Chapter 10 #2
“The humans who remained here in the Darkness, chose to stay,” Lucian says. “Didn’t you, my pet.” He pinches Beatrix’s reddened bottom as she passes by him, but she manages to keep her tray balanced.
“Their ancestors chose to remain,” Vespera interjects. “That happened hundreds of years ago. Humans here now had no say in the matter.”
I nod toward the Fae queen, grateful that at least one other superi at this table seems to find Lucian’s behavior deplorable.
Eleanor turns toward me. “Why don’t your people simply fly through the veil?”
I glance down at the shiny black table. “Without access to Darkness, our dragon forms have limitations.” That’s all I want to disclose until I’m sure who to trust.
“Because of this supposed hex,” Eleanor says.
“No.” My patience is thinning. “The hex trapped us, but the veil suppresses all magic, including our ability to shift forms. That is how the veil was designed.”
“Well, the design seems foolish then,” Eleanor replies. “Without magic, superi have little power.”
“That was the point.” I growl, but Rosomon strokes my hand, easing my desire to tear this mage’s head from her body.
“One of the founding principles in the Kingdoms of Light,” I tell her, “was that no superi can access their magic, without the cooperation of mortals.” Which is why we require humans to ride us in the Light.
“I see.” Eleanor folds her arms over her bodice. “So, since you were instrumental in creating the veil, you did this to yourselves.”
My chair scrapes on the floor as I shoot to my feet. “No! We did not!” I glare at the basic mage. Even thinking the word rootbound annoys me.
“Once the veil was complete, no superi were meant to remain in the Light. The veil was designed to keep us out. But someone trapped me and my people. Trapped us in forms from which we could not escape.”
“Calm yourself, Zogar,” Aryxia says. “Sit.”
I drop back to my chair and shift my hand to Rosomon’s thigh. Touching her calms me.
Beatrix spills a drink, and the sounds of buzzing and sharp spanking again fills the air, lifting my anger along with each slap.
“Now we understand why your people remain trapped.” Lucian bucks Beatrix off his lap. “Can’t Xendus and Surath free all your people immediately?”
I growl, but Rosomon puts her hand over mine, and I’m reminded of the stakes here—not to mention the dangers. I’m powerful but can’t afford to anger these superi sovereigns. If I do, Rosomon could be the one to pay the price.
Rage builds inside me as I imagine my wife in Beatrix’s place, draped over Lucian, or hung on the wall in his club.
And vampyres aren’t the only risks to my wife in this room.
She could be caught in an elven glamor, trapped in an illusion cast by any one of the mages.
Or even worse—I shudder—she could be trapped in a demon’s torment.
None of those things can happen. I can’t leave her alone in this city, not ever. The few moments I stepped away from her in Lucian’s club were too many.
Drawing a deep breath, I remember Lucian’s question.
“It could take considerable time to free my people. Few humans are brave or strong enough to mount a dragon—especially the largest amongst us.” Pride expands my chest as I turn toward Rosomon, but she’s looking ahead, her gaze on the human who just retrieved another martini glass and is walking gingerly toward the table.
“We’ve spoken enough of my kind,” I say. “It’s time for my questions. First, why does this council allow abject depravity in this city?” I lean back in my chair, glad that I’ve regained some control and command of this meeting—over myself if I’m honest.
“This is the City of Darkness, my friend.” Lucian pushes all the buttons again.
Beatrix stops walking. Her pelvis shakes, but at least her tray is empty. Still trembling, she quickly moves to pick up another drink. Lucian’s handprints have merged, her ass is bright red now, and she’s shaky on her feet, even with the vibrators turned off.
“All of us here in the Darkness.” Lucian leans back in his chair. “We are who we are.”
I growl, but Lucian has a point. This intrinsic power imbalance between humans and superi is the primary reason why the council agreed to help the humans who sought refuge in the first place. Especially from demons.
But since I’ve been gone, this place became unrecognizable—so much worse than what it was. The utter absence of Light has changed this place, in so many ways. I can only hope that the other cities and the rural areas are better.
“In the past, there were limits, even in this city.” I frown. “There were laws. There were norms. If they chose, mortals could live their lives unaffected by superi. I haven’t seen a single human in this city who’s not subjugated.”
“Subjugated?” Lucian laughs as he smacks Beatrix’s bottom and then plays with the toys inside her. She’s moaning now, squirming on his lap, even though each movement earns her more smacks. “Are you subjugated my pet?” He pushes all the buttons, and she bucks on his lap, earning more smacks.
Lucian does all this while looking directly at me, as if the woman is of no consequence, and certainly no distraction to our conversation.
“Does this council still wield any influence?” I ask. “And where are the other sovereigns?”
Lucian turns away.
“Demons took control of the Council of Darkness,” Vespera says. Her voice is light and musical, but her contempt is clear.
Demons. I should have known. “What do you mean by control?” I look amongst the others. “And if demons are in control, why are none here?”
“I thought I made that clear.” Vespera shakes her head. “The council you once knew is no more. Those present today, do not support all of the main council’s actions. Those gathered here are more of a shadow council.”
I shake my head. “No. You did not make that clear.”
“Zogar,” Vespera says, “Demons have had full control of the City of Darkness. And they have for more than three centuries.”
“How could you let that happen?” I shake my head. “The council was designed to give each sovereign equal power—demons included—so that no species would rise above the others.” Just as the Council of Sovereigns was designed in the Light.
