Just One Golden Kiss

by M. A. Thomas

  “I…was the one who made the pact with your mother. She came to me and begged me to let you live. My kind wanted to kill you from the moment they discovered that the golden ball was following you.”

  Coughing and gagging, Lela tried to keep from fainting. He had broken her very soul.

  “You evil, despicable creature! Get away from me!

  “Let me finish my words, please, Lela, you have to let me tell you everything.”

  “If I had a stake, I’d pierce your heart.”

  “I tried to keep my kind from trying to hurt you. I swear it. They wouldn’t listen to me.”

  “You’re their bloody prince!” She gagged again.

  “And the golden ball is our God. How could I ask them to ignore our God? Vampires despise who they are. We want to be human again. To fall in love. Have children. Walk in the sun. And die from old age. The golden ball chose you.”

  “Oh, Gods, I can’t hear this.”

  “Your mother visited me and asked me for my help. I knew that if she offered herself to my kind, they would leave you alone for a while. Her blood saved you.”

  “I hate you.”

  “It was either her or you. Do you understand what I’m saying? There was nothing I could do.”

  “My poor mother.”

  “She saved you,” he said.

  “Did you drink from her?” she asked, sobbing.

  “No. I swear it. I swear it on the love I have for you. I swear it on my life. May the sun come up now and strike me down. I swear I did not drink from your mother. The night she gave herself to us, I renounced my crown. I walked away from my kind. I was ashamed.”

  “I can’t be with you.”

  “I turned from my kind. What they did was wrong. I wish I could have prevented it,” he said.

  “But you didn’t. You let it happen and then because you were ashamed, you walked away from it all. Do you think that makes you a hero?”

  “My deed did not go unpunished. The same night I abandoned my kind, a witch cursed me…turned me into a frog.”

  “And stupidly, I helped you break the curse and then I actually fell in love with you. Oh, hell, did you know who I was when you found me in the well?”

  He raised his eyes to the moon.

  “You did, didn’t you?”

  “I lived in the forest, the same forest which you visited often. How could I not know who you were? Bloody hell, Lela, I was guilt-ridden. There were so many times I thought about coming up to you and telling you everything. I was a frog! What was I supposed to do? Hop over to you and start talking to you? You would have run away screaming.”

  “So you waited until I fell in the well. How very sweet of you.”

  “No! The golden ball decided to make itself known to you that day. I knew that vampires were going to come after you. They would not have hesitated to drain you. The ball led you to the well. It wanted you to fall in.”

  “Hold your tongue!”

  “Listen to me. The ball wanted to keep you trapped until sundown. It was holding you captive for vampires.”

  “Luckily, you were there to help get me out,” she said.

  “I don’t expect you to believe me. But I’m telling you the truth. I couldn’t let what happened to your mother happen to you,” he said.

  “What about the witch’s curse?”

  “It sounds absurd but it’s the truth. In order to break her curse I had to lie with a princess. I knew you would agree to anything I asked for. You were at the bottom of a well. I had to try.”

  “You’re disgusting.”

  I wanted to protect you. How could I defend you as a frog? I needed to redeem myself.”

  “You and I are no more,” she said, hoping the earth would open below her and swallow her.

  “I can’t breathe without you,” he said.

  “Then you will die,” she said.

  “Enough!” a woman’s voice said.

  “You’re here to ask my forgiveness. I will not stand here for a second more listening to a spoiled princess and a pathetic, guilty vampire arguing about things I care not about. Now, both of you kneel in front of me.”

  “Are you Stiltz,” Lela asked.

  “If you say my name again, you’ll never see your father again!”

  The witch was not at all how Lela imagined her. She was beautiful with long black hair, soft facial features and a curvy body.

  “Forgive us, “Eldrich said, kneeling.

  “Seeing you like this makes me wonder why I ever wanted to lie with you. A vampire kneeling in front of a witch. Sad, so very sad. Yet here you’re,” the witch said to Eldrich.

  “Forgive us, please forgive us for hurting you,” Lela said.

  “Do you have a problem following orders? You’re not a princess here. The mountains belong to witches.”

  “I’m sorry, it won’t happen again,” Lela said, getting on her knees.

  “That’s better. Now then, let’s get started,” she said.

  “You’re here to beg me to return your father and the rest of your people. It’s all rather easy. I despise you both. I used to think I hated Eldrich more for rejecting me. But then, I decided that indeed, I hate you both equally. You see, although witches are secretive creatures we cannot stand rejection. It drives us mad. And when we don’t get what we want, well, someone has to suffer for it.”

  “Tell us what you want from us,” Lela said, interlocking her fingers.

  “Grovel. Plead with me,” she said.

  “Will you then return my people?” Lela asked.

  “Your people? Of whom do you speak?” she asked.

  “My people…the people from the castle,” Lela said.

  “And also—”

  “Quiet!” She interrupted Eldrich. “You have my word,” she said to Lela.

  “I beg you. Please forgive me for hurting you. You’re a merciful and beautiful witch who deserves to be treated with respect. You deserve love. Eldrich and I deserve nothing. We were wrong to have fallen in love,” Lela said.

