Dark One Rising

by Leandra Martin

  “You’re welcome, Your Highness,” he said bowing low. “I was always under your spell. Like Lucan, you charmed me with the first smile and kind word. I’m here to do my duty to you and to His Majesty, always.”

  There was scuffling in the gravel coated entry to the stable, and Tomas turned in time to see Dain headed in their direction. Tomas’ face turned deep crimson; Melenthia could see him shaking ever so slightly.

  “Charming even the stalwart knights I see, Melenthia. It hardly seems fair that you have put this poor man in such an awkward position. How can he go about his business and do his duty when you have rattled him so?” he said to her, then looked at Tomas and nodded. “Fear nothing from me, Sir Knight. I too have been ensnared by her charms and beauty. I don’t think there’s anyone in this kingdom who has not fallen in love with her.” He looked back at her. “And you said there were no men in your life besides me.” He sighed. “Alas, I suppose I should have known I would have to share.”

  Tomas bowed to her and then to the king. “Are there any messages you require me to carry home, Your Highness?”

  “Tell Lucan I miss him.”

  He bowed. “It will be done, My Lady.”

  He turned on his heel to go, but she called after him. “And Tomas. Keep Kevaan safe. Promise me he will reach home safely.”

  He turned to her and again bowed deep. “I swear it on my life.”

  He left the stables. Dain leaned down and kissed her on the lips.

  “You really do have men wrapped around your finger, don’t you my love?”

  “Not really.”

  “Come, come now, my darling. If ever I saw a man who was enraptured by your charms it was he. And with good reason. You are very hard to resist.” He kissed her again, lifting her slightly off the ground. “Dinner is ready and our company awaits. Let’s have an evening full of laughter and peace before we are all wrapped up too much to even breathe. Shall we?”

  They went hand in hand back into the castle.

  ***

  She could feel his hot breath on her face, smell the stench of long ago consumed ale. His eyes bore into her and his breathing was heavy. His hand was grasping her throat and she could hardly swallow. His body was pressed up against her and she felt something hard against her thigh; his sword or his lust she didn’t know which. She didn’t care. If he squeezed any tighter, she would pass out. Then she would never know what happened, what he did to her. Maybe it was better that way. She didn’t want to feel him against her, didn’t want any part of him touching her. She wanted to lose consciousness, but she knew he’d never let that happen.

  “You thought you could run away from me? You thought you could hide behind the shield of that man that calls himself a king? A weak minded, pathetic excuse of a man who dares sit upon the throne? You ran away but I found you. You hid but I lured you out. You are mine, Melenthia, you always have been. You belong to me.”

  She had trouble taking in enough air to speak with his hand squeezing her throat, but she managed a croak. “I will never belong to you. You will never take me. You will never own me. You will have to kill me because I will resist, and you will lose.”

  He squeezed harder in rage but knew that killing her would bring him no pleasure until after she gave him a son. He released his hold on her a little, but did not let go.

  “Oh I’ll have you, Melenthia. You will bring me immense pleasure, and you will bear my son. I have seen the prophecy, and you will bring into the world my heir, my off-spring that will be more powerful than anyone could ever imagine. Together, he and I will rule this world. This world was meant to have a great one on the throne, not these insignificant fools who know nothing, are nothing. I’ll be the ruler of the world, and you will seal my destiny for it. It doesn’t have to be this way you know. You and I could rule together, side by side.”

  “Never. I will never join with you. You will have to kill me before I give myself over to you, and you’ll never get an heir with me dead.”

  His eyes flashed, his breath more ragged now. He was losing control. He squeezed harder. She tried harder to get a breath in, tried harder to remain conscious. He pushed her harder against the wall, pushing his weight against her, crushing her ribs and her hip bones.

  “Don’t resist me, Melenthia, or you will just make things harder on yourself. Giving in will make your life less of a hell.”

  His grip loosened just enough for her to take a small breath in. Then she spat on him. The dribble of spittle ran down his eyes. He growled and tightened his grip. Then all of a sudden his hand was no longer on her neck. She could finally breathe. She panted to try and get air into her starving lungs. Her neck hurt, and she could still feel his fingers grasping her throat. She put her fingers to her neck and touched the sore spot on her larynx. He was fading from her sight, moving away from her, disappearing into the distance. Before he was almost out of sight, she heard his voice in her ears.

  “I found you, Melenthia. You thought you could hide forever but I found you. I will have you. I will have you.”

  She sat up in bed, breath ragged and sweat dripping down her head in streams. She was crying and could hardly get air into her aching lungs. Dain’s arms had been around her and he started when she woke. He sat up now, too, and stared at her, a look of terror on her face. She was shaking uncontrollably, and, when he touched her arm, she jumped, moving halfway across the large bed. He was all of a sudden afraid.

  The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon, the sky a faded gold and yellow, the birds now singing in the garden trees. It was an hour before dawn.

  “Melenthia, what is it? What’s wrong?” He tried to slide over, move closer to her but her face held terror and she stiffened. He didn’t move any further. “What’s happened?”

  “He was choking me, squeezing my neck. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. I could feel his hot breath on my face, hear his panting in my ear.” She absentmindedly touched her neck again. It felt sore, as if bruised.

