A Kiss of Darkness (Gothos Series) (5 page)

Dominic stepped into the chambers of his room; he was wearing only his breeches since he lost the rest of his clothing, including his best boots in a
round of dice. Looking down at the sleeping angel on the bed a smile crept to his lips. She had the covers draped over her body, her bare chest and arms peek-a-booing from the top. A part of him didn’t want to disturb her slumber, but the ache in his breeches reminded him his right as her husband. This wasn’t the first time he has deflowered a virgin before, he had many times enjoyed the spoils of the battlefield and looked into the faces of fathers who thrust their daughters at him in hopes that their own lives would be spared. This situation was different though. The girl laying in such relaxed slumber is his lawful wife.  Reaching out his fingertips caressed her soft skin with the back of his fingertips. “Wake up, my beautiful bride.” He said softly as he gazed down on her face.

Sera’s eyes fluttered open and found her gaze meeting that of Captain Dominic. The color rose in her cheeks as she let out a soft breath, drinking in his handsome face. “I must have fallen asleep” she said drowsily, stifling a little yawn.  He leaned down and brushed his lips to hers, his fingertips slowly moving to touch her sides.  Her fingers came up and caressed his chiseled cheek and smiled softly.  Reaching out he grasped the sheets covering her body and slowly slid it over her skin, his eyes not leaving hers. Sera
shivered despite there being a warm fire in the hearth. Sliding back he undid the lace of his breeches and slid them down, giving her the first look at his nude form. His calves and thighs were toned from the rigors of training and battle. His cock was hard between his legs with a bead of pre-cum clinging to the tip. The mixture of drink and seeing her laying there had aroused him beyond measure. It was difficult for him to control himself gazing at her on the bed. Sera stared at his body fully and felt her breath catch in her throat. Not wanting to seem too eager she took her time to study every inch of his athletic, but somewhat scarred skin. He had a few knick, evidence of battle.  She could see the want in his eyes and knew that he was trying to hold himself back. Stretching out she opened her arms out to welcome him. He easily nestled himself between her slightly opened legs and raised one of her legs smoothly, his hand stroking the underside of it gently. Leaning forward he eased his hardness into her body, taking her virginity without hesitation. Sera’s brow knit at the ache that took a toll through her. Her sister had warned her that a woman’s first time can be very painful, but it would pass and never be experienced again.  Dominic held her leg and bent his face down to nuzzle her tears away. “It’s alright my little dove” he murmured. Feeling the slight pain pass she opened her eyes and looked up at her husband. He smiled at her and started to rock his hips, easing himself deeper in her body, causing her to feel a strange sensation. With each thrust she felt her own body relaxing, filled with a delicious feeling she could not describe. He laid a soft kiss upon her throat then drew one of her pert rose-colored nipples into his mouth. It filled her with an incredible sensation causing her to cry out. His mouth and touch made her to well up with warmth all over. Dominic rolled his hips against hers easing himself, deeper, and deeper. Sera felt that it must be madness as it went on and on leaving her dizzy and delirium with the new sensations he was giving her. Dominic groaned and arched his back as his climax hit him, emptying himself within her. Letting out a deep breath he laid his face against her neck. Sera lay under him catching her breath slowly as he climbed off of her and collapsed at her side, after a moment she heard his soft snoring.  Laying there she stared up at the ceiling unsure what to do with herself now. Sitting up she turned her legs facing the edge of the bed. It was the first time she experienced the ache in her muscles and saw the blood on her thighs. Forcing herself to a standing position she walked to the bath, mustering all the strength she had left.  Sera quickly cleaned herself up and slipped into a nightgown and slid under the covers with him, pulling the covers over her body shivering. The fire had died down by then leaving coolness in the large bedroom.  The lit candles were the only illumination she has. The amulet that her sister had given her still hung between her bare breasts, a habit she would not part from.

The next day Dominic and his soldiers rode off on campaign leaving Sera to take in her new surroundings. The Golgothian Knights lived in the Catacian Complex. It was a sprawling building with high towers and courtyards in the middle, the white marble gleaming when the sun rose.  It was the home of the knights and their family. Sera had woken up to find that her new husband was gone, but knew she should of expected it. Rising from her bed she felt the ache all over her body and saw the droplets of blood on the sheets. Blinking away the sleep from her eye she swung her legs around and placed her bare feet on the floor. The door opened and a girl about fifteen stepped in wearing a very simple brown dress, her hair pulled back in a braid.

