Never An Absolution Chapter 2

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A/N: Chapter titles have been changed to the songs that inspired me while writing. The first three from the "prologue" were It's A Trap, Surrounded and All For One from the Man In The Iron Mask soundtrack. It was those three, especially Surrounded and All For One that inspired me to write this in the first place. The first "chapter" was inspired by Surrounded and Angry Athos, also from the MitIM soundtrack. This one is inspired by This Night by Black Lab. The slow schmexiness of that song just...faints

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Tala paced agitatedly around the room, the wound in his leg no longer hurting as badly as it had before, throbbing only every now and again when he stomped too hard on the ground. However, it was not the slight pain that had grated away at his nerves. Oh no. It was the room. Granted, it was big enough, probably bigger than his own back in Asphodel, but the dark surroundings made him feel as if the walls were slowly closing in on him. The lack of windows and light made it worse. The room was swathed in shadows, the dark dark black and the dull crimson seeming to absorb the little light the torches provided. The elaborately carved furniture was all made from dark wood of the likes Tala had never seen before, and hoped he would never have to see again.

He craved to be back in Asphodel, where the buildings were made of pure white stone and surrounded by lush green forest. The Fae had never destroyed nature when building their villages and Kingdoms, they respected it far too much. If a tree was in the way of where the building was to be constructed, the Elders had managed to fit the tree into the plans without harming it in any way. The animals that roamed the forests were not hurt or injured either; rather they were loose to run the streets and pathways without hindrance. Wolves were especially common to be found outside a home or two, feasting away on whatever food the owners of the home could spare to it.

Tala didn't have to guess what happened to any animal that wandered its way into Malevor. Killed for the sheer sport, seeing as how Vampires mostly stuck to feeding on the Humans they had defeated and kept as servants. It was highly unlikely a Vampire would show the creature back into the forest. They were a very simple race to understand – what they couldn't control or keep as a pet, they killed. The Fae had learned that lesson centuries ago.

And now their new King would most likely try the same thing with him. Send a dozen or so Fae as sacrifices once a year as tribute, as well as an outrageous sum of gold, and he would be allowed to return to Asphodel with his people. He had to be on his toes. He would have to think of a plan. True, Fae usually kept their word, but Tala could never sacrifice his people, not even for the benefit of a larger amount of people. He wanted to save them all, no buts, ifs or maybes were acceptable. And he would do whatever it took to bring them all home safe and sound. Even if that whatever involved breaking his word.

When the door was abruptly opened he couldn't help but turn, mustering all his self-control not to seem to eager for the addition light that seeped in from the hallway, eyes landing on a guard who moved slowly towards the other two, completely disregarding his presence as he murmured lowly to them. The other two had been in the room for quite some time, for what Tala guessed as at least an hour, but it was hard to tell. They had not been present when he had first been brought to the room, but they had appeared and remained silently, sharing looks that said more than words ever could.

The third guard departed, closing the door behind him with a barely audible click, and colourful spots appeared before his eyes for a moment as they got reacquainted to the darkness. His body bristled when a rough voice spoke from the murk that almost managed to hide to guards in their dark armour. "Come, the senate wishes to speak with you. They would like for you to be presentable before they meet with you." Any attempt at sounding polite failed.

"Would they now?" Tala retorted, eyes swaying to the door once more as three humans, dressed in nothing more than extravagant rags that barely covered their bodies, entered the room, each carrying a steaming bucket of what the redhead assumed was water. They disappeared through a door at the far side of the room, and after one glance at the guards, Tala realised that this was where he was supposed to go to. Stifling a sigh of annoyance he admitted to himself that a bath might do him some good, turning towards the door and slowly approaching the thick, dark barrier.

He felt the guards at his back, silently urging him forward, and bit back a remark, folding his arms across his chest and closing his hands into tight fists. He could feel the anger swelling in his stomach, and their low murmurs at his back did not help matters any as he moved silently into the dark but extravagant washroom, noting the dark but gleaming marble that seemed to be the central resource used in different item in the room, from the large tub that could easily hold several people to the inescapable walls.