  Dain lit the lamp and looked over at her, still on the bed, but just out of reach, tears streaking her face, her hands at her neck. He tried to move toward her, slowly. This time she didn’t pull back. He reached her and grabbed her gently, looking into her eyes.

  “It was a nightmare, Melenthia, nothing more. You’re here, with me. You’re safe. He cannot harm you.”

  She looked in his eyes as if trying to see something in them. She touched her neck again, trying to hide it from him. “I could feel him. Feel his hand on my throat. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t get any air into my lungs; they were burning.” She rubbed her neck more.

  “Melenthia, he’s not here. You were only dreaming. You’re awake now. You’re safe.”

  She looked at him, shaking her head. “No, he knows where I am. I’m no longer safe here. I must go. I must flee.”

  He grabbed her in a gentle hug, his arms holding securely but not too tight. He was afraid for her. He let go and looked into her eyes again. “Melenthia, it was only a dream, you hear me. It’s alright now.”

  She shook her head again, pressing her fingers into her neck. He looked down and reached over, removing her hands from her throat slowly. There was a big ugly purplish-green bruise that ran from under her chin all the way to her collarbone. There were red marks there as well, and they looked frighteningly like finger marks. Now he was no longer concerned, he was panicky. He didn’t understand what had happened, but something was wrong. It was time to wake up Tomaz and Sol. He looked into her eyes again and kissed her lips softly. He threw his legs over the side of the bed, walked to the highboard and poured a glass of water. He brought it over and handed it to her, her still shaking hands taking it from him. She groaned every time she swallowed a sip, holding her neck with her free hand. He touched her forehead as she drank. Her skin was hot and her hair was matted along her temple line. He brushed a wet curl of red hair out of her face and wiped away the moisture there. She finished drinking and looked at him.

  “
Melenthia,” he said gently, “put something on. I’m going to get Sol and Tomaz. I think they need to hear what you saw. I don’t understand, but maybe they will. I’m sure it was nothing, just a very vivid dream, but I think they should know nonetheless.”

  She touched her sore throat again and winced. He continued, “I think it was so real that you were choking yourself and didn’t know it. Your body woke you up when you couldn’t breathe, and that’s when you sat up.”

  “It was so real. His eyes looking at me, his breath on my face and in my ear. His voice, his hands on me.”

  He kissed her forehead and started to rise. She grabbed him, panic starting to overtake her again. She was breathing hard, and, because of her swollen and bruised throat, she couldn’t get enough air in and was starting to hyperventilate.

  “Don’t leave me.” Her eyes were large and frightened.

  He grabbed her and hugged her, rocking her back and forth. “Calm down, Melenthia. Breathe slow. Settle down or you’ll pass out. I’m not going anywhere. I’m just going to get a servant to wake Sol and Tomaz. I’ll be right here.” He looked down at her, into her eyes to make sure she believed him, then stood again. He grabbed his pants that had been flung to the floor, putting them on. He went to the call and rang for a servant. He waited in the open doorway until a servant appeared in the hall.

  “Tobias, please wake Sol and Tomaz and bring them here. They are needed in haste.”

  The servant bowed. “Yes, Sire, right away.”

  He left and Dain went back to the bed. He picked up a robe as he went and sat on the bed with it. “Here, put this on.”

  She took the offered garment and proceeded to put it on. Soon after she was covered, Tobias reappeared with Sol and the elf in tow. Dain motioned for them to enter and dismissed the servant. After the servant left, Sol and Tomaz approached Melenthia, still sitting on the bed, hands shaking, face pale. Dain got up from his place at her side and pulled a chair for the old man to sit in; Tomaz remained standing. He then seated himself on the chest that sat at the end of the bed. His brow was furrowed, and he was frowning.

  Sol took one of Melenthia’s hands in his and spoke gently, “What happened, my dear?”

  She looked up at Sol, then glanced at Dain. He nodded, telling her to go ahead.

  “I saw Fallon. He had me up against a wall, clasping my throat. I couldn’t breathe, and I could feel his hot breath on my face. He told me that I would soon be his, that he had found me and would take me soon.”

  Sol glanced over at Tomaz, gray eyes asking a question he did not ask out loud. Tomaz approached Melenthia and sat on the bed beside her. He turned her face toward him and lifted her chin. He saw the bruise on her neck and the finger marks. He looked back to Sol, nodding.

  Sol sighed. “That’s what I suspected too. Those marks on your neck were made by your own hand. The face and voice in your head, only in your mind.”

  “Then it was only a dream as I suspected,” Dain said, almost sounding relieved.

  Sol turned to him. “Not exactly. She did see and hear him in her sleep, and she did choke herself, but it’s only because Fallon has breached her mind. He was speaking to her in her dreams, but he was present too. He has learned to manipulate her thoughts and make her do things he wants. He can only manipulate her thoughts if he can find her. He knows where she is. If he enters her mind again, he may lure her away from here. I’m afraid we must leave. She’s no longer safe here. We must take her to Vallis.” Sol looked to the elf; Tomaz nodded.

