Ariella's Keeper (Divinity Healers)

by Pillow Michelle M.

  * * *

  “You’ll be happy to know that your indiscretion today will not be on record,” Supreme Walter said as Ariella and Sebastjan joined him for their evening sustenance.

  Sebastjan glanced at his wife, remembering all too well what they’d done in the transport. He hadn’t meant for it to happen, but when Ariella looked at him he couldn’t resist her. She hesitated, her hand gripping the back of her chair.

  “Our indiscretion?” Ariella asked when no one spoke. She moved slowly take a seat.

  “I spoke with Dr. Lu and Dr. Swift,” Supreme Walter continued, taking a small taste off the plate in front of him. Sebastjan hid his sigh of relief when he realized his father meant the quarantine. He didn’t want to talk about his private moments with Ariella. “They will be enjoying their new equipment acquisitions purchased from your laboratory’s budget.”

  “I want you to cure whatever it is you did to Ariella,” Sebastjan stated as he took his seat at the long, metal table.

  “I will not be dictated to,” Supreme Walter stated. He took another bite. Sebastjan knew it was an effort to look calm and controlled. Inside, the man would be raging mad.

  “I want you to cure whatever it is you did to Ariella,” Sebastjan repeated, keeping his tone even, “or it won’t just be my lab’s budget that ends up paying people off. I’ll take her to every facility in the city and have her scanned. Then, just for fun, I’ll spread the rumor that every public building needs to upgrade for viruses because there’s something new and nasty that slipped through the Divinity portals. I’ll whisper and hint and others will listen because I am your son. Your reign as Medical Supreme will be known as a time of disease and chaos.”

  “You are bluffing. You wouldn’t dare cause a planetary panic just to get even with me.” Supreme Walter smiled. “You take your position as a doctor too seriously. Panic and chaos lead to injury and death.”

  “What I want you to ask yourself,” Sebastjan pushed up from the table without touching his food, “is whether my sense of duty as a doctor outweighs my dislike of you and everything you stand for.”

  His father’s smile instantly faded.

  “Ariella?” Sebastjan motioned for her to follow him. She stood, not speaking. To his father, he said, “You have three hours to arrange it. We’ll be waiting for your answer. Oh, and while we’re discussing it, leave my laboratory’s budget alone.”

  * * *

  “I can’t believe you said all those things to him. When you said you were going to act like him, I thought you meant you were going to do something asinine or worse, like try to take his job as Medical Supreme.” Ariella could barely contain her excitement, even as Sebastjan seemed stiff and irritated from dealing with Supreme Walter. “Did you see his face? He was speechless. I’ve never seen him speechless. His mouth actually opened and he didn’t know what to say.”

  Sebastjan chuckled at her words. He relaxed some as he led her up the mansion stairs toward her room.

  “I love you for that,” she continued. Then, realizing what she’d said, she stopped walking. “I mean, I love…that…you did that.”

  His eyes softened. “I knew what you meant.”

  “I mean, I appreciate what you said to him.” Ariella swallowed nervously as he looked at her. Why was she still justifying her statement? The monitor on the wall beeped, capturing her attention. She blushed to see that her heartbeat was elevated and that several of her levels had risen. The screen informed that a shot had been ordered to calm her. When she glanced at Sebastjan’s stats, she saw that he also had elevated levels.

  “Would you like to find out?” He cupped her cheek, tracing her lips with his thumb.

  “Find out?” She looked at him, curious.

  “It’s a series of chemicals the body produces. We traded medical research with another plane that had done extensive mapping of brain chemicals. They’re easy enough to read.”

  “What is?”

  “They call the chemical phenylethylamine—”

  “No,” Ariella stopped him. “Not what it’s called. I won’t understand what you’re saying anyway. Find out what? What is a series of chemicals?”

  “Emotions.” His fingers slid along her throat, gently pressing into her hair only to pull out again. “Happiness. Love.”

  “Oh, I think that someone would know, I mean, the test isn’t necessary for the…” She had no clue what she was saying. “Does it matter to you how I feel?”