Two of the Humans, slim petite males barely out of boyhood, slid closer, hands lifting as delicate fingers began to remove his clothing with deft, nimble precision. They kept their eyes lowered as one unfastened his cloak and drew away, the other gazing up only a moment to see if the redhead would remove his arms from his chest. Reluctantly doing so ice-blue eyes watched as the boy had his shirt off only moments afterwards. The eyes shifted off to the side where the two guards stood, and it was not hard for Tala to recognise the undisguised lust in their eyes as they watched.

He sneered to himself, forcing his arms to remain by his side and repressing the urge to cross them before his chest, eyes narrowing as he met the stare of the elder guard, forgetting about the light, soft fingers peeling away what remained of his clothing. "Damn Vampires," he cursed in his native tongue, nails biting into the flesh of his palms, "it's no wonder Ashkir cursed you with the hunger."

The guards either underestimated him or didn't care, for they spoke softly to themselves. "He has certainly got himself into trouble. He will suffer greatly at the hands of His Highness."

The elder nodded to the Vampyric comment, chuckling lowly. "The King will see to it that his pride will not rule his head again."

Tala could hear his teeth grinding together as he spat out, "My pride never rules my head." He could feel shivers of disgust crawling over his skin as their eyes fell upon him once more, scanning his body with a hunger that bordered dangerously on being sadistic, but he could easily see that they were shocked he could understand them. "If it did, I would be with your previous King in some deep, dark oblivion."

There was a long, tense moment of silence before the older of the two laughed at his outburst. "Save your strength. If you don't know your place by now, you will most certainly need it." He inclined his dark head towards the tub, and Tala realised he was naked, his body tightening. By the sheer wilderness that ran through his veins he was tempted to forget everything and to attack, but he quickly reigned that anger in, eyes turning frosty as they swayed to the two young boys.

"I can bathe myself, thank you." He waited until they backed off, whispering quietly to one another and watching as he stepped into the bath, feeling the warm water lick his skin as he sank down, stinging his thigh when the hot water caressed his wound. He knew the guards eyes were on him, and he knew their interest was more than professional. He arched a curious brow at them, lips twitching about the corners as he allowed his body to slide further down, and though his smile was teasing, his eyes were still as hard and cold as blocks of ice.

"Tell me, how long have you been in the service of His Highness?" He queried, hands lowering to brush down the skin of his thigh, over the curve of his bent knee, to the slender muscles of his calf. He heard the two boys stepping closer, and moments later there were soft hands and frothy lather smoothing over his back. Ignoring them, his eyes moved back to the elder and apparently more experienced of the two guards as he met the liquid steel eyes. "Three-hundred and eighty-six years."

"And he pays you well?" The smile quirks a little, fingertips circling the smooth flesh of an ankle, head tilting ever so slightly to the side, loose hair spilling over his shoulder at the movement to brush lightly against his shoulders, contrasting starkly with icy eyes.

"More than I need." Was the brusque reply as those silver eyes moved away, cutting the conversation short. His curt manner made it abundantly clear to the redhead that his attempts at seduction would not be successful. Biting his tongue to restrain a sound of frustration, he looked to the younger of the two, pleased that this one was not quite as strong-willed as his comrade and was still gazing at him lustfully.

"And you?"

"Three years."

Tala laughed softly under his breath, lowering his eyes and feeling the fingers sweeping down over his chest. "Not a long time...it wasn't very long ago you passed your majority, was it?" he leant back as the hands left, feeling the chilly tile at his back as he stared at the younger guard with half-lidded eyes. "Not long after your first kill...your first feed...your first lover..." He couldn't help but smile at the sharp intake of breath he received as he trailed his fingers down his chest, twirling and making invisible patterns on the defined flesh, noting the way the young Vampire's eyes followed their every stroke.

As the indigo-haired Vampire stammered and stumbled over his words, mouth gaping and cheeks burning scarlet, the door was thrown open behind him, causing him to start and fall into line beside his superior, who did not turn to look around. Only one Vampire could and would do what had just been done, no other would have dared to enter the chambers of 'visiting' royalty.

