His chest was bare apart from the strange metal wire that wound around his body in random ways. This was all over his upper half and even down his arms where is got thicker at the wrists and neck area. I couldn’t understand it as it was like somebody had bound him in silver wire without actually restraining him. I found little sense to it but knowing this place I didn’t want to find out the full reasoning behind it anyway.
“Hakan, say hello to Toots.” Pip said, as I was caught staring at him. He turned to face me and nodded down at me. He had his arms crossed and he too was a beefy male but it was the painted black mask he wore across his eyes that made him look like the Lone Ranger. It was just a straight black strip but it made the whites of his eyes stand to attention along with the veins that bulged just beneath the skin.
“Do you like his tattoo? I call him Dennis.” I laughed at Pip’s comment and couldn’t help it from the look he gave her glancing sideways without moving his head.
“It doesn’t look much like a Dennis.” I said before thinking about my ‘mute for the night’ rule I had given myself. At this Hakan’s mouth twitched in what looked like amusement and he nodded his head at me for the second time. Well, he didn’t need to thank me for speaking up on his behalf, it was pretty clear that the big tattoo of a wolf howling at the moon didn’t look at all like it would be called Dennis! But I mentally thanked Pip for trying to make me laugh. I would see her sometimes wink at me or pull a funny face trying to make me smile. Of course she was still bound but Adam attended to her just fine, with drinks and even sharing a cigarette.
“Drink!” An order was barked at me when a bottle of beer got lowered in front of my face. I hadn’t looked up at Lucius once since his little expressive scene in front of the crowd and he hadn’t spoken to me, however I could feel his eyes on me the whole time.
I shook my head but this wasn’t good enough for him. I felt his breath before I knew he had moved.
“It wasn’t a request. Now stop being a stubborn ass and drink!” He called me an ass!? Why, of all the nerve! I grabbed the bottle and chugged the whole lot before slamming it down on the table.
“Happy!” I snapped feeling my temper rise. He laughed at my behaviour and before I knew what was happening he leaned down and gripped me by the waist, picking me up as thought I weighed nothing and placed me in between his legs on his seat that was roomy enough for us both. Of course, like this, I had to be far too close to him that I couldn’t disguise what it did to my body. Although I was happy to have moved as my legs were cramping up.
“I am now!” He growled down my ear and then wrapped my long plait around his fist to hold me secure. I instantly felt like that girl I had passed, only I was minus the collar!
I stiffened my spine and every muscle was high on alert as his free hand started to make soothing circles along the slit in my skirt. He left goosebumps where his cold hand touched my thigh and he moved the fabric further to one side to continue, baring my leg completely.
“Please…don’t” I said weakly, losing all the earlier fight and anger.
“Ssshh, relax!” He demanded in a hushed tone and with his hand gripping my hair in an unbreakable hold he pulled me back ever so slowly until my back was flush with his chest.
“There, that’s better. Keira you are so tense, why?”
“Why? Are you joking?” I said stunned at the audacity of this man, King or not! Again with that deep baritone laugh that sent shivers through me for reasons I didn’t want to think about.
“I could bite you if you want to experience a real reason for being tense, although I’m thinking it would be more intense than anything else.” He seductively whispered this last part and the word ‘intense’ lingered as did his lips at my neck when he said it. Of course this didn’t help me relax at all and he was finding some sick fascination with my reactions to him. I tried in vain to pull away but he held me firm and said a defined,
“Don’t!” But at least this made him let go of my leg. I refused to look at him again and I definitely didn’t relax like he ordered me too, no , instead I took in more of my surroundings just to get my mind away from my hopeless situation. A Vampire King at my back holding my hair like I was on a Goddamn leash, like some bloody pet of his! I was beyond angry, I was bloody fuming.”
“I need the toilet.” I informed him in clipped tones.
“Is that so?” The smug bastard said.
“Yes, that’s so, but feel free to let me piss all over you and cock my leg up on your leg like the dog you’re treating me as!” At this he growled like that dog and I tried to keep my spine stiff under the noise I caused from him.
“Liessa, take the girl!” He barked his order at the only other woman sat up here who was next to Ruto.
A beautiful brunette looked up from Caspian’s neck that she had been sucking on, which made it clear they were an item, well at least for tonight. She nodded and Caspian released the firm hand he had on one of her breasts. Man, was anybody here not thinking about sex! Was there something in the water?
She stood and held out a hand for me to take. I took a moment to admire her black satin fingerless gloves, wishing I had my own pair. She really was a beauty but more a refined radiance with pearly skin tones brought out more by dark brown hair that had flashes of the most unusual colour of light peach running through it. She had it coiled up with tiny plaits entwined with something else I couldn’t see in this light but it looked like some kind of tubes of rubber looped through in different places. She had peach tinted eyes, a colour that I had never seen before and it was brought out more by the blush she wore on her high elegant cheek bones. Her cherry red lipstick wasn’t even smudged even after the six hickeys she had kindly given Caspian. I shuddered at the thought.
I took her hand and was more than thankful to be getting away from Lucius, even if it was only for a short time. I felt I could breathe properly for the first time in hours as I walked away from him, but then a strong hand shackled my wrist and I was pulled back.
