by HalkettLucas
Dark Cavities
RT Lucas & LJ Halkett
Dark Cavities
Copyright © 2014
Published by Dark Hollows Press
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WRAITH: Dark Cavities
Copyright © 2014 RT Lucas, LJ Halkett
ISBN 10: 1942176171
ISBN 13: 978-1-942176-17-6
Authors: RT Lucas and LJ Halkett
Editor: Ashley Kain
Original Publication Date: October 2014
All cover art and logo copyright © 2014 by Dark Hollows Press
Cover Design by 3 Rusted Spoons
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
W.R.A.I.T.H
Witness Recovery and Inter-dimensional Tactical Hunters.
There is a world just beyond our own. A world where Fairies and Demons rule, where Fae and Paranormal creatures exist in a dimension parallel to our world.
It is the Vargr Realm.
The Vargr have known about our world for thousands of years and have, in the past, crossed dimensions to prey on it. In recent centuries, however, the Vargr Ruling Council has tried to put a stop to it. Humans have become more technologically savvy and some human scientists have even come close to cracking the barriers that exist between the realms. But there are those who disobey the law…
The Vargr are attracted to humans. Some like to eat humans. Some come to have sex with us. Some travel to our world to obtain items that are common on Earth, but priceless on Vargr. A special Vargr task force has been established to retrieve those of the Vargr Realm who travel between the dimensions unlawfully and to neutralize any human witnesses who come in contact with these travelers. The Vargr Ruling Council has contacted the governments of our world and they have agreed to cooperate in order to protect human citizens. But there is a war brewing in the Vargr Realm…
As a civil war begins to brew in the Vargr Realm, the agents of WRAITH find themselves caught in the crossfire. Can the agents - human and Vargr - find the common ground needed to see that the order between the world is preserved?
Chapter One
The Hosting of the Sidhe
The host is riding from Knocknarea
And over the grave of Clooth-na-Bare;
Caolite tossing his burning hair,
And Niamh calling away, come away:
Empty your heart of its mortal dream.
― W.B. Yeats
A lightning bolt streaked across the room, followed by a rapid show of lights, creating a kaleidoscope effect. Dry ice smoked through the air as the nightclub started to fill and the repetitive, hypnotic thud-thud of the music started to drown out the sound of chatter and laughter.
Dark Cavities was open for business.
The club was owned by the enigmatic, if not mischievous, Puck. He was an acquirer of contraband, provider of the illicit, and expert at deception. He was also the notorious Tooth Fairy, although no one here in the Vargr realm dared call him that to his face. That moniker was reserved for his ‘work’ in the human world.
Vargr was the realm where all supernatural and mythical creatures existed, and although there were portals to the human world, it was absolutely forbidden for them to trespass into it. To do so would mean imprisonment, but often these days since the overthrow of King Elgin, it was a death sentence.
Not that any of that mattered in Dark Cavities. It was a haven for all species of supernatural, and it had only three rules: no politics, no fighting, and no hate. Whatever was happening outside of the building stayed there. This was an entertainment venue, a place where inhibitions were forgotten and the taboo part of a customer’s nature was encouraged.
As the crowd of vampires, shifters, faeries and sprites started to mingle, a tall, lithe figure weaved in and out of the bodies, smiling and shaking hands as he was called and courted. At 6’ tall, Puck was an easily recognisable figure here in his own kingdom. His jet-black hair was fashioned into severe spikes and had a flourish of blue through it. The style he favoured complemented his pointed ears, which he used as a fashion item, keeping black studs made of coal in the lobes. In Vargr, coal was rarer than diamonds were in the human realm, so to wear it so openly advertised how well his business was going. His ivory eyes were searching the crowd even though he was talking and shaking hands with others as he passed them.
“Over here!” A shout carried over the manic music as the lights flashed to emphasise the beat. Puck’s contact was looking edgy as he stood in the shadows near the exit to the club. He wrung his hands impatiently as Puck made his way over to him, sweat beading on his cadaver-coloured skin.
A mischievous grin crossed Puck’s lips as he trailed his lips them, tasting the lip gloss he preferred to wear. Mischief ran in his family. Being the eldest, he had taught his baby sister all the tricks of the trade. She collected trinkets, where he found his calling in teeth.
Puck winked at the fae’s trying to catch his attention and turned to where the shouting had come from. The military-style boots he wore covered his tight denim pants and stopped at his calves. Their thick soles carried him through the crowd and over to his companion.
“There you are!” Puck said in a cocky tone.
Nyuthiau gave a short smile as he rolled his shoulders back, exhaling slowly. Taking a crisp white handkerchief out of his red velvet frock coat, he dabbed the perspiration from his pale brow. His eyes were dark and glistened as he leaned closer to Puck.
