The Triple Goddess

by Stephanie Hudson

  I finally asked about the night it all fell apart for the two friends and with a stare that looked both angry and devastated, Lucius told me about it. After giving in to the demands of his King he returned home and confronted his friend. Draven didn’t deny what Lucius had learnt but did try to explain. Lucius admitted that in his rage he refused to listen and when demanding its possession, Draven’s refusal sent him over the edge. After nearly two thousand years of searching for a way to make him whole, he snapped, knowing that his best friend had sat back and watched, with not only the knowledge of its whereabouts but being the very man behind the hand who held it from him.

  Lucius in that moment took the devastating step in his own history and controlled the King into giving him what was rightfully his. As a man whose life was taken because of the events that day it was obvious that Lucius believed that the weapon of his death was the same weapon that would give him back that control of his destiny, one that up until now, both lives had been in another’s hands. He had placed his faith in that of a man he felt betrayed and now it seemed to him that history had repeated itself.

  He spoke of feeling the consuming rage that he found himself more than once wanting to end Draven’s life but knowing how he couldn’t do it was one of the reasons Draven let him walk away alive. Vincent had walked in just before Draven could hand over the tip and with Lucius’ power only great enough to control one Draven at a time, he had to flee without the means to complete the Holy Spear.

  So now here we were, both of us living in a state of limbo, but right before the most important question was seconds from leaving my lips, I was sleeping soundly with a Vampire to watch over me. The question of course was…what was going to happen next. I mean, what was left to even think after learning something like that? Talk about being between a rock and a hard place, this was more like being in between an erupting volcano and a tsunami and the chances they would just burn each other out was highly unlikely.

  I wished I could have gone back to the days when Lucius was nothing more to me than the man that haunted my dreams but now…I would had to have been made of stone for his story not to have touched me, but where did that leave me with Draven? I missed him beyond all reason but the longer I was away from him the more I learnt about those reasons. He was and always would be the love of my life and it felt like more than fate being with him. However, I would be lying to myself if I was going to say that my stay here hadn’t changed things. For starters, what was I was going to do if that video was true? Could I ever take back a man that had cheated on me, cheated on our love and our so called destiny?

  I was pulled from these thoughts when I heard a thundering roar loud enough to make the walls vibrate. That didn’t sound good! I jumped out of bed and tightened the robe I was still wearing, before running to find where the shouts were coming from.

  Lucius’ bedroom was on different levels and I had to weave my way around and down little steps that had been carved out of the cave floor. I was just surprised that running in bare feet on this surface didn’t hurt as the floor was as smooth as rock could be. I eventually made my way back until the living space was in view and that’s when I heard the two booming voices going at it like Alpha wolves.

  I rounded the corner and passed the bathroom but a boulder was still blocking half the room from view. However it didn’t matter as I would have known who the voice had come from anywhere in the world. I mean Hell, I could feel my body tingling from over here and I hadn’t even seen him yet.

  I tried to walk slower just to try and calm my pounding heart but my legs had other ideas. I raced down and then back up the V of steps that took me to the right level of the living space and as soon as my sight confirmed I wasn’t mistaken, I let out a breath.

  “WHAT DO YOU MEAN LAYLA TRIED TO KILL HER!?” Draven demanded in a demonic growl that once again destroyed thousands of years in the making as stalagmites crumbled in the distance.

  “I am taking care of it!” Lucius said with a little more calm than Draven was executing.

  “I remember those words once before! I demand her head, Lucius!” Draven stood with his back to me and now I was used to the effect, I could easily see that it wasn’t the Draven I could touch. Even as a projection Draven made a powerful presence in the room even though it seemed Lucius held all the cards. This was amplified by the way every one of Lucius’ council members flinched whenever Draven spoke, even though his presence wasn’t really with them in the room.

  “As do I but that is beside the point! You were informed merely as an explanation to the change of terms. The exchange will take place at Transfusion tomorrow night.” Lucius spoke in such a way that it was clear to see he had been dealing with Draven for a very long time. It was like some veil had been lifted and now I could see things clearly for the first time. What must it be like for these two? For so long they were fighting side by side and now…fighting each other.

  “I warn you now Lucius, if she comes back to me anything less than the perfection she is, then I will have your head and this time…I.Will.Not.Hesitate!” His threat caused a nerve to twitch in my jaw and a shiver to wrack my spine. I felt far too many emotions in that one sentence to even begin to understand. I felt like shouting out, ‘if you thought I was so bloody perfect then why sleep with your ex!’ but I thankfully saw the bigger picture and knew that this was probably the worst time to have done so.

  “I should remind you that you are far from a position in which to threaten my actions Dominic! I have possession of your Electus and everything you have tried in getting her back has failed! Now is the time to face facts and time for you to reap in which you sow my friend.” Lucius’ voice remained steady and everyone sat around behind their master lowered their heads in respect to what he was saying. It was at that moment that I understood the full extent of their loyalty.

  “Fucking royal payback! That is what this is about?!” Draven shook his head and I saw fingers rake through his black hair in frustration.

