Sequel

I very nearly put this into Partners. That would have been... troublesome.

*coughs*

Last update until I get back. It took far too long to write. Way. Way. Way too long.

Yes, there is a difference between mating and marriage. Mating is for life, marriage can be temporary. When I say mating is for life, I mean it. No divorces are offered to a pair who is mated and to seperate is near to sin as one can get. A breeding contract is where one person goes, "I want your babies" and you agree to it. Or... if you're of the priest lines, the head of the family consults with Illuens and then dictates whose pretty, pretty babies you get to have.

Yeah, I never said it was fair.

There were so many possible hints that by the end I was wondering if I have unconciously begun adding "false" hints just to throw people off the trail. It's possible. It's also possible that, even though some are not hints to the actual plan, they will all happen. Because that happens sometimes with me.

Yeah. Just saying...

See you all in four or five days!

Read, Review and Enjoy




“This is the third such attack by Sidhe on people in Norash, this attack was precipitated by several teens throwing rocks at a group of Sidhe. The teens suffered only minor injuries and were mainly embarrassed to be found tied upside down, with soiled underwear. They say that they were manhandled by the Sidhe and that they had done nothing wrong, surveillance drones, however, paint a very different picture.

“As can be seen here, the teens obviously three rocks at the creatures, there nothing more than a blur on the drone as they leave the cover of bush to grab the first teen. The others fled, but were caught by several Sidhe, thought to be male, and given what any parent can say is nothing more than a disciplinary smack. The military has proven to be more harsh with their trainees.

“While not much is known about Sidhe, it is quite well known that their strength far surpasses our own. If the Sidhe meant to actually harm the teens, they would be more than capable to do so. As is obvious by the fact that one Sidhe lifted two teens, pictured here.

“In other news, forty-two Valeasan officials have been found dead. In their homes, throats torn open. Police are uncertain whether two political factions have clashed, or if this was a random attack. The attack was well planned, entire city blocks went black during the murders, the victims attacked simultaneously. There are no images of the attackers, no video, no evidence, it seemed, of any forced entry or marks on the victims besides the throat.

“It is thought that the victims were drugged in some manner or form and the nation is in black, for mourning, for the traditional fourteen days. Non-essential personnel have been given leave of absence for any who need more time. Autopsy reports will be out within the next few hours.”

Rel sighed and turned his head to the old librarian to ask him to change the channel. The man gave him a glare and turned back to the news.

Always with the news.

“Forty-eight Illuens, from the lesser and upper branches, two from the main branch, of the family have been spotted in Norash’s capital city. There to act as consultants to the military,” the angle of the camera changed, stressing the importance, “but this news cast must ask what exactly the military is planning, that they need forty-eight Illuens? Two from the main branch? The cost alone for one Illuen from the upper branches of the family far surpasses what the military’s budget for four years is. Is the Illuen family doing this for free?” the angle changed again, “or does this have something to do with the government and military’s non-descript relations with the Sidhe, Illuva’s chosen people?”

“Boyo.”

“Thank the gods,” Rel muttered, standing stiffly before shuffling to the guard at the door, “over a month and not a word. What does he want?”

“Conjugal visit.”

“What?” Rel pulled away just a step and forced himself to stand his ground, “I don’t want a conjugal visit.”

The guard laughed at Rel, “He said that you’d say that. He also said to say. Eh. Una 3:92.”

Fucking bastard, cock sucking, son of a fucking. Rel very carefully unclenched his jaw. That specific passage talked about how any of the high priests of any of the gods could put a demand on a follower of Illuva, should the need be great enough. Rel highly doubted that the need was great enough, thought it was completely to the contrary in fact, but to not go would be risking a great deal.

“Fine. Lead the way.”

Out of the activity room, down a hallway and past the visitor’s room. Just past the visitor’s room was a hallway that led to several different doors. The guard opened the one marked six.

Rel glared at the door and looked at the guard, deciding after a long moment that the choice was purely random and slid into the room. Illuva’s bible had six books. Those marked as close to her, those not gods, marked six. The high gods numbered six. Rahl-ta, Tahl-ra, De, Illuva, Ill and Ringe. Number of major news stations? Six. Number of military wings? Six. Number of things in the evolutionary tree? Six.

Six was Illuva’s number. Six was the number of Deaths that she would recognise at any one time as her protectors. Six was the number of rulers of the Blood throne from her rise as a god to the end of the territories. The sixth child of a Illuen family inherited the riches.

Rahluen sat, mildly amused, in a chair against the wall. The man has his bag by his side. The man was fully dressed.

Rel ignored the muttered retort from the guard behind him as the door closed and glared at Rahluen until the lock clicked into place.

