by Alexia Praks
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Chapter XVII
WHEN CECELIA CAME TO, SHE saw only the orb of darkness enveloping her, suffocating her to the brink of death. She gasped, struggling to breathe, fighting the invisible power that threatened to consume her whole.
Help me! she wanted to scream out, but her body was stone stiff, as if she’d been encased within her own dead being. Her physical form was unable to move with her command. God, help me. Get me out of this, she prayed, tears in her eyes.
It was then she saw a fluttering of pale-blond hair in midair above her. Pearlescent skin and emerald-green eyes with the most beautiful face Cecelia had ever seen stared down on her, a leering smile greeting her.
“I want you,” the woman sang seductively. “I want your body. You’re perfect.”
Something in the woman’s frosty eyes frightened Cecelia, and the child within her wanted to scream in fear. Instead, she shut her eyes to block away the bloodcurdling image. I am dreaming, she told herself. Just a dream. When she opened her eyes again, however, the woman was still there, looming ever closer to her.
Terror penetrated deep within Cecelia’s heart as the ghostly female and the black, shadowy energy around her hugged tight around Cecelia, suffocating her within its cold, empty embrace.
Cecelia whimpered, losing herself as it further claimed her mind and soul. She was going to die. She knew it was inevitable as she watched the apparition opening her mouth wide, intending to swallow her whole.
It was then a glow emitted from within Cecelia, originating from within her womb, and shone bright, bursting with a golden halo. The blast of light frightened the pale apparition of the woman as the ray blinded her. She screamed in anger and frustration as her image shook and then shattered and disappeared from sight.
Overwhelmed, exhaustion overtook her, and Cecelia fell unconscious.
When she opened her eyes again, it was to the sight of fire burning, devouring everything that surrounded her. Heat blistered at her skin as she sat up. Panic seized her the moment she realized her bedchamber was on fire and she was being roasted alive. She rushed off the bed, her bare feet hot against the cold stone floor. As she ran out into the corridor, searching and screaming for help, it was then she realized the sight she beheld was familiar to her.
She was back at Rosevalley Castle. She was back to three years ago, during the night of the raid.
Her legs weakened and she fell to the floor. It was then she glanced to her right and saw herself in the mirror. Looking back at herself was a younger girl in a nightgown with long black hair in wild disarray, face as pale as a ghost, and large eyes reflecting with fear.
Her mother’s ear-splitting scream caught Cecelia’s attention. In response, she rushed up from her spot and raced toward the noise a couple doors down. Within seconds, she came into the main foyer of the castle, and as she came through the door, she saw them.
Demons stood amongst the gusting blaze. Skin of dull gray, eyes of blood red, twisted horns, and faces and bodies resembling beasts. Cecelia felt her breath caught at the back of her throat as she stared wide-eyed at these monsters. It was then, through the haze of the smoke and flames, she saw a man standing in the center of the chaos. He was tall and big with pale-blond hair and burning blue eyes. He was handsome, yet she felt only darkness radiating from within him. Beside him stood the most beautiful female she’d ever seen. Long, pale-blond hair and eyes of emerald green, she was the woman Cecelia had seen trying to possess her.
It was then Cecelia saw her father, his lifeless form amongst the tangle of dead bodies by the man’s feet. Shock and fear consumed her, and Cecelia shut her eyes and screamed until she woke up.
Her heart pumped loud and fast within her chest as she lay there staring up at the ceiling of a moving carriage. She blinked and turned her head, her mind dull and confused. The moment she saw the demon sitting opposite her, she bolted up and hastily searched for her dagger about her body.
Marcus Arthur gave her a handsome greeting, a bright glint within his blue eyes.
“Lady Cecelia Van Zandt,” he said smoothly. “I’m glad Queen Josephine hasn’t yet taken over you.”
Cecelia stared at him long and hard, analyzing the meaning of his words. Then she realized what he meant. The dark orb. The beautiful woman with long blond hair and emerald-green eyes. The woman called Queen Josephine. Was she the same Queen Josephine Julius had told her about? The one who had stolen the king’s pearl and used its power for beauty and black magic? But she was dead over three hundred years ago.
