Sara Curran-Ross's Blog, page 12

The Hanged Man (Work In Progress)

Chapter Two


The demon and I stood alone in a large battered room that had once been used to give ballet lessons to young girls. It was full of boxes and the early evening light was blocked from penetrating my surroundings by heavy ominous black drapes closed across two large arched windows. Mrs Chen had lit a few gas lamps here and there on the walls but they were dim and cast flickering shadows across the room that could have been mistaken for a haunting presence. I picked up the lamp that stood on a small trestle table. The wooden floor creaked eerily under my feet as I approached the wide mirror that stretched from floor to ceiling covering the whole of the back wall.

The place was covered in a thick layer of dust as was the mirror. I ran the tip of my finger across the middle and looked down at the grey white substance with a frown. I flicked it away and closed my eyes feeling the first effects of the opium that rampaged through my veins. Humans felt the effects immediately but it took longer for a Taleian vampire. Mrs Chen was convinced that she could make the battle between the demon and myself manifest in the hallucinations I would experience and end our fight for once and for all. The event would be akin to being drawn into one of Juliet's dreamscapes I was told by Byron and Dylan.

I raised the lamp and rubbed more determinedly at the mirror. I wanted to see my face. I wanted to see what I was and what I was to become for good or bad through this surreal process and my action became frantic with obsession. At last I looked upon myself. I waited to see what would happen. The demon laughed back at me with cruel eyes burning with hunger for the approaching confrontation. I could feel only anxiety of the consequences should I fail.

'Coward,' the demon hissed at me. 'You were weak enough to give in to me. Your inferiority disgusts me. Prepare to meet your death,' he told me looking upon my reflection with contempt.

I would have answered him with a rebuke but our battle was to commence. I felt a strange pulling sensation as though someone possessed the strength to pull me apart. My mind separated into two halves and the pain was almost too excruciating to bear, yet somehow I did. I cried out with pain but the demon laughed with his agony. There was movement and I found myself stepping away from my body to the side. Shocked with surprise and disbelief I quickly turned to look back at the laughing demon and then down at myself. There were now two of us both in physicality and in mind.

My eyes widened as the demon turned to face me. I reached for my sword wondering whether or not it had made the journey with me but my hand fell flat at my side.

The demon narrowed his eyes at me. I quickly looked to his side but found that I was not the only one who did not possess a sword.

'This is not a battle to be fought using the elegant sword as a weapon. This is a battle of wills Nathan,' the demon put a finger to his temple and tapped it lightly. 'The only weapon you may use is the mind.'

I straightened and looked upon him with courageous defiance. 'Then let it begin,' I challenged with authority.

The demon was upon me taking my arm and dragging me forward before I could do anything to stop him.

'I will remind you why you gave in to me and I will show you the future. Then you will know why I should command your soul.'

As we walked the room disappeared and I found myself back in the damp humid cave on the ledge looking down at Sebastian starting to rape Juliet on the sacrificial druid altar. Everything was as it had been. I looked around the Hunter demons thwarting every movement I made to go to her rescue as though I relived the whole experience. No, I did not want to be here, remembering . . .'

'Remember how helpless you felt?' the demon asked, determined that I would not hide from my feelings. 'How sickened you were when you heard her cries yet you could find no way to help her?'

I closed my eyes suddenly consumed by my thoughts of failure as I listened to Juliet's sobs below the ledge again. I swung around to the demon who was casually leaning against the wall of the cave, his arms folded watching me with amused interest.

'And have you forgotten those months while Juliet slept, that you woke with terror from your dreams heavy with guilt at having failed your Queen. Or how you wondered if you could have acted differently to prevent her injury. If you had been someone else, say, Gabriel for instance, would you have fared better?'

I felt my anger burn at the mention of Gabriel's name.

'He always thought you were weak,' the demon placed such emphasis on the word. 'You were not fit to be the Knight Of Swords. You were too forgiving of Juliet and her desire for independence in a world that saw her as prey. You should have mastered her as every other Queen of Talus had been. If she had obeyed you, she would not be lying down there being raped before your eyes. If I had been in charge of her care, she would not have dared disobey me and run away. She would have been safe by my side.'

I feared he spoke the truth and I did not want to hear it.

'That may have been the case then, demon, but you have also failed. You have not mastered her and she does not stand by your side. She left you and took safe refuge with the lycans. You failed her just as much as you say I did.'

The demon straightened and gave a growl.

'You stopped me taking her from the lycan house. I could have carried her out of there.'

'You would have been stopped and you knew that. That is why you listened to my instruction for once,' I snapped. 'As Marcus said at the docks, you are no good to the Queen dead.'

The demon gave me a cold look and walked past me to snatch the sword from my hand, for I stood exactly as I was that day in the cave.

'I will show you how I would have dealt with the Hunter demons had I been allowed to rule on my own. I would have saved our Queen from being raped.'

The demon turned towards his opponents and in a blaze of glorious swordsmanship he took them on in a whipping frenzy. Two of them were decapitated as the crowded around him, hissing their deadly venom. He was unafraid, swinging his sword elegantly in his hand matching every move the Hunter demons made to attack him. He cut the tongue from one and the arm from another. He moved so fast he shimmered just like a desert mirage. I was envious but I reminded myself that he had matured in his short time as a hybrid and had spent many a lonely day while Juliet slept practicing his swordsmanship with a hybrid tutor. I had no choice but to fight with the brief human skill that I possessed at the time.

There was suddenly no obstacle to his jumping from the ledge. I watched him land as I had done between Juliet's legs before Sebastian had cruelly mounted her body. With quick precise movement he sliced his sword through Juliet's bonds and placed his arm up under her body. He lifted her into the safety of his arms as he raised his sword and prepared to tackle Sebastian and the Cobra demons.

I leaned over the ledge and watched two shadowy forms jump from it beside me and descend upon the demon and Juliet. One of the demons spat his venom at his eyes and blinded him. He lost his grip of a weakened Juliet and fell backwards writhing and screaming in agony. He left our injured Queen to defend herself from the Cobra demons and Sebastian once again. I jumped from the ledge and stood beside him on the Druid altar table and the scene before me froze. Only the demon and I were free from the strange bewildering effects.

'You only destroyed three of the Hunter demons,' I told him with condemning disapproval.

'You only injured the fourth and forgot to count the fifth who lifted to the ceiling of the cave. You were rash. You did not stop to think, to assess the danger and as a result you as good as ended your life and left our Queen to mercies of Sebastian once again,' I told him with ferocious anger. 'You are careless. You did not think. I could not have acted without Juliet's help and she knew that. You underestimate our Queen and her role as my mate. She will always seek to protect me as I do her and she must be given credit and acknowledgement for her actions.'

I grew confident,' You have shown me nothing that could have been done better if you had been in command of my soul.'

The demon slowly sat rubbing his eyes and blinking. Free from the poison he jumped to his feet. He said nothing but his bad temper was more than evident at his carelessness when he took my arm again. I shook off his hold and glared at him but dutifully followed, intrigued by what he would show me next to convince me of his argument for power.

We jumped off the altar table and walked into the darkness once more. I found myself walking next to the demon in a dark prison.

'Where are you taking me?' I snapped at the demon.

'To show you the future if you do not let me rule.'

