The Art of Darkness (Part 13)
"Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality." - Emily Dickinson
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12
Previously on The Art of Darkness:
Despite Lord Cawston's objections, Morvinus and Amber make their way to the hospital to visit Mr. Hollings. It's during that emotional reunion Amber gains the last few pieces of her past and learns more about the man she has called father for so long.
All seems well until Morvinus spots a couple of vampiric guards following them on their way out. The battle that ensues in the parking lot opens Amber's eyes to some difficult truths.
Part 13
The entire scene had me reeling. When the fight was won, two bloodied corpses lay sprawled across the hospital parking lot. Morvinus climbed into the car, and turned to me, his shirt and hands coated with blood, though thankfully not much of his own this time.
“Are you all right?”
I nodded.
He sighed, turning the ignition and put the car into drive. Again, an uncomfortable silence fell between us on the journey back to Lord Cawston's estate. I didn't really know what to say. I was thankful to be alive, and grateful he was as well. But I worried about what kind of trouble leaving a couple of dead vampiric guards out in the open might bring. Especially considering they were employed by the very same council with whom we were supposed to be meeting just three days from now. Three days. Would we make it? Would they even give us the chance now?
Morvinus once again had us on the defensive, driving erratically for a while to make sure we weren't being followed. The cloudy sky had progressively gotten darker until dusk brought an eerie echoed glow to the night air. He hardly looked at me. On the contrary, I couldn't look anywhere else. When we made it back through the gates to the safety of the estate, he finally glanced at me long enough to notice I was staring.
“What is it?”
“Where did you learn to fight like that?”
“An ancient form of martial arts. Our ancestors have been teaching it for centuries. Though I will admit I was never an adequate student.”
“Could have fooled me.”
He reached for me, and without even thinking, I jerked away. His expression saddened.
“Did I frighten you?”
“I guess I just forget sometimes.”
He reached again, this time I let him grasp my hand in his, heaving out a breath. “Amber, I meant what I said, at the hospital. Of course I would never wish for you to leave but if that is what you truly desire, I will not stop you.”
“What I want is to not feel so helpless and lost anymore. I’m tired of running away to hide all the time.”
“You are not helpless. And there is no shame in diverting a situation to protect yourself.”
“That makes four, Morvinus. Four times now I’ve been attacked. Each one overpowering me, the first nearly killing me. No matter what happens at that meeting, no matter how many we sway with our argument, even if I walk away, I will always be a target.”
“Then what do you propose?”
I straightened up in the seat. “I want to learn to fight. Teach me to fight like you.”
“Amber, that takes years-”
“I don't care. I'll do it, whatever it takes. Please?”
He let out another heavy sigh, “I suppose it is not entirely a bad idea. I will speak with Lord Cawston about it in the morning.”
Before he finished his sentence, I launched myself into his lap, throwing my arms around his neck, relief in my tone. “Thank you.”
He chuckled, enveloping me in his gentle embrace. After a moment, I pulled back and his face softened, his hand at my neck. “Does this mean you will stay?”
“I'm not going anywhere,” I replied.
Tugging gingerly with his fingers, he brought me in for a kiss. Strong and passionate, we let it linger. Soon, I felt a familiar heat beginning to rise. My breath began to quicken, my heart along with it.
A loud tap came to the window, startling us both. One of Lord Cawston’s guards stood by, a rifle slung around his shoulder. He motioned for us to roll the window down.
“Lord Cawston would like an audience,” he said.
Morvinus nodded, sliding the window up as we both grinned like a couple of teenagers.
“Perhaps we should-“ Morvinus began, clearing his throat.
“Yeah.”
I slid back to the passenger side, and squeezed out the door, my cheeks still warm with embarrassment.
When we came inside, Lord Cawston was marching around the foyer, and he did not look happy. Instinctively, Morvinus moved himself in front of me, squeezing his jacket in his hand as Lord Cawston pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Did I not say you were to take the utmost care?”
“We were attacked. I did what I must to protect her. Were those not your explicit instructions?”
“I never told you to engage. And you certainly do not leave two dead guardsmen in your wake! Do you understand the consequences you have brought upon you? They have issued sanctions for you both!”
“Sanctions? Are you certain?”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“Came down just moments ago,” Lord Cawston continued.
