Darkness

Chapter 1


Twilight spread across the horizon letting darkness fall on the pair in a small clearing. Golden hair hung down over the stretched out arms the tips reaching to the ragged waistband of the faded jeans. Settling across the sculpted plains of muscled chest like moonlight. Sweat gleamed off the golden skin giving the being an unearthly glow. His head hung not in defeat but only in weariness regrouping for the upcoming battle. Sapphire eyes raised to look at the only other figure in the wide spread meadow. She stood playing with the hilt of a ruby and jade dagger. Her raven hair falling perfectly down her back settling in sharp contrast against the white of shirt. No emotion graced the hard plains of her face. Eyes as empty as the moonless night stared back at him . . . waiting . . . watching . . . devouring.
The full moon had almost reached its peak when yet another women emerged from the forest. As of yet that made eleven to appear in the murky mist. Twelve women sat in the clearing meditating, chanting, and praying save one, who stood in the shadows watching the meadow in silence. Finally the last woman had emerged from the forest, signified by the standing of the other twelve . “ Now my brethren our destiny can be fulfilled. Come let us begin.” The whisper came from the shadows and set the women in to a flurry of motion.
Four stone bowls were placed at each corner of the platform in the center of the meadow. This platform was made of midnight marble carved in to an X, it stood three feet high. “ Now, my brethren, bring him, bring the creature.” The whisper hovered in the air. Two of the twelve women walked over to the sagging form hanging from between two trees.They reached up one on each side grasping and wrenching his arms up and between his shoulder blades. A slight hiss of pain was all that was offered from the other wise silent being. With much pushing, pulling, and dragging the eight women brought the struggling form over to the marble alter.
They quickly secured him to each limb of the cold stone. Once secured they backed away allowing four others to continue what they all had started. They each garbed a stone bowl and offered it to a fifth women that had walked up to join them. The bowls each contained a different blend of herbs. One of the women who had been standing at the head of the alter reached to the ground and come up with a long strip of battered leather that had a thin peace of metal in the center and a small bar on one side . She reached a larg hand around to his jaw clenching it to forcing the battered leather between the snarling lips and bared teeth . Once completed she then begin to twist the little bar that sat on the leather next to his cheek shitch pushed the tiny metal plates apart pulling the clinched jaws in opposite directions forcing them to open.
When they had his mouth open reveling the vulnerable red inside, the fifth reached for one of the stone bowls mixing the herbs with the liquid from a pitcher placed at the alters base. Once it had formed a runny paste she began pouring it in to the unguarded mouth. When she had emptied the bowl filling his mouth to brimming, she gave the signal causing the locked bar to be released on the leather straps. As soon as it was removed the fifth quickly placed her bowl on he ground and forcing quivering, lips to close over the gagging mouth.
Next she pinched his slightly aristocratic nose closed as she leaned down to his head where his head was tossing trying to remove the restraining hand to whisper in anger “ Swallow beast, swallow or suffocate! You know that eventually you will swallow . . . the need for air will get the better of you . . . yes, you can already feel it can't you, the pressure in your chest, the burning in your lungs, your throat tightening up . . . Ah yess............ Now Swallow!” finally it ended up as she said and the need for air was his downfall. When he had consumed the herbs and lay chokeing and gasping for air she turned to the one woman still hidden in the shadows. “ He shall be ready in a few moments My Lady.”
The women formed a semi circle around the gasping captive watching with eager anticipation as his member began to show the affects of the herbs. Slowly rising and flushing a deep purple,thick veins filling running ridges over the massive organ. As the flesh stretched and throbbed becomeing more and more sensitive till just the light breeze was too much , hisses and whimpers could be heard seeping from the top of the stone. when it had seemed like the flesh would never stop growing, it settled down, filled to the point of bursting. two of the women walked up to the platform each having griped a pitcher in her hand made of fine oak. as one they tipped the contents slowly over the heaving chest muscles starting over the nipples causing a yelp to be ripped from clinched fangs, as the oil that had been heated next to the fire was pored in a constant stream down coating the skin in a fine layer. Only one peace of flesh was spared from the mix, instantly turning all that it touched a deep pink not quit hot enough finish the burn to red.
The fine scent of elm and lavender drifted over the valley, burning their victims sensitive nose drilling its way forever in his mind. when they had the clenching muscles coated in the fine oils did they risk coming closer. Finally a whisper was heard "Here my lady he is ready for you now" The figure slowly moved out of the trees. The wind picked up blowing through the ebony strands that flowed out behind the women.She was no beauty just a very ordinary village girl one would never pick her out among the others, they were all very plain looking women, and in a way that was worse then if they had been the most perfect of all creation. Trembleing the man snarled as she approached continually pulling at his bindings. Dull brown eyes met burning sapphire and for almost the first time since the death of his mother bone chilling fear began to consume him.
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" Darius! Darius! " the pure voice of a young women filled the blue sky her worried gaze scanned the horizon for any sing of the familiar form.Just let him be alright her heart begged. But deep in her soul forbidding echoed. Underneath her a giant stallion pranced restlessly tossing is flowing mane ," I'm sure hes fine Arianna ." the ebony and red striped hair tossed in the wind as Layla tried to reassure the girl she has begun to think of as a sister. " Yeah, Darius is probably just off sulking." a young red headed boy piped up. Their other male compainion was ominously silent. They had been searching for three days now. Arianna had gotten worried when the stubborn man had not come to get her from her home when she ran late like he normally did. Layla , Gabrial , and Nicolas had all assumed he had went to pick up Arianna, and were surprised when she came to the village without him.
