Chapter 10
“Drink.”
The pewter chalice Lord Shawth offered was simple. Anniliese Hareth obeyed, swallowing its contents in a single gulp. The drink was bitter and earthy and not entirely unpleasant.
Only the effects of it were.
“Fascinating,” Kol murmured. He watched Anniliese from beside Shawth with detached interest in his burning eyes. “What do the Idrixian’s call it, again?”
“Uxosil, Your Eminence.” Shawth bobbed his head. “We first obtained it to aid us with our troublesome queen, but on Ksee’s suggestion we have found…other uses.”
Anniliese was frozen by the drug, molded into perfect compliance, but within her mind she flinched.
Kol scratched his chin. “Why this girl?”
“She has newly come into her power, Your Holiness.” Ksee sauntered up beside Kol, a mad gleam of obsession in her eyes.
“It is difficult for those like her to find the piety necessary for a priestess. Even the ones who come to us as children sometimes never develop the proper temperament for it.” Ksee scoffed.
“Perhaps further proof that Qhohena has long abandoned us.”
“Hm.” Kol still watched Anniliese. Her skin itched beneath the heady layer of the drug. “And how does it work?”
Shawth launched into a rambling tirade, explaining what he knew of the Idrixian poison. Anniliese hardly listened. She didn’t need to; not with the way the drug stole her body from her. Instead, she focused on Kol.
A part of her was fascinated by the god. He was nearly mad and uncontained when dealing with Andrian, but when he was away from the Armature his demeanor almost softened. Like the weight of his existence was crushing him and his sunfire kept burning only by stoking his hate.
Kol was silent as Shawth talked. He didn’t even react when Ksee rested a hand possessively on his shoulder.
“There is still one thing I don’t understand,” Kol said when Shawth finished.
He finally shrugged off Ksee’s hand and stalked forward, circling Anniliese like a shark.
“Why does this girl, so newly into her power, require assistance with compliance? She looks at least twenty. Unless I’m mistaken, most humans manifest their magic at around thirteen. ”
“You are correct, Your Eminence.” For the first time, Ksee looked hesitant, a little wary.
Somewhere far away, it made Anniliese grimly happy. Tell them what you hid from me, you bitch.
Ksee cleared her throat. “Anniliese is Royal born. She is the only heir of House Hareth. In Onita, it has become customary—as a precaution, nothing more—to garb our well-bred girls in a small piece of deistair, just in the grim chance that they somehow have magic.”
“You suppress magic in girls, High Priestess?”
“Not me, specifically, Your Eminence,” Ksee said diplomatically. “I am simply familiar with the practice and advise it to many families who can afford it.”
Kol’s eyebrows twitched, as if he were fighting off a frown. “Why not just allow the wealthy and well-bred girls to keep their powers and remain in society? Why make the two options only suppression or the temple?”
“You have been gone for many millennia, Holy One. We understand your questions about the world we have created.” Shawth bowed his head, his voice smooth, but Anniliese didn’t miss his note of annoyance.
“Without the temple, girls with magic tend to be wild. Untamed. Reckless. And a reckless girl cannot be a good wife. Cannot be a good mother.” Shawth sighed. “Without appropriate precautions, Onita would simply be overrun.”
“Well, we certainly can’t have that now, can we?” Kol turned away from Anniliese and Shawth, his voice almost bored.
Panic washed over Shawth’s bulbous face, as if he felt the impending dismissal. His eyes darted between Kol and Anniliese, and some grim corner within Anniliese felt a sick jolt of glee at his desperation.
His watery blue gaze latched on to her, all traces of her amusement snuffing out.
“Uxosil is also quite useful for…other things.”
Kol stopped. “Such as?”
Shawth smiled broadly, prowling toward Anniliese with a predator’s intent. “Not only do we have near-perfect servants,” he said, “we now also have women who can’t say no.”
The room was silent. Kol spun slowly to face Shawth and Anniliese, his face an unreadable mask of cool indifference.
“That is interesting,” drawled the god, his burning gaze flickering between the lord and Anniliese.
Shawth stepped out of her vision, a new current of fear racing through her. A meaty, sweaty hand brushed her bare arm, sweeping her unbound hair across her back.
“Did you know,” Shawth began, “that our sweet Anniliese here once propositioned herself to me just to see her family advance in station? I’m sure it was her father’s idea, but the thought hasn’t left my mind since.” His foul breath ghosted across her cheek.
Inside her caged mind, she gagged.
“Maybe this is our chance to sample something delicate. Only the best for His Excellence, of course.”
