Immortal Suffering

by Shana J Caldwell

  “It’s just the stuff you were drinking the other night, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy it more this time around.” he pulls out two glasses and the bottle. I make myself comfy on the couch; the fire crackles and warms the space around us.

  He passes me a full glass before taking a seat beside me. I manoeuvre on the couch, rest my head on his lap and hold the glass on my stomach.

  His free hand strokes my hair as he sips his drink; I lean up slightly and sip mine. The effects don’t hit me as hard this time, and I am not drinking as much as I did the other night.

  “How’s your arm feeling?” he asks. I yawn this time.

  “It’s sore but I keep it moving to make sure it doesn’t go stiff.” I hold my left arm up. The middle of my forearm is bandaged, which I change every day to make sure it stays clean.

  “Good.”

  “Kal, I’ve thought about your offer for me to be Queen.” I look up at him; he looks down at me and quirks his lips. My eyes trace the thin scar, he tenses under me and his hand stops moving in my hair.

  “And?”

  “Yes, I’ll be your queen,” I say simply. I look back towards the fire. It crackles and spits out small flames. I think I knew all along I was going to say yes to the offer. Especially when I know it’s going to help so many people.

  “Are you sure it’s what you want?” he asks, drawing my attention back to him. I sit up and quickly gulp down my drink, I sit the empty glass on the floor and turn and face him. He stares blankly at me and I know he has his shield up. I reach out and rest my hands on his arm.

  “I’ve never been surer of something in my life. I would like to wait a few more months though, just to see how the human and vampires go together.” I bite my bottom lip and look over his face.

  “I agree, we’ll wait a little longer and hopefully everything runs smoothly.” he looks away from me and back to the fire, he finishes the rest of his drink. I lean down and place mine on the ground. I reach out and comb his hair back from his face, savouring how smooth it feels.

  “Can I kiss you?” I blurt. He looks over at me and my cheeks heat. He smiles and nods. I climb onto his lap slowly, making myself comfortable. His hands reach up and cup my face, bringing it down to his.

  I close my eyes as our lips connect and the sparks fly between us, my whole body has missed his touch. I reach up and wrap my arms loosely around his neck; I pull back and nip at his bottom lip.

  His eyes shine as he looks at me, his hands roam over my back and rest on my hips.

  “I could get used to that,” I say, smiling dumbly at him. He rolls his eyes but smiles; he pouts his lips and makes a kissy noise. I lean forward and kiss him, opening my mouth lightly. I pull myself closer to him so my body is flush against his, his hands now cup my ass; his thumb stroking the thin material of my pants.

  I bite down on his bottom lip and he moans low in his throat, my fangs ache to come out again and mark him and taste him, but I refrain. I begin to move my hips against him; I run my hands down his chest and marvel at the muscle he possesses.

  I clear my throat as my hand dips lower, sliding into his pants. He arches into my hand as I wrap it around the length of him, I pull back and look at him with wild eyes; panting. He looks equally as wild.

  He moves us in a flash, laying me on my back on the couch. I remove my hand and tug at my shirt; wanting it off. He obliges and his fangs come out. He grabs the material with his mouth and rips the shirt in half.

  He stares down at my bare chest and takes deep breaths, his hand reaches up and cups my right breast; he rubs his thumb over it gently. I groan as I push my hips against his, feeling the pressure and pleasure building.

  His hair falls down around us as he leans down and kisses me with such force it make me breathless, I run my hands under his shirt and down his back.

  “I need more,” I beg, pulling away from the kiss. He is conflicted as he looks down at me.

  “Ali…” he gulps; his apple Adam bobs up and down.

  “Kal, please,” I groan, puffing my bottom lip out. He always had to be responsible, why can’t he just let go and give in to me.

  “Not tonight, I want that first experience to be special for you. Not on a couch while you’re sore.” I open my mouth to complain, he brings a finger up to my lips to silence me.

