Summary: See chapter one
Disclaimer: See chapter one
Warnings: See chapter one
A/N: Sorry for the long wait, but I have been so incredibly busy with university orientation, I haven't had any time for writing! (Lord knows what will happen when lectures start-updating is going to take ages!) Hell, it's going to take forever to complete my stories, let alone create new ones. But anyways, here is the second chapter of 'Drakhyl'. Read and Review!
Chapter Two: A Voice in my Head
That was it.
That was the straw that had broken the lums back.
The angry scowl on the face of the beautiful Aquarian was nothing short of thunderous and her glare was enough to melt a polar ice cap. Her fists were clenched tightly at her side and she was aching to smash them into the face of a certain dark haired Glyphian swordsman. How dare he do this to her, again?
Was it too much to expect an evening alone with him? Did she not deserve to have a nice, quiet dinner with a man looking at least mildly presentable? And he had not even had the decency to politely decline her invitation!
As she stomped down the stone passage of the Kirlsa Training Facility, the soldier who had been her messenger earlier appeared. "You! Where is he?"
The Black Brigade soldier blinked at the sight of the enraged woman. Her face was red with anger and her normally sleek hair was flying around her head in a scarlet cloud.
"Where is he?" she demanded again.
"The Lord Albel?" he asked, trying to mask his amusement but not succeeding very well.
Her green eyes narrowed. "I asked you a question, soldier, and I expect a direct answer!" she snapped.
"The last time I saw him, my lady, was at the rooftop arena when I delivered your message. Did the captain not arrive for dinner?"
She looked mildly embarrassed before rage invaded her features once more. "As a matter of fact, the captain did not. And if I hear one word about it from anyone else," she snarled, "I'll cut your tongue out myself!"
He bowed slightly to hide the smirk tugging at his lips. "My lips are sealed, Lady Nel. You have my word on my honor as a soldier of the illustrious Black Brigade."
"Good," she said, struggling to compose herself to her usual calm poise. "Now, return to whatever you were doing, soldier."
"Immediately, milady. I was, in fact, on my way to dinner. If I happen to see Lord Albel, I will be sure to inform him that you are expecting him," he replied, the snicker quite evident in his voice.
With a laugh, he jumped nimbly out of the way when Nel threw a punch in his direction. "My apologies, lady, I've no time to play tonight!"
"When I get my hands on you-!" she yelled furiously, but the threat fell on deaf ears.
Cursing, she watched him striding away and she could still hear a faint echo of laughter. "Glyphian soldiers…absolutely no respect at all!" she muttered.
And the one with the least respect is the one who is going to be dining on a meal rich in regret tonight…
It took her only a few minutes to climb the stairs to the arena (she silently blessed the Sun God for adrenaline) and she flung open the door, which hit the wall with a resounding bang. "Albel Nox!"
He was standing in the middle of the rooftop, completely alone. His supple, muscular figure appeared to be sculpted from marble in the moonlight, and his long hair blew gently around him. His eyes were hidden from her as he gazed upwards into the starry night sky. The vision of the creature, hideous yet with a strange and terrible wild beauty, seemed burned into his mind and he could not shake himself free of the image. Albel had lost count of the hours he had spent on the rooftop, pacing back and forth as he brooded why. Why had the beast tried to possess him? Why had he felt such unity, the kind only felt with lovers? Why…?
Why had he seen his own eyes?
But at the sudden noise from Nel's entrance, he was jerked out of his thoughts and he whipped around to face her, hand already at his sword.
Her angry words died on her lips and her breath was caught in her throat when she saw him. Gods, he looked so perfect, just standing there.
Crimson eyes narrowed. "What do you want, woman?"
Startled out of her blissful reverie, Nel blinked as her brain registered what he had just said. Then, the bomb that had been pulsing steadily for more than an hour, finally exploded. "Do you have any idea of how long I waited?" she shrieked, stalking towards him.
He looked coolly back at her, his composure unruffled. "Actually, I don't even know what the time is. Thus you should inform me."
"I could tell you," Nel repeated quietly, a silky, dangerous smile slipping over her face. "You thought that I could tell you what the time is."
Albel gave a slight shrug of the shoulders, continuing to look calm and collected in the face of the raging storm.
"How could you do this to me again? Again! My god, I know you're a self centered, arrogant, pig-headed jerk; but I thought that you would at least exhibit some sort of courtesy, to me of all people!"
