Impending Reprisals (29 page)

Gerhard strode quickly to join them. “I will call the men. She
will
be protected.”

“No!” Kael snarled, yanking Anya around the corner. “The danger is from within. Come. I will explain outside the castle walls.”

The trio flew out the main entryway and toward the stables.

Caleb saw their approach and rushed out to meet them. “My apologies, Kaelestis, but no horses have been prepared.”

“Then prepare them.”

“But—” He cut off as a sword suddenly swung to his neck, the edge pressing firmly into his flesh.

“I am afraid I must insist.”

Caleb swallowed hard as he stared into the determined man’s eyes, glanced to a panicked-looking Anya, and then toward Gerhard’s obvious confusion. “Are you taking Lady Anya away?”

“Yes, and I cannot allow you to stop me.”

“On the contrary,” Caleb stated as a glamour lifted from his face, revealing the strong, angled face of a strapping, young man. “I would like to help you.”

Chapter 40

Kael eyed Caleb warily as he sheathed his weapon, all too aware that his options were limited. At least, until they left the confines of the castle grounds. 

“Get the horses,” Kael commanded.

“They are not necessary,” Caleb countered.

Kael reached for the hilt of his sword. “The hell you say.”

Holding his hands up, Caleb was quick to respond. “They will only draw unwanted attention, and they cannot go where we are.”

“Which is where, exactly?” Gerhard questioned, unsure of what was going on, but trusting Kael’s instincts unequivocally.

“There is a secret tunnel constructed for Merivic should there ever be an attack on the castle. An escape route. Very few know of it.”

Anya grabbed Kael’s arm. “It could be a trap,” she whispered.

“It is no trap, Milady. I am aware of it for I was to be the one escorting him.”

“And why is it his two highest-ranked soldiers would not be aware of it?” Gerhard reached for his own weapon as his suspicion increased.

“Because his two highest-ranked soldiers would be otherwise engaged should there be an attack. You would be fighting the enemy while he cowered away.”

“He would not—”

“Easy, Gerhard,” Kael stated and jerked his chin at Caleb. “Lead the way.”

Caleb glanced around quickly, then led them behind the stable and along the wall.

“He is leading us toward the mountain,” Anya hissed in Kael’s ear.

“I am aware of that, Anya. Please, let me handle this.”

When the wall met the impenetrable mountainside, they followed Caleb into a storage building and angled toward the back.

“The secret passageway is here,” Caleb informed them as he began moving bales of hay stacked against the wall.

Once they were tossed aside, he pushed at the wooden panels which eventually gave way to reveal a dark tunnel. Reaching inside, he pulled out an unlit torch and a tinder box. And within moments, a flame was leading them down the narrow passage.

Anya stayed close behind Kael who stood as a barrier between her and Caleb. Gerhard brought up the rear after replacing the wooden panels to conceal their escape.

It was quite a journey before they saw an end in sight, and as soon as Kael recognized the moonlit opening for what it was, he pushed Anya toward Gerhard and leapt at Caleb’s back.

Surprised by the sudden force slamming into him, Caleb grunted and fell to the ground, the torch rolling a short ways down the tunnel.

“Kael—” Anya’s words cut off as Gerhard grabbed her and pulled her behind him, standing protectively in front of her as he determined if Kael required assistance.

He did not.

The whites of Caleb’s eyes were bright and clear in the murky light, evidence of his terror as Kael pinned his chest and held a dagger to his throat.

“I should kill you slowly.”

Caleb knew what he was being blamed for, and though it could have meant the end of his life, he had to attempt an explanation. “It could not be helped, Kael. We had to stop the union. There is more at stake here than her life alone.”

“Her life is all that matters to me, and you tried to kill her.” He pressed the blade in and a droplet of blood oozed across the metal. “And for that, you shall die.”

“
He
was trying to kill me?” Anya lunged forward and fell to her knees, clutching Caleb’s shirt in her fist. “Why? Why are you trying to kill me?!”

“Anya!” Gerhard growled as he grabbed her arms and tugged her back.

“I want to know! I have a right to know!”

“He must be stopped. And killing you was the only way.” Feeling the bite of the dagger again, he quickly turned his attention to Kael. “But it is not the only way now. Not if she leaves.”

Pulling the weapon back a measure, Kael considered the man. “If she leaves then she is safe from you and your men?”

“Yes. Then we can destroy Merivic.”

