Disclaimer:i dont own outlaw star. Only any part of this story that i have
created. k? ^^
Chapter 9: Slave on Saturnalia ~~~~~~~ Ok, here we go, chapter 9 everyone. Inferno is......well, youll have to read. Gene and Zirulaete are coming, but not in this chapter............Inferno doubts her own heart and judgment. Gene is the one who loves her.......right? But Jay is........not.........not what she thought he was.......she doesn't know anymore. Her heart is in confusion. How will she sort it all out? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Come now." He smiled. "Come here." he laughed and tugged at the chain around her neck.
Inferno stumbled forward onto her knees in front of him. Jay pulled at the chain, dragging her higher up on her knees. He was still laughing. Almost nothing could dampen his spirits right now. He had waited 15 years for this, and now he had it. He jerked the chain slightly and Inferno stumbled towards him. She didn't want to look at him. The collar he had placed around her neck was humiliating enough as it were. But she forced herself to look at him. She wouldn't let him know how terrified she was-terrified that she would never see Gene again..............
He laughed at her again. How sweet a revenge this was. For now she would be his slave. Until the blood moon rose this year. Then he would have her for his emperess. Out of the corner of his eyes, Jay noticed one of his other women watching them haughtily. Zula. 'Jealous bitch' he dismissed it from his mind, thinking no more of it. He turned his attention back to the furious girl before him.
"What's the matter?" Still laughing, He was no more than a few inches from her face, looking into her eyes.
"What the fuck do you think is the matter?" she hissed at him. She was on her knees still,her head and torso being pulled up by the chain that Jay held in one hand. Her hands were tied behind her back. He told her he wouldn't release them until she swore not to try and injure him with them.
"Language, Inferno." He whispered mockingly. "The other women might start taking examples from you."
"Well they would have anyways if the blood moon were up." She spat. "What difference does it make to start now?"
He laughed again, smiling wickedly at her. "Well, if we're talking about setting examples, there's a difference between that and making a scene, cara. The latter can be most effective sometimes."
"For wha-"she never finished. His other hand grabbed her chin, his nails digging painfully into the soft skin of her throat. Her jerked her head forward and kissed her. Long and hard, but not the brutal kiss he had impended upon her before. It was, however, quite effective in setting a scene for a few who were brave enough to take notice.
He let go and looked at Inferno. She was flushed and furious and utterly helpless. He laughed again and turned his head at a movement in the corner. Zula spun around and stalked out in a rage, pushing anyone who happened to get in her way out of it and knocking several of them over. Jay shrugged. What did he care that Zula was jealous? She never had a chance at the seat of emperess in the first place. All these years he'd kept it for Inferno.
He stood up, jerking Inferno upright by the chain and started down a hallway, pulling her behind him. They had only just gotten to his palace Saturnalia today. She had been out cold the entire trip. Saturnalia was a huge palace built on the planet of his kingdom, Saturn, the demon planet.
After a fairly long walk, he stopped at a stretch of appearingly bare wall. But he pushed his hand into a certain spot, which seemed to have the consistency of gel. A section of the wall slid open and Jay threw Inferno in, and, stepping in behind her, shut the door.
He walked over to a chair and sat down. "Well?" he watched her, amused.
"Well what? Where is this?" Inferno pulled herself up as best she could with no hands. She managed to struggle to a kneeling position and looked around. It looked to her like a bedroom. Huge, but a bedroom nonetheless.
"This is my room." He laughed softly. "I suggest you get used to it. It's your room. too, now."
She blanched. "Wh-what?"
His eyes narrowed at the look of disgust on her face. Very little could get to him right now, but that happened to be one of the few. He jerked the chain forcefully, pulling her forward into him. He caught her by the shoulders and brought her up so their faces were level.
"Starting tonight, cara, this will be your permanent housing. Understand?" He smiled sweetly at her.
She put her head down so that her bangs covered her eyes from his view. "Yes...." she mumbled submissively.
"Good." He dropped her, satisfied. He watched her for a few moments until he realised she couldn't get back up. He looked down at her, trying to figure out the problem. He kneeled by her, but couldn't see anything wrong.
Jay rolled Inferno over onto her back. She gasped a little. There was a large bruise on her ribs. Apparently it hurt for her to move it now. She must have hit it on the step when he let her go. She barely protested when he lifted her up and set her on the bed. He wanted her humiliated, yes. But he didn't want her injured. He called for one of his nurses to come in and look at the bruise. He wasn't sure where it had come from. It hadn't been there yesterday-had it? But she'd been wearing her cape, so he didn't know.
"What's the problem, your highness?" The bright voice of his cheerful aged nurse, Mellie, trilled as she walked into the room with her bag. Her feline ears were perked and her tail twitched happily.
He motioned for her to come over. "Take a look at his." he said.
"Oh dear!" Mellie gasped when she saw the bruise. It spread from just beneath her left breast down to a little below her ribs and around her side and across almost to the other side of her rib cage. "What happened!"
"I don't know. I only just saw it now. I don't know how long it's been there." He shook his head. "Can you do anything about it?"
"Of course I can!" She looked from Inferno to Jay and back again. The girl must be new. Her eyes widened when she saw the collar with the chain. She wondered what he had in mind for the girl. Mellie took Jay by the arm and pushed him out of the room as he protested.
"H-hey!" He resisted.
"I need to take care of this! Now, I'll call you when you can come back in. Now just go make yourself busy dear." She shut the door on more protests and turned back to the girl on the bed. Mellie'd known Jay since he was just a baby. She'd taken care of him after his mother died and his father ignored him. He was really a very caring person. She sighed and got to work on the bruise.
"Broken rib......." she muttered as she worked. "Tissue damage.....minor internal bleeding..........." She stood up and wiped her hand across her eyes. "Now, that should do it."
Inferno stirred slightly, wincing at the pain in her ribs. She opened her eyes and found herself looking into the face of an older cheery looking cat demoness.
"Feeling alright hon?" her voice was pleasant enough. She was tall, and older, but not old. She reminded Inferno of some of the older women bartenders she'd known, with a cheerful voice that held that harsh kind of growl.
"Yeah-I, what happened?" she pulled herself up on her elbows as best she could manage with her hand still bound.
"You passed out honey. I fixed up that nasty bruise of yours. Jay called for me. Didn't want to leave. I had to push him out." she laughed.
"Jay?" she said, confused. He had called a nurse? Didn't want to leave?
"Yes, hon, Jay. You know, his highness? Concerned, he was. Worried about you. What's your name dear? You mind if I?" She added, pulling out a cigarette, her voice never losing it's innocently curious tone.
"No, go ahead. I'm Inferno...."she sat up, leaning against the headboard.
"I'm Mellie. Why's he got you all tied up like that honey? D'ya do something?" Mellie leaned on the post, cocking her head and blowing a small cloud of smoke. Her tone of voice was such that even the rudest question would sound only innocently curious, and you couldn't take offense.
Inferno smiled. "Do something? Well, only if you count threatening to personally dismember him entirely. Or maybe it was when I told him I wouldn't go near him if he were the last man in heaven hell or in between. Or perhaps, it was for trying to kill him several times."
Mellie looked at her incredulously. Then laughed. "Dear god child! You've badly damaged his ego! No wonder he's tied you up."
"He said he souldn't untie my hands unless I swore not to try and injure him with them." She leaned back, smiling. She liked Mellie.
