Sacrifice of the Septimus: Part 2 (Afterlife saga Book 7)

by Stephanie Hudson

  But would I have considered myself a submissive in everyday life? No, not at all or would I have even considered it with anyone else but Draven...? Probably not. Which is why I think it is that certain people must just bring it out in you, like a dark secret poking its head out of the shadows for the first time, while timidly entering the room. Then once it’s out and freed, it is like a beast that never wants to be put back into its cage. And the truth of it is that any real love of yours should never want it to either, for it is part of who you are.

  I truly believe that although you will have many regrets in your life, your sexuality is one that you should never feel embarrassed about or ashamed of, for it is like asking a flower not to bloom because the people around don’t approve of its colour. I felt nothing but grateful for this side of me that Draven had awakened, so when I looked up at my chained hands now, I felt proud not ashamed.

  “That’s an active mind I hear for so early in the morning,” Draven said in a throaty voice, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me back closer to the length of him.

  “And is that part of your other magic my Lord, reading minds?” I teased for more reasons than one. I smiled to myself when I felt his muscles tense around me before they relaxed after I spoke again,

  “I do hope not for I would be forever blushing around you.”

  “Is that right? Maybe it is your lip biting that gives away your lustful mind.” I laughed once and gave him a cryptic,

  “Maybe,” back.

  “I wish I had the luxury of enjoying your naked presence for the rest of the day…”

  “But you have an army to battle?” I asked making him turn me over so that he was above me.

  “You worry about me?” he asked avoiding answering my question.

  “Of course, just as you worry for me.” My answer prompted first a smile that then led into a good morning kiss, one that unfortunately ended far too soon.

  “That was goodbye wasn’t it?” I said unable to keep the sullenness out of my voice making him chuckle.

  “Not for long, I promise you. Ranka will take you back to your quarters to gather some things.”

  “Why? Where am I going?” I asked frowning and not liking the sound of this new plan.

  “Just somewhere where I know you will be safe.” He obviously felt uneasy about the look I gave him so decided to make it a command.

  “This is an order from your King, do you understand?” he said in a sterner tone and instead of rolling my eyes like I wanted, I knew at this point that would have done nothing but got me a slapped ass or a pissed off Draven.

  “Yes, my Lord.”

  “Now don’t look at me like that, this is for my own peace of mind whilst fighting the enemy, for a worried mind can easily result in a lost head,” he told me and even though I knew that Draven could survive most things, I also knew not to underestimate this Pertinax guy.

  Shortly after this and a few more stolen moments alone we both got dressed…and of course after he freed me from his personal choice of restraints. I was surprised I even had any clothes to wear after he had been his usual brutal self with my choice of outfit. They definitely had that in common, so it only confirmed my theory that there were certain aspects of your personality that you never grew out of.

  Ranka soon appeared ready to escort me back to my room and, like the loyal subject she was, received her new orders to protect me with a bow and a confident,

  “I will do so with my life, my Lord,” making me want to slap her on the back and say, ‘relax, how bad can it be making sure I don’t die?’ but I knew this would have been a joke lost on her and neither the present or future Draven would have appreciated it, considering the amount of trouble I somehow managed to get myself into.

  I said my last goodbyes to Draven, which of course included issuing my own orders,

  “Stay safe and come back to me.” I will never forget the way he looked down at me in that moment, but it was his words that really rooted themselves to my soul. He leaned down to place his forehead to mine and whispered,

  “I will always come back to you, my Queen.” I sucked in a quick breath at his declaration, knowing what this meant, but instead of telling him how I felt, I placed a hand to his cheek and closed my eyes basking in our silent moment, telling him without words of my love.

  So now here I was, walking back with Ranka and wondering why I felt as if there was something so very wrong. I looked sideways at her walking like she always did and acting no different to how I was now used to. So what was it? Was it because I knew what she had witnessed and how hard that must have been for her?

  To see the King she loved falling in love with another and be willing to give up everything for them, after asking you to protect her with your own life…well let’s just say how she hadn’t been the first one in line to try and kill me yet was astounding to me. In fact, I think if I woke up to find her dagger at my throat my first reaction would have been to shrug my shoulders and say ‘Um, it figures.’

  Okay, so maybe after crapping myself first.

  “You alright?” I asked once we neared my quarters as I couldn’t bear it any longer.

  “Yes, why wouldn’t I be?” she asked me back.

  “No reason, just that you look different.” At this she seemed affronted and shook her head in an uncomfortable way that was a strange reaction to see from her.

  “I am used to battling by his side, that is all,” she finally admitted and it started to make sense…she too was worried about him.

  “Ah, I see.”

  “You do?” she asked seemingly surprised.

  “You want to be out there with him fighting and instead you’re stuck babysitting me.”

  “Babysitting?”

  “Looking after me or should I say protecting, as that’s a better word for it.” She nodded in agreement and I had to say, I felt better knowing this was the reason for her subdued mood.

  We didn’t say another word and after she opened my door for me she told me that she would soon return ready to take me to Draven’s chosen ‘safe house’.

