Dawn of Darkness: Part 1 (Where the Shadows Stalk)

by Adam Watson

  Further into the west wing she travelled. She could hear the battle raging outside, but only just; it was like the walls of the Temple were designed to mute sound from the outside. Inside, the corridors were quiet, so silent it seemed like they were already abandoned - it looked as though the people here had evacuated in a hurry.

  Landscape tapestries and paintings of Karite Warriors adorned the walls leading to the holding cells. Perfectly cut out niches held various golden ornaments sitting atop marble pedestals. The Oracle found it odd and briefly wondered why the Karites would go to the bother of decorating a prison area so lavishly. Perhaps they are showing their wealth to the enemy. Prosperity did mean success and success meant they were not to be trifled with.

  The Oracle turned to the left and then took the next passage on the right, just like the vision in Lily's mind. It was a strange feeling knowing a way to a place she had never been, but in her mind, it felt as if she had been there a hundred times before - which Lily had.

  The next hallway would be the last. The Oracle made Lily's body walk down to the third door on the left and stand outside - this was the door to Dray's cell. This is it, she thought. The door looked exactly as it had in the memories of Lily's mind; darkened red oak with a dark brown knob. It didn’t really look like a door to a cell. It's just a room they are using to hold prisoners. Once the prisoner's fate was decided, they would either be released or sent to the dungeon - those that weren't executed the same day that is.

  Lily placed the knife in the left side of her belt and proceeded to try the keys one by one until she heard the familiar click of an unlocking lock. Her heart began beating faster with anticipation, matching the rhythm of the Oracles. It had been a long time since she had seen Dray. Who knew how he would react to Lily?

  She doubted he would recognise her as the Oracle or take the word of an acolyte he did not know, but despite any fears she may have had, she needed to act, and so she made Lily open the door. Once Dray had the ring back on he will know what to do, the power of Tempus will show him - so she hoped.

  She opened the door and slipped into the room, carefully closing it behind her, if there were still guards walking about, an open door would surely attract attention.

  She doubted any guards would come looking - if Kara had fallen there would certainly be bigger things to worry about. Like the horde running through the Temple killing and destroying everything in their paths. It seemed like it was just a matter of time now; it was evident that the Creed had taken control of the city. The followers of Solus Bal could be fanatical in their attacks, and she had no doubt that there would be constant bombardment on this Temple until it fell. The Creed would see the entire site as a blasphemy. The only way the Creed would stop was if the king's army stopped them. The king’s army is probably dead. Then there was the question of who or what ripped open Kara's shroud - this disturbed her more than anything.

  She could see Dray seated in a chair, his back facing her, from behind he appeared to be naked, thick bindings dug into his skin and held him tight to the chair. Bruising and red lashes covered his body, his head slumped to the side - they had clearly beaten him before they left.

  As she approached she could see that there was a black blindfold tied around his head; across his lap was a small piece of light brown cloth. His body was limp as though he was asleep or unconscious, the tight bindings were the only thing that held him in the chair. Some of his skin had a purple tinge where the blood was being cut off; the Oracle was worried, but she knew he was not dead, for she could see him breathing.

  "Dray? Dray are you all right? Can you hear me?" The Oracle removed the blindfold and gently turned his head so she could see his eyes.

  "Who's there?" he moaned, half delirious; his eyes were puffy and swollen, and he had trouble opening them.

  The Oracle took the Ring of Tempus out of Lily's pocket. Even in the dim light of the holding cell and through the eyes of Lily, she could clearly see that the ring was ancient and contained a great power.

  She bent down and slipped the ring on Dray's finger. Dray immediately went into a shocked state as he tried to reach for his temples. The Oracle wasn't worried though, she knew what was happening - Tempus was speaking to him, although she doubted Dray would understand, having never undergone the appropriate rituals.

  He would be all right though, the ring would give him strength and power directly from Tempus, not his full power of course - he would need to find the rest of his set for that, but it would give him enough power to protect her, which was what she desperately needed right now.