“Why not kill him now? Or last week? Or a fortnight ago? Surely you have had ample opportunities.” The tone in Kael’s voice made it clear to Caleb that he had better have a damned good answer, or it would be the last words he ever spoke.

“He cannot be killed. He is immortal.” The expression on Kael’s face, and that of his companions, told Caleb he had just avoided execution. “Release me, Kael. I will take you back to my people, and we will explain everything. Or at least, what we understand ourselves.”

“Let him go, Kael,” Anya breathed, a cold chill convulsing up her spine.

Who is Merivic? she thought, disgust leeching into every part of her being. What is he? I let him touch me. I let him kiss me. We…

Her stomach clutched as she twisted to the side and bent over, retching and coughing as the bile flooded her throat. Strong hands grabbed her shoulders to steady her swaying frame, and then they were replaced by the warm, familiar arms of her truest love.

“Breathe, Anya, breathe.”

Tears streamed down her face as her breath shuddered and her body shook. She turned into Kael and buried her face in his neck to calm herself. Bolstering her nerve, she finally pulled back, scrubbing her tears with the back of her hand. “We should keep going.” Kael held her at arm’s length as he studied her face. “I will be fine, Kael,” she stated, already feeling the anger replacing the revulsion. “I want to know. I want to find out what the hell he is.” She glanced to Caleb. “And if it means joining with people who want to kill me, then so be it.”

“Milady, you will be safe. I can assure you.”

“I will not let anyone hurt you, Anya,” Kael murmured.

“Nor will I,” Gerhard stated.

“That does not concern me!” She took a deep, steadying breath. “I just want to know what the hell is going on.”

“And so you shall,” Caleb asserted. “Follow me.”

*****

Under concealment of darkness, the four fugitives picked their way through the city and into the section which boasted of status and high society. It was also the most deserted given that the aristocrats retired shortly after dusk, leaving the heart of the night to be enjoyed by those they deemed beneath them.

They approached the biggest manor amongst the other pristine dwellings, and slipped into the back entryway.

“We are not safe here,” Kael commented, glancing around to assess their surroundings.

“Actually, it is the safest place for us,” Caleb responded, leading them down into the wine cellar. “Who would actually believe that the most prominent man in our society would be a sympathizer, and harbor a group wishing to take down the monarchy?”

“The question arises, why would he sympathize in the first place?” Anya inquired, following behind Kael down the narrow stairway.

“He was loyal to Decessus’ first king.”

“The king you killed?” Kael interjected. “And he sympathizes with
you
? Obviously, he does not know the truth of who you are.”

“No. It is you who does not realize the truth. We did not kill the king. Merivic did. It was his murderous rampage through his successors that banded us together in the first place, and our knowledge grew from there.”

“What knowledge?” Gerhard demanded.

“In due time. Let us seek refuge, so we may speak privately and candidly.”

Caleb led them to the back of the dank room. He rapped his knuckles twice on the solid stone wall, paused, and then three more times.

A section of the wall swung away, seemingly with ease, to reveal a gaping-mouthed man as he stared at the three people with his leader. He finally responded to the surprise when his gaze focused on Anya alone, and his mouth curled into a snarl.

“Easy, Roarke,” Caleb said as he slapped a palm down on the man’s shoulder, drawing his attention. “They are here to find answers and seek asylum.”

“Asylum? Surely you do not believe they would turn on their master?”

“
Master
?” Kael questioned as he stepped between the man and Anya. “What the hell do you mean by
master
?”

“Roarke, gather the others for sentry duty. Merivic has yet to return, that we know of.” Caleb glanced back at Anya. “We need to know the moment he returns from Silktree.”

Roarke stared unyielding at his leader until he saw there would be no sense in arguing. And with a final glare at Anya and the others, he strode off to see to his orders.

“There is a table in the back,” Caleb said, gesturing the trio into the secret chamber. “Please, make yourself comfortable and I will join you in a moment.”

As Caleb closed and secured the entryway, the others made their way to the large table tucked into the back corner. There were about ten or twelve other rebels in the room, all studying maps and parchments spread out on tables and hanging on the walls. But each and every one of them halted their activities to watch their advance through the room.

Kael instructed Anya to sit with her back to the corner, himself and Gerhard sitting to either side of her, their weapons positioned for an easy draw. Caleb joined them, snatching a scroll off a table along the way and tossing it carelessly in front of the others as he settled into the last remaining chair.