"I take it you didn't? You're a stubborn girl! I think you'll give Jay a run for his money."
"I already have. He's been after me for 15 years and he's only just managed to get his hands on me."
Mellie laughed again. "You don't say? Well I'd say he's made a good choice in you."
"Good choice?"
"You do know he intends you for the emperess, don't you?" She looked at Inferno.
"I didn't think he meant it........." She looked down, thinking.
"Oh, he meant it. He never says things like that if he doesn't mean it. And 15 years! Of course he meant it! He wouldn't go chasing after you like that if he didn't intend it. You just wait 'till the blood moon. I think you two'll be good together if you can just learn not to tear each other apart. You're beautiful you know. And I like you're personality. Maybe not charming, but you're a tough girl. You've got a strong personality. I think that when you're someone like him, you have a hard time not liking you." she paused to take a puff of her cigarette. "Hard to believe as it is hon, he really does care. He wants to humiliate you, yes, because he doesn't take kindly to rejection. But he doesn't wasnt you hurt. Never did. You know...." she trailed off, thinking. "I wonder...."
"Wonder what?" Inferno was intrigued by this woman.
"He's been running spells and enchantments of all sorts, and he's been going out a lot more. He's stopped since he got you." Mellie said thoughtfully.
"Is there one that makes dreams?" She asked quickly.
"Yeah, come to think of it. It's called the dream invasion spell. It goes into your dreams and manipulates it to be whatever the caster wants. He ran that one a couple time lately."
"Then that's where those dreams came from?" Inferno gaped at her.
"He really went all out on you, girl. He hasn't used those spells in so long. He only uses them in the very greatest of need." she smiled "I geuss you ranked high enough to qualify."
"I need time to think." She lay back and closed her eyes.
"Well, I'll tell Jay you'll probably sleep through the night, and he's not to disturb you, okay?" Mellie put her cigarette out in the ashtray by the bed.
"Yeah, that's fine. And, by the way, how do you know him?"
"I raised him. His mother died at birth and his father ignored him. I was just a nurse then, and i did bartending on the side. I was delivering him and his mother didn't survive. He barely survived it himself."
"I wish he hadn't" Inferno mumbled.
"You don't mean that. I know you don't" There was no accusation in it, in fact, it sounded simply friendly and conversational. She started picking up her stuff and putting it back in her bag.
Inferno stared at her. Did she mean it? She didn't know anymore.
"I'll let him know you're not to be disturbed. I may not be able to stop him coming in to check on you though, if you can live with that."
Inferno nodded. She supposed that was alright. Then she would be left alone.
Mellie smiled knowingly and left.
Inferno was left to think in the grey darkness of the room. She sighed. She didn't know what to make of Jay anymore. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Is she alright?" Jay asked when Mellie came into the throne room.
"She'll be fine. She's actually extremely tired. You can check on her, but don't disturb her if she's asleep."
Jay got up and turned to go down the hallway that led to his room. He stopped and turned back to smile at Mellie. "Thanks Mel." he left.
Mellie just smiled knowingly and watched him go. "Your welcome" she whispered and snuck down after him, knowing Inferno was still awake. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inferno looked up tiredly when the door slid open. "oh" she said when she saw who it was. She put her head down again.
"Are you ok?" he asked carefully.
"Im alright. Just very, very tired..........." she trailed off.
"The nurse told me." he walked over to the bed and looked down at her. She certainly looked tired. "I geuss you'll have the opportunity to share a bed with me tonight." he smiled wickedly down at her.
But his smiled faded when her head snapped around to look at him. There was disgust again on her face, clear and unhidden. He tried to suppress the rage. He forced another wicked smile. "Well let me at least say good night." He grabbed the chain and jerked her up out out of the bed and onto her feet. He tugged again, pulling her into his arms. He looked down at her.
He was pleased to see she looked scared. He laughed quietly and kissed her. It was rough and punishing, like when he had first found her. His tongue was touching hers, invading her mouth. His lips were hard and bruising against her. He gentled a little, but still kissing her just as openly. He started when she was responding to the kiss, returning it. But he didn't stop. Just enjoyed it. He let himself be carried by the passion. He hadn't expected this, but who cared? He pulled his mouth away from hers and kissed her temples, her neck, her throat. She pushed her face against his chest in a surprising show of affection. He held her to him in a hard posessive grip. He kissed her again, and this time she responded immediately and just as enthusiastically as him. ~~~~~~
Mellie watched the two through the door. She watched as Jay lost his temper and jerked Inferno up by the chain. She watched him start to kiss her, hard and punishing, wondering what it was that had made him mad. But then he gentled it and Inferno was kissing him back. She smiled as she saw him kissing her temples and down her neck and they shared a kiss. Mellie smiled when he was holding Inferno possesively, and the look on his face. He'd never let her go. She knew it. She turned and walked down the hall before Jay came back out or saw her. ~~~~~~
Inferno had the vague sensation of floating before she felt something soft beneath her. She snuggled into it, losing herself in dreams and only barely feeling the warmth that joined her. ~~
Jay looked down at Inferno. She was asleep. Wether it was exhaustion or the kiss, he didn't know. Probably both. He carried her over to the bed and lay her down. Her got out of his robes and climbed in next to her, pulling the covers over him. He pulled her against his chest protectively and fell asleep. ~~~~~~ Inferno woke up in the middle of the night, the darkness surrounding her. She felt something warm against her and around her. She looked up at the sleeping Jay. But he wasn't sleeping. He opened his eyes and smiled down at her. She pushed away and scrambled backwards against the wall, pulling the covers off them both. Her eyes fell to his body. He was in naught but a pair of shorts. As she looked him over, she noted that he was muscular and well formed. Slim and wiry but strong and perfectly carved. He lay with his head pillowed on his arms watching her examining him. Her eyes jumped to his face when he laughed.
"You like what you see?" he smiled mockingly. "I'm all yours if you want me."
She stared hostily at him but couldn't keep her eyes from looking him over again.
He smiled and spoke in a low provacative voice. "I know you want me, Inferno. Come on. I'm all yours for the taking. All you have to do is say the word and ill cast the chains on the floor next to your clothes."
Inferno felt herself caught up in the sway of his words. She gulped. He reached out and ran his hand along her jawline. She pressed her face against his hand and looked at him.
"Do you want me, Inferno?" he said softly.
"I........" she turned her head away. "I don't know what I want anymore........" she broke off, a lone tear falling.
"Come here Inferno." he pulled her over to him. He pulled out the top button of her shirt, pleased to find she didn't resist. He undid them all one by one, slowly and methodically. It was maddening, but he forced himself not to rush. He undid the chains on her arms and threw them onto the floor with her shirt. He snapped the clip of her bra and slid it off. The rest of her clothes followed. He looked at her. She was looking down. He reached to the table and grabbed a key, removing the heavy collar and the chain with it.
She sat before him in nothing. Beautiful and slender. He looked her over. Her arms came up to cross herself in reflex, but she stopped them mid- gesture. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. There was no way she could deny it.
He pulled his own clothes off and pulled her down, rolling over on top of her, avoiding her ribs, and pulling the covers over them. He loved the feel of her skin, and the way all her tough, stubborn, rogueish, hardened, tomboy ways disintegrated and simply dissappeared when he kissed her. She became the perfect passionate woman. Sweet and giving and demanding. And in the daylight, bold and strong and beautiful and any man equal. Merciless to any who challenged her and quick to take what she wished, yet clever and thoughtful. He'd never found all that in another woman. It was just one more reason why he knew no other could ever do for him.
