Part 35 (1/2)

”Why would you say that? Why would even think it?”

”Then why?” I was trying to mask my guilt with anger, which I knew was foolish.

”Look, I would gladly want to relish in how proud I am to have you by my side and show what a rare beauty you are, but it would be far too dangerous. Through those doors hold those that are not as loyal to me as the people you know in Afterlife.”

”Then why even bring me here?” I couldn't understand, if it was so dangerous, why he didn't he want me to wait in the car or bring me to this building in the first place.

”I wasn't ever intending on it but when I arrived at your house I...I had a change of heart.” He didn't want to be telling me this and I knew why.

”So when you turned up, it was to tell me you were going to be late...wasn't it?” He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand in frustration.

”Yes, but when you ran into my arms and asked me to take you away, I wouldn't have left you for all the world.” I bit my lip and swallowed my att.i.tude.

”I'm sorry,” I said as I reached out to his hand. He looked up at me with shock on his face.

”Why?”

”Because I didn't realise and because I shouldn't have thought you were ashamed of me.” At this he just nodded.

”Please.” He motioned to put my hood back up and I let him, knowing now the reasons. He was protecting me and didn't want anyone knowing my ident.i.ty. As always he was trying to keep me safe and I was being stubborn.

”You know, I didn't think it possible.”

”What?” I asked looking up but only seeing his chest thanks to my low hood.

”That you could still look cute even when your face is covered.” I'm not sure if he could see me smile but he reacted when I poked him in the ribs, not that he could feel much thanks to him being made of solid muscle.

”In that case I will wear it up all the time.” I felt him squeeze my sides and then kiss my head before saying, ”Don't you dare.” I laughed and then felt him taking me by the elbow to lead me towards the door.

”Are you ready?” I don't know why but there was something in his voice that put me on edge and I found myself nervous enough to want to start scratching my scars. Of course I was already biting my lip but it didn't seem enough somehow.

”You will be fine, but stay close to me, ok?” He had obviously heard my worries but by saying this last part, he only ended up adding to my fears.

”And one last thing, try very hard to keep up your mental walls, there are things in here that I do not wish for you to...to truly see.” A s.h.i.+ver crept up my spine and seemed to stay with me at the base of my neck. I was very close to running back to the car and finding my safety within its metal body but I wanted Draven to think I was strong and fearless, not the frightened little girl I felt like. So he engulfed my hand with his own and led me to the door.

I couldn't help but jump at the sound of his other hand banging a fist against the metal door. I couldn't see very much but I was sure I felt him looking down at me and while we waited he leaned down and whispered, ”You will be fine,” in the softest voice. Great! Here I was trying to appear brave and I was acting jumpy at the first hurdle. There was a gargled grunt from behind the door and a bang back.

”p.i.s.s off!” A deep grouse came from behind the banging.

”Nice welcome!” I added and Draven growled and proceeded to pound his fist against the door causing a dent.

”Patefacio pro vestri vinco!” (Means ”Open for your master!” in Latin) ”Quod letalis?” (Means ”And the mortal?”) The voice sounded less angry now but still wary, so I wondered what they were talking about.

”Letalis est mei!” (Means ”The mortal is mine”) At this, the sound of metal sc.r.a.ping against metal could be heard and the door vibrated before opening. I couldn't help but hold my breath as the crack opening became wider and the beast from behind came into view.

My held breath was quickly followed by a gasp when I was soon faced with a ma.s.sive Samoan that looked as though he weighed at least 400lbs. He had a huge gut that meant it would have made it impossible for him to see his feet let alone other important parts of his anatomy.

He stood close to seven foot tall and would have made even Ragnar look small. I started my gaze at the bottom where I was surprised to see him wearing Jesus sandals and three quarter length, light weight khaki trousers. My eyes followed up and found him wearing a black vest that was enough material to be a bedspread.

When I lifted my head enough to see his face my eyes looked so far back that my hood fell from my head. Mine weren't the only eyes to display shock. His skin was a honey brown colour but now thanks to extensive tribal tattoos that covered half of his face it was closer to black on one side. The tattoos were one continuation from one that started on his shoulder and chest that curled up and attacked his face. It reminded me of waves that were made up of different intercut patterns that were beautiful Samoan artwork in their own right. His eyes were the same honey colour that matched his skin tone and they glowed amber when they met my own.

”Lucifer's blood, Electus unus!” (Means ”The chosen one” in Latin) He stared at me like I was some freak that sported two heads and cat's eyes! As soon as he made the mistake of speaking, Draven let go of me and grabbed the man's neck at record speed. He pinned him to the wall and soon the man's face turned a deep shade of scarlet. The swirls on his face started to move like cogs in a machine and I thought I was seeing things.

They also looked like they were writhing around in pain and they continued up into his shaved head and hair that he wore in a plaited Mohawk. I had stepped back and covered my mouth with my hands in shock. Draven was furious and his purple veins rippled through his neck as though they were trying to burst through the skin.

I couldn't see the rest of his body as he still had on his leather jacket but I would bet good money that it would be the same everywhere else. A gurgling sound came from the man's throat like he was trying to speak. At this Draven just tightened his hold and cut off any sound.

”You will not repeat those words so long as you remain in this life and in exchange I will LET you remain in this life, with your head attached. Do I make myself clear Ira?” Draven allowed him enough to nod and then released him, forcing him to carry his own body weight once again. His legs crumpled underneath him and he collapsed to the floor coughing and gasping for air to fill his lungs. Even though he had been choking moments earlier, he still managed to speak.