“I haven’t been able to get through for weeks now...I’m desperate.” He was speaking in hushed tones, but he sounded as though he had a soft lisp as his forked tongue hit off the back of his teeth. To ‘get through’ was Vargr slang for leaving the Realm to visit the human realm. Nyuthiau was an incubus, a sex demon. The sweet juices of the humans was like heroin to his kind. He was going cold turkey and knew that the only person that could help him would be Puck. And he knew that the cost for his assistance would be extortionate.
Puck dipped his head and leaned in close to Nyuthiau’s ear, his breath a cold, exciting breeze against the incubus’s skin. “Meet me on the galley that overlooks the club and we will talk business up there.” Puck flicked his tongue over the outer shell of his ear and then watched him leave and scurry in the direction of the stairs.
The smaller man moved with grace and ease as he hurried towards the galley. His body had reacted to Puck’s teasing and he was having difficulty focussing on anything but his burning need. The faerie had been clever in touching him in such a manner. He was weak in this state, and vulnerable.
Puck’s head jutted upwards. The demon was standing as he instructed, his hands gripping the shimmering hand rail. Puck licked his lips a couple of times and then moved with grace like all fae. His ivory eyes were complemented with dark black kohl, which gave off an electric blue shimmer. He slowly made his way through the crowd, slapping hands with his locals as he took two stairs at time, the strobe lights glinting off
of his chrome buckles. Standing taller than Nyuthiau, his strong arms encased around him, his hands resting on top of where the incubus’s were still rested.
“You like my club…Payment will be high, my friend, but I’m willing to get you want you need.” Puck pushed his hips into the incubus’s back so he could feel his hard erection.
Nyuthiau’s body trembled and his ass pushed back, involuntarily. He only just controlled himself enough not to wriggle. “I am willing to pay the price.” His normal deep voice was quiet and forced as he stared ahead, trying to keep control of his impulses. “Anything, Puck. I’ll do anything.”
Puck lowered his head to Nyuthiau’s ear again, his clothed cock still pushing into his lower back. “See that Kelpie down there? I want you tongue-fucking her while my cock is buried deep in that ass of yours.” Puck paused. There was more to come, but the incubus would find that out.
Nyuthiau couldn’t control his urges any longer and started to roll his hips back, grinding against Puck’s hardened groin as a slow, satisfied moan escaped his thin, wide lips. “When?” The word escaped his mouth like a plea.
Puck bit gently on Nyuthiau’s lower lobe, rolling the skin between his teeth, and then released it, his eyes scanning his club. “When I return from getting what you asked me for. I build up quite an appetite when at work.”
Chapter Two
The Hosts of the Fairy, The Book of Leinster, Twelfth Century
White shields they carry in their hands,
With emblems of pale silver;
With glittering blue swords,
With mighty stout horns
Sebastian Canik was jubilant. He wasn’t the tallest of men, standing at 5’10”, but he had an athletic build and was more legs than torso. His short hair was the darkest moss-green that looked black in a certain light, and his eyes were the colour of oak. His skin had a slight blue tinge to it, giving the impression of the stillest lake. The markings down his right side of his body could have been mistaken for tribal tattoos in the human realm, but Sebastian had been born with them. Each generation of nature guardian added to the elaborate markings, and it indicated how long the bloodline of the family had existed. Sebastian had heard of some nature guardians whose whole bodies were covered in markings, but he had yet to witness that.
Sebastian had secured an administrative role in WRAITH’s headquarters, a prestigious organisation whose building loomed magnificently across the red earth landscape. He had undergone numerous evaluations before being accepted to his new role, and today was his first day of paid and gainful employment.
Sebastian was a Hiisi, a nature guardian. His kind were regarded as meek and inconsequential to other species in Vargr, but he was proud of his heritage. He had been orphaned at an early age but he never dwelled on misfortunes. He thought it must be part of his being a Hiisi, but death was just a progression of nature and so he had grown into a self-sufficient, confident man. He wasn’t arrogant, but he did know his own mind and if he had a goal he did everything that he could to achieve it.
His preference had always been the male of any species, and in Vargr that was never an issue. In this realm it was as accepted to have a male or a female partner. Oftentimes both. He had heard stories of the human realm where his preference would have brought about prejudice or even outright opposition, but he neither believed nor understood that. ‘Nature would always dictate what nature intended.’ That was his favourite saying from his kind. He wasn’t entirely sure what it meant, but he liked it anyway.
“Sebastian! Sebastian!”
Sebastian fixed his purple tie and ran his finger around the collar of his blue shirt as he raised his chin and headed toward his boss’ office. He had heard from the other office staff that Zander Ucinth had a reputation for being curt and unapproachable, but Sebastian never took mind of anyone else’s opinion but his own.
Knocking on the door, he heard the words “Come in.” being barked at him. Putting on his friendliest smile, he walked in. He hoped that his nerves would not show.