He loved the taste of her mouth. Like rose petals and funeral wine and rainwater and lonely salt tears. Like bittersweet apples and the sharp taste of blood. Like tasting sadness, he thought. Like tasting lonliness and rejection and fear and all the hurt and pain and suffering one could stomach. He was seeing her pain. It flashed before his eyes.
She was 15 again. The bet. The rejection. The pain. The years and years of love and denial and hatred of Gene and hatred of herself for being so stupid. She was crying. The pictures. Torn pictures. Written out with all her heart. Cried on with all the tears she could give. And ripped apart and thrown to the wind like he had done to her heart. Her anguish. Her torment. Her lonely years of frustrated longing. Of unfathomable love. The love she'd bestowed upon him that she couldn't get rid of. And he'd destroyed her. Played her for a fool and used her for his own purposes.
Jay saw her. She hated herself. Still. For being so foolish. She believed no one really loved her. No one could love her. And that her love was all she had. No one had every really loved her enough to hold her like he was. To touch her with more than simply lust. She wanted to believe that he loved her. But she didnt think anyone could love her. A silly little stubborn tomboy with an attitude. A rough girl who wasn't very good at acting feminine. Just a skinny little half breed with a heart that could love and never be loved. He was crying for her now. Kissing her, loving her, and admitting silently to himself that he loved her and trying to prove it to him and her.
He was kissing her. She was responding. Her body was trembling and he could tell she was sobbing. He tasted her tears. She had watched herself with him. Seen through all the pain and suffering again. Her heart being exposed to him and she didn't know why. She wanted to believe that he was doing this for her. Truly loved her. Trying to make herself believe. Forcing herself with every fiber of her being to believe. But she couldn't. 15 years is a long time and a lot to try and cast off in a single night. Her heart deflated and she let herself be caught in this passion. The first man she had ever allowed to touch her, truly, and mirge with her so intimately. The only one she had known that could truly give her such feelings and glorious blissful release. ~~ They lay quietly. Inferno in Jay's arms in a state of semi-conciousness. She drifted off to sleep after one last gentle kiss and lost herself to dreams of him. He looked down at her and realised she was the only one he would ever love. He knew now that demon's could love, and although he would never forgive it, he knew why his father had turned away. He was so much like his mother that just looking at him would be enough to stir up old memories, and his father would turn his head away. Maybe he hadn't meant to be so cold, but maybe it was all he could do not to get rid of him and hate him for killing his mother. He would never let Inferno go. He would give his own life to save hers. This knowledge comfortable on his mind, he held her tight and fell away into dreams. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inferno woke that morning to find herself in Jay's arms again. She looked up at him. He was still asleep. She didn't want to wake him and disturb their peaceful moment. She looked at him again. His face was peaceful and serene. He looked so different from when she first saw him. She reached out her hand and touched his face, startled, when her fingers touched a thin scar that ran from his ear and along his jawline to his chin. Her hand fell away. She leaned her head back on his chest, her hand following the scar on it. She wondered when and where he'd gotten them.
She was quiet and dreamy while her hand slowly, gently, traced the length of the scar. She pulled her hand back and brought it again to his face, brushing the hair out of his eyes. So different, she thought. Not the forceful semi sadistic emperor he was when he was awake. He looked like a young child in a mans body. So sweet and innocent. She laughed quietly to herself.Innocent. Right. Well, she thought, if this is innocence it never looked so good. She traced her fingers down the scar again.
"It's a long scar."She looked up, startled.
"Did I wake you?"
"No. I usually wake up sometime around this time anyways."
She still had her hand on the scar. "What happened?"
"Your own work, cara." He laughed at the look on her face. "Don't you remember? You're a fair swordsman. If I hadn't been fast enough, just a hundredth of a second more and I would have been impaled."
She remembered. She had cut through his robes. It must have been that. She laughed and put her hand to the one on his face wonderingly.
"You also,cara. You just barely missed slicing open my face. They're the only scars I have because you're the only one who was ever fast enough to cut me deep enough to leave a scar." he smiled. "Fortunately for me you're not still trying to kill me."
He leaned over and kissed her gently for a moment. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes. There wasn't much time left to, but during the small amount allowed me I did."
He laughed. "Yes, small amount indeed. You nearly killed me with your passion. Enthusiastic doesn't come close to what you were."
She flushed, remembering.
He lifted her face to look at him. "I hope you won't look so put upon whenever I suggest such from now on." he smiled.
She laughed quietly, flushing momentarily. "No, I suppose I couldn't. Not after that."
"No, I don't think you really could, could you? I'm happy you let me."
She turned her eyes down.
"What's the matter, cara?" he asked.
"It's just................you're the first...........I......."
"Shhhh, it's alright, I understand. It was your first time and you were frightened. You maybe feel like you've been missing something all these years? That nothing could ever have prepared you for this?"
She looked up at him questioningly. "Yeah........"
"I know. It was how I felt." He wrapped his arms around her. "But I've never loved it as much as I did last night." He rolled over on her and nuzzled his face into her neck.
She closed her eyes and squirmed in pleasure. She was reveling in his loving attention. When they finally had to get up, he offered her a set of silk red robes with a shimmering cape, somewhat similar to his own set of white ones. She accepted them.
He watched, her enamored as she slipped into the red robes. They were the symbol of intended marraige. Now none in the court would dare impend any cruelty or malice towards her. He smiled. Any day now. He pulled on his own white robes and caught her in his arms for one more kiss before they left.
"I trust we won't need any chains anymore?" he laughed lightly into her hair.
She shook her head, smiling. "No, no chains."
He laughed again and led her out of the room.
"Where are we going?" she asked curiously.
"We are going to take care of all the things I usually must do throughout the day. Except today, " He pulled her around against him and whispered mischieviously "You're going to help me." he laughed and let her go. ~~~~~
When they entered the throne room, there was an audible gasp. Certainly it was becuase of Inferno. He felt her take a half step back nervously. "It's alright." he whispered to her. "It's just the robes-they represent your intentions to the throne."
She looked at him, but made no sound. Maybe what Mellie said was true. She was certainly beginning to doubt her own harsh judgments. She didn't know anymore. She watched curiously when a young woman with an apparent bad attitude stalked across the room, scowling, and pushed Inferno out of the way, hissing at Jay.
"What is this?!" she pointed a finger accusingly at Inferno.
He stared coldly down at her. "What do you mean?"
"Who is this bitch?" she hissed viciously.
"This 'bitch' is the future emperess, so I suggest you get used to it."
"What?!"
"You heard me."
"How could you!"
"You were never meant for the throne Zula. I told you it was over months ago." He nodded his head towards Inferno. "For 15 years she was intended for it." He gave her a crooked smile. "And here she is."
Zula slapped him hard across the mouth and spun around to stalk out in a fit of rage. Inferno simply watched. Jay was left rubbing the red hand mark on his face. "bitch.." he muttered under his breath.
"Guards!" he called. A young wolf demon with shiny black hair came over carrying his sword and dipped to one knee briefly in salute. "I want Zula out of here by nightfall, understood? She may keep the dresses and jewels and personal items of hers, but that is it. She is to be returned to her home in Zelquin, and buy her a house or something. Just get her out of here, ok?" The guard nodded curtly and dashed off to carry out the order.
