Surreal

Ja’el cradled his arm against his stomach as pain shot through the limb. He’d been dumped on what appeared to be a rock paved surface and had landed awkwardly on his left arm and now believed it to be dislocated. At least it wasn’t broken but that didn’t lessen the pain.

Despite his anguish, Ja’el forced himself to sit up and look around. There were withered trees as far as the eye could see which wasn’t very far given the thick dense fog that seemed to hang over the area. A dim light coming from above thankfully kept the clearing from being completely pitch black.

Ja’el felt a chill go down his spine and knew it wasn’t the cool temperature from the fog. He was being watched. He slowly got to his feet while still favoring his injured arm and once again took in his surroundings. He could see nothing moving in the fog, but the big question was. Where was Erik? And it didn’t end there. Why would his bodyguard bring him to such a place? Where had he been and what happened to his appearance?

“Erik,” Ja’el’s voice was a mere whisper as he feared he’d alert whatever creatures called this place home to his presence. He needed to find his lover, but couldn’t endanger himself unnecessarily.

“Erik,” Ja’el said a little louder. He could still feel the presence of someone or something watching him. A part of him hoped it was Erik. But then again, why would this man he thought he knew so well toy with him like that? He realized that much had happened to Erik while they’d been separated. But no matter what had occurred, Ja’el was certain they’d could overcome it.

“Erik – please if you’re out there; I need to know you’re alright.” Ja’el gasped as he saw something streak across the fog and then was gone. Perhaps whatever was out there, was not Erik. He quickly looked around for a weapon. Ja’el used his good hand to take hold of one of the slabs of rock beneath him. He tugged for several seconds before he realized it wouldn’t budge. His gaze turned to one of the skeletal trees that surrounded him.

Ja’el managed to separate a branch from the closest tree. No sooner had he done so that he began to hear whooshing noises all around him. He glanced quickly in the direction of each sound but could see nothing. Ja’el clutched the branch tightly with his good hand and waited for a pending attack.

Finally, the whooshing stopped, but the last one he heard had been directly behind him. Turning slowly, Ja’el prepared to face whatever was standing behind him.

His mouth fell open and the branch immediately slipped from his hand when he saw Erik standing there. It was his Erik, the one he knew so well. Bronzed skin, forest green eyes, and slicked-back ebony hair. Gone was the visage he had seen in the Atikan forest just moments before.

Ja’el immediately threw himself towards his lover and hugged him close. “Oh Erik, I’ve missed you so much.” He could feel the tears sting his eyes as this reunion he had dreamed of since being brought to Atika was finally taking place.

“Are you okay?” Ja’el touched his face with his good hand to reassure himself that Erik really was there.

“I’m fine.”

Ja’el noticed right away that Erik’s voice sounded strange and the look in his eyes appeared distant. He’d eventually ask his lover what was really wrong but right now wanted to ascertain that he was alright physically.

“We feared the worst, that perhaps the Tolatrians had killed you,” Ja’el began. “You can’t know how thrilled I am to see you alive.”

“Are you?” Erik asked coldly.

“Yes,” Ja’el blinked back confusion by Erik’s standoffish demeanor. “You must know by now how I feel about you.” He saw as Erik lowered his gaze to Ja’el’s dislocated left arm that was pressed against his chest. When Erik grasped it firmly he was not alarmed. He thought it best to simply explain why he was favoring it. “I injured it upon my arrival.”

“Hmm, that wasn’t my intent,” Erik’s grasp did not lessen on Ja’el’s arm. “This was.”

A blood-curdling scream broke across Ja’el’s lips as Erik twisted his injured arm cruelly quickly breaking it. The sound of the bone snapping could be heard against his outcry. He immediately fell to the hard ground as black spots began to swim before his eyes. He gazed at the bone jutting out of his flesh beneath his arm scarcely believing that this was actually happening to him. When Erik placed a booted foot on his injured arm, Ja’el’s screams intensified. After several moments he managed to formulate them into words.

