Darknet Desires
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It was a few weeks after the battle on the plains before he saw her again. He was out for his morning stroll, which had become more of a daily expedition over the past days; there were always things to be done if one wanted to stay ahead of the army.
As much as he loved seeing all those eager faces in training every day, he also found it quite refreshing to have the opportunity to wander through the city without anyone trying to kill him.
This time, however, when he turned into the alley that led toward the palace from where he lived, he heard singing coming from the shadows behind a particularly large building. It was a little strange since most of the residents had gone inside by now, and besides, no one but servants was allowed within the palace grounds at night anyway. But then again, he thought, I’ve been wrong before…
When he rounded the corner of that building, though, his jaw dropped at what he saw.
A young man was dancing around with a young girl who seemed to be wearing a long dress made out of flowers. She looked like she was about to burst with joy and pride every time they did a dance step.
The young woman in question, he noted, wore only the most revealing clothes: a short skirt over bare legs, an open blouse showing off her shoulders, and nothing under it. When she danced, all he could see were her hips shifting beneath the fabric.
Her arms were raised high above her head, her fingertips glistening in the moonlight. And her hair? It wasn’t a simple braid or bun anymore—it flowed down over her bare back, covering her shoulders entirely.
And she’s dancing so well! I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a skill before. This must be the dancer they spoke of in the council chamber. The man himself was not much taller than he was, and had a rather lean build despite the fact that he moved with the grace of a deer.
His clothing, too, was very different than any other he’d seen before. Instead of armor, he wore only a shirt, breeches, and boots. A sword hung at his hip—a real sword instead of the toy he used to test the knights’ skills—but otherwise he looked almost exactly like a soldier should look.
The young lady beside him didn’t seem surprised at all to see him appear from nowhere. In fact, she simply laughed and said, “Oh, my lord Arrick, you startled me!”
Arrick bowed low at once, although her smile told him otherwise. The young woman continued to dance while he bowed until her song ended. Then she spun in place and threw herself into his arms with a laugh of pure delight. “That was wonderful! You’re amazing!”
He smiled back at her and replied, “Thank you.”
Then her eyes went wide, and she stared at something he couldn’t see. “By the gods! What are you doing here?”
“I live nearby, and I often come this way,” he explained.
She glanced at him and whispered, “Are you really a nobleman? Are you sure you aren’t just one of those bandits who pretend to be nobles?”
His eyes narrowed as he said, “You know of us, do you? Do you have any idea how many people want to hurt me for being a bandit? Why would you doubt me?”
Her expression was suddenly solemn. She sighed and shook her head at once. “No, it’s nothing like that. Just be careful around these parts; there are some dangerous men living on the edges of this city. If anything happens to you—”
“There are others like you in this city,” he interrupted. “Why do you suppose that is?”
The look on her face told him that she knew exactly what he meant. He nodded slowly and said, “Do you still believe we are bandits, even after everything else you’ve learned of us?”
She smiled up at him. “Yes… I mean…” She hesitated a moment longer, then added, “Well, let me tell you what happened to my parents.”
In a voice barely loud enough for him to hear, he heard, “Don’t worry—we’ll take good care of you.”
“We will make it right, Lady,” he assured her, and he reached out to put his hand upon her cheek.
As his fingers grazed her skin, he felt a shiver go through her entire body, and she trembled against him. He was certain it wasn’t just because she was cold; in truth, it might be her first night outside without the protection of another person.
The girl gasped softly when his hand touched her chin, and then she leaned closer and kissed him lightly. His eyes widened in surprise at the contact, and then he returned it. Their lips met again and parted slightly, their tongues exploring each other’s mouths.
They moaned quietly together as his hands slid down along her bare back until they cupped her buttocks and pulled her more tightly against him.
Their kiss was passionate and urgent—and also very hot, judging by how quickly both of them began sweating. But he didn’t mind.
Lady Elandra took advantage of the moment to push him back toward the wall at once. As soon as he was against the stonework of the building, she lifted his tunic over his head and tossed it aside, leaving him naked.
