The Caged Raven

Dares opened his eyes slowly, staring up at the stone ceiling. The dark room gave no indication of how much time had passed since his prey from the night prior had departed and he had fallen into the deep dreamless sleep. The demon born New Blood women had grown to become quite a bore and were now nothing more than mere shadows of their former selves. He could recall a time when a blue eyed beauty had been something to fear but their fierceness had been exchanged for soft, curves, their blood lust for one of paltry possessions. It sickened him to his core.





He sat up; the thin quilt descending from his chest to his waist, despite the weather outside the castle’s temperature never fluctuated. Despite having his powers contained by Macnayer, Dares had been allowed to perform a few spells for comfort, something he was quite thankful for. The candelabra grew alit across the room with a flick of his wrist that brought a gasp for air to his lungs. His body was stiff and sluggish, worn from the overuse of magic the day before. Such a small task made him weary, anxious to curl back under the thin quilts burrowing deep into sleep. But even worn his thoughts did not stray far from Raven and his lust had returned tenfold. He licked his lips, twisting his fingers, drawing symbols into the thin air; calling on a power store he prayed still remained untouched by his enemy. The tips of his fingers grew alit as warmth ran across his form. He exhaled slowly and sat up, the exhaustion forgotten, but the lust still flagrantly evident, tugging at his body.





Less than two days had passed since the dark haired beauty had entered Macnayer’s possession. Since he had laid eyes on her less than twenty four hours before Dares had become quite aware that he was losing the composure he had maintained so efficiently until then. Not since he had bowed to Macnayer had he performed any act that would qualify as dissention. Even what he had done the night before with the girl was not a direct dissent, and he was quite certain that, had Macnayer known he would not have batted an eyelash at such a thing. Of course there was always the tension between them that went unspoken. They were both quite aware that Dares held a grudge towards the New Blood king and given the opportunity would slit his throat.



The sorcerer pet, the only individual still alive that had seen the revolution, the only creature without demon blood who could recall advanced technology and what cities and suburban areas had looked like and, who had remained ever so composed despite his situation was going to lose it soon, and who ever it was that crossed his path next would make the girl from the night before seem lucky. His tongue ran across his teeth as electricity danced through his belly at the thought. And once again his thoughts turned to Raven, his mind placing her where the girl from the night before had been, he shuddered at the thought the sound of her voice echoing through his skull. He summoned clean clothing and used his magic to transform the ragged exhausted look into one of immaculately groomed.





The robe hung loosely around his form, leaving his collarbone exposed, the gold threading glimmering slightly in the candlelight, the dragons stitched in coming alive with each breath. His hair was pleated back slightly, but still hung loose like he liked, giving his features an almost androgynous appearance. Last, sitting on the bridge of his nose rested the golden rimmed glasses, the strange markings twisting and turning, anxious to be used. He ran his tongue across his teeth once more before leaving his chambers, heading in the direction of Raven’s room.





Dares glided down the hall, careful to keep his wits about him. The castle was chilly which meant the fires had not all been lit yet. He glanced out a window, noting that the sky was still fairly dark, the sun hidden behind thick gray clouds of winter, the snow from the day before still falling without haste. It would be foolish to sneak around behind Macnayer’s back when the weather prevented escape but Dares found himself quite willing to risk it. There was really nothing left to lose and nothing left to live for either way. He exhaled slowly; despite such a mindset deep down he did not have any desire to die, not yet, not before his father returned and most definitely not under the heel of a demon. So instead he would sneak around, convince the dark haired beauty that he could and would do things to her the addled minded king could never fathom and in turn, silently pray he didn’t get caught. Unfortunately, what happened next he could not have been prepared for.





Dares rounded the corner to where the bank of rooms sat for the many guests that came and went from the castle. At the far end sat a door slightly larger than the rest. Behind that door sat two more, leading to two rooms, one being a sleeping chamber, the other a torture chamber of sorts. In there sat the only remnants of what Celes had done to the many women he had called concubines during his reign. Rumors had floated through the air that Macnayer shared a love for such a thing with his father but no one was certain save the concubines that lived there now and not one of them had ever spoken a word of such a thing. The killing nature and the nature to love were intertwined, had been since the day his father had crippled and blinded the strange woman Inochi so many years before, only to mourn her when she died violently. The races of demons, the demon hunters, and the Soul Hunters were the end result of the strange entanglement and despite their sparse numbers; their offspring that wandered the dying planet now understood the balance better than they had.





Perhaps, Dares thought, silently taking the brass door handle in his hand, perhaps, this was why the lines between friend and enemy had become so blurred. Perhaps this was why, a New Blood and the last Soul Hunter, were so willing to call the only remaining descendent of the demon hunters their own. He let out a breath slowly. She was there, he could feel her heartbeat, could smell her soft subtle psychic sense. He twisted the door handle and cried out, sharp pain shooting through his wrist. He jumped backwards, hissing in pain. The door was not enchanted; he knew that, there was something else.





Laughter echoed through the hall and Dares froze a cold chill running down his spine. He knew the laugh, heard it in his nightmares every now and then. “Celes”, he muttered, still gripping his wrist. A force moved through the hall, circling him slowly, an invisible predator that, even after death was still one of the strongest and darkest forces to ever inhabit the earth. Dares swallowed slowly trying to mask his fear, an effort that seemed futile.