“Please… please stop!” Ja’el was actually stunned when he felt the pressure removed from his broken arm. Eventually as he fought against the shock of this recent injury; Ja’el found the courage to gaze upward at the man he once believed would never hurt him. A gasp escaped his lips as the scaled visage of Erik he had first seen back on Atika had returned.

“Who … what are you?” Ja’el asked through his haze of pain.

“I thought you’d never ask.” Erik proceeded to rip Ja’el’s clothing to shreds with one swipe of the claws on his right hand.

Ja’el squeezed his eyes shut as another cry of anguish escaped his now dry lips. The claws had not only torn his clothing, but had raked across his bare skin as well leaving stripes of red gashes in their wake. He was barely coherent when he felt his legs being spread and Erik kneeling between them.

“Fun first, answers later,” Erik stated.

Ja’el gazed up at the creature through eyes fogged with tears. The green scales that covered Erik’s lower half gave way to a gigantic cock with a purple-headed, bulbous tip that was now peeking between the folds of his loin cloth which caused the ultimate fear to clutch Ja’el’s heart. That thing could literally kill him. Ja’el felt the need to struggle, but soon realized he didn’t have the strength for it. Aside from the pain in his broken arm, his body felt numb and immobile.

“Please … please Erik if you’re still in there – don’t do this,” Ja’el pleaded with him. He was slightly surprised when he saw Erik still his entry.

“Go on, beg me some more,” Erik grinned wickedly. There was a devious twinkle in his eyes as he regarded the naked human spread out before him. He was going to enjoy this bit of pleasure before the time came to wipe this man from existence.

“What happened to you?” Ja’el felt terribly weak as the tears continued to spill down his cheeks. “You promised…”

“Oh, do tell me what I promised.”

Ja’el realized that Erik was only toying with him and was actually relishing the thought of him begging. Obviously he had forgotten about their time together, or he certainly wouldn’t be treating him this way. He had to remind him.

“Back on the ship – before we made this journey together. There was a bond that formed between us, and you forged an unbreakable vow, promising to never hurt me. Please Erik; you have to remember.”

“Hmm, so because I’m ready to tear you limb from limb – that gives you reason to believe I’ve forgotten this vow?” Erik gazed into Ja’el’s tear filled silver eyes. It seemed several moments passed with their gazes locked.

Ja’el was confused by his response but prayed that the good memories they shared would turn Erik away from this dark path. However, all hope was shattered when he felt Erik grasp his thighs before plunging his rigid cock all the way in to the hilt. Ja’el felt his insides rip and tear as Erik’s tool of torture paved its own way within him. His scream of agony turned into quick static gasps of pain as he soon found it difficult to breathe.

“Those words that spewed from my lips were about as unrelenting as your ass resisting my cock.” Erik smirked.

Ja’el didn’t want to believe it, he refused to believe it. The Erik he knew, had it all been a sham? No, those feelings were real. Erik had genuinely wanted to protect him from the Tolatrians. He couldn’t give up hope on him yet. However, if this kept up, he wouldn’t be able to remain conscious long enough to learn the answers he sought.

“I don’t know what happened to you – but I’m not giving up on you yet.” Ja’el barely got those words out before Erik slammed into him with a particularly brutal thrust that seemed to tear at his insides even more. A dark fog crept into his line of vision as he bordered on unconsciousness. Suddenly, he felt Erik’s lips on his own as if breathing life into him. The fog soon dissipated as his clarity returned.

Erik removed his lips before pinning the smaller man with an intense stare. “I want you conscious so that you may experience all that I have in store for you.”

Ja’el was stunned by the meaning behind his words. It was obvious the kiss represented some type of unseen ability that was now keeping him lucid. It was Erik’s intention for him to feel every bit of pain that was inflicted upon him by denying him the reprieve of passing out. One word kept repeating itself over and over in his head. Why? Why would Erik do this to him? It seems he had only to wait a few seconds more for the answer.