Tala allowed his hand, already half-way down his stomach, to slide down his side and into the water, stiffening ever so slightly as he caught sight of the Vampire Prince leaning in the doorway, head cocked and crimson eyes swirling as they moved between him and the guards. "If I am wrong, please, feel free to correct me, but do you not think this is a rather...inappropriate whim for one in your position, Fae Prince...to disrobe in an enemy castle so freely?" A small smirk curled the bluenette's lips as he saw a light blush trace it's way over the Fae's cheeks, though the eyes narrowed into a scathing glower.

"Had it been my choice, Your Highness, I would have refused."

Kai shifted his eyes from the redhead to one of the two men standing vigil at the door, arching a brow in enquiry as his fingers drummed impatiently against his folded arms.

Finally, the elder of the two found the will to speak, voice catching with hesitance though he pushed on. "The Senate ordered that the Fae be impeccable when brought before them, Sire."

The amusement left the bluenette's face, lips twisting down in a frown. "Ordered? Since when did the Senate have authority over the King?"

The guard bowed his head apologetically, keeping his gaze fastened on the floor. "They are merely my orders, Highness. You should perhaps take it up with them..."

Kai's already glaring eyes sharpened into barely visible slits, fangs elongating and sharpening, his body reacting to his anger from a force within him so primal that he did not even realising it was happening until it was over, but he did not change back, his anger almost overshadowed by his amusement at the guards flinch, the way he stepped back. However the anger prevailed over the amusement, and he asked, in a voice that was far too calm to mean anything good, "What is your name?"

"Dorian, Highness."

"Dorian...too noble a name for you. From now on you shall be known as Underling." Crimson eyes flicked and scorched the younger of the two guards. "Do you understand this?" It took no less than a second for him to receive a frantic nod, and he turned his eyes back to the elder. "Secondly, though the Fae Prince is not visiting my Kingdom willingly, he is still royalty nonetheless and I will remind you in future to refer to him as such. Thirdly, did you dare to give me an order?"

An abrupt splash of water caught his attention, and his eyes moved to the annoyed Fae Prince, who was now sitting in the tub, quite oblivious to the fact he was naked, blue eyes narrowed and full lips moulded into a firm scowl. Noticing he had Kai's attention, he spoke, tone soft but aggravated, "He was not giving you an order, he was giving you a suggestion."

Kai smirked slightly at that, chuckling lowly and totally disregarding the younger male. "Hush Princling. The adults are conversing." He ignored the indignant splash that followed his remark, and refocused his attention upon the near-quivering guards. "Get out of my sight, both of you. Bring the Senate to my chambers immediately."

"B-But Sire...we are not in your--"

"Silence!" Kai snapped heatedly, eyes scorching the younger guard. "Do you question my intelligence? I know we are not in my chambers, you incompetent moron! But I told you – take them to my chambers! And do it now!"

Tala watched as the guards all but fell over one-another, trying to get out of the door first. He noticed that neither offered the traditional and respectful bow of departure, but then again with the way their King was glaring at them...he wouldn't have either. Sadly, he had no choice but to stay where he was. With no way to conceal his nakedness nor any way of escape, he was trapped alone with the calming Vampire King, who allowed his body to slip back into it's normal form, eyes sparkling with dark amusement as he closed the door behind him, stepping further into the room. "That wasn't very polite of you." The redhead murmured after a moment, lifting a hand, fingers shifting as he created a crystal, toying with it idly and trying to avoid the bluenette's keen gaze.

"Reproaches should not be made with politeness, it undermines the fact that they are being reproached." Kai retorted with a shrug, moving closer, unable to help it as his eyes moved to the crystal that danced lightly about the redhead's fingertips, head tilting to the side as he wondered what would happen were it to hit the water the lean male sat in. The memory of sliding on a patch of ice flashed quickly before his eyes, and he chuckled lowly at the thought of this crystal having the same power.

Reaching the tub, he took a seat on the lip, waving away the Humans who stood flushed and silently in a corner, waiting for orders. "Leave us." He murmured, temper pacified for the time being. He then took pause, and turned to them. "You," As expected, both turned, and Kai pointed to the one on the left, "come to my chambers this evening...and bring a friend."