Her own clothing followed suit and landed next to his tunic. She reached behind her back and unhooked her skirt, but instead of tossing that aside at once, she wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him close again. Then she pushed her tongue into his mouth, and his body reacted immediately.
A thrill ran through his loins, causing him to gasp aloud and grasp at her hair as the pleasure washed over him. It was strange to feel so alive and yet to be aware of the danger surrounding him. At the same time, his mind was filled with memories of the beautiful Elandra, and he was glad beyond words that she was willing to help him.
When Lady Elandra broke off the kiss once more, Arrick groaned at once. His body ached for more, but he knew he wouldn’t last much longer before he climaxed if she didn’t stop tormenting him.
At that point, she reached out and grasped him with both hands at once. His shaft was fully hard inside her fingers, and his head reeled. He’d never been with such a lovely creature before, and the sight of her pale cheeks flushed with arousal was almost too much for his senses.
Elandra moaned softly. “I can’t wait anymore,” she told him.
With great effort, he held back a whimper. He knew that he wasn’t in control of his own desires, and that was frightening. He could only imagine what would happen if she continued to hold him like this.
But that was exactly what she did.
After a few moments had passed, he couldn’t contain himself any longer, and he thrust deep into her. Elandra gasped with pleasure at once and tightened her legs around his waist. A wave of heat rushed through him, and he cried out loudly into her ear.
For the briefest instant, something seemed to freeze all movement. Arrick stared wide-eyed at the girl beside him, and in that moment, it occurred to him that Lady Elandra might not be a girl at all. The thought came as sudden and unexpected as lightning.
He froze in shock, unable to move. In another instant, his body was moving faster than ever before, and the feeling of ecstasy was almost unbearable. But at the same time, he became aware that it wasn’t his own desire at work in his mind. It was the magic within him, working its dark power through the young woman.
Elandra’s expression changed from one of intense pleasure to horror as she realized the truth.
Then she screamed with pain and fear as the magic took hold.
***
Lady Elandra lay on the floor of the alleyway, clutching at her chest in agony.
Arrick stood frozen in shock at her sudden scream. What was happening? Surely Lady Elandra couldn’t die… could she?
He shook his head rapidly, trying to dispel the strange illusion. But even after he blinked his eyes several times, she still looked the same to him. No, that wasn’t quite true. There was no doubt at all that her face was paler than usual, and she was breathing more slowly. And her expression was different. She wasn’t the lovely young lady he’d seen on her arrival in town.
She was a demon!
“No!” he yelled aloud, and his voice echoed back at him from the nearby walls. He turned and bolted for the door of the inn where the others were waiting for him. But when he opened the door and peered through, there was nothing unusual about Lady Elandra’s situation. In fact, she was completely alone at the moment.
That didn’t make any sense.
It couldn’t be a trick of his eyes; she was definitely lying unconscious on the ground just outside the doorway. So why could he not see her?
He stepped out of the building and glanced around, but Lady Elandra wasn’t to be found in any direction. The streets were clear of people now, and it appeared that everyone else had already returned to the inn. Even the guards were nowhere to be seen.
Arrick felt a chill pass through him at the idea that Lady Elandra might have died. He wanted so desperately to know what had happened, especially since he suspected that the demon had possessed her somehow.
Was Lady Elandra truly gone? Had she become some sort of fiend? If so, that would be terrible news indeed. He’d been certain she was the one person in the world who understood him best, and that he could trust her without reservation. Now his fears were growing worse by the minute.
But the worst thing he feared was that Lady Elandra might return home soon, and find him dead, murdered by a demon while she slept.
He started running.
In moments, he came upon two men walking away from the main street, their shoulders slumped in exhaustion. They wore leather armor with long shields strapped to each arm. One of them carried a staff that glowed faintly with a green light, and they both sported swords hanging at their waists.
They didn’t look at him as he approached until he was almost upon them. Then the closest guard lifted his chin slightly in recognition of him.