“I want you to know, just how much I despise you for what you’ve done to me.” Erik’s green eyes blazed with fury. “And before you die, you will know what true despair really is. I shall rip out your insides and wear the entrails on my skin as a trophy, and you’ll still be alive when I do it.”

~*~

“What’s taking so long?” Arabel had been pacing outside of Kenlan’s lab for the past hour since Ja’el’s capture.

“You know this is a delicate business, pinpointing portals,” Devo explained. He hated to see his mate upset but there was no help for it. Arabel’s cousin was in a very serious situation.

“We don’t know what that thing could be doing to him,” Arabel sighed before taking a seat on a nearby side couch. “He’s my last known living Talion relative and I only just found him, please – please don’t let me lose him.”

Devo was about to join Arabel on the couch in an attempt to comfort him when the doors to Kenlan’s lab suddenly opened. Woen emerged before them.

“Kenlan and Jubek are working as fast as they can, they understand the urgency,” Woen explained.

“And what is Jubek’s theory for what happened to Erik?” Arabel once again came to his feet.

“He doesn’t know, but swears Erik was not evil when we first met him. Something changed him.”

“This waiting is going to drive me crazy.” Arabel released an irritated cry as he once again began to pace the hall.

“We’ll know by the end of the day,” Devo said softly. He expected the surprised expressions that now came to him from both Arabel and Woen. “That’s how long it will take for mother to finish communing with the One. This creature has broken certain rules within our cosmos by coming here and we’d be well within our rights for retaliation.”

“Meaning?” Arabel was still not clear on what was happening.

“If Jubek and Kenlan can not find the correct portal in time, then as long as all goes well; the One will give us the means to.”

Realization dawned on Arabel. Of course, if the One gave the go ahead, then there was no need for calibration or any other search methods. Once divine intervention was involved, the correct portal could be easily located. But Devo had said if all went well which meant there was a possibility the One would not grant them this boon. He hoped for Ja’el’s sake that the One smiled on them that day.

~*~

Soiph found Rais on the balcony located in the hallway outside his quarters. The time for his departure had come and gone. She had to wonder if he was upset by these turn of events that had prompted the delay.

“Captain I wanted to assure you that as soon as Kenlan is able he will open the portal to Tobkar. But right now…”

“I understand.” Rais didn’t allow her to finish. “In case you’ve forgotten I’m not usually so selfish.” He finally turned to give her his full attention. “Finding Ja’el takes precedence to my going home.”

“Is that what you really think Tobkar will be? Home? When was the last time you’d been there?” Soiph wanted to know.

“I’m not going to argue my decision with you further.” Rais turned to gaze out at the scenery once more and promptly changed the subject. “Has there been any progress on the search?”

Soiph was not offended by his dismissal of the previous topic. She knew her Captain well and was certain his intention had not been malicious in the slightest.

“No luck so far.”

Rais sighed as he studied the way the multi-colored trees swayed in the light breeze. “I hope they find him.”

“Me too.”

Rais stiffened when he realized the last response had not come from his Commander. He spun around to find the last person he’d wanted to see again that day. Boden, the man seemed to undress him with his eyes as he took in every inch of him. Breathless memories of their night together filled with steamy sex invaded his mind. These thoughts instantly fueled his anger.

“What are you doing here?” Rais demanded.

“I just came to check on you two, to see if everything is alright,” Boden replied.

“We’re fine, now leave.” Rais’s blue eyes burned with determination as he dared the Suvian to do otherwise.

Soiph glanced from Rais to Boden and back again. Did the two men really hate each other? No. She was almost certain Boden did not hate Rais, perhaps just the opposite. But with their current situation, she wasn’t sure how Boden could make the Captain believe otherwise.

Boden inclined his head slightly in respect for both foreigners present. “As you wish.” He turned to leave and did not look back once.

“Are you sure you’re not being too hard on him?” Soiph couldn’t help but asking.

“Not another word, Commander. As far as I’m concerned that man will be a memory soon forgotten.”

