Shadow Sworn

Switchblade Symphony

~Two

The dance of the Ebon Court was just beginning as I strode down the final seven steps behind the dais of the High Prince. My face was set in its mask, all emotions and comments carefully crafted by my councilor during the peak hours of daylight when even I, the greatest of the Darkness, was forced to seek rest. Returning from the palace the Gate gated to a vampyre was an added bonus to rising up to High Priest. Although as the years passed I was realizing that being vampyre had some interesting downfalls – like the need for fresh blood and the disability to wander outside in sunlight. That I missed, for as a child, before the battles for High Priest began, I had occasionally been able to sneak out and stand on one of the few outer balconies and watch the world of Light.

I think I might have envied the people of Light during those times. They had a freedom to travel anywhere without having to worry about discrimination because of their race.

: That is not entirely true son of my soul; there are many wars and discriminations outside in Her realm. Yes, they are not what We would notice as they are fought within a different arena but they are there. The people of Her realm are raised to believe the color of one’s skin creates one either more or less inferior then themselves. You might ask that lovely little Priestess of it, she is of Jisiac lineage and has probably been shunned for her color. And even though the robes of Her Priestess offers some solace from shunning she is probably still thought to be inferior to a Priestess of lesser rank but Marl lineage. :

Giving my councilor an inquiring thought I watch the Ebon Court weave its intricacies and falsities. : I shall, if the Lady has given grace for one of Her children to grace our courts then it would be foolish of me to refuse to seek the knowledge. :

: Keep from using the Priestess if at all possible. The Lady prefers Her children to have complete free reign on their choices and has a nasty streak if She discovers someone to be using or manipulating them. :

: I shall remember that. :

Invisible arms draping over my slouched shoulders my councilor rests his chin on a shoulder, teeth closing around the lobe of my ear. : You are a good child little one, you see things that are not plainly before you and give thought to those that you have never heard of. It makes me exceedingly proud to hear you accept advice without question. : Mind coloring with pride I sigh softly as his teeth release my ear and drop to my throat. Scraping against the press of my collarbone against flesh he purrs: Choose your prey for the evening son of my soul, I hunger for you. :

Eyes scanning the ranks of the Court I lift my arm from my thigh. Nail glinting in the unwavering glow of mage lights I point at one of Firidas’ contenders. Cheeks coloring a dark rose she separates herself from the throng she was with tonight. Orbs shifting from white to a deep, death red I allow a smile to touch my lips. Bathed in the bloody glow the Ebon Court watches, enraptured, as the lovely slides gracefully into my lap. It was considered an immense honor to be chosen as my choice donor of the Court. And tonight I had chosen to spite Firidas and her consolidated power base.

Mouth touching her parted lips in a whisper of a kiss I gaze at the smooth column of her throat in ecstasy, the thud of blood in her veins blocking all sound. Kissing the tantalizing vein I open my mouth and bare my fangs to the Court before sinking them into the beauty’s skin. Simultaneously I feel the sharp, fleeting pain of fangs piercing my own skin. Fingers closing convulsively on her hip beneath my left hand I swoon as the heady rush of heat fills my mind. She was ensnared in a web of pleasure, a trick my councilor had shown me but had never pulled me under with. Instead he allowed me to share the erotic knowledge and power that feeding entailed. Had I decided not to put her under with the strength of my mind she would have gained a bit of power over me for every time I fed off her.

Groin stirring I seal the mark of my teeth with a swipe of my tongue, heart shuddering as my councilor tugs at it once before closing the marks on my own skin. : Wake her from the web son of my soul or she will give in to the spell rather than waking in a sexually heightened manner. :

Eyelashes fluttering I lean my head forward, mouth at her ear. “Awake pretty, you have served your High Priest well.”

Giving a gentle squeak as I scoot her from my lap she flushes and drops a deep curtsy. Head dropping back I melt into the throne of the High Priest, my councilor taking the opportunity to work his fingers into the muscles of my upper back and shoulders. The Court was resuming the dance now that the entertainment of my feeding was concluded. But now there would be requests by the beings of the Court, requests to take part in some of the games certain nobles were hosting.