A terrible foreboding overtook me. He stopped at one of the barred cells and unlocked the door with the key that was in the lock, as though left there on purpose for him. It was with marked curiosity that I looked into the cell and upon the lonely chained figure that it contained.

It was a woman. She was placed in the corner of the room on her knees. Her arms were splayed wide, chained to either wall by manacles of iron. Around her neck she wore a necklace of iron that also cruelly chained her slumped body to the wall. He head was bent over. I grew afraid.

The demon approached the dejected figure and swept his fingers gently under her chin to lift her face up towards us.

'Juliet,' her name was a terrified whisper on my lips.

Her beautiful face was haunted. Dark circles ringed her dull emerald eyes and her skin was a deathly pallor. Her features bore the trace of severe debilitating pain. I felt rage begin to build hotly in my veins yet the demon was gentle and calm around her.

'What is this?' I demanded.

The demon continued to stroke his fingers with tenderness along Juliet's jaw as though to give her comfort.

'This is what Juliet sees as her potential future. She has kept the vision and her fear from us. It is more than likely to happen if I do not act. Juliet's visions are strong and reach far into the future. She believes this has been sent to her as a warning from beyond the grave.' The demon gave a small laugh. 'She believes her dead uncle has sent it to her. It does not matter where it comes from. It is a real threat and what the leader of the elders, a hybrid woman of the Royal line no less, and her mate wish to do with her besides using her as apolitical pawn to control the clans. They send a knight to retrieve her from the lycans as we speak.'

I stared at the pathetic figure in alarm as I noticed the large swelling protrusion from her stomach. The demon's eyes followed mine. He placed his free hand gently on her swollen stomach and looked into Juliet's eyes with pity as he continued his narration of the vision. He lowered his voice to a soft whisper.

'She is heavy with child by a human male and she was given no choice but to bear it. The elders, in particular this doctor Lucinda Rolf seek to experiment with her. A Taleian Queen has never mated with a human. One did with a lycan and you saw the result with Drusilla. They keep Juliet starved of blood, weighed down by the child as it consumes her own lifeblood from the inside to survive. It is a way of controlling her but it has driven her mad. Look at her eyes, Nathan.'

They were lifeless, paralysed.

'She is locked inside herself. She is not even aware of what goes on around her. For her to be this way she will have been failed by you. I would not allow this to happen.'

'What makes you believe that you could do better?' I demanded.

I watched the demon gently kiss Juliet's forehead and then let her go to stand.

'Because I will have been prepared. You didn't even know about this vision. She has kept it from you. She has been aware of this since she turned yet she did not share it with you. She is afraid that you would have used it to curtail her freedom. The Knight Of Swords should be aware of his Queen's every fear, her visions so that he can anticipate attack and plan adequately for it to ensure her safety. I forced my way into her mind in the forest after she fought to keep me out and I went deeper. She is skilful and cunning at hiding her fears from her mate. It should not be tolerated. You must command her with a firmer hand or you will leave her unprotected and prey to the dangers that surround her.'

I could not take my eyes from her fallen form.

'This is what I do better than you. You call me careless but you simply react to the danger around her as it appears. You do not prepare and plan for it like the general of an army like I do. Our Queen is to unite our people in the years to come and change the way we live. I have seen her thoughts, her ideas and her plans for the future survival for our race. Such dreams for freedom and an end to their suffering. She is important to our people. I cannot let her down and I will never let this happen to her. You will only get in the way. You have no place here,' the demon told me coldly.

I removed my eyes from Juliet feeling my temper at all that I saw before me rise with eagerness. I would never let this happen to Juliet, the demon was wrong. He would not take her from me. My passion overwhelmed my senses and I lunged for the demon knocking him to the floor. Darkness engulfed us once more to be replaced by snow and ice all around and under our fallen fighting forms in the countryside.

The demon shouted at me. 'I do not wish to join with you, Nathan. I would rather die than live with your human weakness. This is a fight to the death.'

'Then so be it. I do not wish you inside me anymore. You will leave my soul.'

One of us would die that night.

News

Got some bad news and some good news to report.  I won't be self publishing Knight Of Swords at Halloween.  The good news is that it is now going to be published as an e-book by Hellfire Publishing and will be available in 2011.  Yay!! 

Also, sorry to report that there is going to be a small delay in posting chapter two of The Hanged Man in the Sword series because of the above news and other unavoidable chaotic elements that have conspired to prevent me from finishing it.  But rest assured the chapter will be out over the weekend.  If you need something to read I posted a new chapter in the modern spin off tale to the Sword series, The Knight Of Coins yesterday on my other blog.  Check it out at http://www.talesofvampireknights.blogspot.com/.

Have a great weekend everyone.


Sara

News

Hi Everyone,

Just to let you know that I have friends coming to stay so I won't be able to get another chapter on The Hanged Man out on my blog until Friday.  In the meantime, if you fancy a modern urban twist to the Sword series please check out Knight Of Coins at http://www.talesofvampireknights.blogspot.com/.

Happy Reading!

Sara

The Hanged Man (Work In Progress)

The Hanged Man


Chapter One

I sat alone in the deserted public house as the night rolled in over the seedier part of Southampton. I had cleared the place with my fighting and my irresolute temper that could find no rest or sympathy. The barman viewed me with fear and kept pouring the gin so that I should not want but it was insufficient to quell the tempest within my soul. Juliet had left me. Gone. Left me to rot in this hell hole she would have called my life. I had made the ultimate sacrifice in giving myself to the darker aspect of my nature for the sake of her protection and love alone. I allowed the demon, the vampire within me free reign because he would keep her safe and because she loved him with a passion that I had never felt her bestow upon my human side.

I closed my eyes remembering when he approached her on the train. The way she looked at him with painful need, despite all that he had done. Every fibre of her being reached out to him calling for their joining. The demon's own need was potent, stronger than I had ever allowed myself to feel for anything or anyone. It's strength and limitless boundaries made me fearful. Whenever I indulged in such careless liberty with my feelings I would lose the person to whom they were attached to death itself.

In truth my point had already been proved, my parents, my uncle were dead and my younger brother Xavier was all but headed in the same direction. But Juliet was more precious to me than any other being and as a result she had suffered the worst. I felt my stomach tighten with anger as I remembered her rape at Sebastian's hands and her near death at my own when I was under the witch's power. No, the demon employed a far better technique in ensuring the Queen of Talus's protection even if sometimes his treatment of her was harsh. I desired Juliet more than life itself and if that was the sacrifice I was forced to pay to possess her love then I would endure it. Yet now she had now rejected the demon out of hand. Why such cruelty? What else could I give her?

With a concurring growl of raging dissatisfaction the demon picked up his empty glass and threw it hard at the bottles of liquor lined up on shelves behind the barman. He ducked in adequate time to avoid the splinters of glass that burst forth from the explosion as three bottles broke with a loud crash under the force of my strength.

'Please, sir,' he begged. 'You will do me out of business . . .'

But I was insolent to his pleading. I cared for nothing or anyone at that moment only the rejection and loss that weighed down my soul. I reached over the bar and caught hold of his shirt and brought him to face me. His whiskers were damp with the sweat of anxiety as I held him there.

'Stop your complaining and pour me another one and I maybe will let you live another day!' I demanded.

