Aris Reigns

by Devin Morgan

  The wolf watched me for a moment before slowly approaching me, whining deep in his throat. In my stupor, I felt no fear. His soft warm tongue licked my face. He tilted his head as if he were examining my wounds.

  I must have been dreaming because he changed right there before me from wolf to man. A tall white-skinned, white-haired man with eyes the color of lavender flowers. He was nude and the morning light shown on his muscular body. He looked like a marble statue in the Queen’s garden.

  It had to have been a dream because he scooped me into his arms and ran like the wind itself into the forest. I know not how long or how far he ran until, at last, he stopped, laying me gently on the ground. We were in front of the mouth of a cave and he gathered grasses and branches to make a bed for me just inside the cavern entrance. When he had settled me, he once again transformed into the white wolf and rushed into the cave. I know now he could not have entered the Catacombs in his human body. I know not how he became aware of the Immortals or how he communicated to them to come to my rescue, to save my life, but he did. When he left me lying there, my world was dark and empty.

  And there all memory of my human life ends. There is no other recollection except the torment of my changing. When I awoke, I was an Immortal. No more human and through no wish of my own, it was then I began my life underground.

  Sarah sat quietly staring at the huge white animal resting on the carpet next to the bed. The wolf raised his massive head from his paws and stared back.

  “What a strange feeling I am having.” Jane slowly opened her eyes once Sarah ended her hypnotic trance. “It is as if a veil has been lifted. My mind is clear, yet how can this be possible?”

  “Just lie quietly and rest for a moment.” Sarah spoke as she moved toward the door to wet a cool cloth in the bathroom basin.

  Jane spoke quietly from the sitting room. “Sarah, what do you make of it? Was I dreaming? How could a wolf become a man and then a wolf again? I must have been delirious to have such a vision.”

  A strange deep male voice could clearly be heard through the open door. “You were not delirious. A wolf to a man. A man to a wolf. And now, a man once again.”

  Sarah rushed through the door to see a tall white skinned man wrapping the bedspread around his naked hips as Jane lay on the bed, eyes wide and mouth hanging open in shock.

  CHAPTER 40

  “Have no fear. No harm will come to you.” He stood before them, a living representation of Michelangelo’s glorious white marble statue of David. All except for his intense lavender eyes. Neither of the women could move or speak, frozen in time and space.

  “Please.” He was perfectly still so as not to frighten them further. “Please, trust me.” He turned to face Jane and raised his hands in supplication. “I have protected and loved you for centuries. I am no different in this form than as your beloved wolf. Please, Jane, have faith.”

  Sarah was the first of the two Immortals to speak. “Who are you?” Her thoughts were spinning. “How did you do that?” She shook her head to clear her mind. “What do you want?”

  “I will answer all your questions. Just tell me you know I will do you no harm.” He stared into Jane’s eyes as he pled for her faith in his assurances.

  Her voice was a whisper as she answered, “I believe you.”

  The three of them were silent as they sat in front of the fireplace. Sarah brought Hawke a robe belonging to Aris, Although Aris was tall, the sleeves were several inches too short, his smooth muscular forearms exposed in the firelight. Sarah thought she had become accustomed to the beauty of the Immortals, but this man, this god among men, was more glorious than any living being, human or otherwise, she had ever seen.

  “I have been watching over you, Jane, for centuries.”

  “I knew you were some sort of magical creature when you did not grow old in your wolf form, but remained vital and strong throughout the ages. The Keeper of Records told me that many centuries ago and I accepted it. But what are you, man or wolf?” Jane’s voice was barely above a murmur when she questioned him.

  “My kind has been called by many different names throughout the ages, but in your time, I am known as a shape-shifter. I am and can be all animate things.”

  “But where did you come from?” Sarah didn’t think she could ever be shocked again after learning about the Immortals, yet here she sat amazed. Incredulous and full of questions, she realized just how wrong she had been. “Can you change shape at will?”

