“Because had Olchemy destroyed that crystal due to your failure,” he spoke his voice descending to a low raspy tone, “Dogs would be licking your bones by now. Do not fail us, more so, do not fail Abaddon.”
“Yes, Lord Levieth.”
~~***~~
Even Darshun felt surprised to hear this. Clearly it seemed obvious the King and Queen lied about the recent events taking place in this war. Why did it matter anyhow? After all, they did destroy Zithel and take back the crystals. Nevertheless, evil seemed unmerciful, willing to kill its own for any small failure. Had Darshun wanted he could have revealed the truth to Levieth right then and there.
Talvenya must’ve suspected this and in some small way begged for mercy by passing him a quick look…her pleading eyes unveiling the natural mercy she knew Darshun possessed, as if hoping to seduce him enough so he'd listen. It worked—Darshun would keep his mouth shut her helplessness won him over. For a moment, he truly felt sorry for the Queen seeing her, a Goddess and Dominatrix, humbled in such a way.
With a rush of momentarily victory flowing through her blood Talvenya fixed her gaze back onto the floor as if believing she still held a little bit of power over her Nasharin, and would be the leverage she needed when the time came to kill him; no, to make him suffer—suffer dreadfully, and then kill him. Mercy would be his downfall. What a weakness indeed.
“Guards, I sense no threat in this Nasharin, for that much the Queen speaks the truth,” Levieth announced. “Proceed with him to the Underground. But do watch the boy this time.”
“As you command.”
Darshun couldn’t believe it. He'd thought for sure the High Wizard sensed his Magic, but it seemed Levieth's invading presence had been defeated, deceived. Darshun made himself out as nothing but a typical mundane individual. Young and healthy maybe, but possessing no monstrous power. All the High Wizard had sensed was his Asharian essence, the element making him Nasharin, mixed within his blood, bones, under his skin and probably intertwined throughout every organ of his body.
The guards tugged Darshun away. Originally, his plan had been to seek out the King and Queen’s lair—and he did—force them to tell the directions to Abaddon’s lair, then lay the heathens to waste. Though it would’ve been much wiser to creep around in the shadows or disguise himself as a guard and he knew this, but vengeance became too strong in his heart. He wanted them—her to pay. Now Levieth showed up and there seemed no point risking a battle between two masters of sorcery plus a High Wizard, so he decided to wait. Besides, he would need all the strength he could store if he were to confront Abaddon.
Then strangely enough, he felt the presence of something he never thought possible, let alone in this place—he felt another Nasharin. Not Mirabel, Seth or even Nayland, but someone else. Someone new! If his senses were correct, this Nasharin dwelt beneath the castle. Perhaps in the place called The Underground? Most definitely something he could not ignore. He would obey the Cullach a little while longer…just for a little while.
~~***~~
Levieth shifted his gaze to Tanarokai. “I understand you’ve discovered the location to the fourth and final crystal?”
“We have—”
“I was speaking to the King.”
“Of course you were.” Talvenya lowered her head.
“Indeed, my lord,” Tanarokai answered. “We are marching off today to retrieve it. The plans are set.”
“Excellent. Perhaps you both will live to see the New World after all. I am leaving now and Talvenya…” he called, shifting another silver glare her way. “Remember what I said about failure. Do not enter it.” He abandoned their presence, shutting the door.
Talvenya fell silent, staring off into space, still holding the Soul Crusher.
“My Queen, are you—all right?”
She clenched her free hand so tightly her nails dug into her skin causing blood to drip onto the floor. “All that you have done to me Darshun,” she growled, “I’ll repay you tenfold—no—one hundred fold! I promise I will find a way to destroy everything you care about right before your very eyes once again. Then I’ll make you suffer begging me for death, but you will find no comfort whatsoever until I decide to erase you from existence.”
“I must admit my dear I’ve never seen you this upset. He must have really gotten to you.”
“No one makes a mockery out of me like that. Even in front of the High Wizard, he wouldn’t stop.” She looked to him, eyes in frenzy. “He will pay my King, oh trust me when I say this, he will pay.”