I knew not why I drank the gin. It had little effect on my body but there was some comfort in old human habits. The man nodded furiously and I let go of him with abruptness so much so that he fell backwards to the floor. I sat back on the stool and watched him scrabble to his feet to pour me another glass with his shaking hands. I glared at him and moved from the stool to sit at one of the wooden chairs. I leant back in it and put my feet up on the table and downed the liquor in one before calling for the him to attend me again.

The door opened up off the rain as my seventh glass was filled and I looked up to find Byron and Dylan standing before me.

'Drinks for my friend's,' I commanded of the barman slapping another empty glass on the table.

I watched Byron remove his hat and scarf casting a disapproving eye at the broken chairs and tables I had used in my fights with whoever had dared to get in my way. He ran his hand through his short brown curly hair that closely resembled his brother's longer length and looked down at me with annoyance.

'Could you not have drawn more attention to yourself, Nathan?' he snapped as the barman scuttled around him pouring each brother a drink. 'What have you done to the poor man?' he growled at me, sitting down in the chair next to me. 'This can't go on Nathan.'

His brother Dylan was to agree with him. I ignored them both and reached for my glass. Dylan's hand reached out to stop me with a strong grip on my wrist.

My eyes gave him a dark warning and although a tremor of fear flashed cleanly through his eyes he did not deter his action. It was not the first time that Dylan had challenged me and I could only respect his gall for trying his luck with the demon in charge of my soul.

'You can't just sit here trying to drown your sorrows. Whether Juliet knows it or not she needs us and you. We need to pursue her. I felt a dark presence on the steamer. Byron felt it too.'

'If there was anything on that ship I would have felt it,' I said lazily. 'She does not want me or us, so she can fend for herself.'

I pulled my arm away from Dylan and reached for my drink. He shook his head.

'You didn't feel it, Nathan, because you are acting like lovesick fool. I doubt whether Juliet felt it either. You are so consumed by each other. I have never seen such a strong Taleian bond. It will be better for all of us when it is consummated. This constant separation makes you both careless and driven by passion alone,' Byron told me with contempt.

I did not respond. He was more than right but I did not care to think about it.

'Nathan,' Dylan's tone was more sympathetic. 'We heard your conversation with Juliet in the lycan's house. We understand what is troubling you and we are behind you as an army but you cannot command without your human side. The demon makes you reckless and we cannot afford it. I really believe that Juliet is in danger from more than Taleian knights and Sebastian. We have heard talk amongst the hybrids in London and here. We wanted to make sure before we told you . . .'

'Told me what?' I shouted impatiently.

Byron rolled his eyes with disdain and lowered his voice, glancing at the nervous barman as he took over the conversation.

'It seems the humans are planning their own plot against the throne of Talus and it comes by royal command, from Queen Victoria herself on the suggestion of her advisors. There cannot be two Queens of England.'

I widened my eyes.

'That's not all. I believe they have help that is not of the human variety in the form of the slavers who wish to keep their lucrative trade in female hybrid flesh. The dark presence we felt . . . I believe it has something to do with this plot against our Queen. Someone else of the supernatural kind also helps them. But I cannot yet identify them. It makes me nervous for our Queen, Nathan.'

Dylan interjected. 'We think this action taken by the Queen of England is in response to the advisors knowledge of the intentions of our elders who have despatched another knight to Italy to take Juliet. She will be brought back to England and kept locked away. The elders wish to use her to start their war with the humans and reclaim the throne of England. We must act Nathan. Juliet is caught in the crossfire of a potential war and to be used as nothing more than a pawn.'

'There is little we can do. The next ship does not leave for another day. I have already checked,' I informed them feeling my blood stir with adrenaline. 'But what would you have me do even if I go. She will not have me, gentlemen.'

'No, she will not have you as you are,' Dylan corrected.

'And who can blame her?' Byron retorted. 'You terrify the young girl threatening her with a horsewhip every time she does not obey you. It is hardly the basis for a marriage in heaven.'

I could not help but grin remembering my night in the forest with Juliet when escaping the clutches of the witch Drusilla. Despite her indignation at my threat I had felt her confused desire for me to carry it out. Dylan and Byron did not know the demon that lurked in Juliet that begged for attention.

'I don't know about that. You do not know your Queen as I do. Come let us make preparations for our journey. I will just have to make her accept me.'

'No, we have a better way,' Dylan said.

'You need to face your fears , Nathan, and settle the battle between your human and vampire side. You need to make them work together just as we have learnt. It is not an easy battle and you are a new and fresh hybrid. All of us have had to face this challenge. It is time you faced yours.'

'And pray, how am I supposed to do this?'

Byron spoke first with a serious tone that melted into humour, 'We know these parts well. We have done a little smuggling here and there on the ships a few years ago. We know a woman. She has been a donor to the hybrids for many years. She is mystical and a medium. She will help you face what you cannot on your own. Even the vampire half of you knows you must face each other or you will stagnate and the Queen will die. You must decide who is to win the battle between you for good or bad.'

The demon laughed.

'And how does this woman facilitate this battle?'

Dylan grinned and tapped the side of his nose.

'It depends on the seeker of advice.'

'Yes, and the amount of opium she needs to achieve her results,' Byron laughed. 'Are you game, Nathan?'

I never backed down from a challenge especially if Juliet was to be the prize of my success and neither did the demon.

News

Just to let everyone know that I will be posting a new chapter of Ace of Swords tomorrow evening.  The final two chapters will follow in the next two weeks that run up to Halloween and the release of Knight of Swords.  Then I will be a posting a teaser for the next in the series, The Hanged Man.

I am actively seeking representation and should anyone want to contact me for more information regarding the novels please e-mail me at sara@saracurranross.com.

Ace of Swords (Work In Progress)

Chapter Eighteen


The blue energy given form in a ribbon squeezed tighter and tighter until I thought I might be cut into two halves. Xavier continued to chant in the archaic language of our people, a wicked smile of triumph settling upon his face as he stood to the side of us with his arms out folded. I am sure he believed he was about to gain all that he desired in that moment. I could not help but pity his misguided thoughts and billowing arrogance. He would gain nothing, only loss and pain, perhaps even his life at my hand before the day was through.

There was a new hardness to my thoughts and I briefly wondered at what point did my naivety and sensibility move aside for such anger and contempt towards my fellow man. I was changing, growing into the woman I needed to be to rule over my people. There was no room left for gentle words and careless kindness. My people needed a brave ruler, an adult, not a child, someone who would serve and protect their needs. I would not let them down.

I could barely move my hands because of the burns from my manacles. I swallowed my pain as much as I was able although I could not stop the flow of tears from down my cheeks. Drusilla began to frown with intensity. Not once did her eyes blink, just like mine, but I heard movement not far from us, the clash of metal on the stone floor. Out the corner of my eye I could see the sword that Xavier had conjured lift a little from the floor only to fall once again.

The noise only momentarily distracted Xavier. He glared at the witch but he appeared satisfied that she could do no more harm with the sword and continued with his magic. But I knew the witch would refuse to be defeated. Drusilla's face contorted and the sword began to move once again.

Xavier's eyes attention was diverted to the witch yet again but his reaction to defend himself as Drusilla swept the sword through the air with her mind towards him was slow. As though wielded by an invisible knight it struck out at him. It's sole intention to maim and prevent Xavier from completing the ritual.