  Hawke spoke slowly, thoughtfully. “First, from whence I came. A place on earth before recorded time.” He sat silent for a trance-like moment as he remembered his creation. “The two who created me were sorcerers, a woman and a man, my mother and my father. There are many recorded shifters throughout history who have been created through mystic means, yet I was the first of the albinos. The first and the last. The only one of my kind. A freak of nature even among wizards’ offspring.

  “My wicked creators had a plan when they conceived me, to use my shape-shifting ability to change my form to spy on the rulers of our land. They told me it was a game and so, to gain their praise and love, I became very, very good at it. A playful innocent, I changed into cats and dogs, roaming the palace and easily hearing all conversation without being noticed. Telling all that I heard, I enabled my foul parents to wreak havoc on the land. The devils went on a killing spree the likes never known before or since.

  “When I saw all that occurred, when I recognized I had been created as a weapon of evil, I fled the kingdom. Months and years I roamed until, at last, I found a forest that offered safety and peace. There I lived for centuries, eons on all fours, ages on the wing, becoming any creature I wished for as long as I chose. Yet always the pure white color of snow, always different than all around me.” He whispered. “An owl. A stag.”

  Jane gasped. “You.” Each of the animals rescuing her from Lord Essex at Elizabeth’s court had been white; she realized each had been Hawke. “A wolf,” she murmured. “And now a man.”

  “Yes, a man.” Moving with caution, Hawke knelt next to her, touching her hand with the tips of his fingers. She shivered. Quickly he withdrew, lowering his eyes from hers. “I became your champion the first moment I saw you in the garden of the royal court. I watched you as you grew from an innocent child into the full beauty of a grown woman. I watched your loyalty to the Queen, your acts of love. How could I not pledge myself to you?”

  As he lifted his gaze to hers, their eyes met in a sudden mutual, deep awareness surpassing any physical form they presented to the world, an awareness of the connection of their very souls.

  Quietly Sarah slipped out the door, shutting it softly behind her.

  CHAPTER 41

  The troops waded through the mud created by the melting snow. The steady sloshing sound made by their boots muffled their voices as the Spanish warriors marched double-time to keep pace with their leaders. The soon-to-be-depleted human herd staggered in a daze behind them.

  Oblivious to the cold and the great distance they had traveled, Mariska and Esteban covered ground quickly, never slowing their pace. An enormous sleek black wolf trotted easily on Esteban’s right, completing the trio of decadent beauty.

  Grumbling under his breath, Esteban kept pace with that set by his Queen. When at last he spoke, his words were clipped, accusing. “I did not think you would give in to DeMarco so easily. I thought you said there would be terms, a position for me in the high court.” His voice was low, sinister. “I still do not understand why I must step down from your side. We can kill him and take over his troops.” His words grew menacing. “Why do you persist in the thought you need him? Have you no faith in me?”

  “Be still! Your constant hammering at me is driving me mad.”

  “Do not speak to me as if I were a child.” He grabbed her arm, spinning her to face his threatening glare.

  Her red lips curled back over her teeth exposing her fangs, which had dropped. “Take your bloody hands off me if you want to stay wh
ole.”

  His hand dropped from her arm before the last word left her mouth. She was centuries older than he and that much stronger. He had no desire to battle her. He knew exactly what the outcome would be.

  She turned from him and resumed their journey. He hurried to join her, matching his steps in time with hers.

  When her anger had subsided, Mariska remembered how much she really needed Esteban, not just for the battle. It was imperative she have a strong-appearing male to rule as co-regent once they took the Catacombs. She would always be more powerful and she knew she could always outsmart Esteban. He was easily manipulated and she would always be in control He was perfect for the job once she had eliminated DeMarco. After a time of silence, she gave a long sigh and turned to him. “Esteban, I believe in you as a General. I have told you that time and again. But we are too few alone. We are but half the army we will be when we join with DeMarco’s troops. Together we will have greater numbers than our enemies. We will be undefeatable. Without DeMarco’s warriors, we will never even reach the Catacombs.

