I ignored the reactions to my arrival as my guards all dropped to one knee and kept their heads lowered with their weapons held in front of them. The sign of submission would have been a welcomed sight any other time but right now, there was no time for an egotistical mind. I was here for one reason and one reason only…
I wanted my fucking woman back!
“Ah, so the prodigal son returns at last, to what do we owe this royal visit?” My second in command said rising from the horn covered throne, one made from the remains of my enemies and a crude reminder to all who foolishly thought about ever crossing me. I made my way across the vast gleaming white space in seconds and took the steps up to my throne three at a time before granting the cocky bastard my answer.
“I have come here to hunt,” I told him making him raise a brow in question, but it was one for now I didn’t add an answer too.
“Now I am intrigued,” was his reply, to which my own response was,
“All in good time, Šeš, but for now, there is only one thing I need…or should I say three.” He granted me a knowing grin that morphed into a cunning smile the moment I finished my order…
“I need to call in a vow of those blood bound…” I looked back towards the doors and said…
“Get me, the McBain Brothers.”
9
Family Connections
“The McBain brothers are out on assignment…exactly what is this about?” My second asked the moment my displeasure was shown with my scowl.
“Where are they?” I asked ignoring his question making him sigh as he flicked out the length of his jacket, one I knew was made from the Basilisk he slayed. A proud moment seeing as the King of serpents was wreaking havoc throughout my land and well, in short, was one hard mother fucker to kill. This was because he had the power to cause death with a single glance and therefore had to be fought blind. But then, my Šeš wasn’t without his own skills. Meaning that after many had failed to bring the reptilian looking King to heel, he decided to take matters into his own hands. It was only one of the many reasons he was fit to rule in my absence, as he was never afraid to get his hands dirty to do what needed to be done.
He sat back down, now choosing a smaller throne that was situated next to the horned one fit for that of the Vampire King. I would have rolled my eyes at the theatrics of it all, not giving two shits about where the fuck he sat. However, he knew as well as I did that this pretence was needed, for fear was the only thing that kept my kingdom in line down here. But then I guess the same could be said for the mortal world, as take Adam for instance. He was rarely able to be himself in front of me when others were around, being more of a brother to me than anything else. For there were few who knew the real foundations of our friendship, and looking at my second in command right now well, there were even fewer knew who he really was to me.
It was easier that way.
Fuck but not even Dominic Draven knew who he really was, and I had spent most of my years on mortal soil as his right hand man, being to him what Adam was to me. We had once been friends before we were each other’s greatest enemy. As for now…Gods, but seeing as he now knew I was fucking his daughter, then really, who the fuck really knew what was going on in his mind. I was still expecting the brutal bastard to try and kill me when I least expected it. In fact, if it hadn’t been that his wife’s life was tied to my own, then I knew he would have tried long ago despite killing a whole race of demonic life.
But emphasis on the word tied, for after the Triple Goddess ritual, and Malphas’ failure on becoming a God, then we were evenly matched. Even if I hadn’t been the only one with the power to manipulate his mind, our fates had made us equals for a reason.
My second’s voice brought me back to the reason I was here.
“They are trying to sort out that mess between the rooted soul breeders and Arachne and her army…again,” he said sighing in reply to my answer, and even I had to roll my eyes at the hundred-year-old feud between the neighbouring forest lands. But then this was Arachne we were discussing and let’s just say the Spider Queen was a title she granted herself. For she only ruled over those she created, her own children.
The two forests were on the border of my realm and therefore it was my responsibility to keep it in check, for their war often seeped out into my lands and involved my people. Arachne had once been a mortal and was the daughter of Idmon. She was said to be the most talented tapestry maker and foolishly, to hold the claim, challenged Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and Crafts to a weaving contest. But that was her downfall for no one challenged the Gods without repercussions and hers ended up costing more than just her mortal life.
This was because when Athena found no flaws in her work the Goddess became enraged, as their egos were everything to them. To be worshipped was what gave a God their power and when one was beaten by a mortal, then that worship always slipped a little, meaning Athena had to make an example out of her to keep her worship intact. Doing so even if it was done through the strength of fear. Because some Gods may reside in Heaven but not all are heavenly and pure. After all, Hell wasn’t the only place that used fear as a means of control.
Fucking hypocrites the lot of them!
The Goddess beat her in front of everyone who had once been in awe of her talent and cursed her. Arachne hung herself out of shame and upon her sinful death, the curse transformed her mortal body, forever imprisoning her in the body of a demonic spider she had no hope of ever escaping from. Instead, she was forced to become a breeder for the creature she was given to and as a result, found herself being impregnated every day of her damned eternal life.
In a nutshell, this meant that it was no wonder she was constantly pissed at the world. But the lesson was delivered loud and clear, becoming a cautionary tale in warning mortals not to place themselves on an equal level with the Gods.
However, for me it was, as usual, bad fucking timing!
