The Two Kings (Afterlife Saga)

by Hudson, Stephanie

  “Do what?” I snuffled out while rubbing my runny nose on my sleeve.

  “Keira, please don’t cry.” This somehow made me cry more and he reached out to hold me but I pulled back.

  “I’m not crying! I have a cold.” I said lamely and when he tilted his head it reminded me of all those times before. The times when people used to do that after the ‘incident’ I would say “I’m fine” And they would tilt their heads in disbelief.

  “Come here, let me see.”

  “You can’t see a cold Draven.” I stated and he smiled at me.

  “I can, Supernatural remember? Come to me.” He held out his hand for me to take but I remained stubborn.

  “Did you really mean all that stuff?” I asked sniffing and rubbing my nose again.

  “Yes I did. Those are my feelings Keira, whether you wish to believe them or not. It is the truth and it pains me you have to ask...when will you trust me Catherine?” He said my first name like it would get through to me, making more of an impact...of course it worked, the jammy bastard!

  “It’s not you that I don’t trust.” At this he shook his head, he didn’t understand me.

  “It’s me.” He looked hurt at this and ran his hands through his hair, which was a clear sign he was frustrated by my answer.

  “You’re...you’re not sure about your feelings for me?” It looked painful to ask.

  “No it’s not that. I know how I feel and I love you more than I have ever loved anything else before in my life. But I don’t trust myself not to screw it all up!” There it was, it was out now for Draven to have to deal with. He looked pretty relieved if you asked me.

  “Oh Keira my girl, you would have to do something pretty extreme to change the way I love you.”

  “Like?”

  “Well I wouldn’t take kindly to you trying to kill me!” He joked...like I could, it would be like the moth against the flame.

  “And cheating is a big no, no!” I said more for his benefit than mine, knowing I never would.

  “NO! No one should ever touch you! Keira this is something I would never allow, you understand?” He looked furious at the idea and his purple eyes expressed it deeper.

  “Well that goes the same for you too mister!” I said standing up to him and poking him in the chest. He looked shocked that even in his full Demon rage I would still stand up to him. His shock soon turned to delight and pride.

  “I am not afraid of you!” I said holding my chin high. He then grabbed quickly at the tops of my arms and pulled me close. I had to strain my head back to see his face.

  “I would have it no other way my little vixen!” He said down at me before crushing his lips to mine.

  And with that kiss I felt the weight of the day and evening lift and fade away into the night...well as far as I was concerned the night could have it!

  Because now Draven had forgiven me

  Well, it was about bloody time!

  Chapter 44

  Passageways And Persuasion.

  I don’t know how it happened, but when he had finished with me I was left feeling even more drunk and also horny! I had to step back from him to clear my head, which was difficult considering I was feeling very drunk.

  “Where are you going, come back to me?” He was being demanding but in my stubborn mind I was calling the shots which is what I decided to tell him.

  “Excuse me Mr Demon King, I’m the one in control here. You just remember that please.” I said flicking hair back that was already back. I wasn’t what you called the smoothest drunk in the pub, that was for sure!

  Draven straightened up and looked like he was trying not to laugh.

  “I am sorry my princess, what would you wish for me to do?” I smiled at the thought, I then crossed my arms and tapped my top lip, missing the first time and hitting my nose. This he laughed at, which earned him a look of warning.

  “Forgive me your highness for my insolence. It will not happen again.” He then bowed to me like I was royalty, making me giggle. I tried to compose myself and I coughed back another giggle.

  “See that it doesn’t. Hehe this is fun right?” I laughed out and he rolled his eyes at me before laughing again.

  “If you say so, love.”

  “Hey, less of the mocking and placating please. You’re ruining my fun.” I pouted my lips together making him stare at them like he wanted to bite me.

  “I think I play the beast better than the servant, so maybe we should play that game instead.” He said, giving me a cocky smile that crooked up on one side.

  “Oh no, this is my game and I won’t be bullied. Besides, you’re too used to getting your own way, but not tonight Mister!”

  “Is that rightly so...Umm, then pray tell me mistress, what would you have me do to please you?” His voice left little bumps on my skin at how seductive it sounded. I had to close my eyes as my belly filled with pure liquid temptation. When I took a deep breath to clear my head I opened my eyes and screamed out. Draven had moved towards me so close that his face was now level with my own.

  “Is something wrong Vixen?” I loved the way he called me that. It made me feel like I had a hold over him, plus the way he said it, sounded sexy as Hell!

  I gulped before saying a shy,

  “N..n..no” I backed up and every step I took he took another towards me. His dark eyes turned almost primal, like a hungry animal stalking its prey. I was getting ready for him to pounce and he knew it.

  “Come Keira, I thought you didn’t fear me.” He was testing me, playing with me, like it was his game not mine. Of course, when my hands found the railing behind me I knew I had nowhere else to go.

  “Draven?”

  “Yes Keira.” I closed my eyes to stop the world from spinning and his words were the cause.

  “I think I need....need…” I was trying so hard to find words in the darkness. The black haze that was my mind.