  A moment later Dray was fully conscious, his bruising had dissipated, the red lash marks had subsided, muscle had visibly grown, the puffiness in his eyes had gone down, and he seemed much more coherent.

  "Who are you?" Dray asked, his eyes were filled with steely determination. "Why are you helping me?" He spat the words out so suddenly that it made the Oracle's heart skip a beat.

  "M-My name's Lily," she answered, she didn't want to reveal that she was the Oracle just yet because it would be too hard to believe. "Kayla sent me to help you."

  "Kayla ..." He whispered the name lustfully, he closed his eyes and seemed to be thinking about something long ago, the Oracle watched on for a moment.

  Until this moment, the Oracle hadn't realised how attractive Dray was. She looked at his chest; it was so muscular, it was as if a great sculptor had chiselled it out of granite. She knew part of that attraction came from the ring, but the other part was all Dray. His arms and legs looked powerful and defined, and were clearly visible in the dimly lit cell. She looked at his biceps bulging through the bonds and the perfect abdominals adorning his lower torso. His face was strong and chiselled, his hair was dark and his eyes blue - she found him simply beautiful.

  Back in the cell, the Oracle's heart began to race, looking at Dray's almost naked body was causing her temperature to rise. Pull yourself together Kayla, this is neither the time nor the place, but she couldn't stop staring.

  Dray opened his eyes, revealing the sky blue irises behind. He looked into Lily's eyes and saw something familiar about them. He couldn't explain it, but there was an instant attraction.

  Lily moved closer to Dray. He was vulnerable now, bound to the chair. The Oracle knew he could escape those bonds quite easily if he used his powers, but he wouldn't know how. Not yet. Right now, in this moment, he was her prisoner and unable to resist her; she liked that and continued to move closer, seducing him with slow and sensual movements.

  Dray's eyes moved over the tightly clad robe that covered Lily's body; his mind was filled with lust, and his heart raced with passion. He knew that there was something unnatural fuelling his desire for her but he didn't care, and as he hardened the cloth on his lap rose.

  The Oracle could see the effect Lily was having on Dray, in one part of her mind, there was envy; she wished that she was there in person, but her mind being in Lily's body - it was almost the same. Every feeling Lily could feel the Oracle could feel too. Every taste, every sound, every sight, anything she made Lily do was like doing it herself.

  In the back of her mind, she could feel the vague and muted presence of her own body sitting down in the cell, deep below the Temple; her legs crossed and hands resting in her lap. If anyone happened upon her, they might think she was deep in meditation. The link allowed her to switch from one body to the other at will, but only the greatest of Oracles could control both at the same time, and she was not the greatest of Oracles – at least not yet.

  Lust was not usually one of the Oracle's strongest traits, but she pulled the robe up and over her head despite herself, revealing the naked flesh beneath. No, this was not like the Oracle at all. She moved rhythmically, gyrating her hips and running her hands up and down her body. This is ridiculous. She was acting like some cheap dancer in a brothel, not the Oracle of Tempus. She looked down at Dray's lap, he certainly seemed to be enjoying the show, and she continued performing for him, her inhibitions evapor
ating against her will.

  Dray had a cheeky little smile on his face, his eyes were full of desire. He seemed to be very relaxed on the chair, and even though the bindings still dug into him, he was as randy as a teen.

  I really can't believe I'm doing this, thought the Oracle. Not only was it the wrong place, but it was also the wrong time. The shroud could close at any time. If it did, the link would be severed, but she couldn't stop herself, some primal force had taken hold of her. It's the ring ... it has to be.

  She had read many years ago that the bonds that tied the Oracle and the Torac together had often led to love. But this isn't real love ... it's wrong. She knew she was being manipulated by some power greater than herself, but it didn't stop her. She put her arms around Dray's neck and kissed him passionately, Dray didn't hesitate in kissing her back.

