Thanks to all who have reviewed—this story is becoming a bit longer and more complicated than I intended it to be, which is always fun…it's also, I suppose, a bit of a companion piece to The Gate, though I wrote that one when I was getting my feet and haven't looked at it in a while…in the end I think I just enjoy exploring different versions / interpretations of established characters and seeing where they take the story. Even if they sometimes take it right off a cliff.
Darkness stood before him, red skin glistening in the faint light, clad in the black finery that Jack remembered. He stood rooted to the floor as Darkness circled him, cat-like and curious.
"You doubt her."
Jack swallowed as Darkness lingered behind him. "My doubts are foolish."
"Are they? She was here with me for more than enough time…time to change, time to be swayed…"
"She has not changed."
"Does she make you bleed at night? Does she hunger for you like she never did before?" Darkness's lips were near Jack's ear. "When you enter her do her eyes seem far away?"
Jack clenched his fists in silence. He felt fingers and talons close painfully around his neck.
"If you want to save her you will answer me, boy. Does she seem different to you?"
Jack swallowed hard. When he spoke his voice was barely a whisper. "Yes."
"But you take pleasure in her change, do you not?" Darkness laughed softly. "You do not protest when she comes at you with heat, when she is rough where you would have her gentle…I would think you would be grateful for what I tau—"
Jack whirled around with a strength he had not known he possessed and threw himself at Darkness. The battle ended before it began, of course—with a sword he might have had a chance, but there was no fighting a creature twice his size, even in a dream. His arms were quickly pinned to his sides, his body lifted slightly off the floor as Darkness pressed his face closer.
"Is this what you see, boy, when you doubt?"
An image flickered before him of Lily in a black dress seated at a long table while Darkness circled her. He watched as she rose slowly, confidently, bridging the space between them and running a hand down Darkness's cheek.
He shut his eyes but of course the image did not fade. He felt the rage and the disgust and the pain building as he watched Darkness kiss her fiercely, her body arching into his, not unwillingly.
Stop…not this, please…
…but this is what you will give me, boy… Darkness pulled Jack's body near enough to feel the heat that emanated from his red skin. I will see you debased, abject, a slave to your rage and your doubts…I will see you worship that which you despise…and for that, I will spare your wife and child…
Jack heard himself moan, the pain driving a knife into his soul as he watched the image of Lily forcefully removing Darkness's clothes as his hands raked her body…but the pain was layered with desire, the disgust with arousal, and they all rolled off of him in waves.
He felt Darkness's own desire, his lips moving ever closer. …yes…let it control you…let me taste it…
He felt the mouth close over his, lips and tongue burning him, and the shock of it broke down the last barrier of control. His emotions surged and Darkness drank them in like an animal sucking marrow from a bone.