Soiph nodded and took the hint that Rais certainly didn’t want anything to do with Boden, not even a simple discussion. “As you wish.” She almost laughed at the scowl he tossed her way but was excited about one thing. At least he was talking to her again. She had thought after last night that it was over for them. Perhaps she’d get to keep her best friend after all.

~*~

//It’s just a nightmare – it has to be. I’ll wake up soon…

That’s it, Ja’el was over anxious about his reunion with Erik that his overactive mind had conjured up something out of a horror story. Erik would never hurt him; he’d promised and had proved it to be true during their two week trip to Samian. And after their relationship had blossomed into something more profound, his green-eyed bodyguard had shown him that he would do anything for him. Ja’el had fancied the feeling to be love, though neither of them had ever said the actual words.

His reunion with Erik would be a joyous one. But one thing still bothered the young Talion. How could he imagine a nightmare so brutally horrific? Did he really possess such an imagination? The pain; it’d felt so real – so real…//

Ja’el’s eyes flew open as blood spurted from his lips. His good hand came instinctively to his mouth. When he lifted that blood stained hand away from him he began to tremble with the realization that his nightmare was very real.

He heard chittering noises and low growls surrounding him. Ja’el glanced up and could now make out the forms of hideous creatures spread throughout the skeletal tree forest. The dense fog seemed to have dissipated; allowing him to see that perhaps hundreds of the creatures were now gathered around him.

The memories of what had happened when he first encountered Erik in the Atikan forest came rushing back to him. Erik had captured him, broken his arm and then had raped him brutally, as the pain from the torn flesh between his thighs and the pool of blood he sat in would attest. Ja’el had remained conscious until the beast had found his release, and then he must have passed out. Due to the sticky wetness on his thighs of blood mingled with semen, he knew he hadn’t been out for very long. He certainly wished it had lasted longer, as the pain from his rape and broken arm were excruciating.

Ja’el glanced around at the creatures that now seemed to be moving towards him. His eyes eventually laid upon a throne dais that had certainly not been there before. Or had it? Erik had made himself appear normal before reverting to the beastly form, had it all been an illusion? He now saw Erik kneeling at the base of the dais. Something sat at the top of the short stairwell but he could not make it out as it was shrouded in a dark mist or shadow. The evil that emanated from the throne caused Ja’el’s heart to clutch with fear.

Ja’el’s eyes widened when he saw Erik rise to his feet and strode boldly towards him. The black loin cloth between his powerful green scaled thighs hid the instrument of torture that had injured Ja’el so terribly before. He prayed the man would not take him like that again. The memories of Erik’s thick cock pressing into him like a cylinder shearing away at anything in it’s path sent a shiver down his spine.

“You are in the presence of the revered one. Bow before the all powerful Sokan,” Erik ordered.

Ja’el gazed in the direction of the dais once more and shook his head. Sokan was one of the gods of old, only fanatic cults still worshiped him in Andrenon. Most civilized nations did not believe that he existed.

Suddenly, Ja’el felt his teeth crunch against the delicate flesh within his cheek as Erik’s meaty fist made firm contact with his jaw. He coughed as three of those teeth were ejected from his lips.

“You will show more respect for my father,” Erik stated firmly.

Ja’el’s eyes widened as he continued to shake his with disbelief. This couldn’t be happening. Erik had just admitted to being the offspring of a god? How could that be true? How could Ja’el not have known that he’d been spending time and sleeping with a Demi-god? No. The correct term was – a Relic. Their existence was even more obscure than that of the gods.

Erik roared with anger when the Talion made no move to obey him. He quickly snatched him up and lifted his knee, preparing to break the insolent man in two.

//Hold my son; his will is still strong. Until you have broken him completely, you are not allowed to kill him. Our allies gathered may not mind a taste of him.//

Erik paused and tilted his head in Sokan’s direction in acknowledgement. //Forgive me my lord, but in his fragile state I fear they may accidentally kill him. If you wish him broken before he meets his end, then leave it to me. At which point I’m certain there will be enough life left in him for our allies to take their fill of his body.//

Ja’el yelped when his broken arm made firm contact with the rock paved ground. He’d thought he was going to die for sure when Erik had held him aloft, but then nothing happened. He knew the Suvians could communicate telepathically, was it possible that these deities were doing the same?

