The Two Kings (Afterlife Saga)

by Stephanie Hudson

  “Umm...I guess you’re a good kisser,” I teased again making him growl.

  “Oh and the sex isn’t bad,” I continued trying so hard not to laugh it almost hurt. His growl got deeper and I could see the playful beast in him come to the surface.

  “You know I will have to punish you for all those statements you just made.” He said stalking towards me and pinning me to the wall. His arms looked tensed and like they wanted to rip their way through the black material that encased them. He held each hand flat against the wall behind either side of my head. He ducked his head to my level but only reached as far as my forehead. I couldn’t help but gulp.

  “Oh that’s ok, because I don’t think you’re very good at that either.” I mocked laughing but I was soon shut up by the slap I received to my backside. I screeched out “AHH!”

  “Hey!” I said looking up to see his evil grin and cocky eyes. It hadn’t really hurt but just shocked me. If truth be told it actually felt quite nice, in a sexual way. Not too hard but firm enough to be told.

  “You were saying?” He said like he had won a round and was back in the control he was used to having.

  “Haven’t you ever heard about Karma?”

  “Yes and I believe you just received it, although my guess is that you enjoyed it so maybe it doesn’t count, or maybe you just need an increased dose.” He replied dropping his hand by his side and pulling it back as if ready to do it again. I pushed my bum against the wall and held it with both hands saying

  “Don’t you dare!” At this he roared with laughter, throwing his head back as it came thick and fast. Then like lightening he had both my back cheeks in two hands and raised me up so I slid up the wall to his level.

  “I will have my way with you!” He said, his voice guttural and thick with lust.

  “Not now you won’t.” I said being smug, although I wished that he could. My want was burning a hole inside me the size of Texas!

  “And why is that my Vixen?” He said, spoken like a true lover.

  “Because Karma has come round to bite you in the arse.” I put my hands on either side of his face and turned it to whisper the last part in his ear...

  “Karma, because you have guests.”

  Chapter 54

  New People Bring New Hate.

  He groaned unhappily and I laughed in his locked embrace. His hands still had their firm hold on my undercarriage and his need to have me was pressing deep.

  “You think being King would mean I could do what I want, when I WANT!” He shouted this last part towards the door and it was one of my first glimpses seeing Draven being spoilt. I couldn’t help it...I laughed again.

  “And may I enquire what it is you find so amusing?” He sounded pissed off but one look at my smiley face, it was hard for him to stay that way.

  “You’re acting like someone is about to take your favourite toy away and send you to your room,” I said through half bursts of giggles. He gave me a grumble and a dark look before easing into a half smile.

  “You are my favourite toy, my doll, and I do not ever want to let you go.”

  “But you must.” I said in a sigh.

  “Must I?” He raised an eyebrow, one of Draven’s regular expressions that made my toes curl.

  “Well, like I said, you do have guests.” His hands inadvertently held on to me tighter, making me groan.

  “Make more noises like that and I never will.” He warned in my ear and then began kissing my neck to prove his point. I loved how Draven never wanted to leave me. I loved the hold I had over him. This was my power and although compared to Draven’s, it was at the lower end of the scale, it was still there and it was still mighty. Or so his growing erection told me!

  He worked his way round from my neck and kissed me deep and intense. As if he was on an expedition to discover every last bit of my mouth. He didn’t have his hands free as they were still holding me up from behind but I could tell where they wanted to be. I, on the other hand, wrapped my arms up and around his neck, this being easier, as now we were at the same height. I ran my fingers through his hair, which I knew made him crazy. I grabbed handfuls and tugged slightly at my impatience to have more of him, Hell, I wanted every last bit of him. All there was to give. He moaned in my mouth as he fought with himself to keep control. What was I doing? I knew we needed to be back inside but this game was just too damn good to give up playing. It was a bit like taunting a wild beast through the bars of a cage, any minute now they would rip through the steel like hot claws through butter and I wouldn’t be able to hold him back. Most of me didn’t want to. I would have given anything to shut down that part of me that was screaming reason. I knew I was keeping Draven from something important and I knew I would have loved to have continued to be selfish but that wasn’t who I was. So I, very reluctantly, let go of his soft, midnight hair and tried to put an end to his raging desires and mine. No surprises he released a low growl.

  “What it is you do to me! You burn my soul and set alight my veins, only to dowse them out in the seas of your reason. If only I had your will, I would be the strongest being alive.” This last bit of his declaration sounded bitter. He let me slide down the length of him and the strain in his suit pants looked almost painful. If only he knew how painful it was for me to see it and to know it would be hours before I could embrace it with my own body of want.

  “Well, if you think for one second this is easy for me, then you don’t know me at all!” I said in a hoarse whisper.

  “Good to know.” He replied with a grin before adding,

  “Very well then, if I must, then I must.”

  “I’ll be waiting.” I said raising my eyes as though I was some helpless little puppy he was about to leave. Ok so I wasn’t making this very easy on him. He looked down at me and traced the line of my jaw with a feather light touch.

  “What did I ever do to deserve such beauty in my life, I will never know but I will be thankful of it for the rest of my days.” He said with closed eyes and I looked down at the complement, flushed and embarrassed.

