Destined for Darkness

by Cassie Pierce

  “I am so sorry angel. What has he done?”

  Like he doesn’t already know. I put as much loathing behind my voice as I can. “What? Don’t like what you see? You brought me here! You left me here so dear old daddy could have his way with me! So tell me Derek? What did you expect?”

  He runs his hand through his golden hair, a move so human that it confuses me. When he looks at me again, there is no denying the pain in his eyes.

  “Not this… never this. Look Ridley, I know you don’t want to hear this, but I brought you here to protect you.”

  Now that makes me laugh! Is he high? “Protect me? In case you haven’t noticed, the only thing I need protection from is you and your dad!”

  I see the wheels turning in his head, like he is really trying to think about what he wants to say. Well, the hell with that!

  “Just say it!” I scream as a new wave of pain assaults me.

  He lets out a sigh, and brings the food over to where I am sitting.

  “I’ll make you a deal. I will tell you everything, but only if you eat something.”

  This has to be a joke. There is no way that it is this easy. A few days ago he tried to kill me, and now all he wants is to feed me? Yeah. Sorry. Not buying it. Still, I am hungry. I have been here for days with no food or water. The only thing that I have been allowed to drink is their vile blood. I know there is a catch, but the painful rumble of my tummy tells me not to be stupid. Who am I to turn down free food? Never have before. So, even though it goes against my better judgment, I make a deal with the devil.

  “Ok. I’ll eat, but not because I trust you. I’ll eat because I’m hungry.” I grumble.

  He nods and places the food in front of me. His hands are gentle as he helps me into a sitting position. He picks a fresh strawberry from the plate and places it to my dry lips. I have to suppress a moan as the taste hits my tongue. It is a taste that reminds me of Tristan’s blood. After days of ingesting the bitter vampire blood, that taste is close to heaven.

  Derek flashes a confident grin as I swallow the bite. Satisfied that I will eat, he removes his hands from my body and pushes the plate closer to me. It is easy to see from the confidence that radiates off of him that Derek Knight is a man that is used to getting his way. Well, I hate to break it to him, but so am I. Stubbornness is a battle that I never lose.

  “Ok! I’m eating. I believe that fulfills my part of the deal. Now talk Your Majesty.”

  He gives me a scolding look. Much like the one a father gives to an unruly child. Guess he doesn’t like that title very much.

  “Fair enough Princess. A deal is a deal after all.”

  I nodded as I continue to pick at the fruit on my plate.

  “I’m going to tell you a story Ridley. Just listen and try to keep an open mind. Can you do that?”

  Well, listening has never really been a strong point for me, but given my current situation I guess I can handle it. I nod, knowing that after everything that I have witnessed lately there isn’t much left that I wouldn’t believe. I mean I am the queen of crazy situations. I went from living a normal, small town life to being trapped in my own twisted fairytale. So yeah, I can handle a simple story. Satisfied that he now has my attention he begins.

  “Many years ago there was a battle in Heaven, and God cast out one of his most beloved angels; Lucifer. You see, God created Heaven and Earth, but he had a special love for all of humanity. He believed that it was the job of the angels to guide and protect them. Lucifer was a prideful soul. He refused to love the people that God had created. He most certainly refused to dedicate his existence to protecting them. He saw humans as weak, and could not understand how God could love them so much.”

  “Though it saddened God, he knew that Lucifer’s heart had been tainted by hatred, so he cast him and any who followed him out of Heaven. God believed that the only way to rid them of their pride was to take away the thing that they were the most proud of. Paradise.”

  “In doing this, the angels were divided; creating what we now know as the light and the dark. God also felt that he needed to show Lucifer that humans were capable of greatness, so he created your parents. In them and them alone, he instilled the wisdom and knowledge to create the Lamont. They became the creators.”

  “The dark were cast into hell; the dimension that exist below earth. God sent them there because it was the exact opposite of Paradise. In Hell, there is no joy; only eternal pain. Hell was divided into three realms, and a powerful dark angel was sentenced to rule over each.”

  “The first realm is Ignis; the realm of fire. It is the home of the universes darkest souls. There is not a square of land in all of Ignis that is not consumed by flame. This is the realm where Lucifer was sent. As further punishment for defying God the realm was sealed off so that souls could enter but never leave; including Lucifer.”

  “The second realm of hell is known as Torturi. It is the realm of eternal pain and torture. It is ruled by Lucifer’s brother, Justice. Torturi is the realm where souls are forced to face the evil that they committed while alive. It is said that the punishment there is different for every soul, but one thing in Torturi is a constant. The cycle of pain and torture never ends, not even for a moment.”

  “The third realm of Hell is ruled by my father, Nicholas. In heaven my father was Lucifer’s oldest friend. He followed him with blind faith, and loved him above all others; even God. The third realm is called Tenebris; the realm of eternal darkness. It is the source from which all supernatural souls originate, with the exception of the Lamont of course. It is also the home to all dark magic. When an evil soul dies, Tenebris is the first realm in which they travel. If the soul is able to be reformed, or used by dark magic they are converted. If not, then they travel on to Torturi.”