“Don’t be too long little doll, you would hate for me to miss you.” He warned running a knuckle down my cheek. I refused to meet his gaze knowing without looking the burning I would find there. He let me go and I nearly stumbled to get away. I still heard him laughing as I disappeared into the crowd.
We didn’t have any problems getting to the restroom as thanks to Lucius’ dire announcement earlier, threatening every one’s lives if they so much as looked at me wrong, can do wonders getting around in crowded places. Anyone would have thought I was Moses the way people scrambled out of my way like a freight train was coming.
I stayed on Liessa’s heels as I didn’t think Lucius would take kindly to an excuse of ‘I got lost’ so I hurried along trying to keep up with her long legs. She was at least six foot and had a slim athletic body. She reminded me of a dark swan, long neck and ever so graceful in her stride. Well, if she was the swan then I was the flapping goose that squawked after her asking her to please slow down as I nearly stumbled for the second time. Heels really weren’t made for power walking in clubs!
Thankfully, she took my short legs into consideration and slowed down as we neared an archway. She had to duck under it where I felt a teeny bit smug that I didn’t have to. We walked into a beautiful luxurious bathroom that had huge black velvet fleur de lis on a deep gold background on every wall. The sinks were gold leaf bowls with highly polished, fancy old fashioned taps. The mirrors were all gilded gold frames that were elaborate tree designs. The floor was like black glass with a black chaise longue in the middle with fancy gold molding around the edges.
“My husband doesn’t like you. He says that you will cause trouble for our Lord and Caspian doesn’t like anyone that can cause waves.” She said, going to stand in front of the mirror while she leaned in and checked her makeup. What was I supposed to say to that!
“Sorry, I guess,” I said lamely not really meaning one word of it. She turned to face me and smiled.
“Please don’t be, I
am grateful for this.” I frowned not understanding where this was going.
“Why?” I was almost scared to ask.
“Because, tonight I am in for a treat and will for the remaining time you are here. My husband delivers the best sex life when he is angry and frustrated and considering I cannot anger him, you will do so nicely, so for that I thank you for annoying him.” I think my mouth actually dropped open at her statement.
“Umm…you’re welcome.” I said bewildered, which made her smile down at me again.
“Oh how I do hope you are here for a long time.” She winked at me before opening one of the stalls which was a hint for me to hurry up and get peeing!
Once I had finished with my business I stepped up to the mirror and saw for the first time what Pip had done with the lace at my face. It was beautiful and gave me a mysterious air as the black pattern shimmered in the form of a rose along my face. I looked down and frowned at my pushed up cleavage showing, thanks to Lucius’ rough treatment of my dress. I looked like I had been ravished by a wild beast trying to get to the goods. No wonder he had wanted me sat at his feet, from up there he’d been awarded an eye full all night and thanks to the corset they looked even bigger, like they were begging to come out and play.
I looked over to Liessa while I washed my hands, making sure not to get the ribbon wet and noticed what the rubber was in her hair.
“Squid?!” I shouted before I could engage a filter to stop me blurting out whatever I think. But come on…she actually had squid tentacles in her hair! Thankfully she laughed at my outburst.
“Oh how I do love humans. I am an aquatic shifter Demon and I favour ink as a deception.” She lifted her white silk blouse from the tight pencil skirt she was wearing. She reminded me of a school teacher but the marks on her body quickly squashed that image. The skin on her stomach was different shades of peaches and cream and that does sound yummy until you take into account the hundreds of little suckers that were married across her skin in diagonal lines. She touched one with her fingers and I was in utter amazement when one started to ooze thick black liquid. She caught it between her fingers and rubbed them together before washing it away in the sink.
“It can be quite poisonous if I choose and as you can imagine, I don’t get hugged often.” She laughed at her own joke and smoothed her hair back in one place it had come loose. I now realised that the tentacles on her head were part of her, not put there freely. My eyes opened wide and I had to shake my head to try and process what I had learnt from this woman, who had just shown me she was half squid. I just didn’t know if my night could get any damn weirder but hey, I guess there was still time!
We walked back out into the crowd and apart from seeing one girl dressed in black duct tape and nothing else, two men dressed in leather bondage gear going at it on a couch and a young girl wearing a dress that looked straight out of ‘Gone with the Wind’ complete with hat bigger than a serving platter, I still didn’t find anything weirder than what Liessa had shown me in the bathroom. But as I got closer to Lucius I saw a tall man with his back to us. He was wearing a long black jacket down to his feet and his black hair curled around his neck at the collar. His powerful looking shoulders dominated the jacket and a memory hit me like a fist to the gut.
There had been flowers, grass and a forest surrounding every side. There had been a breeze that didn’t reach my skin and a jutted stone that caused me to trip at the feet of a stranger. The feet of a handsome man. The feet of a living God.
Feet that belonged to a King.
Draven.
Chapter 11
A Cold Hard Slap of Reality.
Draven? It couldn’t be, could it? My heart had started to beat uncontrollably at the sight before me. Draven stood with his back to us as we approached but was facing Lucius with his arms folded. That’s when I heard his formidable voice.
