Okay, I forgot to put these disclaimers or whatever in the story last
time, so I'm doing it now. I do not own, nor seek to make profit on, the
world or plotline of Bishop's Black Jewels Trilogy nor the characters who
fulfill them. Happy now? Can I please continue w/ the story? Okay, good!
* * * * *
Raine stood speechless, unable to comprehend Surreal's announcement. Her mind weighed heavy with shock and despair, knowing that, inevitably, once Queen Jaenelle saw her she was going to die.
But the voice that spoke didn't sound threatening or angry. Instead, Queen Jaenelle sounded oddly amused and replied, "Have you then Surreal? I didn't know you were one of those searching."
"I wasn't" Surreal stated flatly, "until about five minutes ago."
There was an awkward silence until Jaenelle said, "So. . .Are you going to let me see this would-be apprentice or not?"
Surreal motioned Raine to step forward, which she reluctantly did. She then jerked her head up and her smoky green eyes blazed with fire. If she was going to die, she was going to do so standing tall. Fixing her gaze steadily on the people who surrounded her, Raine waited for her death.
As she looked around at the occupants of the room, however, she had to admit that they didn't seem malicious, if they were a bit intimidating. At her far left was an imposing woman with spiked blonde hair. Her ice- chipped eyes regarded Raine coolly, and even though she apparently could not use her legs, a regal air surrounded her.
Next to the icy queen, an Eryien stood! Before now, she had thought they only existed in children's stories; it was unbelievable to be looking one dead in the eye. Tall, dark, strong, his wings were fanned around Jaenelle's chair protectively, as if at any moment Raine might attempt an assassination.
Sitting on Jaenelle's left was the demon-dead High Lord of Hell, Saetan. Raine's mouth went dry and she felt herself struggle to breathe. Her stare immediately faltered as the older man's eyes burned into her, their gaze almost painful.
Queen Jaenelle herself almost brought Raine to her knees. With golden blonde hair that hid secrets, and sapphire eyes which spoke of haunts Raine could only imagine, she seemed an incarnate of imagination. Her strange eyes were studying Raine, a small twinkle of amusement in them. Though her attitude had not been an any way threatening, Raine shivered. There was a definite shield around this queen, a cold chilling presence that entered her, transforming her blood to ice.
And finally on Jaenelle's right, content to stay in the shadows, was the Sadist. He was an almost exact copy of Saetan(who it was rumored was his father) and if the High Lord's eyes burned, Daemon Sadi's eyes were scorching. But it wasn't the heat of the gaze that made Raine have to gasp for air or dig her fingernail into her palm. In his eyes, there was the unspoken promise of torture, pleasure, enticement, enlightenment, pain, thrill, passion, rage, or any combination of the above. He wore this strange aura loosely, and Raine doubted he even know he had it. She looked back at him, her gaze colliding with his, not wanting to stare anymore but unable to look away. She thought to herself, "No wonder they call him the Seducer, he's pretty damn hot."
Instant silence in the small room made Raine realize, with horror, that she had voice her embarrassing thought out loud. She saw Daemon's face storm with anger and she thought for sure at that point that she was going to die. But, to her complete amazement, everyone else laughed.
"Well Bastard," the Eryien joked, "it seems your reputation precedes you, . . .again."
"Thank you," Jaenelle joined in, "it's always an important quality in my apprentices that they think my Consort is. . . hot."
"Err. . .yeah, about that," Raine stated, steering the conversation back around, "I mean, an apprenticeship, wow,. . . I'm honored, really, but wouldn't you want to save such a position for your children?"
There wasn't any laughter at this suggestion, there wasn't even a sound. Catching Daemon's fire eyes swirling with suppressed rage, Raine knew she had said something wrong, again.
"Strike two. . ." she thought silently, wondering why in Hell she was still alive. You were lucky if you survived the Sadist's wrath once, blessed if you survived it twice.
"I don't think you'll have to worry about that," Jaenelle said crisply, "I trust Surreal's judgement, at least to give you a trial run, the position's yours if you want it."
"Wait Jaenelle," the queen made of ice spoke, "don't you think this is a matter to take before your First Circle?"
"I suppose," Jaenelle grimaced darkly, in that instant shedding Protocol like a cloak that had served its purpose, then said brightly, "Well Karla, you're all the First Circle I need, do you approve?"
"I'd like to know why she's so deserving of this position first, before I make any decisions," the one named Karla spoke, her words coated with distaste.
"Don't worry, I got this one covered," Surreal said, grasping Raine's shoulder. She began, "Now, I could tell you all about this girl's history, her origins as a whore and what not," Raine blushed crimson, and several eyebrows arched at this statement, "But Karla, I don't think you honestly give a damn. The clincher of this whole argument is that she wears Birthright Gray."
Once again the eyebrows arched, and whispered conversation buzzed around her. Saetan leaned forward in his chair to get a better look at her, Jaenelle and Daemon were making impatient gestures at everything, and even the Eryien stood a little taller.