  “You will get used to it one day and see the beauty in yourself, as I do but for now, I will content myself with the delectable rose blush that blooms in place of its pride.” He was smiling and I was turning from rose to a less poetic beetroot. Now he was laughing at the changes in colour, obviously enjoying my responses with a little too much enthusiasm. I pushed him lightly and in a playful manner then giving him a coy smile.

  “Draven, I do believe you are stalling.”

  “Guilty as charged but given the inducement, do you blame me?” He winked and I giggled like a school girl. He was such a flirt, no flirt wasn’t the right word, it wasn’t a strong enough word, more like sexually dangerous and downright sinful.

  “Right, time to go and play host, Draven.”

  “Are you not coming? I could escort you back to our chamber.” He said innocently enough that anyone who didn’t know him would have thought these words from a choir boy.

  “Oh no, I’m not failing for that one! Put me and you in the same room as a bed and we’re bound to fail into it.” I remarked confidently.

  “Or be pushed,” he teased.

  “Besides, I think I’ll stay out here a little longer, I need the air.” He knew my full meaning behind it and laughed heartily.

  “Me and you both. Very well, I will go but do not stay out her for too much longer, it is cold.” I nodded and started to remove his jacket but he shook his head.

  “No please, keep it, I want to know at least part of me is wrapped around you.” He leaned down, placing the tips of his fingers under my chin and kissed me lightly on the lips as if not daring to go any deeper in case he lost all control.

  “When you have finished here, please go straight to our room, many of my new guests do not know of you yet and need to be warned. Will you wait for me?” I nodded making him drop his hold under my chin.

  “Good girl. Till later then.” One more quick kiss and he was gone.

/>   I stood on the balcony trying to catch my breath in the cold night. It was so peaceful despite the evening’s events. I tried to process everything that had happened and although it was easier to deal with guilt and regret, I found it hard to fully feel those emotions freely. I am glad that I was strong enough not to care for once in my life. I was glad that I had stood up for what I believed in, no matter what the consequences. Well at least one thing was for sure, Jack was no longer fooled and I had a feeling he would make those feelings known to me soon enough. I could almost see the sorrow pouring out of his eyes as he stood holding my limp cousin in his arms. It also looked like he would have liked to have swapped places with Vincent and be the one holding me. Of course all of this meant was that sooner or later I was going to have to have it out with my cousin and when it happened I would just have to pray for control. I couldn’t let myself get like that again.

  I took a deep breath and felt better when the icy air shocked my body. The night was so crisp and clear, my breath looked like smoke. I shuddered and pulled Draven’s jacket closer round my body breathing in his scent. I could have passed out taking it so much. It was like nothing I have ever encountered before. So distinct, so manly, I could have bathed in it and found release.

  I wasn’t sure how long I stood out there, going over and over in my mind the different possibilities tonight had caused. But when I’d had too much of persecuting myself to the point of purgatory, I decided enough was enough. I turned on my heels and made my way back inside.

  The doors opened to a buzzing nightlife of such an array of characters that my eyes were like saucers taking everything in. Some so normal looking they could have been people waiting at the bus stop to get home from work. Others looked like they had just walked off a monster movie set! Although I wasn’t allowing myself to see their true nature, (as I think I would have been scared shitless) they were still frightening in their own right. Mostly down to the eyes and the clothes they wore.

  On one table, they were all wearing long black jackets, like highway robbers from the Wild West. Although they were without the cowboy hats they still managed to keep hold of the pointed, leather toed boots that were tipped with silver. All five of them had beards only in different styles. Some plaited, others twisted into two points. One had it so long that it rested on the table next to his drink. It was quite ironic seeing as none of them had even one single hair on their smooth, bald heads.

  Another table was made up of all women, which up until now, had been unusual for the VIP. They were utterly and stomach wrenchingly beautiful. They all wore very dressy evening gowns that made the VIP seem as though it had turned into a cruise liner for the evening. Almost every female had their best dress on, I was sure. Suddenly I felt like running back onto the balcony and dealing with the cold for the night. It would have been easier than standing here feeling like the pauper amongst kings and queens. I looked down at myself and almost felt so plain that I would disappear at any moment. Thankfully, I had taken Draven’s jacket off before walking in here or I would have looked like I had stolen it from someone. Despite being massive on me, it was obviously something I would have never been able to afford. After all I was still just a waitress. Draven’s fortune didn’t affect me in the slightest. I wasn’t with him for money and the fact that I wouldn’t let him buy me anything, was more fun because I got to see his aggravated expression.

  I had it folded over my arm and decided to leave it at the bar in case he needed it for any reason. Karmun seemed to have his hands full and I was in two minds whether or not to give him a hand. He had multiple trays all lined up ready to be picked up by the constant stream of waitresses coming to collect. There seemed to be a few more additions for tonight and I felt left out. I mean, I understood that Draven wanted me to be safe, but what would happen? Another Layla incident? I didn’t think so.