There came a knock on the door.
“Now who disturbs us?” Tanarokai snapped and opened it. Before him stood a Cullach and Talvenya recognized him immediately; he’d been one of the guards left in charge of Darshun last night.
“You!” she shouted, eyes flashing.
He fell to her feet in humility and worship.
Judging by her tone no doubt existed—she knew Darshun remained alive and well, and she looked enraged because of it. “Did I not specifically command you to throw that Nasharin into the Gershom Pits?”
“Yes my Queen, but the pits were already filled with slaves.”
“And you neglected to tell me?”
“Please my Goddess, be not angered at me. I bring interesting news that may attract both you and the King.”
“News? What news?”
He raised his face.
“Do not make eye contact with me, unless I command it!”
“Forgive me,” he said, quickly lowering his head.
“Good. Now tell me about this news. And it better be good, your life depends on it.”
“Last night, after we severely beat him—as you commanded, I placed the Nasharin in the cell with the Elf Kelarin, the one we’ve held for fifteen years. Being an Elf and he a Nasharin I was sure she’d make him suffer beyond what the pits could have inflicted. But this morning when I came to check I found him perfectly healed, and looking affectionate with Kelarin.”
“Affectionate?”
“Indeed so, as if they were enjoying one another’s company. I believe this Elf has healing powers she’s neglected to show all this time.”
Talvenya looked at the King. “Something is not right.”
“Do you wish for me to question her?” Tanarokai asked.
“No, I’d rather do the talking. Besides we are both females, perhaps having more in common than she knows. Hating Darshun that is. For maybe…just maybe she could not sense his nature. Still…”
“Have I pleased you my Queen?” the Cullach asked.
“Oh, quite well,” she smiled. “Stand now and face me.”
Like a puppet, he immediately got off his knees, onto his feet and looked on his Goddess.
“Good, because I wanted to stare into your eyes as I killed you.” She jabbed the Soul Crusher into his stomach and out through his back.
He gagged, coughing up a mouthful of blood.
Talvenya held him steady with the sword. “The price for your defiance,” she said then ripped the sword out, causing his lifeless body to fall at her feet, smearing blood onto her leather boots.
“You know, if we continue killing in our lair we are going to have permanent blood stains on the walls and floor,” Tanarokai quipped.
“I held your sword long enough to not use it.” She handed the Soul Crusher back to him. “Besides, I needed that. Now, let us see how this Kelarin fairs a conversation with me. If she is any smarter than Darshun she will live. If not, she’ll end up like this fool on the ground.”
“Do not take long we leave for the last crystal in an hour.”
“Of course my King. Of course.”
~~***~~
Kelarin immersed herself in deep meditation when she heard footsteps approaching. Losing her train of thought, she opened her eyes and saw the Queen standing before the bars of her cell, gazing at her with a strange uncomfortable look.
“Open the door,” she commanded a guard.
Kelarin put her head down
as she stepped in.
Talvenya’s spiked boot heels clicked loudly against the stone floor.
The noise entering Kelarin’s head like it was the only sound in a void of nothingness.
“Do you not kneel before your Queen?”
“You are not my Queen.”
“Ah yes, I remember, you hold some primitive ‘moral’ being above me. Precisely the kind of talk that put you in solitary. I thought by now, you would have realized the power of the Dark over the neglect of the Light. But some things never change. No matter, I didn’t come here about that. I came about the prisoner cast in here with you last night, the Nasharin Darshun.”
She raised her face slightly. “I know.”
“Of course you do. And according to my soldiers he was brutally beaten and battered, not to mention what I did to him.” She grinned. “Yet this morning, for some odd reason, he’s fine. Not a scratch. I have seen for myself. Which leaves me to believe you have the power to heal. Am I correct?”
She didn’t answer.
Talvenya stepped a little closer. “Kelarin, if you wish to live, do not test my patience’s.”
“Yes, I can heal,” she answered, meeting the Queen’s gaze for a moment, then swiftly peering back down to the floor.