  “Yes, what is it you need?” And then that was it, I felt it coming. It was horrible when you first realise it. Truly terrifying when you know what your body wants to do but you try to control it. It’s like your body is working against what your mind tells it to do...or not to do in this case. I could even feel all the colour drain from my face in a rush, like my body needed it elsewhere. And then there it was, a nightmare situation coming out from deep within me, it had nowhere else to go but out and out it was coming.

  “I need to...to be sick!” I said and turned round to throw up over the balcony. My stomach heaved out all the alcohol it had consumed over the last few hours I had knocked it all back. I felt Draven’s hand rub my back and his other hand held my hair out of the projectile vomiting his girlfriend was doing.

  “Ssshhh, that’s it, get it all up and out of your system, good girl.” I could do nothing but keep going until my stomach ached with the empty space. I looked down at the damage I had caused and hung my head in shame.

  “Have you finished?” Draven asked me and I could only nod as that shame wouldn’t allow me to speak.

  “Here drink this.” He handed me a glass of water, from where I didn’t know, but I still took gratefully. I took great gulps to wash away the taste of bile in my mouth.

  “Easy!” He warned as I started to down it. He took it from me before I had time to finish it. Then, without warning, I was being lifted into his arms.

  “What are you doing?” I asked as he lifted me higher to get a better grip.

  “I’m taking you to our bed my little drunken princess.” He said this like he owned me, which of course he did, meanwhile I had never felt so embarrassed in all my life. I wanted to bury myself into a pillow and hide but I had to use Draven instead. I don’t think he minded. I felt him look down at me as he walked with me to the edge of the balcony.

  “Wait...you’re not going to do what I think you are?” He stopped and looked down towards a smaller balcony below us that I had never noticed before. It was in complete darkness, so that might explain why it always went unseen. It looked only
the size for one and curved round like an iron cage for a giant bird.

  “This reminds me of the first time when you were in my arms, well when you were awake anyway.”

  “And the first time?” I asked shuddering in his stone hold.

  “The forest clearing. The very first time I saw you. I will never forget the way you felt in my arms whilst you slept. You fit so perfectly as you do now, like you were made for my arms around you. If I had my way, I would carry you everywhere.” I looked up to see him smiling to himself and I couldn’t help mimicking it.

  “That maybe so, but unless you want to see me chucking up again then I wouldn’t jump down there.” He laughed making me vibrate.

  “That won’t happen again, your body has settled now the poison has been removed. Trust me, you’ll be fine.” He said and before I could protest further he squeezed me tightly to him and jumped. My breath caught in my chest and the feel of air flying up around my skin and hair had me gripping onto his clothes with fright. I could feel my nails penetrate the fabric, I held on so hard. I must have closed my eyes because it was black and I could feel tears stream outwards from under my closed lids.

  “You can open your eyes now.” He said, his voice full of concern for my fear. I looked around to find we were on the little balcony and facing a black, wooden door that looked impenetrable. I looked back up to see how far we had come and couldn’t believe that this was the same route we had taken when Draven had taken me home the first time. I had been so naive, why had I never questioned this before? All the answers were right in front of me the whole time, I just never asked myself the right questions.

  The door opened after Draven spoke a word I didn’t know understand, but I jumped slightly as it creaked loudly at the great big hinges holding it in place. Draven side stepped us in just as I was about to tell him that I was good to walk now.

  “Please allow me this little pleasure.” He said upon hearing my thoughts.

  “You can read me?”

  “It’s a little easier when you’re drunk, I find there are no walls at all to contend with. You’re like an open book.” He said in triumph.

  “Oh goodie!” I said sarcastically.

  “So you knew how guilty I have felt all night and yet you did nothing?” I asked frustrated.

  “I must admit I was too angry with you to ease a guilt I wanted you to feel. I am sorry for it though.” He said not sounding too sorry!

  “Oh well, that’s alright then!” I said, again not keeping the sarcasm at bay. As we had this conversation he had been walking me down a narrow hallway that only just fit the both of us. It was all stone with a solid arch above that was higher than it needed to be.

  “Where are we?” I said, momentarily forgetting our conversation.

  “My home is filled with secret passageways that only a handful of my people know of. It allows me access to anywhere throughout my home so I can go by unseen.”

  “You mean free to spy?” I said, noting the obvious, which made him laugh.

  “Clever girl, yes, to spy. I must know that the people in my council can be trusted.”

  “That makes sense, as long as it’s not used for other things.” I said making a joke he didn’t get.

  “Care to elaborate on that?” He asked me in a teasing manner.

  “Well, as long as there’s no pleasure in what you see.”

  “Ah, the girls, forever the jealous Vixen you are. There is only one body I would spy on and I am a lucky man that I can stare at it freely without having to hide. Although I can admit I have been known to watch you in the shower when you know nothing about it.”

  “No you haven’t!” I punched him lightly and he laughed at me.

  “Haven’t I?”

