Bound in Darkness

Friday, October 13, 2017

Kaj Courtenay

“Son of a bitch!”

“Holy shit!”

“Tell me he’s still alive, bro!”

I had to wonder about the last one. If sheer, endless agony meant I was alive, then yeppers. I was most definitely in the land of the living.

Had to be, right? Otherwise I wouldn’t be listening to Obsidian’s fool brothers ramble incessantly about whether or not I had succumbed to the lead shower I’d found myself in the middle of.

Not just one bullet. Oh, no. I’d never get that lucky. If memory served—and that was a bit iffy right now—there were at minimum three pieces of lead stuck somewhere in my torso. Likely in my lung since breathing was a bit more difficult than usual.

Oh, look at me playing the eternal optimist. Must still be kicking.

Fuck that. I was on fucking fire, every goddamn inch of me.

The blaze of agony had started somewhere in my chest and was now catching up with the rest of me. Good news… I could no longer feel my feet, so there was some relief there.

“Find Acadia!” Obsidian shouted, though who he was talking to I had no idea. “Right now!”

Breathe. Just breathe. In … out … in—

“I’m here, Obsidian.”

Holy shit. Now that was the voice of an angel. Too bad I couldn’t open my eyes to see her.

“How may I assist?”

Perhaps a bit more effort was required, because, heaven help me, I wanted to see her.

Try, try, try again.

Nope. Eyes won’t work. What now?

Oh, right.

Thanks be to the Almighty, my sense of smell wasn’t broken, so I turned my face in the direction of the soft scent of … well, I didn’t know what it smelled like, but it was the best thing my sinuses had ever pulled through them.

“I’ve got to get the bullets out,” Obsidian grumbled, that deep, rumbling voice close. “He’ll need blood.”

Yes. Bullets out, blood in. Good plan, big guy.

“It would be my pleasure,” the female intoned.

Heaven. I was pretty sure her voice was the sound made by all those harps in Heaven.

That lovely cadence drifted amongst the clouds currently filling my mind.

Not clouds, more like fog, growing thicker with every passing second. Perhaps I was hovering between Earth and Heaven, stuck in a state of limbo. Obsidian was down on the mainland while that female was drifting high in the clouds. If I was dangling somewhere in between, I was ready to follow her, wherever she was. Please and thank you.

“Where do you need me?” the angelic voice asked.

“Right there’s fine,” Obsidian responded.

I could imagine a halo ringing her head, casting a beautiful glow over her as she floated effortlessly on white, billowy— The image I was trying to conjure in my mind was obliterated by a blinding pain spearing my chest.

“Hey, Kaj. I can’t promise this won’t hurt,” Obsidian stated.

More than this? Yeah. Doubtful. A grumble was all I could manage, the words in my head not being relayed to my mouth.

“Don’t touch him until I’m finished.” Obsidian’s tone held an air of concern.

Who? Who was the big bastard talking to? The angel? No, I wanted her to touch me. Right now would be fine. She could carry me right off into the afterlife.

Surely this was the end for me. At least I was going out on a high note. Those demons might’ve nailed me where it counted, but I’d eliminated at least two dozen before I gave up the ghost. Proved myself to the male I’d come to consider a friend. A fucking angel, of all things. Never in my life had I thought I’d be cozied up to the feathered type, but hey, I was open-minded like that.

As the fire blazed through me, I briefly wondered whether someone would tell my father I was gone. Would Kardobahn mourn me? Yes, I decided. Perhaps we hadn’t always been close, but I had a good relationship with my father and the new female Kardobahn had mated a few years back. There was no lingering animosity between us. Probably helped that, aside from being his oldest son, I was Kardobahn’s adighrielin, the advisor to the vampire Alpha. To add another title to the list: leader of the Zenith. It had taken centuries, but I had finally proven my worth to my father. Surely that would mean something.

“Kaj, brother, I need you to take a deep breath.”

The cold that raced over my skin said a deep breath likely wouldn’t do any good. I was fading quickly, and truth was, I was ready. Not because I wanted to vacate my current life. No, I was content with how things were. Not necessarily happy, no. But I had no complaints. It had been a good life and I’d accomplished much in my five hundred-plus years on Earth. I was ready for the—

Mother.