Albel opened his mouth but Nel cut him off with another furious tirade and he sighed irritably. Normally, he would not tolerate anybody shouting at him, but this was Nel. No sooner would he draw his sword, than there would be a dagger sticking out of his chest. It was tricky, actually plain dangerous, to pick a fight with Nel Zelpher, and he was not in the mood. Albel preferred to have some company in his bed tonight, and it would be decidedly unpleasant to sleep beside a sulky and resentful Nel. He had much unfortunate experience in that regard, and it was not something he wished to see repeatedly.
"Do you have any idea how embarrassing it was to be left waiting, like a fool? Do you know what its like to have servants gossiping behind your back, every single moment, of every single day? Do you realize-?" Her words were cut off abruptly as Albel took her into his arms, kissing her soundly. With his lips molded insistently over hers, she could only return his kiss and she melted helplessly into his strong embrace. Nel shut her eyes as she wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her mouth to his with a desperate intensity.
A shudder of pleasure passed through her body as their lips parted, and she leaned against him with dreamy, half closed eyes and a soft sigh.
"I hate it when you do that…" she murmured, a smile gracing her gently flushed face. But she resisted the urge to relax against him fully, reminding herself of why she was upset with him in the first place. "But that does not mean I'm ready to forgive you," she added, a tiny frown wrinkling her brow.
"Do you expect me to beg, Nel? You should know better than that."
She rested her chin on his shoulder. "I know of many ways to make you beg, Albel," she whispered into his ear.
He smirked, touching her cheek gently with one claw and Nel reached up to take his metal hand in hers, holding it loosely. Generally, Albel disliked anyone touching his maimed left hand and his murderous glare discouraged many from even staring at it. However, Nel always wielded his hand with a strange gentleness and he found it difficult to resist her soothing touch.
"You had better have an appetite," she reminded him, "As you still owe me a dinner date. Else I might decide to spend the night at the Kirlsa inn."
"Are you threatening me, woman?"
"That depends…do you feel threatened by me?" she murmured, nuzzling her face against his neck. He smiled as her lips tickled his skin but stiffened as a tremor ran through his body. Try as he might, he could not forget the creature and even though he refused to acknowledge it, the attack had weakened him.
Nel felt him shudder and she drew back, frowning in puzzlement. "Albel?"
Albel blinked slowly, staring at her in sudden fascination. Or rather, staring transfixed at the drop of blood beading on her neck. The drop gleamed enticingly in the moonlight and his lips parted of their own accord, his pulse quickening. "What…what happened to your…?" he touched her hesitantly, swallowing hard.
"Oh, this?" she said surprised, reaching up to touch it lightly with her fingertips. "I must have scratched myself on your gauntlet. It's not deep-"
He clenched one fist, crimson eyes fixed on the small droplets of liquid. Unable to resist, he bent his head to kiss her throat, eager to taste the red elixir. Nel's eyes widened in shock as she felt his tongue lap at the wound, licking away the blood and his arms tightened painfully around her. She struggled against him and cried out as an intense heat flared from where his mouth met her skin. "…Albel! N-No, stop! Let me go!"
Albel sucked avidly at the tiny wound, craving more of the ruby sweetness and he ignored the struggling form in his grasp. The only thought that crossed his mind was that he needed more and he wanted to sink his fangs into her soft flesh, drain her body dry…
"ALBEL!"
Albel jerked backwards as a thin blade slashed across his face, leaving a red line etched deeply on one cheek. Horrified, he stumbled away from Nel and collapsed on his knees. "N-Nel…"
With her heart hammering in her chest, she gazed aghast at him and grasped her neck with trembling fingers. "Have you lost your mind? What were you doing!"
The swordsman was pale, his entire body shaking uncontrollably. "I-I…"
Seeing Albel rendered speechless was perhaps even more shocking than what he had done to her, and Nel sheathed her dagger reluctantly. "I…Albel, you're ill. What…happened to you?"
He did not answer, instead only staring down at his hands in revulsion and horror. "What did I…? My fangs…?" he whispered under his breath to himself, touching his normal teeth gingerly with one finger.
Nel took in a deep breath and approached him hesitantly. When he looked up at her with a wild expression in his feverish eyes, it was a mark of how strongly she cared for him that she did not run away. Or kill him where he stood. "Albel…you need to rest…" she gently touched his forehead and swore, jerking her hand away. "My god, you're burning up! I have to get you to a doctor, now."