  “Sophia!” I shouted, surprised to see her there, but glad that she was and I showed her this when I ran over to her and hugged her to me.

  “Whoa, miss me?” she said laughing and then I saw Ari sitting up in the bed and let go of Sophia to run to her and hug her also. I laughed when I heard Pip walk up to Sophia and say,

  “Obviously a love ya and leave ya type of girl.”

  “Obviously,” Sophia agreed folding her arms, making me roll my eyes at their little act.

  “Well at least you got a hug, jeez, I didn’t even get a head bob, finger click or a Yo Bitch.”

  “They have been like this all morning,” Ari told me smiling and I had to say, it was a relief to see.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “A lot better mainly thanks to those two who have spent most of last night and this morning getting me up to speed. Jesus Kazzy, but is there anyone else out there trying to kill you, only no offense but you’re a liability to be around,” she joked and I smacked her on the arm lightly.

  “Oi! Says desert girl here,” I said looking back at the other two who were sniggering.

  “Who are you calling desert girl, because from the sounds of it we all ended up in that stupid desert but on different sides of the city.” Well this was something I didn’t know. And speaking of things I didn’t know…

  “Wait what happened with Draven and the other you we stuffed in the trunk? I guess Pip told you about…” I stopped when I saw Pip slicing a finger across her throat to try and get me to shut up.

  “Tell me what?”

  “Oh nothing.” I added but the second she turned around to look at Pip I knew her gig was up.

  “Spill it, Imp!” Sophia demanded and Pip looked to me cocking her hip.

  “Jeez, so glad you came back just now, what did it take you, all of two minutes to put a Tootsie roll in it?”

  “Hey don’t look at me, I
wasn’t the one who sat on the trunk and broke three of her fingers and caught her hair in the damn lid!” I said realising I had just given it away to Sophia, making me bite my lip and scrunch up my face before facing her.

  “Uh…her bad.” I said wincing and making her roll her eyes at me. Then she turned to Pip and said,

  “You and me are gonna talk about this but right now, try not to break me anymore!” Pip gave her a salute and said,

  “Sir, yes sir!”

  “In answer to your question, it went fine. He believed that I’d had a change of heart and we are back on track with mission baby maker.”

  “And what about our little side mission named doppelganger?” I asked raising my eyebrows.

  “She is fine, or at least will be in like a week or so, anyway we should be long gone by then so why should I care?” Sophia said obviously having a massive issue with her other self, which needed a bottle of Vodka to understand without getting a headache, saving it just for the morning after.

  “Wow, you’re so sexy when you’re angry like that.” Pip said sideways to her.

  “I know,” she replied, giving her a wink, making me laugh. But then I looked at her again doing a double take before asking,

  “Why are you both dressed like that?” I looked them both up and down noticing that Pip had on her ancient ninja look, complete with long black hood she currently wore down and straps of leather across her chest and off to one side where an array of weapons hung.

  Sophia, on the other hand, looked more ready for battle in an obvious way, dressed with a shapely bronze coloured breast plate that was made to fit her female curves. This, combined with the metal shoulder plates that fanned out in three different sizes and the silver gauntlets strapped to her arms, and she looked ready for anything. She also wore a long leather skirt that managed to add some class and Sophia style to the warrior woman outfit. Even her hair had been pinned back tight for the occasion.

  “Well, I am protecting you,” Pip said patting her weapons before she turned to Sophia so she could say,

  “And I am protecting Dom.”

  “Okay, I think you need to explain,” I said shaking my head wondering why Sophia would be going into battle if there was nothing to worry about.

  “And it’s your turn to take the stage,” Pip said gesturing to Sophia dramatically.

  “Okay, so you had better sit down as we are about to get into a shit storm here, for up until I saw that army, I had no idea what year we had travelled back to,” Sophia told me and I whispered the name I kept hearing,

  “Let me guess… Pertinax?”

  “Yes and let it be known that had I been aware I would have suggested coming back to a time after he was long dead instead of only a few days before,” she said as I did as I was told and sat down ready to hear this.

  “So Draven did defeat him then?” I asked feeling much better if this were the case.

  “No, he didn’t.” Hearing these simple words managed to have enough power to sink my heart in a sea of dread.

  “What do you mean?” I looked first to Sophia and then to Pip, knowing this was the part of the story she hadn’t wanted to tell me herself and yep, there was that sheepish look of hers.

  “Pertinax is what his vessel is named and who he is known as in the human world but in our world, he is known as much more.”

  “And much worse.” Pip added grimly.

  “Why, who is he?”

  “He has many names, Angra Mainyu in Zoroastrianism but right now, in this time’s history, he is better known as Ahriman…the Persian Devil,” she added delicately, knowing this was the part I would understand the most.

  “The Devil! Draven is going to fight a Devil, as in a Satan, and Master of Hell!?” I shouted getting worked up.

  “Easy there. Yes, he is fighting one of the former presidents of Hell but he was banished to Earth for even Hell didn’t want him. And Satan and Lucifer are not the same being.”