Xavier was wounded by a slice into the flesh of his shoulder and across his middle . He growled at Drusilla and I could see him concentrate on fighting her power as he continued to chant, mastering both acts. He pushed the sword back with his mind and it hung suspended in mid air before it turned towards Drusilla. I heard a small gasp of disbelief at her defeat seep from her lips. Xavier's eyes and features were full of bitter hate as he aimed the weapon at the witch.

Drusilla's body shook with her mental exertion to regain control of the sword. It flew with speed towards her and embedded it's blade with one sharp deep thrust into her spine to have its point emerge cleanly through her chest, her body contorting upwards with its cruel penetration. My own body jumped with shock. It was a viciously painful sight to behold and had I been able to move my eyes then I would have turned away. Still our eyes were locked together and the witch mumbled her pain in a series of squealing whimpers for Xavier had taken away our power of speech. Tears began streaming down the contours of her ugly misshapen face. I confess I began to feel a depth of sympathy and horror for her agony.

A sudden gush of air swirled around my body and began to lift my feet from the ground tightening the grip of the energy chord that bound Drusilla and I together. Only the bonds on my wrists tethered me to the pillar and kept me from rising too high. I would have screamed but for my dumb struck voice. My being was light weight as Drusilla's body gave birth to the red mist that encapsulated the stolen ancient power of Talus through the pores of her broken body that lay slumped on the floor. The captured gaze between our eyes was broken as Xavier raised his hands and suspended the power in mid air before addressing me.

'I am so sorry, my beloved Queen, but the transfer of power is going to be painful for you. The power is tainted from Drusilla's evil and bitterness that refuses to allow it to part from her hold. The power is eager to return to its rightful mistress but to meld with you essence it will have to fight a war to expel the witch's spell and you will be caught in the crossfire. I wish that it could be easier,' he said with a callous playful tone. 'But needs must, my love. I will comfort you in bed afterwards.'

I ignored him and stared into the eyes of my fate. There was to be no escape from my destiny. I welcomed whatever pain was dealt out. I knew I would be powerful once again and ready to fight Xavier when it was over.

'Make it come to me, Xavier. I am ready,' I commanded loudly finding that my voice was now free.

'As you wish.'

Xavier moved his hands sideways and the red mist charged towards me. I held my body as stiff as I could on my bonds as I hung suspended in the air and awaited my power's return. The mist separated into its own strands of energy ribbon as it reached my body. They wove around me burying me in a tight red cocoon. I could not but scream as it covered my mouth and eyes to lock me within its embrace, blinding all of my senses.

Drusilla was still unable to speak but I felt her draining power pull at the red chords around me. Their response was to bind themselves tighter and tighter around me, creating more strands. I could see nothing. They pushed themselves through my mouth and down my throat until I began to choke. I was so afraid but my own determination gave me strength.

Just when I believed my ordeal would never cease and my muffled choking screams of pain would never find cause to end the chords began to burn like a brand through my flesh and into the insular world of my body and the blood that fed its functions. I fell from the air to land heavily on the ground upon my knees, free of the blue and red ribbons of energy that had so steadfastly bound me.

There was a hushed silence around my aching shaking body. Although my head was bent and my hair tumbled over my face hiding my vision, I had the strange sense that a multitude of people stood around me as still as statutes. I looked to my side without moving my head and saw the booted feet of many men.

I slowly lifted my head and found that I was still bound by my manacles to the pillar but I made use of their support to stand. All around me stood my knights, Gabriel included. They were mesmerised by what had taken place and their figures were as bolt upright as swords as they stood like guards around me. I believed they were free of Drusilla's power but now under Xavier's control.

Xavier moved around in front of me and pushed me back against the pillar, his hand around my throat crushing my larynx to prevent me from uttering a word.

'Now, my, sweet beautiful Queen, time to make you mine in front of all of these witnesses. Do not struggle and try to fight me, even the Queen cannot fight when she is bound and drained by iron. Kiss me.'

Xavier grinned and pressed himself against me as he held me back against the pillar. His mouth was moist and most unappetising as he began to force his tongue between my lips. I struggled furiously against him wishing my bonds were broken. His hand reached to push my head to one side and expose my neck to initiate the mating ritual and stain my blood with his hurtful bite before his rape of my body. He barred his teeth and curled his tongue over his incisors with relish as to the act he was about to perform. But a dark velvet voice rang out to echo around the great hall commanding Xavier's attention.

'Brother, you have forgotten the rules I see. You must fight a challenge with the Knight of Swords before you may make my Queen your own.'

My heart leapt with joy.

Xavier gave a heavy sigh of impatience and closed his eyes for a moment before he issued a small growl.

'Nathan, I thought you were dead. You really are tiresome. No wonder we did not get on as siblings, brother.'

'We never would have we had too many similar tastes, especially in women.' There was humour in Nathan's voice as he jumped from the window ledge upon which he was standing.

'Must we really fight a duel?' Xavier said with lethargy moving to the crumpled witch. He heartlessly pulled the sword through her body and out her back to arm himself producing a strangled whining scream from her grotesque lips.

Nathan stepped forward through the motionless knights to the centre where I stood bound and began his duel with Xavier. I wanted to be free. I strained on my bonds with a unladylike guttural growl from my throat as I watched Xavier unfairly use his powers against Nathan, desperate to ensure his victory. I wished and willed my knights to move but they were stuck fast. I fought Xavier's power to release them but my will did not seem strong enough. I had all of this ancient power bestowed upon me but I could not simply set myself free or lift the curse from my poor knights. I was confused and worried that I was not fit to be Queen of Talus.

Xavier beat back my Knight of Swords until he was lying upon the ground without the protection of his sword. Xavier stood above him wielding his already bloodied sword of Talus at Nathan's throat. I grew frantic with grief. What use was my power if I could not employ it to good use? I would not let that schoolboy take the life of my handsome knight who I loved with every fibre of my being, demon or otherwise.

With all of the energy I possessed I strained on my bonds and believed with confidence that I could master the powers of Talus. I gathered my will and with a cry broke free from my bonds to rush to my brave knight's aid.

Xavier's sword cut into Nathan's flesh upon his neck as he paralysed my knight's movement with his magical power. I aimed my palms towards Xavier and set him alight in a gulf of flames. I had no choice. Xavier's startled screams were deafening as the flames spread like wildfire up and down his tall figure.

I felt remorse and sickness but Nathan was on his feet sheltering me against his body with comfort as I trembled at the vicious act I had perpetrated. Nathan directed my face against his chest and hushed my sudden sobs with the gentle stroke of my hair as Xavier flayed about trying to wipe the flames from his body.

I struggled against Nathan's hold but he was much physically stronger than I and I was made to rest in his embrace. I could not bear Xavier's tormented screams as he ran in a ball of fire to the window and crashed through it. No doubt to douse the flames in the snow that lay upon the courtyard.

As my knights came back to life and their senses, I opened my eyes again and looked back at the witch wondering what should be done about her. But she was gone.

News

Hi, Everyone,

Just a short note to tell you that I will be posting the next chapter of Ace of Swords this evening and that I will be publishing the first in the series, Knight of Swords in the near future.  It will be available as an e-book, on Kindle etc and as a print book.  If you didn't read the first one in the series pop over to http://wwwknightofswords.blogspot.com/ to read the first few chapters and find out where the inspiration for the story came from.

