s hand, he looked into her eyes, freezing her in place as he sifted through her recent memories. He cringed when he encountered what had caused her anxiety.

  How could she have thought that he would kill her? Even if Annani herself ordered him to do that, he wouldn’t. Not only that, he would defend Mey until he drew his last breath.

  It gladdened him that she’d decided to go with her gut and not call the police. Subconsciously, Mey had known that she could trust him.

  Good girl.

  When he was done suppressing the memory about the Odus and released her mind, Mey shook her head. “What was that? Did you just hypnotize me?”

  He smiled. “It’s the mesmerizing effect of my eyes.”

  Mey looked doubtful.

  “I’ll tell you everything in a moment. But first, tell me what you think of Ovidu?”

  Her eyebrows lifted. “Arielle’s butler? What about him?”

  “Do you think that he’s odd?”

  “A little. He has that fake smile plastered on his face, and the fact that he sleeps on the couch in her bedroom is just creepy. I don’t know how she allows it.”

  “It’s so he can protect her in case an intruder gets past Arwel and me.”

  “Pfft.” Mey waved her hand. “What can he do? Block the intruder by bowing to him?”

  “Maybe he’s had military training.”

  Mey narrowed her eyes. “Why are we talking about Ari’s butler? You promised me answers.”

  “This was a little test I had to run. What I’m about to tell you is my people’s most guarded secret, and it puts all of us in danger. I had to ensure that I could erase your memories of it if necessary. Not everyone is susceptible to thralling.”

  She tilted her head. “Thralling? Erasing memories? What are you talking about?”

  “That’s what we named the ability to manipulate human minds.”

  Her eyes widened. “You are aliens? For real? Like from a different planet?”

  He chuckled. “We are a divergent species. But we are not sure about our origins. Our ancestors are the mythological gods, who obviously weren’t deities but a species of superior beings. No one knows where they came from. They might have been refugees from a different planet or the last survivors of their kind who got lost in one of earth’s life-obliterating natural disasters.”

  Mey’s lips lifted in a mocking smile. “So, you are a god? That would explain your looks.”

  “I’m not a god, but I’m a descendant of gods. Actually of one particular goddess, but that’s a later part of the story. The gods had an extremely low birth rate and a limited gene pool. So, they decided to take human lovers. The children born from those unions were immortal, but their powers paled in comparison to the gods’. They were nearly indestructible, their senses were more acute, they were stronger and faster, and most importantly, they had the ability to manipulate human minds. That’s what helped us stay hidden for thousands of years.”

  “You are serious, aren’t you? This is not a joke, right?”

  “No joke.” He squeezed her hand gently. “Are you doing okay so far?”

  59

  Mey

  Was she doing okay? Mey wasn’t sure.

  She was an open-minded person and believed that there must be many intelligent species out in the mind-bogglingly enormous universe. So, discovering that one had been secretly coexisting along with humans shouldn’t be shocking news.

  “Are the gods still around?”

  Yamanu shook his head. “Just one, the mother of our clan.” He chuckled. “Actually, there are two, but we’ve only discovered the second one recently, and she lives in complete seclusion. She isn’t very powerful either.”

  “What happened to the others? Did they go home?” Mey asked half hopefully and half jokingly.

  She had a feeling that their end hadn’t been as pleasant as returning to their home world.

  “A rogue god dropped a nuclear bomb on their assembly and killed them all. He was probably caught in the nuclear wind because he perished too. Our Clan Mother escaped to the far north and that was how she survived. Her sister also went north, but until recently we didn’t know that she survived as well.”

  “Why did he do it? I mean the god who killed the others?”

  Yamanu shrugged. “He was insane and hungry for power. Our Clan Mother was what you would call the crown princess, and she was promised to him in marriage. He thought he would rule over the gods once her father stepped down. But our Clan Mother chose to marry the god she loved instead. Mortdh, the rogue god, murdered her husband, was found out, and was sentenced to entombment. He must have decided that the only way he was going to escape that end was to eliminate all the other gods. But instead of becoming the ruler he’d hoped he would be, he died along with all those he’d murdered. The entire population of that region was wiped out. Humans, immortals, and gods.”

  “That’s such a tragic story.”

  “I’m surprised that you aren’t asking about how immortals and gods could die?”

  “You said they weren't deities, and everything that is flesh and blood eventually dies. Or gets killed.”

  “That is true. Our bodies can repair most injuries quite rapidly, and we are hard to kill, but it can be done.”

  It hit her then. Yamanu was immortal.

  Up until now the story had been just a story. Fantastic, interesting, but remote. Now it got personal.

  “You are immortal,” she stated, more to hear herself say it than to get confirmation.

  Yamanu nodded. “And so is everyone else on my team. But that’s not all. You might be a dormant carrier of those godly genes, and if you are, they can be activated, and you can become immortal. And so can Jin provided that she’s your biological sister.”