He had the look of a caged animal, his manner skittish and a muscle twitched in his eye. "Stay away from me, Nel," he said, his voice hoarse.
"Don't be a fool!" she said fiercely, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You need help, you need…"
I need…
A thrill ran through his body at her touch and he felt her pulse surging through her body, so warm, so alive…
"At least let me help you back to your room, Albel. Please," she said softly, a beseeching tone creeping into her voice.
"No, get away!"
She looked frightened for a moment at the animalistic snarls that ripped from his throat before her features hardened and her hand tightened resolutely on his shoulder. "I'm taking you back to your room."
He could see a vein throbbing enticingly beneath her pale skin and he bit the inside of his cheek, the blood sour in his mouth. "Nel, just go!"
"I can't leave you here like this…I won't."
This was no time for Nel to show him how stubborn she could be, and Albel gave a low growl of frustration. "I'll get there myself then, woman!" He rose on trembling limbs and turned away, violently shrugging her hand off his shoulder.
There was silence and he heard her whisper, "I'm sorry, Albel."
"…!"
There was an explosion of pain and Albel slumped to the ground with a strangled groan, slipping into the darkness. Nel closed her eyes briefly and rubbed her slightly bruised knuckles. She hated knocking him out, but Albel was only passive and agreeable when he was asleep or unconscious. Crouching by his still form, she touched her neck tentatively and wondered if she was doing the right thing.
Albel had tasted her blood. It was forbidden, it was unforgivable. An Elicoorian found committing such a heinous act, would be executed immediately. Regardless of whether they were Aquarian or Glyphian. It was her duty to bring him to trial. And she would have done so, without a second thought. The Church of Apris deemed it the duty of loyal followers.
But she could not do that to him. Albel needed her help and she had to give it to him. Nel hefted him up, slinging one limp arm around her shoulder. He was a dead weight, but she gritted her teeth and began dragging him towards the stairwell door. She was reluctant to call for help, as it would be difficult, make that impossible, to explain why Albel was unconscious on the rooftop. Luckily, his room was close to the arena and she was sure, since the majority of soldiers were at dinner, she could get him there without being seen.
Then they could figure out what had happened to him, together.
A chill of foreboding swept over her and she gently brushed some of his hair out of her face, ignoring the impulse to run away screaming.
Albel…
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The feeling of a cool cloth sponging his forehead awakened him and he winced, the movement sending jagged splinters of pain lancing through his head. The last thing he remembered was Nel whispering that she was sorry, and then…
Astonishment flooded him as he realized that Nel had hit him and he opened his eyes, blinking against the flickering candlelight. Nel was sitting on the bed beside him and she gave him an uncertain smile.
"How long was I out?"
"Not long," she answered and placed the cloth on the bed stand. "How do you feel?"
He avoided her probing gaze. "Fine."
"Liar. You were burning up an hour ago and then you were suddenly freezing cold…" her voice broke off and her shoulders sagged. "I was going to call a doctor, but he left at dusk for Kirlsa and will not ride back till tomorrow."
"I do not need a doctor!"
"The way your temperature has been fluctuating, you should be begging for a hospital!"
Strange then, that he had barely felt it. The only pain he felt was from the back of his aching head and his hand went there automatically, touching the sensitive bump that had risen. She saw the movement and she winced. "I should not have hit you so hard. I'm sorry."
"It's nothing. Forget about it." In his own way, he was telling her to forget what had happened between them. When he had…
But the look on her lovely face told him that she could not forget in a hurry.
"Nel, I-" he reached out for her hesitantly but she jolted away from him, and Albel felt a stab of raw emotion. She was afraid of him.
"Sleep, Albel. We'll talk in the morning." Nel rose from the bed and Albel watched her walk towards the door.
"Nel."
She did not reply but simply waited, one hand on the door handle.
"Stay with me." He was torn in two, between wanting her to leave, and wanting her to stay by his side.
An inner conflict was clearly written on her face and the smile she tried to give him was contorted into a grimace. "I…can't."
"Just for tonight." The torturous carnal urge from before had subsided, and he wanted to be near her.
But what if it came again?
He had never requested anything of her before and it killed her to refuse him. How could everything have changed so drastically in a matter of hours? She didn't want to leave him, but how could she stay if her trust in him was almost completely shattered?
"Nel…"
The uncharacteristic pleading in his voice made her decision. "All right. Just for…a little while. Until you fall asleep." Nel sat on a chair near to him and stifled a yawn, while keeping a discreet eye on him.