Everything inside Anniliese recoiled and revolted. She’d never fought the uxosil hard; she’d seen it in action before and knew it was useless.
Now she threw herself against the walls of her mental prison, her bound and conscious mind crying and begging and screaming.
Not this; just let me be a servant; that’s all I want to do; not this, not this, not this—
“Just a moment, Lord Shawth.”
Shawth pulled back from Anniliese. “Your Eminence?”
Kol’s red-gold eyes were fixed on Anniliese, seeing too much. He wore a casual smirk, but she could almost feel the way he glimpsed below her muted and closed surface, studying the terrified girl beneath.
“I command you to answer me honestly, Anniliese. Ignore all past orders you’ve been given. Have you ever truly wished to share a bed with this man?”
Anniliese gasped as the hold over her flesh released just slightly, the command granting back some of her autonomy. She was still caged, locked away from herself, but for the moment her body at least felt like it was partway hers.
She clutched her thin white robes, hands shaking. “No. I haven’t.”
She was proud of herself. Shock and horror and fear still coursed freely through her, but at least her voice had sounded strong and unwavering.
Kol nodded. “That’s what I thought.” He turned to Shawth, whose brow shone with a thin sheen of sweat.
“You’ve had your fun, Lord Shawth. As entertaining as this is, I am intrigued by this girl. A magic-wielding woman with Royal blood. There could be use in that.” Kol’s brow twisted, as if he’d had some deep thought, before he shook his head.
“You are forbidden from touching this girl unless I change my mind or she willingly invites you to do so. There are dozens of other priestesses in this castle. Have your fill with them, if you must. But for now, this one is under my protection.”
The room fell into a silence so deafening, Anniliese fought the urge to cover her ears. Shawth’s face slowly turned red, then purple, his eyes nearly bulging out of his face.
To his credit, he remained quiet. Anniliese, for her part, could have grinned with delight if she had such control of her body. She knew this shield wasn’t perfect and she was scared for what might be asked of her in exchange. But for now, at least, she let herself feel the barest hint of relief.
Shawth bowed his head, his hands still trembling. Boredom settled into the lines of Kol’s face once again as he picked at the tailored hem of his jacket. “That’s enough for today. You are excused, Lord Shawth.”
Boots scuffed hurriedly across the polished marble. A door slammed closed, and Shawth was gone.
“Your Holiness.” Ksee sidled beside Kol, laying her hand again possessively on his arm. “It is late. Perhaps we should…retire.” She dragged a nail down his skin, and revulsion swelled in Anniliese.
This, too, was a usual occurrence. She didn’t know why Kol allowed it. Then again, it was just one of many things about the dark god that Anniliese didn’t understand.
Kol nodded absently. He pulled his arm from Ksee’s grasp and strode to the door leading to his bedchamber. “Come along then, High Priestess. If you want to worship, then let’s get to it.”
“Absolutely, Holiness,” Ksee said with too much nauseating excitement. She glanced at Anniliese. “Come, Priestess. You will attend to your superior and your god.” Her lip lifted in a sneer, dark delight flickering with the flames in her eyes.
“No,” Kol growled abruptly. “The girl can stay here, if she wishes, but I have no desire for her presence beyond that.”
Ksee blanched, sneer fading. “I…my apologies. Whatever you command.” She turned back to Anniliese, taking a step closer and lowering her voice, her words just for her.
“He may not want you to watch, but you will listen. You will learn what it means to serve a god. The sooner you see the honor in it, the easier life will become for you.” She withdrew, eyes flickering with veiled malice, and she followed Kol into his bed chamber.
Anniliese sighed, but the uxosil had retaken control, and Ksee’s order sank into her bones. Her steps were leaden as she assumed her unwilling vigil. She wished this day to be over.
The sounds coming from the other side of the door turned Anniliese’s stomach.
She couldn’t move, couldn’t clasp her hands over her ears, couldn’t even flinch. She was trapped there, staring blankly at the far wall, as Kol’s grunts and Ksee’s over-the-top, exaggerated moans and cries wrapped around her, burrowing into her mind until she was sure they’d never leave.
It was truly disgusting. There was no way Ksee was enjoying things that much.
Perhaps Kol would oblige any woman who threw herself at him so willingly. Maybe to him, the partner didn’t particularly matter; it was the freely given worship that pleased him.
Or maybe he was just lonely.
If she weren’t frozen, Anniliese would’ve rolled her eyes at herself. The sun god was far from lonely. And if he was, it was clearly something of his own making—a punishment he rightfully deserved.