Dahlia: A Novel of Dark Desire

by Viola Calvary

  Abruptly he let out a grunt and the movement towards her stopped. She felt blood spray against her face. Ravin’s presence had appeared in front of her as the soldier’s psyche went dark.

  “Damn,” she gasped out and giggled.

  Ravin scooped her up and set her on her feet, holding her in place until she shook him off. His hand lingered almost imperceptibly and then she felt as he left her and crashed back into his opponents.

  Dahlia felt the mad grin on her face fade into a smirk. The dead soldier had packed one hell of a punch but the rush, once it faded, was something else. She met the next soldier with a sweep of her ax then a second one as he blocked her first weapon. She felt her blade connect into him with a satisfying thud and warm liquid splattered across her chest. She brought her ax through his skull, pausing to tug it back out before engaging the next soldier trying to catch her off guard. The dark favored her as she held her ground.

  As she dispatched another soldier with a blow to the head she felt Arreal’s touch against her mind. The intention was clear, they needed to retreat and draw the enemy with them. It was time to put Borreal’s plan to the test.

  Another soldier brought a sword swinging down at her. She parried, swept a quick kick toward his ankles, then turned and ran, keeping her step light so a trip over anything in her path wouldn’t send her tumbling to the floor of the tunnel. The soldier’s momentary surprise allowed her to create a decent amount of distance before he began to pursue. Around her she sensed her fellow soldiers doing the same.

  As she came into the part of the tunnel that light was able to touch she was forced to squint as her eyes struggled to adjust. She burst free from the tunnel, shielding her eyes as the light seared into them. Soldiers from her force met her, pulling her quickly back a safe distance and dispatching any enemies able to keep up with her.

  “That’s it, Jenue, they’re out,” she heard Ravin’s husky shout.

  Then the ground shook and she turned to see the tunnel collapse and a spray of dust and gravel explode into the air.

  “They really did it,” she whispered, moving her hand to her neck. “They collapsed the tunnel with their own men still inside.”

  Then she dropped down to one knee and caught herself on her hands as the earth shook again.

  When she was able to look up the wall was still standing and the tunnel had disappeared completely. In its place was a deep indent in the ground. As she regained her feet, men rushed forward, dumping earth and sand into the indent at the base of the wall. More soldiers, looking exhausted in torn clothes streaked with sweat and dirt, approached and, using their abilities, forced the piles down into the indent. Dahlia saw Raschel among the ones working the piles down into the earth.

  As the young warrior pushed one of the last piles into the ground Dahlia dashed over to her and, placing one hand on her shoulder, bent down slightly to look the young woman in the eyes.

  “Raschel, I am so proud of you and so glad to see you’re alright.”

  The normally shy, reserved woman smiled broadly and Dahlia felt her shaking ever so slightly. “Captain Jenue should let you go soon. You’ve proven yourself to be a strong, brave soldier. Rest when you can for we may need you again soon.”

  “Yes,” Dahlia turned to see a sparkle in Jenue’s vibrant eyes, “Raschel has proven to have quite a strong ability, I may try to poach her from you, fair warning.”

  Then he looked at Raschel, “Thank you for your admirable service. I will stay here with some of my barrack members, please go and rest and I will call for you when we need to begin monitoring again. After that effort I doubt our enemy will be ready to attack us in the coming hours.”

  Raschel blushed, bowed, and took off.

  Dahlia bowed to him as well, “May I offer you congratulations, Captain Jenue, for the admirable strength of your division today.”

  Captain Jenue acknowledged the sentiment with a smile that showed impossibly white teeth and an incline of his head.

  “Captains,” a voice blared over the announcement system, “ensure that the areas your division is responsible for are secure and then report to the meeting hall.”

  “Excuse me, Captain DeMorra,” Jenue said as he moved towards his team.