Standing patiently at the foot of the dais said nobles await my acknowledgement. Finger choosing one at random I tilt my head to the side in a bored manner as he climbs the proscribed three steps up. He was a handsome one, a bit taller then I was and carrying more muscle then I could ever hope to call my own. Hip length wavy hair of crimson is held back with delicate looking knives and jewels. Face lowering at my presence he spreads his arms open, hands palm up in the proper show of respect for the High Priest.

“Speak.”

Chin lifting minutely he nods, “My Lord High Priest I speak on behalf of the Emerald Rose blood.” Nodding my acknowledgement I merge minds with my councilor, he and I would decide whether or not I would accept the invitation. He had a better time remembering which family I had last accepted and kept me from seeming to favor one. “We of the Emerald Rose would like to extend an invitation to you, High Priest, for our next tournament in the Maze. If you deem our invitation acceptable you would come as Head Hunter, as is proper to you status Lord High Priest.”

Blood thrilling at the prospect of the title of Head Hunter I wait for my councilor’s response. Nails scratching my lower back he opens his mind and permits me to feel his own pleasure of the title. : Emerald Rose is the height of all tournaments hosted in the Maze, as you well know. Give them the traditional response of needing to hear the other invitations, but unless Silver Thorn offers the title of Dark God of their upcoming festival we shall accept Emerald’s offer. It has been many years since you have gone to a Maze tournament, much less presided as Head Hunter over one, and Emerald is in line to be accepted. :

“Emerald Rose is thanked for their generous invitation and it shall be considered along with the other invitations to be presented.” Bowing in acceptance the speaker of Emerald retreats as I motion to the next of the nobles.


~*~

Court was coming to the point of nobles, when the presence of the High Priest was not required, in fact rather disliked, which meant that I had to make a public acceptance of Emerald’s invitation then excuse myself, claiming I had rites to perform in the last of the night’s glory. : And you do son of my soul, ritest vet very few of the Prince High Priests have been graced with. Rise and command the attention of your Court for this announcement. :

Bejeweled hand outstretched out to the Court I rise to my feet. Eyes glazed with court mask boredom I wait for the near instant silence. “After much thought on the given invitations it is Emerald Rose that will be accepted. Come three moons passing We shall attend and perform the duties of Head Hunter of the Maze.” Clasping hands at their chests the members of Emerald Rose bow in unison as their chosen speaker steps from the Court to await my instructions.

: Invite him to join you on your nightly walk of the halls; it will give you ample time to receive the required speeches he has to execute. Plus, I would not be in opposition to a mild detour involving a plush bed. It has been several moon cycles since you have taken on a male companion - Firidas begins to irritate me. :
: All right, he shall join us on our walk. Oddly enough, I was given unasked for advice to drop Firidas from the Priestess this afternoon. She told me that Firidas tht tot to kill me and claim power as High Priest. :

: Wise young lady, that bitch thinks that my opinion means naught in the selection of High Priest – I ought to kill her myself. :

: Shush you silly man, this one of Emerald might enjoy your attentions in that detour you spoke of. I doubt he would speak outside the bedchamber given the choice to if you elected to join us in flesh rather than through me. : Descending the four steps separating the speaker of Emerald from the dais I look up a bit to meet his gaze, hiding a gasp of surprise upon finding his eyes to be a clear blue. “Come speaker of Emerald Rose, tell what must be known of the tournament as We walk Our nightly walk.” He hid his own surprise at my invitation and followed slightly behind me as I ascended the steps and strode behind the heavy drapes behind the throne. Feet continuing up the stairs that were my private entrance to Ebon Court’s dungeon deep ballroom I drop my Court mask. Pausing I hook an arm with on of Emerald’ s speaker’s and guide his unresisting body up the final few steps.

The halls I walked each night were my own halls; none but the servants to the High Priest and myself were allowed to walk them. I have never given Firidas the necessary passwords to wander them and with thentsents of this afternoon still fresh in my mind I was glad of that fact. Tilting my head to the side a bit I pat the speaker’s arm, “If you wish to enter these halls you only need give the guards before the Iron Arch the proper password, which is crimson butterfly at this moment.”
Approval i min mind, my councilor chuckles along with me as the speaker goes wide-eyed at my admission of codes to my personal hideaway. Golden eyes lifting to meet his shocked blue I release his arm and spread my arms wide, “Come now, you have things to tell me, not the least of which is your name unless you had rather I simply call you speaker of Emerald?”

