Darkness

 

Darkness Part 2,           Chapter 32 Sparks in the Darkness



Keylyn hadn’t seen Darkness for well over six months, except for a very brief visit when Seer’ Reign and the Demon along, with a half dozen other mercenaries, returned to the castle unannounced for supplies. His only contact with his master at that time had been a brief pat on the head and the bottom, then once again, Darkness and his companions mounted their horses and departed without another word. The man didn’t stop long enough or take the time to drain him of his magic. Knowing the master's intense sexual appetites, Keylyn couldn’t help but wonder if it was now Drakk the demon who, nightly saw to Seer’ Reign needs. Not that he actually cared one way or the other for he didn’t. Keylyn was only glad it wasn’t him being repeatedly abused until he wanted to scream.



Yet there were times at night when the young elf tossed wildly about in bed, aching for physical intimacy and contact. How easily he had been debauched and corrupted by Darkness. For if he was honest with himself, he would acknowledge that he missed and craved his master's attention, even after all the times the evil man had cruelly used and abused him?





When Keylyn wasn’t eating or sleeping, he kept busy and occupied by spending all his time in Seer’ Reign's library reading every book he could get his hands on elfin Magick. But, so far, he was unable to make anything happen or rouse even a hint of his own power, not one single spark. He stole a number of magick books from the library and went about hiding them here, there, and everywhere all over the castle. One book he even took high up on the roof of castle, concealing it behind a loose stone in the battlements. Sometimes he would spend hours alone on the roof studying the book over and over until he understood each and every word in it but still not one tiny spark of his magick manifested itself.



Cabot had gotten in the habit of checking on him at breakfast, lunch, and dinner so Keylyn easily made himself available at those times. When Cabot asked him what he did daily to keep himself occupied, while the master was away, Keylyn openly volunteered that read books. He just left out the part out about the type of books that he was perusing. Also, he to told Cabot that he entertained himself by exploring the interior of castle from roof to dungeon. Though Keylyn did stay away from the wizard’s ritual chamber, for it brought back a very painful unpleasant memory that he didn’t want to relive. He even spent some time in the Darkness’ in-door garden, after using his lock-picking abilities so they wouldn’t get rusty. Though he enjoyed the many beautiful flowers and their scents, he stayed well away from that terrible violet hued rose bush that grew at the far end of the garden. Cabot even volunteered to give him horseback riding lessons, when the weather started to get warmer. Also, Keylyn would be allowed to accompany Cabot and a few mercenary guards when they went into a nearby town for supplies, if Keylyn promised he wouldn’t try to escape. Of course, Keylyn said yes, just to get away from the castle for a little while would be a blessed change.



So far Cabot keep his word that he wouldn’t touch Keylyn in any way shape or form  so they where pleasantly and socially civil with each other. The various times that Keylyn did get lonely for human company, he spent time with the kitchen ladies talking and helping them in the kitchen. He even learned how to kneed bread. And, of course, at the same time he was always offered all the honey, bread, and butter that he could eat. Being well fed and exercised the boy put on weight and grew taller by six inches over night, but he still was very slender and willowy. The ladies said he was even more handsome or beautiful than before, if possible. But he didn’t actually notice the change in himself as he was much too occupied with learning magick. Perhaps the friendly women were just exaggerating, but for what ever reason they always gave him their kind attention and fussed with his long silky silver hair that now hung in shiny waves now way down past his hips. He did notice the change in his hair, because he had to care for it daily. Cabot refused to cut it or let him do it, because the master had ordered it before he left.



As he sat in his room late one night, warm and snug before of the fireplace, from both its light and its heat, all at once a violent draft sudden sucked all the heat and light from the room. The fireplace went dark and, immediately, the chilled air began to clutch out at him with sharp icy talons. A shivering Keylyn shouted instinctively and unconsciously out a word of power, he just recently learned.  Instantly he was startled when, suddenly, the fireplace flared back to life just like that! He had done it! He had made fire. At least it was a start. Now if he could only repeat his actions at will and advance on to harder objectives.