“What do you want, why are we meeting here?”

“Take off your shirt.”

“You being horny is not reason enough to use-”

“Take it off,” Rahluen snapped, “now.”

Rel sighed and pulled his shirt off. The orange jumper fell to the side and he was forced to stand before Rahluen. Bruises covered his torso, a ‘flesh’ wound down one side didn’t quite want to heal properly. That didn’t include the black eye, the loose teeth, the bite marks down his legs, the broken toe and the marks down his back. Rahluen pulled a camera out of his bag and snapped a picture before Rel could protest.

“Turn around.”

“Excuse me?”

“Turn around, or I’ll mount you here and now,” Rahluen muttered, “and then take the pictures.”

Rel clenched his jaw and turned around. The camera went off and he was told to spread his arms away from his sides. He did as he was told. Back around and arms still spread. The pants went next. Rahluen at least let Rel keep his underwear on. The tattoos that had joined the Illuva tattoo spread down his back and leg, an intricate design that the bastard had done just because he wanted to see Rel squirm. Rel had to admit that, considering the damned tattoos he had seen on other inmates, his was at least artful. Sort of.

“Alright, lay on the bed,” Rahluen murmured, putting the camera away before withdrawing a case.

Rel lay there and stared up at the ceiling, “when are they moving me to death row?”

“They aren’t,” Rahluen responded calmly, snapping open the case, “even you don’t have enough money to buy your way to another prison. I’ve been trying for the past month, hence the absence. Turns out your wife was sleeping with everyone but you. No favours are going to be paid to you.”

Rel glanced at Rahluen and shuddered at the needle the man was filling from a small glass bottle. Something to aid healing, yes, but Rel had never quite adapted to the drug. One in one million had his reaction to it. Like being drunk. Only shittier.

Rahluen tied off Rel’s arm and pushed the needle into a vein. Rel had to look away, at the wall.

“File says you have issues with healing aids, this is something new on the market.”

“Why is a Rahluen here? Of all places?”

“Perhaps Rahl-ta has a use for you,” Rahluen murmured, “I am only of the lesser branches of the family, I have no birth right and my mother and father were disowned by the family. But. Rahl-ta works in mysterious ways.”

“Yes. A use. Who am I going to be fucking, then?”

“More of, who will be fucking you,” Rahluen murmured, removing the piece of cloth he had used to tie off Rel’s arm, “With Rahl-ta, it is almost always a bruised and beaten… ehm… woman of the relationship. He has his type, he tends to stick to it.”

“I’m not beaten, and I am of Illuva.”

“If Illuva wants something, she still has to trade with Rahl-ta to get it. You may very well just be the coin she pays with.”

“Bull.”

Rahluen shrugged, “of course you cannot be the coin if you are dead. Did you read the bible?”

“Cover to cover,” Rel stared at the ceiling tile and counted the mould spots there.

“Good, read it again, and pray.”

“It doesn’t matter, Rahluen, I’ve accepted my fate, you should as well.”

“I don’t doubt that you accept what has been placed before you. I’m asking that you pray for guidance when the reality has dawned on you,” Rahluen murmured, tucking the little black case back into his bag, “four hours and you will be good as new.”

Rel turned towards Rahluen, startled, “no aid works that fast. The symptoms alone last a day.”

“This one does. You have my wife to thank for the dose.”

“Married to a Tahluen?”

“I would have mated her, but being as she is of the upper branches of her family, that is an impossibility. She has a breeding contract already.”

“Breeding contract,” Rel scoffed, “are you kidding me?”

“The priest lines are not something to scoff at, young man. They have maintained their ranks for generations, it is their money that fuels the economy. And after she bares four children for the Tahluen line, she will be permitted to have our child, hers and mine.”

“How old is she?”

“Twenty-five. We have been married nearly ten years, don’t give me that look. Priest lines marry by their sixteenth birthday, usually to avoid having to mate someone they despise. Hence breeding contracts were made. So that those who would have been mated can still rear a child.”

“Insanity.”

“The insanity is the fact that only in the Illuen’s line can the father make any kind of claim on a child. I myself have already sired three children for Rahl-ta, but do I get cards at the holidays? No. My mother may be disowned, as is my father, but the line spent a great deal of time and money bringing me into existence. They were not simply going to let that investment die without continuing it on, so wipe that look off of your face,” Rahluen snapped his bag closed and stood, “and try to think about how good you’ve got it. No breeding contracts. No mating. Your life is your own and you squander it here in prison because you think that Illuva means to kill you for a crime you didn’t commit.”

“What else could I possibly do?” Rel murmured, head spinning from the healing aid.

“Pray. And hope to high heavens that she hears you before it is too late.”



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