Cheeks going a nice rose color he waves his hands at me and chokes. Coughing himself free of whatever was lodged in his throat he ducks his head. “My name is Medrith Lord High Priest.”

Thrusting my lower lip out I huff, “I do so tire of that title Medrith, call me by my birth name.”

I have never seen eyes quite so blue as his and the fact that they were darting around the hall with fright was mildly entertaining. Fancy that one of my own subjects is terrified of me, while a Priestess of the White Lady, the complete opposite of my own deity, sat with me without fear until Hessseth showed her head. Lips twitching with repressed laughter I avert my face, lest I burst into laughter and frighten him any more.

“Whic-ch is?”

Brows shooting up I twist back to face Medrith, the whispered question catching me gleefully unaware. Flashing fangs at him in a proud grin I bow formally, “Kalinx, Medrith of Emerald Rose.”

Surprise on his face he inquires, “Kalinx of Sapphire Death?” Nose wrinkling I nod my head. “Then you are –” Blue eyes going wider then I thought possible he flutters his hands at me.

“Celebrating my two hundred and thirteenth year in four mcyclcycles.”

“Lord Dark, you don’t need me to give you anything on the topic of our tournament – after that many years you’ve seen hundreds of them and know their guidelines by memory. Don’t you?”

Chuckling I nod, “Aye, every little quirk you of Emerald Rose throw in I know.”

“Should I leave you to your walk then, Lo – Kalinx?”

“Medrith, what to I give you a few minutes ago?”

“Your name?”

“Before that.” Lips forming an o of awe he blinks at me. “Exactly, the current password to gain entry to my halls, for that is where we are.” Spinning in a circle I motion at the halls, “Welcome to the halls of the Prince High Priest Medrith, halls which you shall have access to for as long as you please.”

“W-why?”

Why, oh pretty Medrith, why is not what needs to be answered. Gliding at him I close the distance between us and rise up on my toes, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. Mouth hovering a mere breath from his own I lock eyes with him. “Why you ask? Let me show you my answer Medrith.”

The kiss I give him is gentle, just the pressure of my lips against his. Shifting his arms about my l bac back he returns the pressure after an unresponsive moment of shock. Dropping back down to my heels I wait in the snug embrace of his arms.

“Truly?”

“If you will have me and all that that entails, yes.”

Loosening his hold on me, he turns my chin up with a hand, blue eyes searching my open gaze briefly. Closing the space he gives me a kiss with more pressure then my own had. Answering the pressure I lower an arm to curl around his hips. Tongue brng ang against my upper lip he nips lightly at it. Softening in his grip I submit to the prodding and part my lips, my own tongue snaking out to parry with his. Hissing as he nicks his on one of my fangs he hesitantly tangles a fist in my mass of hair. A single drop of his blood seeps from the tiny scratch, drawing a whimper of pleasure out of me. Lungs protest the lack of oxygen as he breaks the kiss, needing the oxygen I live without.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” I croon as he sucks a gulp of air into his deprived lungs. Settling my head under his chin I chuckle, “That or a very emphatic no.”

Voice still a bit shaky he tugs on his fistful of my hair, “How have you survived this long with that bf gef genius?”

Manifesting in flesh, my councilor mutters, “Quite easily, he has me after all.”

Arms tightening on me Medrith turns slowly with me still comfortably pressed against his body. Jaw dropping he attempts to go to his knees, ending up in a pile of limbs on the floor since he took me with him. Shaking my free fist at my councilor I laugh. Awed eyes seeking mine Medrith twists a tiny bit to the right. Gasping at the resulting pressure on my groin I arch my back in delight. Awe quickly being covered with a dark flush he stares at the thigh that got between my legs in the tumble. Giving me a knowing look my councilor hunkers down in a crouch by my head.

“Medrith.”

Jng hng his chin at the sound of his name coming from my councilor’s mouth, he whips back to stare at me as I sob. “What-t?”

Nails caress the line of my jaw lightly, my councilor flicks his void filled eyes at where my groin meets Medrith’s thigh. “I would like to grow acquainted with you if you will let me, but if you wish to be alone with the son of my soul I will honor that wish.”

