Eternal Flame

by Valerie Twombly

  After what felt like an eternity, a faint light blazed in front of them. Her heart raced, fearful of what awaited her.

  When they exited the tunnel, cool air brushed her skin. A sigh of relief escaped her lips until she took in her surroundings. Eight holding cells. A quick count told her four women occupied two of the cells, the rest sat empty. A couple of the women were pregnant, and she wondered if the others were as well but didn’t show yet.

  “What is this place?” Not sure she actually wanted an answer.

  “It’s Odage’s maternity ward. Don’t worry, you won’t be staying here.”

  Eliza tugged the chains, dragging her across the room to an opening. A set of steps led down a narrow passage. At least this time it was lit, so she didn’t have to worry about tripping down the stairs. The farther down they went, the hotter it became, and her shirt clung to her like a sweat rag. Eliza stopped in front of another entry, pulled out a key and shoved it into the lock. When she pushed the door open, Cassie saw the silhouette of a man shackled to the ceiling, his arms stretched over his head and his back pressed against the wall.

  Recognition dawned.

  “Marcus!”

  His head raised, steel eyes caught hers then looked away. He didn’t utter a word, let his chin drop back to his chest.

  Eliza pushed her through the door and led her to a corner of the room. She removed one manacle from her wrist, ran it through a ring embedded into the rock wall and placed it back on her arm. She could only crouch in the corner.

  Eliza stepped in front of Marcus, her finger lifted his chin. “Darling, look who I brought.”

  Cassie held her breath, waiting for his response.

  His face showed no emotion. “I could care less.”

  “But lover, I thought you wanted her.” Eliza purred.

  “I have no use for her, you are all I want.” His voice was thick with desire.

  Her heart shattered. No, please tell me this isn’t real.

  As if to answer her request, he licked his lips. “Eliza, love. Kiss me.”

  Eliza obeyed, brought her lips to his. Their kiss, long and passionate. She wanted to look away, but disbelief forced her to watch.

  When they finally parted, Eliza looked at her. “I told you he didn’t want you. Don’t worry, precious, we have men already lined up requesting your services.” Eliza laughed as she exited the room, leaving them alone.

  “Marcus, that was just a trick. Right?” He refused to answer, dropped his head and closed his eyes. Her lip trembled. “Talk to me, please.” He turned his head away from her, still not speaking. She curled into the fetal position on the floor and wept.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The pain he felt when he told Cassie he didn’t want her and kissed Eliza had been worse than anything Odage could have done to him. He knew what they were up to. They thought to get to him through her. It had taken every ounce of strength to pretend he didn’t care. Her sobbing in the corner ate him alive. At this moment, he wanted to yell the truth—he loved her. But he wouldn’t risk her life or that of his daughter's.

  He sensed the babe growing inside her. Soon her belly would swell with their child, something he’d never expected. Damn it! Where was Lileta? If she would only come and release him, he would get them all out of there.

  On cue, he heard the door unlock, his breath held captive in his lungs. Odage entered. Fuck!

  He moved toward Cassie, unchained her and pulled her to her feet. Marcus bit through his tongue. Show no emotions. He dared not even communicate with her telepathically. Odage dragged her, stopping in front of him.

  “I’m taking your mate, vampire. Soon, I will begin her training.”

  He raised his head, looked the Draki in the eye. “I’m sure you will find her pleasing. By the way, she is an expert cock sucker.” Betrayal stared back at him, she’d never forgive him now. He’d live with that, had to. Odage didn’t hide his displeasure.

  “You lie, vampire, I think you still want her.”

  “I cannot lie, remember?”

  She would remember he told her the same thing once before. His heart squeezed in a vice from the tears in her eyes.

  His ruse was working. Odage’s anger rose. He pulled a dagger from his boot and slid it into Marcus’s stomach, twisted for good measure.

  He gritted his teeth through the pain while Cassie screamed. Even after he had ripped her heart out, she still cared for him.