Now they were running over the country side hunting there missing friend. Jackson stopped and sniffed the air turning in a circle.Kagome jumped down from her mount to reached out and stroked the huge German Sheperds ears " Whats wrong Jackson? What is it girl do you smell him?" The dog reached around gently licking the girls leg letting out a soft growl " Go girl if you think you found some thing go." Kagome whispered turning as the dog lept off at a run she yelled down to the other three riders " Jackson and I are going on ahead. Keep looking we will find you later!"Layla looked to the skies " Alright Arianna but be carefull! It looks like a storm is headed this way!" Please, Please be alright Darius! Arianna thought.But it was not meant to be, what she found would haunt the young women for the rest of her life.
flames crackled softly into the chilly night air. Slight wisps of steam arose form the stones containing it. Shadows danced and flickered over the battered form resting at its edge. The dog lay watchful in the treetops her monsterus form hidden from sight. Arianna leaned on the tree at the fires edge. Eyes closed but hearing every shift of wind as a threat. Her nerves were strung tight and if not for the dire need of there situation she would have broke down and fell apart. Darius gave a quiet whimper and the sleeping bag he lay in began to shake. Arianna quickly scooted over to him reaching in her back pack to get a bottle of water. pouring some on to a handkerchief she laid it on his brow. causing him to flinch slightly as it stung the cuts there that matched his whole body. the bruising flowed from each cut spreading form patch to patch till it looked like all his skin was shades of blue purple and black.
Arianna reached up to his poor face ever so slightly petting his hair around but never actually touching the skin. when she had found him she was sick several times before she could get a hold of her self she had no idea someone could do some thing so so evil so vile to another living thing. cuts and burns covers his skin. Arianna ran her hand gently threw what was left of the golden mass of hair. It looked as if someone had ran a knife around his head just hacking away chunks till it was left in uneven mess. whip marks crossed the inside of his arms and legs. There were more wounds than she could count.
Again he shifted and whined in pain lightly tossing his head " Please ......Please ..........no more ...please no more." the softly whimpered words caused a fury to burn in side the girl with fire burning in her eyes and a tremble in her hands she turned to reach for the water bottle she had set aside. taking a deep breath she returned to her battered young friend carefully slipping a had beneath his ravaged hair she lifted his head " here Darius try and drink this" placing the rim to his lips she tilted the bottle slightly as the cool liquid trickled in his mouth he began to struggle weakly trying to turn his head away " No .. not again.... please ....not again....no more" the words were broken and hoarse paired with muffled sobs
" Dar..Darius its all right now Its Arianna I'm here now ifound you Its all right" she swiftly set the water away and brushed her hands threw his hair. " look DariusLook at me come on its OK " whispering soothingly to the sobbing young man. he tried to do as Arianna ask but found he could not force his eyes to open. " III ...I am sorry......I can't .....p..p..please no more ...I tried but .....they wont..open..." the words came in halting breaths as if each one was forced. Arianna staired down at her friend and relized then just how broken he was Darius didn't even know her. " shhhh Its ok ...May I look they just might be swollen and need something cool?" she softly asked. His shakeing got worse " If If it pleases you MMy Lady" it was soo soft she bairly heard it but it hit her heart with venomous precision causeing Arianna to shudder " Darius just hold on ..let me look ok " she leaned down and bringing her flash light around to shine over his eyes more closely. Arianna almost was sick once again that night with the blood from the other wounds cleaned away she saw what she had missed before. Someone had taken very thin silver wire and sown his eyes shut. The wire sparkled horrifically through the dark lashes two tiny rubys glinted at the corners on the ends of the sliver.
" Do they hurt Darius?" Arianna kept her voice calm and soothing her mind raceing reaching and discarding ideas to get the wire out of his eyes. " No I..just ..cant get them...open" his voce was fadeing exhaustion clear in his body. " ok you can sleep in just a sec ok but drink some water first please.." Darius shudder but was too weak and tired by this point to argue. Arianna once again tipped the bottle to his lips only this time he quitely drank the fight gone with the first drop on his tounge. when she thought he might have had enuff she took the bottle away and gently laid him back down pulling the sleeping bag back up to his chin. Almost as soon as she took the water away he relaxed and was asleep.
Arianna stood calling Jackson over to her, pointing to the sleeping form at her feet she order her to lay and gard. Jackson trotted over to the spot laying with her back to the flames along side the man placeing her honey coloured head on her dark paws. " Good girl Jackson I'll be right back. Stay!" Arianna walked with her flash light and camping hattchet out into the surounding woods. Silently thanking her mom for the years of Girl Scouts she found three good sized saplings after cutting them down to size she began the task of pulling them back to camp.
Returning back to tree she dug into her back pack pulling out her spair pair of jeans. Carefully cutting them into strips then lashing the poles to gather to form the begainings of a travois. that done for the time being she laided back against the tree thinking about when she first moved to this city and when she met Darius and the others.