  The mention of her sister raised Mey’s defensive shields. Could this be an elaborate ploy to get her to reveal Jin’s talent?

  Yamanu hadn’t provided proof of his story, and all she had were snippets of overheard conversations that could have been made on purpose.

  “Are you basing your assumption that I’m a carrier of immortal genes on my paranormal ability?”

  “Yes, but not exclusively. The powerful connection we feel for each other is another indicator. Not all Dormants possess paranormal talents.”

  “So, if Jin doesn't have any, she could still be a dormant carrier?”

  “If you were both born from the same mother, and you are proven to be a Dormant, then she must be as well.”

  “How can it be proven?”

  “If you are induced and enter transition then you are obviously a carrier. If the induction doesn't work, then you are just a human with a paranormal talent.”

  “How does the induction work?”

  The pained expression on Yamanu’s face didn’t bode well. “To explain that, I need to backtrack a little. Other than the rapid repair abilities and enhanced senses, there are a few other oddities about our physiology. The males of our kind have fangs and venom glands. The venom serves two purposes and its composition changes according to what it’s nee
ded for. In battle, the venom can incapacitate an opponent or kill him. That’s one of the few ways to kill an immortal. During sex, the venom induces a euphoric state and powerful orgasms.”

  Yeah, he’d just skirted around an important detail. The fangs were used to deliver the venom, which meant that biting was involved. Yamanu’s people were like a cross between vampires and snakes.

  It should have grossed her out, or maybe even scared her a little, but for some stupid reason the idea aroused her.

  Very odd for a woman who didn’t have even one masochistic bone in her body.

  “What about the bite delivering the venom? That must be painful. And probably dangerous for a human female. Unlike immortal women who can rapidly heal from the injury, the humans cannot. I can just imagine the bruises the biting leaves.”

  “No bruises. Our saliva contains healing properties. In minutes, no sign is left of the bite. That’s how immortal males can have sex with human females. Once the euphoria subsides, the marks are already gone, and sometimes no thralling is needed because the woman thinks it was a hallucination.”

  Mey crossed her arms over her chest. “Does it also contain analgesic? Because I’m sure it hurts.”

  “It does, but the bite is painful only for a couple of seconds until the venom takes effect.” He smiled. “Then the fun begins.”

  Mey would be lying if she claimed she wasn’t curious to find out how it felt.

  Then a suspicion entered her mind. “You didn’t bite me and make me forget, did you?”

  Looking uncomfortable, Yamanu shook his head. “The concoction that suppresses my sex drive also eliminates the need to bite.”

  Bummer. She’d been kind of looking forward to experiencing that. The prospect of euphoria and powerful orgasms was very tempting despite the initial pain involved.

  “What about when you need to fight another immortal? If the venom is one of the only effective weapons against an immortal opponent, then you are exposing yourself to mortal danger by drinking that stuff.”

  “The trigger is either arousal or aggression. My venom glands still respond to aggression.”

  “That’s a relief. I was afraid for you.”

  He shook his head. “I have to say that you are taking all this with remarkable calm. And the questions you ask are so different from what I expected.”

  “What did you think I'd ask?

  60

  Yamanu

  Yamanu swallowed.

  Mey had actually asked the question that he’d dreaded, but he’d bought himself some time by explaining about the fangs and venom. She also hadn’t asked him to prove his claims.

  Perhaps he could buy himself a little more time by going in that direction first. Leave the worst for last.

  “I expected you to ask for proof. All that I’ve told you so far could have been a fantastic story I’ve made up.”

  She tilted her head. “Is there a way you can prove it? Can you jump off the balcony and keep on running?”

  He laughed. “You’re funny. If I do that, I wouldn’t die, but I would break a lot of bones in my body, which would hurt like hell and take a long time to heal. Those are not the kind of injuries that our bodies mend in minutes. Not only that, they would probably heal all wrong and our doctor would have to break them again to reset them.”

  “Ouch. So, no jumping off the balcony. What else?” Her eyes brightened and she lifted a finger. “Where are your fangs? I didn’t see them. Do they come out on command?”

  “Now, that’s a question I was expecting.” He opened his mouth wide and pointed at his canines. “That’s their resting size, which allows us to pass for human. But if I get very aroused or aggressive, they would elongate.”

  Mey got closer, then lifted a finger and touched one fang.

  The pulse of erotic energy that coursed from her finger straight to his loins caused an erection that shouldn’t have been possible with the amount of potion he’d been drinking lately.

  “Oh my God, it actually elongated.” She moved her finger to the other fang.

  He caught her hand. “Don’t.”

  “Why? Does it hurt?”