“This is what we are trying to get some answers from, as of late.”

“What is it?” Kael inquired, cocking his head to study the foreign symbols.

“Some time ago, we came upon a messenger from Silktree and relieved him of this.”

“Drak,” Anya whispered, her eyes growing wide. “Relieved him? Do you not think that is a bit cold-hearted given what you did to the man?”

Caleb shook his head. “You speak of the torture? The mutilation of the body? We did not do that. Malik did, and fabricated the story after the fact to garner support for Merivic from the common folk, and ensure solidarity of the soldiers. After all, Merivic had just arrived with his betrothed. It was the perfect opportunity to highlight the danger she faced and to paint us as brutal, soulless men. And, I imagine, it was convenient for Malik to do what he did.”

“Convenient?” Gerhard asked.

“He required that Drak be punished for losing this scroll, and his punishment came to serve a purpose. Trust that if we had known the messenger would be killed, we would have imprisoned him for his own safety.”

“But me you would have killed,” Anya pointed out, sourly.

“We did not make that decision lightly, Milady.”

“Oh, such comfort I feel knowing you would rather have ended my life than hold me captive, or take me away instead?”

“The woman has a very good point.” Kael’s tone was low and menacing as he studied every movement in the room, and stewed over every word spoken.

“We considered that. Truly, we did. But we could not risk him finding you and taking you back.”

“What eliminates that same risk for you to spare her now?” Gerhard demanded.

“She is not a willing participant in the union, whereas before we thought she was. We had no idea the two of you were…” Caleb trailed off as he looked between Anya and Kael, then changed the direction of the conversation. “She does not want to be found either, which can only assist in keeping her hidden.” He faced Anya and took her hand from across the table. “We take this risk together.”

She nodded and he released her.

“Where shall we start? I will tell you everything we know.”

Before Kael or Gerhard could speak, Anya blurted out, “I have to know what he is.”

Caleb glanced to the other two men as if seeking permission, and then turned his full attention to Anya. “Then that is where I will start.”

Chapter 41

Caleb sat back in his chair as he considered how to begin. Sensing it was going to be a long conversation, Anya eased back into a similar position. And the two men on either side of her did not move a muscle as they mentally prepared for what was to come.

“Merivic is—” Caleb shook his head once, and held up a hand as he organized his thoughts. “His true name is Asmodeus, and he is the demon of lust, anger and revenge. But he is more than that…he is a fallen archangel.”

Caleb glanced to each person at the table to ensure he had their full attention. There was no doubt he had it.

“Asmodeus was part of the seraphim, the highest order of angels. He fell out of favor with the gods when he coveted and lusted after a mortal, murdering each of her husbands before the marriages could be consummated, all so he could take her for his own. But he was defeated by the gods, bound, and cast to the lower planes of Hell.

“There he became worshipped by the other denizens banished to that plane, lesser demons, who helped Asmodeus cultivate his power and find a way back into our mortal world for prolonged periods of time.”

Caleb leaned forward on his elbows, clasping his hands together near his mouth. “This is where our knowledge is lacking. We have no idea how often he comes back, or for how long he can stay. But we do know he possesses a human man as he searches for a way to permanently sustain his immortality among mortals—to have what he wants and take what he needs. And when he achieves his goal, among other things, he will reward his worshippers by releasing them from Hell and into the mortal world.”

“He is a demon,” Kael stated with an eerie calmness, “and yet he claims to love Anya.”

“He
was
an angel,” Caleb responded, “capable of the purest love imaginable. Apparently, she was able to tap into that lost part of himself.”

“Perhaps we can exploit that,” Gerhard interjected.

Caleb tapped his clasped hands against his chin as he mulled over the idea. “She did not affect him deeply enough to spare her from being a part of his end plan. That still remains his main focus, so I think it is safe to assume his love for her provides us with little or no leverage. Besides, given who he is, his love is probably based more in lust than true affection.”

He considered Anya across the way. “It is possible his feelings have brought him this far in his journey with you, though I cannot be positive. Certainly, you have lasted longer than the others, but I have not yet been able to determine why.” Gesturing to the scroll laying on the table between them, he leaned back in his chair. “Perhaps the answer resides there.”

“Others?” Kael prompted.