  Dahlia hesitantly reached her mind out to locate Ravin and found him close to Borreal. She headed that way at a walk, noticing how the mood around her had changed. Some soldiers were smiling with relief, elated for the moment after successfully pushing the enemy back. Others had sunk down to sit on the ground as bodies pushed too hard were finally able to rest.

  Dahlia’s momentary joy at seeing Raschel unharmed and still fighting had receded and her muscles were stiff and wired. She tried to shake it off but the unpleasant sensation persisted. She rubbed at her shoulder with the arm that hadn’t been wounded. She probably just needed a hot bath and sleep. With herbs and her abilities she’d been able to push her body harder than she should have. Topped with the odd lightening energy she’d been hit with in the fight she could definitely expect some complaints from her muscles. If only the tension wasn’t making her feel so edgy on top of everything else.

  She approached the area the other two captains were in and as Ravin came into sight she felt her anxiety rise.

  Stop it, she told herself firmly.

  Ravin’s attention turned towards her as she approached and the hand resting on his sword hilt tensed briefly before he turned back to his conversation with Borreal. Borreal, catching his motion, turned his head and inclined it towards Dahlia as she joined them.

  Dahlia purposefully ignored Ravin. “Looks like your plan worked, Captain Borreal.” She smiled and turned more towards him, “I’m glad we were able to avoid being crushed to death or having to fight the emperor’s forces over a broken wall.”

  Borreal hid a grin. “Yes, I imagine being crushed is a particularly nasty death.”

  “I know some guys you could dig out and ask,” Dahlia said as she winced slightly. “Captain Ravin,” she turned slightly to address him, “any instructions regarding the main gate?”

  “No, I found enough men who looked like they weren’t about to fall over and left them to monitor it.” A smirk played on his lips, “I doubt we’ll see much more today.”

  “I certainly hope not,” Borreal responded, “I hope our opponent needs time to lick their wounds as badly as we do. I wonder if they brought much in the way of infirmary facilities.”

  “Given their treatment of their soldiers as cannon fodder, I wouldn’t be surprised to find supplies were limited. If you have no more need of me, Captain Ravin, I will leave for the meeting hall.” Without waiting for a response, Dahlia inclined her head and left without looking back.

  As she passed through the trees her mind refused to stop it’s chatter.

  There was no reason to be rude, after all he did help me in the tunnel. Well he’s not exactly sharp on manners himself. Better that than encouraging this, this...whatever it is. Ugh, I need to sleep, I’m only rattled because I’ve pushed myself this hard…

  She stopped for a few moments, pressing her palms to her eyes and taking deep breaths, trying to clear her head. Years of meditation came to her aid and her heart rate slowed and her mind quieted enough that at least it wasn’t racing.

  “Ok,” she said out loud, “just try not to do anything dumb between now and when you get back to your room.”

  “You called?” she heard a deep rumble behind her.

  Dahlia jumped. “Damn it, Ravin! Don’t you know you’re supposed to make noise when sneaking up on someone?”

  She could almost feel his grin behind her. “Sorry, normally you can tell when I’m around.”

  “I thought I left you with Borreal.”

  Ravin came up beside her. Still in just the torn pants he’d been sleeping in, his perfectly sculpted chest, crisscrossed with scars was on display. Dirt and blood streaked across it and down both arms. Dahlia felt an insane urge to run her hands over him, soak in the lines of his body.
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  Stop it, stop it, stop it.

  She pulled her eyes up a second too late. Kenny’s grin widened as she met his eyes and he reached to grab her arm.

  “No Kenny,” she said firmly and placed a hand on his chest, lightly pushing him back. She could feel his heart beat under her palm. Part of her was mad for him, wanted to move that hand down, run it over his waist, taste him…

  But she was not going to do this. Even if they hadn’t been in broad daylight and almost guaranteed to have someone find them, she didn’t need to be making this mistake. Again.

  He dropped his hand and moved back, still grinning at her. “Whatever you say.”

  She relaxed slightly as he moved back and noticed her breath had quickened and her nipples strained against her shirt almost painfully. Thankful she’d put on her captain’s jacket she forced herself to take slow, smooth breaths.