  “Ah ah ah, we won’t do that tonight but I can give you more in other ways.” my eyes widen as he grins at me wickedly.

  He spends the next few hours of the night giving me just that.

  Chapter 38

  Allison

  “Do you want to make a quick trip to see the humans? They fixed the portal today, so if any are having second thoughts they’re welcome to leave.” Kal massages my shoulders as I sit on the couch and sigh. I wanted a nap and a back rub but that was far from happening at the moment. Two things are also irking at my mind. I haven’t been able to use my power and Kal has kept things platonic for the most part; showing me small bits of affection here and there and sending me absolutely wild last night. I’m afraid he knows what I’ve said and doesn’t feel the same.

  “Yeah?” he asks again, pulling me from my thoughts.

  “Yeah let’s go but I need a nap after this pronto.” I stand up and stretch my legs. I wish there was a way to get to the city without having to run. I follow him out of the castle and towards the forest.

  “Can we talk while we get there?” I ask, jogging beside him.

  “Yeah of course. What’s on your mind?” I have no idea how to put my thoughts into a sentence he’d understand.

  “Okay well we haven’t spoken about what happened to you or the conversation we had while you were whatever you were. I know you’re not that person anymore Kal, but that human girl you killed because you loved her… has she been the only one?” I clench my fists as he picks up the pace, not wanting him to see my shaky hands.

  “Yes she’s the only one. Can we talk about this tonight? We’ve both had a very big few days and I don’t have the energy to bring up the past at the moment.” he sighs and rubs his face quickly; the shadows under his eyes don’t go unnoticed.

  “Yeah okay, sorry. You know I’m here if you ever need to talk about anything,” I say softly. The city lights begin to blink in through the forest ahead of us. We stay silent the rest of the way and I only feel worse about bringing it up.

  The hotel we’d picked out for the humans is down a side street in a very well-lit area. We come to a stop in front of the large old style hotel; Sam walks out and spots us and waves, coming over.

  “Hey guys, what’re you up to?” he asks, pulling his jumper tighter around him. The winter breeze doesn’t escape us here.

  “Just coming to check on everyone. The portal is up and running again and we were just coming to make the offer that any of you can leave if you want,” I say, stuffing my hands into my pocket.

  “That’s kind of you but it’s best we don’t leave. If they know we’ve come here and decide to go back we’ll all be dead. Plus, you guys aren’t bad to live with at all.” He shakes his head as he says this, I’m about to launch into questions when something pulls at my mind. I frown and look around.

  Kal continues to talk to Sam. I shake my head and go to ask a question when it pulls again; stronger this time. I don’t say anything as I follow the pull. It leads me from the street and towards the portal.

  I frown as I keep walking, I know I should stop and get Kal because this has never happened before but curiosity gets the best of me; like always.

  I walk up the white stairs and towards the blackness of the new portal. I stop in front of it as it begins to shimmer into focus, the pull is stronger here and I stagger forwards.

  I couldn’t control my own feet.

  “Kal!” I cry out, trying to stop my feet from walking forward. I was closer now, I could reach out and touch it if I wanted. I resist the urge as my right foot drags forward.

  “Ali? What’s going on?” he yells out behind me. I look back over my shoulder an
d I see the panic on his face.

  “Kal please!” I shout. As he begins to run towards me, the force yanks and a scream rips from me as I’m thrown through the portal.

  I land on my face and skid across the grass, the sun does nothing to stop the cold wind. I get to my knees and look up; to my horror the assistant from Penrith and Xavier sit on a grobbler each.

  “Have you missed me?” The assistant grins, his grobbler screeches as it breaks my last mental barrier; sending me into darkness.

  Chapter 39

  Kalabhiti

  The portal blocks me momentarily before I can go through, Sam comes running up behind me. Panic floods every sense in my body.

  “What happened?” he asks, looking around for Allison.

  “Get Nardia and get the others, hurry.” I say over my shoulder before going through the portal. I hiss at the exposure of the sun and shield my eyes. I open them and growl.