  “We arrive at the castle at dawn. You will organize the troops while I placate DeMarco. We leave as soon as you have made everything ready to travel. Once we defeat the Immortals, I have no intention of sharing the Diaries with him. We will use him, kill him and his precious human and take the Catacombs for ourselves.”

  “And who will rule beside you, Majesty?”

  “Who but you, my General.”

  Julian sat on the cold stone floor of the castle, stunned by the violent blow delivered by the King.

  “You fool,” he shouted, his face contorted, his words reverberating off the walls and tall ceilings of the throne room. “How could you have allowed them to escape?”

  His strength returning, Julian slowly rose to his feet. “I had to dispose of the Immortal. I couldn’t…”

  Another crushing blow drove the warrior to his knees. He bowed his head before his sovereign, anticipating more.

  “Get up. Get out of my sight. Prepare for the arrival of the Queen and her troops. This time you had best be sure to perform your duty or you will burn. If Sarah and Aris are killed, you will join them in death. Your duty is to bring them to me in one piece and uninjured.” His voice dropped to a menacing whisper. “Do you understand?”

  “Yes, my Lord.” Julian stood, hurrying from the room before DeMarco could strike him again.

  The King smiled as he thought of the thrill of personally eliminating his rival. Never again would the Immortal male stand in the way of his having Sarah. Once the Catacombs were his, he would eliminate Mariska and take Sarah as his Queen. He spun on his heel, crossing the room to stare out the window and contemplate eternity with the only woman he ever loved.

  CHAPTER 42

  “Gabriela, you have to help me.” Sarah leaned across the table, speaking discretely yet passionately to her friend. The Sanguinaria had only a few customers, but still she spoke in fervent whispers. “Don’t shake your head at me. I’m going, with your help or not.”

  “Sarah, Aris will be thinking only of your safety, not of the army. You must not even consider going to Spain.” Gaby took hold of her friend’s hands as if she could hold her in the Catacombs by sheer physical force alone. “You will be lost and our society along with you. What you suggest is madness.”

  “Madness be damned. I’m going.” She freed herself when the server brought their goblets of Alchimia Sanguis. She lifted the pewter mug and drank. Her Immortal friends had been amazed at how quickly and easily Sarah had adapted to drinking the alchemical blood. She licked her lips, placing the mug on the table as she continued.

  “I am Immortal just the same as you. It won’t be any easier for me to be destroyed than it will be for you to be destroyed. Or any others of us for that matter. Either you help me learn how to use the damn impaler or I’ll just figure it out on my own.”

  “Even if you become proficient, Aris will never agree.” Sarah could tell her friend was beginning to waiver. Her tone became more pleading, less demanding.

  “He doesn’t have to. I’ll tell him I’m staying here then leave once everyone else is gone. I’ll travel to Barcelona alone and join you at the castle. It will be too late for him to send me back.” She rose from the chair with determination. “I’m going to live or die with the rest of you. And that is it.” She turned to walk away.

  “Wait. I will help you.” Standing, Gabriela sighed deeply. “Aris will finish me himself for this, but I will teach you how to fight.” She took her arm to lead her from the Sanguinaria. “Come, let us begin immediately, but I still beg you, please reconsider.”

  Sarah smiled as they hurried down the cobbled street toward the armory.

  They stood deep in one of the underground forests, hidden in a circle of low, full bushes unlike any Sarah had ever seen before. Green and leafy in appearance very much like bushes above ground, yet these moved of their own accord, their branches and leaves rustling as if a wind blew through them. A soft whispering sound could be heard as if even the undergrowth was cautioning the newborn.

  The impaler rested heavily in Sarah’s hands as Gaby helped her find the perfect grip for balance and impact. Interlacing her fingers over the top of the handle, she lunged forward on one leg, plunging it with all her Immortal strength again and again into the target Gabriela had slipped from the armory. Tireless, amazed at her own stamina, she felt more powerful, more ready for battle with each strike.