Fucker.

The pain that lanced me took hold of my internal organs and … twisted, yanked, pulled—Holy. Fuck.—then jerked for good measure.

Good news was, my breath was soughing in and out of my lungs. Probably meant I was still kicking. Maybe.

Then there was another wrenching tug and the breathing thing…? Not all that important.

Ohfuckohfuckohfuckoh … fucking … hell!

I was aware of a piercing sound splitting the air around me. It coincided with the way my body splintered. Fire blazed through me as I was pulled in all directions, my insides churning, blistering as that inferno consumed me from head to toe. It went on for an eternity, then another until I was convinced I had died, but rather than go up, I was shot down to Hell, left to rot in the bowels of that fiery shithole.

“Breathe, Kaj.”

The shrill noise halted, and I realized—sadly, mind you—I’d been screaming like a little bitch.

Lovely.

A soft hand swept over my forehead, once, twice.

The agony still ripped through me, but it was somehow bearable with her touch.

“He needs to feed,” a male voice noted.

Obsidian. Still there. True friend he was. Minus the whole ripping-my-insides-to-shreds thing.

“I’ll take care of him,” the female replied, that lyrical voice my lifeline.

“When you need to feed,” Obsidian stated, his voice directed elsewhere, “I want you to come find me.” A strong hand pressed gently against my shoulder. “And you, my friend, will be good as new in no time. The bullets are removed, all four of them. Now you need to recuperate.”

I gave a whole-hearted effort at opening my eyes. Not because I cared to see Obsidian leaning over me. No, I was interested in the female. The sweet, angelic female…

Before I could catch a glimpse of her, the darkness pulled me under.

Damn good thing vampires healed quickly.

That was my first thought when I came to in a dimly lit bedroom that was decorated in crimson and overlaid with swirly, silver doodads, an odd combination to the eye. Kinda made me nauseous.

At least the bed I lay on was soft, the comforter warm. The air smelled of cherry blossoms and the lightest hint of sandalwood, the combination going right to my head. A fire crackled in the hearth, warming the room and adding a weird ambience.

My attention was drawn to the door. It opened on a whisper, closed the same. My ears registered bare feet padding over hardwood, then drifting as they moved onto what I assumed was a rug.

“Perhaps you’ll wake for morning meal this night,” that sweet cadence relayed, filling the otherwise silent room.

It was in that moment I finally laid eyes on the female whose voice had lived in my dreams ever since I passed out earlier. She’d remained a fixation in my mind through the hours it took for the torment within my body to subside. Good news was, the pain was gone—mostly—and she was not. So either I was in Heaven, or she wasn’t some angel who’d been sent to carry me home.

Honestly, I hoped for the latter. Lots still to do on this big hunk of rock.

I kept my lids low so I could watch as she set a tray down on the bedside table. She was startlingly beautiful. Dark brown hair piled high on her head and held there with some sort of colorful stick. The wisps that fluttered down around her face were a delectable contrast to her fair skin.

As though she sensed me, her head tilted my way and I saw her eyes for the first time. They were a translucent purple, and I was instantly reminded of amethyst stones, only her eyes were far more beautiful than any jewel. Radiantly incandescent. Was that a real thing? Yes, I decided. It was now.

“Oh, you are awake.” The acknowledgment was communicated softly and without concern.

I continued to watch her. “Tired of me already?”

The soft smile that pulled at her exquisite mouth had a strange feeling erupting inside me.

Her gaze shifted from me to the meal she had produced. “I brought food in the hopes you would wake.” She smiled softly. “In case you were hungry.”

I gave the tray a half-hearted glance. I couldn’t care less about food at the moment, although, now that she mentioned it, my stomach rumbled in direct conflict with my mind. How many hours had passed since I’d had my evening meal? What time was it?

Hating that I was flat on my back, I shifted so I could sit, but the female instantly stopped me, placing her small hand on my chest. My naked chest.

That touch had heat blooming through my entire body.

“Not yet. You need to feed first.”

“I just fed,” I said, my voice coming out raspy, as though I hadn’t used it in a while.