  The question seemed to surprise him. “Of course it matters. You’re my wife. I know we didn’t meet as couples normally do, but we both chose each other despite the persuasion of my father. There is an easiness between us, even a friendship. I care what you think and how you feel.”

  Ariella hadn’t expected such candor from him. She’d seen his kindness, felt it in his touch, but she’d never expected him to express it in words. She wasn’t sure she could be as articulate at the moment. She glanced at the monitor, feeling exposed by the way it told anyone who looked of her fast heartbeat, her quickened breath. But more poignantly, she felt exposed by the fact that he could read what the monitors said better than she could. “I care for you as well.”

  “I think that is a good start.” Sebastjan drew her forward and pressed his mouth to hers. His tongue slid past her lips, hungrily devouring her with his passion. She stiffened for the briefest of moments before melting against him. All thoughts filtered out of her mind until all she could feel was the man before her.

  She backed him toward the wall. His head bumped the monitor and he groaned. When she would have pulled back, he kept her from leaving him. He slid along the wall to a more comfortable position.

  His hands moved freely over her clothes, fumbling to unbutton her shirt. His hand slipped beneath the material, enveloping her breast in his palm. He pinched her nipple. The sensitive bud peaked at the attention.

  Ariella pulled at his clothing, reaching to the front of his pants. She rubbed his arousal, moaning softly to find him ready for her.

  Suddenly, he pushed her back. “Ariella, wait.”

  She blinked, shocked that he stopped her until she saw him looking down the stairwell.

  “We should go…” He looked toward his room.

  “Come on,” Ariella pulled him with her, moving to her room instead. It was closer and she wasn’t sure she could wait. She needed him, wanted him. Her skin begged for his touch. Her nerves tingled with anticipation. The door slid open and she hurried through.

  “Sans Ariella, I have your—ah!”

  Ariella pulled away from Sebastjan at the sound of the maid’s shock. She glanced around her husband, quickly adjusting her clothing.

  “I have your injection.” The maid lifted a shot.

  Sebastjan growled under his breath, reaching for the shot. “I’ll give it to her. Go.”

  The maid rushed from the room and the door shut behind her.

  Ariella chuckled. She automatically leaned her head to the side. Sebastjan tossed the shot onto the floor, not bothering to inject her.

  “But…” Ariella made a move to go after it.

  “Leave it,” he said. “No more medicine from my father’s house. No more food. No more anything.”

  “No more anything?” Ariella pouted her lower lip. She reached forward to cup his cock. “Anything?”

  Sebastjan chuckled. Instead of answering, he tore off his shirt and threw it over the syringe. Ariella tugged at her clothes, eagerly stripping. When they came together, naked flesh pressed against flesh. She reached between them and stroked his arousal. His breathing deepened, catching in his throat.

  “I want you,” she whispered, nipping at his ear.

  Sebastjan spun her around, placing her on the bed. The swift action pulled her hand from his arousal. He ground his hips into her, undulating as she rocked up to join him. His cock rubbed along the wet folds of her pussy, stroking just right. Cream moistened her sex, allowing him to glide against her.

  “I want you, too,” he
said, the word a hoarse growl of emotion as he drew the tip of his shaft to enter her.

  Sebastjan pushed up. He grabbed her by the back of her knee, pulling it up to better allow for his claiming. Then, with a hard push, he plunged into her depths, burying himself to the hilt. Her pussy tightened around him.

  Ariella met his thrusts with her own. Their hips slammed together. And even though they were bound by the prison walls of her room, she felt free because she had hope. The sensations of ecstasy built.

  She came, stiffening beneath him. Sebastjan answered her body’s call, releasing into her. He collapsed next to her. His tousled hair and flushed features were more handsome than anything she’d ever seen.

  A slow smile curled the side of his mouth. “Pack your things. We’re leaving here the second you’re cured.”

  Chapter Six

  Ariella peered at the Medical Supreme across the Central Hospital meeting room. She wished she could hear what the doctors were saying. According to Supreme Walter, she’d be cured within the hour—just as soon as he finished a procedure. Dr. Lu stood next to him, looking stern and slightly irritated. Next to them, Sebastjan crossed his arms as he listened to everything his father said. Since she wasn’t a doctor with medical clearance, Ariella had not been allowed into the conversation.