  “Say,” he said, reaching his arm over to rub his fingers into the muscle between his shoulders, “what would it take to let me use your bath? I’d kill for some hot water.”

  He sounded completely casual, almost like he hadn’t just been trying to get her to let him pull her clothes off in broad daylight. He gave her a winning smile.

  Dahlia resisted the urge to bury her face in her palm. “If you promise to leave me alone, let me take a bath, and go to sleep then I will let you use the tub.”

  It was probably a terrible idea but she couldn’t bring herself to refuse. He had saved her earlier.

  “Great! I hope this meeting’s over quick.”

  This man is insane.

  Then again, who was she to cast that accusation?

  Chapter Thirty Seven

  The meeting was not over quick. Once everyone available was present each division commander reported in detail. Dahlia looked around as she fought back the weariness pressing against her hold. A handful of the captains had been injured in the battle. Most of those not present had been caught unawares with the poison smog though a couple had been overwhelmed in the ensuing onslaught.

  Finally, Mazaran began his report. “During the battles my barrack, lead by our first lieutenant, performed a stealth raid on the enemy camp. During the assaults we’ve seen a remarkable collection of constructs that have severely tested our defenses. Therefore our goal was to identify and remove or disable any other construct we could find. I am happy to report than we were able to remove another cache of the constructs used to emit the poison into our air. Professor Engail has them now and is examining them in a safely sealed space in case of an unintended release.”

  “We found no other constructs. I hesitate to speak optimistically before we are certain, but I believe this indicates that this battle is close to being over. We have successfully repelled their strongest attempts. However, we will not let our guard down. I know everyone was pulled in to the battles today and I do not want soldiers who are too tired to be vigilant manning our defenses. I have given instruction to the infirmary to make tinctures used to create alertness in men merely tired available for soldiers still on guard. If a soldier is on guard for the next few hours until we can get a fresh group in they will be encouraged to take some of the tincture. But this is not a failsafe. Captains, please ensure that everyone on guard is fit enough to carry out their duties and that you assign a team to relieve them soon.”

  “If you used your single-use announcement construct, ask Professor Engail to issue you another. Encourage your barracks to stay out of the infirmary unless they have a severe injury. I know some may want to check on their fellow members but at the moment the less people in the way the more likely we are to avoid additional losses due to delayed treatment.”

  “Division commanders, be sure to send me a report as soon as you have your guards and replacements lined up. You are dismissed.”

  Thank gods, Dahlia thought.

  She turned and left. Halfway down the path leading to the meeting hall Kenny caught up to her.

  “You said I could take a bath.”

  “Don’t you have to organize and report?”

  “All done, I did all that before I left the main gate. Belakris’s division decided to roll up to me too while he and two other captains are in the infirmary.”

  Dahlia was skeptical, “And the report?”

  Kenny shook his head, “I hate paperwork, I sent a messenger. Mazaran always has someone write down whatever the messenger says.”

  Dahlia gave in. “Alright, fine, but be subtle about it.”

  “Everybody’s too tired and on edge to notice.”

  “Be subtle anyways.”

  “Whatever you say, Captain.”

  Dahlia rolled her eyes.

  They made it back to her room without anyone raising an eyebrow. There hadn’t really been much risk of someone being surprised to see them together until they got to her barrack anyways and in that case her soldiers were all asleep or eating. Having been on the shift the day before no one had gotten much more sleep than she had.

  Kenny followed her in then sat down at her table and began leafing through her book of meditations while she put her axes near her bed and pulled off her clothes. Another set filthy. At least this captain’s jacket wasn’t ruined like the last one. As a temporary measure she dunked it in a basin filled with water and soap and left it to soak.

