The Dormant: The Elemental Witches (Book Two)

Chapter 10 : The Unwanted Mate

[[[ Ancient Memories ]]]

~Aine~

I huffed and threw myself on the settee, my head dangling down and my legs propped on the headrest. I felt a pair of hands moving my feet and placing them on a lap as fingers began massaging my toes.

I looked up and smiled and moaned as Mot pressed his fingers on my calves. ¨Does that feel good, my fae?¨ I nodded, bringing my head back down and closing my eyes. ¨I just don't get it.¨I complained to the new God who was carefully touching my skin.

With some drama, I placed the back of my hand on my forehead and sighed again. ¨I have been asked to grow up by Selene, Bastet, Triton, Quetz, Morrigan. They treat me like a child, and I have been in this realm as much as them. They have to take a step back and let me live. I know what I am doing.¨ My mind went to the moment me and Lilith introduced the new God to them and later on the blow out I had with Morrigan. I could feel every part of my magic surge as she explained why what I had done was so wrong. Faking her voice, feeling the surge, I mimicked our conversation.

¨You.. are .. playing with things you shouldn't.¨ I looked up again, and the God my new brother was smiling at me, so I continued to fake the rest. ¨You should not mess with the natural order of things. Aine, you don't know what would happen.¨ My gift was mine, and I have been long enough to know how to use it, so thanks Morrigan, but no.

I was taken away from my thoughts as the God who was now pressing on my ankles said. ¨You are life, and if they don't know how to appreciate you, at least you know this server does.¨ I pressed my eyebrows together and pointed at him. ¨Exactly finally a male that can understand me. Like, how long have I known you? If you were going to do something wicked, then you would have done it already.¨

I took a gulp of air and continued speaking a mile per hour. ¨You .. don't go creating passages to unknown realms. Like I haven't done that before, and every time I do, something new and exciting happens.¨ His eyebrows shut up, and his big black eyes looked into mine. ¨You consider me something exciting?¨ I laughed, feeling his hands traveling to my knees. ¨Sure, the first God I have actively helped to find.¨

His fingers dug harder into my knees. ¨Wheres Lilith?¨ I asked, looking around, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. He shrugged his arms and looked into my eyes, licking his lips, making me move my head as I felt his hands traveling forward up my thighs.

I needed my sister. Actually, I needed someone, anyone, as I felt a surge of an unknown feeling rising in my spine, a feeling that made me uncomfortable. I yanked my legs out of his grasp. Making him raise his hands. ¨Is something wrong, my Goddess?¨ I shook my head and blinked, asking again. ¨Where is our sister?¨ He leaned back, placing an arm around me lazily. ¨Doing her work, I suppose taking care of her kin.¨

I sat up on the seat, ready to go. ¨Then I shall go look for her.¨ Without warning, Mot yanked my feet back up, making me land on my back as he hovered on top of me, his body pressing on mine. ¨ You females know I am not your brother?¨ I stuttered, the feeling now rising to its peak. ¨Mot... what... are... you... saying?¨ He smiled, caressing my cheek as I brought my face to the side, trying not to feel his fingers on my skin. ¨I am saying, I wasn't created for this world, I am not your brother.¨

Feeling scared, I warned the God who was now uncomfortably pressing on me, my hands squarely pressed on his chest. ¨I warn you, step back.¨ He threw his head back and laughed. ¨Or what?¨ I blinked at his brazen nature. ¨I would use my power to get you to back off.¨ Before I was able to do it, he apparated, and we were back at the portal I had created for him, his arms squarely grabbing both of my wrists to my side.

I felt a sense of dread as I remembered what each and every one of my sisters said to me. ¨What do you want?¨ My eyes looked straight into the now mad looking black eyes. ¨ Isn't it obvious?¨ I shook my head. What could I possibly offer him? I was just a daughter of nature. ¨ You silly, female.¨ He finished saying, crashing his lips into mine, making me feel an awful twist in the pit of my stomach as he did this.