  Xavier sits on a grobbler, shotgun aimed at my chest. I look towards the other man; I hadn’t seen him before. He’s dressed in a white suit which isn’t practical on a grobbler.

  Between them, Ali is on her knees, staring at me with lifeless eyes. Tear tracks stain her cheeks. I feel my shadows begin to emerge, thick and angry. How dare they take my mate.

  “Let her go or so help me,” I snarl, fangs ripping through my gums. All rational reasoning wants to leave me and let the anger swallow me and tear them apart.

  “Now, now you wild beast. Sweet little Allison here is coming with us. If you make any sudden movements Xavier will blow your brains out,” the man says cheerfully. He hops down from the grobbler and stands behind Ali. She blinks slowly, her arms are still by her side but I see her fingers twitch.

  He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small knife.

  He presses the blade to her throat. I hear a small tear in her skin. I growl and take a step forward, a tree splinters behind me from Xavier’s gunshot.

  “That was a warning, I don’t miss twice,” he says, pointing it back to me. Behind me I feel the others. I couldn’t let them take her.

  No. No. No.

  Nardia comes through first, “What on earth is…” She trails off as she sees Ali, I feel her rush forward; I reach out and block her as Xavier trains the gun on her.

  “Leave her the fuck alone!” she yells. Zeke, Zuriel and Cassidy file out after her and all freeze behind us.

  “Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way. She won’t come to you; by all means you can try,” the man says, holding the knife steady. The beast in me wants to rip this man’s curly blonde hair from his head and make him choke on it.

  “What are you doing here?” Zeke asks, coming to stand beside me. He growls as the assistant smiles.

  “Oh how ironic this is!” he begins to clap his hands, a small relief comes from the blade not being near Ali’s throat. Ali’s eyes stare at us, momentarily they flicker to the grobbler beside her.

  “You know him?” I ask, looking at Zeke out of the corner of my eye.

  “Yes. This is the assistant from Allison’s village. He was the one that killed my sister and stabbed Zuriel.” Zeke’s face darkens at the memory, the assistant looks so happy.

  “Yes, indeed. How sad is it though, I had you and she saved you but now that the tables have turned you can’t save her. Who knew I’d be a bigger problem.”

  “Ali babe, you need to come here right now,” Nardia pleads. The man grins as he moves back. Nardia shuts her eye and I can only assume that she’s trying to speak with Ali. She looks at me helplessly.

  “She isn’t under your control anymore,” Xavier says, aiming it at me. I don’t take my eyes off of her.

  The front of her shirt is covered in dirt and pieces of grass.

  “She never was. She chose to do everything she’s done of her own accord,” I say calmly. If I can be rational they might leave and not take her with them.

  “And now she’s been crafted into a weapon, she comes here and you train her and teach her how to use that power. You make her strong, near immortal. You forgot one minor detail though…” Xavier trails off as the other man’s beast comes forward and my heart plummets as I realise what has happened.

  Ali has grobbler blood in her system.

  It shrieks and pins its eyes on me. Ali stands robotically; her body tries to resist the grobbler’s silent command.

  Her legs falter as she steps into a fighting stance, the one I’d shown her all too well. Her eye twitches and her mouth half opens.

  The assistant puts his blade in her outstretched hand.

  “Aim true,” he whispers into her ear. She doesn’t hesitate as she sends the blade flying towards me. Nardia’s hand flies out before it can hit me. It breaks through the skin and she holds back from crying out. Zuriel and Cassidy step forward, snarling.

  “You see, now that we have Ali everything is going to change. She will be the new face of our revolution and no one will know the true reason behind it. We will guide her into the light and use her in the way you chose not to. If you even try to follow us we will kill her without hesitation, or we’ll make her kill you.” he climbs back onto the grobbler. They don’t need to shackle her; she’ll be following them willingly by whatever hold the beasts have over her.