“Yes. There have been others before Anya. Though the outcomes have never been good…for the women, that is. For us, it was fortunate in that Asmodeus did not succeed, but I fear the women tangled in his schemes along the way have suffered greatly for his failures.”

Anya slumped in her chair as her stomach cinched. “I do not think I want to know.”

Kael put his hand over hers and squeezed it lightly. “We must know everything. All right?”

She nodded to Kael, then jerked her head up at Caleb indicating he should continue.

“Very well. This is what we know. It is said Asmodeus can only possess youth. Sometimes his impulse to possess was based on appearances, sometimes location. But it seems over time he has learned that it is not wise to take someone prominent, for a drastic personality change would become too noticeable.

“Of course, we cannot confirm this first-hand, but it is well documented through time by others like ourselves...to the best of their ability.

“Now, this time, here in Decessus, Asmodeus was smarter. He watched and he waited to choose someone who was handsome
and
in a possible position of power. Merivic was the perfect choice—someone in a long line of succession to the throne, but not a person of consequence in the meantime. And then he waited some more, studying his life, the people in it, and his personality and mannerisms before possessing his body and taking over his life.”

Caleb glanced over at Anya. “He did it patiently. And he did it right. And this time, he has nearly succeeded in his quest.”

“What does it all have to do with me, or the other women for that matter?”

“There is something that is to happen between him and a woman that will sustain him, permanently.” He shrugged. “The promising ceremony has something to do with it, but the only specific piece of knowledge we have is that she is required to participate by her own free will.”

Anya’s sharp intake of breath slowly released, and then she murmured, “It was my choice. He said it all along—he wanted it to be my choice. I suppose now I know why.” She locked her wide eyes on Caleb. “What happened to me there? I do not remember much but…”

“What is it?”

“It was terrifying. I remember being absolutely horrified by these images in my head, but they faded leaving only the fear behind.”

“In the past, something always went wrong, for whatever reason—the promising was not performed correctly, or the woman did survive the ceremony, or he rushed before she could establish conviction in her free will. Apparently, with you, Anya, it was a success. And now, if he should go through the rituals of the blessing, he could live forever and rule freely. He would fully come into his power, become immortal for all of eternity.”

“What is the blessing, exactly?” Kael asked, moving his palm to Anya’s thigh in an attempt to soothe.

“We do not know, for there has never been one. We just know it is the key to retaining his immortality.” Caleb leaned forward, excitement flashing in his eyes. “But one thing is certain. If he does not perform the blessing by a certain amount of time after a successful promising, he loses his immunity and will be vulnerable to assassination. The fact that you are here with us now gives me hope that this time we can prevail.”

“How much time do we have?” Gerhard asked, his own tone hitching with eagerness to fight.

“We do not know that either. That is why we must decipher this scroll. I believe it is the key to everything we have been seeking.”

Gerhard leaned back in his chair. “Merivic has had other failures. Lots of them by the sounds of it. So this must have been going on for some time then.”

“It has. I was a child when Merivic became a host to Asmodeus.”

“Then why is no one concerned that he has not aged in all these years? It seems to me people would notice that. And if they did, we might have more allies afoot than we previously thought. Stronger numbers would mean a greater rate of success.”

“Certainly it would. But he
has
aged in their eyes. Those that believe the lie are enchanted to see him as a mature, distinguished man. And his soldiers are refreshed every few years so they do not become suspicious themselves. The two of you have only been serving him for a handful of years, yes?”

Gerhard tipped his head to confirm his assessment.

Kael, frustrated by so many facets working against them, slammed his hands on the table. “Damn magic,” he growled as he stared hard at Caleb. “Is there a way around it? His appearance? Perhaps if everyone saw him without the glamour we would have the whole city behind us.”

“It is too strong to counter. Malik is too powerful.” Caleb threw his hands up. “We are still trying to figure out who he is, too. For he is no simple human either.”

Letting out a loud sigh, Kael glanced over to see Anya tense and trembling. “That is enough for now.” He took Anya’s hand as he stood. “It is late and she needs to rest.”

Under normal circumstances, Anya would protest at the implication she was weak, but she knew, in truth, her mind could not hold another heinous fact right now.

Caleb stood as well and gestured the group toward the concealed entryway. “I will show you to your quarters. We leave early in the morning to set up camp in the woods. To keep up appearances, the gentleman of this manor is having a social event tomorrow evening, and we need to depart before the servants come in to begin preparations.”

