Part 42 (2/2)
”Is something wrong Vixen?” I loved the way he called me that. It made me feel like I had a hold over him, plus the way he said it, sounded s.e.xy as h.e.l.l!
I gulped before saying a shy, ”N..n..no” I backed up and every step I took he took another towards me. His dark eyes turned almost primal, like a hungry animal stalking its prey. I was getting ready for him to pounce and he knew it.
”Come Keira, I thought you didn't fear me.” He was testing me, playing with me, like it was his game not mine. Of course, when my hands found the railing behind me I knew I had nowhere else to go.
”Draven?”
”Yes Keira.” I closed my eyes to stop the world from spinning and his words were the cause.
”I think I need....need...” I was trying so hard to find words in the darkness. The black haze that was my mind.
”Yes, what is it you need?” And then that was it, I felt it coming. It was horrible when you first realise it. Truly terrifying when you know what your body wants to do but you try to control it. It's like your body is working against what your mind tells it to do...or not to do in this case. I could even feel all the colour drain from my face in a rush, like my body needed it elsewhere. And then there it was, a nightmare situation coming out from deep within me, it had nowhere else to go but out and out it was coming.
”I need to...to be sick!” I said and turned round to throw up over the balcony. My stomach heaved out all the alcohol it had consumed over the last few hours I had knocked it all back. I felt Draven's hand rub my back and his other hand held my hair out of the projectile vomiting his girlfriend was doing.
”Ssshhh, that's it, get it all up and out of your system, good girl.” I could do nothing but keep going until my stomach ached with the empty s.p.a.ce. I looked down at the damage I had caused and hung my head in shame.
”Have you finished?” Draven asked me and I could only nod as that shame wouldn't allow me to speak.
”Here drink this.” He handed me a gla.s.s of water, from where I didn't know, but I still took gratefully. I took great gulps to wash away the taste of bile in my mouth.
”Easy!” He warned as I started to down it. He took it from me before I had time to finish it. Then, without warning, I was being lifted into his arms.
”What are you doing?” I asked as he lifted me higher to get a better grip.
”I'm taking you to our bed my little drunken princess.” He said this like he owned me, which of course he did, meanwhile I had never felt so embarra.s.sed in all my life. I wanted to bury myself into a pillow and hide but I had to use Draven instead. I don't think he minded. I felt him look down at me as he walked with me to the edge of the balcony.
”Wait...you're not going to do what I think you are?” He stopped and looked down towards a smaller balcony below us that I had never noticed before. It was in complete darkness, so that might explain why it always went unseen. It looked only the size for one and curved round like an iron cage for a giant bird.
”This reminds me of the first time when you were in my arms, well when you were awake anyway.”
”And the first time?” I asked shuddering in his stone hold.
”The forest clearing. The very first time I saw you. I will never forget the way you felt in my arms whilst you slept. You fit so perfectly as you do now, like you were made for my arms around you. If I had my way, I would carry you everywhere.” I looked up to see him smiling to himself and I couldn't help mimicking it.
”That maybe so, but unless you want to see me chucking up again then I wouldn't jump down there.” He laughed making me vibrate.
”That won't happen again, your body has settled now the poison has been removed. Trust me, you'll be fine.” He said and before I could protest further he squeezed me tightly to him and jumped. My breath caught in my chest and the feel of air flying up around my skin and hair had me gripping onto his clothes with fright. I could feel my nails penetrate the fabric, I held on so hard. I must have closed my eyes because it was black and I could feel tears stream outwards from under my closed lids.
”You can open your eyes now.” He said, his voice full of concern for my fear. I looked around to find we were on the little balcony and facing a black, wooden door that looked impenetrable. I looked back up to see how far we had come and couldn't believe that this was the same route we had taken when Draven had taken me home the first time. I had been so naive, why had I never questioned this before? All the answers were right in front of me the whole time, I just never asked myself the right questions.
The door opened after Draven spoke a word I didn't know understand, but I jumped slightly as it creaked loudly at the great big hinges holding it in place. Draven side stepped us in just as I was about to tell him that I was good to walk now.
