by Sam Cheever
“Home, Dialle. To a place where we can heal. Together.”
Chapter Nine
Dark Prison
The king is locked within a cell, made more of thought than walls,
The only key to make him well, is to catch him as he falls.
I stood in the open doorway, feeling as if my heart had been twisted and wrung into an irreparable condition. The man raging against the chains in the room beyond the door was almost unrecognizable.
His wrists and ankles, chained to the wall by necessity, were bloodied with his efforts to gain freedom. His once silky black hair hung in lank ropes over his face, giving him the appearance of a wild creature, beyond reason. It wasn’t far from the truth. The madness that had begun to take his mind soon after I lost my magic had all but taken him over.
We’d been at my father’s castle for a month. Dialle had grown worse with every passing day. He hadn’t eaten in days, he’d only taken water when I all but forced it on him. What I was doing wasn’t working. I was going to have to try something else.
“It’s too dangerous, Astra.”
I glanced at Emo. “I have to do it.”
“He’s not the man who loved you. He’s driven by the madness. He’ll kill you.”
I blinked hard, fighting back tears. I was done with tears. I needed to move forward with strength if I was going to have any chance of saving Dialle. “I have to take that chance.”
“I’m not going to let you do it.”
I swung around, fists clenched at my sides. He blinked as I focused a hard, unrelenting gaze on him. I knew my eyes burned with some portion of the same fever taking Dialle. I knew because I’d seen it in the mirror. For whatever reason…whatever quirk of prophecy…Dialle and I were connected. We’d been linked in the light, and now that he was charging toward darkness, we were joined in that too. “I’m doing this. If I need to fight you too I’ll do it. But I’m asking you, as a friend, not to go there. I need every bit of strength I have to fight him.”
Emo held my gaze for a long moment and then pulled me into a hug. “I can’t watch, Astra. I’m sorry, I love you too much to watch you die.”
Blinking back the hated tears, I hugged him hard. Inhaling his familiar, beloved scent, I relished the strong feel of his arms, wishing I could stay right there. Despite my tough words to Emo, I was terrified of what I was about to do.
Emo held me for a few minutes and then stepped back, placing his hand on my face. “Take care, Astra. I-I’ll really miss you if I don’t get to see you again.”
I shook my head, laughing. Despite my best efforts tears slid down my cheeks. I brushed at them angrily, determined to stay strong. “You should know by now that I’m just not that easy to get rid of, partner.”
“You’re full up on energy?”
“Light and dark, Gerch managed to talk one of the royals into contributing to the cause.” I smiled at the thought. I’d have given almost anything to have been a fly on the wall for that conversation.
Gerch: Excuse me, I know you hate our queen and want to take the king out so you can make a try for his throne, but would you mind charging the queen’s battery so she can try to save the king and they can retake the court?
Royal: Have you lost your frunkin’ mind?
Gerch: Nope, I still have my frunkin’ mind.
Royal: Why on the Serpent’s forked tail would I do that?
Gerch: Because the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t?
Royal: You’re an idiot.
Gerch: Okay, then how about this, the celestial army is waiting to hear your response from me and, if it isn’t good, then they’re going to decimate the court.
Royal: Blink, blink. Okay, where’s the damn queen? Let’s get this over with.
Footsteps pounded down the hall and Emo and I turned. A massive, red-skinned guard ran toward us.
Speak of the devil.
Gerch skidded to a stop before us, his broad chest heaving from his all-out sprint. “I’m going in with you.”
I opened my mouth to argue.
He held up a massive, red hand. “Don’t bother arguing. I’m going with you or you’re not going in.”
“As your queen—”
He snorted. “Don’t try that crap with me, Astra. You aren’t currently my queen.”
I frowned. “I will be once I’m done with this.”
“Correct. However, you currently aren’t my queen so you can’t command me.”
“If you don’t back down I’ll get my revenge on you once I am queen again.”
He glowered down at me, his wide brow throwing a shadow over his beady black eyes. “I’ll take my chances.”
