Chapter 42 - Uncertainty

Silence swept through the central chamber of Escorath. The gentle thrum of the temporary core giving a strange ethereal quality to the ambience. Only bare moments before, Winter had drawn both Silvast and a stiffly moving Ja’Sessh into the shadows, entering the shadow realm. Rhuthain nodded to Rhyker as he slipped the borrowed jacket on, rolling up the arms and letting it hang around him like a long coat.

“Thanks, boy.” he said, before glancing at Kitaraiya and grimacing, “You really going to stay as the beastie for now?”

Her unsettling white orbs for eyes focused on him, sending an involuntary shiver down his spine. Looking to Rhyker, he watched as he started to undo the buttons of his shirt, realisation dawning on him.

“Aye, I’ll be over there… Bodies, an stuff.” Rhuthain said before turning away, shaking his head.

Kitaraiya raised a hand, its fingers elongated and sinuous, tipped with sharp claws. Her own blood caked her hands, cracks forming as she flexed her fingers experimentally, flakes of rust falling. The remembered wounds came back to her and she reached for her side, wincing as she felt the torn and still seeping flesh. Fresh blood mixed with the old as she rubbed her fingertips together. She frowned, the sensation of pain dulled as her body adapted.

“Kit?”

“Something is different.” she said, her voice more a growl than proper words, “My flesh is chilled.” she glanced past the fresh blood on her fingertips to look at her brother, “That urge, I want to taste your life on my tongue, feel it flood my mouth and inside of me, but it is different, somehow.”

She stepped toward him, her eyes on his bared neck and shoulder with a frown, a faint shimmer built in her vision. Her brother’s exposed flesh gaining a translucent quality under her gaze.

“Do you see that?” she said, quickly moving closer and taking his bare arm and inspecting his scar-riddled shoulder.

Rhyker watched her, withdrawing his free hand from the blade at his back. Her attention was different, the way she moved without the usual threat and barely contained rage. Standing half a head taller than him, she stooped, running a clawed finger on his skin.

“Ven, do you see it?” she whispered, almost whining under her breath.

He glanced at her face, the white tendrils that spread like a web from her eyes glowing calmly, “No Tiff, I do not.” he said, frowning as she turned to look at Rhuthain while he moved from body to body.

She stiffened, drawing in a sharp breath

“What do you see?” he asked, feeling her claws involuntarily dig into his arm.

“It is like transparent fire, auras and the movement of…” she glanced at the core, “Power, its power, all different kinds.”

With wide eyes she looked at Rhyker, “Let me.” she said, stepping back and dragging his shirt the rest of the way off.

Her eyes raked over his muscled torso, seeing the path of his power snaking through his body. Finally her eyes rested on the glowing emblem, the seal of destiny. What would normally have been a faint blush of luminescence under the skin was a wildly raging fire to her eyes, tumultuous with its tendrils spreading from his chest. She leaned in and placed her hand on it, her eyes narrowing as the flames shifted, flickering through her hand defensively.

“Tiff?”

“I can see it now, its unbelievable.” she said, meeting his eyes, “Ven, show me your flames.”

Embers immediately lit his eyes, his aura transforming, from calm to menacing and violent. Previously unseen tracks of flame crossed paths over his skin, tracking their way across his body until they threaded their way into his arms and down to his hands.

“Gods...” she whispered, watching him release the draw until it quietened.

“Tiff, it’s time.” he said, tilting his head to the side

She looked into his eyes and nodded slightly, the instinctual feeding habit coming to the fore and taking control. Fighting it, she gripped his shoulders and brought her lips close to his neck, barely grazing his skin. Feeling the undeniable throb of his life, the scent of that sustenance and the indescribable pleasure and wash of guilt it would inflict on her as she parted her lips, her incisors lengthening in preparation until she pierced the flesh of his neck.

Blood instantly flowed over the seal of her lips, the velvety copper tang dominating her sense of taste, the exquisite flavour making her weak with pleasure as it sent a tremor through her. She had never felt the change back to her elven body that she was born in, instead every fibre of her being sung at fever pitch while it teetered on the edge of the fall to a luxurious contentment. Breathing deeply through her nose, she felt his arms surround her, holding her in place firmly with a forgiving gentleness. The hot burn of tears ran down her cheeks as she continued to let his blood flood her mouth, the shame and arousal of her body toward her twin granting its familiar bitter edge.

Drawing breath again, an unexpected rough shudder went through her, causing her to clamp her teeth down even harder. The sensation unlike any she had felt before, an undeniable heat that burst its way through her as he stroked her hair. A low moan came from her as her thoughts narrowed to a last thought of indecency as she slipped into a semi-conscious daze. A mixture of pleasurable tremors wracked her body until she slipped from wakefulness.

Rhyker stood, letting his sister feed. His free hand running through her short hair as she clamped her jaw down tighter, making him wince.

“Tiff?” he said quietly in her ear in the moment before she moaned into his shoulder.

He could feel his own blood run from the corner of her lips, dribbling down his chest as her body quaked.

“Tiff?” he said again, louder this time.