  Kenny, she noticed, was determinedly looking at the book, the promise of hot water keeping him on his best behavior. At least for now. She went to the bathroom and started to fill the tub. The steam felt like heaven as she leaned over and inhaled while the water rose. When it was about half full she gently dipped her feet in and then lay down, stretching her legs out as far as they could go. Then, very slowly and very gently, she began to undo the holding she’d placed in her mind. A little bit at a time weariness washed over her and a weight settled on her muscles.

  Once she had it completely off her head swam for a minute and she reflected how embarrassing it would be to pass out in her own bathtub and need Kenny to save her for a second time that day. She’d almost rather drown. Thankfully her head cleared enough and instead of unconsciousness threatening her she merely felt utterly spent.

  She managed to scrub off the remnants of battle then sunk down and soaked for a moment, letting her hair float out behind her. The hot water lifted away some of the stiffness in her muscles but her body’s call for rest pulled her further and further towards unconsciousness. She forced herself to move out of the luxurious bath, promising her protesting limbs this would be the last demand. As the tub drained she pulled on a short wrap and walked back through the main room to the nook that served as her bedroom. Kenny watched her as she passed but remained silent. Then she heard him filling the tub again as she fell onto the bed and into a welcome slumber.

  Chapter Thirty Eight

  Unbidden this time, her labyrinth appeared as her mind settled into sleep. Six women were laid out on their backs while five others cradled their heads. Dahlia recognized the woman she had met at the dark pool as the twelfth who greeted her.

  Dahlia welcomed the woman’s embrace and was pleased to find that she had no injuries Dahlia needed to absorb.

  “Thank you for helping me these past few days,” she said, inclining her head to the woman.

  “It’s been my pleasure, the hunting has been fine.” The woman grinned for a moment and then her face fell, “Some of the others have not fared as well I’m afraid to say. I am glad to see you are here to heal them.”

  “Of course, I could never stand to see them injured.” Dahlia moved to the first woman sitting on the ground, supporting the heads of two others. This was the woman who had first appeared as a girl when Dahlia summoned her to defend against her classmate. Always this woman had greeted her first when necessary. That the twelfth woman had done so seemed to imply that there was a current shift in Dahlia’s psyche. Whether it was a temporary result of the series of battles or something deeper Dahlia wasn’t sure and didn’t have the luxury to investigate at the moment.

 
She lifted a woman off her first puppet’s lap and held her close to her chest. She experienced the woman’s death. She had seen a soldier lunge for Dahlia when Kenny had asked that he buy her time and had intercepted the man. He had seen her coming and she hadn’t been able to block him without exposing her ribs. He had slashed through them. She watched as he brought his blade back and ran her through. As her eyesight failed she had had a moment of satisfaction as another one of her sisters had slit the man’s throat.

  Dahlia took the woman’s pain. Then as her awareness was once again brought back to the labyrinth, she felt tears on her cheek. The woman she had held now had bright eyes and a smile. She pulled herself up to her knees, bowed to Dahlia, and moved to sit back on the edge of the mists.

  Dahlia proceeded to each woman in turn. Only the original of the twelve and the twelfth woman who had greeted her had avoided injury completely. For every other woman she took on their pain and healed them, paying the cost of her ability.

  As she released the last woman, Dahlia felt the twelfth puppet’s eyes on her and turned to find the woman sitting back on her heels with tears in her eyes as well.

  “I wish I could have been faster, could have saved her from that,” the woman told Dahlia with her head bowed.

  “As do I,” Dahlia said gently, motioning to the other women around her, “but every bit of pain is my burden to bear. I ask it of you and it is I who must experience every consequence.”

  “Yet it is we who must feel the guilt of forcing you to endure this. If we fail not only do we pay the price, but we must watch you pay the price as well. It is why I ask you now to use my full strength and the strength that you have buried deep with fear.”

  Dahlia sat for a moment, unsure. “I don’t understand.”

  “You have accepted me, but still you fear what I offer and you hold yourself back from fully accessing it when you fight,” the woman continued with her head bowed respectfully. “I beg you to accept the strength I offer.”