  “In the best way, but it’s dangerous for me. I shouldn’t have gotten aroused from that, but I did. You are overpowering a potion that has worked for me for centuries.”

  She lifted her eyes to his. “Centuries? How old are you?”

  He forced a smile. “That’s another question I was expecting. I’m seven hundred and fifty-three years old.”

  Mey’s back slumped. “That’s really old.”

  “Does it gross you out?”

  She snorted. “Not really. You talk and behave like the age you look. Most of the time, anyway. I’ve noticed a few oddities about you and the other guys.”

  He arched a brow. “Like what?”

  “You treat me like a lady. You even call me your lady Mey, which I really like.”

  He rubbed his jaw. “How would a human my age, or rather the age I appear, act toward you? Should I be rude to blend in better?”

  “Not rude, it’s not about that. Just less formal.”

  “I don’t think I’m overly formal.”

  “You are not treating me like you treat your buddies, that’s for sure. You censor your words around me. You don’t cuss, you don’t tell me inappropriate jokes, and you hold the door open for me.” She giggled. “And you don’t fart. Do immortals fart?”

  He laughed. “You see? That’s a question I’m sure no other Dormant has ever asked.”

  “Why not? It’s a legitimate one, and you didn’t answer me.”

  “We have the same bodily functions as humans, but flatulence in mixed company is not acceptable.”

  “Ha! That’s what I meant. Who uses words like flatulence or mixed company? In today’s world it’s considered sexist to say that.”

  “Flatulence?”

  “No, silly. Mixed company. You should just say company.”

  “I’ll try to remember. So many things are considered offensive these days. It’s hard to keep track.”

  There was nothing like a fart joke to defuse tension, but now that the joking was over, Yamanu found himself lost for words.

  “So, what’s next?” Mey asked. “How am I going to transition if you can’t bite me?”

  “Do you want to transition?”

  She looked at him as if he was missing a screw. “Who doesn't want to become an invincible immortal? Did anyone ever decline the offer?”

  “Not that I know of, but there are a few disadvantages that you should consider before deciding. We spend most of our lives in hiding, and we have to be very diligent about keeping our existence secret.”

  She waved a dismissive hand. “Not a problem. I’m very good at keeping secrets.”

  “Your parents. It’s going to be difficult to explain why you are not aging. And if your sister transitions as well, then both of you would need to keep lying to them and use elaborate makeup to hide the fact that you remain untouched by the passage of time.” He rubbed his jaw. “Although we might have a solution for that.”

  “What is it?”

  “A young boy who recently turned immortal has developed a very rare ability. He can compel humans. Which means that he can compel your parents to never talk about what they know with anyone outside the four of you. The problem is that he is just a twelve-year-old, and his powers are not yet fully developed. But in a few years, he might be able to do that.”

  “So, he is the only one who can do it? Out of all the immortals? And how many immortals are there?”

  “Our clan is small. We are less than one thousand people. But our enemies the Doomers have thousands of warriors. We don’t know exactly how many, but we know that it’s better for us to hide than engage them in battle.”

  “Whoa, hold on. You didn’t mention enemies before. How dangerous are they? And why the animosity? Is it over territory?”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, the whole territory of Earth. They want to rule it, a
nd we don’t want them to. That kind of sums it up.”

  “Tell me more.”

  “Gladly.” As long as he could keep talking about things that had nothing to do with Mey’s transition and his problem with inducing it, he was happy to postpone the inevitable.

  61

  Mey

  For over an hour, Mey listened to Yamanu retell the history of their people, trying to interrupt as little as possible, and only asking questions when she absolutely had to. He was a great storyteller, and to listen to him was like watching the events unfolding before her very eyes.

  He’d started at the very beginning, with the young goddess falling in love and choosing to follow her heart instead of duty and obligation. And he’d finished with the present day and the miracle of finding Dormants. Finally, after thousands of years of lonely existence, a few lucky clan members had mates to form lifelong relationships with.

  It was utterly fascinating, captivating, and Mey wanted to become part of that wonderful community of people almost as much as she wanted Yamanu to be her truelove mate.

  What a concept. A bond so strong that it could last forever and feed energy into a relationship, never letting it go stale.

  “Wait until Jin hears about this. She’s going to flip.”

  “What about you? Are you flipping?”

  “Am I ever?” She rolled her eyes. “I want that. All of it. I want you to be my truelove mate, and I want to live in your village, hang out with Wonder and hear details about the ancient world. And I want to talk with Annani and bask in her godly presence, and I want all these wonderful people to be my family.”

  Yamanu smiled, but it looked forced. “I’m so glad that you feel this way. But there is a slight problem.”

  “What?”

  “My vow of celibacy. In order to induce you, I’ll have to either break my vow or have another male do the induction. But I can’t break my vow without potentially harming my people, and I can’t conceive of another male touching you.”