  Odage dragged a whimpering Cassie out the door. As soon as the lock engaged, Marcus pulled on his chains, he would chew off his hands if he had to in order to save her.

  * * * *

  Somehow, she had to get away from him. Cassie’s mind was a frenzy of thoughts. Odage led her back toward the stairs; it was now or never.

  She followed behind him, and when he came to a halt, she swung the chain over his head. It landed at his neck, and she pulled with every ounce of strength she had.

  It wasn’t enough.

  His fingers curled around the chain and pulled it free. He turned and backhanded her, sending her through the air to land with a hard thud on her ass.

  “Fucking bitch, try that again, and I swear to the gods I will remove his head while you watch. When I’m done with the vampire, I will slice that child right from your womb.” In two steps, he was in front of her. “Get up.”

  She quickly jumped to her feet, not daring to check for any injuries. He grabbed her arm and shoved her in front of him, forcing her up the steps. When they reached the top, he pushed her through the door. She landed back into the room with the other women. Again he grabbed her arm and dragged her to an empty cell then shoved her in and closed the door.

  “Lileta,” Odage shouted.

  A beautiful dark-haired woman entered the room. “Yes, my liege?”

  “Give this one a dose of blood wine.” He pointed toward Cassie.

  The woman bowed her head. “As you wish.” She exited the room.

  “Obey me, and it will make life much easier for you.” He turned and left.

  Cassie looked around her cell. Two sets of bunk beds and a small bathroom were all the comforts afforded her. Footsteps told her Lileta approached. The woman entered the cell with a wine glass in hand.

  Lileta paused, looked around then moved closer to Cassie. “You must drink this, it is only wine.” Her voice lowered. “I did not add the dragon blood as Odage commanded. You need your wits to escape.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Why should I trust you?”

  “Because I’m helping Marcus escape, he will come for you.”

  Cassie tossed her head back. “Ha! I think you’re mistaken.”

  Lileta held out the glass. “He protected you. If Odage and Eliza believe he cares for you, they will use it against him.”

  Did she speak the truth? Something seemed familiar about her. She searched her memories. She doesn’t look familiar. What it is? Her eyes widened. “Your name is Lileta?”

  “Yes, why?”

  “Do you have a brother?”

  Her eyes filled with tears. “Baal. I have not seen him in many years.”

  Cassie slapped her palm to her mouth. “Dear god, I was with him only a few days ago. He was taken by the slave traders while we were out searching for Marcus.”

  Lileta closed her eyes. “No, I cannot bear the thought of his capture.”

  Heavy footsteps echoed into the room. “Is she giving you any grief?”

  “Take the glass,” Lileta whispered.

  Cassie grabbed the glass and put it to her lips, taking a sip.

  “No, my liege.”

  “Good, have her cleaned up and ready to depart in one hour. We will all be leaving this place.” The door slammed behind him.

  “Dear gods, I don’t think I can free Marcus in time.” She gave Cassie a shove. “Quickly, into the shower while I get you some clean clothes.”

  Cassie entered the bathroom and began stripping. Her mind swirled, Marcus had only been pretending. She would have bee
n relieved except a new set of problems presented themselves. Where did Odage plan to take her?

  * * * *

  Marcus’s head still reeled after what he’d done to Cassie. She was alive, but for how long? His thoughts were disrupted when the cell door opened and Lileta slipped into the room, alone.

  She moved as stealthily as a cat toward him, a large tool in her hand. “Odage is moving us. I have come to free you, but we must hurry. He plans to take your mate away from here.” She reached up and cut the chains then his arms fell to his side, and he collapsed to the floor.

  “Quickly.” Lileta reached him and helped him to his feet. “Unfortunately, I can’t remove the silver bands.”

  He struggled to stand. “I’m weak from the knife wound Odage gifted me with. I can’t help Cassie unless we get these bands off. Wait…where the hell is he taking her?”

  “I don’t know, only that he gave me an hour to get everyone ready. That was thirty minutes ago.”