"Well then, in this rare and unexpected situation, I guess the First Circle has no choice but to approve," Karla said with a nod, but still looking as if she disagreed with the whole thing.
Jaenelle grinned like an eager child who had just discovered a new playmate, "Raine, it's now up to you. What I offer you is no life of privilege or special treatment. It's a life of hard work and dedication to protecting the honor of the Blood. Now I ask you, will you become my apprentice?"
Without thinking or feeling, Raine let her ambition decide for her. And then she realized that it wasn't a decision at all. She had been determined to reach the top from the start, this was just a little sooner than she had expected. Almost as if some other force had taken over she felt herself respond, "I accept."
"Excellent," Janelle grinned again, gripping Daemon's hand, "There will be a formal dinner at the Hall tonight, I will make the announcement then to make it official. Lucivar, will you show Raine to her room while I finish with Karla here?"
And just like that she was dismissed. For Raine, her life had changed in a matter of minutes, but for Jaenelle it was just another thing on the agenda. She saw the Eryien move forward to escort her to a room, but elation soon died when she heard Daemon say, "Don't worry about it Prick, I'll take her."
Shooting one last pleading glance at Surreal, Raine had no choice but to follow the Sadist out into the hallway. The two rounded corners, climbed stairs, Daemon making small talk as he led her through the hallways. He had taken a far off, dreamy look to his eyes, but Raine wasn't fooled. He was more alert now than he had been the whole time in the small room.
"I just can't believe," he was saying as they rounded yet another corner, "that a girl with Birthright Gray had such a miserable upbringing. I mean, such power would definitely have been spotted in Terrielle, especially after Witch, so it's fairly odd how you ended up where you did."
Raine was stunned. He didn't believe her at all! He didn't believe the suffering she had had to put up with for sixteen years. Rage flooded her, and she struggled to speak. Why would she lie? What possible purpose could there have been in feigning suffering and pain? It had almost killed her to go to SaDiablo Hall and beg people to take her in, she had had to swallow her pride.
"Would you like to see the rest of my clothes?" she snapped angrily, each word being forced out with extreme difficulty, "I'm sure one look at those garments will convince you of what I was. Or perhaps you would like to see my fine bruises around my pelvis area, hmmm? Would you be satisfied then?"
Daemon didn't seem surprised at this outburst and said, "Well, well, it seems that our shy apprentice has some fire to her after all. I see that there's more to her than the cowering shivering girl that followed Surreal to the conference room."
"Yeah, what do you know, I'm full of surprises," she spat as they stopped in front of a door. Giving Daemon a mocking bow, she turned on her heel and entered her room, leaving the Sadist a great deal to think about.
* * * * *
Raine stood speechless, unable to comprehend Surreal's announcement. Her mind weighed heavy with shock and despair, knowing that, inevitably, once Queen Jaenelle saw her she was going to die.
But the voice that spoke didn't sound threatening or angry. Instead, Queen Jaenelle sounded oddly amused and replied, "Have you then Surreal? I didn't know you were one of those searching."
"I wasn't" Surreal stated flatly, "until about five minutes ago."
There was an awkward silence until Jaenelle said, "So. . .Are you going to let me see this would-be apprentice or not?"
Surreal motioned Raine to step forward, which she reluctantly did. She then jerked her head up and her smoky green eyes blazed with fire. If she was going to die, she was going to do so standing tall. Fixing her gaze steadily on the people who surrounded her, Raine waited for her death.
As she looked around at the occupants of the room, however, she had to admit that they didn't seem malicious, if they were a bit intimidating. At her far left was an imposing woman with spiked blonde hair. Her ice- chipped eyes regarded Raine coolly, and even though she apparently could not use her legs, a regal air surrounded her.
Next to the icy queen, an Eryien stood! Before now, she had thought they only existed in children's stories; it was unbelievable to be looking one dead in the eye. Tall, dark, strong, his wings were fanned around Jaenelle's chair protectively, as if at any moment Raine might attempt an assassination.
Sitting on Jaenelle's left was the demon-dead High Lord of Hell, Saetan. Raine's mouth went dry and she felt herself struggle to breathe. Her stare immediately faltered as the older man's eyes burned into her, their gaze almost painful.
Queen Jaenelle herself almost brought Raine to her knees. With golden blonde hair that hid secrets, and sapphire eyes which spoke of haunts Raine could only imagine, she seemed an incarnate of imagination. Her strange eyes were studying Raine, a small twinkle of amusement in them. Though her attitude had not been an any way threatening, Raine shivered. There was a definite shield around this queen, a cold chilling presence that entered her, transforming her blood to ice.
And finally on Jaenelle's right, content to stay in the shadows, was the Sadist. He was an almost exact copy of Saetan(who it was rumored was his father) and if the High Lord's eyes burned, Daemon Sadi's eyes were scorching. But it wasn't the heat of the gaze that made Raine have to gasp for air or dig her fingernail into her palm. In his eyes, there was the unspoken promise of torture, pleasure, enticement, enlightenment, pain, thrill, passion, rage, or any combination of the above. He wore this strange aura loosely, and Raine doubted he even know he had it. She looked back at him, her gaze colliding with his, not wanting to stare anymore but unable to look away. She thought to herself, "No wonder they call him the Seducer, he's pretty damn hot."