  “Hey honey, I didn’t know you were still here?” I don’t know why but he sounded both shocked and strained when he said this. It was odd coming from him. I put it down to the extra stress of the night. It wasn’t usually this busy up here, which made me realise, downstairs was very quiet compared, which was usually the other way around. I turned round briefly and noticed the lights downstairs were out and there wasn’t a body in sight. At that moment an unwelcome shudder crept up my spine like spiders crawling under my skin and skipping along my spine. I shook my head but the fear didn’t leave me as realisation hit....I was now the only human in here.

  “Yeah, still here but hey you look like you could use a hand, let me...”

  “NO...Umm sorry, sorry...but you know what my Lord said, you were not to work up here tonight and I would not like to make him unhappy. Besides it’s calming now, you go....” He looked around nervously and he seemed very twitchy, like Draven was watching him or something. I shrugged and decided to give up, at least he knew I had offered.

  “Ok, well could you get his jacket back to him, I think I’m going to call it a night.” At this mundane news he seemed to relax more and he even managed a smile at me.

  “Yeah, sure, no problem. Have a good sleep won’t you?” He said, like he wasn’t only talking to me...weird. Again I put it down to his stressful situation.

  “Umm...yeah....will do, see ya.” I replied warily.

  I turned around and lost my footing which brought me screaming back to the first time I had ever set foot in the VIP and like that night I fell into a Demon. My foot kind of crumpled underneath my ankle forcing all my body weight to one side. Unfortunately for me that was the side of one of Draven’s guests that was walking past. I crashed into him and put my hands out to stop myself from falling further only in doing so they gripped onto a body I had never seen before. I was just righting myself when my body was violently flung backwards by the swift movement of an arm blocking out and catching me in the ribcage. It momentarily knocked the wind from me and left me gasping. I had ungracefully landed on my butt and was wondering if it would leave a nasty bruise when a booming voice came from above me.

  “How dare you touch me, you vile human bitch! Someone should teach you manners you disgusting parasite...GO and fuck off!” A man in a pin-striped suit was now dusting himself off like I had infected him with my human girly germs!

  I couldn’t believe he had just spoken to me like that! How dare he, the audacity of the man. I didn’t give a shit whether he was a Demon or not, I wanted to claw at his shiny, expensive blue suit and rip it to shreds with my bare hands. Everyone was now staring and I was scowling so hard it was hurting my face. I had, had just about enough of this night and being put down! I got up, despite all the warning glares I received but then I stopped and really looked around...those glares weren’t directed at me. They were directed at him. And soon, I knew why....

  I turned to see the scariest sight any human eyes could take in. Draven stood by his chair and had witnessed everything. Then without any warning an almighty roar ripped out from him in a bloodcurdling way that made my knees shake. Silence rode like a plague infested wave among every person there. As the end of the most horrific sound ever known to man, one that was enough to make your ears want to bleed, started to end, Draven crashed his fists down onto the table and split it clean in two. Bottles, glasses and anything that was using the surface, went cascading down into the middle to meet the rest of the destruction. I didn’t really have time to take in the fear that no doubt was held in every eye, because in the seconds all this happened, it only took a second more before the suited man was being held up in the air by his throat, Draven’s hand firmly enclosed around it.

  Draven stood so tall before me, it was like he had grown even bigger in the height of his rage. The suited man was left dangling and gasping for air as Draven’s hand grew tighter to cut off the noise. For a second I thought he had killed him without another thought.

  “HOW DARE YOU TOUCH HER!!!!!” He screamed and then erupted into his full Demon side. There was no purple glow, only burning, red hot flames of raw hate powered energy. I had o
nly seen this side of him once before and that was when Morgan had me firmly in his grasp, of course I remembered how that ended, would he really go that far again?

  “Mmmyyyy.....L...L...Lord” He was trying desperately to speak but Draven’s hand was acting like it had a mind of its own. It was enjoying causing the pain and it squeezed again only this time it caused the dangling man’s eyes to haemorrhage. I thought I was going to be sick at the sight. Blood was actually dripping down his face.

  “I WILL KILL YOU!” Draven had lost so much of the man I loved I didn’t know who it was I was looking at. Was he really in there somewhere? Somewhere deep down, like he was being held captive there until the beast was finished. His wings were now just feathered flames, that fanned out and licked at the air around them.

  “I...I...I...di..didn’t....k..k..kkknnnoooww” He screamed out in pain using the last shred of breath he had left.

  “THEN YOU WILL BE PUNISHED FOR YOUR IGNORANCE!” His Demon voice took over and made it near impossible to detect anything I knew from memory. That’s when the man started to die and this is when I couldn’t take any more.

  “NO!” I screamed causing everyone in the club to inhale air at the same time. Draven’s head turned around without even giving an inch to allow the man some breath. I mean yeah, I had hated him only minutes ago but nobody deserved to die because of the incident and I most certainly didn’t want it on my head!

  Draven’s look made me want to literally cry with fear. It was so lost in the pit of damnation that I couldn’t tell if he could actually see me! I don’t know how I managed to carry on but somewhere I found a bravery that even I was shocked at finding.

  “Draven please...I am begging you, please...please just let him go.” I had an old kind of aching in my voice that took me back to the first time I had heard it. It was my pleading and that was something I vowed I would never use again to another being...this was unforgiveable but obviously necessary.