  He followed Lileta from the room, down a narrow corridor then slipped in a door that led them through a maze.

  “We must take the back way, no one uses these corridors.”

  After several minutes, they slipped through a narrow door and into a small chamber that housed only a bed and nightstand. “This is my room.” She led him to the bed and had him sit.

  “I need to get rid of these bands. I can’t communicate with my brethren.”

  Lileta gave him a pained look. “If I could remove them I would have taken my own off. The best I can do is provide you with a way out.” She shifted toward the door. “I need to go check on your mate, wait here.”

  Marcus paced the small room. He needed to see Cassie, hold her in his arms, and beg her forgiveness. He stopped mid-step when Lileta returned.

  “Where is she?” His voice panicked.

  Lileta wrung her hands. “She is gone, Odage has taken her already and started moving the others. We must hurry before he looks for me.”

  “Fuck.” He growled.

  She moved back toward the door and peered out. “We need to get you out of here before they discover you’re missing as well.” She motioned for him to follow and led him to a room filled with racks of wine.

  “He has a fucking wine cellar?”

  She turned her head to gaze at him. “Yes, he gives the women blood wine to control them.”

  “Rotten bastard.” He stopped when Lileta pressed her hand against the back wall and opened a secret passage. “Nice.”

  “I don’t think Odage even knows it’s here. I discovered it a few weeks ago myself.”

  “How the hell did you find it?” He gained a whole new respect for this demon. She proved resourceful, even with her power hindered by the silver. He only wished Cassie was with him.

  “I was looking for it. I remembered these caves once belonged to Drayos, and it made sense that he would have several hidden passages.”

  The door closed, leaving them in complete darkness. At least his vision didn’t seem to be impaired by the silver.

  “This is as far as I can go. I’m sure if you follow the tunnel, you will find a way out.” She turned to walk away, but he grabbed her wrist.

  “You’re not coming with me?”

  “No, he can track me and will kill us both. Besides, the women need me, just promise you will find us.”

  “I swear it. But what is Odage up to?”

  “He is keeping human women to bear his children. His first child was born only a few days ago. The mother is dead.”

  He ground his teeth, his fists clenching into tight balls. “I’ll kill the fucking bastard.”

  “He has also bound himself to a memory ghoul. She seeks the amulet of Tobor for him.”

  “What the hell does he want with the amulet of life?”

  “I don’t know, I can only say he is being controlled—” She shivered. “—by someone very powerful.”

  He kissed her cheek. “Thank you for everything, but I must ask one more favor of you.”

  “What is it?”

  “Please watch after my mate, she carries my child. And…and tell her I love her.”

  “I will.” Then she disappeared back through the door.

  He prayed she wouldn’t be found out and punished for her role in his escape and Cassie remained safe until he could find her.

  * * * *

  A roar shook the entire mountain, rocks spewed into the air like a dog shaking off fleas. The villagers who lived at the foot of the mountain made the sign of the cross and ran for cover. Steam escaped his nostrils as he took one breath in then exhaled. Odage’s vision burned red with fury. The vampire was gone. There was no way he had escaped on his own, someone helped him.

  He stormed through the caverns, smashing fists through walls as he went. His body hung in a state of metamorphosis, stuck between man and dragon. His mind, in such turmoil he was unable to make a complete shift to either form.

  “Roman!” Two voices echoed out. The timbre of the beast lower and grating against the skin.

  “Y-yes, my liege?” Roman came forth and knelt before the half beast.

  Odage moved in front of the minion, lowered his head to within inches of Roman’s. His fangs exposed, spittle flew into the man’s face. “Where. Is. The. Vampire?”

  Roman’s body trembled, his eyes cast to the floor. “I…I don’t know, my liege. H-he was there when I last checked on him.”

  “And when was that?”

  “Only a few hours ago…my liege.”

  “You are such a disappointment, minion. You let the vampire escape.” The crimson body of his dragon emerged. A long tail snaked around the room, and claws sprouted from each toe. The shift complete.