The boy blushed and gave a timid smile, both bowing before hurrying from the room. Tala made a small noise in the back of his throat, lip curling in a sneer, eyes narrowing. "How charming." He commented venomously. At the arched brow, he elaborated. "You must find bedmates amongst those who cannot refuse you?"

Kai laughed lowly in response, lifting a hand to trace his fingertips up the slender but muscled shoulder, smirking as the redhead's entire body bristled and shifted several inches away from him. "I do not require a Human for a bedmate, Princling. Merely an evening snack...though I might have other intentions after feeding. This, however, is none of your concern for the time being. I had come to make...arrangements, but it appears the Senate is busy poking its long and annoying nose in my affairs once more today. We shall pick up that discussion later, and when you are a little more...dressed for it."

The pale cheeks turned crimson at this remark, and he unconsciously tried to shift further under the sudless water in an attempt to hide himself. He tensed worriedly when the bluenette's hand dipped into the water, idly swirling, before he added, "A little cold, isn't it? You should get out before you freeze."

There was a barely audible pop as the crystal was crushed beneath the trembling fingers of the redhead, the small glass-like shards breaking skin before vanishing into the thin air they appeared from, a drop of blood dripping off the edge of his hand and falling into the water, rippling waves tinted pink upon impact. Kai lifted his eyes from the source of the sound, only to hiss and throw his body back, a hand flying to swipe his eyes as he felt a sudden burning. It was not painful, but most definitely surprising, and he immediately recognised the tingling sensation associated with contact to fairy dust.

Cursing a final time he forced his eyes open to glare at the Fae, who was already out of the bath, a robe clinging to his body with the moisture from the bath, the belt cinched tightly around the lean waist, baring a V of glistening flesh, arms folded firmly before him. "You're right, it was getting chilly." The tone was mildly amused, but the expression that enclosed the redhead's face was anything but. The arms unfolded for a mere second, dusting whatever remains of the crystal's contents still remained on his skin, before returning to their original position.

Though the bathtub separated them, Tala still felt extremely uncomfortable at the bluenette's closeness. He didn't understand the absurdity of this feeling, but all he knew was that being alone in the same room with the Vampire felt like he was too near. Within striking distance. He shivered at the thought. It had not been as bad being naked with two guards in the room, he had been quite safe, all things considered. Guards were one matter, a King with no one to answer to but himself was quite a different one.

Kai smirked slightly. "That was a cheap trick." He commented lightly.

"What? Blinding you long enough to get out of the bath without being stared at lecherously? Hardly. And do not deny it, you fool no one."

"...do I intimidate you, Princling?"

Tala bristled at the amused tone that carried in the bluenette's voice, back straightening and shoulder's squaring, meeting the level gaze with a hard glare. "I am alone in a bathroom, all but naked, with a Vampire whose reputation is hardly comforting, and his hands well known for wandering. You do not intimidate me, your intentions, however, do not put me at ease around you."

Kai offered a short bow, every inch of his being mocking and smug, and he stepped backwards towards the door. "If I am making you uncomfortable, I will depart for the time being. I'll have someone collect you when I am ready to discuss the negotiations with you."

Tala growled softly, fists clenching as he glared at the bluenette who had straightened and was turning for the door. "And really, what do you expect me to do in the time being?"

Kai paused and glanced over his shoulder, crimson eyes curious. "What do I expect you to do about what, exactly, Princling?" He drawled in a bored tone.

"..." Tala hesitated for a long moment, wondering how to best word his next statement. With nothing dignified coming to mind, he answered bluntly, "Your servants took my clothes. How am I to meet you dressed in nothing but a robe?" He did not like the smirk that formed on the Vampire King's face, and neither did he like the chuckle that followed.

"I'm afraid the idea does not displease me. However I will not force you to walk through the halls all-but-naked. I will return to you when I am done. And there should be something in the room, if you look hard enough." Kai swept out of the room without another word, and the slamming of the door sent a chilling sense of finality through Tala's lightly trembling body, his eyes glazing over as he wondered why he felt so suddenly cold.