Ignoring the pain of her teeth biting deeper, he brought his other arm around her as her tremors grew stronger and her legs started to weaken. Without warning, the pressure of her jaw slackened and she went limp in his arms, her head resting against his neck,

“Tiff?” he whispered, quickly bundling her into his arms and lifting her.

“I take that’s not normal?” Rhuthain said calmly, standing nearby.

Rhyker looked up, surprised at Rhuthain’s nearness and shook his head.

“Boy, you’re bleeding.” said the dwarf, walking over, “Get down to me level.”

Without a word, Rhyker leaned back against a wall and let himself slide down until he was sitting, still cradling Kitaraiya in his arms. He looked at his sister in confusion as her body still shook with light tremors, his blood smeared on her lips and face as Rhuthain pressed some cloth to the punctures on his neck, staunching the flow.

“She’s smaller, and content. Aye, look at that look on her face.” said the dwarf as he pressed the cloth in a little harder, “A far cry from that beastie.”

He looked sidelong at Rhyker then glanced at Kitaraiya and the look of bliss on her features, “So, she needs your blood to return to normal?” Rhuthain asked as he checked the cloth, lifting a corner slightly before pressing it tight again.

“It’s the only way she can return to the way she is now.” said Rhyker.

“You’re so sure of this, boy?”

Rhyker chuckled darkly, “We are. Another’s blood makes her savage and wild. We tried it once, as an experiment.” he grew quiet as a hollow look came to his eyes, “It took three days to track her down. I had to fight her, a short and bloody encounter that I luckily survived. She overpowered me and fed, if Talessia hadn’t caught up to me I would not be here today. There was nothing that I could recognise as Kit until then.”

“She beat you?”

“Thain, where do you think I got most of these scars from?”

Rhuthain shook his head slowly, taking in the rakish scars that crossed Rhyker’s torso, “Kit can’t really control it, can she?” he asked, the question already answered by the look on Rhyker’s face, “Aye, got you, boy.”

Rhuthain frowned, noticing a faint gleam of a sky blue glow from the crack in Kitaraiya’s eyelids, “Is that normal too?”

“No.” Rhyker replied, concern knitting his brow, “But, I am going to take her back up to the tent and keep watch.”

Rhuthain stood back, watching Rhyker stand with his twin sister still held carefully in his grasp, “Boy, if you…”

Rhyker glanced at the dwarf, a faint gleam of fire in his eye, “Thank you uncle, but she is my responsibility.”

Rhuthain nodded and watched Rhyker steadily walk toward the wide stairs on the far side of the pit, his broad shoulders almost completely hiding his twin from view. He squinted slightly before rubbing at his eyes, as Rhyker walked into the shade nearby the stairs a defined web of fiery glow tracked its way faintly across his back.

“By the old gods…” he said to himself under his breath as he picked out the currents of elemental magic in the chamber, his eyes reflecting the wash of colour and the darkness that roiled within it.

Without warning, Silvast, Sessh and Winter emerged from a shadow skirting a wall nearby the entrance to Neci’s quarters. The flicker from the sconces breaking the darkness and washing over them. Silvast nodded and smiled to Winter before fixing the rakshasa with a glare.

“How can we…? This is not possible within these walls.” Sessh said, bristling while he stood over them.

Winter shook her head slightly, “This way.” she said before stepping away with silent steps.

“It is not possible.” he muttered, “Teleporting and other such spells are blocked within these halls. Noone can enter without Neci’s say or blessing.”

“What if we have Neci’s blessing? My ability to walk the shadows has always been a part of me.”

Sessh snorted dismissively, “A part of you? The Host’s right hand, a Valkyrie does not have such a prized capacity, neither do I.”

Silvast glanced at Winter as Sessh drew in a long breath.

“We are… The living quarters?” he drew up short, “You want me to open them for the Host. You knew that as a Conservator I had access to her chambers.”

Winter continued to walk, “You can stay there if you wish.”

Sessh snorted and followed, “Even having passed, your attempts to overcome her…enchantments on…futile?” he said, stumbling to a halt as the entry came into view. The rakshasa’s eyes narrowed, ears slicking back in anger. He stalked forward, following in their wake and grinding his teeth in silence.

Silvast exchanged another glance with Winter as she passed and walked through the entry, her eyes widening as she looked into the rooms, smiling appreciatively at Neci’s taste of decor. She traded a short glance with Antrandis as he waited with Sian standing slightly behind and to his right. Crossing, she moved to Sian’s side and waited.

Antrandis sighed to himself, feeling Winter’s frustration, “I do not expect much from this Sil.” he said quietly.

“Neither do I, you could throw him in an ocean and he would say it isn’t wet if he believed it were a desert.” she said under her breath, “He is loyal and staunch to a fault.”

“Your presence is threat enough, Gatekeeper. I assure you.” they heard Ja’Sessh rumble before he entered.

The Rakshasa stepped through the entry, his presence large in the expansive living quarters. Sian frowned and shook her head as he took his time to survey the chamber before he looked at them in turn, pausing for a little longer as he scrutinised her momentarily. His right ear flicking in an agitated manner before he turned to glance at Winter.