  “It was wrong of me to reject you,” Eldrich said. “Someone as beautiful as you should never have to know rejection. I beg you. Forgive me. Forgive us.”

  The witch twirled around and began to dance. “Your words have made me happy. When I’m happy I dance.”

  “Seeing you happy is all that matters to us,” Eldrich said.

  “Dance, oh, beautiful witch,” Lela said.

  The witch twirled and twirled and then bowed.

  Lela and Eldrich clapped.

  “Bravo,” Lela said.

  “Well done,” Eldrich said.

  “You may both stand,” she said.

  “Are we forgiven?” Lela asked.

  The witch put Lela’s hand in Eldrich’s. “I forgive you. The spell is lifted.”

  “Thank you,” Lela said, kissing the witch’s hand.

  “When you return to the castle, you will find your people there. I promise you,” she said.

  “With the greatest respect,” Eldrich said, “may I ask you one question?”

  “Yes, of course, Prince of the Barmoth Vampires. Ask me anything and I will answer with the truth.”

  “Will Lela also find her father at the castle?” Eldrich asked.

  The witch started to laugh. “Of course not!”

  “But you said we were forgiven. You gave me your word!” Lela said.

  “You’re a stupid princess. Has Eldrich taught you nothing about how things work? You wanted your people returned to the castle. Your father is the King. If you wanted the King of Barmoth returned, you should have said so.”

  “You ugly, wretched witch. You tricked me.”

  “I’m a witch. Did you expect anything less from a witch?”

  “Give me back my father! Return the King of Barmoth, I beg you,” Lela said.

  “Begging won’t work. It’s too late,” the witch said.

  “Is there anything you can tell us that will help us bring back the King?” Eldrich asked.


  “Oh, why yes. I can tell you where he is. I sent him to the Kingdom of the Dead. I love that kingdom. It’s one of my favorite kingdoms. It’s so dreadful and dark and full of madness.”

  “What do we need to do?” Lela asked.

  “You’ll need to go there and convince Godfather Death to free the King of Barmoth. It’s now out of my hands. Godfather Death is such a grumpy creature. He hates to be bothered.”

  “Tell me how to get there,” Lela said.

  “You ask too much of me.”

  “Vanish me there, please,” Lela said.

  “I’m tired. Be on your way,” the witch said. “It was fun playing with you both. But I have other pressing matters.”

  Eldrich leaned in and kissed the witch on the cheek. “I was a fool to reject you.”

  The witch smiled and kissed him on the mouth. She then said, “I’ll get her halfway there but the rest of the journey is hers and hers alone. She’ll have to find the Kingdom of the Dead without you,” she said to Eldrich.

  He nodded.

  Lela started shaking. This wasn’t happening. Eldrich had broken her heart, torn it into a million pieces and now…now he was going to lie with the witch.

  “Are you ready?” the witch asked Lela.

  Eldrich walked to Lela. “You’re in my heart, always and forever. I love you,” he whispered.

  Tears rolling down her face, Lela said, “I will never forgive you. I’m no longer yours.”

  “Come now,” the witch said, “are you ready?”

  “I am,” Lela said.

  “Great and powerful ancestors of mine. Hear my plea. Take this woman and deliver her halfway to the Kingdom of the Dead. This, I ask of you now,” the witch said.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  In a whirlwind, Lela spun in the air, her eyes closed she prayed she’d land without injury. Her heart ached for Eldrich. And she wondered if she could ever stop loving him. Despite what she had learned about him, she still loved him. But she knew she could never forgive him for not telling her the truth. A terrible, torturous thing to still love someone you also hate.

  When she opened her eyes, she was once again on the ground. Thank you, thank you, Gods, for keeping me safe. Dusting herself off, she inspected the area around her. The trees were short and thin and had no leaves. The full moon held a prominent position here for which she was glad because its brightness illuminated the entire forest.

  Realizing she had no food or water, she decided to start her journey at sunrise instead of pressing ahead now. She was also exhausted and needed to find a place to sleep.

  Lightheaded, she staggered through the trees. She’d have to find a place soon; her body seemed intent on shutting down.

  She was alone in a strange environment but she’d not let her fear overwhelm her. If she was to succeed in saving her father, she required a strong and purposeful mind.

  Stumbling, she came upon a lake. The moon shone on the water and she blinked rapidly. There, standing in front of her, was….no, she was hallucinating. Rubbing her eyes, she exhaled. He was still there.

  “Is it really you?” she asked.

  He came to her and hugged her tight. “It’s me.”

  His warmth ran through her, comforting her. “Xavier.”

  “Why are you here?” she asked him.

  “I knew you were in trouble,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “I won’t leave you.”

  “Where is Zel?”

  “She’s home. She knows I’m here. She insisted I come,” he said.

  She let her grief flow. Crying on his chest, she said, “I’m broken. He broke my soul.”

  “Do you still love him?” he asked.

  “I hate him…”

  “This will pass, I promise,” he said.

  “Oh, Xavier, I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “I will take this journey with you, if you let me,” he said.

  She lifted her head and met his eyes. “The night we spent together still haunts me. No matter how hard I try, you’re constantly on my mind.”

  “You’re in my every thought,” he said.