Happy reading.

See you later.


Sara

Ace of Swords (Work In Progress)

Chapter Seventeen

We reached the castle in the late afternoon of the following day when the sun was setting on the beautiful wintry landscape. I had been forced to drink blood from another helpless victim on our travels and I was as well fed as a fattened pig. My thoughts had been of Nathan. I wondered what fate had befallen him and as to how exactly Xavier planned to take the witch and the castle on by himself. Whenever I asked I was dismissed with a laugh and notified that he would simply walk in and capture both for himself. I considered that he may have lost his mind but he would chide me for my words and ordered me to wait and see.

The castle was heavily guarded by both the lycans and my knights who were all still under the influence of Drusilla's spell. Xavier held my arm tightly as he studied the castle from our hidden viewpoint.

'You will do everything I ask of you, Juliet or you feel the strength of my punishment, ' he snarled, giving my arm a shake.

I did not respond. He appeared satisfied by the fearful look I had no doubted rested upon my face and then he began to drag me out of the cover of the small brick building we had taken shelter against. He called out to the lone lycan guard at the foot of the hill on which the castle rested with a firm tone.

'Lycan, take me to your mistress. I have a gift for her,' he said smiling cruelly, glancing towards me to indicate that I was to be the gift. The lycan was so much taller than my petite figure and he was a fearsome sight to behold up close. He bent down and sniffed the air around Xavier and then surveyed me with intense scrutiny. He sniffed so close to my face that I reeled back against Xavier. But he was to offer me little protection and pushed me back against the creature. I believed Xavier became excited by the creature's interest in me.

'Take the prisoner and lead me to your mistress,' he ordered. 'The witch has been waiting too long for the former Queen of Talus's head. Do not deny her the pleasure of taking it any longer.'

The lycan snorted his approval and took hold of the front of the simple plain white dress Xavier had found for me to wear at the farmhouse. His claws scraped through the thin material wounding me as he pulled me to his huge bare dark grey body that hid none of his modesty. He pulled my small form over his great shoulder as though I were a piece of meat or dead prey he was taking home to feast upon. The indignity was too much to bear and as he turned to carry me up the path that led up hill to the castle gates I heard Xavier snigger just like the silly school boy he was. I lifted my head up from the lycan's back to look at him.

'They are so Neanderthal are they not, Juliet? I fancy you look quite the beautiful damsel in distress like that. It is a shame your knight is incapacitated and cannot come to your rescue,' he laughed as he followed closely from behind.

'When this is over, Xavier, you will pay for you actions. And if anything has happened to Nathan . . .'

'Quiet, or I will feed you to the lycan,' then he laughed again. 'I am quite enjoying this game with the witch,' he said. 'I am told she loves to be challenged. She respects a strong opponent and she will definitely find one in me.'

'You are such a child in need of a good spanking, Xavier,' I snapped.

He remarked in a light sarcastic tone, 'Tut, tut, mind you be a good girl. I sense this lycan would like to play with you. He is half human and that part of him finds you attractive. He loves your scent. Maybe, I could get Richard here to play with you a little for my amusement. I am curious to see what he would do in his lycan form, ' he said leaning to whisper to me.

'You are vile monster,' I told him with venom.

I heard no more from Xavier as we ascended the hill and passed through the gates and for that part I was relieved.  We made it through unhindered but as we walked a strange silence began to settle over the castle. I had not wanted to look upon my knights. I did not wish to see their haunted captive faces betray the pain of their forced servitude to Drusilla. I contented myself that once my powers were returned I would be able to free them and defeat both the witch and Xavier. I would find a way.

The thud of a body hitting the ground drew my attention as we moved inside the castle. I looked up to see one of Drusilla's guards lying on the floor, yet we had not been challenged and there had been no fight to gain entrance. Confused and startled I lifted my head and looked backwards, a suspicion entering my mind. All of the knights and lycans we had walked past were collapsed on the ground as though we carried the plague of death across the land. The lycan who carried me appeared oblivious to this occurrence. I looked at Xavier with alarm. He had done this. I feared for my knights. He smiled and posed his index finger to his lips.

'Shhh, people are sleeping.'

We continued on and more people fell into the prison of sleep. We eventually reached the great hall which housed Marcus's Druart's dining room and Drusilla's adopted seat of power. A flurry of guards came to stop us. I did not like their masked faces, nor their strongly coloured robes that flew around them and made them look as though they glided along the floor like phantoms. They pointed their vicious spears in our direction.

But there was little to worry about. As they reached us they collapsed in our path into a deep sleep. Xavier moved in front of the lycan who carried me and stepped over the fallen bodies to swing open the double heavy oak doors into the room in true dramatic style to announce our entrance to the witch.

'Ah, Drusilla, there you are. Come we have much to talk about,' Xavier said out loud as the quartet of guards that rushed forth to protect the witch fell to the floor unconscious.

I could not see the witch for I was still hung over the lycan's back. I heard her say, 'Yes, Xavier, I wondered how long it would be before you developed those magnificent powers of yours and came calling upon my door. Your power is deliciously strong. I must have it.' Her excitement revealed itself in her tone. She was unafraid of him.

Xavier's laughter was contemptuous. 'I must disappoint you, Drusilla. I intend to keep my power but I have brought you a gift that I believe you will value more. Perhaps we can negotiate. I will give you, Juliet if you make me your Knight of Swords.'

I heard Drusilla clap her hands together just like a small child.

'I believe we may find a way to work a way to work together and perhaps share our power. Of course, you will need to kill Nathan Valancourt before I am able to even offer you the title of Knight of Swords.'

'Of course, that is if he has not already been killed by your army you sent to hunt us. I ensured he would be no trouble to them.'

'No, I would have known of his death. I cannot reach him at present but I am sure I would have felt it. Your task therefore still lies ahead of you.'

'Indeed.'

Xavier sounded uneasy. I was glad of it. There was hope my beloved knight was still alive.

'Now, may I have my gift, kind sir,' Drusilla mocked.

In the next instant, I was being dropped onto the dining table in a harsh barbaric manner. My head hurt as it banged against the table. Xavier stood over me.

'Lycan, go to the fire. You will find a chain made of iron with manacles,' Xavier instructed as he looked down upon me with a blank expression. I grew more afraid. My eyes questioned Xavier in silence. He paid me no attention. The lycan obeyed as Xavier took my arm and pulled me up from the table.

I noticed the witch was wearing her feminine mask with a beautiful blue gown as Xavier manhandled my body to standing near the large spitting fire in the Great hall. The lycan lifted the burning iron manacles and chain from the flames. It scorched his skin but he uttered no complaint. Only the smoke lifting from his hands told me he was in pain. What evil had the magician conjured?

I flinched at the way the bonds I knew were meant for me glowed with the heat. Xavier's cruel malicious smile shone down upon me as he instructed the lycan to fix the manacles to my wrists. I whimpered and struggled but Xavier held me fast. He took hold of my arms and held them out to the lycan.

'Fix the manacles to her wrists,' he ordered.

My screams were deafening as the lycan placed the torturous hot metals upon the fragile skin of my wrists and arms. I fell to the floor as Drusilla began to laugh. Xavier ordered the lycan to drag my sad pathetic burning figure along the floor to the pillar by the chain and tie me too it.