He did not say thank you, instead sitting up and throwing aside the blankets.
"Where are you going?" she asked softly, curling her small frame in the chair like a cat.
"To bathe."
Nel nodded and watched him enter the bathing chamber adjoined to his bedroom. It was the one luxury he demanded as a captain in the Glyphian army and was one he and she had willingly indulged in, many, many times. She gave herself a mental slap at the thought, not wanting to drown in a torrent of now bittersweet memories.
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Albel undressed slowly in the quiet chamber, the stone pleasantly cool beneath his bare feet. The water was cold but he did not care as he immersed himself up to his shoulders in sweet relief. Closing his eyes, he failed to notice steam rising from his body.
With the tension draining away from him gradually, he soon began to doze in his bath. The warming water was soothing against his skin and he sank further until the level came up to his chin, his thoughts drifting to the haunting cry and the beast of fire.
That creature did something to me.
Before it fled, it changed something in me. And I could not resist.
As he lay submerged, he hated himself. His weakness.
Am I weak? How can I profess to be strong, when I hurt one of the only people I actually feel for?
Is this the evil in me finally coming to light?
You could not do the things Albel had done on a daily basis, without darkness steadily creeping into your soul. Indeed, he had been expecting some kind of severe punishment for his sins for quite a few years. But he was not the same person he had been back then. Since peace between the two warring countries, since Nel had descended into his life…
This was not punishment. This was like a curse. And Albel had attempted redeeming himself (progress was slow, but he was improving, even if it did not seem so), so why would the gods curse him?
And if it was not punishment, then was it simply…him? Was he some kind of monster?
You wound me so with such accusations, dear heart.
Albel jerked upright, water splashing over the side of a bath. "Who the hell!"
In the other room, Nel stirred restlessly. "Albel? Is something wrong?"
"No," he called back, still glancing around himself to find the source of the voice. "I'm fine." Only I think I'm hearing strange voices in my head.
"Well…call me if you need anything."
Gods, I must finally be going insane. Voices in my head?
Albel almost laughed out loud at the thought and decided he must have cracked. Yes, that explained his horrific behavior from before. He did not want to admit it, but maybe he was crazy. Odd though, he certainly felt like he was in a sane state of mind.
You are not crazy. There is a voice in your head.
"No, I must be going insane," he said aloud. "I'm answering the voice."
If you want to continue attracting the attention of the woman, be my guest. Otherwise I would prefer for you to answer me silently. I assure you that I will be able to hear you.
Albel took in a deep breath. He truly didn't want Nel to think he was mad, it was bad enough that he was questioning his own sanity.
Have it your way then, he answered silently.
See? Much better. Now, we can continue our conversation in private. I have been awaiting this moment for so long, and I despise interruptions.
What…what are you? What the hell did you do to me!
Temper, temper. You know who I am, Albel. No, not the creature that you encountered earlier. He is an entity quite different from you and I.
I'm not like you! Now tell me what you are!
Your earlier thoughts were quite intriguing, you know. I always encourage self-examination, and you are one of the few who are brutally honest with themselves. One thing I do not tolerate is lying to yourself. An appalling thing to do, really.
Dammit, get to the point and tell me!
Always the impatient one. In a way, you were right. Perhaps I am evil. And if I am evil, so are you.
I told you before, I am not like you! Get it through your thick skull!
I cannot abide rudeness either, the voice said sounding amused, but there was an underlying threat that in his anger, Albel ignored.
Do I look like I care! Go rot in hell, you filthy maggot!
I was hoping that it would not come to this, Albel. I very much wanted our first meeting to be truly worth remembering. Ah, well. One cannot have everything one wants. But just being here with you is enough for now.
Albel suddenly went rigid in the bath, sitting there stiff and unmoving. A strange tremor ran over his body and he found he could not even speak.
Now be a good boy, and listen.
Fury flickered in his crimson eyes. You bastard, release me!
You are in no position to give demands. Did you not ask for an explanation? I am ready to give you answers, provided you are ready to hear them, dear heart.
Why do you call me 'dear heart'? You don't even know me!
Au contraire, Albel. You are very dear to me, and you are my heart. I reside in you. I am a part of you.
It can't be!
I have slumbered inside you until the time came for you to realize your true purpose in this world.
Albel scoffed at the idea. You expect me to believe that?