“What’s happening?” asked Arrick in confusion. “Lady Elandra is dead—or something happened to her.”
The man shrugged. “We heard the screams,” he said quietly, “but we don’t think it was anything too serious. We’ll let the local healer decide later.”
“Lady Elandra doesn’t need healing, not from me,” snapped Arrick. “Something happened to her because she was possessed by a demon, or maybe even an Archdemon—”
“Don’t be ridiculous, boy,” interrupted the guard in charge. He was a big burly fellow with a bald head and a beard streaked with gray. His eyes were cold and cruel, but there was enough sympathy in them for Arrick to believe that the man was sincere.
“Demon possession is impossible in this day and age,” he added. “If anyone had such powers, you think there wouldn’t be legions of demons roaming the land?”
Arrick considered the question, but he still believed that Lady Elandra might be possessed by a demon. And if he was correct, then someone should do something about it.
“You’re right,” he admitted reluctantly. “I’m sorry I brought that up.”
Both guards gave him sympathetic nods, which made the young noble feel a little better. Still, there was something else bothering him, and it had to do with the fact that he’d been unable to see Lady Elandra while she lay helpless at the other end of the alleyway. It meant something very important, and he didn’t yet understand what it was.
“Are there many people here?” Arrick inquired hopefully, hoping he wouldn’t learn the answer he dreaded. “A lot of people? I mean, can you take me to where there are lots of people? I’m afraid Lady Elandra might die.”
“Of course, we can take you anywhere you want to go, boy,” said the older guard gruffly, but he smiled broadly as he said it, as if he were happy to have such a fine-looking young man along to add a touch of spice to their trip. Arrick tried to smile in return, but his heart sank as the man added in a whisper: “But first you must tell us where the rest of your companions are.”
“My companions?” asked Arrick, startled. “There aren’t any more! Just me.”
For a moment, both guards looked at him strangely, as if he were speaking nonsense. But suddenly the younger of them brightened up considerably, and he spoke quickly in a hushed tone: “Ah, but there’s another one. There always is…just around the corner…”
***
Arrick’s hopes rose again, and he felt a surge of relief rush through him as he recognized that the young man was referring to the halfling. He’d wondered why the guards hadn’t bothered to search for the halfling, or even for Lady Elandra, after the commotion in the alley.
Now, however, Arrick realized that they’d simply assumed she was no longer alive and had gone off to find another quest.
And now the guards were going to bring her back to him. He was almost sure of it.
Arrick glanced at the sky in trepidation, knowing how late it was getting in the morning. How much time did Lady Elandra have left? He hoped he would find her before it was too late.
“Where is everybody?” murmured Arrick absently. The streets had begun to empty out, and there wasn’t a soul in sight. “I thought you told me there were plenty of people here.”
“We’re taking you down to the docks,” replied one of the guards. “That’s where everyone went when all this trouble began.”
Then they turned and walked off toward the waterfront area. As they reached the edge of the town, the pair took a sharp turn onto the main thoroughfare and proceeded to follow it straight across the harbor district. Arrick followed them closely, trying not to show worry lest he scare the guards into doing something stupid like abandoning him somewhere.
As they traveled, Arrick noticed that most of the shops on either side of the street were closed down, although some had a few customers wandering inside. Some of these were obviously merchants, and others appeared to be sailors who’d stopped in on their way to work.
He also noted that the guards were paying close attention to the shops, and occasionally pointing out particular ones that interested them. They were probably checking up on certain items in their stores.
They reached the edge of town and turned down a narrower road. A couple of sailors passed them carrying barrels filled with beer from a local tavern. Then they came to a stop outside a shopfront, which proved to be one selling leather goods and weapons.
Arrick was disappointed; it was a smaller establishment than he’d expected—and certainly nothing like the large shops where he could have picked up some nice clothing or new armor. The only reason he’d wanted to visit the shop was to make sure Lady Elandra didn’t die before he found her.