  When Sebastjan glanced at her, he gave her a small, comforting smile. She returned the look, lifting her hand in acknowledgement. It seemed like an eternity before they motioned her to come over. She did, crossing the distance until she stood across from Sebastjan.

  “You have to take a trip through the portal. Arrangements have been made with a plane we have trade agreements with,” Sebastjan said.

  “I’m being traded?” Ariella gasped.

  “No, don’t be ridiculous,” the Medical Supreme said. “Dr. Lu, leave us.” Dr. Lu nodded his head and stepped out of the room. “I designed what you have to dissipate if you were to use Divinity’s portal. It’s the only way to get rid of what you have.”

  Ariella stiffened. The way the man said it, so matter-of-fact, so unapologetic. She frowned. “So no one would know what you did if I managed to run away to a plane you don’t control.”

  “I liked you better before I married you to my son,” Supreme Walter stated.

  “But she’s right, isn’t she?” Sebastjan frowned. “If she’s going, then I’m going though the portal too.”

  “You can’t,” Ariella denied. “I don’t trust him.” She turned to the Medical Supreme. “I don’t trust you.”

  “Like I would abandon my only son on a primitive plane with a bunch of barbarians.” Supreme Walter eyed her as if she were a stupid girl.

  I really hate you, she thought, but kept quiet.

  “Dr. Lu knows we are going. The blue mineral water is too important to this plane to risk ruining a trade agreement with Staria. If we don’t come back, Staria will be blamed and our people will demand we take action.” Sebastjan took Ariella by the arm. “We’re ready. We’ll go, make the trade, and be back.”

  “I’ll have them dial the gate,” Supreme Walter said.

  “No, I’ll get the coordinates from Dr. Lu. I’ll dial it myself.” Sebastjan led Ariella from the meeting room.

  * * *

  Ariella watched as Sebastian turned dials and pressed buttons on the inter-dimensional portal’s consul. Behind them, the square arch of the Divinity portal looked innocuous, like some badly chosen piece of decoration thrust against the wall. A blue glow filled the room, directed at the arch. The arch hid a complex configuration of liquid crystals, electrical currents, mirrors and vacuums. When activated, it was held in check by the wavelength of a specific blue light, which kept the portal inactive. Should the light change, a dimensional shift would occur taking whoever stood on the platform to a new parallel universe.

  “Are you nervous? You said you’ve never dimension traveled before.” Ariella stroked his arm.

  “No. I am fine,” he said. Twelve turn dials indicated the color coding, including intensity and saturation.

  “I remember the stories people used to tell of the portals. I was so scared the first time I stepped through. Apparently, in the early days, before they made these destination platforms, travel was a haphazard affair and many of the testers died by materializing inside solid objects. Now Divinity sends out microscopic probes to new planes first.”

  When all the dials were all set, the blue shifted into a brilliant red light. Sebastjan grinned. “Maybe a little nervous. I’m happy you will be cured and excited to see what another world looks like.”

  “What do you think your father would do if we never come back?” Ariella asked, chuckling. “Have you ever thought about it? Just going to a new dimension and never coming back here?”

  Sebastjan didn’t answer. He took her hand and walked toward the platform. The closer they got, the more the light lured them in. Suddenly, the strong gravitational field pulled her off her feet, tearing her hand from his and hurling her toward the back of the platform.

  Ariella, knowing what was to come, tucked her arms in and closed her eyes tight. The concentrated red light burned her flesh and every cell in her body felt as if it had turned to lead. She couldn’t move, even as her body was pulled apart on a molecular level. Seconds later, the sensations stopped and her body was dropped onto a hard surface with a heavy thud.

  Coughing, she automatically rolled to the side. Sebastjan nearly landed on top of her. All around them, the blue glow shone. Ariella searched her surroundings. They were in cavelike clearing. The stone walls were etched with the tool marks made to carve them. A domed arch with a back and two side walls covered the platform. Every Divinity portal had a different look to it, but the main construct remained the same.