Wriggling beneath Medrith’s weight I keen softly, the haze begun by feeding settling over me. “Lord Dark! No – I mean yes – I – ah gods – he’s yours – er – care to join us M’Lord?”

“You do not mind?”

“Mind? Should I? You are who I think you are, are you not?”

“I am.”

Hair slipping free of some of its bindings as he shakes his head, Medrith eases off me. Gracing him with a full smile my cilocilor offers me a hand up from my sprawl on the marble tiling. Vision colored with desire I cling to his strength as he hoists me off the floor, his other hand held out to aid Medrith off the tiles. Throat moving as he swallows his awe and fear Medrith allows my councilor to pull him to his feet. Supporting my quaking form with one arm he twines the other around poor, shock filled Medrith’s waist.

“L-lord, what shall I c-call you?”

Void filled eyes glancing briefly at me he cocks his head to one side. “Lucas will do well enough Medrith, I trust my soul son has given you his name as well?”

“Yes sir.”

Laughter bubbling out of his throat my councilor shakes his head at Medrith. “Simply Lucas, no sir or anything like that. Here in these halls I am Lucas, the favored councilor of the Prince High Priest.”

“The servants and other councilors do not know you to be yourself?”

“Not a hint of it, although I do tend to encourage that lack of recognition among them.” Door opening with a whispered command from his mind Lucas precedes Medrith through the doorway.


~*~


The sun was up outside the fortress, the heavy lassitude burdening my limbs told me that. Grazing my cheek with a finger my councilor sighs, “And alas son of my soul, I fear I am trapped in this tangle of lethargy until the height of the afternoon passes.”

Head cradled against Medrith’s shoulder I utter my own agreement. “Lethargy?” a sleep-laden voice inquires.

“Mu-huh, all vampyres are hit by a wave of desire to sleep as the sun rises. The more powerful or ancient of the blood can manage to stay up longer, but in the end we all succumb to the need to curl up and sleep.”

: Masster Kalinxs, Ssirina iss trying to hunt you down. :

“And Basit?”

: Following Ssirina like a ssimple pet. :

Mind fighting the weight of sleep I tumble out of my bed, yelping as my elbow strikes the tile. Hugging it I peer around attempting to find something – anything to cover my nudity with. The Lady w rea reach out and strike me if I allowed Her Priestess to see my assets, knowing my luck with beings of the Light. Scaled head slithering across the floor Hessseth points her tail at a pile of silk. Dragging my unresponsive limbs to it I groan as I collapse into the pile.

Fingers brushing my lower back Medrith crouches next to my fallen form. “Just relax Kalinx, your serpent commanded me to take care of getting you presentable for
this Priestess.” Strong arms scoop my sleepy bones off the floor and carry me to a heavily cushioned chair facing the bed. Void filled eyes blinking at me, Lucas shifts a velvet blanket over most of his form. Blocking my vision of the bed Medrith leans close, tucking a shimmering length of satin over my lap. “Unless she comes and yanks you out of this chair it will look like you’re clothed.”

Yawn splitting his face Lucas closes his eyes. “Fresh blood will give him a short revitalization, if you are willing to offer it to him.”

Meeting my barely coherent look Medrith purses his lips and gives me a thought. Head lolling to the side I slip further into the waiting embrace of dreamless sleep. Gripping my chin with one hand Medrith paints a damp fingertip across my bottom lip. Tongue flicking out in reflex I shiver at the taste of blood. Pressing his already cut wrist to my mouth he whispers, “Take what I freely offer, we would not wish you to agree to something stupid in this haze.”

Lips locking to his flesh I slide into the haze of feeding, mind blank of any other thought. It was his startled gasp that brought me out of the haze and blinking rapidly I glance up to find his face transfigured with awe. “Shit,” is all I can come up with as I realize that for the first time in two hundred years I forgot to ensnare my donor in the web. Rubbing at the bridge of my nose I flutter a hand at him, beckoning him to settle beside my legs. “What did you get?”

Wide-eyed he flops unceremoniously onto the cushions and leans his body into my legs. Mouth twitching he whispers, “Songweaver.”

It seemed that the White Lady was against me for something I had said recently. “Wonderful, just fucking wonderful.” Leveling Medrith a look that would have cowed almost any of my people I hiss, “Lady White’s name for me, keep it tightly within your mind.”

