Lucius’ sigil.
How the hell had I missed that from when I first arrived at this Gods forsaken place! I flinched when he suddenly tore it down and dragged the length of it behind him back to his throne where he dumped the mound of it at the foot of his colossal horned seat. Then it became clear his intentions as he nodded down to it and so everyone could hear, he ordered,
“You can sit there, my slave, for we wouldn’t want you going numb before your punishment, now would we?” Then he grinned and welcomed the room of sniggers that hit my eyes along with the wave of sound. But then, with a brief look, I could see there were at least three men in the room not looking as amused as the rest.
The McBain brothers.
I didn’t know where Vern and Gryph had been before, but they were just stepping up behind Trice, and I could see from here when Vern started whispering something in his brother’s ear.
“I said sit!” Lucius bellowed suddenly making me jump before doing as he asked. Meaning that had I had no other option than to lower to the pile of material, that I had to say, was far better than the cold, hard white marble that seemed to mimic the King who owned it.
Although saying that, if he had truly been as cold and hard as he appeared to his people, why care about my comfort at all? And admittedly, had he not been acting like an asshole I wanted to kick in the balls, then I would have preferred his lap. But as things stood, then the reasons for his behaviour had better be good, for I was definitely close to losing my shit, King in Hell or not!
So instead of being allowed to do what I wanted to do, which was slapping him before just walking out of there, I swallowed the urge and sat at his feet like a Gods be damned Pet! And I did this hating every fucking second of it! I was a Draven for Gods sake! I sat at no man’s feet and doing so, well…it went so very far beyond the ingrained self-respect in my soul, that I found myself fisting my hands just to prevent myself from lashing out. Something that would grant only a moment of satisfaction and become nothing more than a lapse in weakness and stupidity, for the outcome would not have been worth it.
However, fisting my hand in anger was what made me remember that my hand was still bleeding as I felt the blood trickling down my palm. So, I looked down at the small cut on the pad of my index finger and raised it to my mouth to suck.
Damn leash!
At the same time, I looked at the man who obviously was someone important in Lucius’ world and I had to question, was this who he had chosen to rule in his absence? I was sure I remembered Lucius saying something about this once. It would make sense seeing as I had found him sitting on Lucius’ throne when I was first marched through those doors. And after what he had said, it was also obvious that at the time I was being thrown into a cell, Lucius had been out there looking for me himself.
Now all I needed was a name to go with the annoyingly handsome face that had accused me of being a witch. He was dressed the same as when I had first arrived, in his cloak style jacket that reached the floor in points at his feet. At first I had thought it was just some kind of black material, but with the shimmer of silver I could now see, then I realised it was from some kind of scaled animal skin of the likes I had never seen. And most likely I never would as it was no doubt from some poor unfortunate demonic beast that had seen his death at the end of the sword I could now see attached to his side.
It was one that was distinctively curved and deadly, being one I recognised instantly as a shamshir. In fact, it was a sword I knew well as my father had many variations in his collection seeing as it was a Persian sword. Its name even meant ‘lion’s fang’ in the Persian language, no doubt due to its distinct shape. It was a one-handed, curved sword that featured a slim blade and had almost no taper until its very tip. I also knew from experience that you had to be very skilled to fight well with it, as it was normally used for slashing an unarmoured opponent.
This was because it wouldn’t do much damage against one dressed in armour and whilst the tip could be used for thrusting, the drastic curvature of blade made accuracy more difficult. Hence the need for skill, which was just a hunch here, but I gathered that whoever Lucius had trusted to rule in his place, would no doubt have that particular skill set in spades.
But looking at that sword and then back at his face, I could now see the connection, as his vessel most definitely looked to have Persian descent. Like the warm bronze skin that covered an abundance of muscles, and a shade darker than my sun-kissed tan. It was also the dark hair that was styled back and brushed the tops of his shoulders in its length. The almond shape to his olive green and amber eyes, that spoke of his vessel’s heritage. But then, like Lucius, his new vessel would have changed in time after his rebirth, so the way a person looked often meant nothing.
However, it was when I was studying his chosen right-hand man, that I felt a pair of crimson eyes on me. My first clue to this was when the man in question paused what he was saying and looked at me. I then felt the slight tug at my neck and was forced to move with it, which brought me closer to Lucius. Meaning that I was forced to my knees when at the same time he gave me his reason why,
“Your blood is not your own, Pet…But. It. Is. Mine.” Lucius said, emphasizing the last four words with every tug on the leash that forced me a knee step closer. This continued, forcing me forward until I found myself against his armoured leg, one that mirrored the rest of the layers of plated metal that covered his body. Thankfully, the bend of his knee was the only place that held a dangerous point, so I was spared that uncomfortable experience.