  “What about Zel?”

  “She has my heart. When angels give their heart to someone, it’s forever. But, I can’t deny what I feel for you. I desire you. I think about you, the way you smell, your body, I dream of being inside of you again. When I’m with Zel, I think of you.”

  “I love Eldrich,” she said, turning from him.

  He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “I won’t pressure you,” he whispered into her ear.

  “Stay with me,” she said. “Take this journey with me. I need you.”

  She didn’t know what was ahead of her. She didn’t know if she would succeed in saving her father. She didn’t know if she would ever stop loving Eldrich. But she knew she wanted Xavier with her.

  She took his hand and together they walked on their way to the Kingdom of the Dead; on their way to an adventure from which she knew she would not return the same.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Sitting on the grass on the edge of a lake, Lela stared at the sky. She had never seen a red sky but then up until two and a half months ago she had lived a sheltered life.

  It had been two weeks since Lela had last seen Eldrich, since he had crushed her heart. She missed him with all her soul and during her weakest moments, she had cried out his name in her sleep. Curse her heart for still loving him.

  It was over between them. She’d never forgive him for not telling her the truth. If he was in front of her now she’d curse him, spit in his face, and hit him.

  Yet, she couldn’t get him out of her mind. He had awakened her desires, instilling in her an insatiable sexual appetite which grew more intense with each day that passed. She knew that in many ways she was still that silly and naive girl who had chased after a golden ball and fallen into a well. She understood that her sexual escapades with Eldrich, and her one night with Xavier, were probably tame compared to what other girls her age had experienced—done and had done to them. But then, she had had sex with a vampire and an angel. Lela suspected not many women could claim that.

  Even so, if she were having tea with village girls her age she’d not hold her words for a second. Sitting up straight with pen and paper, she’d ask them a thousand questions about sex. At twenty-one, she was eager to learn. Oh, she wanted to try everything, to fall into sexual bliss without reservation.

  Although she still loved Eldrich, her body craved sexual freedom. And what’s more, he had betrayed her trust. He was the prince of the Barmoth vampires and had done nothing to prevent vampires from draining her mother! No, Lela would not remain loyal to him.

  Sighing, she turned her eyes to Xavier who was swimming. As he came up for air, he ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head.

  “You coming in?” he asked Lela.

  She had considered joining him but knew she shouldn’t. They had been together for two weeks searching for the Kingdom of the Dead, the place where the witch, Stiltz, had sent her father. Each day they had walked as far as they could looking for a sign that would tell them they were getting closer and each night they had slept in the forest.

  Not once had Xavier made a single sexual advance on her, not a subtle touch…not a look, nothing. She was carrying a broken heart and the longer she was with him the more she needed him to help her heal.

  She wasn’t ashamed to admit she wanted him to approach her, brush his hand against her skin, lean in and try to kiss her…

  As it was, just looking at his strong chest and potent facial features made her want to take her clothes off, jump into the water, and give herself to him. Yes, Eldrich still lived in her soul, but she’d not refuse Xavier. She’d not spend her life drowning in sorrow because of Eldrich.

  “I’m enjoying watching you,” she said with a wink.

  Grinning, he said, “Stop being such a prude and come join me.”

  She stood. “We’ve been traveling for days with n
o sign we’re getting closer to the Kingdom of the Dead.”

  He went underwater and then came back up. “It’s an unknown kingdom for a reason.”

  “What are you saying? That I don’t have a chance of saving my father? That we’re going around in circles?”

  “Settle down. What’s gotten into you? You’re acting as if I provoked you somehow. When we’re close, we’ll know it, trust me.”

  She plopped down on the grass and crossed her legs. The sight of him had roused her. “I’m frustrated. What if we’re too late? What if my father is dead?” she asked, wiping away tears.

  “Do you know how absolutely beautiful you look right now?” he asked, stepping out of the water.

  Covering her eyes with her hand, she said, “For goodness sake, you’re not wearing any clothes!”

  “I went for a swim. Why would I be wearing clothes?”

  “You could have kept on your undergarment,” she said, feeling heat on her face, her hand still over her eyes.

  “All right, don’t die. I’ll go and put on my clothes.”

  “Good, yes, please do that and next time…”

  “Yes, yes,” he said. “You’re such a prude.”

  She put her hand down and bloody hell, he was standing in front of her completely naked, his cock in her face.

  “Xavier!” she said. She couldn’t take her eyes off his cock. She remembered him having a large one but hell, now that it was in her face swollen and standing at attention, her memory had not been fair to it.

  He cupped it and began moving his hand up and down. She knew she should look away. But before she could suppress her desire for him, she set her hand on top of his. Bloody hell, she was helping him masturbate.

  “Oh, yes,” he said. “That feels good, hellish good.”

  He removed his hand and let her continue the task.

  Licking his cock’s head, she rubbed his balls. She took her time, savoring the taste of his enlarged cock, kissing it, and circling her tongue around it. So absolutely delicious, she wanted to please Xavier in every way.

  “Put all of it in your mouth,” he said.

  “You might choke me,” she said with a light chuckle.

  “I won’t let you die with my cock in your mouth,” he said.