Instant silence in the small room made Raine realize, with horror, that she had voice her embarrassing thought out loud. She saw Daemon's face storm with anger and she thought for sure at that point that she was going to die. But, to her complete amazement, everyone else laughed.
"Well Bastard," the Eryien joked, "it seems your reputation precedes you, . . .again."
"Thank you," Jaenelle joined in, "it's always an important quality in my apprentices that they think my Consort is. . . hot."
"Err. . .yeah, about that," Raine stated, steering the conversation back around, "I mean, an apprenticeship, wow,. . . I'm honored, really, but wouldn't you want to save such a position for your children?"
There wasn't any laughter at this suggestion, there wasn't even a sound. Catching Daemon's fire eyes swirling with suppressed rage, Raine knew she had said something wrong, again.
"Strike two. . ." she thought silently, wondering why in Hell she was still alive. You were lucky if you survived the Sadist's wrath once, blessed if you survived it twice.
"I don't think you'll have to worry about that," Jaenelle said crisply, "I trust Surreal's judgement, at least to give you a trial run, the position's yours if you want it."
"Wait Jaenelle," the queen made of ice spoke, "don't you think this is a matter to take before your First Circle?"
"I suppose," Jaenelle grimaced darkly, in that instant shedding Protocol like a cloak that had served its purpose, then said brightly, "Well Karla, you're all the First Circle I need, do you approve?"
"I'd like to know why she's so deserving of this position first, before I make any decisions," the one named Karla spoke, her words coated with distaste.
"Don't worry, I got this one covered," Surreal said, grasping Raine's shoulder. She began, "Now, I could tell you all about this girl's history, her origins as a whore and what not," Raine blushed crimson, and several eyebrows arched at this statement, "But Karla, I don't think you honestly give a damn. The clincher of this whole argument is that she wears Birthright Gray."
Once again the eyebrows arched, and whispered conversation buzzed around her. Saetan leaned forward in his chair to get a better look at her, Jaenelle and Daemon were making impatient gestures at everything, and even the Eryien stood a little taller.
"Well then, in this rare and unexpected situation, I guess the First Circle has no choice but to approve," Karla said with a nod, but still looking as if she disagreed with the whole thing.
Jaenelle grinned like an eager child who had just discovered a new playmate, "Raine, it's now up to you. What I offer you is no life of privilege or special treatment. It's a life of hard work and dedication to protecting the honor of the Blood. Now I ask you, will you become my apprentice?"
Without thinking or feeling, Raine let her ambition decide for her. And then she realized that it wasn't a decision at all. She had been determined to reach the top from the start, this was just a little sooner than she had expected. Almost as if some other force had taken over she felt herself respond, "I accept."
"Excellent," Janelle grinned again, gripping Daemon's hand, "There will be a formal dinner at the Hall tonight, I will make the announcement then to make it official. Lucivar, will you show Raine to her room while I finish with Karla here?"
And just like that she was dismissed. For Raine, her life had changed in a matter of minutes, but for Jaenelle it was just another thing on the agenda. She saw the Eryien move forward to escort her to a room, but elation soon died when she heard Daemon say, "Don't worry about it Prick, I'll take her."
Shooting one last pleading glance at Surreal, Raine had no choice but to follow the Sadist out into the hallway. The two rounded corners, climbed stairs, Daemon making small talk as he led her through the hallways. He had taken a far off, dreamy look to his eyes, but Raine wasn't fooled. He was more alert now than he had been the whole time in the small room.
"I just can't believe," he was saying as they rounded yet another corner, "that a girl with Birthright Gray had such a miserable upbringing. I mean, such power would definitely have been spotted in Terrielle, especially after Witch, so it's fairly odd how you ended up where you did."
Raine was stunned. He didn't believe her at all! He didn't believe the suffering she had had to put up with for sixteen years. Rage flooded her, and she struggled to speak. Why would she lie? What possible purpose could there have been in feigning suffering and pain? It had almost killed her to go to SaDiablo Hall and beg people to take her in, she had had to swallow her pride.
"Would you like to see the rest of my clothes?" she snapped angrily, each word being forced out with extreme difficulty, "I'm sure one look at those garments will convince you of what I was. Or perhaps you would like to see my fine bruises around my pelvis area, hmmm? Would you be satisfied then?"
Daemon didn't seem surprised at this outburst and said, "Well, well, it seems that our shy apprentice has some fire to her after all. I see that there's more to her than the cowering shivering girl that followed Surreal to the conference room."
"Yeah, what do you know, I'm full of surprises," she spat as they stopped in front of a door. Giving Daemon a mocking bow, she turned on her heel and entered her room, leaving the Sadist a great deal to think about.