Sighing, I looked from Emo to Gerch. “God save me from my friends.”
Gerch crossed thick arms over his chest, looking belligerent. Emo looked hopeful. I could tell he was hoping I’d take Gerch up on his offer.
I was about to surprise them both. “Okay. You can come in with me.”
Emo smiled, his dark eyes sparking. Gerch’s mouth dropped open.
“Close your mouth, devil. That’s very unattractive.” I looked at Emo. “Remember, as soon as I’m inside seal the room with both light and dark energy. Nobody comes in until I’m done. Understood?”
“You mean we, right, Astra?” Gerch was back to glaring at me.
I sighed. “Of course.”
I looked at Emo. “Ready?”
“I’m not the one who needs to be ready. Are you sure I can’t talk you out of this?”
“Not if I leave really quickly.” I smiled at him and, on an impulse, leaned in and kissed his lips. Emo’s hand came up and clasped my throat, holding me in the kiss a few beats longer than I’d intended. I allowed it because I knew he thought he was saying goodbye for the last time.
I wasn’t all that sure he wasn’t.
Then I looked at Gerch. “Ready?”
He nodded. I prayed he was distracted enough not to notice what I was about to do. I’d been practicing some new tricks and I was pretty sure he wasn’t going to like the one I was getting ready to use.
A single, glistening tear slid down Emo’s lean, golden cheek. “Goodbye, Astra.”
“See you in a couple of days, partner.”
He sniffed and nodded, looking away as pain slid through his black gaze.
I reached out and quickly touched Gerch’s hand. His eyes widened but he didn’t have time to stop me. As he started to shimmer away, I heard his shriek of rage in my mind.
Sorry, bud, but I have to do this alone.
Ignoring Emo’s angry exclamation, I turned and walked through the door, slamming and locking it behind me. I felt the protective energy of Emo’s seal snapping into place and took a deep breath.
Dialle was crouched on the floor next to the soft mattress I’d placed in the room for his use. He’d refused to lie down on it. Instead he spent the hours of his imprisonment fighting his chains and screaming for release.
His head slowly lifted as I walked over and stood looking at him, just beyond his reach. His eyes roiled with such dense color the black was no longer visible. The colors of rage mixed with the colors of passion and spun in dizzying funnels of color.
His face was filthy, his clothing nearly torn completely off his body. His broad, golden chest was bare, crisscrossed with scratches and welts from his struggles. His lower body was still covered in black leather, but the material was torn and stained.
He was panting from his most recent explosion and his beautiful lips curled into a snarl as he looked at me. I inhaled deeply and released it. My hands shook as I lifted them so I clenched them into fists. “Hello, Dialle.”
The snarl turned to a mean smile. “Hello, my love. Have you come to cut my heart out of my chest? Shall I spread my arms wide to make it easier for you?”
I forced myself to hold his gaze. “No. I’ve come to set you free. We’re going to bring this to a head, you and me. I’m tired of dancing around the edges.”
His eyes widened slightly. “Don’t toy with me, Astra.”
“No games.” I lifted my hands and shot a jolt of mixed, light and dark energy toward the angel chain holding his ankles. The shimmering chain disappeared in a flash of light. Dialle looked down in shock.
Taking a bracing breath, I did the same to the chains holding his wrists. Dialle lifted his hands and turned them over, seemingly shocked into inaction by his freedom. It didn’t last long. His gaze slid upward, found mine, and his lips curved in a smile.
Something slid into place in my chest. I was in battle mode. Lifting my hands I wiggled my fingers. “Let’s rumble, devil.”
With a roar he lunged.
I waited until he was almost on me and leapt, flying over his head and rolling as I landed. I spun around as soon as my feet hit the floor, throwing my hands out to grab hold of his throat as he hit me. He grabbed my leather jacket and, rather than throw me to the ground, he jerked me closer as my hands tightened on his throat.