“Understood,” Kael said as he led Anya up the stairs behind Caleb.

“Will you and the lady be sharing a room, or would she like one of her own?”

Kael glanced down at Anya, willing to let the decision be hers alone.

“We will be sharing a room.” She returned Kael’s gaze. “If that is all right with you,” she murmured.

He simply smiled and held her closer.

“Gerhard, you may take this room.” Caleb gestured to a door near the end of the hall. “And the two of you may have this one. Each room has what you need to wash up, and tomorrow we will see about procuring some fresh clothes. I will come for you in the morning when it is time to leave.”

“Thank you, Caleb. I am assuming there is a lookout or sentry on duty during the night?” Kael asked.

“Of course. You may sleep well knowing you and your lady are safe here.” Caleb took his leave as the couple entered their room.

“Gerhard,” Kael stated as he turned to go into his own quarters. “I will return to discuss the situation with you. I understand there are many things you are unaware of and I am sure you have many questions.”

“They can wait.”

“No. I will address them at once. It is the least I can do for your loyalty.”

“I appreciate that.”

Kael tugged Anya into their room. “Come. Let us get you settled,” he murmured, closing the door behind them.

A candelabrum sat on a table next to the bed, and the lit candles were bright enough to cast a warm glow across the length of the room. The room itself was quaint—far smaller than the rooms in the castle, to be sure. But it had a cozy atmosphere to it.

Anya walked to the other side of the bed to smell the roses arranged in a large, crystal vase. The buds were only half-open, but it was enough for their scent to escape. Grazing her fingertips across the petals, she closed her eyes and imagined being lost in a garden where only beautiful things reside.

Kael stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her as he leaned his cheek against the side of her head. “I will not be gone long. Please, wash up and rest. I will join you shortly.” He gave her another squeeze before releasing her.

“Kael?”

He turned to her in response.

“What did you find out back at the castle? What made you in such a hurry to leave?”

He cradled her face in his palms and brushed a kiss against her lips. “I will tell everyone tomorrow. For now, I want you to get some rest, all right?”

“You were right before, Kael. I need to know everything.” She tried to insert some conviction into her shaky and tired tone.

“I know that you do. And you will. But you do not need to know it all right now.” He kissed her again. “Rest. Please.”

“Very well,” she said, and then watched as he left.

Twisting around to survey the room, it did not take Anya long to spot everything she needed to wash up. She quickly peeled off her clothing and hung it in the wardrobe closet, eager to wash off the stress of the day. And when she was done, indeed feeling much more refreshed, she slipped between the crisp sheets of the bed and snuggled in.

She intended to wait up for Kael, believing she could not possibly fall asleep in a strange place without him near, but exhaustion overtook her almost the moment her head touched the pillow.

She fell asleep in an instant.

*****

Anya heard her own sigh as she breathed in the sweet scent of the rose. The slight pressure under her nose, and the velvety softness against her skin, told her the flower was being held there purposefully. Unalarmed, her lids fluttered open to gaze into Kael’s deep, blue eyes.

His mouth curved as he trailed the rosebud across her cheek and down her neck, easing forward to kiss her as he did so. The kiss was as soft and gentle as the touch of the rose, and just as alluring.

Leaning back, Kael broke off the kiss to watch her as he slowly pulled the blankets off her bare form. A low groan of approval sounded in his chest as he dragged the flower across her shoulder and down to the mound of her breast. Taking his time, he used the silky petals to tease and pleasure her, exploring the length of her body with the touch of the flower alone, causing her skin to flush and her breathing to become heavy. And then he gently used his hands and mouth to roam and caress until she became lost in a cloud of sensations.

Kael used all of his senses to appreciate what he had before him; drinking in her beautiful body with his eyes, consuming her fragrances with his nose, sipping the succulent taste of her mouth with his, swallowing her curves with his hands, and feeding off her whimpers with his ears.

Anya arched against the press of his long, hard body and they wrapped around each other, holding the other close as they savored every touch, every moan, every gasp of pleasure. Their breathing hitched, their vision blurred. The sensations quivered, and then rolled through their fevered bodies.

Kael entwined his fingers with hers and held tight, anchoring himself as she lifted her hips to meet him and he slipped into her warmth. They joined in a slow, sweet seduction laced with building passion and dormant desires being reawakened. He took her slowly, tenderly, as she rode the soft waves rippling through her, threatening to take her under and leave her numb and breathless.