She flicked her eyes to him again, questioning who he was. The longer she stared at him, the more certain she was sure she’d seen him somewhere before.
Marcus cocked his head to one side as he watched her, waiting for her to pounce on him.
Cecelia said through gritted teeth, “You killed my father!”
Marcus didn’t deny this. He simply nodded. “Aye, and many thousand others.”
Anger engulfed her, and Cecelia leaped forward, her hands outstretched. Within a split second, she had her fingers around Marcus’s throat, tightening around his flesh, ready to kill him.
Marcus didn’t budge from his position as Cecelia tried to murder him. He closed his eyes, a sad smile about his face.
Tears flooded Cecelia’s eyes, as her inner self was conflicted between killing her father’s murderer and pitying the man who looked as though he’d welcome death. Suddenly, a force blasted against her, throwing her back against the seat, knocking her unconscious.
Marcus closed his eyes as though he were really upset she’d managed to hurt herself. He moved forward and whispered into Cecelia’s ear, “You can’t kill me, my dear, for I am cursed.” He smiled a dark, sad smile and gently kissed her on her soft lips. “But thank you for trying.” He murmured darkly, “Only one can kill me.” He glanced up as the noise of a demonic steed fluttering through the woods reached his ears. “And he’s here.”
The carriage came to a sudden halt, which was followed by the sound of men shouting as in battle and metal clashing against metal. Marcus knew the Dardanian soldiers would put up a fight against this one demon. Marcus also knew, however, that it wouldn’t last. They’d all die in vain in a split second. Of course, Marcus decided he’d leave them to fight for three minutes before presenting himself to his ex-friend. After all, there were at least fifty human warriors against one demon. Well, not just any demon, but a demon king with great demonic power at that.
Marcus listened to men crying out in agony in quick succession and then dead silence. It was two minutes. Marcus had underestimated Drake’s growing power. Good, he thought, a smile creeping upon his lips. That way Marcus himself could die a quicker death.
“Marcus!” came the cold, hard voice that belonged to Drake McNamara.
Marcus scooped Cecelia up in his arms and carried her out of the carriage. As he came to face his opponent, he presented his nemesis the beautiful prized prisoner.
Drake was seething with wrath the moment he’d seen his ex-comrade carrying Cecelia. He jumped down from Wildfire, his sword drawn, ready for battle. Marcus wasn’t surprised to know Drake didn’t even need to leave his steed to kill fifty strong soldiers.
“Release her!” he demanded.
Marcus said coldly, “Kill me first.”
Drake cocked his head to one side and sneered, “That can be arranged.”
Marcus laid Cecelia back down in the carriage. He slammed the door shut and turned to the driver and a soldier who miraculously survived the carnage.
“Leave now!” he bellowed. The two men nodded, and within a second, they were out of sight.
Drake, eager to be done with the fight so he could retrieve Cecelia, growled and lunged forward. He slammed his mighty weapon onto Marcus.
Marcus took a step to the side and quickly released his own weapon, raising it up high in midair to counter attack Drake’s mighty sword. Drake slammed another hit on him, which Marcus protected himself with his blade again. The
force, however, was harder this time, and it threw Marcus back.
Drake leapt forward, bashing his strong fist onto Marcus’s side, sending Marcus sprawling against the tree. Marcus sprang up and sent Drake a dark orb of attack as he chanted a black spell. The enchanted power hit Drake on the chest, hurling him across the distance, and smashed his body against a thick pine tree. The tree split and broke, falling to the ground, Drake along with it.
Drake growled as he flipped himself up. He gathered his inner energy; his body began to glow as his demonic power rose, a force field expanding around his form. Marcus summoned his demonic power as well, a halo of blue around him. The demons charged toward each other, each growling, shouting battle cries that echoed within the hushed woods.