A month later, he finally had his first major break through with his magick for he learned to create and use a fire spell at will. As his occult powers and knowledge gradually began to improve, at night his young body, oddly, burned even more feverishly with lust and desire, almost as if the two were connected. He ached for sexual contact with another person, even if it was Darkness. But Darkness wasn’t there, and all he had only his own hand to satisfy him.  Well that, and a freezing a cold bathe to quench his own wild roaring inner fire. Sometimes they didn’t even work. Keylyn was left many nights tossing, sleeplessly, in needy distress.

Then, one day late in the spring, a visitor suddenly appeared at the castle. The weather had started to warm so Keylyn had gone up to the roof and the battlements of the castle to enjoy the sun. It was nice enough that he pushed his shirt off his narrow shoulders and elegant slender pale back. He sat on a fur blanket spread out in sun reading his magick book. He was just about try a small Illusion spell to see if he could make it work, when something told him not to, that he was being watched. Keylyn quickly shoved the book under the edge of fur to conceal it. All at once the air grew chill, when a dark male figure appeared and blocked out most of the sun. The figure approached him slowly and steadily from the direction of sun. Was it a man or an angel? The tall man had long silver blond hair that fell about his broad shoulders in a messy wavy of curls, wildly contrasting with his sinister black leather mercenary armor. Truly, he found as the man drew closer, that he was as handsome as any angel from heaven. He even had a happy pleasant smile on his face, not an evil lustful smirk like Darkness always did. Keylyn’s heart began to beat loudly and nervously. What did this man want with him? Then a calm soft Male voice spoke.



“I am Captain Dresden of my Lord’s mercenaries, My Lord Seer’ Reign sent me here as his representative to help Cabot with the castle, ensuing that it is well protected and cared for while he is gone. You are the little Elf boy, Keylyn, that my Lord asked me to check on to see if you’re well, and sufficiently cared for.  I note that your are more of a young man than boy now. You must've grown a great deal since, my lord, last saw you. ” The blond man’s face held a look of obvious surprise and puzzlement.



“Yes I'm Keylyn, Sir. What do you want of me?”



“Obeying orders and checking on you, as I was asked to do by My Lord Seer’ Reign. Why are you sitting up here all alone, my pretty one. ” Dresden whispered softly in friendly manor. Keylyn felt the man’s gentle sword hand, rough with calluses, rest, briefly, on one slender bare shoulder. At least the hand didn’t have silver painted fingernails, something that made him sigh in relief, for he couldn’t help but remember all to well what those hands could do to him with but a single touch.



“Simply enjoying the warm sun and the early spring, Captain. I've not the option to leave the castle without permission and an escort, least I try to escape. My lord forbids me to do so, for he considers me his very intimate personal property. ” Keylyn couldn’t help but feel the man’s bright green eyes glance admiringly at his unclothed upper body. Blushing nervously, the young elf quickly put his shirt on and laced it up completely covering himself up. Why did he offer this stranger, more information than he needed to know?



“Well, we shall see about that now, young man, since I am here now! But I must say your master has the most admirable taste in companions. Keylyn, Cabot, the steward, told me that lunch would be served shortly in the dining room. Would you care to join me? I would relish your company. I so dislike eating alone. ”



“Captain Dresden, I will join you presently. But, first, I must make a brief stop at my quarters, for nature calls my name. Then I will join you, sir. ”



“Very well, young man, I will expect you to join me, shortly in the dining hall!” With that, Dresden quickly turned, walking, reluctantly, toward the stairwell, which lead, from the castle roof and the battlements.



When Keylyn was quite sure the man was safely gone and out of sight, he carefully, secreted the magick book back behind the loose stone where he usually kept it. Then he continued down to his quarters to get rid of fur blanket that he used on the roof. He paused only long enough in his quarters to carefully run a hairbrush through his long, pale wind blown hair so it was left smooth and shining. Then he took a minute to studied himself in the mirror and wondered if he had really grown and changed that much since the last time he saw Darkness. Apparently, he had. Yes, he could see it now. He’d grown much taller and filled out some. He had just been too busy with his magick to notice before, until the stranger, Dresden, made him aware of it. The truth was he was no longer a child. And acknowledging it now only made him covet his freedom and sweet revenge even more. Keylyn smiled at himself in the mirror, very pleased for his magick was slowly growing stronger along with his body. Perhaps, sooner than he thought, he could strike back at Darkness, getting even for all the pain and humiliation the man had caused him.