”Please allow me this little pleasure.” He said upon hearing my thoughts.
”You can read me?”
”It's a little easier when you're drunk, I find there are no walls at all to contend with. You're like an open book.” He said in triumph.
”Oh goodie!” I said sarcastically.
”So you knew how guilty I have felt all night and yet you did nothing?” I asked frustrated.
”I must admit I was too angry with you to ease a guilt I wanted you to feel. I am sorry for it though.” He said not sounding too sorry!
”Oh well, that's alright then!” I said, again not keeping the sarcasm at bay. As we had this conversation he had been walking me down a narrow hallway that only just fit the both of us. It was all stone with a solid arch above that was higher than it needed to be.
”Where are we?” I said, momentarily forgetting our conversation.
”My home is filled with secret pa.s.sageways that only a handful of my people know of. It allows me access to anywhere throughout my home so I can go by unseen.”
”You mean free to spy?” I said, noting the obvious, which made him laugh.
”Clever girl, yes, to spy. I must know that the people in my council can be trusted.”
”That makes sense, as long as it's not used for other things.” I said making a joke he didn't get.
”Care to elaborate on that?” He asked me in a teasing manner.
”Well, as long as there's no pleasure in what you see.”
”Ah, the girls, forever the jealous Vixen you are. There is only one body I would spy on and I am a lucky man that I can stare at it freely without having to hide. Although I can admit I have been known to watch you in the shower when you know nothing about it.”
”No you haven't!” I punched him lightly and he laughed at me.
”Haven't I?”
”You're teasing me.” I decided and he didn't answer but his bad boy smile had me doubting in what I just said. I didn't get chance to check however because we had reached the end of the pa.s.sage way. In front of us lay another black door which held no light underneath. Draven's eyesight must have been that of a hawk because I couldn't even see a handle or anything. It opened anyway and Draven motioned with the hand he held at my back. The swoosh of thick heavy material could be heard and then with the click of his fingers light erupted from lamps in the room. Except it wasn't a room at all, it was another hallway, this time one the size you would expect to see in a castle or stately home. I had never been here before, I knew that much due to the different pictures the walls held.
Great tapestries, the size of trucks, made the stone walls dance with brightly coloured thread that looked like they were made yesterday. Even the smell of them was new and fresh and I could almost see the wealth of English ladies sat picking and plucking away on rainy days.
There were different themes as we moved along. On the floor before we got to the stairs, were scenes of gardens and landscapes but as he climbed the stairs it became more serious. Battle grounds, where little fabric bodies lay dying on blood soaked earth. Men in silver amour charged ahead with their spears held high and their swords at the ready. Horses with covered faces ran forth into an unknown death. I could almost hear the battle drums beat wildly against the skin of animals that were sacrificed to make them. It was only when Draven turned me away from them did I realise why...he was reading my mind.
”Do not think of those times.” He said s.h.i.+elding me from them as he took the last few steps quicker than the rest.
”Why not, history buff, remember?” I said light heartedly but obviously unconvincingly as well.
”There are some things that are not ever to be seen though the eyes that I love. It will pain me to see it again.”
”Draven, they're just pictures.” I whispered to him.
”No, Keira they are not, they are my memories. From those that I have touched and made an undying connection to in my past. I buy these items they create as a means of escape from a haunting time they don't understand and take these memories back from them, to free them.” He sounded full of remorse at all the times he had done this. I didn't want to ask any more questions and from now on he didn't have to turn me away from these sights, I just didn't look.
Just how many wars had Draven seen? How many men killed in a battle they didn't start, all for a power that would not be their own? I shuddered again and Draven tightened his hold. He knew I was thinking about it but I couldn't stop feeling sorrow for all those poor souls I didn't know. When Draven spoke about touching them I knew what it meant. It was when he possessed their minds. I suppose it was logical for some of their memories to be transferred during this time and I understood more than most the urge to get those images out. I had been doing that very thing most of my life. Is this what Draven wanted to s.h.i.+eld me from, the pain of knowing? Is this how all those other people had found their releases?
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