  When, within an amazingly short time, Gabriela was satisfied her friend could attack and win, she taught her new defensive movements using the weapon. As she had done with everything since her first day as an Immortal, Sarah responded as if it were all quite natural, as if she had been fighting wars all her life.

  “Enough of this. Now, you learn to climb.”

  “Climb?”

  “Yes,” Gaby spoke as she guided her friend toward an enormous tree just outside the circle of brush.

  “Here, place your hands on the tree.”

  A strange surge of energy filled Sarah as her palms rested against the soft, warm bark. It was as if she became one with it, as if her hands and arms were nothing more than a limb that grew from it. Almost faster than the eye could follow, she shimmied to the top, resting on a large branch. Laughing, she looked down at Gabriela and leaped to the ground, landing without so much as a sound or puff of dirt.

  “You are as ready as you will be in one day. Come, let us leave the forest. Aris will be returning from the last meeting with the commanders and I do not wish for him to have any idea what we have been doing.”

  “You go on Gaby, I want to stay and practice more. I’ll be there before he arrives.”

  Reluctantly, Gabriela nodded yes as she turned to make her way back to the village. She could hear the sound of the impaler impacting the target over and over again as she left the forest.

  Aris had expected a fight from Sarah when he told her she couldn’t accompany them to Spain. He had been surprised and relieved when she agreed to stay behind without too much argument and glad she so readily listened to reason. He hurried to their rooms to spend their last few moments together before his departure.

  When he entered their chamber she was fresh from the shower and chatting quietly with Jane, the white wolf resting at his mistress’ feet. The women decided to keep the secret of the shape-shifter between them until after the war was won. It was agreed Hawke would return to his animal form, remaining that way until the Immortals returned from Spain. Only they knew of the existence of the man inside the wolf’s skin.

  Sarah embraced her mate as Jane rose from her seat. Aris kissed their friend lightly on the cheek as she wished him a safe and successful journey. Bidding them goodbye, she and her four-legged champion took leave, closing the door quietly behind them.

  “Now, my love. Come, let us sit.” He motioned for Sarah to join him on the sofa. “I leave within the hour. We gather tomorrow near the forest of Spain.” He sensed her nervousness and did his best t
o ease what he thought was her fear for him. “Rest easy. We are a family and fight as one. They are all enemies among themselves. Our impalers are superior to theirs because of Akira’s runes. We fight as an army, they as rabble. Be at ease, sweeting. Ours is an easy victory.” He spoke words to quiet Sarah’s concern, but deep inside he knew that many of his comrades would perish in the battle and he himself could be destroyed. “I will return to you in no more than two days.” He reached for her.

  “Yes, as you say, an easy victory.” Her words were cut short as Aris’ lips sought hers. Their kiss was raw. Demanding. She buried her face in his neck, inhaling his fragrance to better remember it, tasting his skin. Aris held her away from him, locking her features in his mind’s eye. Then he pulled her close again and wrapped his arms around her, to memorize the feel of her against him. They sat quietly, entwined, until it was time for him to leave her.

  Aris kissed Sarah quickly, looked at her one last time, and closed the door behind him.

  CHAPTER 43

  Jane paced the floor in front of the fireplace in Sarah’s sitting room, her wolf heeling at her knee. They moved back and forth, beating a path in the carpet as Sarah watched from her seat on the sofa. When Jane spoke, her words were brusque. “What kind of madness made you think I would let you go alone?”

  “Jane, it’s for your own good. I’m sorry, but I must forbid you from coming with me.”

  Jane’s voice rose in exasperation as she turned to face her friend. “You forbid me?” Hawke whined as he touched his cool muzzle to her hand and, without thinking, she rested her fingers on his wide brow.

  “You never venture out of the Catacombs.” Cautiously, Sarah kept her tone even as she replied, hoping to get her friend to agree to stay behind without an argument. “Why would you travel to Spain?” She changed her tact adding another reason to her plea. “And you’re needed here. All of you who stay here will be vital to the safety of the Infinity Diaries if any enemies escape and come to England.”