“Miss I am sorry to interrupt your rest. My name is Marie. I’m your maid and I will help you if you need anything.” She said her brown eyes lowered in respect. Sera looked at the girl and stretched a bit. “Can you draw me a bath, please?” she asked in reply. Marie nodded her head and hurried to the bath and started to fill it with warm water.  “The Captain is a handsome man. You’re so lucky to be married to him” The young maid said as she put rose and lavender oil.  Sera were surprised by the tone the maid spoke about her new husband, though it could be an innocent comment. She didn’t know why she had a strange nagging feeling in her gut. Casting it aside she walked to the bath and studied Marie’s shining face and polite smile.  “Yes he is” Sera said softly now standing next to the bathtub. Marie reached over and turned off the facet. “He is very popular among the girls in the home. Out of all of the knights he is a devil with an angel’s face” Marie said and curtsied, leaving the room before Sera could question her further on her cryptic words.  Undressing she slid in the water and sat down, feeling her muscles start to relax in the warm water.  Leaning back she let her head lull against her chest a bit, her eyes half closed.  She wore the amulet her sister gave her around her neck that lightly caressed the top of the water.  She started to slip into deep dreams.

A spiraling staircase leading upward toward a grand room. The sunlight glinted through stain glass windows upon the stone steps. At the top of the stairs was a large circular room with a metal staircase in the back. The walls were covered with tapestries and shelves of old leather bound books and scrolls. A roaring fire lay in a white marble fireplace, crackling soothingly. The room had two large arch windows without glass in them. Standing before a long oak desk stood a man. It wasn’t a human man, but a Sythian man. He had pale skin with muscularly beautiful features. He had golden yellow eyes, a slender nose, and his lips thin but full.  The man was dressed in a soft white robe the clung to his muscular form.  On his back were sprouted midnight black wings that were folded slightly. His head was bowed slightly, eyes half closed with a frown tugging at his lips. He stood before a pile of papers looking miserable. Turning he walked to the window and stared out. The ground below was filled with mutilated bodies of other Sythians. Men, women, and children had been horribly slaughtered by someone. This was the reason for this man’s sorrows.

Sera woke up with a start realizing she fell asleep in the tub. The water was freezing cold by then and her skin was all pruned. The dream had startled her and confused her. It was vivid and real as if she had gone up those stairs and seen this man. Sliding out of the water she quickly toweled off and looked at her reflection in the mirror.  Staring at her pale reflection she could have sworn she saw the amulet against her giving off a slight glow. She got dressed and walked down to the high board where lunch had been laid out by the servants. Lamb was roasted with garlic and peppers stew and fresh bread was place out with warm cider and cinnamon sticks to go in it. Sera was surprised to see Markus sitting there leaning back in his chair a bit, his elbows resting on the large table. Upon seeing her he motioned for her to take the seat next to him. Walking over she took a place at his side. “I thought you would be out on campaign with the others” she said, cocking her head to the side slightly. “I decided not to go since my dear Lonia is close to having her baby. The doctor says it will be any day now, and I want to be there to ease her mind.” He replied and gave a relaxed smile. This was highly unorthodox among the men since they usually aren’t even in the room when the blessed event happens. “Choosing to refuse to go on campaign makes me look weak, but I don’t care. Lonia is my angel” he said adamantly as he sat in the chair, a goblet of wine in his hand. Markus would never admit to anyone, not even his wife that he was becoming disenfranchised by battle. He saw no glory in the battlefield anymore. He often didn’t agree with his brother’s methods of torture and he has seen things that he would take to the grave.  Sera sipped her drink looking thoughtful. She touched the amulet around her neck lightly and again was reminded of the vivid dream she had. The being in the dream was a Sythian. She knew from the description she has grown up hearing and from her experience at the village.  In her wild dreams since she had seen them as being horrible monsters that snatched babies from their cribs. The attack on the village they had been blood hungry creatures. The man she saw in her dream though was beautiful and sad. His emotions had moved her greatly, but she wasn’t even sure if what she saw was real or not. It gave her a lot to think about well her new husband was out on campaign.