: He is not going to be pleased with you for interrupting his afternoon, much less for begging the password to his private halls from the Lady. :

: Well he can just stand to be displeased can he not? I absolutely refuse to sit around and twiddle my thumbs while he prances about like some dandy in his near lack of clothing. He acts like he is their god and that they should all fall to their knees and worship him unerringly. :

: Did nothing Esme tell you penetrate that dense skull of yours? He deserves that worship and in fact that is part of the title he holds. If you insist on barging into his personal bedchambI clI claim no fault for what you see or for what he does in response to having his privacy shattered. Do you understand that? Even if the Night Goddess will have my pelt for not protecting you, I will not do anything. :

: I thought you were bound to her. :

: I am but that does not mean I have to go chasing after my chosen guidee like some heroic lunatic when they do something stupid. :

Chuckling softly I grab a handful of Medrith’s wealth of hair and tug at it. Rising fluidly to his feet he cautions a look at my face. : Such a brave little man, it ought to be rewarded: I think with a snicker. “Medrith?”

Brows rise as he utters a murmur of question. Still holding the hand of crimson hair I pull it to my chest, forcing him to straddle my knees or bend into a rather uncomfortable position. Licking my lips as he shifts closer, the press of a leg on either side of my own, I release his hair and grab onto his hips. Exerting a bit of my strength I yank him lightly into my lap fully. Giving in with boneless grace he tumbles into my arms, managing to lock his mouth to mine in the process.

Door banging open without so much as a knock, Sirina of the short lived patience stomps in and freezes as a quick scan proves me to be nicely blanketed by Medrith’s body and a sleepy, tousled head poking out from beneath the velvet blankets. Eyes sliding shut I deepen the kiss with Medrith, noting from Hessseth’s mind that Basit recognized exactly whom the tousled head belonged to. Breaking the kiss I drape an arm casually on Medrith’s lower back. Mouth bruised with all the kisses he snuggles loosely into my lap, one hand curling up around my neck in a clearly possessive manner.

“Welcome oh mighty Priestess, to what do I owe the honor of having my bedchamber invaded and my recreations interrupted?”

I am willing to bet that the dark blush covering her face travels down to somewhere around the region of her stomach. “Rec-creations?”

Stifling a yawn I nod, “Recreations, did you think I only prance about in a dandy like fashion in front of my court?”

Choking on his snort Lucas gives in to a fit of coughs, earning a concerned look from me. Face going a slightly blue shade he hauls his own lead weighted body up so he can sit and cough, thankfully holding the velvet blanket around his waist. Emblazoned over his abdomen is his well-known tattoo of a crow, the mirror to the one on my tailbone. Winding down his arm is a second tattoo, this one an image of Hessseth in her glory. She was inordinately proud of being modeled after this tattoo; a fact that she was happily reminding me of as Sirina finally connects Lucas with his title. Flush vanishing with a whimper she pales to the same coloring of Esme. Giving a final cough Lucas does nothing to hide his rather large yawn, the glint of his fangs causing the Priestess to get paler.

Void eyes taking on a bored expren thn that rivals mine he rolls his shoulders. “I trust we can make this fit of childish impatience short lived? I am growing rather tired and would enjoy a few hours of simple sleep with the son of my soul and the young man of Emerald Rose.”

Backpedaling rapidly Sirina nods, “Yes, of course, my profound apologies – ah Lady, I’ve got to go!” Twisting around on her heel she darts from my room Basit rising to his feet and padding after her.

: I am sorry for that Lord of Darkness, Prince High Priest, and Emerald Rose, I would say I will give her a talking to for it but I suspect that finding the Lord of Darkness in the flesh is enough to keep her from doing that again. :

Mouth twitching Lucas holds his arms out to Medrith and I. “I meant what I said you two, get yourselves to this bed.” Helping me to my feet Medrith guides me to the bed, dumping me into his lap. Sparing us a quirked look he glides to the still open door and pushes it shut with his hip. Arm curling over my stomach he slips beneath the velvet and silk, laying his head on my shoulder with a smile.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Random dribble: Well, there\'s chapter two of this. Hope whoever\'s been reading it enjoys it. I\'m currently working on the third chapter and other delicate parts of the world\'s creation. Let me know what you think, please?