Jay turned to Inferno, still rubbing the red mark and gave her a crooked smile with a look that so much said 'I'm Perfectly Innocent' that Inferno had to laugh.
He laughed and spun her around until they were both too dizzy to stand and collapsed into the thrones laughing.
"I'm glad you find me amusing." he managed to say between fits of laughter.
She giggled. "Oh yes, your majesty, ever the comedic king."
He put one hand to his heart and the other to his head in mock sorrow and shock. "You wound me madam. I meant naught but to keep m'lady happy"
This made her laugh even harder, and it caught to him. They laughed until they were crying. When they managed to catch their breath for a minute, Inferno dashed out the doors, spinning backwards long enough to give him a playful teasing "Catch me if you can!" before turning and running as fast as she could.
Jay jumped up and ran after her, chasing her for a half an hour until he caught her under a tree in the courtyard, out of breath. He sat by her and put his arm around her shoulders gently. She leaned softly into him, and they watched the sunset together, falling asleep in each other's arms in the soft twighlight. ~~~~~
"Inferno! Jay!" Mellie ran frantically through the palace. No one could find Jay or Inferno. She called for them again, running headlong into a gurad and stumbling back. "Any sign of them?" she asked, recovering herself.
"No ma'am." He saluted her. "Searched everywhere. No one's seen any sign of them. Looked everywhere in the palace."
"Damn. I-" She looked up on sudden inspiratin and asked curiously, "Have you checked the courtyard?"
"No ma'am."
Before the guard could say another word, Mellie spun around and head for the courtyard, hoping her geuss was right.
"Infern-" she stopped short and shut her mouth when she discovered the two bundled together beneath a tree in a clearing in the maze of flowers the gardener'd created. She smiled. They were both asleep. She shook her head. Of course. She turned quietly, smiling to herself, and went off so as not to wake them. They would have to wake up soon enough. Best let them have their rest. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Inferno." he whispered gently in her ear.
"Mhh?" She opened one eye groggily and looked up, trying to bring his face into focus.
"Time to wake up." He smiled and lifted her up into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck.
She opened her eyes and smiled up at him. His breath caught in his throat. 'Beautiful..' he thought.
"Oh really?" She cocked her head to one side.
"Yes really you lazy little demon." He spun her around and set her on her feet, grabbing her as she collapsed into him and lifting her back. "Can you walk? Or shall I carry you?" He smiled, playfully mocking.
""I'm afraid my legs don't seem quite willing to wake just yet. If you would be so kind as to carry me..." She smiled skeptically, wrapping her arms around his neck in a painfully tight grasp.
"Alright madam, but should I fall and kill both of us, I'm blaming you. Now you really should take a shower-that hair of yours isn't so soft anymore after a night in the garden." He carried her into the palace. ~~~~~ "Hold still you." He tried to keep hold of her, but her wet body slipped lithely from between his hands as she darted swiftly to the other end of the long vine decorated spa room, dodging among the showers and hot tub baths. He tried for her again but she slipped away again just as slippery. "Get back here."
"No!" She laughed slightly, dodging his reaching hands as he slipped and nearly collided with her, and, missing her, hit the wall instead.
"Goddamnit you little snake! Why won't you let me wash your hair?" He righted himself, rubbing his arm where it had hit the wall.
She simply shook her head. and dodged as he made another lunge, hanging on to the vines for support lest he slip again.
"Oh fine. Then at least let me wash the rest of you. You're absolutely filthy." He scowled at her.
"Oh alright." She moved over to him, her body lithe and shiny from the water, her hair wet and dragging on the ground.
He sat down and motioned for her to sit facing him. She sat gingerly on the bench, being careful not to slip from all the water and soap. He pulled her a bit closer and began to wash her face and neck, moving to her arms and down the rest of her body with a gentle touch. He motioned for her to turn around so he could do her back, and she did so, sitting on the end of the bench and being careful not to sit on her hair. He smiled, knowing she couldn't see, and locked his legs around her, to hold her in place.
"No you little demon, I'm going to wash your hair wether you like it or not." She tried to struggle, but now that he had her she couldn't get away. It was futile to try. She could avoid him all she wanted, but once he had a good hold on her, it was impossible for her to escape. He pulled her so her back was against him and began to wash her hair.
"What the..." He pulled his hand out of her hair. It was dripping with black dye. He looked at the spot where it had been and noticed it had a rather grey appearance now.
He raised one eyebrow and looked at the grey spot. He rinsed his hand and poured more soap in her hair, washing it carefully. After a while, the spot he was scrubbing was free of the black dye and underneath was platinum silver. He marveled at the silvery shine to it, and washed the rest of her hair.
When he was finished, he stood up, pulling her with him, and turned her to face him. She looked down, not meeting his eyes. He took a step back from her, looking up and down at her wild mane of platinum silver hair.
"What is-?" He broke off, taking her into his arms and burying his face in her hair. She pressed against him softly. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, looking at her.
"I-I've dyed it as long as I can remember. My mother used to do it, to hide it. It's not a natural color for either humans or ctarl-ctarls. She didn't want anyone to know I was hanyou. But she never used permenant hair dye-she didn't want the silver ruined, she said."
"It's beautiful." He whispered. Such a color was rare even in demons. And such a color was envied by all demons. To think it was a hanyou-He looked at her. "Hanyou?"
"Yes...." She stepped back from him and he watched in wonder as she pulled off her ctarl-ctarl ears and the headband she never seemed to remove. Underneath were large black and silver cat ears. She peeled off her red stripes one by one to reveal ones either black or silver, and washed her tail, which was the same black and silver of her ears. She removed the purple contacts from her eyes to show deep red iris' and silver pupils.
"You're beautiful...." He said, gaping at her. She was a stunning example of all the things that female demons vied for. The silver hair, the red eyes with silver pupils. The black and silver coloring. It was all considered a mark of high breeding and unmatched beauty of the purebreed demons who prided themselves on it. More specifically, a certain family of demons prided themselves on having women who almost always carried these genes.
A thought crossed his mind. "Your father....who was he?" He asked.
"I don't know....I never knew my father. My mother told me he died. But she made me disguise myself as a half-ctarl-ctarl. She said hanyous were outcasts in both the demons world and the humans world. So I was not to be known as one. She told me never to let anyone know. It was crucial to her. So I've hidden it all these years." She looked down.
"But you're so beautiful. You look like a purebred demon. And yet...the human scent remains. That cannot be helped. But I don't care. Why did you think I would? You're mine. Always remember that." He pulled her into his arms. "And now you shall face them as the hanyou to shame all purebred demons and you will take the throne as their emperess. None shall speak a word against you. And I have a sneaky suspicion of your lineage..." he said thoughtfully. He turned back to her. "Do you understand?"
She nodded.