  “You know what this is about my King and even the most purest of nobility steals from the sons of penniless fathers for their gain. In this case I give you a choice…which blood will you prefer on your hands Dominic, to keep the blood of the Son of God or watch the blood flow from one of their daughters?” At this Draven boomed out a screaming roar as his anger hit new levels. It was so powerful that his projection wavered, flickering back and to from the room his body was in and the one mine was in.

  “I WILL KILL YOU BEFORE THAT HAPPENS!” Draven’s demon promised but Lucius just merely shrugged his shoulders.

  “You can try but I think you will find our little Keira isn’t going to be as susceptible to your royal charms, even if you do manage to rid the world of every last Vampire! As you know better than most, that is what it will take to bring me down. Kill a King and watch a race die along with the direct blood line…now that is what I call tipping the balance…don’t you think?” Lucius said smugly and I was left even more confused. Was Lucius saying that if he died then every Vamp dies with him? I looked towards Pip and Adam for a second and wondered if the look they gave each other were ones enough to confirm my prediction.

  Draven growled his answer and it looked like Lucius had him stumped on that one. Even I knew that Draven couldn’t destroy a whole race of creatures just to save his girlfriend.

  “I demand to see her!” Draven ordered and even from back here, I could see the rise and fall of his colossal shoulders through his long black jacket. It gave him the presence of a rough modern day knight, one that exchanged shining armour for leather and biker’s boots. I found myself biting my lip at just the sight of a projected back of my furious lover.

  “Yes, but will she want to see you?” Lucius snarled back and I recoiled at his harsh words. Yeah sure, I had issues to discuss with Draven and answers needed before we could move forward but these were my decisions here, not his! I was just about to unleash these thoughts when Draven’s rage stopped me.

  “SHE BELONGS TO
ME!” He screamed in his face and nothing but the tension of Lucius’ jaw was his reaction to being roared at that close up. I saw Draven take a few deep breaths and it reminded me of a panting animal.

  “She belongs to NO man but me! Keira knows this. Now bring me my fucking woman. NOW!” Draven’s crass words hit me like a fist to the chest. I knew Draven had caveman issues and a dominant nature but this was something else…this was a man possessed!

  “This isn’t you,” I whispered on a breath. It may have been barely uttered but it was enough for every supernatural ear to hear it clear as day. I was so stunned at hearing Draven talk about me as though I was nothing more than the piece of relic he was keeping from Lucius. What was this…was I just a tool to be used when needed?

  Draven whipped round to face me and his features went through an array of emotions…relief, happiness and then my words sank in and the last emotions went quickly from guilt to anger.

  “Are you hurt?” His question snapped out like a bear trap and I found myself closing my eyes against the onslaught of reactions my mind wanted me to go through. In the end I just shook my head up and down in answer.

  “Keira, look at me,” Draven said gently and I didn’t know if I could. I didn’t know if I could continue with this crushing disappointment that kept creeping in on me whenever Draven re-entered my world. I looked to Pip for comfort but Draven’s voice cut through my motions.

  “Do not look at them Keira! Look. At. Me!” His demand was brutal and made it all the harder to comply with. I dragged my eyes away and faced the man that the Gods had christened as my fate…

  A very angry King.

  Chapter 39

  Cursed Protection

  After standing there absolutely dumbstruck for a moment, Draven’s order penetrated my thoughts. I looked up at him and the sight nearly took my breath away. Even in all his anger, he was simply magnificent. He was masterful, wearing his long black jacket, black jeans and black t-shirt that rippled with his heavy breathing. His intense stare matched his dark attire and I could have easily gotten lost and trapped forever in the depth of two onyx eyes. He was stunning. And this painfully beautiful man wanted me for a reason I was no longer certain of.

  “Keira!” The sound of my name coming from those perfect lips was nearly my undoing. I wanted to throw myself at him just as much as I wanted to run away. I was being torn in two here, not knowing what my future with this man held. From day one he had kept things from me and if this was just the tip of what was to come, then I didn’t know if my fragile heart could last without cracking under the pressure.

  “You lied to me Draven.” I said before I could stop it from spilling out. His frown deepened and his lips were now set in a hard line. He turned just his head from me over to Lucius and snarled at him like the beast he was portrayed in my dreams that night. I saw his knuckles turn white on his olive skin from the fists he held at his sides.

  “What have been telling her?!” He snapped.

  “More than you do, it seems. I have told her nothing but the truths in which brings us here now.” Lucius stated simply and I thought I saw Draven flinch. Well if that wasn’t a sign of a guilty man then I don’t know what was!

  “Ah, so this is the game you play! You think to turn her against me with tales of a past, scorned for a second time.” Draven said and then began to do something completely out of character. The loud bangs that vibrated the room from the impact of his hands slapping into each other made a sickening clap. Everyone in the room flinched when his hands clapped out in mock amusement and when he finally set his disappointing gaze on me, I felt like crying. He had just made me feel like I was the traitor in this drama playing out underground.