Ja’el gasped when he felt Erik place a palm on his head. He wasn’t quite sure what was happening until he saw the ground beneath him vanish and was soon he was falling through an open pit with Erik bringing up the rear. He didn’t want to speculate on where he was being taken or what would be done to him when he got there. But one thing was apparent; Erik was not finished with him yet not by a long shot.

~*~

As it turned out, Gillian completed deliberations with the One before Kenlan and Jubek could pinpoint the correct portal. She called a meeting in one of the main conference halls to discuss their objectives. Arabel had requested to be present among the group of Suvians and Jubek.

“We’ve got the go ahead; but we have to wait until a message is first sent to Sokan asking him to explain himself,” Gillian began.

“Did you say, Sokan?” Arabel hadn’t meant to interrupt but couldn’t help himself. He was one of the least well-known gods of his galaxy. Ancient texts only described him as omnipotent.

“So, this Erik is a Relic of Sokan,” Jubek surmised.

“Okay, now we knew Erik was a Relic and that he wasn’t sinisterly inclined during his time with Ja’el,” Woen began. “So what happened – how did he change into this thing?”

“Who cares?” Stafon spoke up. “He kidnapped Arabel’s cousin and if he’s been hurt then this Erik will have to answer for that.”

“I appreciate your concern all of you. But we have to keep in mind that Ja’el loves this man.” Arabel realized that Ja’el had not actually said the words but his actions had spoken louder. “We have to tread carefully where both of them are concerned, regardless of what Erik may have done to Ja’el.”

“And will you still feel that way if Erik has already killed him?” Jubek glanced at Arabel from his perch on the back of his chair.

Woen gave his lover a warning look which he seemed to ignore. While Jubek’s question was founded, it would have a difficult answer.

“I can’t say what my reaction will be if Ja’el is already dead,” Arabel lowered his gaze as all was silent in the room for a several seconds. Regardless of the situation, if Erik murdered Ja’el in cold blood, then he was good as dead and any of the Suvian’s now seated at the conference table would be happy to administer the fatal blow.

“How long do we wait for a response?” Stafon wanted to know.

Gillian was sitting at the head of the table with her legs crossed as the question was directed at her. She was silent for a few seconds before her golden gaze flickered across the faces of all those gathered. “We have to give him until tomorrow morning.”

“What?! Ja’el has to spend the night with those demons?” Arabel’s unexpected outburst surprised the Talion himself. He simply never expected that Ja’el would be in enemy hands for so long.

“I take it the time difference on this plane is just about the same as ours?” Woen queried.

“Yes,” Gillian replied. She realized however, that half a day may as well be half a week considering all Ja’el must be going through. “Now assuming things go badly and we have to invade this plane to retrieve Ja’el. I’ve sent the call out and the Suvian army is gathering as we speak. Woen, Stafon and myself will lead the first three regiments. We don’t know how big this plane may be or where Ja’el is being held, so we’re going to enter from three different portal points. Take note that we may be fighting beings on par with demonoids.”

The room grew quiet at Gillian’s last admission. The last time the Suvian’s went up against the demonoids almost thirty years ago, they were on the brink of destroying the galaxy. While these denizens on the alter realm plane were not demonoids, it was clear to all present that blood would be spilled on both sides.

After the battle of Lesdale, Gillian had hoped she’d never have to send a Suvian army into harms way ever again. But it seemed that would not be the case. Thirty years was a long reprieve, but now the break was over.

~*~

Ja’el’s mouth was full of cock. It was a slightly curved dick he recognized well. He engulfed the erect tool until his lips were touching the crinkly black curls that cradled the sex.