"Good. Now come on. Let's get you dressed before you catch a cold." He led her out. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ok people's! That is the end of this chapter! What u think? Hmmmm.........hanyou, huh? Not even ctarl-ctarl at all! Now isn't that neat? Hmmmmm..............Who is Inferno's father? Hmmm.............You'll just have to wait! Ok, it may be a while till I get back to Gene and Zilucaete, but it will be good, I promise. For a while I'm focusing on Inferno & Jay. ^^ ~Rzeznik Rocker~
Chapter 9: Slave on Saturnalia ~~~~~~~ Ok, here we go, chapter 9 everyone. Inferno is......well, youll have to read. Gene and Zirulaete are coming, but not in this chapter............Inferno doubts her own heart and judgment. Gene is the one who loves her.......right? But Jay is........not.........not what she thought he was.......she doesn't know anymore. Her heart is in confusion. How will she sort it all out? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Come now." He smiled. "Come here." he laughed and tugged at the chain around her neck.
Inferno stumbled forward onto her knees in front of him. Jay pulled at the chain, dragging her higher up on her knees. He was still laughing. Almost nothing could dampen his spirits right now. He had waited 15 years for this, and now he had it. He jerked the chain slightly and Inferno stumbled towards him. She didn't want to look at him. The collar he had placed around her neck was humiliating enough as it were. But she forced herself to look at him. She wouldn't let him know how terrified she was-terrified that she would never see Gene again..............
He laughed at her again. How sweet a revenge this was. For now she would be his slave. Until the blood moon rose this year. Then he would have her for his emperess. Out of the corner of his eyes, Jay noticed one of his other women watching them haughtily. Zula. 'Jealous bitch' he dismissed it from his mind, thinking no more of it. He turned his attention back to the furious girl before him.
"What's the matter?" Still laughing, He was no more than a few inches from her face, looking into her eyes.
"What the fuck do you think is the matter?" she hissed at him. She was on her knees still,her head and torso being pulled up by the chain that Jay held in one hand. Her hands were tied behind her back. He told her he wouldn't release them until she swore not to try and injure him with them.
"Language, Inferno." He whispered mockingly. "The other women might start taking examples from you."
"Well they would have anyways if the blood moon were up." She spat. "What difference does it make to start now?"
He laughed again, smiling wickedly at her. "Well, if we're talking about setting examples, there's a difference between that and making a scene, cara. The latter can be most effective sometimes."
"For wha-"she never finished. His other hand grabbed her chin, his nails digging painfully into the soft skin of her throat. Her jerked her head forward and kissed her. Long and hard, but not the brutal kiss he had impended upon her before. It was, however, quite effective in setting a scene for a few who were brave enough to take notice.
He let go and looked at Inferno. She was flushed and furious and utterly helpless. He laughed again and turned his head at a movement in the corner. Zula spun around and stalked out in a rage, pushing anyone who happened to get in her way out of it and knocking several of them over. Jay shrugged. What did he care that Zula was jealous? She never had a chance at the seat of emperess in the first place. All these years he'd kept it for Inferno.
He stood up, jerking Inferno upright by the chain and started down a hallway, pulling her behind him. They had only just gotten to his palace Saturnalia today. She had been out cold the entire trip. Saturnalia was a huge palace built on the planet of his kingdom, Saturn, the demon planet.
After a fairly long walk, he stopped at a stretch of appearingly bare wall. But he pushed his hand into a certain spot, which seemed to have the consistency of gel. A section of the wall slid open and Jay threw Inferno in, and, stepping in behind her, shut the door.
He walked over to a chair and sat down. "Well?" he watched her, amused.
"Well what? Where is this?" Inferno pulled herself up as best she could with no hands. She managed to struggle to a kneeling position and looked around. It looked to her like a bedroom. Huge, but a bedroom nonetheless.
"This is my room." He laughed softly. "I suggest you get used to it. It's your room. too, now."
She blanched. "Wh-what?"
His eyes narrowed at the look of disgust on her face. Very little could get to him right now, but that happened to be one of the few. He jerked the chain forcefully, pulling her forward into him. He caught her by the shoulders and brought her up so their faces were level.
"Starting tonight, cara, this will be your permanent housing. Understand?" He smiled sweetly at her.
She put her head down so that her bangs covered her eyes from his view. "Yes...." she mumbled submissively.
"Good." He dropped her, satisfied. He watched her for a few moments until he realised she couldn't get back up. He looked down at her, trying to figure out the problem. He kneeled by her, but couldn't see anything wrong.
Jay rolled Inferno over onto her back. She gasped a little. There was a large bruise on her ribs. Apparently it hurt for her to move it now. She must have hit it on the step when he let her go. She barely protested when he lifted her up and set her on the bed. He wanted her humiliated, yes. But he didn't want her injured. He called for one of his nurses to come in and look at the bruise. He wasn't sure where it had come from. It hadn't been there yesterday-had it? But she'd been wearing her cape, so he didn't know.
"What's the problem, your highness?" The bright voice of his cheerful aged nurse, Mellie, trilled as she walked into the room with her bag. Her feline ears were perked and her tail twitched happily.
He motioned for her to come over. "Take a look at his." he said.
"Oh dear!" Mellie gasped when she saw the bruise. It spread from just beneath her left breast down to a little below her ribs and around her side and across almost to the other side of her rib cage. "What happened!"
"I don't know. I only just saw it now. I don't know how long it's been there." He shook his head. "Can you do anything about it?"
"Of course I can!" She looked from Inferno to Jay and back again. The girl must be new. Her eyes widened when she saw the collar with the chain. She wondered what he had in mind for the girl. Mellie took Jay by the arm and pushed him out of the room as he protested.
"H-hey!" He resisted.
"I need to take care of this! Now, I'll call you when you can come back in. Now just go make yourself busy dear." She shut the door on more protests and turned back to the girl on the bed. Mellie'd known Jay since he was just a baby. She'd taken care of him after his mother died and his father ignored him. He was really a very caring person. She sighed and got to work on the bruise.
"Broken rib......." she muttered as she worked. "Tissue damage.....minor internal bleeding..........." She stood up and wiped her hand across her eyes. "Now, that should do it."
Inferno stirred slightly, wincing at the pain in her ribs. She opened her eyes and found herself looking into the face of an older cheery looking cat demoness.
"Feeling alright hon?" her voice was pleasant enough. She was tall, and older, but not old. She reminded Inferno of some of the older women bartenders she'd known, with a cheerful voice that held that harsh kind of growl.
"Yeah-I, what happened?" she pulled herself up on her elbows as best she could manage with her hand still bound.
"You passed out honey. I fixed up that nasty bruise of yours. Jay called for me. Didn't want to leave. I had to push him out." she laughed.
"Jay?" she said, confused. He had called a nurse? Didn't want to leave?
"Yes, hon, Jay. You know, his highness? Concerned, he was. Worried about you. What's your name dear? You mind if I?" She added, pulling out a cigarette, her voice never losing it's innocently curious tone.
"No, go ahead. I'm Inferno...."she sat up, leaning against the headboard.
"I'm Mellie. Why's he got you all tied up like that honey? D'ya do something?" Mellie leaned on the post, cocking her head and blowing a small cloud of smoke. Her tone of voice was such that even the rudest question would sound only innocently curious, and you couldn't take offense.
Inferno smiled. "Do something? Well, only if you count threatening to personally dismember him entirely. Or maybe it was when I told him I wouldn't go near him if he were the last man in heaven hell or in between. Or perhaps, it was for trying to kill him several times."
Mellie looked at her incredulously. Then laughed. "Dear god child! You've badly damaged his ego! No wonder he's tied you up."
"He said he souldn't untie my hands unless I swore not to try and injure him with them." She leaned back, smiling. She liked Mellie.