After sampling her glare he started to kneel, his large pale-blue eyes stopping on Antrandis, “You, whoever you are, are just a man. All this palaver and an Elven man stands before me. A false dragon. A slave of the Host. And a woman who will claim to be a child that died on the eve of the abandonment of the races by the real dragons of old.”

Sian met his eyes with a harsh glare, “Ja’Sessh, it is me, I was…”

The Rakshasa sharply turned his head and eyed her, “You speak falsely, matching the guise you now wear. The adopted child of the ebony and alabaster, Sian was stained with the Host’s blessing of the wings of the valkyrie. She died. At the request of my late mistress, I travelled to the halls of Scarosant and paid my respects where her body was interred. I knelt before that great cat’s likeness and grieved for a life stolen from time.”

“Lumia was the only one in that coffin. Not me.” Sian immediately countered.

Ja’Sessh chuckled deeply, “A convenient excuse to tell one who would not be so disrespectful to open it. You besmirch the name of a truly wonderful being. A child I minded myself. If you were to draw the Dark Flame then I might consider your claim, as there is only one who can wield its fury.” he gave her a lingering glance before looking away, “You do not carry it as you should, if you were who you claim to be.” he said dismissively.

Sian glanced at Antrandis, noticing his faint smile and the slight shake of his head warning her not to pursue it.

Ja’Sessh tilted his head to the side, talking to Winter over his shoulder, “As I am sure you know, Gatekeeper, the Host’s wings hold the sanctums of Scarosant, Dagnetheln and guard the remains of Imaldren and Rensleth. I assume that Escorath will fall the same way. I do not know the Host’s motivation, but I will get to the bottom of it to present to the Empress upon my return. You have overpowered me, I respect that I am outmatched in the arena of battle and will capitulate, but...I will not be kept from my other reason to be outside the sanctuary of The DeKaalenstaad.”

Winter remained near the door, locking gaze with Antrandis, “What other reason, Ja’Sessh?” she said, her voice gaining an edge and the copper flecks in her steel eyes starting to shimmer and glow.

Ja’Sessh relaxed slightly, “I have another purpose after learning the fate of Escorath that I must attend to. I request that you release me on equal terms as I act on the behalf of the Empress. I only recognise your authority and strength, Gatekeeper, the Host’s right hand and servitor. Until I am shown undeniable proof that you and your sisters are no longer under his sway, I will not believe otherwise.” he said, flicking his head in confusion before gritting his teeth.

Winter crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow as she watched his back, “What will that take?”

Ja’Sessh’s next words came at a low growl, “Nothing that you can possibly show me in your current state. Get out of my head, Gatekeeper. You are only a shadow of your true potential, that much was apparent to my Empress.” he looked at Antrandis, “You may say that this man who has not even bothered to open his mouth is your partner, a farce no less, a cover to ultimately suit a purpose bestowed upon you by your master, the Host.”

Winter’s eyes once again hardened and the copper flecks glowed lightly, “What is the other purpose you must attend to?”

The rakshasa ground his teeth, closing his eyes and concentrating, “Sto…I am not at liberty to…say.” he growled.

“Tell me, Sessh or I will allow Silvast to make good of her earlier offer. I will personally deliver the body part you specify.

“Stop and I will tell you.”

Winter backed off, letting her eyes return to normal and withdrawing her influence. She watched as he shook slightly, his big shoulders slumping as he gave in.

“After learning the fate of Escorath I am to travel to the under-mountain fortress situated in the elven lands of Meliandra. I am to seek audience with the Keeper of the Wilds, Draneth, Kahn. The Empress extends her invite to meet within The DeKaalenstaad, she has a proposition and a request if possible that I am to deliver.” he said with a defeated tone.

Winter walked up to his side and stopped, looking into his eyes, “The missive.” She said with her hand outstretched.

Glaring at him again as he bared his teeth at her, “Now, Sessh.” she said in a threatening tone.

The rakshasa glared back for a moment until he reached into a pouch on his belt and withdrew a thick, golden-coloured disc that resembled a large coin, “It means nothing unless it is in the hands of the one it is destined for.”

Winter took it from his hand and inspected it carefully, flipping it over and letting its etched surfaces catch the light, “I know what it is, Sessh.”

“Then you know there is no point in trying to make it…” he started, his eyes on the coin and his voice stalling as she ignored him and looked at Antrandis.

The sharp glint and flicker of gold spinning in the space between them drew Ja’Sessh’s gaze, he watched apprehensively as the missive tumbled through the air before disappearing into Antrandis’s fist. For the briefest of moments nothing happened, until sharp golden light built in intensity and threatened to burst from between the man’s fingers, informing him that the recipient of his Empress’s message had been found.

Ja’Sessh glanced at his face in alarm, before bowing his head and closing his large pale blue eyes. He breathed deeply, composing himself before looking back up at the man who had stood silently the entire time.

“Kahn’Draneth, Keeper of the Wilds I recognise you as the Ruler of Meliandra, and the,” he paused, his rumbling voice catching in his throat as he bowed slowly, touching his forehead to the floor, “Equal to Empress Ja’Ekavira of the Ke’Shasan.”