  “So this is the truth of it?” He asked me and I couldn’t find the words to answer him.

  “Answer me Keira! Say the fucking words!” I had to take a step back at the rage he directed at me. He had never sworn at me like this before and it spoke volumes to the amount of fury he was trying to keep on lock down.

  “I believe him.” I said feeling like every word was dragged across a serrated blade. I saw the second my words hit home and it looked like his royal world had collapsed.

  “Of course you do.” He said shaking his head like he was still trying to believe it. I wanted to say something else, I wanted to shout I still loved him and drag the Draven I knew back to me but I was at a loss to what was happening in his mind. Was this it? Was he now going to walk away and leave me to Lucius? My answer came as soon as I could finish thinking the worst.

  “Transfusion! Tomorrow night.” He said turning from me and I felt the tears roll down my cheeks at seeing him with his back to me. It looked as if he couldn’t look at me anymore and that thought broke my heart.

  “And Lucius…if any harm comes to her before then, be warned that a whole race of people won’t keep me from killing you, balance be damned!” His deep voice rumbled his threat and I saw Lucius narrow his eyes at him, before shocking me by nodding his head in acceptance of his fate from Draven if he failed.

  I saw his figure start to waver and just before it vanished completely, his parting words were nothing short of a threat of my own,

  “Tomorrow night Keira!”

  As soon as Draven went out of sight I wiped away my tears with an angry swipe and stormed off back in the direction I had come.

  “Keira wait!” Lucius shouted after me but all he got from me was a “GET LOST!” over my shoulder. I saw him coming after me and catch something in the air that Pip had thrown him.

  “Get everything ready. We leave within the hour!” Lucius ordered his council as he was still pursuing me through the ups and downs of his stone fortress. I made it back to his room and once there, I spun on my heel to face him, close to spitting venom I was that angry. Whether it was more at him or myself, I wasn’t yet sure but I think they were more than likely on equal levels!

  “You used me and pushed me into that situation!” I accused furiously.

  “Yes!”

  “Yes?” Was that it! A simple yes!

  “What do you expect me to say Keira? I kidnapped you for a purpose and now you are fulfilling it, I am not going to be sorry about that!” He said folding his arms across his chest which was another habit the Two Kings had in common.

  “Yes, but did you have to goad Draven into thinking I am in bloody league with you!?”

  “I didn’t ask you to place your faith in me or to make Draven aware of the fact.” Lucius stated absurdly making me cough my disbelief.

  “What a load of steaming shit! You gave me little choice and practically begged for that outcome! I don’t even understand why you would want him to think I put my trust in you over him. After all, your whole plan here is for him to give you the Tip in place of me…why would you care that I know the truth when it could ruin those plans?”

  “My plans were never in any danger, Keira and everyone deserves the truth.” He said plainly and I looked deep into his eyes to find he was speaking the truth.

  “You rubbed it in his face, Lucius.”

  “Yes well, the bastard needs to learn what heart lies at the end of the stake he holds and if he is not careful, it will not be mine like he thinks!” My mouth actually dropped open at hearing this. Was he saying what I thought he was saying?

  “You’re worried I am going to get hurt?” I asked quietly and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw him start to blush before turning away from me.

  “You’re an innocent pawn in this Keira, despite how the Kings on the board use you for their gain.” He said this with his back to me and with his head lowered. I felt a lump form in my throat.

  “You sound sorry for that.” I said and the only response I received was Lucius’ large shoulder shrug.

  “Lucius?” I said his name but I still got nothing but his back and my mind started to whirl. Something was going on here and it was far greater than just the time I had been here.

  “I need you to answer a question.” I said and
finally he faced me.

  “What do you wish to know?” His face reminded me of a picture in a broken frame, he was there but not whole. And it was then that I realised that the meeting with Draven had taken its toll on him.

  “You still care for him, don’t you?” I asked, turning his lost features into hard steel, starting with his disapproving eyes glaring down at me.

  “Is that your question?” And with that one question, he is right back to being the Lucius I know well.

  “No, it isn’t.”

  “Then I suggest you get to it, before my patience runs dry!” I understood that I had gone too far this time and I turned to flop down on the edge of the bed. I rubbed at my temples in a useless attempt at ridding me of a pounding headache but then, a pair of hands stilled me.

  “Ask me.” Lucius said, this time using a much gentler tone and I looked up to find him on one knee at my level.

  “When did you really first hear about me?” The question that had been playing on my mind the whole time I had been here rolled out without thought or barrier. I knew what he told me that night about it being since I was seven, he was holding something back and now was the time to find out. I watched as he was clearly taken back, but I knew he would answer me. It meant too much now, for him to refuse. He had already been portrayed as the only man that would honestly tell me what I needed to know and right now…I needed this

  “After I left my place at Draven’s side I went in search of Pythia.”

  “The Oracle?” I said in surprise.

  “Ah, so Draven does tell you some things at least?” I frowned at him but he just ignored it and stood up. He moved over to sit next to me on the bed and the way we both sat was like sitting on a swinging bench next to an old friend.