They fought each other, giving each other blow after blow, the force of power emitting from within their bodies blasting everything that surrounded them. A golden halo against a blue one, glowing strong and flickering within the darkness of the woods, detonating trees and everything that stood in their way.
Drake wielded his weapon higher and forced a blast of demonic power into his words. Then he forced the energy and targeted it at Marcus, who was now exhausted from the combat.
Marcus emitted his own demonic power, but he was no match for the demon king and found himself at the receiving end of the explosion. A flare engulfed him, throwing him across the distance and smacking his body against a tree. He fell to the ground with a thud, unconscious. Drake headed toward the half-dead Marcus, his sword ready for the kill.
Feet braced apart and his face contorted with rage, Drake raised his sword high. He stood there, staring down at Marcus Arthur, his childhood friend. Memories flooded his mind, memories of them spending time together: Drake himself, Adam, Marcus, Julius, Gerick, and Leon. Learning how to use the sword for the first time. Learning history, geography, mathematics, science, astrology, and magic. Going out exploring the realm of the nine kingdoms, getting into all sorts of trouble and having all sorts of fun.
His heart constricted as his hands tightened on the sword above him. His friend. He was about to kill his friend, and Drake felt a sickening bile rise up within his throat. Why did Marcus have to betray them? Why did he want to claim the throne? Why did he want to return the kingdom back to the Dark Age where fear and terror ruled?
Drake hesitated too long. A blast of darkness materialized out of the blue, surrounding and protecting Marcus. A female figure in a dark robe appeared. Long blond hair fluttering in the wind, emerald-green eyes glaring at Drake with a promise of death.
Drake felt his whole being stiffen as he eyed the woman. “Queen Josephine,” he said darkly.
The woman gave him a sneering smile as she raised her hands, emitting a black, angry energy at him.
“I will kill you, Drake McNamara, Demon King.” Her voice echoed within his consciousness. Then she covered herself over Marcus, and in seconds, they both were gone.
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Chapter XVIII
WHEN CECELIA FLUTTERED HER EYES open once again, she saw only darkness. Though this time it wasn’t the darkness that engulfed and suffocated her, threatening to overtake her. She was still in the carriage, she realized, and sat up abruptly, searching about her surroundings for Marcus Arthur. He, however, was nowhere in sight.
The rocking motion told her the vehicle was on the move. She shuffled over to the side and parted the thick curtains. Outside, she noted they were traveling at a fast pace along a deserted road in the woods. Suddenly, the vehicle came to a halt and voices could be heard.
“Who goes there?” someone shouted.
Cecelia waited, the pumping of her heart loud in her ears.
“Who goes there?” the driver shouted again.
The carriage rocked violently, which was followed by men screaming in agony and then dead silence. Cecelia kicked the door open and rushed out, nearly falling to her knees on the ground as she did so. She staggered up and paced toward where the scream had come from. She found two men, dead, on the ground. In the darkness of the night, she glimpsed a dark shadow watching her. Her heart skipped a beat. She knew who it was immediately and swallowed.
“Running away, are we?” Drake said, his deep timbre voice echoing in the hollow woods.
“I…” Cecelia didn’t know what to tell him, for she too didn’t know how she came to be here. There had been Queen Eliza and Rosanna and then Marcus Arthur. Now it was the demon king himself.
“I…”
In a flash, he was beside her and had her slender arm within the tightness of his grip.
Cecelia whined at the pain. “Sire, I…”
He moved and had her imprisoned between the tree and himself, his large body covering hers. Cecelia caught her breath at the back of her throat as she could feel the whole length of him against her, the hardness, the strength, and the warmth.
“Nobody steals my precious items and ever gets away with it, not least you, thief.” He lowered his head to her so his nose nearly touched hers and their lips were a mere inch apart as he gazed intensely into her eyes.
Cecelia blinked. What would he do to her now? Would he kill her here? Odd enough, she wasn’t frightened of that. She knew he had a right to slay her for stealing his precious seed.