Morvinus threw his jacket aside in frustration, turning his back.
“What is a sanction? I don’t understand.” Louder this time, still they ignored me.
“Morvinus, this I can not undo.”
“Will somebody please tell me what’s going on here?” I interrupted. “What does any of this mean?”
Morvinus came back around, glaring at Lord Cawston, tightening his lips. “It means there is now a price upon our heads.”
“Oh. What happens now?”
“If either of you show your face at that meeting, you will be arrested and most likely executed on sight.” I felt the wind being knocked out of me, stumbling.
“Oh as if we had any breath of hope at all,” Morvinus huffed.
“Morvinus-“
“You said it yourself, as long as your son is on that council, we stand little chance of changing anything.”
“As it so happens, there are those on the council who would disagree. Lady Umbria is one of them.”
“Lady Umbria?” This seemed to catch Morvinus off guard, and his expression became more guarded.
“Yes. It is she who made the arrangements for the meeting on my behalf. And she who has kept my son’s guard dogs on a very tight leash.”
Morvinus scoffed, “Not tight enough.”
“Morvinus-“
“No. She is the only thing that matters to me. And for that I will not apologize.”
Without another word, he grabbed his jacket off the floor, and stomped out of the foyer, heading down the corridor.
“Is he right?” I asked. “Did we ever really stand a chance?”
“I did hope. Now? I do not know. Perhaps if I can speak with Lady Umbria again, she may be of assistance. Luckily, she remains our ally, at least for now. And she does hold the ear of the emperor.”
For the first time since we came in, he finally looked directly at me, the tension in his face relaxing. Lumbering in my direction he put his hands on my shoulders. “Oh my dear Analise. Do not fret, my child. We will find a way. That I can promise you. Now,” he straightened up, leaving a small kiss on my forehead, “we will discuss this further at a later time. You need rest. Go.”
“He saved my life, you know. More than once. If you need someone to blame, blame me. But don't take it out on him.”
He dropped his hands with an air of defeat and I walked away, wandering the halls for a few minutes before retiring to the bedroom.
When I came through the door I threw myself onto the bed, exhausted and spent. Shutting my eyes, I scrunched the blanket in my fist, trying desperately to push all of this away. It was just too much and at the moment I would have rather not felt any of it.
As I let myself meld into my surroundings, relaxing into my self-secluded hole, a new sound knocked on my ears. A trickling noise, like water running. Soft and subtle at first, soon it was all I could hear.
Laying there, the argument, the attack, my father, all rattling my mind, a dangerous idea began barging its way through all the mess, and I perked up on my elbows. Before I knew it, I had cracked the door to the bathroom, peeking through the fog toward the shower. This is a bad idea, you know. My conscience tried to talk me out of it, albeit not very hard. It didn’t matter, though. I still didn’t care. I had already made up my mind before I opened that door.
I could see his outline, just barely, braced on a hand, his other smoothing over his dark hair, letting the water stream down the taught muscles in his shoulder. I bit my lip, that warmth starting to creep in again. I knew it well by now, only this time, I could ignore it no more.
I closed the door gently behind me, shutting any further objections out with it. Shifting his back to me, he didn’t notice as I began to undress. Or if he did, he didn’t let on. Didn’t even turn his head until I opened the shower door to sneak in behind him. And I wondered, would he let me stay? Was I making a mistake? Probably.
He never acted the least bit surprised, merely throwing one more wave of water over his back before turning himself to face me. I would never forget that look in his eyes. More than just wanting, it was a look that bored into me. Far past my nakedness and down into my soul. A depth from him I had never seen before. It was unexpected, and my breath was already catching.
I must have looked like a frightened animal, nearly panting and shaking, my heart rate powering through my chest at an impossible speed. But he didn’t protest, didn’t fluster or panic. He just stood. Still as the mountainside. He stayed silent, his dark eyes locked with mine.
Gathering my resolve, I came closer, laying my hands lightly on his damp chest, taking note of every inch. He warmed to me almost instantly, snaking an arm around my waist, his other cradling my face, lips parting, kissing me deeply as he eased me against the tile wall.
There was no going back this time, no wading out. Both of us had enough of dancing around the fire. And now, through all the theorizing and careful practice, we were about to face a real world test. Ready or not.