  Reaching down she removed the cloth, revealing the hardness beneath. There was no turning back now, she pulled herself onto his lap and felt his penetration.

  Their lovemaking was desperate and primordial; a primeval passion had taken hold of them both, and they had to have each other right there - no matter what the consequences. The kissing was hard and animalistic, the movements were rough and wild, the thrusts went deep and hard. They were as if possessed by demons, there was something unnatural and manic about the way they made love.

  Back in the cell, the Oracle could feel the pleasure of Lily's body. It felt like Dray was inside her own body and she could feel the sexual tension heightening. The mad passion continued as the Oracle grabbed Dray's face and rammed her tongue down his throat. She was an animal, it was so unlike her, but she couldn't stop, her fingernails dug into his back, and she rode him faster.

  The tension built, hearts raced, and breath laboured as the movements got faster and faster and the pleasure increased higher and higher. Back in the cell, the Oracle could feel her own pleasure rising as her breathing increased faster, her breasts were heaving more and more, and her body began to shake with the unnatural intensity.

  She looked into Dray's eyes, the rhythmic bouncing was having the desired effect on him, and she knew he was close. He stared back, a slight smile on his face; he made no movement of his own, letting Lily do the work.

  He could feel the pleasure building up, Lily smiled at him. He looked directly into her eyes; it was as if he could see into her soul. He looked into the black pupils of Lily's eyes; those deep cauldrons, those dark pools. They seemed to tell him something, it was almost as if he could see something in there. He began to wonder, it was something familiar, but he couldn't think as the pleasure became too much.

  "Oracle," he muttered erupting, the Oracle could feel Dray pulsating inside her, filling her with his warm liquid. Lily's eyes widened as her own pleasure racked her body.

  Back in the cell, the shock of recognition rocked the Oracle to the core. How could he possibly know? The link that connected two minds severed as the Oracle's body fell to the floor thrashing with a mixture of sexual ecstasy and intense panic so great that it caused her to black out.

  ***

  Dray smiled both happy and relieved. He smiled at Lily to show her how happy he was at that moment, but instead of smiling back, the young acolyte stared ahead blankly and unmoving.

  The stillness began to unnerve Dray; it was weird and unnatural. He felt like he should say something, but then suddenly Lily moved. Blinking her eyes, she moved her hands to her head as though trying to clear her mind.

  "Ah, there you are," whispered Dray. "You went away for a moment."

  "W-What am I doing here?" asked Lily, there was a slight panic in her voice and a look of horror on her face. "Where are my clothes? How did you get me here?" Dray could say nothing. Was this some kind of joke? How could she not know? He could only look at her with a disturbed puzzlement. What does she mean 'How did you get me here?' After what they had just gone through together how could she not know? Lily stood up abruptly, and Dray slid out of her; she looked down abhorred and disgusted.

  "What have you done? How did you get me here?" She was shaking, her eyes were wet, and her voice was getting louder and more frantic with each word. "WHAT HAVE YOU MADE ME DO?!" she yelled hysterically, she snatched her robe from the floor and slowly backed towards the door, never taking her eyes off of Dray. She eyed him like a dangerous animal.

  Dray was stunned by this total change in mood. One moment she was making mad, passionate love to him, the next she was acting like she didn't know what was going on. It doesn't make any sense. But what was worse was that she was screaming; screaming would bring the guards, the guards would bring pain, and the pain would be laid upon him.

  "You need to calm down," he growled. "You're the one who came in here remember?" Lily glared at Dray with wide-eyed indignation and began to shake her head in denial.

  "I-I don't know how I got here, but I know I would never do … that!" They both knew what that was. "You beguiled me!" Dray sniggered in contempt.

  "How could I beguile you? I'm tied to a chair which is fastened to the ground. I'm a prisoner, this is my cell remember!" Lily continued to glare at Dray unable to believe his words.

  "You're lying ..." Her words were weak and trailed to silence - she knew them to be untrue. She seemed to think for a moment, about what could have happened and then she whispered in disbelief. "Then you truly are demonspawn." It was the only thing that made sense to her, Dray laughed out loud.