“Where is she, Lucius?” He demanded and everyone flinched but Lucius.
Oh my god! He had come for me, he said he would but now he was here my heart soared. He was here and now I was going home! I found my legs moving without thought and I was running to him. Running to my home.
“Draven!” I shouted over and over causing him to turn.
“Keira? Keira. No!” He said but it was too late. I threw myself into him and instead of landing into the arms of the man I loved I fell through him! I felt my body shake as I passed through his body and landed hard into another body. Hakan had caught me before I ended up part of the furniture and spun me round into Lucius’ arms before I even had chance to take a breath. I was still shaking my head trying to understand what had happened when I heard Draven’s voice again.
“Let her GO!” Draven was furious beyond words and when I could finally focus again I felt Lucius’ grip on me tighten across my body that was locked to his chest. I looked at Draven and couldn’t understand what had happened? He looked like the whole and solid Draven I knew every hard line of, but why?
“Come now Dom, do you really hope to threaten me when you are nothing but a projection? You always were so hot headed and I see time hasn’t granted you with the power of patience.”
“And you are the Being to lecture me on such matters?” Draven snarled out his words and Lucius growled back.
“As a matter of fact I am just the Being to do such. Do NOT presume to know me any more my old friend, it would be unwise given your current predicament and remember what of yours I hold in my arms!” At this he looked down at me and his lips gently touched my neck making me wince.
“Lucius!” Draven warned but it was useless. Lucius had me and Draven could only be left to cruelly watch. He looked on with tight emotions playing across his handsome face, trying so hard to portray the man of power he was. All dressed in black like the man who held me, with that long jacket reaching his feet, it took me back to the times before, one of which I had thought he had been my captor. How I wished that to be true once again. His black hair was pushed back giving his eyes a more penetrating stare, a hard glint that flashed with every contact Lucius made with my skin. It looked as though he was calculating his revenge even now, taking note and stock of all the charges stacking up against him. Oh yes, Draven wanted to punish him, but knew he would have to wait. Bide his time until judgment could be declared and punishment could be received.
“Oh yes Dom, I have been patient indeed.” He ran the back of his hand down my neck that he had arched to one side with his hand fisting my hair once again. I didn’t leave Draven’s eyes as this all played out and the pain I saw there, matched my own.
“I have waited so long for this day, so long for her to come. It’s refreshing finally finding something that can make you crumble, a man without weakness, to watch him fall. Tell me Dominic, how does it feel to be so helpless for the first time in your existence?” He asked bitterly and Draven, for the first time looked…defeated.
“Is this all you wish to see Luc, to watch a King fall to his knees at the feet of another King, because know that my pride means nothing compared to what you hold in your arms. I will gladly…” Lucius didn’t let Draven get to his knees because his voice turned harsh, losing all the icy reserve.
“You know what it is I want Draven, what you stole from me is the only reason I stole from you. When my property is returned then so shall yours but until then know this, I will have fun playing with our little Keira here.” He said, his voice smoothing out like you would the creases in a bedspread. One minute he was hard, cold and the next caressing me with his words like he covered my thoughts in fog so that I couldn’t see my doubts.
“If you do anything to her, you will pay Lucius and then it will be time for me to play!” I shivered at what Draven’s idea of ‘playing’ involved.
“Ha, threats coming from a man I can control. Tell me something, for I am curious, what did it feel like that day? To finally discover someone more powerful than you, making you do something you couldn’t control as you yourself have done to so many in the past. Was it…libera
ting?” He laughed where Draven only frowned and tightened his arms across his chest.
“What I would find liberating, is me and you, just one on one, no powers, no games and no gimmicks, henchmen or council…Just you and me Luc.” The deadly intent in Draven’s eyes scared me to the bone. I actually felt a tiny shudder from behind me which didn’t match Lucius’ laughter.
“What just like men Dom? But we’re not men!” Lucius spat out.
“This world is coming to an end and will you still believe in your precious balance when the sky falls around you and all that you love?” Lucius’ bitter laughter continued and Draven just shook his head.
“What happened to you Luc?”
“I woke up! And now it is time for you to do the same! Give me the Spear of Longinus, King and you shall have your Queen returned. You have ten days to comply or she will witness an Afterlife you can’t control!” All dark laughter now gone, his anger flowed so freely causing me, for the first time, to take my eyes from Draven and close them in fear. I had ten days. Just ten days.
“You will not touch her?” Draven demanded to know.
“Oh I would not say that, after all she is such a tasty little thing, you did such a good job in changing her.” He said running a fingertip down my neck and across my collar bone.
“Changing me?” I couldn’t help but ask. I was so confused, what did he mean?
“Ahh, she doesn’t know what it is you have done to her…tricky Dom, very tricky!” Lucius was now quickly back to being amused.
“Lucius!” Draven warned but this only added to his amusement.
“Do you want to know why it is you taste…oh so good!” He said making me wince after he had paused for effect and then dug a nail into my skin that was still pulled taut at the neck. I shook my head but didn’t get far as his hand tightened, making Draven growl ferociously.
The Triple Goddess Page 15