But then he snapped me out of staring at his leg as he held out his hand, obviously expecting something of me and because I wasn’t quick enough, he told me,
“I suggest you give me what I demand of you before I decide to slit a vein and quench a much deeper thirst.” I slowly looked up at him with wide eyes, at the same time swallowing hard. But I found myself wondering if he would, which was why I was almost tempted to push him. But despite being curious to see what would happen I stopped myself knowing the precarious position my open defiance would put him in. Because forcing him into action wasn’t the wisest decision just then. Hence why I did as I was told, playing the good little pet and placed my bleeding hand in his. One that was quickly lifted to his mouth and before I found my finger in there, he simply ordered,
“Continue.” This I soon realised was said for the man next to us to continue in what he was saying before my actions took Lucius’ attention away from him. Which meant that during this conversation I also found myself becoming a little snack for a Vampire King. But despite how pissed off I was, I still had to force back the moan of pleasure it created as he sucked my finger into his mouth and pulled what little blood he could from the small wound. I felt the heat invade my cheeks as I was made to sit there squirming and staring out at the crowd, trying everything now to ignore the hungry eyes of hundreds. But it was mainly the pair of angry eyes that was trying to catch my own in the crowd that I forced myself to ignore, as Trice was making it his mission to be obvious.
But then something in this must have occurred to Lucius as he suddenly let go of my finger, before licking at the wound and sealing it. Then he stood and with one swift action, he circled a length of the spiked leash around his hand before pulling it taut, so I had no choice but to regain my feet. Then he declared loudly,
“That little taste of you put me in mind for something stronger, for the blood between your legs will do nicely.” I gasped at his crass announcement at the same time he yanked hard enough that I fell into his side. Then he grasped my chin, to force my head back, making me look up at him. This ended up putting us only inches apart as he too had lowered his own head, at least enough that his greater height would allow. The two massive horns at his back, that his wings were attached to, created a looming and sinister shadow over me. I therefore held my breath, as in that brief, dark moment, I thought he was going to kiss me. Especially as his crimson eyes burned into mine, the scorching heat in them having not
hing to do with Hell, but only for his desire to have me.
But then, at the last second, he turned my face away so he could snarl into my cheek before biting it. Thankfully, he didn’t break the skin, but it stung all the same. However, he then made a show of licking it, and groaning, telling the entire room,
“Mmm, I am going to enjoy biting into this flesh once more.” Then without taking his intense gaze from mine, he said,
“Šeš, you have the throne.”
After this he let me go suddenly, making me nearly stumble forward and only catching myself in time before falling flat on my face. And well, let’s just say that I didn’t exactly need to add any more humiliation to the shame train which was full and on its way to mortification town…or should that be the bloody town, one where Lucius was planning on sitting my ass on his dining table, slitting a vein in between my legs and making an erotic meal out of me. And more startling still, what did that say about me if that idea was making me wet?
But then, with a pull of my leash I soon snapped out of it. I had no choice but to start walking as he tugged me along behind him. And despite how demeaning it was, I also knew it could have been worse. I could have been led out of there on my hands and knees, like the Mortal Pet he claimed me to be. Although, when he reached the bottom step, he kicked one of the horns aside and ordered,
“I want those horns dipped in gold and added to my throne before my return, for I have Mortal Pet to reclaim…” He paused and after another tug for me to follow him,
He added dangerously…
“…And a punishment to deliver.”
4
Hard Push
Lucius walked me down the centre with his wings folded tight to the back of his body. The longer lengths were crossed at the bottom, so they remained raised enough from the floor, stopping them from trailing behind him. I also couldn’t help but notice that when the sea of demons parted for us, Trice needed to be jerked backwards. This was thanks to Gryph as he grabbed a fistful of his shirt and yanked him back. Thankfully, this stopped him from doing anything stupid as I could see for myself that Trice had instinctively placed his hand on the hilt of his sword as we went past.
However, I wasn’t the only one to see this, as Lucius’ keen eye first looked to Trice and then back to the place the angry looking McBain brother had his gaze rooted to…which just so happened to be troublesome little me. Lucius snarled angrily their way before snapping back at me,
“Eyes on your fucking feet, girl!” I did as I was told, as I was led from the room, with the last image on my mind being Gryph and the slowly healing Vern whispering to their brother. This was no doubt trying to convince him not to do something suicidal. And if one thing this little scene told me, it was that I needed to explain things with Trice, and soon. Something that was obviously depending on which Lucius I found myself with once we were behind closed doors. Because I didn’t want to get Trice hurt, but I also knew that for me to say nothing, could potentially be more dangerous as his temper rose, and with it, his angry King’s.
Gods, but talk about being in between a rock and a hard place, this was more like being between brimstone and a Hell’s fortress. One he was walking me through right now and the moment we were on the other side, he gave me a slight tug, pulling me closer to his side. This was so he had the slack of the leash enough to push a pair of double doors open with both hands, making the armour at his shoulders lift and I jumped at the echoing crack of sound.
Oh yeah, Lucius was pissed.
These doors were different to the ones I had walked through when first entering his fortress, and it made me wonder how I had missed them when I first arrived. They were situated on the left-hand side and were at least twenty feet high, with each side decorated in a crude puzzle of broken black glass. It was also the ones that before they opened, I had just made out the image of a tall black shard. A symbol I wouldn´t fully understand until I would reach my destination. However, it sort of resembled the building itself, only from the outside as it had looked like a group of giant shard shaped skyscrapers all linked together. This was by a network of impossibly high narrow walkways that from the ground had looked more like veins feeding the largest building we were inside now.