  Wow! I know he said he wanted to tell me a story, but I seriously did not need a lesson in demonology. I am about to open my mouth to ask him what I have to do with all of this, when he interrupts me.

  “Look Ridley. I know what you are thinking, but if you would just let me continue you will see that this does have to do with you. In more ways than you ever thought possible.”

  Doubtful.

  I nod. If a story is what it takes to get him to keep being nice, than a story is what it will be.

  “For hundreds of years the light and dark battled for control over the universe. Countless lives were lost in the fight between good and evil. The Lamont fought to protect humanity and to serve their God. The Tenark did the same, but for entirely different reasons. They wanted to destroy humanity and force God to allow them back into Paradise.”

  “Madison and Miles Lamont were Heaven’s perfect pair. They followed God’s word to the letter, and never questioned the path that he chose for them. They never wanted for anything, except for one thing, and it was the only request that God ever denied them.”

  “A child.”

  “After years of begging God to give them their hearts desire, Madison Lamont became angry. She could not understand how a God who loved his children so much would deny her the same love. Her anger soon turned into desperation, and like all desperate people do, she began to seek answers in the wrong places. My father heard of the Queen of Light’s heartache, and saw a perfect opportunity to weaken his enemy. So he reached out to her, knowing that eventually her need for a child would outweigh her need to serve.”

  I swallow hard as I start to realize the direction that this story is going. I am the living, breathing proof that Madison Lamont had indeed given birth to a child.

  A child equal parts darkness and light.

  The words from the prophecy flash through my mind, and I know. I just know that the prophecy was about me all along. Sure, I had suspected that it was, but suspicion and conformation are two totally different things. Derek has taken a break from his story, and is studying my intently. His caramel eyes hold a hint of compassion that I had thought him incapable of before. No doubt there is more to this story, but suddenly I don’t want t
o hear it. The truth sucks. Sometimes it’s easier to just live a lie. There may be freedom in truth, but sometimes there is more safety inside a lie. As much as I want to pretend that his words don’t matter, they do. My need for answers outweighs my need for peace, and Derek Knight is the one willing to give me them.

  “Go on. I’m still listening.”

  “Your mother resisted at first, but eventually her desire for a child consumed her. After pleading with God several more years to no avail, she finally agreed to meet with my father. I was a newly turned vampire at the time. I was also the only soul that father ever personally sired. He said that he selected me after many years of searching. I don’t remember anything of my old life, except for one thing. I was loved. I had a family. I can’t remember their names or faces, but I remember the love that I had for them clearly. Father thinks that is why I am different from others; more compassionate you could say. While Father hates that my soul is not purely evil like his, he tolerates it because he believes that my ability to love is the key to everything. He says that my soul and my soul alone will never be enough, but when combined with my other half all balance will be restored. The only problem was, none were powerful enough to be my mate. As future ruler of Tenebris, I need a mate equal to me. There was only one problem with that. The only power that was equal to mine was his, and that my sweet Ridley is where you come in.”

  “Father knew that if he could create a soul that was able to house both darkness and light, that its power would be unstoppable. The key to returning the darkness to Paradise. He used your mother’s desire for a child as a way to create his perfect weapon. Think about it Princess, what better place to hide the world’s most deadly weapon than behind the innocence of a child.”

  Seriously! Could my life get any more complicated? I know that I am powerful, but this? Surely I am not capable of this?

  “Your mother was such a trusting soul. When my father told her there would be a price for his help, she agreed without even asking what the price would be. I watched as my father combined their blood and whispered the words that brought you into existence. I felt it the moment that your tiny heart started to beat. I watched in awe as he sealed the spell with a drop of my blood, thus connecting us forever more. So you see Ridley, you were promised to me. Made for me, before you even drew you first breath. I have loved you since the moment of your first heartbeat, and I will love you until mine beats no more.”

  “Wait a minute! He’s a vampire. Doesn’t that mean that his heart stopped beating long ago? I can’t help but laugh as I process his words. It is that, or acknowledge that fact the he just told me that he loves me. That is something that I just am not ready to do. Are vampires even capable of love?”

  “Just as capable as you are. My heart may beat differently than yours, but rest assured my love; it still beats.”

  OK! I know that I did not say that out loud. Did he- did he just-?

  “Read your mind. Yes,” he finishes.

  A million questions run through my mind, a million emotions that I cannot process. The primary one at the moment is shock. Shock that my mother would defy God and literally make a deal with the devil just to have me. Shock that the man who I thought hated me is now professing his love to me. Shock that even though I know with all of my heart that my soul belongs to Tristan, it had been made for another. The shock quickly turns to fear as I process everything that Derek has just said. If what Derek says is true, then does that mean that I am destined for him?

  “Am I really destined for darkness?”