I hit his chest hard and the unexpected move loosened my grip. I thrust my hands upward, connecting with his jaw and snapping his head backward. He hooked a leg around my knees and shoved me to the ground, I hit the rock floor hard enough to knock the wind out of my lungs and he landed on top of me. I didn’t give him time to trap me. I eyed the spot behind him and entered a space-shift, coming back to awareness in another part of the room. Dialle had anticipated my shift and was already charging me as I started to move. He ran at me with a roar and, as I flexed to leave the floor, leapt into the air and smacked into me.
He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and I was suddenly locked into nothingness again. When the world returned I was falling. I landed on the musty-smelling mattress and Dialle landed on top of me, jerking my arms over my head as we hit.
He held me as I struggled, his face inches from mine. His angry eyes roiled with color and his mouth twisted in a hateful smile. “Delicious. Keep struggling, Astra. I’m really enjoying it.”
He wasn’t kidding. I could feel the rock-hard evidence of his enjoyment against my belly.
I tried to knee him but he was too close for me to get anything behind it. With a frustrated scream, I thrashed against his grip, unable to use my powers. I knew he was capable of locking me off from them with a simple touch. I’d been the unfortunate recipient of that little trick from the royals more than once.
He lowered his head and sniffed my throat as he ground against me with his rigid cock. “Mmm. I’ve forgotten how delicious you smell, my love.”
I grimaced. “I wish I could say the same of you, Dialle. Maybe we could pause this activity for a few minutes so you can take a bath.”
His laugh was husky, and slightly mad. “I doubt a bath will make what I’m about to do any more palatable to you, my love.”
“Whatever you have in mind, I want to go on record as saying that I don’t support it. In fact I’m pretty sure you’re going to piss me off if you go through with it.”
“I’ll be sure to chastise myself later. After.”
I struggled harder but made no headway at all. I finally gave up when I realized I was just making it more fun for him. “Dialle. I know you’re in there somewhere. Come back to me.” To my great horror tears slipped down my cheeks.
The stranger pressing me to the mattress simply smiled as my heart broke. “Oh, how tender. I’m sure your Dialle would have collapsed into a horrified pile of pussy-whipped goo if he saw those tears. Unfortunately, he no longer exists.” He lowered his head again and sucked my neck, hard enough to leave a mark.
Horror swamped me as I wondered if Dialle could mark me again. I shuddered. Being tied to the madman pressing me to the floor was too terrible to contemplate.
Then I had worse problems to think about. The rough scrape of teeth made my blood run cold as I realized what Dialle had in mind.
I renewed my struggles. “No, Dialle. You can’t do this.”
He lifted his head. My blood went cold. His lips were open, showing a beautiful and deadly pair of elongated fangs.
I shook my head, trying to jerk my hands free and tried again to access my power. Nothing happened.
He laughed. “You smell delicious, my love. Let’s see how you taste.” I screamed as he lowered his head. Knifelike agony speared my throat as the massive fangs pierced my skin and my scream took on a desperate tone as he began to feed.
I fought as long and as hard as I could, but I soon lost the strength to go on as he drained me of life-giving blood. At some point he no longer needed to hold me down. Darkness teased the edges of my vision and my limbs felt heavy and cold.
In that moment I knew Emo had been right. I wouldn’t survive my attempt to save Dialle. The thought depressed me beyond measure. Because I knew my death would hurt those I loved. For that I was sorry.
But despite the outcome, I wasn’t sorry to have risked it all for Dialle. Wherever he had gone…whatever he’d become…I realized in that moment that I still loved him.
Darkness called to me, I fought it back and managed to lift my hand, touching Dialle’s cheek. He felt warm and vibrant against my cold fingers. He jerked as I touched him, and flew backward.
“I love you, Dialle.” My lips moved but I knew he probably hadn’t heard me. The words were like puffs of wind against my lips.
The last thing I heard as I settled into death’s dark, cold arms was Dialle, screaming my name into a cold prison of his own making.