  “You’re teasing me.” I decided and he didn’t answer but his bad boy smile had me doubting in what I just said. I didn’t get chance to check however because we had reached the end of the passage way. In front of us lay another black door which held no light underneath. Draven’s eyesight must have been that of a hawk because I couldn’t even see a handle or anything. It opened anyway and Draven motioned with the hand he held at my back. The swoosh of thick heavy material could be heard and then with the click of his fingers light erupted from lamps in the room. Except it wasn’t a room at all, it was another hallway, this time one the size you would expect to see in a castle or stately home. I had never been here before, I knew that much due to the different pictures the walls held.

  Great tapestries, the size of trucks, made the stone walls dance with brightly coloured thread that looked like they were made yesterday. Even the smell of them was new and fresh and I could almost see the wealth of English ladies sat picking and plucking away on rainy days.

  There were different themes as we moved along. On the floor before we got to the stairs, were scenes of gardens and landscapes but as he climbed the stairs it became more serious. Battle grounds, where little fabric bodies lay dying on blood soaked earth. Men in silver amour charged ahead with their spears held high and their swords at the ready. Horses with covered faces ran forth into an unknown death. I could almost hear the battle drums beat wildly against the skin of animals that were sacrificed to make them. It was only when Draven turned me away from them did I realise why...he was reading my mind.

  “Do not think of those times.” He said shielding me from them as he took the last few steps quicker than the rest.

  “Why not, history buff, remember?” I said light heartedly but obviously unconvincingly as well.

  “There are some things that are not ever to be seen though the eyes that I love. It will pain me to see it again.”

  “Draven, they’re just pictures.” I whispered to him.

  “No, Keira they are not, they are my memories. From those that I have touched and made an undying connection to in my past. I buy these items they create as a means of escape from a haunting time they don’t understand and take these memories back from them, to free them.” He sounded full of remorse at all the times he had done this. I didn’t want to ask any more questions and from now on he didn’t have to turn me away from these sights, I just didn’t look.

  Just how many wars had Draven seen? How many men killed in a battle they didn’t start, all for a power that would not be their own? I shuddered again and Draven tightened his hold. He knew I was thinking about it but I couldn’t stop feeling sorrow for all those poor souls I didn’t know. When Draven spoke about touching them I knew what it meant. It was when he possessed their minds. I suppose it was logical for some of their memories to be transferred during this time and I understood more than most the urge to get those images out. I had been doing that very thing most of my life. Is this what Draven wanted to shield me from, the pain of knowing? Is this how all those other people had found their releases?

  “I can hear so many questions running wild in your mind, I’m surprised you’re not exhausted!” He said, trying to get my mind off it all.

  “There is still so much I don’t know and sometimes my mind runs away with me.”

  “So I can see.” He mocked playfully but I could tell he was just happy that he had distracted me for the moment. To be fair, with Draven around, that was never difficult to achieve.

  For the moment we both remained silent as we continued on throughout his home and it seemed to be endless. Of course from the outside it didn’t seem half as big as it actually was. This was due to most of it being engulfed by the forest and cliff’s edge. It was blanketed from outsiders and it was understandable why, for one it was a lot older than everyone presumed it to be. It would be pretty hard to understand how once an old monastery, over a thousand years old ended up on the outskirts of a small New England town. Not when the place itself was only established in the sixteen hundreds.

  I remember Draven telling me once that it was brought over here stone by stone because of the positioning and importance the land holds. Something about where the Temple lay was directly on top of a gateway to the other sides.
Of course, I was fascinated by it all but the more questions I asked, the more resigned Draven became to talking about it. I think he worried that my head might explode if told too much all at once. I can’t really blame him, it must get very annoying and childlike to be asking so many questions about anything and everything. I mean it was like having my very own Wikipedia man!

  “And what is a Wikipedia man?” He asked me and I mentally slapped myself. I needed to put a stop to this reading mind lark! It was becoming very frustrating and I was just thankful it didn’t happen all the time.

  “You really need to stop reading my mind!”

  “Why? I’m thinking seriously about making you an alcoholic.” He laughed at his own joke and I couldn’t help but follow him. Draven was such a serious character by nature, it was always infectious to hear the sound of his laughter.

  “Hey, so that’s why you let me drink all that I did, you wanted access to my mind?” I didn’t think about it at the time but now it was clear. I mean if Draven knew about every drink I had, then why hadn’t he stopped me earlier, before I had gone too far....of course now that answer was clear. He had wanted me drunk all along, just enough so that I didn’t have any mental walls to prevent him from hearing my guilt.

  “You are your own person Keira, you do as you please. I did not force you into drinking your bodyweight in Coronas and tequila shots.”

  “Ummf, but you liked the outcome sure enough! And if that is the case why did you stop me at all?” I folded my arms instead of clinging onto him, that I had been.

  “I must confess I did, but I knew if I didn’t stop you when I did then we wouldn’t be having this conversation now.”

  “And why is that?!” I was a little miffed at the idea of him getting his own way at my expense.

  “Because, if you had drank any more, then I would be carrying a passed out Keira instead of a pissed off one.” He tried to control his smirk but was doing a lousy job at it.

  It wasn’t until I looked away from him that I realised I knew where we were. It was the main hallway that led down to his room door that was now facing us. I had to smile at the sight of ‘our’ bedchamber, making me forget that I was a little mad at him.