“Get a message to them, use the eye if you have to.” At this my second in command answered me first with a raise of his brow in surprise, for no one was permitted to use the eye, not even him. So, to be granted access to it was soon about to call my bluff.
“The Eye of Crimson was gifted for your use only, which means it must be something very fucking important for you to grant…”
“I am well aware of my position, Šeš, I do not need a history lesson. Just use the fucking thing to get a message to them.”
“And that message would be?” His question made me sigh and I knew this was the time to bullshit through my teeth as it was too dangerous to reveal the truth. Which was why I told him,
“A witch is fucking with me and stole my favourite mortal slave.” His look said it all and his lips twitching to hold back a smile said a whole lot more.
“I was always under the assumption that you hated mortals and the females weren’t exactly to your liking for feeding from either.” I swallowed down the urge to snap that I didn’t have time for this shit and instead forced myself to play it as cold as I could physically force it to sound.
“There is always the exception to that rule and this one just so happens to fit my cock nicely. I also spent a great deal of time training her to fit my needs perfectly.”
“Who the fuck cares, just train another, after all, that is half the fun,” he said with a flick of his hand as if he were merely talking about the simple sexual use of a body to fuck. I would have growled and punched my gauntleted covered fist through the nearest wall at just the idea of replacing my girl, but thankfully I kept it somewhat calm enough to keep up the pretence.
“I don’t want to train another, what I want is to retrieve what was stolen from me and punish those who dare take what is mine!” I snapped with a bite of frustration.
“How was this mortal even transported here, by all rights she should be dead…unless there is something about this one you are not telling me…fated by the Gods perhaps?” Fuck, but I forgot how perceptive my Šeš was!
“I don’t kn
ow how, but just before I ram my fist down the bitch’s throat I will ask how she managed to send her here…in the meantime I want my slave back and I want her back fucking now!” This time I let my anger flow and hammered a fist down on one of the largest horns at the arm rest, crushing it and making the golden tip clatter to the floor and echo around the large space.
“Alright, I get the point, I will contact the McBain brothers but the Eye isn’t necessary, for my mage will contact them, as I am sure finding the only living mortal running around your realm won’t be too hard to find…that is, if she is running around in your realm?” His question caught me off guard and I couldn’t help but mutter,
“I fucking hope so.” He raised a questioning brow at this but thankfully didn’t push me into answering why it was so important to me. The truth was I didn’t know where she could be, for the Keepers had only hinted at it being in my realm as she wasn’t drawn to this place as I was. Hell, it was like he had said, as a mortal she shouldn’t even be here. But then again, if it was fated by the Gods, then being mortal wouldn’t be a factor, for the power of the Fates was everything in this world.
“You know what they will ask for in return,” he reminded me and to be honest, I couldn’t give a fuck what it cost me to get her back, I was willing to pay it tenfold!
“If she is returned back to me unharmed, then they can consider their blood vow fulfilled.”
“Are you serious?!” He snapped making me grant him a look that told him to be careful in how he spoke to me.
“Are you questioning me?” I warned. He ran a frustrated hand at the back of his neck and took a breath.
“No, I am merely asking you if a piece of mortal pussy is worth the strongest shifters in Hell?” At this I nearly lost it and in doing so would have revealed that she was much more than just some mortal pussy. Thankfully, I had enough sense to wisely hold back. After all, this was all just an act I was forced to play out.
“Those royal shifters have been bound to me for long enough. It is time they start fulfilling their own destinies and there is no better cause for them in doing so now by serving me this one last time. Besides, Trice grows stronger and stronger each passing decade and is fuelled by his bitter hatred for being bound to me.”
“You have a point there,” he muttered before I carried on.
“Yes and that bitterness will either have the power to destroy himself and his brothers or it will be enough to do damage to my kingdom, either one would be a waste, as it would only end in their death and my annoyance at our having to rebuild…neither of these I have the patience or time for,” I said making yet another point.
“Nor I,” he agreed even without knowing the full extent of bad timing. Which meant that as my second in command he really needed to be informed of what was happening regarding the witch, someone who was making it her mission to destroy my life and everyone connected to it. I also knew that the sooner I discovered her identity then the sooner I could discover her weaknesses and use them against her. Everyone had a weakness in some way, and up until Amelia, then I had prided myself on having none. Which was why I knew how vital it was to keep her true identity unknown, even from the man I had appointed to run my kingdom. Because as much as I trusted him to rule in my place, I didn’t trust him when it came to the one being I wanted to keep her secret from the most…
Lucifer.
“Where is Carn’reau?” I asked after the commander of my armies, the once dark Fae Prince and banished rightful ruler of his Elemental world. The reasons for his banishment were never made known to me and in truth, I hadn’t cared enough to find out. All I cared for is that he offered his loyalty to me and with it the army he brought with him that was banished as well. Of course, his loyalty came with some perks on both sides, for the exchange in power was a welcomed bonus. This was because my blood granted him more power than those of his brethren, including his brothers. As for my gain, other than that of his army, were his extreme fighting skills and experience in war, for he was to this date unbeaten in battle.