"I take it you didn't? You're a stubborn girl! I think you'll give Jay a run for his money."
"I already have. He's been after me for 15 years and he's only just managed to get his hands on me."
Mellie laughed again. "You don't say? Well I'd say he's made a good choice in you."
"Good choice?"
"You do know he intends you for the emperess, don't you?" She looked at Inferno.
"I didn't think he meant it........." She looked down, thinking.
"Oh, he meant it. He never says things like that if he doesn't mean it. And 15 years! Of course he meant it! He wouldn't go chasing after you like that if he didn't intend it. You just wait 'till the blood moon. I think you two'll be good together if you can just learn not to tear each other apart. You're beautiful you know. And I like you're personality. Maybe not charming, but you're a tough girl. You've got a strong personality. I think that when you're someone like him, you have a hard time not liking you." she paused to take a puff of her cigarette. "Hard to believe as it is hon, he really does care. He wants to humiliate you, yes, because he doesn't take kindly to rejection. But he doesn't wasnt you hurt. Never did. You know...." she trailed off, thinking. "I wonder...."
"Wonder what?" Inferno was intrigued by this woman.
"He's been running spells and enchantments of all sorts, and he's been going out a lot more. He's stopped since he got you." Mellie said thoughtfully.
"Is there one that makes dreams?" She asked quickly.
"Yeah, come to think of it. It's called the dream invasion spell. It goes into your dreams and manipulates it to be whatever the caster wants. He ran that one a couple time lately."
"Then that's where those dreams came from?" Inferno gaped at her.
"He really went all out on you, girl. He hasn't used those spells in so long. He only uses them in the very greatest of need." she smiled "I geuss you ranked high enough to qualify."
"I need time to think." She lay back and closed her eyes.
"Well, I'll tell Jay you'll probably sleep through the night, and he's not to disturb you, okay?" Mellie put her cigarette out in the ashtray by the bed.
"Yeah, that's fine. And, by the way, how do you know him?"
"I raised him. His mother died at birth and his father ignored him. I was just a nurse then, and i did bartending on the side. I was delivering him and his mother didn't survive. He barely survived it himself."
"I wish he hadn't" Inferno mumbled.
"You don't mean that. I know you don't" There was no accusation in it, in fact, it sounded simply friendly and conversational. She started picking up her stuff and putting it back in her bag.
Inferno stared at her. Did she mean it? She didn't know anymore.
"I'll let him know you're not to be disturbed. I may not be able to stop him coming in to check on you though, if you can live with that."
Inferno nodded. She supposed that was alright. Then she would be left alone.
Mellie smiled knowingly and left.
Inferno was left to think in the grey darkness of the room. She sighed. She didn't know what to make of Jay anymore. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Is she alright?" Jay asked when Mellie came into the throne room.
"She'll be fine. She's actually extremely tired. You can check on her, but don't disturb her if she's asleep."
Jay got up and turned to go down the hallway that led to his room. He stopped and turned back to smile at Mellie. "Thanks Mel." he left.
Mellie just smiled knowingly and watched him go. "Your welcome" she whispered and snuck down after him, knowing Inferno was still awake. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inferno looked up tiredly when the door slid open. "oh" she said when she saw who it was. She put her head down again.
"Are you ok?" he asked carefully.
"Im alright. Just very, very tired..........." she trailed off.
"The nurse told me." he walked over to the bed and looked down at her. She certainly looked tired. "I geuss you'll have the opportunity to share a bed with me tonight." he smiled wickedly down at her.
But his smiled faded when her head snapped around to look at him. There was disgust again on her face, clear and unhidden. He tried to suppress the rage. He forced another wicked smile. "Well let me at least say good night." He grabbed the chain and jerked her up out out of the bed and onto her feet. He tugged again, pulling her into his arms. He looked down at her.
He was pleased to see she looked scared. He laughed quietly and kissed her. It was rough and punishing, like when he had first found her. His tongue was touching hers, invading her mouth. His lips were hard and bruising against her. He gentled a little, but still kissing her just as openly. He started when she was responding to the kiss, returning it. But he didn't stop. Just enjoyed it. He let himself be carried by the passion. He hadn't expected this, but who cared? He pulled his mouth away from hers and kissed her temples, her neck, her throat. She pushed her face against his chest in a surprising show of affection. He held her to him in a hard posessive grip. He kissed her again, and this time she responded immediately and just as enthusiastically as him. ~~~~~~
Mellie watched the two through the door. She watched as Jay lost his temper and jerked Inferno up by the chain. She watched him start to kiss her, hard and punishing, wondering what it was that had made him mad. But then he gentled it and Inferno was kissing him back. She smiled as she saw him kissing her temples and down her neck and they shared a kiss. Mellie smiled when he was holding Inferno possesively, and the look on his face. He'd never let her go. She knew it. She turned and walked down the hall before Jay came back out or saw her. ~~~~~~
Inferno had the vague sensation of floating before she felt something soft beneath her. She snuggled into it, losing herself in dreams and only barely feeling the warmth that joined her. ~~
Jay looked down at Inferno. She was asleep. Wether it was exhaustion or the kiss, he didn't know. Probably both. He carried her over to the bed and lay her down. Her got out of his robes and climbed in next to her, pulling the covers over him. He pulled her against his chest protectively and fell asleep. ~~~~~~ Inferno woke up in the middle of the night, the darkness surrounding her. She felt something warm against her and around her. She looked up at the sleeping Jay. But he wasn't sleeping. He opened his eyes and smiled down at her. She pushed away and scrambled backwards against the wall, pulling the covers off them both. Her eyes fell to his body. He was in naught but a pair of shorts. As she looked him over, she noted that he was muscular and well formed. Slim and wiry but strong and perfectly carved. He lay with his head pillowed on his arms watching her examining him. Her eyes jumped to his face when he laughed.
"You like what you see?" he smiled mockingly. "I'm all yours if you want me."
She stared hostily at him but couldn't keep her eyes from looking him over again.
He smiled and spoke in a low provacative voice. "I know you want me, Inferno. Come on. I'm all yours for the taking. All you have to do is say the word and ill cast the chains on the floor next to your clothes."
Inferno felt herself caught up in the sway of his words. She gulped. He reached out and ran his hand along her jawline. She pressed her face against his hand and looked at him.
"Do you want me, Inferno?" he said softly.
"I........" she turned her head away. "I don't know what I want anymore........" she broke off, a lone tear falling.
"Come here Inferno." he pulled her over to him. He pulled out the top button of her shirt, pleased to find she didn't resist. He undid them all one by one, slowly and methodically. It was maddening, but he forced himself not to rush. He undid the chains on her arms and threw them onto the floor with her shirt. He snapped the clip of her bra and slid it off. The rest of her clothes followed. He looked at her. She was looking down. He reached to the table and grabbed a key, removing the heavy collar and the chain with it.
She sat before him in nothing. Beautiful and slender. He looked her over. Her arms came up to cross herself in reflex, but she stopped them mid- gesture. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. There was no way she could deny it.
He pulled his own clothes off and pulled her down, rolling over on top of her, avoiding her ribs, and pulling the covers over them. He loved the feel of her skin, and the way all her tough, stubborn, rogueish, hardened, tomboy ways disintegrated and simply dissappeared when he kissed her. She became the perfect passionate woman. Sweet and giving and demanding. And in the daylight, bold and strong and beautiful and any man equal. Merciless to any who challenged her and quick to take what she wished, yet clever and thoughtful. He'd never found all that in another woman. It was just one more reason why he knew no other could ever do for him.