Before I could know it, with his arms he pushed me hard. I began to fall into darkness, a darkness I couldn't comprehend. A darkness that seemed to take all the joy in my existence. Landing on a black mirror floor, my purple dress was the only color I could see around me. Then footsteps came to my ears as the God walked towards me. ¨What do you think you are doing, demon?¨I spat all the acid I was feeling, spilling from my mouth at the wretchedness of discontent from him. ¨Where have you brought me and why?¨

He leaned down to where I was sprawled. ¨You are going to accept me as your companion, and together we shall conquer every realm natural and unnatural.¨ I shook my head, bringing my hands up. ¨I shall never do such a thing! You are not my companion, and I prefer being dead than surrendering to you.¨ He laughed, making me bring my hands up, trying to muster every part of the power inside of me. I pressed his chest, and nothing. I looked at my hands in disbelief. ¨What have you done?¨

Mot laughed, standing up motioning around me. ¨Your power is useless in this place, my Goddess. If you ever want to see your children and your realms again, I advise you to take me as yours. If you want them to see the sun again, the only way is to surrender to me.¨ I shook my head again, asking. ¨Where are we?¨ A huge hole opened up, and with a devious smile, he began walking away, then he sat on a throne made of thorns. ¨Welcome to Mirey, my new queen. Where a pit is my true throne and the filth and destruction of the realms my true heritage. The only power that rules this place is despair. The unnatural are my faithful children, and you, as my queen, shall bring me the death and suffering of everything.¨

~ Poppy~

¨Goddamit!¨ I screamed at Falear, who was now in the process of throwing as many daggers at me as he could. My pixie handmaid scurried around. ¨Your royal highness, you shouldn't be cursing that way.¨ I snapped at the cute little winged light by my side. ¨You would if someone was actively trying to turn you into a pincushion.¨ My finger grasped the side of my thigh, where a cut was now beginning to heal. ¨At this rate, the man is going to bleed me to death.¨ ¨ I hardly doubt that. You, Poppy, have enough blood in your system to power an army.¨

I glanced backward and rolled my eyes as the deep violet eyes of an annoying elven were staring at me. ¨Don’t you have other things to do than lounge all day looking at me practice.¨ He lazily stepped away from the wall and strutted to where we were. ¨Thanks, Maester Ill take it from here.¨ I put my finger up as I saw the Maester bow and move. ¨No Maester, he won't take it from here. I prefer practicing with you.¨

¨ Whatever you two got…¨ Falear closed his eyes and took an annoyed deep breath, slowly opening them. If counting to ten had a face, that was probably it. ¨You should practice with your betrothed Princess and maybe find a solution to the quarrel, you two certainly got going.¨ My mouth dropped open, and my cheeks got four shades of red.

Pointing between the two of us, I tried diffusing the situation. ¨We are not fighting. I just prefer you.¨ Falear grabbed his overcoat and pointed his head at us. ¨Point taken, now pixie, I should buy you a pint.¨ My lady maid flew to his side. ¨Deal but one pint isn't enough. If I have to hear more about how much she detests the Fae male. One more word about that and I will fly into an open flame.¨ I c****d my head to the side, blinking, trying to figure out how that small creature could drink more than a pint of beer when a dagger came flying past my cheek.

¨Motherfucker!¨ I quickly looked at the prince who was holding a few more in his hand with a smile on his face, the lock of rebellious chestnut hair already caressing his cheek. No I wasn't going there, I needed to stop thinking about him like that. He was a man-w***e. ¨You need to pay attention if you want to keep yourself alive.¨ Another dagger came close to me, making me jump to the side, and the blade got securely wedged into a tree. ¨ What I need is to stop bethroting myself to men who are actively trying to kill me.¨ I mumbled as I looked at the blade embedded deep in the wood. Anything but looking at his deep violet eyes and his perpetual smirk. Stop Poppy Stop! When I felt him moving his hand back this time, I turned and grabbed the knife as it flew past me and propelled it towards him.

It landed squarely across the well-manicured lawn and deep into one of Drigiz's horns. The satyr began screaming at us in elvish. ¨Sorry!¨ I shouted back, thinking we should really put some sort of boundaries so no one would get hurt at the rate we were throwing knives.

Thalion walked towards me. His eyebrows shut up as if he was the sexiest elven around and handed me the last dagger he was holding with those long strong fingers, That was it my hormones where whack. ¨Tonight we have to share a meal with the Steward and his daughter Elbereth:¨ I groaned the memories of the past days with the elven female playing in my head.