No hesitation left, his fingers took a tight grip on my thighs, lifting me so my knees hugged his hips. And it was there, pressed against him, the torrid water streaming over every curve, through every crevice, he finally brought us together.
Nothing could have prepared me for that moment. His power surged through my veins like lightning. I could almost hear my blood calling out for him. I’ve loved before, shared a bed with a man before. But none like this. His hands drifted in places I’ve never been touched, his lips finding their way into every small corner. There, together as one, a new world emerged.
The chords that bound his wildness were coming undone. And with every movement, his pulse grew more erratic, more desperate, and so did mine. As we rounded the corner into pure ecstasy, I felt the familiar sting as his fangs plunged into my neck. And as he drew in my blood, I shuddered, surrendering completely.
After a moment, both our ends met, the quiet once again beginning to settle, he unlatched from my neck, letting my thighs slide through his grasp until my feet landed on the floor below, his fangs retreating from view.
We stood face to face for a long while, merely staring at one another. Both of us in disbelief, consumed by the state of euphoria that had washed everything else aside so violently. His chest rippled with every labored breath. And he looked almost stunned, the ferocity finally abated. A soft hand returned to my face, tracing the water lines on my cheek with his thumb.
“Are you all right?” He asked.
I nodded.
He smiled at me, his lips meeting mine again in a kiss. Brief but breathless.
We didn’t say much to each other after that. There was really no need. The last moments of the day giving way to a much needed night's rest, I sprawled myself across his chest, my head in the crook of his shoulder, his hand at my hip. Despite my hair being wet, edged with his natural frost, still I lay content. And it wasn't long before I drifted into slumber.
The next morning, I awoke, reaching my hand out, expecting to find his icy form still beneath me. So when I encountered nothing but the comforter, I was confused. I sat up, glancing around the room. Then I saw him, crouched in a chair in the corner, staring at me, a crooked grin across his face.
“Good morning,” he said softly.
He was already dressed and put together, his now clean white button down tucked neatly in his trousers, sheathed by his black duster.
“Hi.”
He laid across the bed next to me, propping himself on an elbow, sliding a stray strand of hair out of my face. He was still staring.
“What?” I asked.
“You are so beautiful.”
I felt the warmth rush to my cheeks as he leaned down to kiss me. When he rose again, his expression had changed, his smile faded.
“I have some news,” he said.
“Oh?”
“Lady Umbria is coming here. Tonight.”
“Oh.”
“Lord Cawston was able to arrange a private audience, just the four of us. She has asked that we proceed with the demonstration.”
My stomach jumped to my throat. “I see.”
“You need not do this. We can find another way to-”
“No. No, it's far too important. Besides,” I smiled, reaching my hand up to cradle his stubbled jaw, “we can do this.”
As he bent in, he left kisses from my mouth along the curve of my neck, tracing the edge of my collarbone, leaving a trail down my chest toward my navel. I shuddered, trying to keep a level head. Something was still bothering me.
“Morvinus?”
“Hmm?” He only half heard me, still focused on grazing his lips on my skin. Not that I was in any position to complain.
“Who is Lady Umbria?”
“She…is one of…the council elders.” He spurted it out nonchalantly between kisses, but it wasn't the answer I was after.
“Morvinus,” As much as it annoyed me to do so, I interrupted his trail of gentle wisps, forcing him to face me. “I mean, who is she to you?”
He sighed, drooping his head. “She and I– we have…a history, as you say.”
“What do you mean?”
He rolled to his back, resting on his elbows again. “We were betrothed once.”
“Betrothed?”
“Engaged. It was a long time ago.”
“But you never married?”
“No.”
“Why?”
He looked at me curiously. “A number of reasons, I suppose. Why do you wish to know? Are you concerned about her being here?”
I bit my lip.
Turning back onto his side, he chuckled. “Amber, my heart belongs to you, and you alone. What happened between Lady Umbria and I– it is long since over. As far as I know, she has not harbored any amount of fondness for me in many years. Which is the reason for my confusion when I heard she was involved. The only thing that concerns me is why.”
Continued in Part 14
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Oh this has gotten interesting
I think you outdid yourself with this one. It flows well!