I sobbed uncontrollably, calling for Nathan's help as the lycan fixed the chain around the pillar and the burning metal seared into my flesh and the iron weakened me. Xavier was a heartless fiend. He caught hold of my waist and pulled me up to standing, catching me as I slumped to almost faint at his feet.

He uttered some words and a sword materialised from nowhere to land and embed it's point in the middle of the dining table. The lycan brought it to him. I could barely stand as Xavier took hold of my hair and swept it from my neck and forward to hide my face. He bent my head and rested the blade upon my neck. I felt it slice gently into my skin. Drusilla laughed and clapped her hands again. I hated her more than I could ever hate anyone.

So I was to die, after all. Xavier did not really want me. He wanted some cruel revenge upon his brother. I felt resigned to my fate. If Nathan was dead I could not bear to go on. I would try to meet my fate with dignity but not without difficulty.

I felt Xavier's free hand cup my chin and lift it. I could not clearly see him through the tangled mass of my curls that hung over my face. He spoke to Drusilla.

'Look at her eyes, Drusilla. Come, see.'

I saw the witch bend down to look at me.

'No, you must remove your mask,' he told her. 'I want you to see this, you will enjoy it. Do not worry. I know who and what you are. Do not be afraid. I still desire to be with you.'

Drusilla was silent and then slowly, unexpectedly, she undid the bow that held her mask in place. With trembling hands she removed it and cast it to the floor with a sense of liberation.

'Look at her, Drusilla. Can you not see the fear in her eyes?' Xavier asked excitedly. 'She has lost everything. She has lost her knight, lost her parents and their love, her friends, and she is about to lose her life. Can you see it? Does it not excite you?'

Drusilla bent and stared at me with the innocence of a child through her gruesome features. It was as though she were hypnotised by my eyes and to my horror I found that I could not tear my own from hers. They were imprisoned within her gaze.

Xavier continued, 'Do you see how she is what you once were? What you could be if you were in her place?'

A terrible fear struck Drusilla's pained eyes and I realised she could not remove her eyes from mine either. I could see a well of fear emerge from deep inside her soul into her eyes.

Xavier laughed and dropped the sword to the ground with a clatter.

'Now I have you witch. Your own fear has paralysed you into my power.'

I could not speak and it was the same for the witch. I could see her try to move but she was trapped in our mutual prison. A gasp was drawn from my body as I heard Xavier began to shout words from our ancient language and a chord of blue energy wound first around my waist and then Drusilla's joining us together.

The witch made small utterances of pain and I was to join her as the energy cut into our flesh. It had all been part of Xavier's plan to retrieve my crown and the gifts it bestowed. If he was to succeed and I regained my position as Queen of Talus I would need to find a way to free myself from my bonds before he took me for his own. I had little time to act.

Ace of Swords (Work In Progress)

Chapter Sixteen


I fought to free myself from Xavier's tight hold upon my body but his strength overwhelmed me. I could only think of Nathan and his vulnerable condition as the army approached. I could not leave him like that. It was all my fault. But I was to have no choice. Xavier's arm wound around my waist and lifted me against his side before he broke out into a fast run. We were a blur against the picturesque white landscape.

My cheeks were damp from tears as I desperately tried to wake Nathan from his slumber through the power of my mind. But the demon would not allow me admittance to his consciousness and a hard barrier was in place. It seemed he was to know of my thoughts but his own remained guarded to me. I cursed him angrily but there was no avenue for communication. I feared for his life. My only hope for his salvation was that Drusilla would somehow forgive him and take him back into her arms. At least he would live, the price of losing him to her would be worth the sacrifice.

After what seemed like an age, Xavier slowed and came to a stop. He dropped me unceremoniously into the snow. I sat looking up at him as he walked past me to stare upon a desolate farmhouse. He sniffed the air just as Nathan had done.

'Humans,' he informed me turning his head to look back at me.

'This is good. I need you to feed well. You must regain your strength as much as you are able in your weakened health. The injuries from your fall into the loch still hamper you and it will be dangerous to transfer the power. You may be consumed,' he said without emotion.

He turned back to study the farmhouse and spoke again.

'It is a chance we will have to take with your life.'

I felt no fear. At that point in time death seemed preferable to living a life without Nathan in the world. Xavier moved quickly to my side and pulled me to my feet by his tight grip on my hair. I struggled with anger and clawed my finger nails at his hands, baring my teeth at him in an attempt to gain my freedom.

I only entreated laughter at my pathetic struggles.

'You are so tempestuous, Juliet. It only serves to heighten your attraction to the males. Even as a demon, Nathan could not resist you,' he grinned.

Xavier began dragging me to the farmhouse. Three men were present and Xavier quickly subdued them to silence. They stood before us their eyes blank, their bodies still. Xavier pointed at the youngest of the men. He looked no older than Xavier himself. He forced the young man to step forward and then caught my arm and pulled me in from of the handsome youth.

'You will feed from him and make sure you drain every drop.'

I took a step forward. To refuse Xavier's command would only cause me to be the victim of more violence and loathe though I was to admit it, I desperately needed to feed. I was nervous but ready to remember everything Nathan had taught me that night when he made me feed from the young woman. But I had no intention of killing the man.

I stood up on my tiptoes to reach his neck. This would be on the second time I had fed directly from a human. I was more than a little anxious as I rested my hands gently upon the young man's arms and prepared myself.

'Wait,' Xavier suddenly pulled me away.

'You have never fed from a man before, have you?' he questioned.

'No. I have not,' I retorted feeling confused and surprised, heartily wishing the event to be done with. 'Why?'

A smile slowly spread over Xavier's lips and I fancied I saw lust return to his eyes. I frowned at him as he ordered me to feed once again. I set about my task but was halted once more.

'Wait, take your coat off,' Xavier snapped.

I whirled around to offer my indignation and demand to know his intention but he was suddenly behind me and undoing the buttons with his dextrous fingers. He pulled the long velvet and sable fur coat over my shoulders and down my arms with surprising slowness. He cast it to the floor leaving me feeling exposed and vulnerable in my ripped silk shirt waist. But my alarm was to increase when his fingers busied themselves undoing the buttons at the back.

I struggled like the cornered frightened animal I considered myself to be but he hushed me loudly, pulling my arms back tight and forcing me to remain still.

'I will not hurt you, Juliet, as long as you do my bidding without question.'

'I thought you wanted me to feed?'

'I do. I just want to be able to see and feel the pleasure you take in it.'

'Why should I feel pleasure in feeding?'

He gave a dark laugh but did not answer my question. He was mocking me and I detested it. With one cruel hand he ripped away the back of my shirt waist and made short work of the rest of the tattered garment. I could not help but to tremble, afraid of what action he would next employ against me.

I viewed the remnants of the clothing at my feet and expected my corset cover and ripped corset itself and perhaps even my skirt to be next. But, Xavier was to be merciful and he left the rest of my garments alone.

'Now, you may feed,' he told me softly giving me a gentle push towards the young man. I glanced at Xavier nervously but his stern features told me he would not tolerate any more hesitation. I stood on my tiptoes once more and gently, carefully moved my compelled prey's head to one side. I remembered Nathan's instruction and flicked my tongue lightly over the surface of the young man's neck. I felt his whole body stiffen against me as my venom paralysed him. I grazed my incisors softly over his skin and with a deep breath I closed my eyes and sank my teeth in sharply.