Ja’el’s head and soft hair pressing against the pudgy belly of the man he serviced went unnoticed as he focused only on the task at hand. His tongue twirled around the penis in his mouth as his tongue coated it with saliva allowing him to slide it even further down his throat. Ja’el’s nostrils flared as he expertly breathed through his nose which prevented him from gagging.

The man above him soon began to moan loudly, and before long; Ja’el’s mouth was being filled with fizzy, sticky come. He parted his lips to release the still spurting cock that deposited a large droplet of milky semen on his right cheek just below his eye. Ja’el glanced up and saw Zaxton looking at him with a pleased look in his eyes.

“What a great cocksucker I turned you into. You should thank me for making you such a wonderful whore.” Zaxton began to laugh at the surprised expression on Ja’el’s face. “Your refined skills leads me to believe that you’ve been practicing only recently.”

“No, this isn’t real – you’re dead,” Ja’el shook his head in disbelief.

“If it’s not real, then a dead man just face fucked you,” Zaxton cackled in glee.

Ja’el wiped at the sticky mess on his cheek and brought the fingers before him. He started at the very tangible semen that now coated several digits and could still distinctly feel the tender ache in his jaw from the deep throat. It certainly did look and feel real.

“Oh that’s okay, I understand if you don’t enjoy fucking an unattractive man. Perhaps we can find you someone more appealing,” Zaxton said with another snicker.

When the large man suddenly vanished, Ja’el blinked twice to be certain he wasn’t seeing things. His surroundings were the same; it appeared to be Zaxton’s bedchambers back on the Atlinium mine. But now instead of kneeling before the bed he was chained by both hands to the ceiling. He didn’t have to wait long before two men appeared before him. His heart skipped a beat when he recognized them instantly.

“Arabel, Prince Devo, is it really you?” Ja’el desperately wanted them to be real. Perhaps his salvation was at hand.

“Of course it’s us silly.” Arabel closed the distance between him and the chained Ja’el and began to trace his cousin’s lips with his finger. “I imagine you’re glad to see us.”

Ja’el was about to nod his head in agreement when he saw Devo unzip his pants and release his hardened cock. The Talion was stunned into silence by this confusing turn of events.

Devo came to stand before Ja’el with a quirky smile on his handsome face. “Arabel told me what a great whore you are, so I figured I’d test you out myself.”

Ja’el froze when he felt Devo cup his firm buttocks, and it was the first time Ja’el noticed his nudity. “This isn’t real, this isn’t happening,” he shook his head in denial.

Devo quickly moved to Ja’el’s rear and without further ado, pushed into the fair-haired Talion with one swift thrust. He lips curved into a smile at the nape of Ja’el’s slim neck. “Now tell me, did that not feel real?”

A sob caught in Ja’el’s throat as he could no longer deny the truth. It certainly did feel like Arabel’s mate was fucking him and right before his cousin’s eyes. He gazed at his fellow Talion, not understanding how Arabel could allow this to happen. He stiffened when he noticed that his cousin wasn’t looking at him but instead had his gazed trained on Ja’el’s cock as his hands fondled him openly.

“Don’t worry, as soon as Devo gets finished, I’m going to get back there and fuck you myself.”

Ja’el was stunned by the words that left Arabel’s lips. Not only were they relatives, but they were proud Talion’s. To engage in what Arabel was suggesting would be the ultimate disgrace to themselves and their people.

“Please stop this, I beg you,” Ja’el cried as his body rocked back and forth to the jolting pace of Devo’s thrusts.

“You know you’ve always secretly wished to fuck us.” Arabel ran his tongue across Ja’el’s cheek. “We’re kindred spirits, whores who’ve screwed so many men in our lifetime we can’t remember them all. So fucking each other; is only natural.”

Ja’el lowered his head and squeezed his eyes shut to hold back the tears. He heard and felt as Devo climaxed behind him. The man’s slippery cock soon exited his moist hole leaving him with an empty, gaping feeling. As Devo’s presence behind him was replaced by Arabel’s, all Ja’el wanted was for this nightmare to end.