I shook my head, clicking my tongue. ¨Nah, I don't think I feel like it, you should go by yourself. I think you can handle them alone.¨ He gave me a fake sad face and pursed his lips.Then smiled again with perfectly straight white teeth. How could someone have that perfect of a smile? ¨Unfortunately, Princess, you need to accompany me to discuss some new laws for the land and get acquainted with the head of government. We need to work as a pair because I cannot undermine you, and you can't undermine me. That's how Aine dictates we should rule.¨ Checkmate, can logic be sexy? Coming from him like that it sort of was. ¨At least tell me that Aradhel is going to assist us in this so important meeting.¨ Thinking fast, I said. With his sister there, he wouldn't try to do or say anything annoying towards me. Yeah, that was the reason I would bring the only person that has felt like my only ally in this place and she would keep me from making a fool of myself and she would keep me from reminding myself of the taste of his lips and those big hands grabbing my ass and squeezing it. .

He took a deep breath, looking at the sky, clearly annoyed at what I asked, making me blink. The image of his lips and hands disappeared from my mind. I was becoming a horn-bag. ¨You can bring Aradhel, but you should really start looking at me.¨ No I didn't need to look at him. I had enough to fuel my fantasies for a decade. His eyes now were narrow, looking in my direction, sensing I wasn't really paying attention., ¨As your co-ruler and as your fiancé I am the one, you should ask for advice first.¨ He grabbed my hand that was holding the dagger and kissed the back of it slowly his soft lips imprinting their heat on my skin making me shiver. ¨I don't know what f*****g games you are playing, but it is totally unwelcomed.¨

He let the hand fall and began sauntering away. ¨You know swearing is beneath you. You shouldn't do it.¨. He lazily tossed a hand back, and I got angry and red at his dismissal. ¨I would say whatever the f**k I want s**t motherfucker asshole.¨ I felt a cough by my side, and an elven couple was staring at me, disbelief written all over their faces. I threw the knife at the tree the other knife landed and grabbed my things.

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Five hours later, I was sitting and shifting uncomfortably as I was looking at my supposedly betrothed chuckling and laughing with the elven female beside him. I looked to the side, and Aradhel had the same face I had and was shooting daggers with her eyes looking at him, her chestnut hair puffing as she took deep breaths. ¨Somebody sees you and would think he is your betrothed, not your brother.¨ I whispered at her as she clutched the table, her knuckles turning white. ¨ He shouldn't be acting like this, not when he has you in front of him and she … she .. she is a bitch.¨

I snorted, making the whole table turned towards the both of us. ¨Sorry wrong pipe.¨ I drank some water. ¨ I am glad to have you here protecting my honor, but I really thought you royals didn't swear.¨ She turned to me, smiling. ¨Haven't they told you? The upper in the food chain, the nastier we get. I swear like an orc on tonics.¨ I let out a stifled laugh. ¨I have no idea what an orc on tonics is, but it sounds really royally fun.¨ She put her index finger on her chin, giving me a Cheshire cat grin. ¨Absolutely I should send one for you the moment we get back to our wing, but for now.¨ She squirmed on her chair, and suddenly a loud thud sounded followed by Thalion's pained grunt. ¨Sorry, my leg fell asleep.¨ She explained sweetly to the table, making me laugh through my nose. ¨He should be reminded that his betrothed and his sister are both sitting in front of him.¨She finished making me shake my head. ¨You are crazy.¨ She swatted her hand at me. ¨No I am the knight who will restore your honor.¨ I looked to the front, and now Elbereth was looking at Thalion with puppy eyes making me roll my eyes.

Aradhel snapped at me. ¨I just don't like her, never have. I have endured her because of our families' closeness, but now and after how she is acting, I want nothing to do with her.¨ I scratched the back of my ear, standing up, making every male at the table stand. ¨Excuse me, I need to visit the powder room.¨ I excuse myself moving from my seat to the door.

I knew exactly what kind of game he was playing and if he wanted to do this fine, call me petty, I was going to do it too. I just needed to find a willing elven partner who would do me the honor. I walked into the Steward's wing, where the restroom where, suddenly a shadow appeared on the other side and scurried away. I looked to both my sides and then to the front where the door to the room was. ¨Fuck it.¨ I smiled and began following it.

After a few minutes of following the shadow, I ended up walking into what looked to be a broom closet. I gazed at the door warily if I should open it or leave it that way. ¨Fuck it.¨ I made up my mind as to be the eight time that day. I slowly opened the door, and inside, a woman was hurled down on an old mattress.