Zander Ucinth was head of WRAITH’s Information Technology department where he oversaw the day to day running of the communications for the Hunters. He was openly gay, never having looked a female of any species in any way other than a son to his mother. His amethyst eyes were scanning over the reports that kept activity on the illegal use of the Blood gates. A vampire with the gift of telekinesis, he was of slim build and stood at 6”3, but toned in all the right places. Dark brown hair styled in fashionable side pattern, chiseled jaw with a slight crook to his nose. He tugged on his tie as he shouted out for his newest employee
“Sebastian Canik reporting for duty, sir.” He held out his hand towards the man before him, but as he did so he was registering the sight of him for the first time. Zander Ucinth was absolutely gorgeous. He was at least half a foot taller than him, and his body was pure muscle. The cut of the suit he was wearing emphasised him in all the right places. It was his eyes, though, that left Sebastian dumbstruck. They were the most fascinating shade of amethyst that seemed to draw Sebastian closer towards him. He hadn’t realised that his boss had failed to return the handshake and he was standing with his arm extended and gawping at the older man.
Zander abruptly sat back down behind his desk, thankful the large piece of wood was hiding the ever-growing tent in his suit pants. He cleared his throat and picked up a pen, which he used to point to the seat opposite him. “Sebastian, take a seat, please?”
Zander gulped discreetly. He had heard of the nature guardians, but to see one in the flesh was completely something out of the realm! The man was drop-dead gorgeous, his oak-coloured eyes the most intricate shade he had witnessed, and the pulsing of his jugular gave Zander visions of his sharp fangs striking it hard while he fucked his ass.
Sebastian found the chair rising to meet his ass as he slowly lowered his arm and faced his boss, his pointed amber-coloured tongue poked out from his lips to lick the sudden dryness he felt as he clasped his hands in his lap. Sebastian was sitting up so straight that he looked as though he had left the hanger in his suit.
Do that again with your tongue. Zander hadn’t realised that he had projected his thoughts into Sebastian’s mind as he reached for the report. “You came to my team highly recommended, and I want your help with this morning’s data.” Zander sat back in his chair, his cock throbbing against his suit pants. It was times like this he wished he didn’t do commando.
Once again, Sebastian’s tongue slicked over his lips. He didn’t know why, but he was sure he had heard someone whisper in his ear to do it. Or it could just have been his nerves playing tricks on him, especially when faced with a man so exquisitely handsome as Zander.
“Me? I just started today sir…” Sebastian was about to continue with his unrehearsed speech about someone with more experience being able to help him when one look from those amethyst eyes had him shutting his mouth quickly.
The vampire’s lips twitched in amusement as he studied Sebastian. He radiated submissive, but that would have to wait. “Yes, you were given glowing references and it’s a prestigious opportunity to work for our Realm’s security forces. The Blood Gates have been breached.” Zander’s tone turned sombre. It was a serious breach they were dealing with. The gates were being accessed by someone other than authorised personnel.
Sebastian’s bluish hue deepened as he blushed at the compliment, and he surreptitiously wiped his clammy palms over his thighs. “I haven’t been assigned a desk yet, sir, but I will start working on that as soon as I can.” He forced his lips into a smile, hoping that it didn’t make him look too weird. He was always a little self-conscious around men he was attracted to, but Zander had an amplified effect on him and he wasn’t even sure if his limbs would function without his brain giving express instructions to move.
Zander’s eyes never left Sebastian as his finger pressed down over a button on the desk phone. A female answered but he cut off abruptly. “Why doesn’t my ne
w data controller have his allocated office?”
She paused and he could hear the hitch in her voice as she started to make excuses.
“Just sort it out, now.” Zander released the button, his amethyst stare still on the cock-tease sitting across from him. “I apologise. That should have been sorted before you arrived. You can work in here for the rest of the day.” Zander pushed himself further back into his chair, his arms reaching behind his head as his tight muscles strained against his work shirt.
Standing up, Sebastian hesitated before walking around Zander’s desk and pulling a chair up beside him. The computer system was integrated into the top of the desk and meant that the two men had to sit in close proximity to operate it. “I should check on the reports from the guards at the Blood Gates and then review any reports of unusual events in the human realm.” Although he stated the words, they came out like a question and his eyes searched Zander for approval as his delicate, long fingers swiped across the desktop and transparent images appeared at eye level in front of them.
Zander merely nodded as he saw the flashes on the screen appear, indicating where the blood gates were. “In times such as we are experiencing, something is breaking the law and must be dealt with sternly.” Zander’s eyes discreetly roamed all Sebastian as his mind went south, way south to his cock. Would it have that glorious blue tinge? he wondered to himself.
Sebastian gave a soft moan when Zander talked of dealing with the lawbreaker sternly. His mind was instantly filled with images of being taken in hand and punished by his new boss, but luckily he managed to keep a certain decorum and merely nodded, letting his clever fingers work their magic on the desktop. Sebastian’s leg rubbed against the side of Zander’s, and he held his breath at the sudden and unexpected contact. He was sure that he should move his leg, but it seemed to be glued to the other man’s. He glanced up at Zander, his brown eyes were wide with apology and want.