Ridiculous as it sounds, it is the truth. The creature sought you to find me, to awaken me. And I answered. It is a part of myself that I became separate from long ago, to protect you. For us to become one again before you were ready, would have resulted in our death. I refer to you and I as 'us' because, essentially we are one being. And you know this to be true.
Albel hesitated before he answered. Because he could feel that, somehow, the voice was telling the truth. He even went as far as to think that it couldn't lie to him. He would know if it did…because it was a part of him. It always had been.
I thought, knowing how stubborn you are, that it would have been more difficult to convince you of that fact. Perhaps you are more reasonable than I was led to believe.
I highly doubt that.
Ha, I have always enjoyed your dry wit enormously, ever since you were young. Although I was asleep, I was aware of you constantly. Everything you experience, I share with you. When your father died, I shared in your sorrow. When you fell in love with Nel, I felt your emotions as if they were my own. Well, they were partly mine, anyhow.
Albel answered automatically. I don't believe in something called love.
Liar. You do believe in it, you just suppress the emotion. Why else do you tolerate some of those around you, even if you fool yourself into believing you hate them?
I…don't know. And enough with that, I want to talk about other things, he said irritably.
The voice was decidedly serene when it answered. Very well. What do you wish to talk about?
Why did I attack Nel? Why did I want to drink…
…Blood? Ah, yes. Unfortunate side effects of contact with the 'creature', as you call it.
'Unfortunate'! Are you insane?
I am if you are. Do not fret, dear heart, the thirst will not affect you greatly until we become complete.
His eyes narrowed and he felt a surge of fury. What do you mean!
Why, when we become the Drakhyl, of course.
A wave of cold swept over his paralyzed body. The Drakhyl is an old legend, told to frighten small children. It is not true, I refuse to believe it!
It matters not if you believe it. It makes no difference to me, or the creature. He will find us, you know. Now matter how far you run, how many stars you put between yourself and him, he will continue searching. Distance is nothing to him. Besides, you cannot resist his call. He does not even have to pursue you!
I've heard enough. Let me go, now.
But this conversation is so enjoyable. I am trying to make up for lost years, you see. Although your mind was a vast playground for me to explore while I dreamed, I was a tad lonely. I craved human contact, especially with you.
I feel so honored. Now let me go.
No.
Are you going to keep me here forever? Albel asked sarcastically.
Of course not. But now I'm bored and I wish to be entertained, dear heart.
Albel would have sneered if he could move his face, at the petulant tone in its voice.
You sound like a pathetic child.
Hmm, being trapped like this is beginning to affect me adversely. I think I shall get out for a bit and entertain myself.
Albel could not hide his hope. You can leave my mind?
No, Albel. I can use your body to move around as I wish, though. A perk of being what I am. I do believe I wish engage in conversation with Nel. She seems to be a woman of considerable intelligence and verbal wit.
Leave her ALONE!
Dear heart, you can't stop me. If I want to do something, I will do it. That is a lesson that you will undoubtedly learn in our time together. And I want to extend my-how do you say?-carnal knowledge of the delectable Lady Zelpher. When you did bed her, I was unable to feel it. I cannot experience your physical doings. And it is something that I would very much like to learn about.
I won't let you touch her!
Yes, you can. Sit back and enjoy the show. Maybe you can learn something about seduction from me. Remember, she will be making love to Albel Nox. Just not a part she is familiar with. I am you. Never forget that.
You can't, I will not allow it!
Albel felt a powerful mental shove and a strange jerking sensation that left him floating in darkness. Where am I?
In my domain. I have made it quite comfortable for you, see? And you can see everything that through your own-I mean, my eyes. We both win, no losers. I might even consider letting you experience the physicality of my encounter, if you behave like a good boy.
I'll kill you!
Why, dear heart, then you would be killing yourself. And I know you don't want to die tonight.
Albel screamed in silent, hopeless fury. I swear I'll find a way!
Mocking laughter echoed in the emptiness. It's almost entertainment enough to engage in this verbal battle with you! But, alas, I am in the mood for something of a different taste this night.
Albel rose from the bath, inspecting his superbly toned body with a smug glee. I must say, you really are in an excellent physical condition. I am glad for the opportunity to test its limits with Nel.
Don't! Stop this madness, now!
No, Albel. I can't stop.
I won't be stopped, not until you achieve your true destiny as the Drakhyl!
To be continued…
Such a long chapter! Well, I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Don't forget to review!