The glorious velvet liquid spilled warmly into my mouth and dribbled over my swollen lips as I sucked the life force from him. It was nothing like my experience of feeding from the girl. I could feel the man's strength, his power and a pleasurable want I ought not have to felt. My body arched as I pressed against him. My fingers twisted through his rough woven shirt, delighting in the sensation of friction against my skin.

My body appeared to have a wanton will of his own. I wanted to be in his arms. I wanted him to touch me to . . . I was ashamed but so willing to have this man, this human stranger take me to his bed and make love to me.

I was not alone in my need. My prey moaned against me and I felt the brush of his lips against my hair. The harsh coarseness of his unshaven jaw scraped against my cheek when he buried his lips against my own neck. His arms wound around my waist and he drew me closer, just as he would have done to his lover.

I heard Xavier give a small soft laugh and then I felt the caress of his fingers down the curve of my naked arms. He pressed against me, forcing me onto the man.

I could not remove the delectable assault on my senses as I continued to feed. Xavier's lips were upon my shoulder just as my prey's were against my neck. I shivered with a mixture of sheer pleasure and fear as Xavier's incisors pressed against my skin and his hands moved between myself and my prey to brush across my breasts. I wanted to tear away, stop the feed, stop my shocking thoughts of need and guilty sinful joy but it proved a greater task than I could manage.

Xavier gripped me tightly and groaned.

'I can feel your arousal inside me. You are still virginal in your need, Juliet and your pleasure is all the more potent because of it. Do not stop, drain his blood,' he whispered feverishly against my ear.

'No, no I can't. I won't kill,' I told him breathlessly.

'Shhh, you must. I need you strong,' he told me in between the soft kisses he caressed my shoulder and arms with.

I began to feel the young man weaken despite the strength of his ardour and the way his hands invaded my hair to hold me down to his wound. I drew on every last once of mental strength I had and began to fight both of them men that constrained me between them. I begged Xavier to let me go and to my surprise after only a small amount of struggling he pulled me away from the man.

I found my way to one of the chairs around the kitchen table and sat feeling shaken. The young man stood motionless again, his eyes lost once more.

Xavier beamed his excitement at me. 'That was breathtaking, my love. But it is a pity you could not finish your meal. I should make you go without next time,' he mocked.

'I could not kill him.'

'You are still yet new as a vampire. You will learn not to feel so much compassion for these human creatures or you will find that they will use it against you. They pose a far greater threat to the world than we do. I shall finish him for you.'

'No, please let him go. He is young.'

'Hush and recover yourself, we will be on our way again and you must find some clothes to wear.'

Xavier walked to the man and cleanly broke his neck, tossing him to the floor like a broken doll. I gave a loud sob that gained me a callous expression of impatience from Xavier before he fed from the other two and ended their lives in a similar fashion.

Ace of Swords (Work In Progress)

Chapter Fifteen


I stood behind the tree listening to them argue over me. I seemed to be nothing more than an object of power and lust for them to covet and conquer as their own. My anger made me surprisingly hot. It was high time I asserted myself as Queen and brought out the suffragist inside me. I would stand for no more inequality. I remembered Nathan's mocking tone as he accused me of being one when we were first changed.

My temper grew and set my determination on its path. I would endure their unruly behaviour for as long as it suited my purpose and then as they set their greedy eyes upon me when I retrieved my powers I would teach my knights a lesson they would never forget. The Queen of Talus would not be ruled.

Nathan was calling my name, demanding that I came out from behind the tree at once. A deep breath forced down my urge to show him the manner of my feverish temper. I could little afford to lose my control and grant him the luxury of another excuse to bring me to task with a horsewhip when he could lay his hands upon one. And I feared my hair would not stand for any more of his brutal pulling of it.

Swallowing my pride I felt a delicious thrill of power over Nathan in my deceit as I walked towards him. He still held a limp Xavier by the collar.

'I have a plan,' I announced with authority not paying Xavier any of my attention or giving them any opportunity of embarrassing me any further. 'Drusilla's army approaches us from the East. I can feel them moving fast. We must capture as many of them as we can and Xavier you will rid them of Drusilla's influence and convince them to work on our behalf,' I finished haughtily.

Both men stared at me in silent disbelief. Nathan raised one eyebrow and shook his head as I glared back at them.

His tone was mocking and cruelly sarcastic when he spoke, 'And how do you propose we carry out this preposterous feat?'

It was my turn to smile with sarcasm, 'Xavier will use his power, I will shape shift to surprise them and you will use your fighting skills. And here I thought you were quite the fearless warrior, ready to take on anyone's army, Lord Valancourt. Perhaps you mock me because you are a coward, sir,' I finished my speech with unlady like shouting. I could not help myself. But I had to acknowledge with relief that he could not let Xavier go to exact the severe punishment his blackened eyes indicated he wished to give me.

He took two large steps towards me and growled, dragging Xavier with him. I took two back in fear inwardly cursing my wayward tongue but made sure my demeanour and raised chin remained suitably defiant.

'If you value your life, woman you will not dare to question my bravery, again,' he hissed baring his teeth at me.

To my shame I could not prevent my body from trembling at his ferociousness. Yet my temper would not let him have the last word. But Xavier was to speak before me as he began to struggle in Nathan's grip.

'You will not lay a hand on her or . . .'

Nathan shook him hard.

'Or you will do what, Magician?'

Xavier 's actions spoke much louder than any words he may have uttered in retaliation. He pressed his palm against Nathan's chest and pushed with force. To my shocked surprise Nathan lost his grasp of Xavier and flew backwards into the air with great speed to crash heavily against the trunk of an oak tree, just as I had done earlier. I clapped my hands together gleefully as Nathan sank to the snowy floor with a thud. It was time Nathan received a taste of the medicine he so lovingly handed out to me.

Nathan was up on his feet shaking the snow from his hair and running back towards Xavier. I quickly took shelter behind Xavier and urged him, 'Again, hit him again. Just once and convince him of what your power can achieve.'

The young man gave me a quick confused look but Nathan was just about upon us and in a moment of frenzy Xavier pushed out both of his hands. Nathan was forced to halt. I felt the pull of his mind as he fought Xavier's power with his mental gifts but he was to make little headway. Xavier raised his hands and Nathan's feet left the ground to hang in mid air.

Nathan was cursing him, threatening terrible violence to Xavier. But Xavier did not wish to hear anymore. He pushed his palms towards Nathan and raised him higher into the air and then threw him against a tree only to keep hold of him and swing him against the opposite tree and back and forth in abject rage.

'Xavier, that is enough,' I demanded alarmed at the depth of his anger. 'You have proved yourself. Stop.'

But Xavier would not cease his attack upon my knight. His eyes were black and a cruel twisted smile curled his lips as he moved Nathan faster and faster. I could not bear it any longer. I pushed him sideways as hard as I could. It was sufficient to subvert Xavier's focus and cease Nathan's torment.