”Forgive my insolence Master, it shall not happen again.” He bowed his head and I could see the tattoo move down from his head and wriggle nervously down his spine, which had transformed from cogs into an inky snake cowering out of sight.

Draven came back to me and without dropping his harsh expression he ran the back of his hand down the side of my face before raising my hood to conceal it once again. He then took my hand back in his vice grip and turned his head towards Ira the Samoan one last time.

”See that it doesn't or you will be seeing Lucifer once again and sooner than you may think!” His voice was like ice, cold and unforgiving, which was like hearing a different Draven altogether. Here he wasn't my Draven, soft and gentle. NO, here he was the Master, here he was the one in control....here, he was a G.o.d!

I could feel the heat coming from his touch as he controlled my movements through the slightest turn of my hand. He was leading me through a low lit corridor which mostly offered a view of the rustic wooden floor that looked like it had seen better days, centuries ago. Part of me wanted to pull back and tell him that I didn't want to go any further but when he tightened his grip around my hand I knew it was his way of telling me that I had nothing to fear. I was so torn between my doubts and the mental wave of rea.s.surance that Draven was trying to inject into my mind, which left me feeling warm and tingling inside.

I knew we were nearing our destination when the hum of a deep base line was beating through the next door and the vibrations found the soles of my feet. Draven opened the door and I jumped at the sound of metal grating against the ancient woodwork. The music and smell hit me all at once as it flooded the hallway, swirling up with the stench of stale alcohol combined with fresh sweat from a ma.s.s of dancing bodies.

The heavy rock music drowned out any other sound, including that of my pounding heart. I was very aware that Draven was trying to get me to go into this room but I held myself firm and rooted to the spot. I didn't want to face this place and although I couldn't see, I could feel! That was enough for me to be terrified, because not one pair of feet that I could now see belonged to a human, at least not until I looked down at my own.

”Come with me Keira and trust me.” Draven had leaned down to whisper and his words weren't the only comfort as his breath sent a security that seemed to cling to my skin and stay with me like an invisible force.

He left my hand for a second and placed it on the top of my head which he let slide down to the back and then rest on my neck, as he whispered, ”Good girl” into my ear. So I let myself be led through a crowd which, if they could, would have sucked the essence right out of me and fed from my ever growing fear. It was never really explained why I was different from other humans, why they couldn't feed from my emotions or why they couldn't access my mind. Not that I was complaining but I didn't quite buy this whole ”Chosen One” business that everyone seemed to preach.

As I watched the feet part, like Moses was coming in with his girlfriend in tow, I felt it wasn't only my own mental barrier that was keeping me from looking up and seeing these people for what they really were. Draven remained a constant presence in my mind keeping up his own walls of protection. I decided to tap into the feeling there and when I did I was amazed that I could for the first time detect some of Draven's thoughts. Of course, as soon as I did, I regretted it, as all I could feel was this overwhelming need of protection....But protection from what? Why bring me here if he was so scared that something bad could happen to me? What was he not telling me?

It was amazing that even though so many bodies were crammed into one s.p.a.ce they still found the room to let us pa.s.s without coming too near. I was so tempted to look up at Draven and see what it was he was doing to make this happen but knowing him I can imagine it only took one stern look and that was enough. I could hear some people mutter things as they backed away and some even bent over slightly because I could see as their knees suddenly come into view.

One woman even threw herself to the ground and starting bowing like she was praying to mecca. Of course in her low strappy top this didn't leave much to the imagination as her b.r.e.a.s.t.s kept protruding from the material every time she doubled over. I found it fascinating as to why she would behave like this at just the sight of him. I would have to ask Draven when I had chance. It was almost like she remembered him from another time...one lost to a far away history where this amount of respect was not only expected, but was demanded.

The place was bigger than I thought it was, as it was taking us a while to get through and it certainly wasn't down to the crowd. I turned back behind me just as a new song was being played and the death metal music that filled the air made the bodies join back up together after we had pa.s.sed and all the feet were now jumping and moving at such speeds it was hard to tell where one pair started and the others ended.

I could tell we were getting closer to the stage area as the music was pounding in my ears making them close to bleeding it was that loud. Luckily Draven changed directions and soon I was able to hear more than screaming words in another language. However, whether the language was human or not was another question because it sounded more Demonic than anything else.

I had a feeling that this strange expedition was coming to an end as Draven's feelings were easing up on his worries and his grip on my hand had now loosened. I saw feet approach us and felt Draven's hand leave mine completely and take a new position from behind to rest on the small of my back.

”Wait!” I let out a small gasp when I didn't actually hear the words being spoken but heard them being commanded in my head. I automatically did as I was told, because in a place like this, I wouldn't be as stupid as to be my usual stubborn self. No, for once I knew what was good for me and here I welcomed Draven's power.

To be perfectly honest with myself, it was in fact turning me on no end. His demanding and possessive behaviour towards me was sending an uncontrollable need that was causing a pool in between my inner thighs. What was it with this man and the insatiable need he created in me, even at times like this when I should be more concerned about making it out of this Demon pit with my sanity intact?

How much more could I take of the abnormal before I finally hit my limit and was pushed too far over the edge to ever make my way back? The truth of the matter was I was no longer counting myself as part of the 'normal' world that others lived in and the fact that I was more than fine with it all was more than disconcerting.

”Is everything ready?” Draven's serious voice asked someone that had stopped in front of us and from the wide, thick biker boots I was seeing I could tell it was a male.

”My lord.” I saw the man's feet move back as he offered more of his body on view and I knew this action was caused from him bowing in respect as most of the others had done.