Although, once through these doors, it showed the true nature of just how high the buildings were, as it had opened up to a gigantic spiral staircase that was so high you couldn’t see the top. Wow, I guess Hell didn’t believe in elevators. But then one look at his wings folded at his back, then this wasn’t exactly surprising seeing as most wouldn’t need them. Jeez, just looking at the number of steps, and I knew it would most likely take an average person a whole day to get up them, maybe more.
But seeing as Hell wasn’t exactly brimming over with ‘average people’ then I guess this wasn’t ever a problem. And well, it would most certainly help in keeping low ranking demons in their place, for the demonic opulence wasn’t lost on me, even if it was only a staircase.
The startling white marble extended from the throne room into this space that was a mixture of smooth and rough, with the walls being a collection of jagged shards. These all reached upwards like white pointed fingers overlapping the layers beneath. This space was then framed by a giant spiral of highly polished stairs that weren’t exactly conventional. In fact, they looked more like shards that had fallen away from the rest of the walls and stopped when they got to a ninety-degree angle. This then created a bridged effect as they slightly overlapped forming a spiral of ledges that created the staircase.
It was utterly stunning.
The space itself would have been big enough to get an eighty-foot yacht inside, with room to spare. I also quickly noted that when looking up the centre, it looked as if you were stood at the mouth of a colossal beast. One that was about to swallow you whole with an endless mass of spiralled teeth. This was because there was no handrail to speak of. And even though I was not the type to be scared of heights, I just knew the higher up I travelled, the more that fear would develop into something that had the potential to cripple me.
Which was why I couldn’t help myself when I told him,
“If you expect me to take the stairs, I will be ten years older and completely grey from fear by the time I reach the top.” He glanced back at me and I could just make out the slight smirk that graced his lips. Then he rotated his arm, making the leash tighten as it looped his forearm once more. This action suddenly jerked me forward until I had no choice but to go falling into him, making me land hard against his chest. I tentatively looked up at him with wide eyes, needing now to tip my head right back due to the increased foot in height. I also found myself holding my breath as he slowly reached down and banded an arm around my waist before lifting me up. Then I let out a little yelp in surprise when his wings expanded out to their full width and he told me,
“Don’t worry, Pet, I don’t plan on letting you wait that long for your punishment.” This statement quickly took my breath away, both from his words and his actions, as he finished his sentence by abruptly launching us straight up into the air. His hold on me then tightened as his wings tilted us slightly so they were at the right angle to manipulate the air beneath them. At the same time I was still left with my mouth open on a silent scream of shock, despite it being something I had been expecting, thanks to his slight warning.
But then this whole experience was like watching a horror slasher movie. The type when the nervous looking girl goes searching around the abandoned house asking stupidly, ‘is anyone there?’. Then the moment the music changes, you know something is coming. Meaning that every corner she walks around, you then expect the fright to jump out and catch your breath with a scream. That was exactly what being in Hell was like, only instead of lasting minutes as a scene in a movie, it was…All. The. Freaking. Time!
Although, right now I had to say that being like this, in Lucius’ arms and with him holding me so tight, it felt like I had finally been rescued from this awful place. Of course, it helped that he no
longer held that cruel glint in his eyes. As all I had to do now was close my eyes and pretend that I actually had my Vampire King back, which was precisely what I did.
But then as the air pushing back against my face eased, I knew my brief moment of comfort was at an end, something that was confirmed when I had no choice but to open my eyes again. And the second I did had me nearly screaming once again, as I was left looking down the height of a skyscraper. It was so high that if I had still been stood at the bottom then I would have looked like an ant!
I was about to question why he stopped, clinging onto him until my muscles ached and my fingers actually started to hurt. This was because I found nothing soft for them to grip on to, having only the hard edges of his amour to anchor myself to. I instantly started to miss the tee and jean’s version of Lucius I usually had to cling onto but then like this…well, he couldn’t have been further from those fond memories, as they were oceans apart.
“Holy shit!” I shouted when the fear got too much to ignore. This made the sadistic bastard chuckle, only when coming from his demon it sounded deeper and more like some beastly purr. I tightened my limbs around him and braved another look down only to find that the staircase had come to an end. The last fallen shard had met with a large platform and one that led to an arched open doorway. An archway that was created by two thicker shards creating an upturned V shape that crossed at the top. It was so big that you could have driven a bus through there. This was the same as the other doorways, ones that I could now see were intermittently situated down the spiral of stairs. It didn’t take a genius to assume that these archways must have led to different parts of the castle. However, the one closest to the top was only a few invisible steps away from the hovering form of Lucius and I, and being that it was the very last one, it marked the end of the staircase.
Eyes Of Crimson : Vampire Paranormal Romance (Transfusion Saga Book 8) Page 4