  "Is that what you really think I am? A demon? Spawned from hell? One of the Creed?" Lily didn't answer, but the look on her face said everything.

  "You used magic ... that's why I can't remember anything." This girl's a raving loon! Lily continued to back away fretting, her eyes shifting from side to side trying to see all around her, but too scared to take her eyes completely off of Dray. Who knew what powers he might have? Who knew how he could affect her mind?

  "You don’t have to be scared. I'm not ..." Dray was trying to calm her, but she cut him off.

  "Don't speak to me. I know that's how you got into my mind." She's a fruitcake. "If you speak to me again, I'll call the guards." Dray's heart almost skipped a beat. Call the fucking guards? Anger surged inside and brought him to boiling point in an instant. I'll fucking kill you!

  Memories flooded into his mind unbidden, the beating, the screaming, the lashings - the terrible lashings. They had wanted to break him, but they had found that they couldn't. He had given them nothing, and in return, they gave him pain and suffering.

  Now, in this moment, he was scared, scared that more pain might break him and that more sufferance would have him undone - that was something he could not allow to happen.

  Lily had backed almost to the door now. Dray could see the frantic look on her face, she looked like she wanted to scream, she looked like she wanted to run into the corridor and call for the guards.

  Bright lights sizzled across the surface of Dray's eyes like azure lightning bolts, his right hand turned ice blue and burned like fire. In his mind desperation grew and his body raged as anger overwhelmed sensibility.

  "Don't even think about it," he spat, Lily's eyes widened. His eyes, his hand ... he is a demon. She turned to the door running.

  "Guards!" The game was over, and now he had to act, power exploded from inside him, a power that came from the ring. There was a flash of light. One moment he was sitting bound to the chair by thick fibrous bonds, the next he was standing right behind Lily, his sword shattering through her body like glass.

  He looked down in horror at what he had done, the sword fell to the ground and that too shattered into a thousand icy shards. He fell to his knees unbelieving. What have I done? He felt sick and started shaking uncontrollably. I've killed her. Tears welled in his eyes, and he shook his head somehow trying to deny what just happened. I'VE KILLED HER! He looked at the broken pieces scattered across the floor. He could see bits of bone, bits of blood, bit of flesh and even the frozen remnants of what was once Lily's robe.

  He turned around and looked
at the chair, the same chair that had bound him to that place for so long. The thick ropes that once dug deeply into his flesh had been torn asunder by a tremendous force that had ripped through them like they were made from paper - he couldn’t believe it.

  Still shaking, he slowly turned back to face the broken remnants of Lily's body; his heart was beating erratically, he felt as though he was going to faint. What have I done? He had been angry, but no-one deserved this. Not her at least. He knew he had to stop her from calling out to the guards but to kill her in a rage ... and so brutally? He had lost control. He had shattered her body into a thousand bloody pieces with unbridled power, and what was worse was that he didn't even know how he had done it. He knew that the power came from the ring, but it was a power he couldn't control.

  A power that couldn’t be controlled was a power he didn’t like, especially when it came from him. It was dangerous, not only to him but all those around him. That knowledge wouldn't save Lily though - nothing would save Lily. He broke down and began to weep. He had killed before, many times as he had fought in battle, but he had never killed an innocent woman; this one had done no wrong. How could I? HOW COULD I? Why had he killed her? Because he was scared of the guards, and the pain they would bring? He would face the guards a thousand times over if he could undo what he had done. No, she didn't deserve this.

  Suddenly and without warning the whole building shook as if hit by an earthquake. Dray reached out across the floor, desperately grasping for anything to hold on to. There was only the chair, which he held onto tight, thanking the gods that it was fastened to the floor. The thick hemp ropes which had been torn apart vibrated across the floor like woven snakes. Coldness shook against him, but he tried not to think about it; he knew all too well what it was - it was pieces of Lily.