  “They’re not?” I asked feeling strangely betrayed by the mythology. Pip shook her head and I looked to Ari who shrugged her shoulders and said,

  “Don’t look to me, you know more about this shit than I do…I’m the supernatural novice in the room, remember.” Pip looked about to say something but I quickly noticed the way Sophia shook her head at her telling her not to go there.

  “Ahriman was like a brother to Lucifer and when Lucifer fell from the Heavens in disgrace he followed him there. But pretty soon he slowly became more bitter and enraged that he wasn’t ruler of Hell. In the end Lucifer had no choice but to cast him out to Earth, just as his God had done to him.”

  “Hence one uber pissed off Demon Under Lord,” Pip added being helpful and saying it in plain English.

  “So he ruled Earth?” I asked hearing as much from Pip last night.

  “Yes, but only because he had no domain anywhere else. I think the Gods were simply expecting him to just go away quietly and fade into exile.”

  “Man, but they were so wrong!” Pip said shaking her head and continuing to add commentary to Sophia’s story.

  “For a long time the world just seemed to be at chaos with itself and with no balance of power, the Gods knew something needed to be done.”

  “Enter you three.” I said this time jumping in before Pip could.

  “Yes, we seemed to be just the answer they were looking for and even though placing us down there was a risk in itself, it was one they were willing to chance.”

  “Why was it a risk?” I looked back, surprised to hear this coming from Ari.

  “Because they didn’t know if by adding even more power to the situation it would cause more damage than good. They didn’t know our temperaments or know of our loyalty to the cause in which we first had to battle it out in order to win control.” Hearing this kind of made sense because the second they were reborn into their vessels then there were no assurances that they would be better off than having this Ahriman.

  “So what happened?”

  “The supernatural world didn’t revolt against our rule like the Gods first thought they would. But instead they seemed to be drawn to us, my brother especially because to them being connected to that type of power was to gain power themselves.”

  “But this Ahriman was the most powerful…” I was about to ask when Sophia interrupted me knowing where I was going with it.

  “Ah yes, but even he didn’t have what my brother had and that was the power of both Heaven and Hell running through his veins.” I suppose this made sense but then if Draven was so powerful then why couldn’t he fight him alone?

  “You must remember that Ahriman was still a God walking on Earth and my brother is not. But with our birth it was also prophesied that the power of three combined could defeat him in battle and that day…”

  This is where I finished off for her…

  “Is today.”

  Chapter 64

  Snakes and Stone

  After this Sophia went on to tell me the story of how they defeated him the first time. Pertinax had gained his new army after taking his position as emperor only three months before and this was by suspicious means.

  The previous emperor Commodus was a great fighter and proved this everyday as he fought as a gladiator, winning all rounds but on the 31st December year 192 AD there was a conspiracy to murder him. First one of the conspirators named Marcia poisoned his food but Commodus vomited up the poison, so the conspirators sent his wrestling partner Narcissus to strangle him in his bath.

  After this Pertinax was declared the new emperor and that was only three months ago. This was when he decided to take his army and march them straight to the King of Kings who sat upon his throne in the Parthian capital, Ctesiphon. But really he was taking this fight to the King of the Supernatural world using a seven hundred year feud to mask his real intentions.

  And the time of that final battle was today as the sun caressed the mountains before setting on the day’s bloodshed. With carnage lay wasted all around them al
l but three had fallen. The three heroes had fought against an evil King and finally brought him to his knees in the last hour. I, of course, asked how they did this and it was time for Pip to take over as it must have been her favourite part of the story.

  Just as Pertinax was about to plunge his spear into Sophia, Draven took the hit, sacrificing himself. It pierced his flesh and in his rage Draven snapped off the end of his enemy’s weapon that he still grasped in his hand. Then he ripped it from his shoulder just as Vincent came up behind him to hold Pertinax down, before launching himself up into the air and slamming back down, driving the bloody blade into his cold dead heart.

  I had to admit it was dramatic stuff and I could only hope that it happened the same way as it did that day. Well one thing was for sure and that was that Sophia certainly looked ready to do it all over again.

  Ranka, true to her word, came to get us and we all walked down the corridor together, Ari included as she too was being kept in the safe place, which had been Vincent’s command.

  Ari hadn’t said much about him, which wasn’t a big surprise considering she never did. But all she did say was that he visited with her last night wanting to check she was alright and being well cared for. I said this was sweet of him which was obviously the wrong thing to say and her reaction to it just made Sophia frown but not surprisingly, she kept quiet on the subject.

  So here we all were, five women all making our way to someplace only Ranka knew where and three of us looked like warrior women. I didn’t know about Ari but I for one was kind of jealous I wasn’t dressed the same, as they all looked kick ass!

  “So what will happen now?” I asked Sophia, still keeping an eye on Ranka in front leading the way.

  “After I have escorted you guys to…” Sophia started to say but stopped abruptly when Pip placed a hand on her shoulder. Pip had come to a standstill and the look on her face was almost frightening but not as frightening as what she said next,