He loved the taste of her mouth. Like rose petals and funeral wine and rainwater and lonely salt tears. Like bittersweet apples and the sharp taste of blood. Like tasting sadness, he thought. Like tasting lonliness and rejection and fear and all the hurt and pain and suffering one could stomach. He was seeing her pain. It flashed before his eyes.
She was 15 again. The bet. The rejection. The pain. The years and years of love and denial and hatred of Gene and hatred of herself for being so stupid. She was crying. The pictures. Torn pictures. Written out with all her heart. Cried on with all the tears she could give. And ripped apart and thrown to the wind like he had done to her heart. Her anguish. Her torment. Her lonely years of frustrated longing. Of unfathomable love. The love she'd bestowed upon him that she couldn't get rid of. And he'd destroyed her. Played her for a fool and used her for his own purposes.
Jay saw her. She hated herself. Still. For being so foolish. She believed no one really loved her. No one could love her. And that her love was all she had. No one had every really loved her enough to hold her like he was. To touch her with more than simply lust. She wanted to believe that he loved her. But she didnt think anyone could love her. A silly little stubborn tomboy with an attitude. A rough girl who wasn't very good at acting feminine. Just a skinny little half breed with a heart that could love and never be loved. He was crying for her now. Kissing her, loving her, and admitting silently to himself that he loved her and trying to prove it to him and her.
He was kissing her. She was responding. Her body was trembling and he could tell she was sobbing. He tasted her tears. She had watched herself with him. Seen through all the pain and suffering again. Her heart being exposed to him and she didn't know why. She wanted to believe that he was doing this for her. Truly loved her. Trying to make herself believe. Forcing herself with every fiber of her being to believe. But she couldn't. 15 years is a long time and a lot to try and cast off in a single night. Her heart deflated and she let herself be caught in this passion. The first man she had ever allowed to touch her, truly, and mirge with her so intimately. The only one she had known that could truly give her such feelings and glorious blissful release. ~~ They lay quietly. Inferno in Jay's arms in a state of semi-conciousness. She drifted off to sleep after one last gentle kiss and lost herself to dreams of him. He looked down at her and realised she was the only one he would ever love. He knew now that demon's could love, and although he would never forgive it, he knew why his father had turned away. He was so much like his mother that just looking at him would be enough to stir up old memories, and his father would turn his head away. Maybe he hadn't meant to be so cold, but maybe it was all he could do not to get rid of him and hate him for killing his mother. He would never let Inferno go. He would give his own life to save hers. This knowledge comfortable on his mind, he held her tight and fell away into dreams. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inferno woke that morning to find herself in Jay's arms again. She looked up at him. He was still asleep. She didn't want to wake him and disturb their peaceful moment. She looked at him again. His face was peaceful and serene. He looked so different from when she first saw him. She reached out her hand and touched his face, startled, when her fingers touched a thin scar that ran from his ear and along his jawline to his chin. Her hand fell away. She leaned her head back on his chest, her hand following the scar on it. She wondered when and where he'd gotten them.
She was quiet and dreamy while her hand slowly, gently, traced the length of the scar. She pulled her hand back and brought it again to his face, brushing the hair out of his eyes. So different, she thought. Not the forceful semi sadistic emperor he was when he was awake. He looked like a young child in a mans body. So sweet and innocent. She laughed quietly to herself.Innocent. Right. Well, she thought, if this is innocence it never looked so good. She traced her fingers down the scar again.
"It's a long scar."She looked up, startled.
"Did I wake you?"
"No. I usually wake up sometime around this time anyways."
She still had her hand on the scar. "What happened?"
"Your own work, cara." He laughed at the look on her face. "Don't you remember? You're a fair swordsman. If I hadn't been fast enough, just a hundredth of a second more and I would have been impaled."
She remembered. She had cut through his robes. It must have been that. She laughed and put her hand to the one on his face wonderingly.
"You also,cara. You just barely missed slicing open my face. They're the only scars I have because you're the only one who was ever fast enough to cut me deep enough to leave a scar." he smiled. "Fortunately for me you're not still trying to kill me."
He leaned over and kissed her gently for a moment. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes. There wasn't much time left to, but during the small amount allowed me I did."
He laughed. "Yes, small amount indeed. You nearly killed me with your passion. Enthusiastic doesn't come close to what you were."
She flushed, remembering.
He lifted her face to look at him. "I hope you won't look so put upon whenever I suggest such from now on." he smiled.
She laughed quietly, flushing momentarily. "No, I suppose I couldn't. Not after that."
"No, I don't think you really could, could you? I'm happy you let me."
She turned her eyes down.
"What's the matter, cara?" he asked.
"It's just................you're the first...........I......."
"Shhhh, it's alright, I understand. It was your first time and you were frightened. You maybe feel like you've been missing something all these years? That nothing could ever have prepared you for this?"
She looked up at him questioningly. "Yeah........"
"I know. It was how I felt." He wrapped his arms around her. "But I've never loved it as much as I did last night." He rolled over on her and nuzzled his face into her neck.
She closed her eyes and squirmed in pleasure. She was reveling in his loving attention. When they finally had to get up, he offered her a set of silk red robes with a shimmering cape, somewhat similar to his own set of white ones. She accepted them.
He watched, her enamored as she slipped into the red robes. They were the symbol of intended marraige. Now none in the court would dare impend any cruelty or malice towards her. He smiled. Any day now. He pulled on his own white robes and caught her in his arms for one more kiss before they left.
"I trust we won't need any chains anymore?" he laughed lightly into her hair.
She shook her head, smiling. "No, no chains."
He laughed again and led her out of the room.
"Where are we going?" she asked curiously.
"We are going to take care of all the things I usually must do throughout the day. Except today, " He pulled her around against him and whispered mischieviously "You're going to help me." he laughed and let her go. ~~~~~
When they entered the throne room, there was an audible gasp. Certainly it was becuase of Inferno. He felt her take a half step back nervously. "It's alright." he whispered to her. "It's just the robes-they represent your intentions to the throne."
She looked at him, but made no sound. Maybe what Mellie said was true. She was certainly beginning to doubt her own harsh judgments. She didn't know anymore. She watched curiously when a young woman with an apparent bad attitude stalked across the room, scowling, and pushed Inferno out of the way, hissing at Jay.
"What is this?!" she pointed a finger accusingly at Inferno.
He stared coldly down at her. "What do you mean?"
"Who is this bitch?" she hissed viciously.
"This 'bitch' is the future emperess, so I suggest you get used to it."
"What?!"
"You heard me."
"How could you!"
"You were never meant for the throne Zula. I told you it was over months ago." He nodded his head towards Inferno. "For 15 years she was intended for it." He gave her a crooked smile. "And here she is."
Zula slapped him hard across the mouth and spun around to stalk out in a fit of rage. Inferno simply watched. Jay was left rubbing the red hand mark on his face. "bitch.." he muttered under his breath.
"Guards!" he called. A young wolf demon with shiny black hair came over carrying his sword and dipped to one knee briefly in salute. "I want Zula out of here by nightfall, understood? She may keep the dresses and jewels and personal items of hers, but that is it. She is to be returned to her home in Zelquin, and buy her a house or something. Just get her out of here, ok?" The guard nodded curtly and dashed off to carry out the order.