  “I concur with Sol. If we are to teach her, we must do it in the safety of Vallis’ boundaries.”

  Dain looked at Melenthia, but spoke to Tomaz. “If he can get into her head like you said, what’s to say he won’t force his way into her mind there?”

  “Vallis’ borders are protected by spells. They are safe from any magical probing or spells from outside influences. He will not be able to touch her there, or manipulate her thoughts. In fact, he will not even know she is there. She will be protected against his mind. She will be able to train without fear of him.”

  She looked at Dain. A tear fell from her eye. Dain looked at Sol. “When do you need to leave?”

  “We must make haste if we’re to get her where Fallon can’t touch her. We must have everything ready to go later today.”

  She looked at Sol, then Tomaz, then back to Dain, feeling all of a sudden helpless. She had been asked to fight for the world, but now she was being told she would have to do it away from the people that she loved. How could she get through what she needed to do alone?

  Her eyes welled with tears once more, and Dain stood from his chair. “Sol, Tomaz, would you excuse us please?”

  Sol stood from his place in his chair, Tomaz from the bed. The elf bowed to Dain. “Of course, Your Majesty. We will get everything ready for the journey.”

  “Have the servants and the stable hands get you anything you require and prepare you anyway you need. They’ll make sure you have everything for your journey.”

  Tomaz nodded and took Melenthia’s hand in his. “We will protect you, My Lady. On our honor we will not let any harm befall you.” He bowed to her now, and he and Sol left them alone.

  Dain sat down on the bed again, wrapping his arms around her tightly. He rubbed her back and brushed the hair from her face. He pulled back a bit and looked into her emerald eyes. He stared into them, not able to tear his gaze away. He kissed her forehead, then each eye, tasting salt from her recent tears.

  “I don’t want to go, Dain. I don’t want to be alone.”

  “You won’t be alone. Sol and Tomaz will be with you. They’ll keep you safe. I have faith in them, and I trust they are making the decision that is right for you.” He touched her neck, purple and swollen. “I don’t want anything to happen to you, Melenthia. I would die if anything happened. If Fallon can reach you from wherever he is, then you are not safe. If the boundaries in Vallis can protect you, then you must go there. I can’t do my part in this if I have to worry about your safety. I’ll miss you, but our separation will be easier if I know no harm will come to you. Please, Melenthia, don’t make this harder. I love you and can’t lose you.”

  He hugged her harder, kissing the top of her head. She looked up at him and nodded. “Okay, Dain, I’ll go, but I don’t know how I will fare away from you.”

  “You’re strong, and you’ll do what is necessary, what you were put on this earth to do. You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met, and your strength will keep you going, and me too. You’re special, and I’m so very blessed to have you in my life. When the elf and Sol deem you ready, you’ll return, and I will be here waiting.”

  “You might forget about me while I’m gone. I don’t want to lose you to someone else. I love you too much.”

  He lifted her face. “I will never find another. You’ve touched my heart and soul in ways I cannot explain, and I have never loved anyone the way I love you. Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would find someone who fills me so completely. I love you deeply, Melenthia, and I will never stop. There will never be another.”

  He kissed her deeply and passionately, her arms now holding on tightly to him, responding to every touch. Soon they were lost in each other, the morning melting away.

  CHAPTER 30

  Melenthia awoke again later that morning to birds in the garden below singing a spring tune and a warm body lying next to her. She snuggled closer to him but did nothing to wake him. She listened to the sounds of morning and to his steady breathing. She felt safe and warm and didn’t want to do anything to disrupt that feeling, even though her throat still had evidence of the previous evenings nightmare. She touched it lightly. The bruising had faded somewhat, but it was still tender to the touch. She took in a deep breath. The air smelled a bit like rain, and she hoped that travel to Vallis would be smooth. Riding again in a downpour didn’t thrill her.

  She felt Dain stir a few minutes later, and she flipped over to look at him, their bodies tight t
ogether. He opened his eyes and smiled at her, reaching up to brush back the curls in her face. He kissed her on the nose and wrapped his arms more tightly around her.

  “I hope I didn’t wake you,” she said.

  “No, that blasted bird did.” He pretended to be annoyed but she knew him better.

  “I like it. It makes me warm inside, like a renewal of spirit.”

  “Things are beginning. Are you ready?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve hardly had the time to let all this soak in. I don’t know what to do, or say, or even think. Except that I’m afraid.”

  “I know. The fear will subside in time, and those feelings that have you lost will present themselves as well. Then everything will be as it should.”

  “Maybe. But I don’t think anything will ever be the same, and that frightens me too.”

  “You will learn to embrace the new, just as if it was always the norm. There’s one thing that will never change though.”

  “What?”

  “The way I feel about you. The way I feel when you enter the room, or the way my heart beats faster when you brush by me or touch my arm. The way I feel when I see you across the room, or the way my breath catches in my throat when I look at how beautiful you are. I love you. Now. Always. That will never change.”

  She leaned in and kissed him, his arms tighter, pulling her into him and responding fully to her want. He didn’t know when they would be together again, or what the future held for either of them, but he felt sure that whatever happened, his love would stay strong for her.