  “We will be seeing you again, and your poor little Ali will not be the same creature you see now,” Xavier says. The grobblers begin to screech; pacing impatiently. The world around me begins to spin as Ali’s eyes focus on me one last time.

  She turns away from us and begins to walk forward. Her movements are smooth; whatever fight she had left in her is gone.

  They charge off into the forest and I fall to my knees. I don’t hear what the others say as I lose sight of her, the one person who had made me feel human again. The girl who had shown me the light in my life of darkness.

  They had taken the only thing that was holding me together, they had taken my Queen. I stare off in the direction they left, a defeated man.

  I was not a vampire king.

  Without my Queen, I was the King of Immortal Suffering.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  First off I’d like to start this by thanking my amazing editor, Tara Routley. Without her eye for detail and passion for these characters and this series I wouldn’t have been able to produce the best version of this novel.

  Secondly, I can’t explain the gratitude I have for Salome Totladze. She’s one of the best artists out there and I’m so proud to have her artwork as my cover!

  Thanks to the continuous supporters in my life, without their constant courage and reassurance I’m not sure there would have been a book two.

  Thanks to the writing community on Instagram and Facebook.

  Shana J. Caldwell is an Australian self-published author, who is either knee deep in reading or crouched over her laptop with her trusty cat, Luna, as her writing companion. Immortal Suffering is her second novel with others on the way.

  Follow Shana on:

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  Facebook.com/shanajcaldwell/

  Twitter.com/ShanaJCaldwell1

  Instagram.com/shanajcaldwell

  https://shanacaldwell03.wixsite.com/website

  ALSO AVAILABLE

  Immortal Awakening Series

  Immortal Awakening

  Immortal Suffering

  Immortal Reckoning

  Enchantment of Darkness

  Turn the page for a teaser of her new novel, Enchantment of Darkness…

  Rain belts down around me as I trudge up the muddy path towards the centre of the village of Elderview, people mill about unfazed by the rain as they continue their daily chores and jobs. My dark green dress sticks to my slim body, my boots flick mud that tangles with the hem. I haul the full wheat bucket beside me, the contents threaten to spill over each time the bucket crashes into my legs. The lid does little to keep out the rain, and dread fills me as I realise we won’t get the full price for the contents for soggy wheat grains. The crop this summe
r had been poor, wheat had struggled to grow with the little rain we’d been granted and the two weeks of spring were full of rain which drowned any progress we’d made until we were thrown into a cruel winter.

  Life in the mountain gulley is miserable, the crops barely grew, the sun hardly made its way here and when it did it burnt everything in its path and the town is riddled with poverty. Few notice me as I keep my head down, eyes focused on the sloshed path in front of me covered in multiple boot prints. My long black hair sticks to my back and the sides of my face, doing well to hide the few centimetre long scar that runs just underneath my ear. I don’t dare remove a hand from the bucket handle to move it out of the way.

  Each person around me looks just as miserable, heads down with equally soaked clothes. The rain drowns out the sound of the village chatter and the misery each person feels, it drowns out the cries of the hungry children and the dying animals. It is a blessing and a curse we all feel too well. Wooden and wire fences begin to come into view, protecting small wooden cottages that had been well worn down over time.

  I catch my breath as the path finally levels out to flat ground, the village around me thrives with life. Makeshift rain catches are spread out on the paths as people collect the clean water, filling bottles and buckets as they come and go. I make my way to a dry patch under the shade of a large tree that sits between two buildings and set the bucket down, my arms shake with the effort. Although I spent most of my days carrying heavy buckets I had no muscle and still struggled with the basics, lack of food stopped me from growing any form of real muscle. If it wasn’t for the rain and the river that ran down behind the mountain our village would die, they’re the only source of water, the walk from town to the river took almost half an hour and double coming back. Most days in summer I spent walking to and fro, collecting as much water as I could until my body collapsed with exhaustion. Luckily, there was always baked good for me once I’d returned home.