Dominic sat on the end of the straw bed in the room where he stayed in the small village of Maladus. It was one of the outposts he visited on the boarders the Western Territory.  The Western Territory is where the Sythian, vampires held sway.  He felt like it was trying to get rid of ants under a brick. Kill a few and hundred mores scuttle out from the cracks. The thought of it filled him with a deep seated rage. He knew that soon they would capture the eldest of the Sythians, the last royal since their ancient king passed away from the first battle. Once they capture and execute him then he knew that the others would fall. Brena, his lover and mistress lay stirred a little on the bed, spread out like a feline. He stood up and started to get dressed having grown bored with her  tonight, perhaps  before he went home to the stronghold he would take her again for his amusement.  She didn’t wake by the time he opened the door and stepped out. He felt restless wanting to throw himself into the ecstasy of battle. The clash of swords, and the iron of blood filling his nostrils.  A smile spread across his lips as he went to saddle up his charger.  Taking off in a gallop he brazenly crossed the border that was a field of corpses hoisted up on wooden stakes, impaling them. Slowing his horse he looked around at the dead grass, red from the seeping blood and saw movement in the distance. Getting off the horse he patted the horse’s side and walked slowly toward the sound. Silently he stalked his way until two figures became visible. A Sythian man and a toddling little girl stood at his side. The little girl was just coming into her wings that were folded against her pink dyed toga, her dark hair in a messy ponytail. In her hand she held a raggedy doll that had black hair of yarn and a simple cloth dress.  Holding her father’s hand she looked down at the ground, scavenging for small animals to feed off.  Since the knights had begun their ruthless display killing all the livestock and animals that thrived in the area, they were forced to leave their territory to feed off humans or starve to atrophy. Not wanting to take the risk some families scavenged for what they can. The small child let go of her father’s hand seeing a small Colter lizard crawling along an ancient log. “Daddy, It’s a lizard!” she cried and hurried after it. Her father gave his child a wistful look, his golden eyes filled with sadness, knowing that a small lizard would not be enough to sustain his small child. If they didn’t find bigger prey then they would go home hungry, and the thought of that broke his heart.  Both were not aware of the danger coming their way. Running to the log the little girl she jumped forward and tried to snatch it, but it eluded her finding its way in a hole. She pouted and stared at the hole where the lizard had escaped. Slowly she looked up when a shadow cast over her. Looking up her eyes widened at the sight of man in the glistening armor. For a long moment she was rooted to the spot unable to move, fear galvanizing her. Her father had spotted Dominic as well and ran over scooping her up as Dominic raised his sword to cut her down. Grabbing the small child, the male Sythian turned his body and took the blow of the weapon, coming down hard on his back and tearing right through his right wing. Blood sprouted from the wound as he placed her down, his knees shaking badly. “Run my child! Run!” he cried as he fell on all fours. The little girl let out a whimper and looked at her father and turned starting to run through the field. Being too little she has yet to learn to use her wings, leaving them useless against her back.  Dominic watched the Sythian running through the tall grass and pulled his sword up and brought it down again, decapitating the man. The toddler hurried through the grass gasping for breath holding the doll in her little hand. Hearing footsteps she foolishly turned and found Dominic was mere feet from her. She let out a cry of fear and dropped the doll to the ground, terror rising, showing in her big golden-yellow eyes.  “Hello little one” he said smoothly and raised his sword, dripping with the blood of her father. The girl stared at the man in his armor, looking into his blue piercing eyes. Dominic smiled widely and brought the sword down.