Chapter Ten
Back to the Dance
It’s true young miss had faded ‘way, death’s door had opened wide,
But if her life would on him weigh, her death he cannot abide.
Heat. Tingling against my skin like electricity. Healing heat that pulsed in my breast, drawing me slowly back to consciousness. With the heat came awareness, and the ability to feel my slowly warming limbs again.
Hard hands skimmed my body, sending strobes of magic deep beneath my skin.
I twitched under the uncomfortable tingling, my fingers clenching as the feeling of being stuck repeatedly with pins spread through my hands and lower legs.
I tried to force my eyelids open. They refused to cooperate, but the hands lifted away, along with the healing energy.
I pushed myself upright, groaning with pain and an overwhelming weakness. Dizziness swamped me and nausea bloomed in my gut. I swallowed hard, jamming a hand in the mattress to hold myself upright.
I took a deep breath, willing my stomach to settle and the dizziness to retreat. A moment later I risked opening my eyes. It took a moment for me to remember where I was and how I had gotten there.
The room was stark, cold, and appeared as if a tornado had gone through it. The stone walls wept with moisture, their surface scarred with claw marks. The floor around the mattress was covered in stuffing and debris. I looked down and saw there wasn’t much left of the thin pallet I was lying on. Someone had ripped it to shreds around me.
The room’s single door was battered, deeply scored, and stained with blood. The blood made my heart twist and my gaze flew toward the shadowed corners.
He was standing in the farthest corner from me, his dark head bowed and his hands clenched at his sides.
“Dialle?”
“Leave me, Astra. It’s not safe for you here.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
His head lifted slowly. Two glistening trails silvered his golden cheeks. Tears. “I don’t think you understand. The Dialle you knew and loved is gone. What’s left is dangerous to you and everybody else, Astra. Just leave me here and let me die. It would be best for everyone.”
I pushed myself off the mattress and stood, brutally shoving the dizziness back as I took a step toward him. “That’s just so frunkin’ stupid, Dialle. Obviously you’re not gone. If your dark side had completely taken over you wouldn’t be wanting to die.” I stopped a foot away from him and watched as he seemed to suck in on himself, his muscles tightening under a desperate bid for control. He shook his head.
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“I almost killed you.” His voice broke and it took my heart with it.
I closed the last few inches between us. “But you didn’t. You stopped. And you healed me. You’re still in there, Dialle. Let me pull you back. Let me offer you my light.”
He sniffed, shaking his head again. His hand came out to clasp my shoulder as I moved closer, holding me back. “Please, Astra. I’m begging you. Leave now, before it comes back.”
I shrugged off his hand, stepping into him and wrapping my arms around his waist. I lay my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes, feeling him vibrate against me. “I’m not leaving. You need to let the dark go, Dialle. Embrace your light side. If you don’t, I’m going to die and you’ll have to live with having killed us both.”
I rubbed soothing circles over his skin, skimming my fingers up the satin width of his back.
Still he held himself rigid, his fists clenched, but his heart beat strongly against my chest, his breathing had quickened.
I held on tightly, willing him to succumb to my love, until his muscles lost some of their rigidity and his head dropped to rest against mine. He expelled a shaky breath and his hands finally lifted, wrapping around my arms. “Astra…” He held me with a desperate kind of strength. I bit my lip and tried to ignore the pain.
“Shhh. Just hold me. We’ll take this a step at a time.”
His arms slipped around me and his knees seemed to give out. We sagged slowly toward the ground. I held onto him as we dropped, keeping him from landing too hard.
We sat on the filthy floor, leaning against the wall. Dialle’s arms were still around my waist and his head drooped. He panted softly, obviously beyond exhaustion. “I’m so tired.”
I kissed his forehead. “Sleep. I won’t let go.”
Another shuddering breath had him closing his eyes, leaning his head against the wall. “I’ll just rest for a few minutes. Don’t let me sleep, Astra. I dream horrible things when I sleep.”