“Will you kill me now?” she asked, her heart racing, her body trembling beneath his. “But before you do, I beg that I see my mother and brother once again to say good-bye.”
Drake frowned for a moment and then he snorted. Such bravery, he thought for a mere human girl who he could snap lifeless with a flick of his hand. But she fascinated him. She stirred something deep within his being that he couldn’t deny. And demon’s blood! She was enchanting. Why men didn’t fall at her feet was beyond him. Why men found those three useless, pale women beautiful was beyond him. But this one, this one had spirit. This one he’d gladly take with him to enjoy. It would be a pleasure to have her. Aye, a pleasure indeed.
“What made you think I’d kill you now? It would be too easy,” he said softly. “You will make me another pearl, my sweet.”
Cecelia looked at him, confused as to the meaning of his words. “But I thought…”
“You thought wrong,” he snapped. “I intend to have you make me another pearl.” He shifted his gaze to her lips. “And I intend to enjoy it in the process.”
Cecelia blinked and before she knew what was happening, he had his lips pressed hard on hers.
Cecelia’s whole being shuddered in response as his warm tongue clicked the softness of her lips and then plunged into her mouth, stroking and caressing her sweetness. Just as quickly, he moved back, releasing her from his hot embrace.
He scooped her in his strong arms, which surprised Cecelia and made her squeak, and carried her to his steed. There he tossed her on top of Wildfire, climbed on, and nudged the animal to start.
They were riding fast, and Cecelia had to hold on tight so she wouldn’t fall. Drake noticed and pulled her into his arms as the steed released its wings and started ascending in the air. Cecelia gasped and held on to him, her small hands tight on the thickness of his arms.
Once they were up in the air and flying steadily, Cecelia was able to relax and turned her gaze to her captor. “Where are you taking me?”
Drake turned his smoldering gray eyes to her and gave her a slight smile. “To your prison.”
She swallowed. What did she expect? Aye, he would toss her into his merciless, dark dungeon, and then he’d torture her until he was satisfied. By then, she’d probably be dead, for she’d heard of the horrendous method these demons used to torture their prisoners, and none would last that long. A day at most.
So she was to be killed by torture. As he had said as much, he would not kill her himself. And he wouldn’t even allow her to see her mother and brother one last time.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she willed them away angrily. Nay, she would not cry, least not in front of him.
Drake scolded and nudged her face to his so he could see
properly in the dimness of the passing moonlight. He noted the defiant brown eyes, the flushed cheeks, and sensuous lips he’d kissed many times and, be damn, still wanted to do more. He remembered the softness and warmth of her flesh against his, and his blood rushed with pleasure once again.
Aye, he’d have her soon enough, this brave human girl who had the body of an angel and spirit of a demon. It would be a pleasure to drive his hardened shaft into her sweet, moistened channel again and again, a pleasure to have her as his and his alone, and to have her sire him another pearl.
He couldn’t help himself and brought his lips down to kiss her again, at the same time placing one large, strong hand behind her head. He plunged his tongue into her sweet mouth and explored her with a consuming passion.
Cecelia’s head spun with swirling sensation she couldn’t describe. Delicious excitement coursed through her being, and the spot between her thighs felt hot and willing. Aye, she wanted him to ravish her. She wanted him to fill her emptiness that was craving for him and him alone.
She groaned and felt her body respond with yet another thrill when his hand touched the roundness of her left breast.
Drake couldn’t help himself. He had to touch her, had wanted to touch her and feel her since he had seen her rushing out to face him that evening to prevent future bloodshed.
He controlled Wildfire with his thighs as he continued to kiss her, exploring the deepness and sweetness of her, his tongue stroking and licking as his finger molded her engorged breasts.
He released her abruptly, knowing he would lose control any moment if he didn’t.
Cecelia stared up at the demon who had the power to vanquish her thoughts to the wind and brought forward these newfound feelings and sensations she didn’t know she possessed. She cast her eyes and gazed at the musculature of his chest instead. She shuddered involuntarily at the smoothness of his skin his parted shirt revealed.