Must’ve been a good nap I’d taken.

“And when might that’ve been?” she prompted

I turned my head, trying to find a clock. “Nightfall,” I told her, though I absolutely had no intentions of going into specifics.

“What day do you think it is?” she questioned, standing tall and peering down at me with concern glittering in her eyes.

“Friday.” I lifted a weak hand, waved it.

“Well, it is Friday, but I don’t think it’s the same Friday you’re thinking of.”

Frowning, I stared up at her, trying to figure out the riddle.

Before I could argue, she shifted her long, flowing skirt and positioned herself so she was perched on the edge of the mattress, body angled toward me while her legs were hanging over the side. There was a shocking grace to her every movement. She tugged the flaring sleeve of her dress back, revealing her delicate wrist. Her skin was so pale I could see the veins beneath.

I considered it for a moment. I rarely took from a female’s wrist or her neck. As a rule, I fed from cosrobols, the blood whores who offered themselves up to me. They were provided by the Alpha, given to the Zenith to do with as they pleased. Because I had no desire to get involved with one of them, I would take from the insides of their thighs, leaving marks that would not be visible to others. Not because I was ashamed that others would find out. I simply didn’t want to see my mark upon them.

However, with this female … I had the strange urge to mark her in more ways than mere puncture wounds upon her skin.

A fierce pain pierced my chest the moment I heard her blood pumping in her veins. Bloodlust? So soon? As my fangs shot out from the roof of my mouth, I realized I was starving.

“Take it,” she offered, shifting her wrist closer.

With my eyes never leaving her face, I reached for her hand. Soft as powder, smooth as silk. I circled her forearm with my other hand, keeping her arm still as I penetrated her with my fangs. She didn’t flinch as I drew from her, nor did she look away.

The second her blood slid down my throat, I felt the power within it. It infused me instantly, bringing to life the rest of my cells, as though they’d been dormant for weeks. My thirst didn’t abate even as I drew more and more from her. Never did I close my eyes, fearful if I did, she might disappear.

By the time I’d had enough to tide me over, there was a strange roaring in my head. I released her from my lips, sealed the wounds on her flesh. And if I lingered a little longer than was appropriate … well, I couldn’t help myself.

“We were starting to worry you wouldn’t wake up,” she said as she lowered her sleeve over her wrist.

“I was due for a nap.” I peered around, trying once more to find a clock.

Finding none, I glanced back at her, noticed she was frowning.

“What?” I asked.

“My lord, you’ve been unconscious for nearly five weeks.”

Wait. Huh? Five weeks?

“Oh, fuck,” I groaned, attempting to push to a sitting position. “Where’re my clothes?”

“Please, my lord,” she said softly, her gentle hand once more on my chest. “Your body needs to rest.”

“I’ve been resting,” I countered with a huff. “For five weeks, apparently. How much longer do I need?”

“With my blood in your veins”—she appeared to be calculating something—“I would say at least another month.”

I watched her, noticing for the first time that there was an oddity to her. Not physically, but on a cellular level.

“You’re not vampire,” I stated.

“No, I am not.”

“Nor are you an angel.”

Her amethyst eyes lowered. “I am Fae, my lord.”

Fae. As in the mystical fairies who were cast out of Heaven by the Almighty above? That Fae? I hadn’t even known they still existed.

“We don’t,” she said, answering a question I thought had only sounded in my head. “Not outside of these walls. My kind has been relegated to serve the warriors and the fiestreigh. There are nineteen of us in total.” Her warm fingers urged me back. “Now, please rest.”

“Serve?” I relaxed into the pillow, realizing I would stay there all night just to hear her voice. “What does that mean?”

“Their blood and sexual needs.”

I refused to acknowledge the dark, possessive rumble that sounded in my chest.

“Would you like me to leave, my lord?”

“What’s your name?”

“Acadia.”

Ah, I remembered now. The most beautiful name I’d ever heard. “And I assume you know mine?” I prompted.

“Of course, my lord.”

I canted my head and smiled. “Then please, Acadia, do refrain from calling me my lord.”

Her answering smile was the first of many that would slowly bring me peace.

Misplaced Halos