“Just kill me and be done with it,” Ja’el stated softly. He felt when Arabel grabbed his hair and tugged harshly which caused his head to tilt upwards.

“What did you say?” Arabel asked through clenched teeth.

“You’ve had your fun. It’s over; I accept that I will die here. There’s no need to draw out the inevitable.” Ja’el winced as the roots of his hair were strained painfully from Arabel’s tugging grip. However, he ignored the pain and hoped that his words had the desired effect.

Ja’el slowly opened his eyes, and wasn’t surprised to find Zaxton’s bed chambers gone. He was once again in a darkened field covered with hard pebbles on the ground and skeletal trees. There was a river of dark liquid nearby which was the only indication that Ja’el wasn’t in the same place he’d first been taken to. His hands were no longer chained overhead, instead he was favoring his broken arm against his chest. He could still feel a presence behind him, but knew for a certainty that it wasn’t Arabel.

“So you want it to end do you? Are you in such a hurry to die?”

Ja’el slowly turned around to face the man who had spoken. It was a man he never expected would one day be the ultimate cause of his death. He gazed at Erik’s face intensely. One half of him still looked human. His left eye was a vivid green and the skin surrounding that half a golden bronze. However, his right eye had turned opaque black and the surrounding skin was covered with delicate green scales. Was his Erik still in there somewhere? Or had this horrific visage taken over completely?

“I was doing you a favor, a last request as it were. Your mind was filled with a myriad of people and images you’ve met over your lifetime. I thought it’d be interesting to see your reaction to them in situations of my creation,” Erik began. “Then you had to go and spoil it by begging to die. Don’t you realize how unnecessary that is?”

Ja’el’s eyes widened at his words.

“Your imminent death will be only at a time of my choosing,” Erik explained.

“What do you want from me? What do you want to see happen before you’ll finish it?” Ja’el demanded.

Erik raised an eyebrow at him before his lips curved upwards in a devious smile. “You’re a lot smarter than you let on.”

“No, if I were then I would have realized you were a Relic before now; but you were that good of a liar.”

“Hmph, I didn’t exactly lie to you. I simply withheld certain information.”

“Do you want to see me beg, grovel? Just tell me!” Ja’el felt himself very near the breaking point. He couldn’t let himself get that far. He had to find a way to get Erik to end it before he lost everything that he ever was. The salvation of his soul depended on it.

Erik shoved Ja’el roughly to the pebbled ground. He smiled at the yelp of pain the Talion released when his broken arm was jostled by the brutal contact.

“Forgive me, but no such luck for you.” Erik held his right arm aloft and soon the hilt of a weapon began to take shape.

Ja’el stared up at him through wide, frightened eyes as he saw what appeared to be a whip form within Erik’s hands. He braced himself for what was to come. Clutching his broken arm closer to his body he stilled himself against the pain that already coursed through him.

“You’ll have to tell me how you like my handiwork when we’re through. It takes a certain skill to peel flesh from bone.” Erik quickly struck the first lash which created a deep red gash across Ja’el’s chest and shoulder. The man’s scream was music to his ears which quickly prompted the second lash to follow suit. He managed to get about ten strokes in before the Ja’el lost consciousness. He realized that no amount of coaxing would allow him to stay lucid during the whipping. It was no matter; in a few minutes he would revive him and start all over again. He would not give into Ja’el’s pleas for a quick and easy death. He would strip down all his defenses and leave his soul bare and open for the taking. When Ja’el finally lost all hope, only then would Erik allow himself to see the light fade from those eyes. It was an image he couldn’t wait to see.


A.N. Thank you onepennyshort, I've been a bit review starved for this particular story. I'd planned on finishing it anyways but begun to get the feeling that I was cluttering the website with an unwanted story. =p

I should re-read all my sex scenes to make sure that I don't overuse the same descriptions too much but I don't always and I'll admit that.

While I love writing Arabel and Devo, this is not officially their story. SURRENDER was their story, this one belongs to Erik and Ja'el. But never fear, there will be at least a couple more scenes between Arabel and Devo