It was why I made him commander of all my own armies, not just the one he brought with him upon leaving his world. The new training methods he enforced meant that my kingdom was in fact one of only few claimed to be the most powerful in all of Hell. Fuck, but the reason Lucifer was so twitchy around me these last few hundred years was because my strength was only increasing, in both my own supernatural abilities and the strength of my forces. But then that was what happened when you spent your time obsessed with trying to create the most powerful beings to add to your collection…sometimes, you succeeded.
“He is as he should be, preparing to charge into battle on the Shadowlands at first light, you know the piece of land we have been trying to claim for the last three hundred turns of the sky.” I hissed a curse under my breath and said the unthinkable,
“Postpone the war.”
“What?!” he snapped back incredulously.
“You heard me, have them pull back and postpone the campaign.” I repeated making his green eyes spark with anger.
“But we are so close to winning this—” he started to argue, one I stopped in its tracks before he went too far.
“You. Heard. Me.” At this he sighed and wisely gave up the fight after first looking around the room and realising we weren’t free to have this open conversation the way he obviously wished we were.
“And your orders for them?” He asked in a now tense tone.
“I want them to march throughout the towns, search every fucking house, inn, every fucking hole in the ground, I don’t fucking care, I just want her found!” I snapped having long done with this conversation.
“And the Shadowlands?” I released a sigh and said,
“Once this is all over, I will speak with their King, for this is a mess he should have sorted out himself by now.” And it was, fucking big bastard of a Viking. The King of Shadows and the keeper of the Ouroboros had not long since stepped up to the claim of his chaotic Kingdom. One that had spent its near entirety without a leader and therefore was constantly at war with itself along with everyone else in Hell. It was a huge realm and bordered my own from the North. Which meant I’d had no choice but to take control of what I could and try to claim the rest, a kingdom I did not fucking want!
No, what I wanted was for the big bastard to get his ass down here and sort his own shit out, despite his reasons for not wanting to. This being said, to give him his due, he had at the very least stepped up and accepted his fate, doing so with little choice if he wanted to keep his own Chosen One. But his work was only half done and if he didn’t act soon then I would be claiming his land by force once and for all.
One look at his face and I knew my Šeš wanted to argue further on the matter and to be honest, I couldn’t really blame him. Not considering we had been planning this for nearly a Hell’s year. But nothing was more important than this, and right now, Hell could go and fuck itself for all I cared.
“And do you have any idea where this slave girl of yours is or are we just declaring her the most hunted female in all of Hell’s realms?” His question made me grit my teeth and hold myself back from commanding this decree, for I wanted her back where she belonged, and I wanted her back now. But with that being said, I still knew the dangers that would follow in making it known to my kingdom what the importance of finding her would be. For some would find it a rare opportunity to exploit what would naturally be assumed was a weakness of mine. This no doubt only ending in her becoming used as a bargaining tool or even worse, a means for revenge.
Caution was definitely key here and having to balance that and using what resources I had without putting her in jeopardy was going to be a challenge. Which was why I needed to be out there trying to find her myself and doing so whilst at the same time praying I wasn’t too fucking late already!
“No, I don’t know for sure, but I know one being that might. In the meantime, I want this kept between those bound to me and who I have chosen to be charged
with finding her,” I told him, knowing that by doing so would cause reason for suspicion in itself, for my second was far from stupid.
“And what of the witch?” he chose to ask instead.
“What of her?” I barked in annoyance, knowing my patience for speaking of that bitch wasn’t going to last long.
“Well, it stands to reason should she go this far to piss you off, doing so enough for you to come all the way down here, then surely her limits won’t end there…how do we know this isn’t just all part of her plan?” I thought on that a moment, for I knew that to go into details right now then I would only be in danger of exposing Amelia too soon. Something I couldn’t risk until at the very least she was found and safely back by my side. After that, then we could tackle the next shit thrown our way but until then, I had to be careful. Which was why I gave him a vague answer,
“We don’t know that it isn’t part of her plan, which is why we act on the side of caution. But even then, the rule stands that the mortal girl is not to be touched or harmed in anyway, for only I will decide her fate and that of her punishment…is that understood?” I asked in a tone that spoke of my anger should these wishes not be carried out.
“It will be known,” he replied with the tick in his jaw unmistakable. He too was losing patience knowing that he was purposely being kept in the dark.
“Good,” I replied turning to leave and only stopping when he suddenly asked,
“And this being who might know where she is, where will you find them, for if I need to reach you?” I paused and turned slightly to look back at him without my horns getting in the way. Then I told him,
Eyes Of Crimson : Vampire Paranormal Romance (Transfusion Saga Book 8) Page 9