Now it looked as though he was going to miss out on that opportunity entirely unless one of the two guards returned to retrieve him once they’d finished their business.
The door opened just ahead of the guards, and several burly sailors emerged, each holding two heavy wooden mugs in his hands. The guards nodded at them and then stepped aside so Arrick could pass into the store. He hesitated for a moment, glancing warily at the three men.
For a second, he feared they meant him harm, despite the fact that they all wore smiles. But they weren’t really smiling, were they? And besides, what could they possibly do to him? They were armed only with sticks.
With great reluctance, Arrick entered the shop, hoping he would soon see Lady Elandra again.
For a long moment, he stood at the entrance, staring blankly into the interior, until his eyes finally adjusted to the dim light. It took him a minute or so to realize that the place wasn’t quite deserted. There was a single figure sitting on an old couch inside, watching him nervously as he entered.
Lady Elandra was sitting quietly on the couch, wearing a simple tunic of dark blue cloth over a white dress underneath. Her hair was tied up on top of her head, and she held one hand tightly clenched in her lap. She stared at Arrick with wide frightened eyes, trembling visibly as he approached her.
It was clear at once that she wasn’t well. Her skin was pale and clammy, and she trembled constantly.
“Lady Elandra,” said Arrick softly, moving toward her. “Are you alright? Did the guards hurt you?”
She shook her head, not looking away from him. But she couldn’t hold still for very long; within a few moments, she slid down on the couch and sat next to Lady Elandra, hugging her tightly, her face buried against Lady Elandra’s shoulder. “Lady Elandra! I’m sorry!”
Lady Elandra’s lips trembled and she started to cry. She wrapped herself tighter around Arrick’s shoulders, hiding her face in his neck. Arrick stroked her silken black hair gently as he held Lady Elandra, feeling her shivering become more violent.
The guards exchanged glances; then they drew closer, stepping up behind Arrick and Lady Elandra. “Let us carry her to a private room upstairs,” said one of the sailors, taking a firm grip on Lady Elandra’s arm. “You should leave.”
A moment later, Arrick and Lady Elandra were being carried up the narrow staircase into one of the upper-floor rooms. Once inside, one of the men shut the door, leaving the two women alone together.
Arrick and Lady Elandra sat on the bedside by the window, while Lady Elandra continued crying and clinging to his shoulder. Arrick stroked her back, holding her tightly to him, and tried to comfort her in any way he could think of.
But Lady Elandra didn’t respond. After a short while, he began to wonder if she even heard him at all. His voice seemed to fall on deaf ears, and it was possible that she thought it was part of his plan after all.
His fear grew when he realized that Lady Elandra’s breathing was beginning to grow ragged.
“I’ll go find help, Lady Elandra,” Arrick managed to say, pulling away from Lady Elandra’s body to kneel in front of her. He put a hand to her forehead, checking her temperature with his free hand. She was warm but not hot enough to cause concern. “You don’t need to worry anymore. I’ll get help right away.”
Lady Elandra’s eyes flickered open momentarily and then closed again. For a moment, she squeezed his hand. Then she fell still, her breath growing irregular. Arrick felt a sudden wave of panic wash through him. No! You promised you would be here for me!
He pulled Lady Elandra up onto her knees beside him, clutching her in an embrace. With shaking hands, he tore the tunic he was wearing off and wrapped it around Lady Elandra’s bare shoulders. “Lady Elandra! Please wake up!” he cried, trying to keep her steady against his chest.
For a moment, his efforts seemed to have an effect. Lady Elandra’s eyes fluttered and then opened slowly. But the look in her eyes was frightening—it was no longer Lady Elandra who looked out at him.
Instead, Arrick saw that it was the strange, pale girl who had been with them during their journey to the shipwreck beach. She smiled at Arrick, her lips trembling, as he struggled to support Lady Elandra.
“I told you I would be here,” she whispered. The sound came out as more of a gurgle than anything else; her face turned suddenly paler as a thin stream of blood oozed from Lady Elandra’s mouth.
The End