Jay turned to Inferno, still rubbing the red mark and gave her a crooked smile with a look that so much said 'I'm Perfectly Innocent' that Inferno had to laugh.
He laughed and spun her around until they were both too dizzy to stand and collapsed into the thrones laughing.
"I'm glad you find me amusing." he managed to say between fits of laughter.
She giggled. "Oh yes, your majesty, ever the comedic king."
He put one hand to his heart and the other to his head in mock sorrow and shock. "You wound me madam. I meant naught but to keep m'lady happy"
This made her laugh even harder, and it caught to him. They laughed until they were crying. When they managed to catch their breath for a minute, Inferno dashed out the doors, spinning backwards long enough to give him a playful teasing "Catch me if you can!" before turning and running as fast as she could.
Jay jumped up and ran after her, chasing her for a half an hour until he caught her under a tree in the courtyard, out of breath. He sat by her and put his arm around her shoulders gently. She leaned softly into him, and they watched the sunset together, falling asleep in each other's arms in the soft twighlight. ~~~~~
"Inferno! Jay!" Mellie ran frantically through the palace. No one could find Jay or Inferno. She called for them again, running headlong into a gurad and stumbling back. "Any sign of them?" she asked, recovering herself.
"No ma'am." He saluted her. "Searched everywhere. No one's seen any sign of them. Looked everywhere in the palace."
"Damn. I-" She looked up on sudden inspiratin and asked curiously, "Have you checked the courtyard?"
"No ma'am."
Before the guard could say another word, Mellie spun around and head for the courtyard, hoping her geuss was right.
"Infern-" she stopped short and shut her mouth when she discovered the two bundled together beneath a tree in a clearing in the maze of flowers the gardener'd created. She smiled. They were both asleep. She shook her head. Of course. She turned quietly, smiling to herself, and went off so as not to wake them. They would have to wake up soon enough. Best let them have their rest. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Inferno." he whispered gently in her ear.
"Mhh?" She opened one eye groggily and looked up, trying to bring his face into focus.
"Time to wake up." He smiled and lifted her up into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck.
She opened her eyes and smiled up at him. His breath caught in his throat. 'Beautiful..' he thought.
"Oh really?" She cocked her head to one side.
"Yes really you lazy little demon." He spun her around and set her on her feet, grabbing her as she collapsed into him and lifting her back. "Can you walk? Or shall I carry you?" He smiled, playfully mocking.
""I'm afraid my legs don't seem quite willing to wake just yet. If you would be so kind as to carry me..." She smiled skeptically, wrapping her arms around his neck in a painfully tight grasp.
"Alright madam, but should I fall and kill both of us, I'm blaming you. Now you really should take a shower-that hair of yours isn't so soft anymore after a night in the garden." He carried her into the palace. ~~~~~ "Hold still you." He tried to keep hold of her, but her wet body slipped lithely from between his hands as she darted swiftly to the other end of the long vine decorated spa room, dodging among the showers and hot tub baths. He tried for her again but she slipped away again just as slippery. "Get back here."
"No!" She laughed slightly, dodging his reaching hands as he slipped and nearly collided with her, and, missing her, hit the wall instead.
"Goddamnit you little snake! Why won't you let me wash your hair?" He righted himself, rubbing his arm where it had hit the wall.
She simply shook her head. and dodged as he made another lunge, hanging on to the vines for support lest he slip again.
"Oh fine. Then at least let me wash the rest of you. You're absolutely filthy." He scowled at her.
"Oh alright." She moved over to him, her body lithe and shiny from the water, her hair wet and dragging on the ground.
He sat down and motioned for her to sit facing him. She sat gingerly on the bench, being careful not to slip from all the water and soap. He pulled her a bit closer and began to wash her face and neck, moving to her arms and down the rest of her body with a gentle touch. He motioned for her to turn around so he could do her back, and she did so, sitting on the end of the bench and being careful not to sit on her hair. He smiled, knowing she couldn't see, and locked his legs around her, to hold her in place.
"No you little demon, I'm going to wash your hair wether you like it or not." She tried to struggle, but now that he had her she couldn't get away. It was futile to try. She could avoid him all she wanted, but once he had a good hold on her, it was impossible for her to escape. He pulled her so her back was against him and began to wash her hair.
"What the..." He pulled his hand out of her hair. It was dripping with black dye. He looked at the spot where it had been and noticed it had a rather grey appearance now.
He raised one eyebrow and looked at the grey spot. He rinsed his hand and poured more soap in her hair, washing it carefully. After a while, the spot he was scrubbing was free of the black dye and underneath was platinum silver. He marveled at the silvery shine to it, and washed the rest of her hair.
When he was finished, he stood up, pulling her with him, and turned her to face him. She looked down, not meeting his eyes. He took a step back from her, looking up and down at her wild mane of platinum silver hair.
"What is-?" He broke off, taking her into his arms and burying his face in her hair. She pressed against him softly. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, looking at her.
"I-I've dyed it as long as I can remember. My mother used to do it, to hide it. It's not a natural color for either humans or ctarl-ctarls. She didn't want anyone to know I was hanyou. But she never used permenant hair dye-she didn't want the silver ruined, she said."
"It's beautiful." He whispered. Such a color was rare even in demons. And such a color was envied by all demons. To think it was a hanyou-He looked at her. "Hanyou?"
"Yes...." She stepped back from him and he watched in wonder as she pulled off her ctarl-ctarl ears and the headband she never seemed to remove. Underneath were large black and silver cat ears. She peeled off her red stripes one by one to reveal ones either black or silver, and washed her tail, which was the same black and silver of her ears. She removed the purple contacts from her eyes to show deep red iris' and silver pupils.
"You're beautiful...." He said, gaping at her. She was a stunning example of all the things that female demons vied for. The silver hair, the red eyes with silver pupils. The black and silver coloring. It was all considered a mark of high breeding and unmatched beauty of the purebreed demons who prided themselves on it. More specifically, a certain family of demons prided themselves on having women who almost always carried these genes.
A thought crossed his mind. "Your father....who was he?" He asked.
"I don't know....I never knew my father. My mother told me he died. But she made me disguise myself as a half-ctarl-ctarl. She said hanyous were outcasts in both the demons world and the humans world. So I was not to be known as one. She told me never to let anyone know. It was crucial to her. So I've hidden it all these years." She looked down.
"But you're so beautiful. You look like a purebred demon. And yet...the human scent remains. That cannot be helped. But I don't care. Why did you think I would? You're mine. Always remember that." He pulled her into his arms. "And now you shall face them as the hanyou to shame all purebred demons and you will take the throne as their emperess. None shall speak a word against you. And I have a sneaky suspicion of your lineage..." he said thoughtfully. He turned back to her. "Do you understand?"
She nodded.
"Good. Now come on. Let's get you dressed before you catch a cold." He led her out. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ok people's! That is the end of this chapter! What u think? Hmmmm.........hanyou, huh? Not even ctarl-ctarl at all! Now isn't that neat? Hmmmmm..............Who is Inferno's father? Hmmm.............You'll just have to wait! Ok, it may be a while till I get back to Gene and Zilucaete, but it will be good, I promise. For a while I'm focusing on Inferno & Jay. ^^ ~Rzeznik Rocker~