“Well, well, what is a sorcerer doing here at this hour hmmm?” Even without a body, the voice still had the same shrill viciousness in it that Celes had been known for. Dares pondered if the tone was echoing in only his head, but the reverberation in the stained glass windows told him otherwise. “Weren’t encroaching on your master’s new play thing were you?? That would be very naughty of you.”





Dares didn’t speak, didn’t move. There would be no beating Celes with his magic so drained. Dares silently thanked the heavens the golden spectacles sat on the bridge of his nose for no matter what happened there was reassurance that he would not be possessed and he far preferred death to becoming the host of the demon king. The force moved around his form, the draping robe he was wearing swaying despite the fact that there was no wind moving through the halls. He exhaled slowly, calming his nerves as best he could despite the strange onslaught “Be gone pestilence, move on to the realm where you belong.” Dares hissed as the force moved beneath his clothing across his skin.





“You could have her you know. I could give you to a place where she is ready for you whenever you wish. All I ask is for your body.”





Though he could not see him Dares could envision the blonde man perfectly, the hair so platinum it was nearly white, the thin face with the smug grin showing off the strangely sharp canines that were alarmingly vampiric. He would have been draped in gold, his long pale arms wrapped around Dares, his fingers inching closer to the darker haired man’s groin. Dares squeezed his eyes shut and tried to clear his mind.





“Come now young prince, you can give in, no one will fault you. Even your father had his moments of weakness.”





Dares felt his mind slipping, felt the strange force trying to push its way in. He thought of his father then, thought of the different temptation he had been assaulted. But they were different, Dares would never be Crevan, just as Macnayer would never be Celes. He called every bit of strength that remained in that moment, “I will not give in, not to you, not to anyone!” The golden frames glowed briefly before a brilliant flash of light filled the halls.





The voice had vanished, and the strange dark force no longer surrounded him. Dares opened his eyes and stared out at the hall seconds before he gasped. The hall was no longer the hall, and the force had taken form. Celes stood only a few feet away, no longer a specter but a full formed man. “You forget who I am”. Dares tried to speak tried to find his voice but the words wouldn’t come. Celes laughed as the younger man’s gaze flew about taking in the room. “Yes, you are exactly where you think you are.”





“I saw it burn.” Dares moved slowly staring at the coronation hall, the plush red carpet sinking beneath his feet.





Celes nodded, “Yes, the one in the physical realm where your body resides is no more. But here, this one I’ve built on memory, this one shall remain forever.”





Dares turned his attention the blue eyed man standing a few feet away. “Where have you brought me?”





Celes laughed, “I have not brought you anywhere. You’ve passed out you foolish boy. I merely slipped into your unconscious. Ah, don’t fret; I cannot possess you, not while Crevan’s spell protects you. But that doesn’t mean I don’t intend to tempt you.” He pointed down the marble staircase to where the strange bed waited. Everyone still alive knew about that bed, knew the history that had been made there. Dares descended the stairs slowly, both curious and cautious about what could be waiting for him there.





The bed’s thin golden curtains were pulled back, the silky red sheets pooling across the mattress onto the ground, while the olive skinned dark haired woman sprawled across the top stared at him. She licked her lips, her green eyes meeting his own. Dares felt his jaw go slack. He wanted to touch the skin, caress the dark hair and make the woman purr his name. “Oh Raven,” he shuddered fighting every urge to touch her for he was certain with every fiber of his being that this was a trap.





“This would be your existence if you give in sorcerer. She would be yours every day, always ready and willing for any perverse thing that mind of yours could think up.” Celes’ voice snapped Dares from his trance. He turned to face the blonde man when the odd Raven pulled him into a kiss. Her lips were needy, her tongue relentless in its effort to gain entrance to his mouth. She moaned when he complied reaching for his hand.





Dares pulled free. This was not Raven he reminded himself. He imagined the frail woman from breakfast who had stared at him wide eyed. The creature created by the Demon would be forever complacent, and he knew, with time she would bore him. “Why would you do this for me?” Dares asked turning back to Celes, fending off the woman before ascending the stairs to face the demon.





Celes shrugged, “A gift, a favor to an old friend perhaps. Your father never thought much of you but, as you were his only heir he figured he should make the best of a horrible situation. He asked that, should you and I ever cross paths I do as little damage to his little boy as possible. So, instead of devouring your soul as I had originally intended to do I give you this. I give you her.”





Dares felt his heart sink and the heat of anger wash over him, his body was shaking, fueled by a new rage. “Stupid, stupid demon.”





Celes expression shifted. He bared his teeth and snarled, “You should watch your tongue boy. I may have made a promise to your father but where he is, I’m certain he cares little if I break that promise.”





Dares knew he had little in the way of power but he had to test, had to see if the power that Macnayer was in control of could be tapped here. “You had your time, demon, now, release me from your hold and be gone.” Dares adjusted the glasses as the same light that had enveloped the hall enveloped the two men once again. Dares could hear a hissing in the distance, and relaxed opening his eyes. He was in the hall and Macnayer was standing over him, Celes’ laughter still echoing in his head.