  Sebastjan pushed up. “Ariella? How are you? How do you feel?”

  Ariella gave a weak laugh and moaned, “Ow. I hate that part.”

  “I didn’t imagine portal travel would be so painful.” He took a deep breath and felt along his limbs as if checking to be sure they were still intact.

  “It gets more bearable with time,” came a woman’s voice, “or perhaps we just get used to it.”

  Sebastjan helped Ariella to her feet.

  “Welcome to Battlewar Castle. I’m Lady Lilith of Firewall. I will be your contact while you are here.” Lady Lilith smiled. Her straight blonde hair fell freely about her shoulders and she had kind blue eyes. The tight fit of her white corset outlined her waist and hips, showcasing a generous amount of cleavage. Long skirts billowed around her legs, the dark crimson a stark contrast to the white. Ariella tried not to stare. “You must be new to portal travel. Though, if I recall correctly from my visits to plane 187, not many of your people have stepped through the portal. You usually have people brought to you. I am honored you would come.”

  Behind the woman, a bodyguard stood, his arms crossed in a protective gesture. He was a burly figure, dressed in a hard leather jerkin and dark breeches. Metal diamonds plated the leather, creating a symmetrical pattern over his thick chest.

  “I am Dr. Sebastjan Walter and this is my wife, Ariella,” Sebastjan said. “We are honored you would have us for your guests.”

  “Married?” Lilith looked Ariella over. “That’s probably for the best. Single women tend to get claimed rather quickly around here.”

  “Yes, I’m married,” Ariella confirmed, inching closer to her husband.

  “Walter, you say?” Lilith arched a brow. “As in Medical Supreme Walter?”

  “The same,” Sebastjan acknowledged. “He is my father.”

  “Will there be more of you?” Lilith glanced at the platform. “The Medical Supreme usually travels with at least a dozen armed men when he leaves your capital city—or so I’ve been informed.”

  Sebastjan led Ariella forward into the cave. Her legs shook nervously. All she had seen was a cave, a woman and one guard and she could still tell this world was going to be unlike any she’d ever dreamed of seeing. Sebastjan said, “No. We c
ome alone. No guards. Your intentions in negotiation have never been hostile. When we knew you as Divinity Analyst Sans Lilith Grian, you always treated us fairly. I’m sure we’ll be able to negotiate for the supplies you need.”

  Though hardly tense, Lilith seemed to relax at his words. She motioned toward a stairwell. “Please, follow me.”

  They walked through mazelike corridors of blue-gray stone. Torches burned from their places on the wall. Ariella breathed deeply, loving the smell of stone and fire. The ever so subtle hint of dust tickled her nose.

  Lady Lilith brought them to a large dining area. Bright light came from a large fireplace along a far side of the room. Woven tapestries lined the walls in strips of material, showcasing coats of arms and various symbols.

  A few warrior men sat at the tables, whispering amongst themselves. Though gruff in appearance, most of them looked recently bathed. Some wore lightweight tunics, others leather jerkins like the guards, others light chainmail and pieces of armor, and still others wore no shirt at all. Big metal goblets had been set before them, next to matching pitchers. She’d thought the guards were scary, but some of these men were practically gigantic. Muscles bulged, littered with puckered scars and tattooed designs.

  When Lilith saw Ariella looking around, she said, “Battlewar Castle may look rough, but that is to be expected from a fortress designed by men constantly at war. Hopefully though, that will change now that this plane has found some peace. That is why there aren’t too many warriors here now. They’ve all gone home to their families. As you can see, this plane is fairly rustic when compared to 187, but I assure you, you have nothing to fear.”

  “Oh, I’m not frightened. It reminds me of home in some ways. More so than 187.” Ariella took another deep breath. “Smells like it too.”

  “You are not from 187?” Lilith asked.

  “No, but it’s my home now.” Ariella refused to say more and Lilith didn’t ask. Sebastjan’s hand slid across her back in reassurance.