“Hush, dragon!” Aryxia’s talons scratch the table’s surface. “You weren’t here. You have no standing to address your fellow sovereigns with such disrespect.”
Rosomon’s leg tenses under my hand. Or did I squeeze her thigh? It’s difficult to sort out which action came first, so I move my hand onto my own leg not wanting to accidentally hurt her.
Lucian pushes some buttons. Beatrix shakes but holds her tray steady. Red blotches have bloomed on her chest and throat, and sweat beads on her forehead and below her breasts.
“If I may?” Eldrath stands.
It’s about time the elf spoke. Elves are notoriously guarded and circumspect, but as one of the longest-lived species of superi, they carry much history and wisdom. Eldrath had already lived for hundreds of years before I was born.
“I will recount some history,” Eldrath says, “for the benefit of your queen.”
“Thank you,” Rosomon says. “There is so much I don’t understand.” She glances quickly toward me.
“Undoubtedly.” Eldrath smiles at my queen, and jealousy spikes inside me. I still don’t understand this unwelcome and very new emotion and certainly haven’t found a way to control it.
I take her hand.
“Hundreds of years ago, our world was invaded.” Eldrath pauses. “Legions of demons appeared through a portal, expelled from another world they called earth.”
This is simple history. The influx of demons was the main reason a separation between Darkness and Light was first suggested. I’ve already explained some of this to Rosomon.
“When the demons invaded,” I tell Rosomon, “the council was expanded to recognize all the new species of demons that arrived.” I shake my head. “I was against this.”
“Yes, I recall.” Eldrath crosses his long arms over his chest. “And yet the council has always included representatives from every type of shifter and from all types of mages, and yet it included only one elf, one fae—”
“That’s different.” I growl. “How dare you equate the genus draconis to—” I glance toward Eleanor.
Rosomon squeezes the base of my thumb, rubs it, and relief floods inside me. I was about to insult the other mages and shifters here at the table. Ursula is glaring at me in a way that makes it easy to remember she’s also a bear.
Dragon crushes bear—every time—but it’s rude to point out the obvious.
“Go on,” I say, as calmly as I can. “Is that how the demons took control of the council? Based on sheer numbers?”
Eldrath retakes his seat. Even seated, the elf is much taller than either Vespera or Mirage, sitting in the chairs next to him.
“It is more complicated,” Aryxia interjects.
“But is it?” Lucian shakes his head. “Let’s face it, as soon as the council elected a demon as chair, they took full control.”
“A chairperson?” I frown. “The council shall have no leader!” I state one of the council’s main principles. “Who is this demon?”
“He calls himself Gabreal,” Eldrath states.
Several of the others visibly tense at his name. Eleanor glances around, as if simply saying this demon’s name might summon him into the room.
“Where do I find this Gabreal?” I ask.
And how do I kill him. I’ll save the second question until I’m alone with allies I fully trust. I’m not certain who those are anymore.
“You don’t find Gabreal,” Lucian says. Then he pulls out the largest ball from Beatrix’s ass. “Gabreal finds you.” He pushes the large ball back in. The human audibly gasps, and he spanks her in response.
I lean back, absorbing all this information. To set things right, I must find and kill this demon. That much is clear. But saving my people—avenging them—is also a high priority. I must remain focused.
“What do you know of the demons,” Rosomon says from beside me. “I mean, the minions of darkness that have been invading the Light?”
I asked her not to speak at this meeting, but I too have that question and am glad that she asked.
Eleanor shakes her head. “Minions of darkness are invading the Light?”
“I know nothing of this,” Vespera says. “Does anyone else?”
Everyone at the table shakes their head. Everyone except Eldrath. I find it hard to believe that the elves were responsible for what happened to my people but take note.
Someone here knows more than they’re saying. I look around the table, hoping to find a crack in their wall of obstruction.
Aryxia stands, the muscles of her large, lion-like legs visibly flexing. “I move we adjourn for today. I have urgent business.”
Without calling a vote, everyone stands, save Lucian, Rosomon and I, and frustration boils inside me. I know little more than when I came here. This isn’t acceptable.
At the end of the table, Lucian pulls the bulbed vibrator fully out from the woman’s ass. Then he bucks her off his lap. “Position five.”
Beatrix, visibly shaking, quickly stands and leans over the edge of the table, wincing when the metal clamps on her nipples strike its surface.
“I said, position five,” Lucian says softly but firmly.
She moves her hands behind her back and balances her chin on the table. The nipple clips grind against the table’s surface.
Lucian smacks her ass. “Spread.”
Using her hands, she spreads her ass cheeks, and her upper body falls harder against the table.
Her face reveals pain, but then she closes her eyes, turning her head so one cheek rests on the table.
He presses the red buttons, and soft buzzing fills the room, along with a soft moan from Beatrix. Lucian undoes his trousers.
I stand quickly, pulling up Rosomon with me. “Let’s go.”
She nods. Her cheeks are bright red as she turns away from the other end of the table.
I have no doubt that Lucian plans to roughly fuck that woman’s asshole, while that contraption vibrates in her cunt.
Whether my queen is turned on or repulsed by that—likely both—she doesn’t need to watch it happen.
And Beatrix doesn’t need an audience for her torment.
Once outside the room, I glare ahead as we wait for the elevator to take us back down.
Eldrath comes out of a shadow. Stepping up beside me, the elf places his hand on my shoulder. “Zogar,” he says quietly. “We need to talk.”