“Good, which brings me to my second question?” She put a finger under Kelarin’s chin, sliding her long black nail back and forth, lightly scraping the skin, then lifted until their eyes met. “Your race has been known to bitterly hate Nasharins. I suspect you can recognize one on the spot, sensing their spirit. Elves, after all, are highly enlightening creatures when it comes to body and spirit.”
“I knew Darshun’s heritage, yes,” Kelarin answered.
“Why did you heal him?”
“Because I cannot stand the torment of another creature.”
Talvenya raised her brows. “Oh? Nasharin as well?”
She sighed. “The prejudices of my people against Nasharins are myth, nothing more.”
“Ha, you are so naïve. I can attest to that.” Slowly, she walked around Kelarin grabbing a lock of the Elf’s hair, twirling it in her fingers a few moments before letting go. “Honey brown, like Darshun’s,” she commented. Then, coming around to Kelarin’s front, Talvenya squatted to be at the same level of eye contact. Kelarin tried turning away but Talvenya gently pushed back her face. “I want you to listen carefully to a story of mine.”
Dominated, Kelarin had no choice but to stare into the Queen’s cold eyes.
“A little more than three hundred years ago I witnessed what you would call ‘horrific events,’ ” she began. “On my way north, screams of villagers aroused my attention. Carefully did I creep through the trees until I saw four individuals brutally attacking a tribe consisting of both Humans and Elves. At first, I thought these four were just men—until they transformed. From the difference in their eyes, hair and skin, along with that beautiful aura they display, I realized immediately what they were, creatures I’d always thought to be myth, Nasharins. One had the ability to create lava, another chaotic energy, another water and the last a shape-shifter.” Her lips curved into a big smile. “Oh how they butchered the people, mutilated the Elves, tortured the women and killed the children. Those Nasharins wiped out the entire population. It was delightful to watch. Made me a little—well, ‘excited.’ Had I been as strong as I am now I would have introduced myself and seduced their minds to my will. But I was not, so I left well enough alone.” She paused to give a wicked smile.
Kelarin remained quiet as the queen continued her tale.
“Continuing my travels I discovered among other folk that ‘transforming men of evil’ attacked over twenty villages among the east coast, all having an alliance with elvish kin. That is when I realized the stories about the Nasharin race were true. They were murders and bitter enemies against your people. Sadly, I later found out the Aryeh of Ashhaven tracked down the four and killed them. I’ve been to Ashhaven, you know. A beautiful place, especially the great white tree Albus Arbor.”
Kelarin peered up at her.
“That’s right my dear, a shadow in darkness. One overhears much gossip at night around the pleasant ‘merry-full ’ fires things like the utter hatred your kind has for Nasharins. So please do not tell me it is myth.”
“Every so often there rises up the seed of a demon,” Kelarin informed her, “Such is true among all races, not just Nasharins.”
Talvenya stood up and stepped forward hard, her boot nearly crushing Kelarin’s little foot. “Do not play foul with me!” she growled. “I know you’re lying. There’s no reason for you to protect a worthless scum like Darshun, unless you’re covering up something. Cause no matter what, there has got to be hatred in your heart for him.”
“There is hatred in my heart for the act of evil from those too weak to resist.”
“Poor child you are indeed. You have no idea what kinds of pleasures this world has to offer. What you call ‘evil’ and ‘dark’ is nothing more than satisfying the lusts of the flesh. It’s natural ‘good.’ But you cannot see this. You are held captive by the Light, forbidding you to engage in such pleasures you deep down truly desire.”
“No, what you lust after is selfishness. You delight in killing the innocent, murdering the weak, destroying forests, animals or anything not willing to abide under the Dark’s Rule. You cast aside the helpless, are unforgiving to your own. You’re bitter, hateful even blasphemous to all whom differ in thought, deed and belief. What you call ‘pleasure’ is the sole purpose for suffering within this world. And deep down Talvenya, you know this.”