  He sucked in a breath and let out a roar of flames, burning the man who knelt in front of him. His tail flicked the charred remains across the room.

  He continued to move to the upper level of the cavern as, slowly, his body morphed back to its human form. Caleb, come to me.

  His commanding officer formed in front of him. “Yes, my liege?”

  “Caleb, status report.”

  “Camp is set up, the woman moved, and the men are ready to dig on your command.”

  Odage stopped in mid-stride. “Excellent, I can always count on you. Let us leave here then. Have a few men stay behind and search for the vampire.” A wicked smile snaked across his lips. “He won’t go far, I have something he wants.”

  Caleb bowed. “As you wish, my liege.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Marcus followed the passageway’s twists and turns as it led up the mountain. Light could be seen ahead, but he would have to wait for the cover of darkness before he dared make his escape. He hated like hell to sit and do nothing while Odage got away with Cassie, but between the knife wound and the silver, he was too weak to help even himself. He crawled into an alcove and went to sleep.

  His eyes snapped open, and he had no idea how long he’d been asleep. He crawled to the front of the alcove and peered out. A faint light with pinkish hues danced off the rock. The sun was almost down, it was time to leave.

  Once outside, he found himself planted on a narrow ledge with no way to detect his enemy. The silver blocked everything. He would have to fight the old fashion way.

  He crawled along the ledge for several yards until he spotted a Draki walking toward him.

  Grabbing a rock, he crouched, and when the Draki walked past, he jumped on his back, smashing the pointed end of the rock into the back of the man’s skull. The shifter slipped to the ground, the trauma not enough to kill him so Marcus rolled him off the edge of the cliff. He’d still live, but it would take him days to regenerate from the numerous broken bones the fall would leave.

  He stood, looked around and saw no one else so moved forward down the trail, certain there would be at least one more Draki on the mountain.

  He stumbled and nearly fell, the knife wound leaving a trail for the enemy to follow. In his weakened state, he wasn’t even sure where
he was going. Only that he needed to get off the mountain. Maybe I can get back to the forest and at least catch some game for nourishment. It was his only hope.

  A Draki jumped out and swung his sword. Luckily, his reflexes were quick enough he was able to duck before losing his head. However, the motion had set him off balance, and he fell to the ground. Weak and without weapons, he would never survive a direct assault. The Draki flexed his arms to make another swing. Marcus was too weak to roll out of the way, but he made eye contact with the dragon.

  “I’m not your enemy.”

  “Tell that to my brother who lies in a broken heap at the foot of this mountain.”

  Marcus coughed up blood. “I only defended myself. We did not start this war with you.”

  The Draki’s eyes swirled dark. “You started it by accusing our leader of murder. We will finish it.” He swung but never made contact. His head flew into the air.

  Marcus looked up at the hand held out to him. “It’s about fucking time you showed up.”

  “Such gratitude, my friend,” Aidyn replied.

  He accepted the king’s hand and stood. “I need to get these off,” he said, holding out his silver encased wrists.

  Aidyn flashed a wicked grin. “Lucky for you we have just the tool for that.”

  “Figures you’d be lying around on the job while we do all the work.” Baal stepped from behind Aidyn.

  He let a breath escape. “Am I ever glad to see you.” He held his wrists out to Baal. The demon placed his hands on the silver, chanted and the cuffs fell to the ground.

  “Thanks, I owe you one.”

  Baal shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. Now, shall we go get your mate?”

  * * * *

  Marcus paced Aidyn’s office while the other warriors sat and watched. He had taken blood and was almost back to normal. Now he needed his mate. He was edgy and ready to snap. He needed the fight, the blackness in his soul shifted as if to agree.

  “I need to find Cassie.”

  Aidyn looked up from his desk. “As soon as Baal gets back with the intel we need.”

  Marcus snarled then sighed. “Aidyn, I need to speak with you privately.”