  Derek sits quietly as I let my emotions play out. I can see the concern in his honey gaze, and it only adds to my confusion. He has been nothing but nice to me since he entered this room. Why? Why now? Is this a sick game to make me go along with becoming one of them? Seeing this side of him goes against everything that I thought about him. He is supposed to be cruel, evil, hateful, and selfish; but the man standing before me now is none of those things. He is the exact opposite. I remember thinking in my dreams how strange it seemed that someone who looked like they were made of sunlight could be full of such darkness. It is starting to occur to me that he may have been created by darkness, but his soul is still very much infused with light. No. It has to be a lie. I need it to be a lie, but I can tell from the pleading look in his eyes that it is the truth. This is the moment, the exact moment, which I realize there is much more to Derek Knight than he leads others to believe. Beauty may be a mask to hide the ugliness of one’s soul, but sometimes, just sometimes; Coldness is a shield to hide the vulnerability of one’s heart. I have no doubt that the man I am talking to now is the real Derek Knight; at least the man he wants to be.

  “This has always been the real me.” He whispers. The words so quiet that I almost don’t hear. He has just read my mind for the second time in less than ten minutes.

  “How? How do you keep doing that? Is that a vampire thing?”

  He lets out a long sigh. “Ridley, whether you want to believe it or not, you are a part of me. I can hear your thoughts just as easily as I can hear my own. I can feel you just as easily as I can feel myself. I always have.”

  This is getting way too intense for my raging sea of emotions to handle. No! This isn’t right! Tristan can do those things! Tristan can feel me and hear me. Tristan can do that because he is the other half to my soul. This- this makes no sense.

  “I know that you don’t understand. I feel how much you love him. You are right. He is half of your soul, but so am I. He is the person that was made to complete your light, just as I am the person that was made to complete your darkness. He may be your sunshine, but I will always be your moonlight.”

  A single tear rolls down my cheek as he speaks. I do not want this to be true. I love Tristan. I will always love only Tristan. There has to be an explanation for this. Maybe I have finally lost it. Maybe after days of being drained and alone in this dark world, I have finally went crazy. Yes! That is it! I have officially snapped. Crazy I can accept. This-this forbidden love, two soul mate thing- not so much. His laughter interrupts my mental breakdown.

  “You are not crazy. Everything that I have told you is true. In time you will see. I’m not asking you to love me. I will always love you, even if you never feel the same. I just wanted you to know the whole story. Enough with the heavy stuff. Come. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

  I hesitate. I have not been out of this room in days. I find it highly unlikely that he is just going to let me leave to take a shower.

  “As much as I would love to take you far away from here, I cannot. I did bring some fresh water and a change of clothes though. I’m going to un-chain you so that you can wash up. Don’t run Ridley. I can keep you safe in this room, but outside these walls what happens to you is up to father.”

  Anger invades my system. Father this, Father that. I mean does he have a daddy complex or what. He loves me alright, just not enough to protect me from daddy! Well, screw him! Before I can stop myself I spit on him. I would rather stay chained up forever than keep playing his game. I mean he’s a grown man. Grow a pair.

  “You claim to love me Derek! Well, tell me then, how you just sit there and let him do this to me? When you love someone, truly love them, you would die before you let them feel an ounce of pain. Why now? I have been here for days! He has drained me, forced his disgusting blood down my throat. For days, Derek, days….. all without a single glimpse of you! He has let me sit here in agony, burning alive, knowing about my need to be close to Tristan. So why are you here?” I am yelling. I believe that what he told me is the truth, but he is hiding something. Derek Knight is a powerful man, second only to his father. If he wanted to stop my torment he could have.

  I expect for him to lose his temper. I wait for dark and deadly Derek to come back in full force, but that isn’t what happens. I see his anger. The firm set of his jaw, the clenched fist. It is there, but strangely it does not appear to be directed at me. He makes no move to wipe my spit from his cheek.

>   “Ridley…..”He says as he appears in front of me. His eyes are angry and his voice hard, so I am surprised when he lightly tucks a lock of unruly hair behind my ear. The touch so gentle, it feels like a feather tickling my face.

  “Do you not think that I would stop it if I could? God knows I have tried. I have known where you were for years. Years Ridley! I watched you grow up in Casper Cove, and I kept father off of your trail. I blocked him from your dreams for as long as I could. I stood by while you fell in love with Tristan. I stayed silent as you bonded yourself to him, not because I had to, but because I wanted to. I wanted to keep you safe. I still do. I have not been to check on you in days because father drained me and threw me in a cell. I only escaped today because he is not here and your mother let me out. He controls us Ridley. His power is that of mind control, and no vampire is immune to it. The Lamont are blessed because they are immune. I guess that was God’s way of protecting you from us, but I don’t really know. What I do know is that many are not so fortunate; myself included. When he is near I do his bidding; not because I want to, but because I have- no -choice. So yes, I would rather die than make you suffer, but I am trapped in a body I have no control over. I see everything, feel everything, but am helpless to stop my own actions. So please, let me help you before he returns. Let me give you this.”

  I’m sure I am staring at him in open mouthed awe. It is just like my mother had said the day that she came into my cell. They are all controlled by that monster of a man. I nod my silent consent, and accept the items that Derek brought for me. He gently un-chains me, and I grimace at the pain in my ankle. It should have healed by now. He turned his back to me, and for that I am thankful. I quickly changed into the skinny jeans and black blouse; grateful to no longer smell like blood and urine.

  “You said that Nicholas left. Do you know why?”

  He lets out a small sigh as he turns back around to face me.

  “He is after your other.”