She smacked Kelarin across the face and tightly yanked on her hair, holding up her head. “Be silent. I rule over others because I am stronger. I am a Goddess—the Goddess of earth. My only lords are Levieth and of course Abaddon. Cast them aside, only my King comes close to the power I possess.” Through a slip of her beautiful crimson gown she reached under and took out a small knife from an inner pocket. She gently moved the blade across Kelarin’s throat and came so close to her face that their lips nearly touched. “I could kill you right now if I wish,” she spoke softly, staring directly into her eyes. “It wouldn’t be the first Elf’s throat I cut. But something about the situation sparks my attention…” she paused and stared into her eyes.
Kelarin stared right back.
“You see, when I was a child, my…father use to scare me with stories about the Light reigning supreme over the Dark. One specific story was about a so-called guardian of earth emerging at a time the Light would be most vulnerable against the Dark. That he would bring us to our knees and destroy all hopes of ruling the world. One of the last ‘sons of fire’ he shall be. If I’m not mistaken the phrase ‘son of fire’ is an old reference to a Nasharin. The most interesting part of the story though would be that this guardian would also be of elvish decent. Obviously, Darshun is not a full-blooded Elf or even a half for that matter. The physical features clearly show that. But what about part Elf as little as a quarter? Since a Nasharin is both Wizard and Man, I suspect if one had relations with an Elf the offspring would replicate the Human features, with perhaps a tad of elvish. Like the eyes. Darshun has such lovely ones does he not?” The queen drew even closer to her face.
Kelarin tried not to show any emotion at all.
“In fact, they look similar to yours in a sense the way all Elves eyes look. And what better a time to emerge when the Dark is preparing the Spell of Destruction? Let us just say for a moment, it is written in your prophecies that Darshun is this guardian and you have been waiting for him all along while imprisoned here. Then upon coming into your presence, without a doubt sensing his Nasharin spirit you healed his broken body. Hey, stranger things have happened—Darshun for one still breathing.”
She made not a sound and gave no expression to the Queen.
“Gone quiet? No matter, I was planning on testing out a new tool our Wisemen created anyway.” She took off her black crown that possessed what appeared to be gems
tones.
Gems cover it, ones unfamiliar to Kelarin they encircled around the base. Each composed a different color: red, pink, white, silver, and yellow, orange, brown, blue, violet and green. Each having a slightly different shape...Never had Kelarin seen the Queen wear this.
Talvenya twisted the crown and it came apart in two pieces. She set the top half back onto her head and the base with the strange stones onto Kelarin’s. Instantly, the stones blazed, omitting light into the Queens eyes then bouncing off and striking Kelarin’s hypnotizing her, opening up an ocean of thought and memory. The Queen saw her past, childhood and adulthood, but of her thoughts emerged only one thing repetitively that brought a smile to her lips. She retrieved the base, laughing. “Oh my, Kelarin! You’re not as innocent as I thought,” she noted, reconnecting her crown, then placing it atop her head.
Kelarin rubbed her brow from a sharp pain caused from the mind reading. “What happened? Where—where am I? I feel—lost.”
“It is because of the trance I had you in my dear. I saw your past, quite mundane. Your thoughts however, very interesting. You desire him.”
“Desire whom?”
“You know of whom I speak. Thoughts do not lie. I saw everything, and if I may say, I truly enjoyed it. Makes me desire to lie with him once more.”
For perhaps the first time in her entire life, Kelarin's eyes flickered with jealousy and anger.
Talvenya seemed to take great pleasure in this fact—she’d been the one to unleash these emotions. “Ah yes, little Elf at the top of Mt. Mundoria I seduced him and he took me. It was nice, wonderful…the best I ever had.”
“He only touched you because of your trickery. Otherwise—”
“Do not dare speak to me in such a tone or I will peel the flesh from your body with my nails.”
She sighed and turned away, feeling helpless.
Talvenya laughed hysterically. “This is too much, I can’t believe it! An Elf, in love with a Nasharin? How does that happen in just one night without magic?”
Kelarin would answer the Queen no more and kept her head down, struggling not to weep in front of her, least she get additional satisfaction.
Crossing Forbidden Lines (Guardian Series Book 2) Page 13