Sera woke up restless in bed and pulled the sheets off of her form. Getting up her bare feet touched the stone floor. It has been two week since her husband rode off on campaign. She found distractions in the families that lived in the Catacian Complex. Lonia had given birth of to her daughter, a healthy girl named Talia. Having her monthly bleed she found to her dismay that she was not with child. Of course she has not been married long, but she feared that he would die in battle and leave her alone in this strange place. It made her miss her sister and her friends in the Hall of Clothos. The distance between herself and her twin was incredibly difficult. She often thought of Calus who she once had soft feelings toward, but she had made her choice and married Dominic. Sera hoped that soon she would get to see her sister soon. The dream came to her again of the Sythian man who stared out the window in sheer misery. Having overcome the overwhelming fear of the recurring dream she started to wonder about the man. He mostly stared out the window at the macabre landscape th
at lay below the window. The Sythian often switched his attention from the window to stand by the table in the center of the circular room covered with old tomes.  She tried to reach for him in her dream, try to speak to him but she could not. It was as if she was looking in behind a window.  It brought out all lot of strong emotions out of her. She reasoned that it was because she was missing her husband, but each time she had the dream she wasn’t sure. Walking across the cold room she made her way to the basin on the table. Pouring the water into the bowl she washed her hands and face lightly. The fire by now was almost out casting the room in darkness.  Sera stared down at the clear water lit by the moonlight through the window. Staring down at herself she watched in awe as the water shivered and rippled, transforming into the image of her twin sister. Excitement ran through her, recognizing that it isn’t her own reflection at all. “Sister, I thought I thought I wouldn’t see you for some time” Sera cried happily with fingers curling against the sides of the basin. Asura smiled at her sister, but it did not reach her light blue eyes. “I am glad to see you as well. I feared that I would not get a chance to speak to you” she replied cryptically. This puzzled the healer as she studied the face in the pool. “What do you mean by that?” she questioned, finding the statement odd. It filled her with a sense of palpable dread. Asura sighed audibly and gave a slight shake of her head.  “Two nights ago I read the Cards of Fortune and they spelled things to come, things of great misfortune. My question was about you and it warned of great danger. It compelled me to use this mirror of divination here in the Hall of Clothos to seek you out which as you know is forbidden. What relief I feel to see that you are unharmed, but I cannot shake this feeling” her twin, her natural reflection that peered back at her with brow knit with worry. Sera gave a slight shake of her own head. “As you can see I am very well.” She told her, but her words faltered a bit as the shadow of doubt once again unfolded upon her. “How is your marriage to the Captain? Are you happy, sister?” Asura pried itching to find out if the fate her sister had taken were the right ones for her. “I must confess that he is off on campaign. He has been for a week protecting the land from the rising darkness that plagues our land” Sera replied quickly, not wanting to hear the ‘I told you so’ from her twin. From where she stood before the basin she could glimmer a touch of smugness tugging at her sister’s lips. “He will return soon and all will be right again” she added defiantly standing up taller than she was before.  “If you are happy then that is all that matters to me sister” The guardian of the stone of wisdom finally conceded, knowing that it was too late to further warn her sister about the man she wedded to. The deed had already been done.  This didn’t erase the fear for her sister’s safety though. Sera looked at her older twin wondering if she should ask her about the strange recurring dreams she was having, but she thought that would compound her sister’s concern and compel her to make the long journey here. It was a treacherous path from the high north filled with bandits, cutthroats, and other creatures including Sythians who have spread out their hunting grounds. Instead she saw the wisdom in holding her tongue, feeling that this creature that she kept dreaming of might not be as dangerous as the knights have attested to.  “What about you and Talos? How have the both of you been? And Calus as well?”she asked throwing the questions out to her sister to distract her from further asking questions about her personal life. “Talos is well and handsome as always” she reported, the warmth creeping into her words as she spoke fondly of her lover. “As for Calus on the other hand I don’t see much of him which is a shame. He is always with Amerus, thrusting himself in his studies. I think he is still heartbroken over you married the captain over him” she continued, not holding back on her tone of continual disapproval.  “I wasn’t given much of a choice,but I am willing to accept what may come”Sera said wistfully as she looked at her sister in the reflection. “I hope that is so, my dear sister” Asura replied sadly. Before another word could be spoken the water rippled as the power that connected them in the reflecting basin had loosened its grip. Unable to stifle a sigh she returned to her bed and laid down not sure if she could forget the prediction that the cards her sister had drawn. If there was indeed danger on the horizon she would have to face in with strength and humility.  Laying back she closed her eyes, her arms tucked behind her golden halo of hair, drifting into uneasy sleep.