Her hand was severely hurt and it was set up on a weird angle. ¨What happened to you?¨ She shook her head from side to side, looking at my back as if afraid someone was coming. ¨I can't help you if you don't talk about what happened to your hand.¨ I caress her cheek, bringing the hand to my face so I could take a closer inspection. I scented her and gasped. ¨You are a vampire.¨She ricocheted to the back, yelping as she yanked her hand away from me.

I leaned down on my heels and bunched my dress up, getting myself in the cupboard with her. ¨Wait let me help you.¨ She slowly opened her mouth and hesitantly and lowly in a fast hushed tone began speaking. ¨ We kenders need blood to heal, and my masters deny it to me.¨ I squeezed my eyes at her. ¨Who are your masters?¨ She shook her head as I grabbed a piece of my dress and ripped it, placing a makeshift splinter on her arm. I passed a thumb on her cheek as red tears came down her face. ¨What is your name?¨ ¨Kara, my Princess.¨ With shock, I replied. ¨You can call me Poppy, but how did you know I was a princess?¨

She shrugged her shoulders. ¨My mistress has been talking about you since you got the red hair and the stature, I suppose.¨ I huffed, thinking about how the little stigma would never leave me. Then I went red, realizing who her mistress was. ¨Is your masters the stewards...¨ She looked to both sides and open her mouth only for a stiff moan to exit. ¨You don't need to tell me how this happened.¨ I turned my wrist up. ¨Do you need a lot of blood for it to mend?¨Again, she shook her head. ¨Then take it.¨ I offered my wrist to her, and she flinched away from it.

¨No offense, my Princess, but the kender kind has long ago stopped drinking magic creature's blood. It was a condition of Aine, so we could live in the realms, deny our goddess and never drink from a magical. I only eat from animals. Even though your wrist is tantalizing, I would prefer a boar or maybe a deer.¨

¨Then go get it.¨ I offered, watching the pain and tears run down her face. ¨Hey, hey, what is wrong?¨She shook her head. ¨Since the last time prince Thalion was here about a year ago, the master has deemed it unlawful for the kender kind to hunt on elven lands. I can only drink when they offer.¨

I looked at the wrist that was now purple. It looked angry. ¨And, why haven't your masters offered it to you, Kara?¨ She shrugged her shoulders. ¨I …. I … had an accident last week and haven't been able to fill my work quota.¨ I stood up, almost banging my head on the ceiling. ¨That's it, your coming with me.¨ I said, appalled, grabbing her good wrist and pulling her out, but she began fighting with me.

¨Alfirin?¨ I turned around, and Thalion was behind me. Elbereth and Degorion were behind him. I stood up with conviction and walked towards him. ¨ Did you know that the kender kind in this kingdom cannot hunt for their meals for themselves? It has to be procured to them by an elven.¨ My voice boomed as I pointed toward Kara. He looked to his side and squeezed his eyes at Degorion.

Thalion grabbed my arm and dragged me to the other side trying to lower my voice, but I wasn't having it.¨Have you realized the vampire kind in this kingdom are treated like slaves?¨ I sounded appalled, and I hoped the glimmer in Thalion's eyes said the same thing. That would have been an impasse knowing he condoned such practices, like slavery. ¨I know you hate vampires, but…¨ In a hushed tone I tried explaining, he tilted his head, squeezing his eyes. ¨I hate one vampire, and we would not be causing a scene. Let's talk when we get back.¨ I opened my mouth. ¨Poppy.¨ He warned me, making me shut up, and I gave him one sure nod.

He stepped with me to his side. ¨Degorion Elbereth, it has been a lovely evening, but I think it is time for the Princess and me to retire.¨ I looked at the elven female, and the hatred she was emitting towards the vampire behind me. It made my skin crawl. I couldn't leave her not like this, not with her.

¨Thalion I require another handmaid. As you know, Maryanne is a pixie and there are some things she can't carry on her own. I would like to take Kara with me.¨ Thalion bit his lower lip in almost desperation. ¨Degorion, do you mind parting with your maid? It seems the Princess has taken a liking to her.¨ Degorion bowed his head, but hate oozed through his eyes. ¨Not at all, but if the Princess would prefer...¨ I stopped him grabbing Kara´s hand. ¨That won't be necessary. It is just someone to help me dress in the evening and keep my apartment clean.¨ I smiled at her as she slightly panicked at the hatred etched in the face of Degorion. ¨As you wish, my Princess.¨He gave her one last warning glance before turning away.