Xavier hissed at me like a devilish swan about to attack. I stood back in fright as Nathan crumpled to the ground moaning. Xavier walked away from me to pick up his sword that lay next to Nathan's in the snow. Nathan was lying prostrate, only his head moved from side to side dazed and half conscious. I became afraid for his life as Xavier walked towards him with his sword and purpose in his walk. I grabbed the boy's arm ordering him to end his violence but I received another hiss and the hard strike of the back of his hand across my cheek. The force of his painful blow knocked me away from him and down into the snow on my side.

It was an effort but I reached Nathan's side before Xavier. I positioned myself in front of Nathan in a protective stance. I had shape shifted using what little strength I had left into a large tiger. I growled menacingly at Xavier as he came towards Nathan with his sword raised to take his head. I considered attacking him, ripping his lifeblood from his body and tearing his head with the tiger's mighty jaws but I needed him. I growled again and roared baring my teeth at him in warning and prowled up and down beside Nathan's now unconscious body.

Xavier halted and glared at me.

'You will not stop me from taking his head. Out of my way, you do not frighten me.'

His stare intensified and he snarled at me.

'Back to your human form, woman,' he ordered. I growled again and crouched ready to attack but I was to be stopped by a burning sensation that engulfed my whole animal body. I felt my form shimmer and collapse. I slumped face downwards into the snow back into my human body.

My reaction was too slow and impeded with pain. Before I could act, Xavier had turned me over onto my back and straddled my body to hold my arms above my head. I looked up at him.

'Why are you doing this?' I breathed.

He gave a small cruel laugh.

'Because I want you. I am one of the many suitors and challengers for the Queen's hand. It is my right to take you from Nathan if he does not successfully protect you.'

'I hate you.'

'Now, now there is no need to take that impolite tone. You know the mating rules.'

He lowered himself closer to my face.

'You smell wonderful. I want you right now. I want to take you in front of him. I want him to see you submit to me.'

'You are mad. I will not submit to anyone.'

Xavier shook his head in mock disapproval.

'I'm afraid you must, you have no choice or you will be forever hunted until you do. Everyone wants the Queen as mate and not always for love. The fact that you are not joined to anyone is creating a tension between the males in our race. They are desperate to find a mate and such a shortage of females makes them wild and not very gentleman like.'

'Rather like yourself.'

'Well needs must, I am afraid. I suppose I should wait until I have returned your power and mastered it before I brand you blood with my bite but perhaps I could just make love to you.'

He held both of my arms down with one strong hand and stroked his fingers along my cheek and then traced the curve of my throat. His eyes followed their progress with lustfully. 'My brother wouldn't like that and I do so want to take something precious from him. You have such soft and beautifully pale skin, Juliet.'

I gulped as his invading fingers found the hole the lycan had created in the vicious swipe of his talons in my clothes. Xavier stroked the flesh above my corset. I grew more afraid.

'Why do you wish to hurt your brother so much?'

'Because he has you,' he answered quickly. 'I have been wanting you since I heard of your knights travelling the country for a cure to make you wake from your curse. It was as though the knowledge of your existence awakened something inside me. When I am around you my powers unfold and increase. I must have you, don't you see?'

I decided it would be best to keep him talking. Perhaps I could deter him from attacking me with speech.

'Where did you learn of their quest? I thought you were at school.'

'I was. My true father, not the one who gave me life with my mother, sent me there. One of his assistants came to tell me he was ill and had to go away for some time but he would be back and I had to guard myself against the knights should they discover me and . . .'

A deep foreboding, stronger than the fear I now found myself in consumed my body as I asked him, 'Xavier, who is your father?'

He laughed.

'Surely you already know from what I have said so far. Sebastian is my father. He took me from my parents as I babe because they were disturbed by my powers and my dislike for Nathan. I suppose even then in my presumed fragile and innocent state I knew he was to have you and I was born to be one of his challengers,'

The challenger's mirth increased.

'Even as a babe I made attacks upon Nathan, my father told me. He would have many accidents whenever I was near him. Nathan's mind denies the torment I caused him because he feels misguided love for me but the demon inside him does not make excuses for me. My parents recognised what was happening were at their wits end so they gave me to Sebastian, who they wrongly believed an elder of the Taleian race to raise me as his own.'

My attacker's eyes widened and brightened as he gazed upon me and a wonder lit his expression.

'Juliet, your eyes sparkle like precious jewels.'

'Oh please Xavier, cease your contemptuous flattery,' I told him with anger, shaken by what he had just told me.

I was rewarded with a sharp slap across my face. Tears sprang into my eyes as he now verbally scolded me.

'You will learn to curb your offensive female tongue when we are united, Juliet. I shall admire you as much as I wish to and you will listen to my flattery in silence whether it offends you or not.'

'Does Sebastian know you are here?'

He laughed and began to rip at the material that surrounded the hole in my clothes. I could not prevent myself from sobbing and vainly struggling as I considered my fate and the pain that was to come.

'No, Sebastian does not know I am here. I don't even know where he is and I am glad. He has controlled me for too long. Father or not he is a challenger and I will kill him. It is amusing but I never sensed he was one for all the years I have known him. I took his precious Book of Talus in reprisal. No one will ever find it.'

I believed by the way Xavier talked of Sebastian he did not know of his father's dual identity. I did not think it the time to enlighten him.

'So it was you who took the book?'

'Yes. Did you know that I managed to enter your mind while you were under Sebastian's curse of sleep. I let those stupid lycans capture me because I knew of Drusilla and that she was to take Nathan and your power. Unfortunately I could not prevent her from harming you but I would be there to pick up the pieces.'

Another sob and cry for Nathan's rescue escaped from my lips as Xavier successfully ripped open my corset. But he continued his story as though he had not heard me.

'Did you not also realise that Marcus's hateful wife, Kathleen was Drusilla all along. Marcus's wife died when she gave birth to her twin children over eight years ago. The witch used Marcus's pain to make him believe she was still alive so she could force him under her will and draw Nathan to the castle. She is quite the genius but I did so want to hurt her when I found her intention was to kill you.'

I struggled like a wild animal as his cold hand reached into my corset and gripped at my breast. He gave a groan of pleasure.

'Nathan, is right I have deluded your good nature. He managed to wash me from your bruised and injured mind but I shall rebuild my bond with you when I claim you as mine and feed upon your blood. Now, let me kiss you. I have been patient long enough.'

A nauseous wave of claustrophobia engulfed my senses as Xavier settled his weight upon me and smothered my mouth with his damning kiss. I struggled for all my life's worth. I vainly attempted to call for Nathan once more but he was unconscious. I was alone in my attack.

Frantically, I fought to shape shift again. I startled Xavier by turning my shape into that of a deadly cobra. I wound myself tight around his neck before he could do anything to stop me and squeezed. He clawed at my flesh and to my horror I was to feel the pain of burning in my insides once more and I fell to the ground back in my human form. His hand wound around my throat and pulled me from the ground. I watched him raise the back of his hand as he stood but it was to stand poised in mid air.

We could both hear the gallop of horses and the cry of the lycans. Xavier's eyes searched the forest and he lowered his hand but he still held me by the throat.

'Drusilla's army approaches. We have no need to capture them. I will take you to her and reclaim your powers now you have unleashed my own gifts. We will leave Nathan to his fate. Come and do not fight me or I will drag you there by your hair,' he growled at me giving me a shake to emphasise the true brutality of his intentions.

I was defeated.